"Hey, girls, how was school today?" Zion asked, turning to look at them.

They were on their way back from Ma'aleca'andra, where Rachel and Cassandra had attended classes with the Martians. Zion had enrolled them there because he didn't want them cooped up in the castle all the time, and Martian schooling was far from the mundane. Martians could share knowledge telepathically, making education very efficient, though Magic required repetition and hands-on learning.

"Did S'yraa teach you well?" Zion inquired, his eyes expectant as he glanced between the two of them. "No? Not good? Did the Martians freak you out?" Zion tried to glean any information from their expressions.

But the girls remained silent.

"Don't want to talk?" he questioned, only to be met with more silence.

Zion had tried to connect with them many times, but it was no easy task. They didn't trust him, and how could they? He'd beaten their parents and Kidnapped them from their very GOOD parents. So, he was patient. They needed time to adjust, and he had time. At least they followed his requests.

A flicker of guilt passed through his gaze as he sighed, turning back to pilot Ship.

Rachel and Cassandra shared a glance, both feeling a twinge of remorse. Even if Cassandra could only read his emotions superficially, Rachel felt the full weight of Zion's disappointment and patience. Despite their past, it was clear he meant them no harm—but trust did not come easily.

"I just hope that someday you'll trust me enough to share," Zion's worried voice cut through the silence, and the girls felt a wave of guilt.

Cassandra shifted in her seat, fidgeting uncomfortably before she spoke, almost in a whisper. "Go…od." Her voice was barely audible and hesitant.

Zion immediately spun around, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Good?"

Cassandra shrank into her seat, avoiding his gaze, but nodded. "G…o…od."

Her words were broken, like a child learning to speak, but Zion's face lit up regardless.

"That's good, that's really good," he nodded, then turned to Rachel. "And yours?"

"Fine," Rachel mumbled, turning away to avoid his enthusiasm.

"Progress, progress," Zion muttered to himself, turning back to the controls.

Ship seemed to pick up on his excitement, increasing speed without a single rattle, and they arrived at the castle within seconds. The girls' eyes widened, surprised at the swift ride, realizing he'd taken it slow on the way out.

Ship landed on the pad and opened her door, allowing everyone to step out. She changed back into her wolf form once everyone was out, trotting alongside Zion as he walked ahead.

"Go freshen up. We've got a guest," Zion called back as he tossed Ship a random gadget to chew on.

He watched the girls' expressions sored slightly at the word 'guests'. He smiled to himself, turning to head inside.

***

"You're learning fast," Barda praised Kara, who knelt before her, exhausted.

Kara looked like she'd been put through a grinder and spat back out. Her hair was disheveled, bruises marred her skin, and her suit was torn in places. Smudges of dried blood clung to her wrists.

Red light flickered across the room as drones hovered, suspended mid-air.

Barda didn't look much better. Her helmet was cracked, her armor bore dents and tears, and her mace was slightly bent. Her spear lay broken in half beside her and her shield filled with fist shaped dents.

They'd fought in a grueling match, with the room's settings rigged to give Barda the advantage. But Kara had risen to the challenge, learning Barda's techniques and using them to her own advantage. She'd tapped into her strength, carefully channeling her energy without letting it spiral out of control.

In a sense, Kara was a natural-born fighter, an untapped prodigy. But she still lacked the instinct that only came from life-or-death battles. She couldn't yet distinguish traps from opportunities. With a few more sessions, she would be ready for actual combat.

"Owwwww!" Zion's surprised voice interrupted their thoughts.

He looked around at the craters that marred the training room. Although it was designed to withstand atomic blasts, the floor and walls had caved like they'd been struck by a meteor shower. Zion activated the room's recovery function, watching as the craters filled and the space reverted to normal.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"You two really went all out," he commented, noting the broken weapons scattered about. "Barda, get those fixed and freshen up—we're having lunch together."

"The kids are back?" Barda asked, gathering her damaged weapons.

"Yeah," Zion answered, excitement in his voice. "Cass spoke. Just one word, but she spoke. And Rachel's still reserved, but she at least responded."

Barda couldn't help but smile. Zion had told her about the kids' past, and she knew they deserved a fresh start.

"Glad to hear it. I'll round up the others," Barda said, stepping through a door that opened next to her.

Zion turned to Kara. "You look like a mess."

Kara shook her head, combing her fingers through her hair. "Relieved, actually."

"Enjoy the fight?"

"On Earth, I feel like I'm living in a glass box. Everything's fragile, nothing hurts me but I could break them at a moment of carelessness. I can't even exert myself properly, let alone get tired. I was very unstimulating."

She looked at her bruised arms and smiled. "But fighting with Barda feels real."

Zion watched her, noticing the relief on her face. "Well, why don't you wash up and change?" he suggested, opening a door.

Kara nodded, following him as he led her to a room he'd prepared in advance.

"If you need anything, just ask. Zai will guide you to the dining room."

Kara took a shower and found comfortable clothes in the wardrobe. She hung her battle-worn suit on a hanger and followed the floating signs leading her to the dining hall. By the time she arrived, the others were already seated.

Zion sat at the head of the table, Rachel and Cassandra at his right. One of the girls wore a purple cloak while the other wore a black hoodie. Across from them sat a blonde woman and a man with blue-toned skin. To Zion's left were a woman with green skin and fiery red hair, and another blonde with red and blue streaks in her hair. Barda and a man with short black hair and a trimmed beard sat nearby.

Kara recognized a few of them from the rogues in Gotham but didn't comment. She took a seat at the other end of the table, her stomach growling at the sight of the steaming dishes in front of her. She actually felt hungry!

"Everyone, this is Kara," Zion introduced. "She'll be staying with us for a while. Please make her feel welcome." He gave a pointed look at Harley Quinn.

"Now, let us pray," Zion said, clasping his hands together. "Our Father in heaven, Creator of the universe. Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.

Oh Lord, forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive those who transgress against us. Thank you for the day, oh Lord, Thank you for the food. As you have said, 'The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.'

Today, we come unto you—bless us with your Holy Spirit. Guide us not into temptation and deliver us from the evil one. Amen."

"Amen," Harley chimed in while the rest remained silent.

"Let's eat," Zion said, serving Rachel and Cassandra before passing the dishes around.

As the food made its way around the table, conversation flowed, stories and laughter filling the room. Zion shared updates on the girls' progress in school, which everyone encouraged. Kara couldn't help but be drawn in, the warm atmosphere infectious.

Harley was especially curious about Kara, flashing her usual mischievous grin.

"Aww, you brought your girl to the family dinner," Harley teased, twirling her hair while leaning against Ivy. "Your moms must Accepts, time for you to pop the cherry."

"Harley, please eat without talking," Zion sighed, before turning to Kara. "I think it's time we checked up on you before Barda here beats you up again."

"Fine," Kara replied, eager to focus on food before here. She just wanted to dig into her meal and enjoy it.

Harley kept up her jabs throughout the meal, until Ivy finally silenced her with a bite of food. The rest of the meal continued in relative peace, with Zion checking in on Fries about his experiments, asking Nora about her health, and reminding Scott to schedule therapy sessions with the Martians for Barda. Apokolips' scars ran deep.

Afterward, Zion handed out homework to the girls, much to their dismay. He dangled a trip to Earth as motivation, though, so they got to work.

With the girls occupied, Zion led Kara to the examination room for a full assessment.

***

"To fully understand what's happening with your powers, we need to examine any physical or energy-based changes," Zion said, scrolling through data on his tablet. Kara wore a skintight suit equipped with various sensors.

She sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine, just make it quick."

She stepped onto a circular platform at the center of the room. The machinery around her hummed to life, scanning her body with a soft blue light. Zion's fingers moved over his tablet, pulling up multiple holographic displays showing Kara's internal structure, energy levels, muscle density, cellular composition, and more.

Zion's eyes focused intently on the screen, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he looked up, a slight frown creasing his brow.

"Kara," he began seriously. "You're the bomb!"

"What?!" Kara asked, alarmed.

Zion chuckled. "Nothing to worry about, just that your energy levels are off the charts. You're basically over the overcharged. Any idea why?"

Kara searched for an explanation. "Because you made me train while absorbing solar radiation?"

"No, not just that," he replied elusively before resuming a clinical tone. "Normally, you'd release the excess energy in bursts, like going supernova. But due to your delayed exposure to the sun and the sudden energy surge, your cells are undergoing something different. A fundamental change."

Kara's eyes narrowed. "So, what does that mean?"

"It means your powers aren't just growing—they're evolving," Zion replied, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Your energy absorption, storage, and output have all adapted to a new level. You're entering a Kryptonian metamorphosis."

Kara looked at the screen, trying to process what this meant. "And is that… dangerous?"

"Not necessarily," Zion said, his tone more serious. "But it does mean your body and mind are going to be under strain for a while."

He adjusted a hologram, revealing projections of her skeletal and muscular systems, overlaid with pulsing energy pathways.

"These pathways are new," he explained, pointing. "They're absorbing and distributing energy with greater precision."

Kara listened, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. "So, I'm like a living solar battery… on overdrive?"

Zion chuckled. "Exactly. You're evolving from a solar-charged potato to a highly refined energy conduit. But if you don't learn to control these fluctuations, you'll burn out before you reach full potential."

"So, what's your plan for handling it?" Kara asked bluntly.

"Fighting!" Zion said enthusiastically. "You're going to keep training to channel your energy, but this time, with control as your focus. Just like body builder train their muscles. It's not just about raw power anymore—it's about mastery."

Kara crossed her arms. "So, just keep fighting?"

"Exactly!"