"The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance."
- Albert Einstein
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It had been two weeks since Barry and Kara's wedding, and two weeks since they left for their honeymoon. And Iris wished they would come home, because she found herself in a very awkwardly position.
It would have been much much easier for Iris to be in this situation if Kara and Barry were there with her. But they weren't.
So Iris just had to deal with it all by herself.
There Iris was, standing in the DEO, with Alex, J'onn and Winn, the four of them standing across from Mon-El......and his wife, Imra. "It's a long story."
"Well, seven years is a long time," Iris softly told them.
"Strange as it may sound, the 31st century is actually not that different from today," Mon-El told them all.
"What, better smartphones?" Winn asked.
"What's a phone?" Imra asked, causing Winn to start laughing.
"What's a phone?" He quoted. "Oh, the future's awesome!"
"Well, technology has developed beyond imagining, but, at the end of the day, it's still in service of communicating with each other, and entertaining each other, and also killing each other. In this day, or in a thousand years, conflict is constant, but so is strength," Mon explained to them all.
"And that's where we come in," Imra said, looking back in between her husband and her idol.
"So, what are you, soldiers?" Alex asked.
"The government were overwhelmed by violence, by chaos. Mon-El organized us. And we banded together to help Earth's leaders keep the peace, at home and in the stars. We call ourselves The Legion," Imra explained before looking at Iris. "And we exist because of you."
"Because of me?" Iris questioned, clear confusion on her face.
Imra nodded, but Iris just looked at Mon, wanting answers, because she was just a simple human girl. "You inspired me. So, when I founded the Legion, I chose to use you as the prime example of what we could be. Of what we aspire to be. I added Kara and Barry every now and then too." He tried to make a little joke at the end, but it didn't work, because Iris' expression stayed the same.
"When I learned about your life," Imra began, and Iris looked at her again. "And work and your compassionate fight for justice, and your devotion to protecting others, without any super powers, just by being completely ordinary, everything just crystallized. Your example gave my life purpose. I can't express how much it means for me to meet you in person."
Iris smiled nervously at her, trying her very hardest to try and like Imra, because she was just perfect, but it was so hard. "So," Winn started, sensing the tension. "A legion of superheroes. Ha!"
"Sounds formidable," J'onn said.
"Not nearly enough. The future has some...bad things happening," Mon said.
"Yeah, the darkness is spreading," Imra said but they all just stared at her confused.
"What's that? What do you mean?" Iris asked.
"Well, my team and I were on a mission and...we got into some trouble. Our ship got knocked into one of those disruptions," Mon explained.
"A wormhole?" J'onn asked.
"Yes," Mon said.
"We crash-landed back on Earth, twelve thousand years ago," Imra said and they all looked taken back.
"So you traveled back in time by...accident?" Alex asked.
"Which is exactly why we couldn't just go home. So we went into cryo-sleep and set the ship to wake us up when we returned to the 31st century. But then the torpedo hit the ship, and damaged the ship, and that's when I woke up," Mon explained. "But do you think we can fix it? Can you help us get home?"
"We'll do everything in our power to help. But for now...settle in," J'onn said before he walked off.
"You might be here for a while," Alex said before she walked off as well.
The couple looked at Iris, who awkwardly cleared her throat, about to walk off as well, when Imra stopped her. "If anyone can help us, it's you and Kara." Iris awkwardly nodded, while feeling the stare of Mon on her. "Where is she by the way?"
"On her honeymoon," Iris said and Imra nodded feeling the tension.
But Iris didn't want her to feel that way. Imra didn't do anything wrong. "Um...everyone's coming over to my apartment for a holiday party tonight. You guys are welcome to join, if you like."
"Thanks," Mon said before looking at Imra then back at Iris. "We need to work on the repairs."
"Yeah, that's fine," Iris said before she walked away, and Winn walked after her.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
"God, I wish Kara and Barry were here," Iris told him.
Iris's Apartment
That night, after the food had been made, the cookies were baked, the drinks poured, and it was after when Lena, James, Alex, J'onn, Winn and Myr'nn had arrived that Iris's true wish had come true.
Iris and Alex were at the dinning table making eggnog, when Alex turned to everyone, holding the eggnog. "Okay, come and get your eggnog." She then looked at Lena, who was drinking scotch with James at the island. "Uh, yeah, but be warned, this is not your grandmother's recipe. Oh, this is highly potent, intoxicating deliciousness!"
"Ooh," James muttered, looking back at Lena, while Iris ran off to tend to something else in the apartment. "Danvers' famous eggnog?"
"Um, sounds tempting, but you know, I think I'll stick with the scotch," Lena said before Alex walked away, and she looked at James, who was already looking at her. "Health."
"Happiness."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door as Winn and J'onn argued about Christmas songs. Iris perked up as Alex looked towards the door as well. "It's open!"
Then the door opened to a big surprise. Barry and Kara. The both of them wearing red, Kara in a black and red dress, Barry in a plaid jacket, and carrying presents with them. "Merry Christmas!"
Everyone looked to them, gasping, while Iris almost screamed in excitement. "You're back!" She then immediately ran up and hugged the two, while they laughed at the notion. "Oh, I missed you so much!"
"Yeah, we heard," Kara said as the hug broke and Barry shut the door. "We came home this afternoon and decided to come over. And just so you know, I missed you too."
J'onn and Winn acknowledged the married couple while everyone else hugged them, but they got back to their argument. "Dude, I do not understand your obsession."
"It is the greatest Christmas song of all time," J'onn argued.
"That's great. But we've played it, like, four times," Winn said.
"If my father learns anything else this holiday season, he will learn about Hall and Oates. Put it on," J'onn said and Winn reluctantly pressed a button on his tablet, causing the song, Jingle Bell Rock, to start playing.
J'onn grinned happily and Winn looked annoyed, while everyone else looked back at him even more annoyed. "Oh, dude, are you serious? Again? Come on."
"No, no, take it up with papa bear, okay?" Winn said as he walked over, to hug Kara and Barry while J'onn up to his father.
Standing by the Christmas tree and drinking coco, Myr'nn looked to J'onn, great naive happiness surrounding him. "J'onn, I do not know why you introduced me to coffee first. This brown water is vastly superior."
"Yeah, I don't take advantage of hot cocoa enough," J'onn said.
"I enjoy Christmas. What a wonderful way to close your year," Myr'nn said as Winn approached them once more. "Praying homage to an evergreen creature. It so reminds me of Life Day."
"Excuse me, hi, Life Day? As in the Star Wars Holiday Special?" Winn asked but Myr'nn looked confused. "It was on CBS. Princess Leia, like, sang a song...you have no idea what I'm talking about —— Oh, my God, you don't know what Star Wars is." He then looked at J'onn. "You probably don't know what Star Wars is."
"Excuse me?" J'onn asked, almost offended. "The Empire Strikes Back is the best movie sequel of all time."
"Man, I just love you more and more each day," Winn said before he and J'onn looked back at Myr'nn to find him confused.
"What's a sequel?" He asked.
Meanwhile, Iris and Alex walked together to get more refreshments while Kara and Barry mingled with Lena and James. "I mean, as far as parties go, this one doesn't suck, right?"
"No, it's great. It is. But how about you?" Alex asked and Iris looked at her while she stuffed a cookie in her mouth. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good," Iris mumbled, quickly swallowing down her food. "Yeah, totally. I love parties. And Christmas."
"I mean, like with...Mon-El and Imra," Alex said and Iris stiffed up. "I mean, this can't be easy."
"No, that's not easy, but you know what, here we are," Iris said before she looked at Alex's sad face. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, well, Christmas without Maggie, that's not my favorite thing, but we are not wallowing," Alex said.
"No. No, sir. And you know what, we can be single crones together," Iris said.
"Aww, crone buddies," Alex said, causing Iris to laugh.
But they were pulled away when someone knocked at the door. "I'll get it."
"Yeah, I forgot those," Iris said, quickly walking off to do other things while Alex walked up to the door.
When she did open the door, she found Ruby standing outside of it, all by herself. "Hey. Is everything okay? Where's your mom?"
Ruby then looked down the hall, where a very rushed Sam was running, holding presents and a bag of cookies. "Sorry. I'm late, I know. It's been a really long day, but I got the cookies."
"No worries. Come in," Alex said as Ruby and Sam walked in.
But as soon as they did, Sam laid her eyes on Kara, immediately noticing the big rock on her finger, and the handsome guy by her side. "Kara!" Kara and Barry looked at Sam, who was smiling. "How are you guys? How was the wedding? Is this Barry?"
"Yes!" Kara exclaimed happily. "This is Barry, my...husband." She then smiled even more, probably more than Barry. "I'm still getting used to that."
"Well get used to it, because it's forever baby," Barry said before he kissed her cheek.
Sam smiled at the couple while Alex closed the door. "I'm Sam. I'm Lena's new CFO."
"Oh, right. Kara told me about you. Nice to meet you," Barry said and Sam nodded before she placed her present on the table.
"Anyways, Christmas shopping, conference call with some very unpleasant men who were yelling at me in German, and then Ruby told me about the cookies, I'd forgot," Sam said, heading over to the food station, and getting the cookies out from the bag. "The Italian bakery that I really liked, it was closed, so, you know, you get these."
"Okay," Alex said with a smile. "Sounds like somebody needs to take a break and maybe have a drink. Or two."
"Yeah," Sam softly said as Alex led Ruby towards the couch.
"Did I ever tell you that I work with Supergirl and The Flash sometimes?" Alex asked her.
"Okay, I have four questions," Ruby said and Alex looked back at Sam again.
"Hey, Lena opened the hood stuff," she told her, who looked nothing but grateful.
Once Alex and Ruby sat on the couch, Ruby looked at Alex with excitement. "Okay, one, has Supergirl or The Flash taken you anywhere? And two, if so, how was it? And three—"
"Yes. Yes, yes. She has flown me, and he has speed me off. Several times. And, actually, last year, Flash caught me when Miss West and I jumped out of a skyscraper during a shoot-out," Alex explained and Ruby looked even more intrigued.
"Miss West jumped out of a skyscraper?" She asked.
"Yep. And Supergirl caught her," Alex said.
"Okay, I have more questions," Ruby said and Alex laughed.
By the island, as Sam poured herself a drink, Barry told Kara he was gonna go talk to the boys. She nodded and he walked over to them while Lena looked at Sam. "Hey. Are you okay? I mean, you look a little pale."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired, I guess," Sam said.
"Yeah, I get that," Lena said before she not very subtly looked across the room, to find James talking with Barry and Winn.
But mostly she was just staring at James.
And Sam seemed to notice.
"You know, if you wanted," Sam started causing Lena to look at her. "You could pull James Olsen right underneath that mistletoe."
"Jimmy?" Lena asked. "Don't be ridiculous."
"I mean, I think he likes you," Sam said.
"I'm his boss," Lena argued.
"Mmm. Yes, because that's never happened before," Sam said, and right then, Kara and Iris slid over to them, shining their bright smiles at them.
"Hi," Iris said.
"Hi," Sam said.
"And I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I've been noticing chemistry between you two for weeks now," Iris said.
"There's no chemistry, all right?" Lena said but Kara scoffed.
"Oh, please. It's off the charts," she said.
"Okay, I'm gonna have to kill all three of you, all right? But then I wouldn't have any of my friends, so, that wouldn't work. So I'm just gonna have some more scotch," Lena said before she started gulping down some more.
As the girls laughed, Iris stared at them all fondly. "You know, this year has been really tough for me, but I did get two really great things out of it. And that's you guys."
"Aw...I am not wearing waterproof mascara," Lena said but all that did was make Iris smile.
"I've always been blessed. You know, my family, and Kara here, they've always had my back, but I've never really had best friends. And I couldn't have gotten through what I've been through this year without you guys," Iris continued.
"Okay, now you're gonna make me cry," Sam said and Iris smiled more, while Kara placed an arm at her best friend.
"I am very grateful for the three of you," Lena said.
"Me too," Kara said.
"I love you guys," Iris said.
"Kara?" Kara immediately turned around to find that J'onn had walked up to her. "I just had a call, we gotta go." Kara sighed before looking across the room at Barry, and just by her look, he knew their honeymoon was officially over.
Outskirts of National City
Supergirl and The Flash walked with J'onn in a field of grass, with many DEO agents surrounding them, walking up to Agent Vasquez. "Looks like someone took a flamethrower to large swaths of the property."
"Any chance it was a brush fire?" J'onn asked.
"I don't think so," Agent Vasquez asked.
"But why call us for arson after the fact?" Supergirl asked. "The fire's already out."
"There's something you should see," Agent Vasquez asked.
"Where?" Flash asked.
"Birds-eye view," Agent Vasquez said, and just like that, Supergirl flew up into the sky, and looked down at the ground.
Burnt into the ground, was what looked to be a symbol, a symbol like hers. It was a House of Arms. The outlines looked something like her own, but inside, it was something far from. Something almost evil.
The DEO
Before going home that night, Supergirl stood in the room of the DEO where her mother's hologram was, whilst holding a tablet with a symbol on it. "I've seen this before, when I was a kid on a field trip to the ruins of old Krypton. What does it mean?"
"The symbols predate recorded history. The glyphs are known as Low Speech and used in Urrika, the Kryptonian continent where life began."
"And the people who used them?" Supergirl asked.
"The Juru were matriarchal. Tribal. Polytheistic. Over time, their sun god become known as Rao, the tribes began to worship Him alone, and modern Krypton was born."
"So, then the Book of Rao must have something that can help," Supergirl said.
"There is nothing in the book. The ruling council destroyed much of Krypton's so-called superstitions."
"But if someone's trying to send me a message through this, I have to know what is means. This feels important," Supergirl said.
"I represent the total accumulation of knowledge on the known twenty-eight galaxies. If I cannot translate it, the translation may not exist."
CatCo Worldwide Media
"These ominous symbols have appeared around the city overnight and the NCPD currently has no information on the source. With the city still reeling from the Daxamite invasion, these mysterious symbols are causing tensions to run high."
The next morning, James had his reporters in his office, to watch the news about the newest symbols being roasted everywhere across the city. Including Iris. "Okay, guys, I know it's the holidays, but we have some breaking news. We gotta pull some people in. We need eyewitness accounts. We need coverage on the City Council's press conference. Crime, I need you to talk to NCPD, figure out if they've initiated any lockdown procedures for federal buildings. Okay?" He began to come to a quick close once Lena walked into the office. "Guys, we need information. And we also need to decide how to frame this story so that we don't incite further panic."
"Mr. Olsen, can I have a word with you?" Lena asked.
"Sure. Let's get these stories into copy by noon. Thanks, guys," James said as all the reporters began to leave the office, except Iris, who hadn't been given a task yet. "And you, Iris, go help Kara...with that thing."
"You sure?" Iris asked.
"I'm sure," James said and Iris nodded before she quickly ran off, leaving James and Lena alone.
"Listen, I am less concerned with CatCo's response to this than who's doing this and why. The first appearance of this symbol, the crop circle, was on L-Corp property," Lena told him.
"So you think this is personal?" James asked.
"I think it's Morgan Edge. That man has a vendetta against me, and believe me, he will go to any lengths. Plus he's the only man who has the tech and the resources to pull something like this off. It's gotta be Edge," Lena said and James nodded before he began to walk out.
"Oh, I think it's time to pay that Don Johnson-wannabe a visit," he said.
"I was gonna go on my own," Lena said, following him.
"Not a chance," James said.