Kara

Author's note: This story is heavily inspired bySupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, and takes place one year prior to the events in that comic book.

Kara drank straight from the bottle.

Around her, the other patrons of the bar, representing a dozen races or so, paid her no attention, which is what she wanted. No one needing to be saved, no one to beg her for anything, no one looking to attack her -- just everyone leaving her alone. The translator comms worked overtime to allow arguments in a dozen different languages over which musical group was the best in the sector. A dozen different dress styles, too, everyone wearing something different. Kara was wearing a long brown leather coat over her usual blue costume. She wasn't hiding her identity per se; her coat was open and the emblem on her chest visible to anyone who looked.

Outside the windows the planet's granite peaks made for a stunning vista. The planet -- Kazar? Kazam? Kazua? it started with a "K," she knew that -- was unpleasant at sea level, what with high pressure and dense gases, but was more hospitable in the isolated vales and valleys of the towering mountains that made up one of the continental shelves. She took another swig from the bottle. It was a good way to spend a 20th birthday, she thought. She'd already decided she was going to do this again next year but next year she'd bring Krypto for company. She missed Krypto. She wished she'd brought him this year. Also, she thought maybe she'd pick a different planet. Kazan was nice but a little crowded for her tastes. Next year she'd find a more rural location around a different red sun. She took another swig.

Kara felt eyes on her from across the room. A green-skinned humanoid female with copper hair was unabashedly staring at her from the other side of the bar. She wore a semi-translucent light green one-piece dress, which was just decent enough to count as clothing while still highlighting the well-toned body beneath it. One shoulder was bare and at the other shoulder there was a jeweled brooch in the shape and color of a starburst. The woman wore several gold bangles on each lower arm and a pearl bracelet on one wrist. Kara ignored her and went back to drinking. When she looked back, though, the woman was still staring at her. Kara started wondering what the woman's deal was or if there was going to be trouble when the woman started walking over to her. Whatever her deal was, Kara thought to herself, she was about to find out.

"Excuse me," the woman said when she was standing by Kara's table, "Am I intruding?"

Kara, still seated, looked up at her. The woman was taller than Kara had initially thought. "I'm only drinking by myself," she said, "so no, you're not intruding."

"I saw you sitting over here and I felt bad that anyone so beautiful should be alone."

"Really, it's okay."

"I am Maja."

"Kara," Kara said, briefly waving.

"I am a Coluan, if you are at all curious."

"I know. I've encountered your kind before."

"Oh, yes, that's right, of course you have. May I join you?"

Kara gestured to the empty seat on the other side of the table. Maja claimed it. She reached across and grasped the bottle that Kara had been drinking from, brought the opening to her nose, and sniffed, recoiling slightly backward as she did. "Not the most appealing aroma," she said. She looked at the label. "Hardly a top shelf selection."

"It gets the job done," Kara said.

"What job is that?"

"You know," Kara said, shrugging. "Intoxication. Getting high. Taking your mind off of things."

"What it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in brute force. One is tempted to remark that it's a possible commentary on the user." She put the bottle back down on the table. "Are you enjoying your stay on Alkazar?"

Kara inwardly cursed herself at hearing the planet's correct name. "Yes," she answered, "I haven't really seen too much of the sights. Been staying indoors with my good friend here," she said pointing to the bottle.

"You should have an escort, someone to show you around. I'd be happy to volunteer."

"I think I'll be fine but thank you for offering."

"I must confess, I already had some idea who you were before I came over to your table. There are so few Kryptonians these days, and those few are well known, at least in certain sectors. Even if there'd been any doubt, it was dispelled by the sign of the House of El," and Maja briefly looked down towards the emblem on Kara's chest to emphasize her point.

"My cousin tends to get most of the attention," Kara said.

"Perhaps so but I'm less interested in the last Son of Krypton than I am in its Last Daughter."

"I'm flattered but not interested. Sorry."

"And why is that? Have I offended you?"

"No. Just not my type."

"And what is your type?"

"Someone else."

"And yet you allowed me to sit here and join you. So, I obviously don't repel you, either."

Maja motioned for the server, an orange-skinned humanoid with half-a-dozen tentacles for legs, to bring her an empty glass. The server did so and Maja poured some of the libation that Kara had been enjoying into the glass, and took a sip, wincing visibly as she did so. "The first impression was correct," Maja said.

"It's an acquired taste," Kara said.

"So many things are."

"What are we celebrating?"

"My birthday."

"Happy birthday. Is that by the Terran calendar or...?"

"Kryptonian."

"Yes, of course. Regular occurrence, this?"

"Maybe. I feel like I'm doing all the talking here. Tell me about yourself, please."

"Certainly. I grew up on Colu. I was fortunate enough to be born into a family of sufficient wealth and status that I never lacked for anything. Upon graduation from the science academy, I decided that I wanted to travel. I've spent the last decade leisurely touring this star cluster. A few months ago I arrived here to Alkazar and I've been resting here until I'm ready to resume my travels."

"And what do you like about travel?"

"Oh, broadening my horizons, expanding my knowledge."

"Uh huh. Now tell me what you really like about it."

"Finding beauty. Beautiful places, beautiful people. Enjoying them."

"Right. So how long are you here for?"

"I had been thinking of moving on soon, but I think that I've found a reason to stay a little longer."

"Again," Kara said, "I'm flattered but not interested."

"Smile for me."

"What?" Kara said, pausing with the bottle halfway to her mouth.

"Smile for me."

"Why?"

"Because."

Kara put the bottle back down and just stared at Maja for a moment or two. Then, slowly but surely, she smiled at Maja.

"There," Maja said, "Just as I thought. Beautiful. Let's take our conversation back to my residence. We can drink and converse there. I promise you I have far better concoctions than here."

"Residence? I thought you were traveling."

"I'm renting a small place not too far away, on the outskirts of this city. It's only a few minutes away."

"I should say no."

"You should say yes. Why hesitate?"

But Kara did hesitate. "I'm sorry," Kara said after a pause, "but I'll pass."

Maja shrugged. She reached up to her brooch, detached a small orange jewel from it, and handed it to Kara. "Here," she said, "take this."

"What is it?"

"Other than decorative, it also serves as a transmitter and homing beacon. When you change your mind, speak into it and I'll come."

"What do I say?"

"Whatever you like." Maja stood. "Good evening to you, Kara Zor-El, and I look forward to our next meeting." And with that she took her leave.

Kara stayed a while longer, finishing the first bottle and a second after that, before walking back to the nearby spacedock and her berthed vessel. She took off her boots and coat, went straight to her bunk, and threw herself down on it. She had hoped to fall asleep quickly, but she found herself awake in bed with nothing to do and no one else to be with. She got up and went into the control station, sitting in the pilot's chair. On the monitor she brought up old videos of friends and fellow heroes on Earth from previous birthdays on Earth, when they'd shower her with gifts and food. In the videos they tried to hide it but she still saw the slight pitying looks on their faces, pity for Kara, who had no family but her one cousin, the man on the pedestal. She turned off the monitor and sat in silence. She thought of Maja of the green skin and copper hair. She hadn't lied, Maja wasn't really her type, but she had to admit she was attractive. She was also direct, but Kara could hardly fault her for that; if anything, it gave her something in common with Maja. She wondered what it would be like to spend time with the Coluan. She wondered how far Maja would want to take things. Probably farther than Kara would want to go. She got up, went back to her bunk, and that time did manage to fall asleep.

The next day she slept in and then returned to the same bar for more of the same. She didn't see Maja again. As she drank, she thought about Maja's jewel that was safely back in her ship. She thought about it a lot.

After another night of loneliness, she returned to the bar a third time.

"More of the same, huh?" the bartender said when he saw her, a wide leer on his face.

"Just serve the stuff," Kara muttered.

As she sat at what was becoming her usual table, Kara reached into her coat pocket and took out Maja's jewel. She held it up and looked at it for a long time before she made her decision. She held it to her lips.

"Okay," she said into it.

Then put it down on the table and resumed drinking. It took Maja less than an hour to arrive and when she did she walked straight over to Kara, all smiles. She was wearing an identical dress to last time except that day it was blue.

Kara handed the jewel back to Maja. "Let's go to your place," Kara said.

A hovercar flew them from the tavern to Maja's residence. The "small place" she had referred to turned out to be a small palace, room enough for a hundred people, with a magenta crystalline exterior. The roof rose in pointed shafts both in replication of and in homage to the surrounding mountain peaks. They landed on a circular landing pad adjacent to four-meter tall doors that automatically opened for them. The hallway beyond was long and wide with marble floor and walls. All was quiet but for the sound of Maja's heels and Kara's boots on the floor the two entered. Maja walked halfway down and turned to her left, placing her palm on the wall.

A portion of the wall recessed upward, and Maja entered with Kara following. They were in a large circular hall, the walls plastered with frescoes of varied carnality, depictions of humanoids from multiple worlds enacting all manner of sexual acts. The room was full of humanoid sculptures, all nude. Some were in white marble, some in color, some remarkably lifelike. Kara stopped near the center of the room to look at one of the lifelike sculptures. So accurate did it appear at first glance that Kara briefly wondered if it was real and for a second regretted not having her enhanced senses to be able to tell.

As she stepped closer, though, she realized it was only a recreation but an incredible one. It was a statue of a nude woman in a transparent box, only the edges and vertices of her container visible. The woman was sitting against one wall, with one foot on the floor and the other lifted up and planted on the opposite wall. Her skin was a light peach in color, her hair brown, her nipples pink. Between her legs peeked a bare, plump vulva. Her head was looking down but she didn't appear upset or sad or disconsolate; likewise, she didn't look happy or overjoyed either. She looked content. Kara stood for a minute, just walking around the statue and examining it thoroughly, before looking up and seeing Maja waiting for her by the opposite wall where another door had opened. She joined her and they entered the next room, a small lounge with deep-cushioned furniture, a plush carpeted floor, and mirrors along the walls.

"Please sit," Maja enjoined, and Kara sat on one of the couches.

An ovate robotic servitor entered with treads instead of legs and feet, an upside-down tear-shaped torso, a small half-dome for a head, and two overlong arms. It held a silver tray on which rested two flutes filled with sparking golden liquid. The women each took one. Kara took a sip. It was fizzy and tasted like fruit; she instantly liked it.

"So," Kara said, drawing out the word, "what did you have in mind?"

"Let's start with some conversation," Maja said, sitting down on a different couch facing Kara.

"What, more talking?"

"Just a little bit," Maja said, leaning back, "tell me about Kara Zor-El."

"What's to tell?" Kara said. "You seem to know a lot about me already."

"I know everything that there is to know publicly. But all of that is about some other person, someone named 'Supergirl.' I don't know her and I'm not interested in her. I want to know about Kara. Tell me about that girl."

"I'm not a girl."

"No, no, you're not. I suspect that you're not super, either. At least not all the time. Anyway, let's start with this -- why a planet with a red sun?"

"What do you mean?"

"You could go anywhere. Why go to a planet under a red sun?"

"Easier to get drunk," Kara said.

"Easier, yes, because under a red sun your powers that you'd have under a yellow sun are neutralized. Lots of things go away under a red sun -- your powers, your responsibilities, your cares. That's correct, yes?"

"You got me," Kara said, still sipping from her drink "That's it."

"Yes... except that that's not even the main reason. Go on and say what the main reason is."

"...I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't do that. Don't play dumb. You know what I'm referring to. We both know. Say it out loud."

"Why?"

"Because you need to acknowledge it. Why do you celebrate your birthday under a red sun, Kara?"

Kara didn't answer for several moments. "Because the sun in the sky should be red, not yellow," she finally said.

Maja nodded. "Now we get at the heart of it. A red sun is your sun, the right sun, the sun of your home. Your cousin is called the Last Son of Krypton. He's not known for carousing in public. He's not known for drinking to excess, or at all for that matter. He's not known for self-destructive behavior. But then, you and he are quite different. For instance he never actually witnessed Krypton die, did he?"

"Tread carefully," Kara said in a low voice.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend. In fact, the opposite; I want to help you, Kara."

"Who says I need help?"

"I do. There's no shame in admitting that you have trauma in your past. There's no shame in acknowledging you're in pain. There's no shame in wanting that pain to end. Let me help."

"How?"

"By enabling you to escape all that. Allow me to provide what you need."

"Again, how?"

"Through pleasure."

"What kind of pleasure?"

"Anything and everything. But why tell you when you can discover for yourself."

"What do you get out of this?"

Maja shrugged. "Maybe I'm bored. Maybe I'm looking to curry favor with a powerful individual, with powerful friends. Maybe I find you attractive and want to fuck you. Maybe I see someone in pain and want them to be happy. Maybe I just like you and want to be with you."

"And what would I have to do?"

"Let go. That's it. I'll see to the rest."

Kara didn't answer immediately, and when she did she spoke slowly, as if word carried tremendous weight. "Let's say you're right. I'm not saying that you are, but, for sake of discussion, let's say that you are. What of it?"

"Only that you don't have to continue living that way. Let me help you, Kara. Place your trust in me."

"That might be asking a lot."

"It might be."

"This feels like a trap."

"It could be."

"Okay," Kara said. "When would we begin?"

"Right now." Maja touched one of the pearls on her bracelet; it glowed a faint blue as she did so. A minute later the servitor robot reappeared. On its tray sat a white pill resting atop a small pink cushion.

"What is this?" Kara asked.

"A relaxant," Maja said.

"I prefer alcohol."

"That's a bit of a false distinction. Both get you where you want to go."

"I don't want anything addictive."

"Give my species some credit for having advanced enough pharmaceuticals that that's not a concern. If it's a matter of trust, Kara, you already decided to trust me when you summoned me."

Kara hesitated another moment before reaching over and taking the pill. It had a firm, smooth texture but it dissolved quickly under Kara's tongue. It only took a minute for Kara to start feeling its effect. A tremendous sense of peace fell over Kara and she settled into the cushions of her chair, not moving or saying anything for minutes, just enjoying the sensation. Additionally, there was a sense of warmth throughout her body. She liked how it felt. She liked the way that Maja was looking at her, liked the unabashed desire in Maja's eyes.

"You're beautiful," Maja told her.

Kara blushed. Her tongue felt thick in her mouth.

"Do people tell you that? That you're beautiful?"

"Sometimes," Kara managed to say.

"Is there anyone special in your life, Kara?"

"No."

"There should be. A special woman like you deserves someone special. She deserves special treatment. She deserves special attention."

She stood up and walked over to Kara, holding out both of her hands. Kara took them and Maja helped pull her to her feet, the room seeming to sway just a little to Kara as she moved. Maja led Kara over to one of the mirrors and then stood behind her. She put her hands on Kara's shoulders. The two women looked at their reflections.

"You put too much on your shoulders," Maja said. She took off Kara's jacket, letting it pool on the floor at her feet. Kara let her, saying nothing, not even as Maja unclasped her red cape and let that fall to the floor as well. Kara felt comfortable, docile even, under Maja's gaze and under her hands. She found herself wanting to please the other woman.

"This outfit," Maja continued, "you don't need it." She reached around Kara's waist and began unfastening Kara's belt. There was a tiny thud when it hit the floor.

"You don't need any of it. Raise your arms."

Kara did and with a strong, sure touch, Maja lifted Kara's tunic up and off her.

"You can just be yourself."

Maja took hold of Kara's skirt and pulled it off. A moment later she pulled off her undergarments as well and then Kara was nude before the other woman.

"There," Maja said. "At last. All artifice gone. Now you're natural, unadorned, free."

In the mirror, Kara saw the clear look of approval on the Coluan's face, saw her eyes look over every bit of the rear of Kara's body. Then she was walking around her, her eyes still raking Kara's body up and down, until she was standing in front of her and instead of her own reflection Kara could only see the Maja's beaming face. She leaned forward and kissed Kara lips, a quick, chaste kiss. The robotic servitor had rolled up next to them and Maja reached down to its tray and picked up a small white bowl. In that small white bowl was a small pile of glittering purple dust.

"Do you wish to continue?" Maja asked.

"I do," Kara answered.

"I need to hear you say it. There must be no doubt or confusion."

"I want to continue. I want you to show me pleasure."

Maja took the bowl in one hand and dumped the power out into the upheld palm of her other hand. Then she blew it into Kara's face. Kara breathed it in, blinked rapidly. All of a sudden Kara felt an overwhelming sense of arousal. Her skin felt electric. Her nipples hardened and her sex was drenched. A smile broke out across her face.

"How do you feel?" Maja asked.