Chapter 2

[Styker's Island]

"What do you mean...she had help?" Kal-El questioned at the nervous Damian who was standing before the Kryptonian outside of Kara's former cell. The young adult dared not look Kal in the eyes, he kept his pupils diverted from the Kryptonian's own.

"I-i mean exactly as I said Superman...someone came to save her and.." Damian stammered, but felt shame and embarrassment from wanting to tell his idol the truth.

"And what?" Kal questioned with arms folding over his chest, his tone a stern one.

"A-and...incapacitated both me and Adam. It was like they knew how to take us down...as if they've seen how we've fought." Damian finished, but heard a sigh leave from Kal's lips as he moved a hand up to his chin. Damian dared a glance to see Kal in a thinking pose now.

"Were they male or female?" Kal asked.

"Male, definitely male. He was strong, fast, even smart." Damian replied.

"Then we have a someone who has been under our radar for a long time." A female voice spoke, revealing it to be an approaching Diana. She had a stern look about her as she approached the two with a tablet in hand. "

Kal looked to Diana and locked his eyes on the tablet in hand. "I assume that there's recording of what happened?"

"Not only that, but also a message." Diana replied then held up the tablet and began to show Kal the beating that both Damian and Adam suffered. Damian was expecting to be scolded but watched as Kal's expression became a mixture of curiosity and concern. The Kryptonian was watching a figure who may or may not be human. From what he was seeing, this black armored individual was likely a superhuman of some kind who has been off of their radar. There was no telling if there were others alongside him.

"Batman!" Kal suddenly called as he watched the man escaping with his cousin in the video recording. The former caped Crusader seemingly appeared out of nowhere, nearly startling Damian despite having been trained by him. "Did you take anyone else under your wing during my absence?"

"No." The controlled Batman answered instantly.

"Let me rephrase the question, did you train anyone else outside all the others you trained?"

"No."

Kal began to grow a worried look as he watched the man escape into the night aboard a plane of some kind that cloaked. Diana noticed Kal's concerned look, and decided to try and ease his concerns. "Kal it's just one man, what can one man do?"

"One man can spend years trying to beat me and eventually win because he had the patience and determination for it." Kal retorted before sending a glance to the blank looking Batman. Diana did the same and frowned, understanding where Kal was coming from. They had lost poorly years prior towards a single man, with only Black Adam and Cyborg being out of his reach.

"What do you want us to?" Damian questioned, hoping to make up his failure to Kal. The Kryptonian turned to Damian and gave him a softened look before placing his hand on Damian's shoulder.

"I want you, Damian, to hit the showers and take a break. Then when you're done, work with Cyborg to find any sort of information on this man or any accomplices. He's out there with my cousin and planning to the peace that we just won", Kal said with a charismatic voice as he looked to Diana now, "I don't care what you have to do, just make sure that this man is found. If you can, bring him in alive, I want to know who trained him and where he came from. Then and only then do we bring the hammer down on whomever decided to make themselves out to be our enemy..."

[Kanoa, City District]

"Wow!" Kara exclaimed as she walked down the street, passing Kanoans left and right in different shapes and sizes. She was estactic, having never seen a city built by Metahumans alone and have been hidden for so long. At the same time, she wondered if this was the only city that hadn't been touched by disease or war. For the citizens seemed to enjoy the peace that they have. Xendor spoke about wanting to get involved, but did the rest of the Kanoans want to do the same thing?

As if on que, Xendor walked up from behind her with arms behind his back. A warm smile on his face and a raised brow pointed to her. "You are more childish than I thought, no wonder hope resides with your family." He commented.

Xendor's commented made Kara blush from embarrassment. She hadn't seen the world before, only when it was attacked and when she had believed in Black Adam's lies. Kara mentally scolded herself once more, like the many times that she did before when she was back in her cell. She should have tried to explore more, tried to understand everything. Instead she played the fool and walked right into fighting the true heroes.

"Kara?" Xendor called, causing her to flinch and look to him now. She noticed that he was giving her a worried look, having noticed that she went silent on him so obviously. Kara immediately dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand before giving him a reassuring smile.

"It's nothing, just thinking about a few things", Kara stated, "Say, how does Kanoa stay hidden from the rest of the world?"

Xendor watched her for a moment, knowing that she had been thinking about troubled thoughts. Though he did take up the chance to change the subject. "Well that is because we are not in our normal pocket dimension. See, Kanoan scientists had long created a pocket dimension for which we could hide in. Before that we had resided upon a continent that had long been destroyed. Hence when all seemed lost, we escaped into this pocket dimension. Hidden away from the rest of the world...but always aware of the passing of time. We were able to see all of the events that transpired for over a thousand years. Knowing how many wars, plagues, even regimes that rose and fell."

Kara stared up at Xendor invested in the tale that he was narrating for her. She was shocked that a race of humans were advanced enough to create pocket dimensions. Even then, they were able to remain hidden despite the many crazed humans who lived and died across Earth's history. "Wait, so you're basically saying that Kal can't find us?" Kara questioned for confirmation.

"More or less, though if he and the one that he calls Cyborg place their minds together...they will eventually find a way to get here." Xendor answered.

Kara frowned, then looked at the city that they were walking through. Her peaceful sky blue pupils landing on the paradise of this city. How peaceful it looked, how happy the people acted. She didn't want them to face what Kal would bring down upon them. The Kryptonian just knew that Kal wouldn't spare them, especially since they hold vast knowledge and advanced technology that could be beyond even Braniac. That was when Kara began to wonder why they were walking through the city. She knew that she wasn't aware of the layout, but she wondered where exactly that they were going. "So Xendor, where are you taking me?" Kara asked.

"Well, to be trained by our most physical powerful Kanoan." Xendor replied coolly before coming to a stop near a skyscraper sized gymnasium. He looked up at it for a moment before walking up to the door. Kara followed behind Xendor as they entered the skyscraper.

Inside were Kanoans in a black and gray uniforms. Each had different insignia coloring on their chests showing their ranking. It had seemed that those with purple insignias were the ones mostly in charge. Though each were following the orders of a woman that Kara could hear further ahead with her super-hearing. The voice that she was hearing sounded as if they were of African descent. Xendor and Kara continued to walk, with the Kryptonian trying to keep pace with him. Every Kanoan who saw Xendor either nodded their heads or saluted to him. It was obvious that he held some form of rank above all of them.

Kara stared wide eyed at the many Kanoans walking about, doing their duties, or training with different weapons being from spears, swords, or projectile weaponry. Xendor would come to a stop as they reached a large white spacious room. It was an opened doorway, showing more than a hundred men and women laid out in white skin tight spandex like bodysuits. Each were bruised up, out cold, or groaning from pain. At the center of the room was a tall dark skinned woman, she had a physique befitting an Amazon. Actually compared to normal Amazons, she looked stronger. She was adorned with white chrome like armor as well as a red cape hanging from her back. A shield of the same material was in her hand, as well as a gleaming bronze like sword. Kara gazed at her with wonder, and couldn't help but admire her. The woman turned to show her facial features, locking eyes directly with Xendor. She had piercing blue eyes that looked as if they were that of lightning. Long dark brown hair that reached past her shoulders and had elements of orange at the strand tips. As well as a stoic like expression that slowly turned into one of fondness upon seeing Xendor.

"Xendor, you've returned", The woman greeted before looking to Kara with a raised brow, "Is this the one that you went to rescue? She doesn't look like much, do all you Kryptonians have more bark than bite?"

Kara was taken aback by the woman's sudden questions about herself and her kind. Though she couldn't help but give her a wry smile as Xendor replied. "Yes, this is Kara. Kara? This is Taia, Kanoa's resident Amazon, as well as your mentor for the time being."

Kara felt her eyes widen as she heard the name Amazon being used. Did that mean that Taia was on par with Diana if she was to he an Amazon? Why was she here instead of being with her people?

Taia chuckled at the surprised look on Kara's face. She sheathed her sword into her shield before making her way over to the two. "I am only half of an Amazon, the other half is Kanoan. My father was that said Kanoan, though my mother couldn't care less." Taia stated.

Even so, Kara was still staring wide eyed up at Taia. The armored woman was easily 2 inches taller than Xendor, as if this woman was descended down from giants. Taia placed a hand on her hip and leaned back onto her right side. She gave Kara a once over before giving the girl an appraising look. "You don't seem like much, but you have potential. Come on, I'll show you some basic combat stances and we'll go from there."

Kara blinked twice then looked to Xendor who gave her a nod. Though a worried look came onto Kara's face, she didn't like the idea of being left to train while he risked his life to save the world. As if reading her thoughts, Xendor decided to ease her concerns. "Worry not, I'm not as foolish as to try and take down your cousin's short lived empire alone. What happened last night was months of planning put into work. We have yet to plan on how to disrupt, and dismantle the Regime."

Kara felt a small smile come to her lips as she felt relieved. Though something inside of her was telling her that Xendor was not telling her the full truth. For now however, she gave him a nod and turned to Taia who waited for her. With a deep breathe leaving her, Kara stepped forward and watched as Taia sneaked a suckerpunch. The Kanoan warrior hit Kara with a quick right hook, that sent the Kryptonian off of her feet and holding her cheek. She looked up at Taia in shock and confusion as she held her cheek. The woman's punch hurt more than she thought that it would. To Kara it felt more like that Taia was holding back when she hit her. "I was told that you Kryptonians are capable of reacting with superior speed. You just confirmed to me how inexperienced you are when it comes to fighting. Had your cousin wanted, he could have killed you when you turned against him. That will change if you get back up on your feet...and face me." Taia said with a stoic, yet experienced tone.

Kara rubbed her cheek as she gave the Kanoan warrior a determined look. She got into a free form stance, and watched as Taia remained still making no moves. Then suddenly Kara rushed forward, using her speed to try and overcome Taia. However the Kanoan reacted quickly and smacked Kara with her shield in a backhand motion. The Kryptonian went flying across the room and skidding across the floor. She then rolled to the side upon seeing Taia coming in trying to stomp on her.

"I thought that you said that you'd show me basic stances!" Kara exclaimed as she rose to her feet quickly.

"I lied...NOW FIGHT!" Taia ordered before rushing at Kara once again.

Xendor had been watching from the sidelines as the Kanoans within the room quickly made their escape before the two woman fought. He stayed for a moment longer, before turning and leaving Kara to her training. The Kanoan had told Kara a half truth, he and his people were not ready to dismantle Superman's Regime. That being said, they were more than prepared to dismantle his control over the poor souls who resisted him. The Kryptonian male was strong, moreso than Kara was because he had experience. As well as a loyal manipulative Amazon who has not left his side. Xendor planned to disrupt their plans to ensure the Regime's return. The world only bowed down because of fear, give them a reason to doubt, then that fear leaves almost immediately.

[Kanoa, Lower Levels]

Xendor was inside of an elevator that continued to go down. There were roughly 300 levels that the elevator could go to. He was going to the lowest level to meet Kanoa's most intelligent individual. In a few moments, the elevator opened to reveal a dark sleekly designed hallway with dim lights above. Xendor stepped out of the elevator and marched down the hallway with a serious expression. Within the hallway were armored Kanoans wearing bulky armor, but seemingly boasting no weapons. They stood a good 6"1 in height and seemed to be guarding the door at the end of the hallway. As Xendor reached said door, he watched it slide open to reveal a gym sized laboratory.

Xendor stepped inside slowly, and began walking about, looking at different items inside. Eventually he came to a halt when he saw a lean builded man tinkering with something. He wore a deep sea blue uniform, had a trimmed beard midnight black hair, and silver gray eyes. He turned and saw Xendor standing there and simply gave him a nod. "Xendor, I was expecting you." The Kanoan male greeted dryly.

"I hope that I wasn't interrupting anything Kincaid." Xendor apologized as he watched Kincaid continue to work.

"No, just simply having a bad day. Ever since you issued me to create some kind of jammer that would aid in removing the control devices on those soulless husks...the task has proven to become more and more troublesome." Kincaid replied, then grabbed a handle and watched as a blue construct came put in the shape of a screwdriver spew out of the handle. He then used it to screw in something, and within seconds he let out a sigh of relief. "Ah finally, progress."

Xendor raised a brow before walking forward. As he reached Kincaid, he looked over the man's shoulders to see a slender black remote of sorts sit upon a work table. He stared at it for a moment then looked to Kincaid with a questioning look.

"The device is a prototype, however the only way to test it is if we have a live subject. It can, theoretically, jam and removed Superman's control of any of the soulless husks that he employs." Kincaid explained, then watched as Xendor reached over to pick up and lift the device into his hand gently. He gazed over it, taking the design in before setting it back down.

"You require a live subject? I will get you one, just be ready to test the device once I return." Xendor commanded, getting a nod from Kincaid. When Xendor went to leave, Kincaid's next words made him pause.

"Xendor, do you really think that the Kryptonian that you brought back can make a difference? She's naive, unaware to the darkness that surrounds the rest of the world...she will be set up to fail just like her cousin." Kincaid warned.

Xendor glanced back at the Kanoan with a knowing look. "True, though that is only if we allow her to."

"You plan for Kanoa to be involved with the rest of the world?"

"No, I plan to involve us in crisis events that concerned the rest of our people. Don't fret old friend, Kara is merely to replace the former Man of Steel. When the time comes, I plan to end his life myself....regardless of what Kara will think of me."