Chapter 72

Outside the Metropolitan University, Kara, Clark, and Lex Luthor sat at a table near the window of a nearby restaurant. Although the university's cafeteria was known for its good, albeit expensive, food, Kara thought it inappropriate to treat them there.

There were three of them, and Kara finally met Lex Luthor, the friend Clark had mentioned. She found it strange that Lex, who was still in school, was in the same grade and even shared a dorm with Clark. Surprisingly, young Lex had a full head of hair, unlike the bald figure he'd become known for in the future.

As Kara stared at Lex, she found herself wondering what could have caused him to lose all his hair later in life. Lex, clearly feeling a bit uneasy under the gaze of such a beautiful woman, shifted uncomfortably.

Kara, however, had a mission: to figure out if this young Lex Luthor was a threat to her brother or someone she could trust. After some conversation, she discovered that Lex wasn't evil, at least not yet. He had strong views on society, and even an idealistic side. Lex talked about the disparity between the wealthy and the poor, about how opportunities were unfairly distributed, and how he intended to use his family's fortune to make a difference by promoting social justice and offering opportunities to those less fortunate.

Kara found herself impressed, feeling some relief that Lex had good intentions. He even expressed interest in philanthropy, something he would go on to pursue with charity galas and institutions.

"That's a noble goal, Lex," Kara said, nodding. "Using your resources for the greater good is always the right choice."

Lex seemed pleased by her approval, and Kara thought that maybe, just maybe, if Lex could hold onto this moral compass, he could become a great ally for Clark rather than the adversary she knew he might eventually become.

After their meal, Kara felt satisfied. Her goal of testing Lex had been achieved, and now she was content leaving Clark in what seemed like good hands. She bid farewell to both Clark and Lex and headed to her car. She planned to drive home, have dinner with her adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, and enjoy a rare restful weekend.

The days passed peacefully for a while. Kara stuck to her routine, enjoying the calm that had settled over her life. But that peace was shattered one night when she was jolted awake by the ringing of her phone.

Annoyed, Kara answered the call, only to hear Bruce Wayne's voice on the other end.

"Kara, it's Jennifer. She's been hurt."

The news shocked her, instantly clearing the sleep from her mind. "What did you say?" Kara's voice rose with urgency, her irritation replaced with fear. "What happened?"

"There was a bomb in her car," Bruce explained quickly, his voice steady but grim. "She noticed something was off and managed to get out before the explosion, but she was still injured."

Kara felt her heart race. "Is she okay?"

"She's not seriously hurt, just a few scrapes and bruises. I'm with her at the hospital now. She's safe."

"Who did this?" Kara's voice turned cold, anger seeping into her words.

"Joker," Bruce replied. "A madman who's been terrorizing Gotham. If you've been following the news, you may have heard of him."

Kara clenched her jaw, her hands trembling with rage. She wasn't entirely familiar with Gotham's current chaos, but she knew enough about the Joker to understand how dangerous he was.

Without wasting another moment, Kara hung up the phone, jumped out of bed, and began preparing to drive to Gotham. She couldn't ignore this—not when Jennifer's life had been put in jeopardy. Though Bruce hadn't directly asked for her help, she knew she couldn't stand idly by.

On her way, she made a quick call to her boss, Perry White. "Perry, I need to take some time off," she said.

Perry, clearly groggy from being woken up, groaned on the other end of the line. "What for?"

"Jennifer was involved in a terrorist attack. I have to be there."

There was a pause, then Perry sighed. "What are you going to do about it? You're not a cop."

Kara smirked. "Perry, how do you think I always get those exclusive photos of Batman? Why do you think I have first-hand info on Gotham's underworld? Don't be naïve."

Perry stammered in response. "Wait, what are you implying? No, you know what, forget it. Just… bring back something good for the paper."

With that, Kara ended the call and put her foot down on the gas. She was going to Gotham, and this time, she wouldn't be standing on the sidelines.