Chapter 48 - 48 Party (1/2)

Back in New York, a young man, probably in his early twenties was sitting down on on his rooftop pool with nothing but a pair of beach shorts on his body as loud music played in the background. The screams and shouts from other young men and women exclaimed from all around the two story penthouse. The young man had a serene smile on his face as he sipped an alcoholic beverage laced with Aldebaran Rum.

This was obviously Gray. Although this wasn't his house. Other than someone he knew, Gray wouldn't let anyone else in his penthouse. The Team had already been there so them coming up one floor to use his pool was fine, if they informed him beforehand.

He was know a member of New York's elite. A pro-alien rights supporter hoping to bridge the gap between human and non-human races.

”Hey handsome! You here by yourself?”, a pretty voice resounded out from behind him. A slight Asian accent could be heard, despite the excellent English the eastern looking beauty had.

He was also a young man in his twenties. One that was very heavily influenced by Heroes who were known for their promiscuity. Having a beautiful woman such as Lancer nod her head at such a statement didn't help one bit.

The handsome, raven haired loner sipping drinks like they were water gave a small smile to the beautiful black haired girl that came up to him under the influence of her friends constant peer pressure, that Gray could hear thanks to his enhanced hearing.

”I'm not any more”, the girl smiled under the sudden interest and glanced back at her group of friends who gave her the thumbs up at Gray's words.

”I don't normally do this, but um, I was wondering if I could get your number? My friends dared me to come up to you and ask but-”. She was about to finish her sentence before a ringing sound came from the pocket of the raven haired man in front of her, causing him to frown for a moment before giving her an apologetic smile.

He pulled out the smartphone from his pocket and walked away from the pretty noirette, much to the disappointed look on both of their faces.

”What?”, said the Pseudo-Servant with a frown.

A familiar bubbly tone came through the device, yet their was an edge in the sixteen year olds voice that wasn't their the last time Gray had seen her, what it was about, he already knew.

”Why?”, was the only word that came through the phone.

Gray sighed and leaned over the rails of the penthouse, looking over at the view of Central Park from the skyline.

”I didn't tell you because there was no reason to. They're my secrets. There is any reason for why I should have to tell you, or the rest of the Team”.

A hurt cry came from the other side. Kara seemed almost physically hurt from the harshness of Gray's words.

”I thought we were friends! Friends should trust each-”.

”I've known you for all of seven days Kara. On the first day we met you and the other members of the Team were trying to find clues about my whereabouts. You got too close. Lying was the best possible way to keep my secret”.

Gray interrupted the Kryptonian and the sound of crying came through from the other side. He flinched at the sudden harshness of his tone, but resolved himself and continued speaking.

”I understand that it may feel as though I've known you longer, but the truth is that ”they”, ”they” being the other versions of you, are in fact not. Galatea, Snowbird, Powergirl, Kara In-Ze, Kara Danvers, Jane Kent, none of them are you. But you're not them either”.

”So what? I'm replaceable?”, a sobbing voice came from the other side, feminine shouts from Mareena, Cassie and Barbara exclaimed in the background as the sound of Kara breaking the sound barrier to go higher and higher away from the other members of the Team could be heard.

”No, I did not say that. The reason I did not tell you that I was Rider was because I didn't want a battle with the Team. Fighting you would've meant having to win, and to win would be to beat up Conner and Wally again. That would only antagonize the League further upping my threat status in their eyes. Tell Barbara that I'm sorry for retaliating so harshly, and that Conner needs to widen his stance if he wants to use his opponents momentum against them”.

A slight hiccup came from the other side of the phone. And the sixteen year olds words started to slur slightly.

”But what about me! You haven't said anything about me! It's always Conner do this, and Barbara do that!.... Do I not mean anything to you?”.

Another hiccup came through the phone.

”Kara. You are sixteen you know that? ”We”, can't work, you do know that?”.

Her words started to slur some more.

”I don't care! I don't care what your stupid Earth laws say! Love between two people should be unhindered! If not, I'll blow them up with my lasers! Pew, pew!”.