Supergirl Invictus - A Resurrection Comedy - Chapter 8 : The Chic shall inherit the Earth

"No really I'm sure she was a blur of motion" opined Edna Danvers his wife.

"Oh yes it was inspiring...it was done so quickly and now the watch keeps perfect time!"

Fred sat back at the breakfast table and smiled.

"Soo-oo" purred Edna.

"So if our super daughter can do all that at super speed and more, how come she still spends a half hour fussing with her hair and make up before breakfast??"

"Ignorance of the ways of women is a sad shortcoming in modern men" chided Edna.

"You guys are talking about me I just know it!" Linda Danvers their beloved adopted super-daughter finally popped into the kitchen-all smiles as usual.

That half hour of primping seems to have paid off, her complexion was pure peaches and cream, she wore a soft salmon colored miniskirt with a white men's shirt and a dark purple embroidered vest.

She favored sandals and two long luxurious braids.

The Girl of Steel tucked into a huge breakfast including pancakes tea, sliced fruit....

Fred marveled at his daughter's indelicate eating habits.

"Deposing the President sure works up an appetite" he taunted.

"Oh Daddy he was a robot after all no loss!" Linda rolled her eyes comically.

"Okay just as long has he was a robot" harrumphed Fred.

"It's not like you voted him or anything" teased Linda.

Fred conceded defeat and looked at his watch "Well gotta hit the old grindstone-c'mon

Darling Daddy will drive you to school".

Linda stood up and hefted her none-too-light book bag.

"My goodness look at the time-I'll be late for work too" said Edna.

Linda and her father stopped dead in their tracks at the door and moaned in unison

"WORK!!??"

"Mom you have a job!?" said Linda incredulously.

"Time change my love...these days I write fundraising proposals for a local non profit."

She kissed her husband and daughter on the forehead "Run along Mommie has work to do, meatloaf tonight don't forget!"

Linda and her father trooped out to the car and roared off to Midvale High School.

***

"Linda darling...?"

"Yes Dad...?"

"I was wondering now that you are a sophisticated young lady maybe you might wanna think about well...maybe changing your hairstyle?"

"Changing my braids??"

"Well you've had those braids since the day we brought you home from the orphanage...maybe it's time for a something new?"

Fred shifted uncomfortably in the driver's seat.

Linda thought for moment and studied her long pigtails in the rear view mirror...she was sort of getting tired of the same old thing.

Besides braids and pigtails were pretty popular among the girls at Midvale High...maybe too popular, Linda never was much for fads.

"Hmmm maybe?" offered Linda.

"Well think about it, you and your mother might get a kick out changing your do'" opined

Fred "Well here we are-dad's cab service strikes again!"

They pulled up in front of Midvale High.

Linda had a weird sort of courage...the car was surrounded by her fellow classmates and yet she felt unselfconscious enough to favor her father with a pert good-bye kiss on the forehead.

"See you after school sweetie..."

"Bye Daddy" and off flounced Linda Danvers all skirts and knees.

***

Lena Thorul could read minds-sometimes.

Reading Dick Malverne's mind was a cinch this morning...all the poor boy could think about was Linda Danver's long perfectly shaped legs as they smoothly undulated their way across the quad.

Heck Lena didn't need to be a telepath to realize Dick was smitten with Linda.

That slightly gape jawed hangdog look he effected was proof enough.

"Di-ck" she teased, "I don't think Linda has a date for homecoming yet..."

The boy turned beet red.

"Shhhh!" he admonished "Keep it up and I'll ask YOU to the dance!"

Linda crossed the quad seemingly oblivious to the effect she was having on most of her male schoolmates...drinking in Linda's legs was a cherished morning tradition at Midvale

High and was fast becoming a local right of passage.

"Why does Dick Malverne always look so flushed this early in the morning?" wondered the disguised heroine.

"I hope he isn't sick or anything" she thought.

Lena rolled her eyes in mock horror "Ah it never changes, girl gets adopted into a wealthy suburban family...suddenly she gets a fabulous wardrobe and a huge allowance-it's compensation-- the curse of the suburbs!"

"Geez Lena it's just a soft salmon colored skirt from the Gap no need to go all Dr. Laura on me" japed Kryptonian Co-ed.

Lena insinuated herself between Dick and Linda, she linked arms with them both and trotted off to the school "Oh you two you're both quivering wrecks-sad really ...I just don't know how I'll get you through the coming semester, but I will never fear!"

Lena and Linda smiled hugely as they swept into the building...Dick for his part chided himself inwardly for not complimenting Linda on her embroidered vest.

***

"All rightie kiddies, Auntie Lena has art appreciation first period, try not to get hit on the head with any of Mr. Hsing's beloved geology samples will you?" Lena was on a role today.

"Um Lena?" asked Linda all contrite and straight.

"Yes Linda?"

"Your slip is showing!"

Lena looked down in a panic...she was in fact wearing slacks to school that day-she shot Linda a mock dirty look.

"Made ya look!" sang Linda.

And with that the disguised heroine fairly skipped into science class pigtails bouncing sans remorse.

Lena glowered at Dick; she hated falling for Linda's arsenal of graybeard groaners!

"Well? What are you waiting for? Do you want some gruesome football player to drag her by the pigtails to the prom!?" pushed Lena.

Dick awoke with a start and piled into the science class he took with Linda.

"Kids today..." sniffed Lena.

***

Linda liked her science teacher Mr. Hsing...he had a sweet donnish way about him...even if her knowledge of science exceeded his by ten orders of magnitude Linda still responded to his enthusiasm.

This week they were doing a section on geology...a variety of samples were scattered around the lab.

As the students filed in Mr. Hsing smiled hugely at his class...."AHD you are all in for a treat this week! I've recently recovered some meteoroid specimens some of which may retain a harmless radioactive signature!"

Mr. Hsing was always prattling on like this...but for all his absent-minded professorial ways he was a stickler for assigned seating.

This was because he sometimes forgot his student's names and needed an accurate seating chart to remember.

Linda didn't mind she approached her usual seat by the display case with a light heart...her only worries about science class was getting too perfect a mark and thus arousing suspicion about her dual identity.

That display case sure was funny though; Linda could've sworn she saw an odd greenish glow around it.

And then she felt it...nothing more than a odd feeling of exhaustion and then it was if all the strength was leaking out of her muscles.

Linda felt flushed...

Vaguely worried she took a step towards her usual seat...a wave of sheer weakness broke over her body.

Her adorable knees trembled and there was a buzzing in her ears.

"Kryptonite???! Here?!!" thought the heroine who looked around wildly.

"Is there something wrong Miss Danvers?" asked Mr. Hsing solicitously.

"N-no" quavered the co-ed.

"Then do sit down I must call the roll before we begin today's lesson!" said the teacher.

And then she saw it.

Not four feet away from her-a glass jar in the display case containing a small chunk of green kryptonite!

THAT was Mr. Hsing's meteoroid sample!

"Miss Danvers?"

Linda gulped and sat down next to the kryptonite; she was a white as a sheet.

"I've got to get out of here...feel weak...woozy" thought the heroine wildly.

She'd be as green as an emerald soon enough if she didn't escape the deadly kryptonite radiation!

Desperately a woozy Linda raised her hand; Mr. Hsing looked up perturbed.

"What is it now Miss Danvers?"

"I ah I ah-ah" Linda tried to stand up she rose weakly to her feet the kryptonite was agonizing but the heroine bravely hid her pain.

The room shuddered and Linda's tummy did sickening flip flops she was so tired now...the room was spinning.

"I ga-a Mr. Hsing I need...." she gasped.

She said nothing else, the world suddenly went black and Linda Danvers AKA Supergirl fainted and fell to the floor.

Being as she was, an adorable American superheroine, Linda still managed to point her toes and keep her hemline decent.

"Good Heavens!" Shouted Mr. Hsing "Linda has had a seizure!"

***

WHUF!

WHUF!

WHUF!

Linda's head was gently bouncing off of something soft-at least by her standards...

She was up in the air moving along she could feel cool breezes on her legs.

She kept her eye's closed...this felt nice whatever it was.

Slowly she opened one eye just a bit...she was zipping down a hallway in

Midvale High cradled in the arms of Dick Malverne.

Dick had a nice clean masculine smell.

Linda had to resist the irrational urge to sigh "My hero" and snuggle in Dick's arms...she didn't want to give anything away just yet.

Sometimes being a superheroine had it's drawbacks Kara decided.

" I mean how often does anyone get to rescue me-even by accident?"thought the heroine.

"I wish I could get into this" she fretted "but I have to protect my secret identity".

"Where are you taking Linda?" a voice called out.

"To the nurse's office!" gasped Dick who didn't break his stride.

That was good at least they haven't called the EMT's...she'd have to make up some excuse for the school nurse.

With any luck she'd miss her science class entirely then she could come back after hours and dispose of the kryptonite with her super long tongs or maybe her new lead polymer suit.

Oh but it felt nice to be in Dick's arms!

****

And so Linda ended up barefoot and lying on a cot in the nurse's office a thermometer ceremoniously jammed in her mouth.

She was awake now and affected a mild blush of embarrassment.

Mrs. LeStrade, the school nurse was an ex-nun and nobody's fool.

She peered at Linda suspiciously.

"Drugs was it? Stole some of Daddy's pain medication!?"

Linda was genuinely shocked; the thermometer almost fell from her mouth "My Daddy doesn't take drugs for anything he is perfectly healthy!!"

Mrs. LeStrade suddenly smiled warmly and patted Linda on the shoulder. She knew Linda by reputation as an ex-orphan and a good kid if there was one to be found in the school district. But fainting at 8:15am was sort of fishy thus the nurse was hoping to shake something out of Linda.

"I know sweetie, I know...but if you did take some pills you'd tell me right? My only interest is in your health..." said the nurse with sincerity.

"I didn't take anything, I think that was the problem...you see I sorta skipped breakfast and...."

Mrs. LeStrade roared with laughter "Oh ho you are one of my diet bunnies eh? First one this year and a freshman too!!"

Linda offered up a wan smile to confirm her diagnosis.

Mrs. LeStrade took out the thermometer with a flourish and noted critically "One hundred degrees on the mark-young lady I'm calling your mother and sending you home-with a prescription for a hearty breakfast".

The nurse adjourned to her office where Linda's super-hearing confirmed she was calling her mother at work.

Inwardly the disguised heroine breathed a sigh of relief, the old heat-vision burst on the tip of the thermometer worked like a charm.

Cousin Superman taught her that one and it was a real lifesaver.

Suddenly Dick Malverne burst in looking more than a bit worried.

"Linda you all right...?" he offered tentatively.

Linda smiled hugely such a cute boy!

"Oh I'm fine got a slight fever shouldn't have skipped breakfast today I guess"...

"Aw gee Lin, you aren't one of those girls who starts dieting for the homecoming dance first week of school are yuh?

You don't have to do that for me.... I don't care what..."

Linda sat up and fixed Dick with a penetrating look she smiled and shot back "Are you asking me to homecoming?

Why Dick I'd love to, I'll have to ask Daddy's permission you what he's like..."

Dick looked ashen..."Huh What?!!Ah aha ah...well we could go I guess if you aren't I mean..." he blushed furiously and started to back away.... lunging through the door he gasped "I'll bring your homework by after school!"

Linda sat back with a beatific smile on her face.

Mrs. LeStrade looked into the ward with a friendly smirk on her face...she'd heard the whole thing.

"Ah young love what would we do without it?" she thought.

"I'm going to Homecoming with Dick Malverne" sighed the heroine happily.

****

Eventually Edna showed up and with a magnificent display of matronly concern bundled her foster daughter into the car and drove home.

"Short school day" remarked Edna "What happened, were you really sick?"

"Oh this is embarrassing, Mr. Hsing had a kryptonite sample in his geology display case...I sat down next to it an pow!" recounted the heroine.

"Good Lord Linda that was a close call!"

"I know Dick Malverne rushed me to the nurse's office out of range of the radiation; he inadvertently saved my life!"

Edna exhaled sharply other mother's had to worry about drugs, alcohol and sex, she lived in terror of meteors!

"Um Mom?"

"Yes honey?"

"Dick asked me to homecoming-kinda...ah can I go?" Linda's voice took on a still small quality.

Edna shook her head violently she was still processing Linda's near death experience.

"I ummmm ...don't see why not...We'll see what your father says..." offered Edna.

"Thanks Mom you rule!" said Linda who punctuated this with a quick kiss on her mother's cheek.

"Darling what will you do about the kryptonite?"

"Oh that's easy tonight after my patrol I'll have to sneak into the school and replace the sample with some ersatz kryptonite. Mr. Hsing's specialty is biology so I doubt he'll catch on, ersatz K even has a slight radiation signature.

Kara smiled brightly she had it all figured out.

Her mother cocked an eyebrow at her "Lin-da-a?" she drawled.

"I Know I Know I'll wear my lead suit don't worry!" said the flustered herione.

When they reached home mother and daughter adjourned to the kitchen, Linda looked around furtively and started unbuttoning her blouse.

Edna understood the gesture well and this time would have none of it.

"Since I'm home sick so to speak I may as well get a jump on my patrol this morning!" said Kara.

"You will like hell young lady!" blazed Edna "How would it look if Linda's sick day and

Supergirl's patrol were synonymous??"

Linda was abashed for a moment and buttoned up her front.

"You're right...I'll fly my patrol later..."

"Good now run upstairs and take a nap, read some trashy novels, Dick Malverne is coming by later to drop off your assignments and after your patrol we can flip through some fashion magazines and scope out a new hairstyle!"

Edna beamed she was so good at this motherhood thing!

Linda looked doubtful "Oh I don't know we can't cut my invulnerable hair I'm sick of the braids but can we really do any thing?"

"Tons!" promised Edna "We can comb out the braids, do some curling...it'll be girly fun I promise you!"

"Um okay" offered Linda uncertainly.

"Great now scoot upstairs I have to pretend I've got a sick daughter!"

Linda giggled at that one all the way up to her room.

Dutifully she drew the shades and kicked off her sandals. Now just as a joke she lay down on the bed tucking her knees together.

"Nap? She thought "I'm the mightiest girl in the world I..don't need a...yawn...naaa....mmmmmm......zzzzzzzzzzzz"

In seconds the Maid of Might fell into the deepest of teenaged sleeps.

Linda didn't know it, but dark as her room was it was full of people-young blonde women all in different versions of her Supergirl costume.

It seemed like they'd been waiting for her to show up for a long long time.

They smiled at her with the utmost love and affection...she couldn't see them but their presence was felt ever afterwards in her dreams.

There was a twelve-year-old Supergirl who had huge dimples and skinny legs.

There was a Supergirl in hot pants and red slippers she was tall and shapely and exuded confidence. Next to her was a Supergirl in a tattered costume with a red skirt. She looked bruised and battered, she was missing a boot. She actually had a cut above her left eye...but for all her damage she smiled with the rest with a lusty look of triumph in her eye.

And on the end was a taller slightly older Supergirl, her blue skirt was the longest of the lot, she wore small white gloves and cradled in her arms was a small blonde girl baby...the babe slept peacefully in her mother's arms.

A legion of Supergirl's passed through Linda's room, all seemed to bless her.

***

Linda dreamt on. She was wearing her Supergirl costume and was perched on a rock behind the Midvale orphanage next to Siegel's Creek.

She was conspicuously barefoot.

Reclining below her was Dick Malverne who insolently tickled her feet with a long ostrich feather.

Supergirl could feel it-she the strongest girl in the world helplessly giggling away!

She laughed and tittered, begging Dick to stop.

She knew though with exquisite dream logic that boy's were terrible tyrants where tickling was concerned. This meant she'd have to give up a kiss to get Dick to cease and desist.

She'd think about it and laughed some more.

Linda stirred in her sleep with the sweetest smile on her face.

By now Edna had crept up the stairs and looked on her sleeping foster daughter.

She beamed hugely at the scene.

"I couldn't love you any more if I had carried you in my own womb-but then you wouldn't be Supergirl..." thought Edna.

"Never mind you'll always be my Supergirl!" she concluded.

Ever so quietly and perhaps with a little help from those unseen, Edna made her across Linda's room to her bedside.

Supergirl stirred a bit in her sleep...Edna leaned down and planted the softest most maternal kiss on her daughter's forehead.

"You Me, Your Father all of us, we are forever" thought the woman.

Edna smiled and made her way back downstairs.

And it was a time of peace.

The End.