Long live the Legion!

“I think the phrase is mind over matter but I think that does work to.” Qurel said knowing that is not the problem at hand. “Sounds like you might be in need to close little boxes?” he said as a suggestion knowing the term by Lena who they helped each other in the past and even now. “I may have not been there but help is something I will be here for of course.” 

Brainy walked with the male to his home as he noted and watched every move and action. When he is addressed as Brainy he knew they could talk freely. “What you went though will be very hard and it will talk time. Calming your mind would be the simple start. Pushing the feeling down and managing to control it might be what you need the most at this time Superman.”

“Right. Mind over matter.” That was what he said, right? No. His words were jumbled, much like his thoughts these days. “I don’t know if I have the capability for these little boxes, Brainy.” Sure, he was bottling his emotions and burying them deep, where he thought they wouldn’t ever surface again. Though apparently not deep enough, because memories from that night continually resurfaced in the most unexpected of times.

Qurel can see the change in Lena as he listened. “A sight of eyes I can do what is the original use of the project?” he asked wondering. “Am at you service Lena” Coding was in his second nature, he get excited when it comes to technology to see their hidden secrets. “How far have you gotten in his project, am sure, by the way you come to talk to me the coding part have stopped additional progress?” He knew the female is a stronger worker and will see a project from start to finish. 

“They’re nanites - originally he wanted to use them for medical procedures, and for the most part they worked but… they’re too dangerous to use currently. Once they’ve latched onto someone, they treat it like a host body. It’s too risky to use in its current state.” She explained. Maybe one day she could help make Jack’s original vision come true, but for now she had to be happy with the baby steps she knew she could make with it. “Not very far, I’ll admit. Had a lot else on my mind, and honestly I didn’t really want to touch it for the longest time.” She admitted. “The hardware is practically perfected, I just need to make sure they do what I want them to.”

Since the attack, Querl can’t say he didn’t see something happening or could happen. He made the choose to come see how Lois was holding up to the current situation. 

When he got to their home, he knocked on the door waiting as he stood their with his hands together. “I was sure to come by knowing you needed to clear your mind. How is he doing?” Querl said to Lois. She might be still in shock after what happened.

Seeing Brainy at the door, Lois gestured for him to come in. “Thank you, Brainy. That’s very thoughtful of you.” She answered genuinely, appreciative of the visit. The shock of the event had worn off hours ago. Now all that was left was anger toward whoever attacked her husband and curious to find answers.

“Clark’s doing better.” She replied, wanting to reassure their friend. “It’s a little concerning how long it’s taking for him to heal. But I guess that could be due to prolonged exposure… right?” Lois didn’t have all the answers but she wanted to find out.

Querl nodded, “Prolonged Exposure would need time and at their own pace.” he knew it would. “Is there anything particular I can help? Am sure what happened to him had some effect on you.” He said being mindful of Lois. 

Querl smiled as he got closer. “Here the call, I knew something happened.” he said sitting down putting his hands on his side. He would always answer the call from either Super who is in need for help.“Name was you need help with.” By body language from Clark, he can tell something is bothering him. “ If it’s the topic, shall we go somewhere that is out side?” He knew never to say Superman or Supergirl without seeing then in blue. 

“Fear is just mind over matter, right? Well, I can’t get over this fear. I feel like it’s eating me from the inside out and I can’t do anything about it. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. I can hardly leave the house without fear overwhelming my senses and stopping me in my tracks. Heck, I’m surprised I’ve been out in the open this long.” The fear and anxiety felt like they were crawling up his throat as if he were going to throw up. He nodded his head quickly at Brainy’s question, not wanting to go inside because of the discussion of his other identity, but merely to get out of the open. In his own home, he felt safe and secure.

As they stood within the threshold of the Kent home, he locked the deadbolt behind them, letting out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He swallowed, hard, before addressing Brainy. “I don’t know how to handle things, Brainy. It feels like the walls are crumbling down and I have nothing left to hold them up.”

Querl left the DEO, he was not on his way home but to Clark’s house. Brainy gotten a call from him asking if he wanted to hang out. Of course, he will say yes, there is not much for him to do other being in his apartment calculating the possibilities of everyone around him and of course the next day. 

Brainy got to the place Clark asked him to meet, he sat down looking around at people and cars. “Out of all possibilities, a chance of me being too early or on time as he should be showing up right about now.” Querl said as wondered which of the two he is right. 

@kryptonsxlastxson​

With a text sent out, Clark knew with nearly absolute certainty that Brainy would answer in person rather than over text message. They sat on street level, just a short walk from Clark and Lois’ home. The bench Clark chose was somewhat in the open, and he was challenging his own mind, his own psyche to sit out in the open. “I’m just glad you’re here, Brainy,” Clark replied, his smile faint across his features as his mind was occupied with staying calm out and in the open. “I need your help, Brainy.”

Querl can see how the events tore the two apart and it’s under stable on both sides as well. It’s a topic that can be touchy if you don’t know the right words. Everyone became his friend and they had the choice not to be. He is very grateful for everyone. “I was very sure you needed someone with an open mind to talk to about the situation. Am happy to be helpful as I possibly can. Your welcome.” Brainy said with a nod. 

“But something tells me you might need my help for something else?”

“Yes.” Lena beamed, grateful for the segue from the emotional topic to something far more comfortable for her. “I could use another set of eyes. I want to reprogram an old friend’s project - they’re not fit for purpose for their original use, but they could be useful for other means.” She explained. Jack’s nanites had been entrusted to her after his death, and for a long time she hadn’t wanted much of anything to do with them. But she knew leaving them to gather dust wasn’t the right thing by him - they might not be safe for medical use but they could still help the world in some way. “I’m thinking I could use it to target high pollution levels, but I’ve never been the strongest at coding.”

Looking up as there was a knock on the door, Lois gave a soft welcoming smile. “You must have mind reading powers because that is exactly what I need.” She nodded toward the mug of coffee in their hand.

When he got to their home, he knocked on the door waiting as he stood their with his hands together. “I was sure to come by knowing you needed to clear your mind. How is he doing?” Querl said to Lois. She might be still in shock after what happened.

“The pleasure it is. If I may say so the symbol has not changed. As far as I know.” he said putting both of his hands together. Seeing two Superman’s is a treat for him, how time can make the little things happen. “Yes of course, curiosity has gotten the best of me but unsure what are the right ones to ask. This way.” Brainy said walking to the door. “First, I can say your not from this earth as I know the Superman on this earth. What brings you here?”

“Just the color.” Kal said with a rather melancholy smile, “but hope shines through, even at the darkest of times.” He had flirted with the idea of changing the symbol completely, to another of the Kryptonian values. But none struck a chord like hope did. He followed the other man into the building, offering a nod at the guards just inside the doors. He hadn’t walked through the front door to the DEO before, usually visiting via the roof. “No, I’m not your Superman. My visit isn’t voluntary, I was investigating a strange phenomenon on my Earth and came through some kind of portal, or wormhole which lead me here. I can’t get back.”

“It’s good to know how he ended up in my time. Maybe it was might to be for it to happen.” Querl looked at Lena as she talked, “We all do things we never like to do or regret. All we can do is be better.” Querl said knowing if Lena has to do something like that it was for a good reason. “Your not a bad person Lena. Even if they are proud of you does not mean they know the full story. Thinking what someone is thinking will never do anyone any good.” he said trying to make things worst. “I don’t think you pushed her away, not entirely. I think she is just as hurt to keep it away just as much. Giving things cool is better then getting burn if that makes any sense.” 

Lena nodded at his words - honestly it had probably been the best advise she had gotten in a long time. Brainy had the possibility to be biased with how close he was to Kara and Alex, but she knew it wasn’t in his nature. “It does. I hate to admit it but you’re right.” She muttered with a small laugh. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

“But something tells me you might need my help for something else?”

“I’ve missed you,” he smirked amongst the chaos. Querl’s unfurling flurry of inquiry only slowed down this process. Was everyone bound to this time this chatty? At the very least, he didn’t have to fear meeting physical violence as the hands of his friend. “You know how fragile time is. If I tell you what’s happening, we will be tampering with the future even more than I am right now. I just need the ship, okay?” 

Querl looked at the male before him, similar to The man of steel of the earth he came to along with the Girl of steel but the face looked nothing like them. Fascinating how the universe can be. When the male confirmed they have not meet told Brainy to watch what he says as he toke the hand what is offered to shake. “ People calls me Brainy, in a way it’s a nickname. Am rather found of it.” he said looking at the male appearance and cleared his throat. “It seems you wear the symbol of Hope. You look nothing like him but I can’t say am not curious to learn more about you.”  

“Brainy,” he wasn’t sure he’d encountered anyone on his own earth with that name. There was Brainiac, but this man didn’t seem the megalomaniac type.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Glancing down at the crest on his uniform, Kal nodded, “I do and I’m happy to hear you recognize it for what it truly is and not just an S for Superman.” A hint of amusement slipped into his tone, it was rather coincidental that the human letter should so resemble the Kryptonian symbol. “Well, what would you like to know?” He nodded toward the DEO building, “if you work here, we could go inside and I’ll try to sate your curiosity as best I can.”

He stood there and listened to Lena, Querl seemed to know how to hit the nail on the head when it comes to his words. “Of course, somethings do seem to be hard for us face sometimes.” he said unsure if it’s the right things to say in comfort. 

When the conversation lead to Mon-El. “I don’t believe he had said that directly if I will be honest. Something like that I feel he might think I would’ve figured it out but this will be news that this is my first time hearing about this.” It did made sense, at least to him. It would be in no time for him to find out the event of time when the attack happened. “I can tell this is troubling you. I do feel this was something you are not proud of but knew if you didn’t do something the situation would’ve been different. Am sure if Mon-El given his word in this choice it would’ve been for the better. I can not say for sure as I was not there.” Querl said as he raised his head to look at Lena. “He is a good friend who won’t do anything that can harm him without a good reason. I always know Lena you want to set a standard for yourself to do good. there are many ways I can look at this situation so my feels and my outlook can be compilated.” 

“Yeah, I can imagine it would be something he wouldn’t want to talk about.” Lena muttered with an understanding nod.  “I know, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to put this all on you.” She sighed, shaking her head. Brainy was always so accommodating, he listened to her without question, and he was so smart she forgot sometimes that he couldn’t possibly have all the answers. “I know things would be worse if I hadn’t done it, but… I still hate that I did it. That it was something my family would be proud of - because I know the things that would make them happy are things I don’t want to do.” She muttered. She remembered a handful of off-hand comments from Brainy about his family - enough for her to put the dots together and realise he hadn’t had a great one, more than likely something similar to her own. “And Lex would be proud that I’m at odds with a Super so… I kind of hate that I pushed her away too. But I’ve never been good at forgiveness.”