that was helping them. Lash went over the plans of Kara's shuttle, and pointed out the technical flaw that normally wouldn't be an issue in normal practice. But when you are riding a destructive wave that had destroyed a planet. Normal is not what you are operating in.

On top of it all, in this time fragment Kara was only eight years old. Eight years old!? What kind of bull crap was that! Putting the responsibility on a child's shoulders to protect a baby? Turns out Zor-El had programmed a full dive virtual reality system into Kara's Shuttle. She'd go to sleep one night, and wake up in the simulated environment. While she would be in transit she would grow, mature, and learn. In a dream that mirrored her life in Argo. She'd continue to grow up, being loved by simulated parents. Go to school, make friends, fall in love depending on how long it took to get to Earth. Then when she arrived, the simulation would simulate the destruction of Argo, and Krypton!? She'd have to leave everything behind. Fuck that crap!

But as horrible as it sounded on paper. In many ways it made sense. It was only when Lash spoke to Jor-El did he realize that it would take decades for the trip to be complete. It was the 1950's right now on Earth. So about 1980, 1990 is when they should arrive the both of them. What a brutal decision to make. Why not have Kal-El go through the same thing? Develop for fifteen, twenties years in a simulated environment? Because Jor-El didn't want Krypton to color his son's perception. There are a lot of good things about Krypton. But it is not perfect. That was why Jor-El was sending a nanite crystal construct with Kal-El's shuttle to build the Fortress of Solitude. There Kal could learn all about Krypton once he was old enough.

“Dawn...” Lash asked softly, Kursta snuggled deeper into his arms and stayed asleep.

“Yes, User!” Dawn's delightful voice whispered into his ear.

“This time fragment has no repercussion on my own reality. Right?” Lash asked, really concerned about the situation.

“No, User it does not! It is its own timeline, its own reality. The Developers, and the Alpha testers argued about the continuity of using time fragments. But the multiverse is technically infinite. There was a time when the time fragments were meant to be nothing more than just an instance version. That once the User completed the fragment everything would just rewind and reset for the next User. But! To many people wanted to know what happened. So, when you complete the fragment User. If you want, you can pull up a full time line app of the repercussions of your actions. Though you will not be able to visit this specific reality except in extreme cases you can at least know what happened based on your decisions.” Dawn replied, her voice full of excitement. But all Lash felt was a pit of dread growing larger with every word.

Fuck! How much had Lash screwed up? How much will he screw up? The time fragment was always meant to be different. It wasn't like if Lash had just kept to himself everything would fall into place. That is not what the fragments are. They are designed to pulled the User in and get them involved. If he had been a villain type then stopping Superman from coming to Earth would have been the way to go. But he wasn't. Lash played the superhero type. Or anti-hero anyways. Fuck....

The soft touch of Kursta's lips on Lash's neck pulled him out of his data search. She had pulled herself flush against his body. Her nipples had become erect as she became more aroused. Lash gently pulled her up until she was straddling him. Her face inches from his own, as sleep slowly melted from her face. But despite the erotic situation Lash was not erect. A little detailed that Kursta noticed with a frown.

“You are under no obligation to have sex with me, Kursta. I'm sheltering you because I want to. You owe me nothing.” Lash said to her, and her lower lip trembled and tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

She fell from his chest and curled up into a ball while Lash spooned her from behind. Her back flush against his chest. She cried softly, clutching at his arms. She tried to be quiet about it. But she eventually grew louder and sobbing wails came from her. During the whole time Lash just held her, and breathed gently against the back of her neck. She had died. It wasn't beautiful, it wasn't glorious, like the poems, and story books say. Kursta was not a child, she was a fully trained justicar officer. Now the third in command of the entire barracks of sector 68. She understood the cruelties of the world. That even if you work hard, and do everything you are suppose to. The world can, and will still chew you up, and spit you back out.

A car bomb! A car bomb had killed her! She wasn't even the main target! She was collateral damage! The man she shared a bed with was the target. She had just been a means to an end. That same man pulled her corpse from a burning wreck. Used his abilities to restore her corpse and pull her back from death itself. Something that she had been told was impossible scientifically, and only the gods themselves had that power. In all of the scriptures of Rao that had only happened a handful of times. Only for the most worthy? So what was she? Who was she suppose to be?

“Why did you save me?” Kursta whispered softly, not even really intending for Lash to hear the question. Lash heard her, but didn't answer. All he did was tighten his hold on her.

Can you let her go when its time to leave? -Saurian said across the link they shared.

I'll have to. I'll be honest, I'm not really sure what I am doing here. It is not the first time I've lived a life full of regret. I've left lovers, families, even children behind in my many lives. It never gets easier -Lash replied to his partner.

Spend the day with her. Not as a Priest, and Justicar. But as a man, and woman enjoying the city. You could both use a change of pace. -Saurian said, and stretched out and went back to sleep.

“Kursta... Do you want to spend the day with me? Leave the sector for a day. Not as a Priest, or a Justicar. But two consenting adults enjoying each others time in Kryptonopolis?” Lash spoke softly to her back. She wiggled and turned around to face him. Her eyes searched his own then she leaned in and kissed him with tender emotion.

“OK....” She said, she smiled. That smile was beautiful to behold....