What if Galactus had destroyed Krypton?

Earth F-69169

Harlem, Manhattan

12:45 AM

28 years since the convergence

Kara Zor-El squinted as the door to her pod slid open. Awakening for the first time since her escape from Krypton, she looked around the alley in which she landed, trying to gain her bearings. It was a lot to take in -- her most recent memory was watching helplessly as Galactus devoured her homeworld of Krypton before falling into cryosleep, and now here she was on an alien world she knew next to nothing about. Still, everything from her pod's computer indicated that this was indeed Kara's intended destination, and that Kal-El, her cousin, had landed here as well; what's more, he was nearby, which gave her some hope.

Stepping out of her pod, she remembered she wasn't wearing any clothes, and turned to see if there was anything she could cover up with. The only option available to her then and there was the red cape with the "S" like symbol emblazoned on it, so she wrapped it around her chest not unlike a towel.

At the same time, Gwen Stacy had been swinging through Manhattan, and had noticed the strange spacecraft landing in the alley nearby. "Looks like I'm the first one here... I guess I should check whatever this is out. Hopefully nobody got hurt..."

She landed near the pod and walked over to investigate it, but was startled when a voice called out to her in a language she'd never heard before. She turned and saw a woman who appeared to be the source of the voice, an attractive blonde woman, clad only in what looked like a red blanket... with what looked like Superman's logo?

"Excuse me? Is... is this your ship?" Gwen asked, gesturing to the escape pod. "Yours?"

Kara nodded and pointed at the ship. Gwen nodded back in acknowledgement, and in a gesture to introduce herself, pointed at herself. "I'm Ghost-Spider. Ghost-Spider."

Kara immediately caught on, introducing herself in return. "Kara."

"Good to meet you, Kara. I wish I could understand what you were saying, though," Gwen answered. "Do you know Superman?" she asked, pointing at the familiar logo on the cloth Kara had wrapped around her body.

"Kal-El?" Kara asked back, following it up by saying something in Kryptonian.

Kal-El... is that Supes' real name? Nice to know, Gwen thought, wondering how to properly approach the situation. The obvious course of action was to take this Kara to Metropolis and somehow try to find Superman. These two were obviously connected somehow -- she must have come from Superman's home planet, Gwen mused.

"Damn, Ghost-Spider's here!"

Gwen and Kara's attention was quickly turned to a group of thugs who had entered the alley; they'd clearly seen the pod land as well.

"Help me take her out then, dumbass! That thing from space is probably worth a fortune!" one of the thugs screamed.

"Jeez... you dinguses never learn, do you?" Gwen groaned as she rolled her eyes under her mask. "Stay back, Kara. Back," she added, gesturing for Kara to keep out of harm's way.

Gwen leapt into action, striking and webbing the thugs up one by one. A larger, burlier man eventually got the jump on her, striking Gwen harder than expected.

"Ungh... you've been working out, haven't you? Maybe taking some kinda steroids?" Gwen muttered.

"Somethin' like that," The thug smirked, winding up for another punch.

Gwen braced herself -- whatever this guy was on, he hit hard. This wasn't going to be an easy victory... or so Gwen thought, until Kara somehow instantaneously dashed in between Gwen and her attacker, grabbing the man's fist in her hand and squeezing it. The goon's face contorted in agony as the bones in his hands began to crack, and Kara casually struck the assailant in the face, knocking him out.

"Huh. How 'bout that..." Gwen stood and watched Kara hit her attacker and casually toss him aside. Her spider-sense then hit her as another of the muggers pulled out a gun and fired a shot at Kara; Gwen was able to subdue the shooter, but not before the shot hit Kara... and bounced off of her as if she was made of adamantium. OK, she's obviously from wherever Superman's from, Gwen mused. Good thing she's on my side... I think.

It wasn't long before the scavengers in the alley were all incapacitated, leaving Gwen & Kara, who could barely communicate, to figure out what to do next.

"OK, we need to get you and your spaceship outta here," Gwen said, gesturing emphatically in an attempt to get Kara to understand her. "I'm sure there are others who are going to want to check this all out..."

"Don't worry, Ghost-Spider. I can handle things from here," Superman called out as he lowered into the alley. "I see you've already met my cousin, Kara."

"Kal!" Kara said, running up to her cousin and hugging him. They had a brief conversation in Kryptonian, and Gwen observed the pair, trying to make out what they were saying.

"She's surprised. I'm a lot older than she expected," Kal told Gwen.

"I've got so many questions right now..." Gwen replied.

"I'm sure. But right now I've got to get Kara somewhere safe," Kal told Gwen. "Still, Kara tells me you were looking out for her just now. I appreciate that."

"Yeah, sure, no problem," Gwen answered, preparing to leave. "Nice meeting you Kara. You two take care..."

"Ghost-Spider!" Kara said before Gwen could leave, prompting Gwen to turn around. Kara then said something in Kryptonian to her.

"Kara says it was great meeting you, and she hopes to see you again," Kal translated.

Gwen smiled and blushed under her mask, flattered. "It was great meeting you too, Kara. I hope we meet again soon."

Gwen swung away from the encounter, amused by the whole thing. Did I just make a new friend? I think I did... tonight's a good night.