So he announces they're going on a one-week-long space trip while Power Girl watches Metropolis. Seeing her cousin's usually shaky confidence is at rock-bottom, Kal decides she needs to get off Earth for a while, and he needs to teach her how to use her powers and not rely on them. Kal tries to reassure her by stating they can't win every battle, but Kara's inconsolable: many innocent people died because she lost one fight. Three days later, Superman finds her cousin sitting on the Moon, still depressed.

Eventually she loses consciousness and Superman takes her away. Kara struggles to stand up again and look for survivors despite her wounds and Kal saying he's already taken care of everyone. Superman isn't impressed by Maelstrom's declaration of bringing his head on a platter to Darkseid in order to win her master's love, and he quickly wrestles Maelstrom's teleporting device from her before tossing the Apokoliptian warrior into a Boom tube leading back to Apokolips. Before she can kill the Girl of Steeel, Superman shows up. Supergirl engages her, but Maelstrom beats her easily, demolishing a hospital during their battle. Supergirl is keeping watch over an unusually quiet Metropolis when she spots Maelstrom going on a rampage to draw Superman's attention.

Figuring Darkseid will notice her if she gives him something no one else can give him, Maelstrom steals a Boom Tube device and heads towards Earth. Meanwhile on Apokolips, a soldier called Maelstrom watches a group of laborers while pondering ways to win over Darkseid's love. Superman is transporting a starship back to its world while Supergirl protects Earth in his absence.

Superman in supergirl series