Immediately after Jon spoke, Mr. Smith stepped out from a side corridor like he was waiting for a cue. "I think not. You have not completed your training, Supergirl. I cannot authorize you to leave on missions until you have completed at least one week of intensive training."
"One week?" Jon shook his head in disbelief. "People are in jeopardy now!"
"I mean it, missy," Mr. Smith said, his tone becoming more patronizing. "If you can't perform up to standards, you will cause greater harm than letting the airplane crash. You will threaten Supergirl's image. If no one takes you seriously as a superhero, you might as well just be a flying slut."
"Hey, you're the ones who designed my suit to look like this!" Jon angrily waved a hand over his bared midriff and short skirt.
"Everything about the suit was designed to serve a very specific purpose," Mr. Smith said, his leer making it clear he approved for reasons that had nothing to do with mechanical functionality. "But public approval is fickle, and girls are judged more harshly than men--I'm a bit of a feminist, you know--so you'll have to circumvent some unfair stereotypes regarding the character of young ladies who dress like you do. In order to do that, you need to have a solid grounding in your capabilities and how to make the most of them."
Jon grimaced at being called a girl and a young lady, but it was true that the figure of Supergirl was female and that people would see him as female if he were to go out as Supergirl. He would have to take into account how people would see his actions when he pretended to be a girl. Maybe Mr. Smith was right, and Jon shouldn't go on a mission without completing his training. But, then, what would happen to the people in the airplane?
"There is a live feed of the falling plane," Dr. Takeda reported as he stared at his phone. He looked up at Mr. Smith, his words becoming frantic. "The world is watching! If the plane crashes, the world will see hundreds of people die in what we would know are preventable deaths. We would have to live with that on our consciousnesses. But if Supergirl were to stop this disaster, we would save hundreds and introduce her to the world as a successful superhero. People will love her for that no matter what!"
Jon looked at Dr. Takeda. He made a good point. Jon had a responsibility to try, at least. He clenched his fist, building his resolve.
"I am giving you a direct order, missy." Mr. Smith stared icily into Jon's eyes. "Stand down, or I will impose harsh disciplinary measures to ensure your future compliance."
Jon furiously stared back at Mr. Smith. How could he order Jon not to try to save hundreds of people just because of public opinion? Didn't Jon need to try?
"He says 'future compliance' because he can't stop you," Dr. Takeda said to Jon. "If you were to go now, in the suit, no one could stop you."
"Takeda!" Mr. Smith snapped. "You're suspended indefinitely, starting now. Get out of my sight! Supergirl, take off your suit and return to your quarters at once!"
Jon looked between Dr. Takeda as he stalked away and and the glowering Mr. Smith. Jon had a choice to make. He could take off the suit and stay in Mr. Smith's good graces but let hundreds of people die, or he could use the suit to leave without permission and try to save them with the possibility of both failure that would be broadcast nationally that would tarnish Supergirl's image and facing Mr. Smith's disciplinary measures. Whatever Jon decided, he would have to choose quickly.
