Disclaimer: I do not own the Justice League/ JLU.

Psychotic

Training

Jay levitated within the simulation room, the hard light construct buildings towering around her. She kept her eyes open and her senses on full alert as she flew forward, waiting for the attack. Over the last three months she'd worked her way through most of the training programs of the Watchtower residents. Not that she had much teaching in the matter- Zatanna and Wildcat had offered to continue her training, but she hadn't trusted herself enough to accept. They were learning to live with each other, but it wasn't a process that would tolerate even the slightest hint of outside interference. So she snuck in at night when everyone else was sleeping, and slept during the day when the Watchtower was busy. It was really screwing with her sleep cycle, but at least she managed to avoid just about everyone most of the time. That suited her mood just fine these days.

Jay snapped her attention to a movement on the roof of a building to her right. She halted in midair, concentrating most of her attention on trying to pinpoint the source of the movement, but maintaining an awareness of everything else around her. The last three times she'd run this simulation of Supergirl's she'd concentrated too hard on something she'd thought she'd seen and been caught off guard to an attack from behind. She was determined it wouldn't happen again. Especially since if she could beat Supergirl's simulations, then the next one would be one of the founding seven's. Jay was pretty keen to see how she would fare in one of them.

Her skills had improved in proportion to the sheer number of hours she'd put into training. Considering the training area was one of three places she could be on the Watchtower, and the other two were the cafeteria, which she avoided, and her bedroom, which got boring quick, Jay had pretty much settled in for a long stay in the gym and associated training areas. There was always a room free, and always something to train on. Never anybody to train with of course, which meant Jay's martial arts could still use some practice, but what she lacked in skill she made up for with brute force and a healthy dose of innovation.

To the left.

Jay whipped her head round just in time to throw up a force field to stop the mutated General Isling from slamming into her. Even with the momentum from his run up, the attack barely dented the forcefield. Jay almost casually flicked General Isling back, then whirled to throw up another shield against the laser vision of Galataea who was attacking from behind. Launching herself forward, Jay put some distance between her attackers and herself before twisting round to send her own bolts of indigo energy at the two villains.

You ready?

Jay nodded minutely, maintaining her backwards flight as she gathered her magic to herself, preparing to try her latest idea. Taking a deep breath, Jay stopped her flight, allowing the running General and Galataea to catch up to her. As expected, Galataea sped ahead of the General, her blue eyes taking on a red hue as she prepared to blast Jay into next week. Jay held her position, waiting for Galataea to get a little closer…

Just as Galataea released a red bolt aimed at Jay's heart, Jay twisted to the side. As the bolt skimmed past Jay, barely missing her, Jay threw out a lasso of purple magic which settled around Galataea as the Supergirl clone sped past. Pulling back on the line of magic, Jay used Galataea's momentum to twist the woman round and slam her into the oncoming General who, just as Jay had hoped, was in perfect position to get the full force of Galataea thrown into him as Jay released her hold on the clone.

To Jay's eternal satisfaction, they both went sprawling into the nearest building which obligingly collapsed on top of them.

The simulation phased out and returned the room to its standard silver dome. Jay smiled contentedly to herself as she settled down to the ground, breathing hard from the exertion. It had taken her the better part of an hour to beat this simulation, which wasn't ideal, but at least she hadn't lost this time.

And hey, we are a lot better these days! I mean come on- we're beating Supergirl's simulations. That's got to mean we're about as good, right?

Jay grunted. While theoretically beating Supergirl's simulations did put Jay on an equal footing with the alien girl, Jay knew training didn't replace real world experience, something she had deplorably little of.

Oh stop being a party-pooper. Be happy for us, even just a little bit. Thanks to Psychotic, we're reliably wielding huge amounts of magic these days.

I could use more?

Jay felt a frisson of unease at Psychotic's voice joining in the mental conversation. Over the last three months they'd gradually gotten to know Psychotic better, but it was still a little weird having another person in her head. It was something that took a lot of getting used to, and both Jay's were still marginally uneasy in Psychotic's presence, especially since she had a very formidable intensity and almost no sense of humour. It didn't help that Jay's other self loved ribbing Psychotic and driving her crazy.

That's hardly my fault. She's just so easy to annoy!

I am only easy to annoy because you are so irritating.

There was no such thing as a two way conversation any more. Psychotic was usually listening in, and Jay could understand that. Psychotic had spent years hiding away, unable to make herself known. They'd slowly figured out why: Psychotic had a very strong link to the magic. Letting her out meant releasing their power, so when Jay had locked that part of her away, she'd put Psychotic behind an almost insurmountable wall.

Up till now, the only way Psychotic had been able to break through was using Jay's emotions against her. It was usually anger, so when Psychotic broke through, she was more often than not completely furious and totally out of control. But both Jay's quickly learnt that though Psychotic had the greatest potential for strong emotion, it was in the same way that the magic responded to emotion: a useful tool for increasing power. For the most part Psychotic was the most unemotional of the three of them. Her biggest drive was curiosity. She was always asking about the daily things in life that the Jay's took for granted: why brushing your teeth was necessary, why the sun shone, how the world turned. It usually fell to sensible Jay to answer her questions, since the other Jay had little to no patience for such dull topics.

What killed the other Jay was Psychotic's total lack of humour. For a personality that loved the fun things in life, having a part of herself that wouldn't even crack a smile for the world's greatest comedian was almost painful. As a result there was a constant stream of teasing going on in the back of Jay's mind. Jay didn't think Psychotic minded all that much, though she did occasionally snap back. At least it was communication, which was Psychotic's lifeblood. Years alone, being kept separate from the world, meant Psychotic would happily engage in any kind of human interaction.

Plus, Jay was pretty sure Psychotic knew how much she was irritating the other Jay just by being so impassive. It was the ultimate payback.

But the most satisfying thing, and part of the reason Jay didn't mind the hours they spent training in the gym and simulation room, was how well they fought when they worked together. Jay's other self had the most incredible senses, picking up movements and clues where Jay herself would sense nothing. It also made the other Jay a natural with martial arts, being able to react almost before the attack. Psychotic, being so intricately tied to their magic, could wield it with incredible precision at huge power levels. And Jay herself turned out to be absolutely brilliant at putting it all together, setting strategies and creating tactics that used all her formidable powers. The other Jay would control the body movements and the senses, keeping everything on alert. Psychotic would center herself with the magic and stand by for orders. And sensible Jay would act as relay, giving orders and forming plans that were carried out instantaneously. The advantage of being in the same head made communication possible at thought speed. It was the closest they ever came to being just one person.

And you're not proud of us because..?

Jay has a valid point. We have achieved much.

Jay nearly collapsed from the surprise of having those two bickering voices in her head actually agreeing on something. It was so unusual, it deserved to be repeated!

I can't believe you two are agreeing on something!

Oh shut up. We are the same person. There have to be some similarities! They're hard to find, but they're there!

Psychotic made an unladylike snort in response. Jay smiled as she heard it.

On that amusing note, Jay picked herself up off the floor with a groan. She was still breathing hard from the exertion, and the night was still young.

Oh come on! PLEASE can we take a break? We've done this simulation five times already, how much more do you want?

I want to be the best.

We all wish for that, Jay. But I too would not mind a break.

See? PSYCHOTIC wants a break and she's… well… PSYCHOTIC! What does that make you?

I truly resent that, Jay.

Come on! Just one night off! One night, that's all I'm asking! One night of fun, relaxation and rejuvenation and we'll come back tomorrow and do ten times as well!

Jay smiled humorlessly. She'd run the simulation four times last night, barely finishing her last try before the first booked morning session was due to start. She'd actually had to walk halls that were beginning to fill up for the first time in over a month because she'd been so determined to win. She'd actually had to walk because she'd drained her magic so thoroughly. And then she'd still had to get up in time to grab some lunch and make it back to the gym in time to train in the room she'd booked for that afternoon. Another dinner on the fly and she'd come right back to the simulation as soon as the last booked training session of the day was over. She was absolutely shattered, and truth be told, a night off sounded like heaven. She hadn't had one in about three months.

Fine. One night off.

Jay's other self dissolved into whoops of delight and joy. If she'd had the body, she'd have been jumping for the absolute joy of it. Even Psychotic seemed a little happier for the concession, and heaven knew Psychotic was almost as dedicated to training as Jay.

So, what do you want to do?

This brought Jay's other self up short.

Actually, I have no idea. I didn't think you'd ever say yes.

May I suggest something? These DVDs you always speak of? May we watch one?

Oh! BRILLIANT plan Psych, my friend! Movie night!

Jay stretched, and left the simulation room, locking up as she went. She gave her answer out loud. "Movie night it is then, girls!"