Chapter 1: Welcoming

A few months ago, Lyssa wouldn't have thought an ending so ingratiating, so perfect, would be nearly possible. With the amount of trouble that spanned in the time was appalling, and almost everything that could've went wrong did. But there was a sunrise in that time of darkness. With her sitting on the viewing deck of the Watchtower, Kaldur's fingers woven through hers so gently, she can't help but recall the time with a sense of revival.

|Watchtower

|July 19, 7:55 a.m.

From the Watchtower, the Earth looked like a marble.

A large one at that, with swirls and twists of cloud, land, and water, all somehow coming together like a perfect painting. It was dazzling to a point of dizziness from this view. Lyssa had to advert her eyes to keep from getting a head ache.

Not that she wasn't used to space, especially since she's been flying since two weeks ago to get to Earth in the time she did, but she wasn't used to Earth. It was like a new reality on its own. Over and over in the past, she had been told by her father that Earth was round in view and flat in contact. It's the same with Mars, only Mars didn't have such abundant expansions of water. And Martian communities are in large caves under the ground since the surface isn't habitable.

Being able to see the sun every day is what Lyssa was really going to like about living on Earth.

Sitting in one of the chairs of the conference room, she twirled in a circle, the tips of her boots dragging on the ground as she laid her head back against the comfortable back. The light from the strips of bulbs laid across her light green skin, making her more pale than usual. Her amber eyes glinted in the light, becoming florescent, and her posture was gracefully relaxed. Glancing around, she thought of how many colors that this room could do with, just for interest's sake.

Lyssa thought of the all the stars and comets she saw as she flew from Mars on course to this planet, or rather, the planet below. They were all so beautiful, as if they were perfectly placed. It was like a new image every second, since every time you went forward, their order would change ever so slightly. It was dazzling to say the least.

Lost in thought, she never noticed the sound of the door sliding open. Only after a cleared throat did she glance over, smiling at sight of Black Canary. Lyssa had easily taken a liking to Black Canary, due to her often snarky banter with other League members and her way of making her temporary stay at the Watchtower comfortable and enjoyable.

Canary nodded, "Your dad asked me to come get you. We need to give you a few more shots and run a few more tests."

Lyssa floated to her feet, walking towards Canary. Following behind Canary, they left the conference room, heading right down a long corridor. Their footsteps echoed around and bounced off the walls like springs. It would've been eerie if she wasn't already used to it. They continued forward until they reached a crossroads, taking a left and immediately stopping at a door, labelled Medical Bay. Hitting a button on a key pad, the door slid open, and they walked through without a word.

Once inside, Lyssa took in what was around her. It was a large square room that had about sixteen beds in it, tables with IV's, heart monitors, and trays of medical instruments. All the beds were made and empty, with a single pillow and a thin sheet stretched over the lumpy mattresses that usually belong in a hospital. The floor was plain white tile and the walls were an off white shade, lights that were overly bright making the room look like its glowing. Tables across the room had medical science machines lining it.

Standing at the nearest bed, three syringes laid out and sterilized on a metal table, was Martian Manhunter. He was waiting, and turned when he saw that the two had entered the bay. Upon seeing Lyssa, he nodded and motioned to the bed, offering a small comforting smile. She floated over and settled onto the bed, Canary walking over and standing at the foot of it. Manhunter didn't say anything as he went to a cabinet that lined the wall and pulled out two things. One was a glass jar with a metal lid full of cotton balls and the second was a bottle of disinfectant.

"Your tests for the vaccines went badly," Martian Manhunter said, looking to Lyssa, "Usually, those vaccines would help with breathing and dealing with the atmosphere, but since they didn't work, we have worked out what about them wasn't effective and can try again."

Lyssa nodded, "And if they don't?"

Martian Manhunter put a hand on his daughters arm, "This happened with M'gann too."

Canary nodded, "We would assume that it's because of your young age and you haven't fully grown into yourselves."

Lyssa smirked at her, "You know I'm older than you, right?"

Canary was about comment, but Martian Manhunter said, "This first vaccine is the remodeled version of the one that helps with breathing air. Usually, your lungs adapt right away, but at night when you're asleep, you forget it."

"That just shows how good we are at what we do," Lyssa said, earning a smile from Manhunter.

"Indeed," He said, pouring a tiny bit of disinfectant onto a cotton ball while his daughter offered her arm out. Taking her wrist, he wiped the area between her wrist and elbow before discarding it and taking one of the needles. With a quick look at her face, he looked back and poked the tip into her skin, pushing down the plunger. She barely flinched as he retracted the tip, laying it aside to be thrown away later.

"Only two more," He said, taking the next one and aiming it just next to where the last one went in. He injected the next one into her arm while saying, "This one helps with the gravity." He discarded that one and took the next one, "And this is for the atmosphere."

Canary had sat quietly there until the last one was injected. Then she said, "I'll give it a few minutes to fully go through your system. Then I'll have to take some blood to test it."

Lyssa gave a low whistle, "So many needles. Is it my birthday?"

Canary smiled and pat her on the shoulder, walking towards the line of machines on the other side of the room and pressing some buttons on a large, clunky piece of tech. Manhunter took the bottle of disinfectant and the jar of cotton balls, putting them away before telepathically sending the three needles to the trashcan by the door. A few minute went by in silence before Canary came over with a fourth needle, giving a small look of warning before taking a syringe of blood and placing a bottle of water next to her. Twisting the top off, she watched her run the tests.

"This should take only a minute." Canary said, hitting a few buttons on a long panel. After a minute, a light glowed green and she nodded. Papers printed out next to the machine and she held it up. "The vaccine should be working. We'll be checking in on you in the morning, just in case, but you're good for now."

Manhunter looked at Canary, "Is the Team aware that she's coming?"

Canary nodded, "I told them to be expecting a new teammate in the next week. They know she's coming. And I prepared and sent her things down to the Cave this morning. All of her bags and boxes."

Lyssa grinned, "That was nice, thank you."

"The Team was excited, because they want to meet the new teammate. You should head down. I know they'll be happy to meet you."

The young Martian nodded and looked to her father, who motioned for the door, "We shall go then. Thank you Black Canary."

She nodded in response and tucked the paperwork into a folder, labelled L'ssala "Lyssa" J'onzz. The two left the room without another word to the other woman, heading back the way they came. It was a fairly still walk, no words exchanged. They turned right immediately and strolled down the plain hallway. The whole Watchtower was like this-white, pristine. All Lyssa wanted to do was pour orange paint down the walls and splatter the roof with purple. At least she wouldn't be swallowed by blankness.

They walked past the conference room, where Lyssa had been before, and headed to a large room at the end of the hallway. It had nothing in it except for several large arches that looked like shallow mechanical caves, gears turning and spinning as they approached, Manhunter gestured her to go first, and she right away felt a bit nervous. Despite it, however, she walked forward as a laser scanned over her body.

"Recognize Red Martian B07," The computer droned as a bright light overcame her. Her body tingled, like a million tiny bolts of electricity pulsed through her as her molecules got gently plucked apart and sent at the speed of light towards the planet. She couldn't feel the journey there, but she felt it as her body all at once reformed. She staggered forward and caught herself before standing up completely and looking around.

The Cave was huge. Stalactites pointed like giant ice cream cones towards the floor, the center of the room she was in dotted with a large, computerized floor, illuminating the room in its glow. A doorway across the room led towards a distant light that was barely a dot, and another to her left led down a dark hallway. Her amber eyes scanned around the room and her jaw was dropped in amazement. She let out a befuddled breath. The computer announced the arrival of her father a moment after her own arrival, and she couldn't even bring herself to look at him, but listened as he chuckled.

"It's huge," Lyssa mused, feeling her father's look on her face as she walked forward.

"It is a mountain, hollowed out when the Justice League was formed. It's located near the small, almost completely unknown town of Happy Harbor. Nobody would've thought to look here. But years ago, the villains found out about it, so we thought it right to go to where we are now, the Hall of Justice. It leads to the Watchtower."

"But isn't that a tourist attraction in the capital? It's such an obvious target, and people could get hurt," Lyssa said, confused on why they would move from a hollowed out mountain and go to a large, masterpiece in the center of the Washington Mall, even if it wasn't even the real base.

"It's to convince the people that we are open with our secrets even if we wear masks. It's more like an…indemnity plan," He replied motioning for her to walk. She nodded, and started walking forward with her father in tow. "No villain would attack. Military forces are convenient. Even if we are not there, it is protected and the civilians that visit are safe."

"Clever of the government to have your backs."

"We believe it's to ensure that we decide to switch from good to evil, they can destroy us at their convenience. It isn't to protect us, more or less, but to protect the people. We are super-beings and aliens after all."

"So that merits their distrust?" Lyssa asked, "Because we do not come from your planet or live how you wish? That is nativism at its worst! Are they truly that ignorant?"

"They are scared people, relying on people that wearing costumes and fight using powers and skill to their advantage. They aren't even sure who we are. They call us by aliases and depend on their trust in us to keep from starting a war against sixteen obviously lethal people. They treat us like heroes, but wish to know our secrets like bosses or controllers. In the end, however, they see the good in us. The military precaution is most-likely the work of a single politician who is working off of conspiracies."

"Yeah," Came a male voice, sounding fairly amused, "And it's usually the politician who has blood on his hands. Sound familiar?"

Lyssa was suddenly on alert as she swung around, looking for a source for the voice. Her ember colored eyes swished around the room, where she was centered, only for her eyes to land on the shadowed figure of a boy. He stood with his arms at his side, smirking cleverly at them. As he emerged from the dark, she was about to see him fully. A Caucasian boy, with hair like coal and eyes covered with black sunglasses. He was thin and lean in figure, fairly short but well filled for a kid of his age, which she guessed was around thirteen.

"So, are you the new team member Bats has been talking about?" He asked, walking forward, his smirk now a genuinely kind smile.

Lyssa was stunned by his informality, but not insulted. In fact, it made her happy that he wasn't as strict as the Leaguers. Maybe this wasn't going to be difficult. "I suppose so," She ended up saying, "Are you the 'young partner' he has mentioned?"

He shrugged, "I suppose so."

She smiled at the boy. He was so innocent and childish it was endearing. She turned to her father, "Should we go meet the rest?"

Manhunter looked at Robin, a long second passing as their eyes met and a silent message passed between them. After that, he turned to his daughter, "I have things to attend to on the Watchtower. I must be going. I am sure Robin is more than capable of introducing the team and you."

Lyssa felt an odd tightening feeling in her stomach. Nervousness. She knew it by the uncomfortable itch in her muscles. Taking a breath, she nodded and put on her best smile, though strained. "Of course. Good luck."

Manhunter nodded, patting her encouragingly on the shoulder and moving towards the transporter once again. Lyssa felt the nerves tense even more as it announced his exit and left them with the sounds of the Zeta winding down. She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned to look at Robin, trying on another smile.

"After you?"

Robin smiled, leading the way towards the hallway. He moved with a normal prowl, as if he was ready to spring into action so easily. She noted that he wore a very bulky golden belt around his small waist, and his fingers twitched instinctively towards the pouches that were sewn to its heavy nylon. He smiled sheepishly when he caught her observing his stature.

"You are…twitchy," She said simply, "Are you afraid I will attack you, or are you simply being prepared?"

He shrugged, "Its preparation. I'm supposed to be ready at a moment's notice."

Lyssa furrowed her brows at the boy, but didn't ask further. She simply followed him down the extensive hall. It was a plain hall, dark in color but she supposed it was due to the fact it was made of hard stone. It was stuffy, but cool in the Cave, such an odd mix. She was overwhelmed by the feeling it gave her lungs.

Once they reached the end of the hall, Robin gave her a wink and walked into the brightness of the living area. It was a very cozy area, considering that the whole mountain was quite cavernous. It was a kitchen, attached to a living room. The kitchen was nice, the counters an obsidian colored granite on oak wood cabinets, the floor the same as the rest of the Cave-rock. The counter acted as a sitting area, with four stools lining it and food laid out atop it. The living area was made of two couches, both of which are green, with an oak table between. Right now, the TV played the news, the volume barely high enough to hear.

Two people were in the room. One of them, Lyssa knew upon looking at her, because it was more or less like looking in a mirror. The same red hair, different in length but the same in color, and amber-gold eyes that looked like they should be sized for a necklace. M'gann (as her father calls her) was about an inch taller, but they were both just as curvy in frame. They had never met, but M'gann could be Lyssa's sister. The boy in the living area was taller, even when sitting Lyssa could tell. He had short cut hair and a brooding way to him that was almost casual. He was obviously strong, with muscles all along his broad chest and long arms, his eyes cast in a sapphire glare as she entered.

Upon seeing Lyssa, M'gann jumped with a start, "Oh!" A smile spread across her pink lips, "You're the new teammate! Nobody said it was going to be a girl, but I had hoped! And you're a Martian!"

"Meg, your pancakes are burning," Robin said, picking up a cookie from a plate on the counter and biting into it.

M'gann smelled the air and flew to the stove, lifting the lightly burned pancakes from the hot skillet and flipping them, getting a ladle of batter ready. The boy on the couch got up and walked over towards the kitchen, sitting silently at the counter and pouring himself a cup of water. Lyssa smiled at him, but he just nodded in response.

"So," M'gann said, "When did you get here?"

"About a week ago. My father offered me a chance to study further on Earth since my education on Mars was going well. He insisted that I come, but after saying no twice, I came to my senses and realized it would be a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity."

"Your father?" M'gann asked, then gasped, "You're Martian Manhunter's daughter! My cousin!"

Lyssa nodded, "Yes, and he told me that you were approachable and kind."

She smiled, "Call me Megan."

Megan, Lyssa thought, smiling. It's an Earth name. Of course she would adopt one early, so it wouldn't be so foreign later. She smiled at the thought, leaning back against the counter.

"Call me Lyssa. Really, it's L'ssa but I find it hard to pronounce."

"If you prefer L'ssa, we will call you that." Said a masculine voice.

It wasn't a familiar voice that asked, so Lyssa searched for the origin. She turned her head, a moment later landing on a tall, muscled figure of a teen of about sixteen. He was African American, with short hair that was white and eyes that were so pale they almost matched his hair. His cheek bones were high, his legs and arms were long and wrapped in muscle, and he wore a red shirt with dark blue pants, barefoot.

"I prefer Lyssa." She assured, "But thank you."

He nodded, "It is not us that has to be comfortable with the name." He reached his hand out, "You may call me Kaldur. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," She replied, taking his hand and shaking it once, "Is this the team? I was told it was only a few of the sidekicks."

Kaldur nodded, "The only one that is missing is Kid, and he'll be here soon. And we prefer protégés."

"My apologies." Lyssa said, looking at the ground slightly.

He put a hand up in reassurance, "It is fine. Do you want us to show you around? I don't think simple directions on where to go will be as helpful."

She was willing to bet he was correct, and the only other option was exploring or not understanding directions and getting lost in the cave. So instead of taking the risk, she smiled and nodded, "Yes, please."

Kaldur nodded and motioned for the door way against the far wall, "I'm sure Superboy and M'gann would be more helpful on this tour than me."

M'gann nodded excitedly and turned off the burner, putting down the bowl of batter and flying to catch up, but Superboy just shrugged, hesitating before getting up and following behind. When he got close to Lyssa, she turned and held out her hand, "Nice to meet you."

She knew she caught him by surprise, but she wanted to introduce herself politely and she felt awkward if he was so purposely excluding himself. He paused and looked at her hand before slowly taking it in her hand. "Same."

They released one another's hands and M'gann lead, hooking Lyssa's arm before she could object. Behind them Kaldur and Superboy followed, Robin last in line, playing on his wrist computer. He hit a few holographic buttons before he made his way up front with the girls, hooking both of their arms and smiling.

"Your room is where the power houses of the League used to be," He said, pointing it out on the map, "Your room was once one of the Green Lantern's. Fitting, since your fully native green martian."

Lyssa looked at him, "How did you know-?"

"I was in the room when it announced your entry." He explained, "Plus your file is already on the central Cave data base. Red Martian, huh?"

Lyssa laughed at such antics, but M'gann suddenly lost a bit of her chipper ways. She soon shook it off, and decided that their last stop should be her room. With Robin in the center of their small chain, they went towards the necessary places first-bathroom, showers, locker rooms, medical bay. She was fascinated by Robin's ability to hack, but also his way of being so casual about it. It was truly how he worked.

The next place they went was the library, which fascinated her more than the Boy Wonder's computer skills. It was shelves of information on cultures and civilizations that were just waiting to be read. A whole section in the corner was devoted to artists and their styles. It was hard to remove her from the library, but eventually they moved on to the training area. It was a large, and for a lack of better terms, insane looking gym, with obstacle courses and little androids that were meant to fight you, and learn to fight you the next time. After that, they stopped where she originally entered, the missions room. They then moved to hangar, where she was surprised to see M'gann's ship.

"I had to leave mine on the Watchtower," Lyssa had said.

The waterfall room was peaceful, but they just stopped briefly there. Then they went to Grotto, which at the moment had no memorials in it, and the souvenir room, which only had a single electronic eye as a souvenir.

Finally, they got around to the revealing of her room. They stopped in front of the door, Robin programing her name into the door, and allowing her the chance to type in a password. They looked away while she did it, wiping the screen afterwards just in case, and then they opened the door.

It was a decent sized room. Impressive, even. It had a bit more character than most rooms, with an arch that lead to a smaller room, which was probably supposed to be a closet. The bed had nothing on it, and was centered in the room. Her boxes, about four of them, were sitting at the foot of her bed, a small dresser on the same wall as the door. The walls were dark blue, the floor had a decent textured carpet on it, and overall, the room was nice.

"I like it," She decided.

"We shall leave you to unpack," M'gann said, "If you need help, just call out down the hall. The lounge isn't far away."

Lyssa smiled, "Thanks."

The left the room and the door closed behind her. She looked around at the room, smiling to herself. It was perfect.

She got to work.