Prologue

Preston stepped off the platform and took a look around. It was bigger than she had ever imagined and a lot more intimidating. She had dreamed of coming here for a long time, but never thought that she would be good enough.

"I can't believe I am here. Me, Preston. No, wait, I can't go by that name here." She whispered to herself while looking down and examining her new outfit. It was very formfitting, which she wasn't quite use to yet. The silver body suit had pink trim around the rather high collar and the front opening that ended right above her belly button in a diamond shape. Her blue, knee high boots were made from a leather material the same material as her elbow length gloves. She reached up and touched the mask she had placed over her eyes prior to her arrival. It felt like it was glued onto her face, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Instead it felt like it had always been there. She traced it with her fingers, it followed and curved around her eyes and continued to cover just below the bridge of her nose. "Here I am known only as Aero." She smiled proudly to herself.

She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. She did not feel worthy enough to even be here, let alone be working here alongside people she had looked up to for many years. And the name Aero? She wasn't sure she would ever be able to live up to what that name meant. Not the actual meaning of the name, but rather what it symbolized and the responsibility that came along with it.

Sure, she did as much as she could. When you are blessed with power, the most logical thing to do is to use it to help those in need. The adage was true, with great power comes great responsibility. In the years she had been protecting and saving others, she had learned about those who were truly bad at heart and used their power and skills to do horrible things to others.

And that's what this place was established for, to find and put a stop to those who were cruel and used their power in a ruthless and hostile way. They had everything they needed here to do that. Glancing up at the deck above, Aero saw more computers and equipment then she had seen in her whole life. There was no one who was better equipped to deal with disasters then they were here. Operating the equipment were two men whom she recognized only from pictures. Pictures she saw of them in action on the news. A chill of excitement and anticipation went down her spine as she realized who they were and that she would one day be working right up there alongside them.

Her thoughts were interrupted by an announcement over the PA system.

"Aero please report to Training Room Beta at 0630. Aero please report to Training Room Beta at 0630."

Her orders were given. She glanced at her watch, she had five minutes to get there. Thankfully she had studied the layout before she had arrived. So, she knew exactly where to go. She started walking down the hall, anxious to know what lay ahead of her for the day. Would they put her right into training? Would she get a tour? Get to meet others like her? The anticipation was killing her.

She took a few more deep breathes and tried to distract herself. Looking around as she walked, she noticed that none of the other training rooms she was passing were in use. She was a little disappointed. This was the only place she would have been able to catch sight of others like her, training to do what they did best. Save lives.

Training room beta was the next door on the right. She stood in front of it for what seemed like hours because of her nerves. It took her a moment before she got up the courage to open the door. She started to walk in but stopped after a few steps. Her eyes glazed over as she recognized who stood in front of her. She felt a wave of relief followed by an inkling of fear. Before her stood two of the strongest, most courageous and stubborn men she had ever met. Her fear was not relieved in any way because she knew both the men standing in front of her, rather it intensified because while she was close to both, these men had a reputation as being the toughest trainers there was.

Standing to her right was a man who was admired and loved by Aero. She couldn't love him more if he was her real father. He had raised her since she was ten. She couldn't have asked for a better father then Oliver Jonas Queen. His smile was spread so wide, it looked like it hurt. He nodded to her and she could sense how proud he was of both her and the fact that he got to introduce her into this world, his world. The other man walked closer to her. He was now so close to Aero that she could feel his breath on her face. He was significantly taller than her, but most people were since she was a mere five feet tall, but his height also carried with it a sense of superiority and smugness that was surpassed by no one.

"Welcome to your first day on the Watchtower. We will be training you for the next few weeks. And Aero, in case you might have forgotten, here I am known as Batman."