Chapter Two

Watchtower

December 20, 2021

Garfield walked through the tower, wondering where to look next for Mirabella. He was worried. It was almost Christmas and he hadn't been able to find her. Unable to find the wolf girl he loved. Not paying attention, Garfield fell on the ground after bumping into someone.

Looking up, "Oh, hey Ed. Sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

"It's okay." Eduardo held a hand to help his friend up. "You okay?"

"No…" Garfield huffed. "I can't find Mirabella."

"She's still missing, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe Miss Martian can-"

"Tried that. Mirabella's out of her range."

"We'll think of something. I'm sure she's-" Eduardo was cut off by some giggling. Turning toward the end of the hallway it came from, "Who's there?"

The giggling continued as the two boys stood there.

"Wait a minute. I know that giggle." Garfield said, realization spread on his face.

"You do?"

"Yeah...Mirabella?"

Turning back toward the same end of the hallway, there was Mirabella. She stood there with her changed yellow eyes staring at them.

"Mirabella, what happened to you?" Eduardo asked.

Mirabella's black hair hung down, matching the scary effect of her sharp teeth and nails. Her uniform was a black top, leggings and a skirt that brought out the grey combat boots and gloves.

"I am compliant to the Reach. They are my masters and I will do as I am told."

"What are you talking about? The Reach are gone." Garfield said.

"The Reach are masters everywhere. They bring out others full potential, their true and full power state. I am of the Reach."

"Mirabella…" Garfield said in complete disbelief.

The young girl shifted in an agonizing looking way that the two boys couldn't believe. Shifting, the sounds of cracking bones and popping of joints into the new form echoed throughout the halls. Finally, the form of a wolf stood where Mirabella had. A wolf of blackened fur stood there, growling and barking at the two boys. Her fur was bristled, her nose folded in a snurl of anger, and she bared her teeth at them in between the barks.

"Mirabella, calm down! Come on!" Eduardo said as the wolf form stepped toward them.

Talking to her didn't help as she pounced at Garfield and Ed. But before she could make contact, something stopped her. Looking up from their defensive positions, M'Gann had caught the wolf in mid air right in front of the two boys.

"Oh, geez...Thanks-" Eduardo screamed a little as Mirabella tried to reach out and snap at him.

Eduardo and Gar both slipped around Mirabella and to M'Gann, Richard and Aqualad.

"I came to help find Mirabella and found out you two are playing deathwish with a black wolf that nobody knows." Richard said.

"It's Mirabella! She's gone crazy!"

"She is not crazy!" Garfield shouted. "The Reach caught her...somehow."

M'Gann started struggling, hard to hold the big wolf in place. Finally, snapping her [Mirabella's] head to the side, M'Gann's hold was lost and Mirabella fell to the floor. Getting up quickly, she shifted back into what would be her human form.

"What-What happened to her?" Richard asked.

"I am compliant to the Reach. And they want their warrior dead."

Then, becoming a blue flame, Mirabella twisted and turned until she disappeared into nothing.

"We have to warn Jaime!" Eduardo said.

"Eduardo, go to El Paso and teleport from there. And bring Virgil and Tye with you." Aqualad ordered.

"Okay...but...where in El Paso?"

"Think about Jaime and you'll get there." Richard replied.

Eduardo nodded in acknowledgement and teleported to the zeta tubes.

Gotham City

December 20, 2034

Jaime stood outside an apartment door. One that read C-H-14 on the door with rusted metal letters and numbers. Jaime found it ironic that Lavender lived in an apartment numbered so close to an acid compound. He didn't have anything with him, just himself and the scarab of course.

"Jaime Reyes, I strongly suggest you knock on the door before someone calls for the police."

"Right, right. I just-I got distracted about what would actually happen when I knocked."

"I assure you, the door would not explode."

Jaime scoffed with a smile, "Of course, now that the Reach are out of you, you're funny."

Jaime raised his fist, going to gently knock on the wooden door. Expect, when he leaned to knock, he fell forward as the door opened.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just leaving. May I help you?" A woman asked, helping Jaime up to his feet.

"Oh, uh…" Jaime collected himself. "Yeah, sorry. I'm Jaime Reyes and I wanted to talk to your...daughter."

"My, my...You must be special for one of my girls to bring here. Which daughter, dear?"

"Uh...um...Lavender, ma'am."

The woman turned to call, but turned back to Jaime, "You sure you're talking about my little Lavender? She doesn't usually invite anyone over."

"Uh...I met her...uh...downtown the other day. I just wanted to catch up again."

"Hmm...okay…" The woman turned back into the apartment. "Lavender, dear, someone's here to talk to you! And it's a boy!" The woman turned back to the door. "I really have to go now. It was good to meet you, Jaime."

"You too, ma'am."

"Oh, please, call me Lillian." Then the brown haired woman left.

"Mom, are you sure the door's for-" Lavender had walked into the room, gloves covering her hands, long sleeves and jeans covering her arms and legs, and socks covered her feet. "You-You're that kid from the street?"

"Yeah, Jaime…"

"Jaime...right. So...what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk. I needed to talk to you."

"About what?"

"You. Your other family."

"Other family? What family? I have two brothers, a sister and mother who loves me. What other family could you possibly be talking about?"

"Aqualad...Robin...Kid Flash…"

"S-Super-Superheroes? You think I know superheroes?"

"I know you do. Because, I am too."

Lavender perked up at this, "You're crazy!"

"No! No, I'm not!"

"Jaime Reyes, you are not helping your cause in her trusting you again."

"Look, I can prove it." Jaime said, ignoring the urge to yell at Khaji.

"Get out of my house! You're crazy!"

"Lavender, just give me a minute to explain!"

"I don't want to listen to anything you have to say. Leave or-or-or...I'll touch your face."

Jaime stopped short, not helping the chuckle that escaped.

"You'll touch my face? That's not very threatening."

"Jaime Reyes, scans show a high level of acid chemical embedded in the skin cells. The one called Lavender is dangerous if she touches your skin."

Jaime looked up and found that Lavender was standing right in front of him. One of her gloves had been slipped off, showing a glowing green hand.

"Lavender...just watch, please?"

"Leave!" Lavender hissed as her eyes glowed.

Jaime stepped back a little, but he stopped when he activated his armor. Lavender stopped her glowing, shocked at the sight in front of her.

"You...You're Blue Beetle!" Lavender's face lit up with emotion. First she was happy and then she was disappointed at her actions. "I am so...sorry. I-I didn't know who you were."

"I know. It's okay. But you see, I won't hurt you."

"What does a superhero want with a teenage girl anyways?"

"For you to become one of us."

Lavender was surprised. A superhero, her? Why, of all people, would anyone want her to be superhero? That's all that went through her head for a moment or two. When she finally shook the surprise off, she was going to ask the same questions in her head, but the window next to them shattered. Blue Beetle tackled Lavender to the ground in order to keep the glass from hitting her.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he sat up.

"I think so. Thank you."

Blue smiled at her for a moment before looking to toward the shattered window. Standing there was Mirabella.

"Mirabella? Mirabella, everyone's been worried sick about you."

"Reach traitor is in need of elimination."

"What is she talking about?" Lavender asked, standing up with Blue Beetle.

"Me. She's talking about me. I don't understand, Mirabella. Why are you trying to kill me?"

"I am compliant to the Reach. The Reach are masters of all."

"The Reach? Who's the Reach?" Lavender said before Blue pushed her into the hallway before Mirabella stuck her as a harpy. "Thanks."

Blue turned to her. "You're welcome." Then he blocked Mirabella's next attack. "Go to Bleecker Street! Go to the end of the alleyway and place your hand on the wall! You'll figure it out from there! Now go!"

"What?"

"Go, Lavender! You'll be safe there!"

Lavender hesitated before running down the hall and down to the streets. Just getting outside, the windows of her apartment were broken. She looked up for only a moment before disappearing down the street. Just getting to Bleecker Street, she looked around before someone grabbed her from behind.

"Let me go! Don't touch me!"

"Calm down, Lavender. It's just us."

Lavender turned around, seeing Tye and Wondergirl.

"Oh, man. Blue Beetle is my apartment, fighting some girl! He told me to-to come this way and I'd be safe!"

"Okay, Lavender, we need to to calm down. Okay?" Wondergirl questioned.

Lavender nodded. "Okay. I'm calm. But what about your friend?"

"We're gonna go help him. We want you to go with Tye to safety first." Robin replied, coming from the shadows behind Wondergirl and Tye.

Tye led Lavender down the alleyway as Wondergirl and Robin disappeared around the corner.

Placing his hand on the wall, Tye stepped aside as the computer rang, "Tye Longshadow-B-3-0."

"Computer, authorize: Lavender Wilson-B-2-6."

"Authorization approved."

"Go ahead. I gotta go help the others." Tye said, running off.

Lavender watched him disappear around the corner before looking at the arch hidden within the brick of the wall. Lavender took a deep breathe before closing her and walking forward through the arch. Feeling something pull her apart and put her back to together, Lavender felt weakened. She fell to the ground.

"Lavender?" Looking up, Iridiven was bending down to help. "Lavender, are you okay?"

Lavender groaned before everything went dark.