Chapter 2: Lacuna (A blank space. A missing part)

"This guy sure packs a punch" I remarked as I twisted in the air to narrowly avoid the boulder flying at me. We had been fighting for a while and Blockbuster had pretty much wrecked the place.

"That's it!" Robin yelled suddenly "KF, Valkyrie get over here."

Sending another fire whip at Blockbuster I flew over to where the Boy Wonder was crouching behind a pillar. Landing beside him I bent down to look at the display on his wrist holo-projecter.

"See?" he asked, pointing to the specific pillars.

Kid Flash and I nodded and went to work. Flying over to the closest pillar I reached out my powers, with a sweep of my hand the pillar crumbled. Flying back to where KF was I joined him in taunting Blockbuster, then running away while he blundered into pillars. We kept him distracted while Robin painted the X and Aqualad watered the floor. As soon as they were clear I sent a wind funnel straight at Blockbusters face, knocking him backwards onto the X and slipping on the water. There was a flash of blue light Aqualad as electricity flashed thru the water. There was a yell of pain and then Blockbuster fell forward onto his face, as the ceiling began to crumble and fall.

"Quick!" I yelled to the others "Over here!"

They ran over to me as the building collapsed in on itself. Throwing my hands out a purple colored sphere surrounded us, the rocks piling over it, the strain becoming greater for me as more of the building fell. "Whoa" Kid Flash breathed, looking around at the walls of stone just visible through the shield.

"This is impossible" Robin muttered incredulously.

I snorted "So says the highly trained thirteen year old who fights, among other things, a man who fell into a vat of toxic waste and survived."

Robin winced "touché"

There was silence for a while until I felt the rocks stopped shifting. Then, slowly, I pushed the shield higher until I could see the sky and let it dissipate. Staggering a few steps I fell to my knees and stared up at the stars.

"We... did it" Aqualad panted.

"Was there... ever any doubt?" Robin asked high fiving K F before both grabbed their sides in pain. Kid Flash stood and walked over to Superboy and pointed star ward.

"See? The Moon"

Immersed in the shadows I studied Superboy as he gazed at the moon. He was a dead ringer for Uncle Clark, judging from what Ma and Pa Kent had shown me in pictures this was what he had looked like when he was sixteen. Looking up at the moon as well my breath hitched as Clark himself appeared with the other leaguers behind him. I sank farther into the shadows until I was indistinguishable from the rock behind me and breathed a silent sigh of relief. I was safe, the Justice League, my family, would help me. I heard KF shift nervously a few feet away.

"Oh, we are sooooo screwed" he muttered.

I sat silently as the leaguers landed and Superboy stepped forward and lifted his torn suit to reveal the S insignia on his chest. Superman's eyes widened for a moment then narrowed as he glared at Superboy whose hopeful smile was fading. Batman stepped forward "Start talking"

TIME SLIP

"If this is about the events at the hall the three of you-"

"The five actually" I interjected appearing from the shadows, lifting my hooded head.

Time seemed to halt as Batman stiffened and turned to face me, along with the remaining Leaguers to stare at me with evident shock. Green Arrow stepped forward to kneel on the ground then, hesitating once, lowered my hood, letting my bright white hair to tumble down my back. I heard gasps from what seemed to be everyone as they saw my face and Black Canary quickly walked over to crouch next to GA who looked like someone had punched him in the face

"Miranda?" he whispered.

I swallowed nervously with a quick look around and replied softly,

"Hi Uncle Ollie"

It was like a bomb went off and within seconds I was surrounded by people, being hugged until I felt smothered. Then abruptly the crowd parted to show Batman with the other teens at his side looking, all of them, extremely stunned. Batman quickly walked down the row of people to stand in front of me, then knelt until he was eye level with me. I met his gaze for three seconds then burst into tears and launched myself onto him, giving him a massive hug

:: I missed you so much Uncle Bruce:: I sobbed to him telepathically as he held me close and I could almost feel him smile. With my head against his chest I could feel his voice rumble as he asked "Miranda where is Sam?"

I flinched away from him and drew close to myself, drawing my legs up and took a deep breath, wiped the tears from my face, swallowing once, then spoke in a clear voice "She's dead"

My voice cracked on the last word but no one noticed. The Heroes had all let out shocked noises and quite a few, including Batman, had flinched. Dinah folded her arms around me and I leaned into her even though I could feel her trembling and Oliver's hands shook as he leaned over to place one on her shoulder.

NO ONE'S P.O.V

Kid Flash, Robin, Superboy, and Aqualad turned so that they were facing each other.

"Am I the only one that feels like we've been left out of the loop again?" Kid Flash asked, exasperated.

"Yeah!" Robin agreed "Like who's this 'Miranda' person. I thought her name was Valkyrie."

"It is" The girl replied as she walked up behind them with Batman at her back.

She looked exhausted and physically worse for wear. It was the first time any of them had gotten a good look at her and Kid Flash's first thought was that she was a looker, what with her finely sculpted features, hypnotizing amethyst eyes, and light pink, plump lips.

Robin's initial thought was that she was more dangerous than he originally had thought. There was a steel in her eyes and a stubborn set to her chin that screamed she was not a pushover.

Superboy's thought was that she was a girl and not of importance. A clone he may be but he still had a male's distinctive pride.

Aqualad's thought was that Miranda, or Valkyrie, had suffered more than anyone there could imagine. While Robin saw steel in her eyes Aqualad saw past that to the pain that lurked just underneath the surface and the tear marks that still streaked her face. But he also knew that that did not mean he should underestimate her. He had seen her fight and knew just from that that she was very powerful.

"But you called her Miranda" Kid Flash said to Batman, jarring Aqualad from his train of thought.

"Yes he did. And that is also my name" she replied calmly.

Robin eyed her, seemingly disgruntled by her closeness to his adoptive father.

"So Valkyrie is your codename" Aqualad asked ,trying to not look into her deeply violet colored eyes which seemed to pierce him to the core.

"Yes" she replied simply, "Valkyrie will be joining your team" Batman stated

"What team?" KF asked

"This one" he replied, nodding toward the group of teenagers. "Follow me." he ordered, walking toward the nearest Zeta Tube.

... TIME SLIP...

VALKYRIE'S P.O.V.

"The six of you will be that team" Batman stated.

"Awesome! Wait six?" Robin did a quick head count to see if Speedy had decided to join them. Uncle J'onn walked from the shadows with a smaller, younger, female Martian.

"This is Martian Manhunter's niece Miss Martian. She will be joining you"

"H-hi" The girl stammered out.

"Liking this job more everyday" kid Flash muttered to Robin as he zipped over to Miss Martian with Robin and Aqualad following.

I hung back, quite frankly not trusting myself around people and feeling my nerves fraying, my instincts built in the last three and a half weeks telling to run before I'm caught, having to remind myself that I'm safe now. I'm home... well not quite home since I'm not on the Watchtower but that was just a technicality and anyway-

"Hey Superboy, Valkyrie!" Robin yelled over to us "Come meet Miss M!"

'Or not.'

Giving a tiny sigh and mentally steeling myself I walked quickly over to the green teenager. Miss Martian smiled timidly at Superboy and me before shifting her shirt into a black and red version of her original.

"I like your shirt" she said shyly, her eyes on Superboy's face. Superboy gave a small 'kind- of-smile' back. Aqualad put a hand on Robin's shoulder

"Today is the day"

I studied the group, feeling strangely detached from the other teens. They seemed nice enough, and I already new everything about them from both files, stories from their mentors, and my own covert surveillance. On all except Superboy and M'gann of course. I would have to rectify that immediately. There was no telling what they could do if they were threats. I would not tolerate any attempts on my family. Not again.

"Miranda" Bruce called and I turned to see him waiting by the Zeta tubes.

"Come" was all he said, and obediently I went to him.

Only to be stopped by a hand on my shoulder. It took everything I had to not react violently, to not behave as a frightened animal and strike. I was safe. I was home.

"You're coming back, right?" Wally West asked anxiously, only slightly looking up at me.

I blinked slowly, confused as to why he would care, before responding. "Why does it concern you?"

He drew back, startled, though I could not discern why. Something in me cried that I knew why, I simply didn't allow myself to, but I was quick to push that voice down like I was used to. Like I had to.

"Uh, no reason, I guess." he stammered, retreating back to Richard Grayson's side, who was glaring at me through his shades.

'Jelousy' The voice whispered and I tilted my head in response. ::I am not here to replace you, Richard.:: I told him. ::That is not my intent::

I didn't wait to see his reaction, turning to follow Bruce through the Tube.

Three thousand miles above the earth in an orbiting station, two Justice Leaguers, Dinah and Bruce, sat on either side of Miranda, each holding one hand.

"Who was it Miranda?" Bruce asked, "We have to know."

Miranda slowly opened her eyes and Dinah flinched, as her irises were pure red, gleaming with a fire in the pupil. Objects around the room began to tremble and shake and the lights began to flicker. Dinah shifted nervously but made no move to leave.

When Miranda spoke it was in a voice that was filled with venom and hatred.

"Savage!" she spat out, like the name was a curse. The two adults eyes widened with horror as the implications of what she was saying sank in.

"Vandal Savage killed Sam", then she collapsed into tears.