"Well, where to begin?" Jack sighed as he leaned back in his chair.
We had all moved to the TV room and the team was spread out across the couches and chairs as Jack sat in front of all of us on a chair I had retrieved from the kitchen. Miss Spruce was absent, she had to go and get something from the house or so she said.
"How about the beginning," I suggested. "What were you and my father thinking!"
He sighed again and adjusted his glasses. "That's just it. We weren't. First off, let's get this straight. Your body has the ability to manufacture and transport hydrocarbons out of the cell and through your epidermis. It does so through protein capsules that I designed specifically for that purpose. When they reach the surface the capsules rapidly degrade and then the hydrocarbons react to form a gel that you can easily ignite. The protein capsules do eventually burn, but not as readily as the hydrocarbons.
"Now, when we were all working for STAR Labs your father met your mother, Selena. They dated for a while and then decided to get married. You know how it works, true love and all that jazz. Anyway, in time your mother got pregnant and they both went off the deep end. Buying baby clothes, painting new rooms in their house pink for the baby, it was really quite disturbing, but they were so happy I didn't say anything. Then disaster struck, Selena lost the baby. She was working with volatile chemicals that hadn't been stored properly. The vapors she inhaled killed the child and nearly killed her. Your father buried himself in his work, leaving Star Labs to do private contract work for Wayne Enterprises.
"Selena fell into a deep depression for months. Not leaving the house, usually not even getting out of bed," he shifted in his chair and continued. "Then your father returned and he brought with him an idea. He used some of Selena's DNA and some of his own to genetically engineer a child. He asked me to help him and I agreed. Anything to help him and your mother. His work brought your mother out of her depression and we all began working on you. I was so happy to have them back to normal that I didn't stop to think about the consequences. For almost a year we designed processes for your body, it was Selena who wanted to give you powers. She wanted to have a child of science within the ranks of the World's Protectors. When you were 'born' your father was ecstatic. You were everything he wanted you to be. But your mother...
"The depression returned and she took to locking herself away from your father and I for days at a time. Try as we might we couldn't get through to her. Some days she was fine, her old self, and others she was like a different person. Your father decided that she was too dangerous for you to be around.
"One night she showed up at the lab and demanded to be let into the chemical storage unit. I refused and offered to drive her home to your father. She caught me in the side of the head with a tire iron and knocked me out. Using my ID card she took numerous compounds from the storage unit and compiled a solution. Your father and I found out later that she believed it would suppress her emotions. It didn't work out that way at all. The chemicals ravaged her brain stem and limbic system, completely rewiring her brain. I found her unconscious on the floor when I came too and thought that she must have poisoned herself. I called an ambulance and she was transported to the hospital."
"And she died?" I asked. I could feel the eyes of everyone on me but I ignored them. I needed to know and if not now, when?
"No," he replied his brow wrinkling in concern as he gazed at me. "She woke up, completely unharmed. Physically at least and she was functioning at the same level she had been before the accident. But it wasn't your mother. Selena was gone. The woman in her place killed three nurses, a doctor and twelve security guards with a scalpel and a 16 gauge needle before vanishing into the city. Days later she showed up at your father's house and tried to kill you. Your father managed to stop her before you were seriously hurt. Then she left and we heard nothing more from her. In truth, I thought she must have managed to get herself killed. Until Miss Spruce found me in Milan. She told me what had happened with the Cadmus facility, you, your father... and Selena."
"But, my mother wasn't involved with any of that," I said. "My father's death was because of Tess and her associate. And I have a feeling whoever was running Cadmus was behind their actions."
Jack looked at me, sadness creeping into his expression. "Cay, Tess is Selena. She's your mother."
The silence that followed seemed to stretch into infinity. I remained silent. It couldn't be true.
"I'm sorry," he said, "but it's true. The chemical compounds destroyed all the morality, compassion and love that Selena possessed. In her place is Tess."
I closed my eyes. "Does she know who I am?"
Hesitating, he nodded. "I don't have any evidence that proves she does."
"Is that why all of this has happened? Because she wants me dead?"
"No. Tess works for Cadmus' Board of Directors. She wouldn't kill one of their best researchers unless they told her to. However, her pursuit of you... that is most likely an agenda separate from that of those running Cadmus."
"So... I'm a clone?" I asked.
"Not exactly," Jack replied. "Your DNA comes from two donors so you are not genetically identical to either. It's more appropriate to call you an Artificial Genetic Construct."
I continued. "How am I fireproof?"
"Your skin is composed of different cells than a normal human epidermis. Selena and your father engineered them to have a resistance to any temperature below about 1500 °C. We also tinkered with your enzymes and such. They're able to function at much higher temperatures than those of a normal person, to deal with the heat of the flames on your surface. However, we had to sacrifice the lower range of their function. Where a normal person would survive exposure to extreme cold you would most certainly die."
"Well that's comforting," Wally murmured. Robin punched him in the arm.
"And my whole problem with water?"
"That was something that was unavoidable. I tried to rectify it but unfortunately I couldn't create a secretory cell that would withstand exposure to the element. The nature of the hydrocarbons and proteins, being pyrophillic, is that they are extremely hydrophobic. They can only exist in areas where there is no form of aqueous material. You can't let the gel sit for too long on your skin or the moisture content in the air will begin to react with it." He paused. "Judging by that burn on your shoulder you've seen what the reaction can do."
"Then why didn't it happen when Tess had me thrown off that boat?"
"Batman analyzed your skin when you were brought back here," Robin put in. "You had stopped producing the hydrocarbons at least 4 hours earlier than when you were thrown from the ship."
Jack nodded. "That's the only explanation I could supply."
"And is there anything else?" I asked. "Maybe you can tell me who you are and how you knew my father."
"Your father and I grew up together. His father and my father worked on the same Board of Directors for a pharmaceutical company for twenty years. We were friends all the way through school and even went to the same University, albeit he followed a molecular genetics route while I studied organic biochemistry among other things. When we had both achieved our doctorates in our chosen fields we were employed by STAR Labs. And that's when everything started." He took off his glasses and began to clean the lenses with the bottom of his shirt. "Anything else?"
I shook my head. "For now I'm out of questions. That will probably change though."
"Why were you in Milan?" Megan asked.
"Fashion week," Jack replied, a grin spreading across his face. "And it was one of the last places Tess would look for me."
"Why would she be looking for you?" I said suddenly.
"Out of questions huh Cay?" He chuckled. "I was there because, besides her, I'm the only person who knows everything there is to know about your powers. She doesn't want you to be helped Cay. The less you know the better for her."
"Where do you plan on going then?" I asked. "If Tess is after you you'll be in danger if you stay in the city."
"I'm going to stay close by. I plan on staying in Metropolis. A few years ago I rented an apartment there that was quite to my liking." He grinned. "I can't go too far away. Your father would never forgive me if I did! And as to Tess... there is really no point to her killing me now. So I doubt she would go to the trouble. It simply isn't the logical decision for her to make."
I frowned. "I still don't like that you're putting yourself in danger. Maybe Miss Spruce could keep an eye on you."
"I'm pretty sure Tess is done with me," he reassured me. "In other news, I've got something for you!" He reached into the pocket of his jacket and produced a portable USB drive. "I also have a bigger gift but since it's not quite finished you'll have to wait."
"What's on it?"
"Let's find out!" Robin exclaimed, jumping from the couch and taking the USB from me. He produced a cord from his utility belt and plugged it into his wrist device and the TV. Plugging the stick in he tapped a few buttons and turned the TV on. A frozen frame of my father's face was visible as the screen became clearer.
"Cay, we will leave if you wish to watch this privately," Kaldur said.
Wally looked ready to protest and I shook my head. "It's fine. He doesn't know any embarrassing stories from my childhood and since I don't have much else I don't want you guys to find out we're golden."
He gazed at me steadily for a second and then nodded.
"Alright, here we go," Robin said. He pressed the play button and the movie began.
It was a lot like the will my father had sent me on the night of his death. He was dressed differently and the room behind him was different. Much tidier and brighter than the lab he had filmed the will in.
Cay, his voice echoed through the TV room. I hope Jack will never have occasion to give this to you. However, if he does then know that it is of extreme importance that you pay attention. I have done my best to distance myself from you in hopes that your mother will leave you be and turn her attentions to me.
I know you will be angry with me for what my work for Cadmus will accomplish, but in order to keep you safe playing into Tess' hand is the only option. I instructed Miss Spruce that in the event of my death you are to receive all of my files. What she doesn't know Cay is that the hard drive in my lab at Cadmus is a fake. The files there are falsified copies. In the bottom drawer of the desk in my study is a key to a safe deposit box. In the box is an external drive with all my files and work accessible to you. Also in the box are other items that I am sure will be of use to you. Go to the Pawnbroker's on King road in Gotham. Two stores to its left is a boarded up Bakery. Go down the alley to the right of this building. The key is under a garbage can beside the door. The safety deposit boxes are at the bottom of the stairs. The number is 009.
When you get the hard drive Cay I want you to give it to Jack. He will extract the necessary information and forward it to the League. What I'm working on at Cadmus will greatly upset them and I'm sorry for that.
Be careful Cay. I am fairly sure Tess has no idea that I have a duplicate drive but you can never be too sure with her. I hope you find the items within the box to be of use to you. Jack will explain their functions. He paused, his face sad, lost. I'm sorry Cay.
He reached forward and stopped the recording. The screen went black.
I sat in silence as Robin turned to me.
"Well that would have been nice to know sooner," he said, unplugging the cord. "I've spent hours on those encryption codes!"
"Huh, who would've thought," Jack mused. "He really did have things planned out."
I looked at him questioningly.
"I never thought he would have had the forethought to leave anything for you in the event of his death," he explained. "Of all the things your father possessed foresight was not one of them."
"So, you gonna go get that stuff?" Wally asked.
"No," I replied after a brief pause to collect my thoughts. "I'm tired, sore and in need of an extremely long bath. If that stuff has been there since he made this video, before he went to work for Cadmus, and no one has found it then I doubt it'll go missing in the next few days."
"Well if you need any help-"
"Thanks Wally," I interrupted. "Jack, will you come with me to Gotham to empty the box?"
He nodded.
"Robin?" I asked turning to him. "You know the city best. Do you know where King road is?"
"No idea, it's a big city. I think it has about six roads called King," Robin replied. "I'll look into it though and let you know."
"Sure. It's probably in some shady part of town. I'd start looking there..."
"Why do you say that?" he laughed.
"It would have been sensible to have put it somewhere bright and cheery. Since my father was neither sensible nor the bright and cheery type I would say we'll probably get mugged and killed before getting to the box."
Jack chuckled. "Cay you can produce insanely flammable structures that you can form into physical constructs-"
"I can do what now?" I interrupted.
Jack adjusted his glasses again and shrugged. "If you produce enough of the hydrocarbon gel the protein structures that transport them will begin the stack on the surface of your skin. That makes it possible for you to make solid flammable constructs." He noticed my blank stare. "The gel and its transporters would assemble themselves into an object you could wield as a weapon. They're under your mental control after all."
"Sweet," I breathed. "How does that work?
"I don't know! All I can tell you is it's possible. You have to do the actual trial and error to see if it's practical for use in combat."
"Well that's unhelpful Jack," I sighed rising from the couch.
His face split into a grin. "Your father always used to say that."
"Huh... I'll see you tomorrow," I said standing awkwardly in front of him while he looked around the room.
"Yeah..." He paused. "I feel like I should hug you or something. Or would that make things more awkward?"
"I think maybe shaking hands would be less awkward," I laughed holding out my hand.
"Hand shaking, eh? I thought you kids were all about the fist bumping."
I dropped my hand as he stepped forward and wrapped me in a bear hug.
"Fist bumping," I croaked as he let me go and stepped back. "Where did you get that idea?"
"It was on a TV show they aired in Milan," he replied. "I'll phone you tomorrow Cay. We can organize a time to go and retrieve the contents of that box."
He turned to march out of the room but faltered. "Do you guys have a normal door? That transporter thing makes me nervous. I would hate to end up somewhere lacking in the oxygen department."
Megan smiled and rose from the couch. "Follow me!"
Jack nodded gratefully. "Thanks."
As he and Megan left the room Wally cleared his throat.
"Well, I'm off guys. My mom wanted me to help her weed her garden today. I guess I'm a few hours late for the party," he sighed and rose off the couch to my left. "Later."
Robin trailed after him. "I have to get out of here too..."
I nodded and turned to Kal and Superboy as he left the room.
"So what are you guys going to do?" I asked.
Superboy shrugged. "Watch the TV."
"I await Batman's reports for the team," Kal supplied.
"Well," I said slowly, "while you're doing that would you like to help me make dinner? I'm hungry."
He regarded me for a moment, then he smiled. "Sure."
As he followed me into the kitchen, leaving Superboy staring at a black TV screen something startling occurred to me. Kaldur was really good looking. I hadn't really noticed before. Well no, that's not right. I had noticed but I'd never really... noticed. Which sounded stupid but somehow made sense. He was so nice. As I opened the fridge and began rummaging around I wondered if he had a girlfriend. Probably. Just my luck. I grabbed a package of chicken and tossed it to him.
"What are we making?" He asked.
"Some form of chicken," I said walking over to the cupboards and throwing them open. He even had a great voice. "Let's see what we have."
And if he didn't have a girlfriend, what then? I stared at the spices and sauces in the cupboard for a moment. Dating within a team was never a good idea. It posed too many problems if things didn't work out. I sighed. He was so sweet too. He probably had a girlfriend. I always managed to fall for guys already in a relationship. Myr had always joked I was only ever attracted to guys who were already taken. Which was probably true but now the fact that a guy was in a relationship wouldn't be the only reason I wouldn't be going on a date any time soon. The fact I was now fighting villains and spontaneously combusting might turn off the few available good looking guys. It was a little depressing.
"So?" Kal asked as I made a hasty grab for the closest spice jar.
"We're making lemon and herb chicken," I replied placing the bottle on the counter.
He nodded, put the chicken down on the counter and retrieved a glass platter from under the stove. And he was able to cook! How much better could one guy be? I began unwrapping the chicken. Too bad we were on the team together. And he was the leader.
He slid the glass tray in front of me and I dropped the chicken into it. I grabbed the spice bottle and flipped open the cap. Shaking out the pungent spices my mind continued to spin.
If he didn't have a girlfriend, what then? The reasonable part of my mind responded with a resounding: "It will never work.".
The unreasonable mess that was the rest shouted back, "You never know until you try."
I recapped the spice bottle and turned to Kal.
"Can you preheat the stove?"
He nodded and began fiddling with the knobs on the stove.
I picked up the tray of chicken, watching him out of the corner of my eye. With a rising feeling of dread I realized how hopeless the situation was. He knew how to cook. He was really nice. He was someone you could talk to easily. He was gay.
My utter dismay must have registered on my face.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
Other than your sexual preference? I thought bitterly. "Nope."
He opened the stove and I slid the tray onto the rack within. But maybe he wasn't gay. Maybe he was just an all around good guy... Then he definitely had a girlfriend. Cursing my terrible luck I straightened up and smiled halfheartedly.
"Thanks. That will take about half an hour to cook," I said. "Want to watch a movie?"
"Sure," he replied still watching me closely.
"Alright." I marched out of the kitchen. Superboy and Megan, who had returned from escorting Jack out, were watching a cooking show. They both looked up as I sat down on the couch. Kal took a seat next to me. I watched him out of the corner of my eye.
"What would you two like to watch?" Megan asked. "I've seen this episode before."
"Do you guys have any movies?" I asked as she shook her head. "Well, what's on?"
Megan flipped the channel to a TV listings screen. I scanned the list of shows. Nothing.
"Want to watch the news?" She asked. "There's not much else on."
I turned to Kal. "Doesn't matter to me. You?"
"What is 'The Eligible Dude'?" he asked.
"It's a show where a bunch of girls fight over a pompous jerk with a lot of money," I sighed. "I think they're on season 21 or something."
Megan flicked to the channel that was playing the show right as a skinny crying blond woman launched herself across a fancy dinner table at a smug brunette woman who was hanging off the arm of said 'Eligible Dude'. The girls rolled around on the table screaming profanities that were censored out until two burly set attendants pulled them off one another.
"Is that supposed to happen?" Kal asked.
"I don't watch the show but I'm guessing no," I laughed.
The channel changed as Megan sighed. "They'll put anything on TV. Oh! An interior design show!"
I leaned back into the couch and closed my eyes. Even if I couldn't date Kal being around him was enough, right?
The next week and a half passed in a blur. At Red Tornado's instruction Kal and Robin began teaching me the basics of hand to hand combat. Every day I spent hours in the middle of a projected sparring ring and I had to admit. By the end of the week I was feeling pretty good about myself. I was faster on my feet and was able to dodge with less flailing appendages. And don't get me wrong, I was pretty happy to be spending the time with Kal. Even if he was either gay or had a girlfriend. There was still the slim chance that neither of those scenarios were true. A slim, slim chance.
I woke up the day after one particularly brutal exercise, sore and stiff, and trudged down to the kitchen. Megan was boiling a kettle of hot water when I walked in.
"Morning Megan," I yawned. "You're up early."
"Well I heard Superboy leave this morning. Last night he said he was going to Metropolis. I think he went to find Superman," she said, nervously wringing her hands.
"Don't worry about him. I mean, he's practically indestructible."
I opened the fridge and began rummaging around. Megan and I needed to go shopping. There was hardly anything left to eat. I grabbed a vanilla yogurt from beside a moldy orange and shut the door. I looked over to Megan who was staring worriedly off into space. She really cared about Superboy. I grabbed a spoon out of the sink and wiped it on my pants. I ripped open the yogurt container and began to greedily devour the creamy goodness that was the vanilla flavored dairy product.
"I hope he's alright," Megan mumbled as the tea kettle began to whistle.
I nearly choked on my spoon as she pulled it off the stove. "Oh my god! You're crushing on Superboy!"
"What! No!" She protested, her cheeks reddening.
"You most certainly are!" I cried, pointing my spoon at her, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. "Wally is going to be so crushed..."
"You can't tell the team!"
"I won't!" I laughed. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
She poured two cups of tea and offered me one.
"Thanks." I placed it on the counter next to my yogurt. "So... does Supey know?"
"No..."
"Well you'd better get on that or someone will come along and scoop him up before you know it." Not that I could see why anyone would want to date Superboy. He was good looking but he was so angry and... brooding. But if that's what Megan wanted then that was her choice. I was just a little bit relieved that she didn't have a thing for Kal. That would have been awkward.
She looked shocked. "Do you think so?"
"I really don't-" I was interrupted by the metallic voice announcing the arrival of Kaldur and Wally.
"Hey girls! The Wallman is in the house!" Wally cried from in the Command room his voice echoing clearly in the kitchen.
I rolled my eyes and looked to Megan. Picking up my tea I winked. "Speak of the devil."
She laughed as we walked into the TV room to meet them.
"Morning guys," I called as I fell onto one of the couches across from the TV being careful not to spill the contents of my cup.
Kal and Wally walked in moments later. They fell onto the couch beside Megan and I as my cell rang. I retrieved it from my pocket and read the caller ID.
"Jack," I said, rising from the couch and walking into the kitchen. I flipped the phone open and held it up to my ear. "Hello?"
"Cay! How's my favorite goddaughter?"
I grinned. "Your only goddaughter is good."
Jack had phoned me nearly every day since he had moved into Gotham. In one week I had talked with him more than I had with my father over my entire life.
"Well that's good! Look I wanted to know if you have time to go to retrieve the lock box stuff tomorrow or the next day. I don't have anything planned and thought we could go on a fun bonding trip after!" He explained.
"The team hasn't gotten any missions so I don't see why that would be a problem," I replied, leaning against the counter. "When Robin gets here I'll ask him what time would work."
"Superb! Do you have plans for the evening on either of those days?"
"Um... no?"
"Doubly superb! You and I are going for dinner at Skunky Mick's then we'll go and see a movie of your choice!"
"Skunky Mick's? That sounds..."
"Skunky?" Jack supplied.
"You're ridiculous," I laughed. "And yes I would like to go for dinner at Skunky Mick's."
"And a movie?" He wheedled.
"And a movie," I replied. "You can choose, just no romantic comedies."
"Darn, I was so hoping to go and see 'Flirty Thirty'."
"Please tell me you're joking."
"Most definitely. How about... 'Dangerous'?"
I paused. "Does it have good looking guys, explosions, and lots of blood?"
"Check, check and... extra check," he replied.
"Awesome," I grinned. "Let me talk to Robin about the lock box and I'll call you back."
"Talk to you later kid."
"Bye Jack."
The end of the line went dead and I shut my phone. As well as being a lot of fun to talk to Jack was full of information on my powers. I had been steadily working at forming the protein constructs that he had mentioned the first day I met him.
I hadn't shown the rest of the team but I had almost perfected it. I could make a baseball shaped projectile that would hold its shape long enough for me to toss it through the air at an opponent and from having watched Kal and his water swords I was beginning to wonder if I could make something like that. I hadn't tried it but based on what Jack had said it was probably feasible. I had no idea how to go about it but I was sure I would figure it out eventually.
I walked back into the TV room where Megan was trying to convince Wally that he would enjoy 'The Vegetarian Cook' almost as much as 'Aftermath of Doomsday'.
"Wally they play that movie every other day. If you haven't seen it let me fill you in. It's terrible and everyone ends up dying due to the massive radiation exposure," I sighed, sinking onto the couch next to Kaldur. "Why don't we do something other than watch TV?"
"What do you suggest?" Megan asked tossing Wally the remote. He gleefully switched to 'Aftermath of Doomsday'.
"Something that doesn't involve a whole lot of movement," I replied. "Hey didn't Robin say the combat simulator can project games?"
"I believe it can," she nodded.
I stood up. "Cool. Anything beats sitting in front of the TV. Wally, Kal, you coming?"
Kal shrugged and pushed himself off the couch. Wally watched Megan get up and hurriedly switched off the TV set.
"How could I refuse my two favorite ladies?" He asked, winking at Megan.
For the next three hours the four of us played the only game that was on the computer: air hockey. Now, normal air hockey is fun. Air hockey on a computer projected table that glows fluorescent green is awesome. As I beat Wally for the fourth and final time Robin came through the transporter.
"Wally you now owe me two candy bars, a milkshake, and a bucket of cookie dough ice cream," I reminded him as he threw up his hands in disgust.
"How did you beat me again!" he exclaimed. "I'm awesome at air hockey!"
"Not as good as I am!" I laughed, catching sight of Robin. "Hey Robin."
"Hey, air hockey eh?" He asked nodding towards the table.
"Yeah we didn't have anything else to do."
"Where's Superboy?"
"In Metropolis," Megan responded quickly. "He went to find Superman."
The computerized voice announced Superboy's arrival as we all looked to the transporter.
He materialized and marched moodily towards us and straight through the air hockey projection causing it to disappear. Jerk, I thought moodily glaring after him.
"Hi Superboy. How was Metropolis?" Megan asked.
"Not what he expected apparently," I muttered under my breath.
Superboy turned and fixed me with an icy stare. Super hearing, of course.
"Ready for training?"
Walking down the hall from the bay where Megan kept the bioship was a tall blond woman. A few steps behind her was Martian Manhunter, I knew him from the newscasts Miss Spruce was always watching. How they had gotten in I had no idea.
"Black Canary! Uncle J'onn!" Megan exclaimed running up and hugging her uncle.
"M'gann, I was in the neighborhood," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "and I thought I'd stop by and see how you were adjusting."
Megan smiled. "A few bumps, but I'm learning."
"That is all I can ask."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Superboy turn on his heel, making for the door to the kitchen.
"Stick around," Black Canary said suddenly. "Class is in session."
"Class?" I asked uncertainly.
She ignored me and stepped away from Megan and her uncle. The floor beneath her feet began to glow revealing the circular shaped ring. My stomach dropped. Kal, Robin and I had been using the same ring for sparring. And I was pretty sure that its only purpose (apart from holographic air hockey) was training.
"I consider it an honor to be your teacher," she began. "I'll be throwing a lot at you; everything I learned from my old mentors." Taking off her jacket she winced. "And my own bruises."
"What happened?" Megan asked, concern etched into her face.
"The job," Black Canary replied simply. Tossing her jack aside she looked at where we all stood. "Now, combat is about controlling conflict. Putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting... I'll need a sparring partner."
Wally raised his hand. "Right here! Yeah!"
He tossed his banana peel, from the fruit he had been eating aside and came to a stop in front of Black Canary. "After this I'll show you some of my moves."
I rolled my eyes as Wally took up a fighting stance. A tone signaled for them to begin and Canary feigned a punch that Wally fell for allowing her to kick his feet out from under him. He hit the floor with a dull thud as a screen appeared beside him. Kid Flash. Status: FAIL it read. I chuckled.
"Good block," Canary said, helping him to his feet. "But did anyone see what he did wrong?"
"Oh! He hit on teacher and got served?" Robin asked grinning. I elbowed him in the side. "Hey..."
"Dude!" Wally hissed turning to shoot Robin a dirty look.
"He allowed me to take control of the battle," Canary answered, ignoring Robin and Wally.
"Oh please."
All eyes turned to Superboy as he stalked into the illuminated sparring ring. "With my powers the battle is always on my terms," he hissed.
"Prove it," Canary said, her eyes gleaming.
Wally backed away from the two of them as the tone sounded. Superboy swung his fist wildly in the direction of Canary's head. She easily dodged him and casually flipped him over her shoulder. He landed on his back a few feet away with a grunt. Robin began to laugh. I went to elbow him again but Kal beat me to it. Robin covered his mouth with his hands, muffling the sound.
Rolling onto his hands and knees Superboy glared angrily at Canary.
"You're angry. Good, but don't react," she began. "Channel that anger into-"
Superboy charged again with an angry cry swinging for her head. Canary ducked and kicked his feet out from under him. As he landed Megan flinched and Robin tried to muffle his laughter again. Canary held out her hand to help him up but Superboy smacked it away.
"That's it," he shouted. "I'm done."
"Training is mandatory," Black Canary said evenly.
"Batman, to the cave."
Batman's transmission couldn't have come at a better time. For one thing, Superboy looked like he was ready to claw Canary's eyes out. Secondly, I really didn't want to spar with her in front of everyone. It would just be embarrassing.
"5 hours ago a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary. The attacker was capable of studying and duplicating the powers of its opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements which nearly proved disastrous. Our foe gained more power with each combatant," he said, his masked face appearing on the computer screen a few seconds after having received his initial transmission. "In the end it took 5 hours and eight Leaguers to defeat and dismantle the android."
"An android," mulled Robin. "Who made it?"
"We're not sure," replied Batman.
"The technology bears the signature of Professor Ivo," Martian Manhunter intoned.
I jumped. He had been so silent I had forgotten he was standing behind me.
"Ivo?" Kaldur asked, obviously shocked. "But Ivo's dead!"
Again I felt a little out of the loop. I really needed to brush up on my knowledge of super villains. Then maybe I would have more to contribute to discussions such as these. For the meantime I stood in silence. Batman obviously wanted us to do something with the android parts. Take them to Mount Doom and throw them into the fires? Maybe not, but definitely something equally dangerous.
"So we all thought," Canary said, addressing Kal, "or hoped."
"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized we're sending two trucks carrying the android's parts to two separate STAR labs, one in Boston and one in New York, for immediate evaluation," Batman continued. "Every precaution is being taken. We'll have four additional decoy trucks to create confusion if Ivo, or anyone, tries to recover the remains." He paused. "You will split into two undercover teams to safeguard the real trucks."
"Yes!" Cried Wally. "Road trip!"
"When do we leave?" I asked. "And do you expect us to drive? Robin's only thirteen, right? I think letting him drive is a tad illegal."
"Cay you ask too many questions," Wally sighed. "We're superheroes. We don't need licenses, right Bats?"
"No one is above the law," he replied crossly. "However, you are all capable of piloting a vehicle. As to your departure time you will leave as soon as the trucks are readied. Thirty minutes, an hour at the most."
"So now we take out your trash?" Superboy asked venomously.
"You have something better to do?" Batman questioned.
Superboy turned his gaze away from the screen. A set of coordinates blinked on one of the smaller screens to the left of the main display.
"Coordinates received," Kaldur said.
We all turned and made our way for the door. I still had to change into my suit. As we all crowded through the kitchen I nearly ran into Jack who was coming down the hall.
"Surprise!" he cried, dropping the two bags he was holding and hugging me. "Where are you all going in such a hurry?"
"Mission," I croaked, trying to wriggle out of his arms.
"I'll ready the bioship," Megan said, rising off the floor and floating down the hall as Robin and Wally followed.
Jack released me from his hold and Kaldur put a hand on my shoulder. "We leave in ten, Cay." He walked off down the hallway taking the alternate route to the bioship bay.
"Oh I'll be brief," Jack said rolling his eyes. "Wouldn't want you to be late saving the world. I just wanted to bring you the rest of your present!"
"What present?" I asked.
"The 'I'm-sorry-for-not-being-a-better-godfather-and-am-trying-to-buy-your-love' present that I didn't have finished when Miss Spruce brought me to see you last week." He grinned. "Tah dah!"
Picking up the bags in his left hand with a flourish he produced a fashionable grey jacket.
"That is adorable," I breathed, taking it from his hand. "Where did you get it?"
"I made it," he said smugly.
"Really?"
"Really, really. It's composed of the same material as your suit." He pulled a lighter out of his pocket with his free hand. Lighting it he held it up to the sleeve of the jacket. The flame bent around the fabric.
"That's awesome Jack! Thank you!"
"There's about twelve different outfits in these bags," he said, beaming. "If you want anything else made just tell me and I'll do my best to duplicate it. Now, go get changed and go save the world!"
"I don't think we're really at the world saving level yet," I laughed.
"Well everyone has to start somewhere, kid."
"Thanks Jack," I said, giving him a quick hug. "I'll talk to you later."
"Ok," he grinned. "Be safe!"
"Always."
I arrived in the bioship bay ten minutes later wearing a much more attractive outfit. The grey canvas jacket over a white tank top coupled with a pair of faux denim shorts. Jack had also made me a new suit. It was pretty sick. Black and grey with red accents on the ribs and shoulders, he had made it sleeveless which would make the hydrocarbons easier to ignite and burn. Or so I assumed.
I jogged up the ramp into the bioship and fell into a chair Megan created from the floor beside Kaldur. Everyone else was wearing civilian clothes and I was thanking my lucky stars that Jack had shown up when he did.
"Cay!" Megan exclaimed. "What happened to your suit? How are you going to fight?"
"Jack brought me a flame proof wardrobe!" I laughed. "No more horrendous one piece super-suits!"
"Don't be so hateful of the suit Cay," Wally grinned, turning to face me. "You looked great. But I have to admit those shorts sure do make your-"
"Wally," I said warningly. "Some things we should keep to ourselves."
He winked and turned to Megan. "But Cay isn't the only one who looks good."
"I think we need to make a list of phrases Wally can't use while riding in the bioship," I said to Megan. "Don't you?"
She laughed. "Knock yourself out."
"C'mon Cay, show the Wallman some love."
I rolled my eyes and settled back into my seat. "How far to the rendezvous point?"
"Twenty minutes," Kaldur responded.
It passed in a heartbeat.
Megan brought to bioship down behind a cluster of trees. We all unbuckled our seat belts and filed down the ramp. Standing a scant few feet away were six motorcycles.
"Really?" I asked.
"Oh yeah," Robin grinned, "really."
Megan walked up to one of the motorcycles and placed a hand on the handlebars.
"How do they work?" She asked.
"It's not too complicated actually." Behind her the air blurred momentarily and the Flash came into view.
"Gas, brake," he said, pointing to the throttle and the brake pedal. "Steering and clutch. Any more questions?"
"Flash!" Cried Wally, apparently overjoyed to see his mentor. Walking up to him they fist bumped.
"Hey Kid, you guys ready?"
"Of course."
"Good. Motorcycle suits are in the side compartments. Helmets are under the seats. Safety first! Gotta go!" He disappeared into the bushes as fast as he had come.
"Well, that was helpful," I said pulling my helmet out of the seat and swinging my leg over one of the motorcycles.
Everyone else slipped into the suits and helmets.
"Cay, aren't you going to wear the suit?" Robin asked, hopping on his bike.
I shook my head. "If I have to fight I don't have time to get out of it. It's easier to ride like this. Despite the risk of road rash," I sighed looking down at my bare legs.
"We need to split into two teams," Kaldur said, zipping up his suit. "Two groups of three. One for each truck."
"I'm with Cay," Wally said, jumping onto the bike beside mine. He grinned at me. "You okay with that?"
"Overjoyed," I replied. Riding with Kal was definitely the only outcome I would really be happy with.
"Fine. Cay, Kid Flash, you're with me. Superboy, Miss Martian, Robin, you accompany the truck bound for New York," Kal instructed.
I smiled slightly.
Superboy was watching me closely. "What are you grinning about?"
I frowned as Kal gave the signal to move forward. Our truck tracked left while the other tracked right. Everyone started their motorcycles. Kal sped off followed by Wally and I riding abreast.
We were kept connected through the comm links we had used in the last mission. After half an hour of Wally doing his best to make conversation I was ready to rip it out of my helmet and throw it into the cornfields that lined the road. As he finished a particularly long winded story about how he and Flash had taken down some giant gorilla I took the initiative to halt the assault on both my and Kaldur's ears.
"Wally. Stop. Talking," I groaned.
"I agree," Kal's voice replied in my ear. "We should maintain radio silence. Not that we are unimpressed by your victory over Gorilla Grodd."
I grinned. Kal was always so diplomatic.
"Okay, but if you were impressed by that you would love to hear-"
"Wally!" I cried, the thought of another story pushing me over the edge. "Radio silence is code for shut up! No more stories!"
"Okay, okay," his voice sounded in my ear. "How about you tell us something about yourself?"
"What?"
"We don't know much about you Cay. Except what that video Jack showed us. C'mon you must have some interesting story," Wally pressed.
"I really don't. I lived in Metropolis all my life. My dad was never around. Miss Spruce took care of me. I went to school. I hung out with my friends. I was normal. Now, radio silence!"
"Normal... That's a foreign concept."
I was about to respond when a metallic giggling echoed from either side of the road.
"What is that?" I asked, looking towards the cornfields.
"It doesn't sound good," Wally hissed.
Seconds later a swarm of robots erupted from either side of us. One landed in the road in front of me. It was a monkey. A flying robot monkey. Who makes a flying robot monkey? I swerved as it giggled maniacally and grabbed onto the rear of my bike.
"It's on my bike!" I cried, speeding up as the rest of the monkeys landed on the truck.
"Try and shake it off," Kal said through the comm, knocking the robots off the truck with a barrage of water columns.
The robot grabbed the back of my jacket and tried to pull me off the back of my bike. Holding on to the handlebars I swung my right leg up and kicked it onto the road behind me. It hit the asphalt and shattered.
"Nice," Wally's voice sounded in my ear. He was on top of the truck.
"How did you get up there?" I asked, speeding up and keeping pace with the truck as the driver tried to outrun the monkeys.
Knocking a few off the side as they tried to bore through the outside of the truck he grinned. "Do you need some help."
"Yes!" I cried as one of the monkeys latched onto the back wheel of my bike. The wheel exploded as the robot chattered excitedly, the bike swerved into the side of the truck and as I prepared myself for the worst I saw the pavement rushing up to meet me.
I shut my eyes and let go of the handlebars. Someone grabbed the back of my jacket and a moment later my right shoulder made contact with the truck. Opening my eyes Wally was standing over me.
"You owe me, beautiful," he winked before disappearing to keep the monkeys at bay.
"Thanks Kid!" I called.
There was a chattering behind me as I whipped a lighter out of my back pocket. Three monkeys were using their laser vision to melt the roof of the truck.
"No you don't," I hissed.
The gel began collecting on my arms as I flicked the lighter. The flames spread quickly as I returned it to my back pocket.
"Hey!"
All the monkeys looked up at me as I threw three balls of the flaming gel. They were engulfed by flames as their mocking chatter turned to chirps of anger. The gel incapacitated two out of the three. As its friends collapsed in on themselves the third leapt towards me. A jet of water knocked it off into the cornfields. Kal was riding alongside the truck.
"Thanks!" I called.
He nodded. I turned away, looking for more of the monkeys as a second swarm flew out of the cornstalks. Five landed in front of me and picked up where their predecessors had left off. I gathered more gel in my hands, preparing to throw if when the truck shuddered beneath my feet and swerved violently. I was knocked sideways and tumbled towards the edge of the roof. I managed to catch hold of the ledge, avoiding becoming a brightly coloured smear on the pavement. Swinging myself back up I landed lightly on my feet.
"Nice save," Wally said as he continued to knock monkeys off the sides of the truck.
I tossed my flaming projectiles at the monkeys but for every one I destroyed two more took its place. They made a final cut and the metal of the truck's roof folded back. The horde descended inside as the guards began firing wildly, eliminating any chance of me helping them. I watched helplessly as the monkeys emerged carrying the androids pieces. I launched myself at them as they slowly lifted into the air but I was knocked back as one of their mechanized tails caught me in the side of the head.
I landed heavily on the roof, seeing stars. The truck swerved again, it was heading straight for the ditch. I heaved myself to my feet and took a running leap off the side. Hoping to lessen the force of impact I tucked and rolled before hitting the ground. Surprisingly I managed to roll into the corn rows and avoid being crushed as the truck hit the ditch and flipped onto its side. Kaldur brought his motorcycle to a halt where I had fallen as I heaved myself to my feet.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I think so!" I laughed dusting myself off.
"Good." Taking off his helmet he pressed the comm link in his ear. "Aqualad to Robin, we lost our cargo did you-"
"It's gone." Robin's reply was muffled in my ear. "And so is Superboy."
"Aqualad to Superboy, radio us your position. We can help you."
"I don't need help and don't want any!" He shouted, his voice ringing in my ear. There was a fuzzy click and then silence.
"Superboy." Kal pressed his own comm again. "Superboy?"
"I think he ditched his comm," I said rolling my shoulders and checking myself for any injuries.
"Yeah," Robin agreed.
"Super!" Wally groaned. "Now we can't even track him."
"Megan," I said, pressing my comm link, "can you contact him with your telepathy?"
There was a brief moment of silence. "No," she replied her voice laced with static, "he's out of my telepathic range."
The static increased, nearly drowning out the end of her response. I plucked the comm link out of my ear. Kal and Wally looked at me questioningly.
"I didn't catch that last bit," I said. "Static. I think it's broken."
"It is possible when you jumped off the truck it was damaged," Kal reasoned.
I sighed and tucked it into my pocket as I walked over to them. "Wally can you please tell me what the others are saying?"
He gave me a thumbs up. "Megan thinks we should contact Big Red."
Kaldur shook his head. "Tornado always tells us to handle our problems on our own," he said. "The mission can still succeed if we recover the parts before they're assembled."
"But where are they taking the parts?" I asked.
Kal and Wally were listening intently to something that Robin or Megan were saying.
"Robot monkeys have GPS," Wally said. "Rob's tracking the signal and... they're in Gotham."
"That far South?" Kal replied, shaking his head. "Cay and I will never get there in time. You and M'gann go on ahead. I'll send Kid ahead to meet you. Aqualad out."
Wally pulled his goggles down. "See you guys later."
He took off down the road leaving me standing next to Kal.
"Where is your motorcycle?" He asked.
I grinned and picked up a handlebar. "Not sure but here's part of it."
He chuckled and slid forward. "Hop on."
I hesitated before climbing on behind him. Sitting as far back on the seat as possible I wrapped my hands around the rear wheel guard.
"Okay ready to go," I said.
"If you sit like that you will fall off the back," he said, looking at me over his shoulder.
"Nah, I'm good."
He shrugged and started the engine. The bike jolted forward and I almost toppled off. To keep myself on the bike I wrapped my arms around his waist.
"You did that on purpose," I accused moving forward to sit more comfortably behind him.
He didn't reply as we sped down the highway.
I don't know how fast we were going but we reached the school in Gotham where Ivo was reassembling his android in time to see Superboy stick his fist through it's head as it dematerialized. It solidified itself and the head burst into pieces.
"Help me disassemble him!" Robin cried kneeling down next to the fallen android.
"Dude, he's got no head!" Wally protested.
"Take no chances!" Kal cried as we ran over and began to help Robin.
"Nice Superboy," I said as Megan helped him to his feet.
"Thanks," he replied smiling slightly, "feeling the aster."
"Where's Ivo?" Asked Wally.
"Really?" I asked, scanning the bleachers of the gym. "Come on. Let's find him."
"No," said Kal grabbing my arm. "Ivo is long gone. Amazo is our priority."
I wanted to protest but he had a point. Ivo wouldn't stick around once his android had been destroyed. I wrenched one of Amazo's arms out of its socket and placed it in the armoured box Megan had levitated towards us.
"Why would anyone make something like this?" Wally asked, tossing the ruined pieces of Amazo's head into one of the boxes.
"The real question is why would Ivo resurface if everyone thought he was dead? Wasn't having the League under the assumption that he was gone for good make his work easier?" I asked.
"Perhaps he had motivations that far outweighed the value he placed on his own safety," Kal suggested as the last piece of Amazo's torso was placed in the box. "These parts need to get to STAR labs. We will break into our original teams and escort them to their original destination. I will radio the League to send replacement transport for the parts and us."
We returned to Mount Justice a few hours after delivering our half of Amazo. Unfortunately I didn't get to ride with Kal on the way to Boston. I got my own motorcycle again. Back in the Cave I had just enough time to change into more comfortable clothes, sweatpants and a t-shirt, and slip into bed before the intercom called the whole team down to the communications room. I hadn't got around to doing anything with my hair so it was piled in a messy blonde bun on the top of my head. I had to roll out of my comfortable bed, sore and stiff, and limp down to get debriefed.
"The Amazo android is in pieces again," Kaldur said, as we all stood before Black Canary, Batman, Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter, "safely being analyzed in two separate STAR labs. But Ivo escaped and since he originated the tech he is arguably more dangerous than before."
"Capturing the Professor will be a League priority," Canary replied.
"But we understand that your mission encountered," Manhunter paused, searching for the right words, "other complications."
Superboy looked away as everyone inadvertently looked towards him.
"It all worked out," I said, yawning as Superboy shot me a grateful look. "Even with the complications."
"Complications come with the job," Batman said stepping up in front of us. "Your ability to handle them has impressed the League."
"The whole League?" Superboy asked. I couldn't help but notice a hint of hopefulness in his voice.
"Given time, yes. Kryptonians, as you know, have very hard heads," Batman paused and surveyed the whole team. "Of course there's no shame in asking for help. That's why the League exists, because there are some problems even we can't handle individually."
I began to zone out as Robin pointed out... something. My eyes began to droop, noticing my comatose state Megan elbowed me in the side. My eyes snapped open and I was jolted back into reality as Robin held an arrow out to Batman.
"You were following us!" He cried. "Babysitting! You still don't trust us!"
"We didn't follow you," Batman said as Green Arrow took the arrow and compared it to one of his own.
"One of these things is not like the other..." I hummed. The two arrowheads were different.
Robin looked somewhat surprised. "Cay's right. That's not your arrow. But that means-"
"Speedy!" Wally laughed.
"He has our backs," Kaldur finished looking pleased.
"And Speedy is?" I asked, suppressing another yawn.
"He was Green Arrow's sidekick," Wally replied before snatching the arrow from the hero's hand. "Souvenir!"
Superboy walked up to Black Canary and cleared his throat. She turned towards him.
"I'm ready," he said simply.
"Good," she replied, placing a hand on his shoulder, "because I'm here."
I turned away and began to quietly make my way back towards the door that led to my bedroom.
"Cay."
I groaned inwardly and turned around. Canary was walking towards me.
"Batman has told me your history," she said. "Know that I am here to help in any way."
"Thanks," I replied.
"I will return tomorrow to start your training in the basics. We'll work our way up from there."
I nodded and stifled yet another yawn. "Okay."
"Get some rest." She smiled slightly and walked back to the rest of the Leaguers. They left through the transporter as Batman dismissed us all.
"So Cay," Wally said, toying with the arrow, "if you need a sparring partner, my schedule is very flexible."
"If I wasn't so exhausted I would have a witty retort to that Wally," I sighed, turning to leave. "Goodnight everyone."
"Cay!" Robin said pausing on his way to the transporter. "Tomorrow, you and Jack meet me at City Hall in Gotham. I found that Pawnbrokers shop."
"Cool. We'll see you then."
I trudged out of the room. I was so tired. I made it all the way to the hallway leading to my room when someone cleared their throat behind me. I groaned inwardly and turned around. Superboy was leaning against the wall, steps away from the kitchen door.
"Yes,?" I said.
"I... uh," he faltered and turned his gaze to a spot on the ceiling. "I'm sorry."
I paused, taken aback. "You're... sorry?" I replied. "For what?"
"Everything," he grumbled, still avoiding my gaze.
"Oh..."
His gaze turned guiltily to an even more interesting spot on the floor as my mind reeled trying to come up with something to say.
"Look, Superboy," I sighed. "Thanks. Trust issues and all you're a pretty good guy. So could we just be, like, friends? Because to tell you the truth I would like that."
He looked up and met my gaze. The corners of his mouth turned up as he inclined his head "Sure. You're part of the team, right?"
"I guess I am. So... friends?"
"Friends."
Still looking amused Superboy disappeared back into the kitchen and I was left alone standing in the hallway. Was I hallucinating are had that really happened? I shook my head, trying to clear it, as I resumed trudging down the hall to my room. Slipping inside and shutting the door behind me I fell onto my bed, closed my eyes and drifted off.