Happy New Years everyone! I know I am late saying that but hey better late then never am I right? Anyway I know it's been a while but here is the next step in Calder's journey and you all can thank Cloud4012 my co-author of this story. He provided some great chapter ideas. So I hope you all like what comes next. Now I want to thank everyone who faved and followed me and my stories. Same to everyone who reviewed. Speaking of reviews it is time to answer them. Shinidono Sorry buddy but no Green Arrow here, but who knows I could change my mind. Just wait and see. Cloud4012 you deserve it bro. 1stHorsemen Glad you liked the chapter and yeah it was a reference to it xD I love Team Four Star and their work. Anyway I hope you all like this chapter. See you guys in the next chapter!
It had been a week since my entire heart to heart with Floating Girl and ever since then she has been hanging around me when she wasn't with her friends and to be honest? It was cramping my style. Yeah, she is nice… But it was annoying! Seriously I just wanted to do what I wanted without her hovering over my shoulder, and to make matters worse Blunder Girl and the rest of her friends tried to hang out with me as well! I know for a fact that Floating Girl told her 'little' friends all about our heart to heart.
I blame the Warden for this, if she hadn't forced me to work with Floating Girl then none of this would have happened. Well to make sure something like this doesn't happen again I will not bow to the Warden's whim or allow her to bribe me with a fight…
"Hey Calder, you okay?"
Blinking I was pulled from my thoughts and looked to my side, seeing one of the few people that I could stomach in this prison. The scarlet speedster Flash or Barry as I knew him, and on my left, was Miss Martian or M'gann of Mars. I preferred calling her Green Girl, call me racist I don't care.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just confused… Where are we?" I asked looking around… I sometimes get lost in my own thoughts, so I have no idea where I am. From the looks of it we were in the in the school gym but there were booths all around with tons of different clubs. "Also, why are we here?"
"Well… It's Club Day and so all the clubs are showing off what they can do, and some clubs don't have members so it's also a recruiting thing…" M'gann explained quietly… Why is she always so quiet? Granted it was cute but it could get annoying. "As for why… You followed us."
Staring at M'gann then at Barry who confirmed what she said, I shrugged and accepted it. Sounds like something I would do. "Cool… So… what do I do?" I asked as I watched my fellow prisoners wander around.
"Well you join a club." Barry smiled as he spread out his arms. "This way you can get friends outside M'gann and I."
"Why don't like me?" I asked with a smirk on my face.
M'gann then eeped which was adorable and turned invisible. "It's not that we don't like you… Just you could use more friends."
Frowning I shook my head. "Most people annoy me, you two not as much… Same with that Clown Girl… Though I wouldn't exactly call her a friend."
"See? That's why you should go and join a club. I'm sure you'll find other people that won't annoy you." Barry patted my back with a nod. "If you need me I will be at the Science Club table." With that the scarlet speedster ran off while M'gann became visible again and floated away, leaving me alone…
"Who needs this… whole thing is pretty pointless." Seriously it was… I was fine with just Barry and M'gann. I had no need really for anyone else here. Sure, Blunder Girl was interesting, and I had that one moment with Floating Girl, but otherwise? None of the other prisoners here were interesting to me. Sighing I placed my hands in my pocket and turned around to leave only to find the door was blocked by Warden Waller. "What do you want Warden?" I asked not really wanting to deal with her today.
"Mister Calhoun it's mandatory for all students to join a club, so why aren't you doing it?" She asked staring at me with her arms crossed.
"I see no reason in doing it." I said bluntly. "It's a waste of time for me, none of these clubs can help me so why should I join them?"
Warden Waller raised an eyebrow and tapped her foot. "You will because this will help you and it's apart of our deal."
"I don't care, you already tricked me into that team up with Floating Girl, I am not doing it. Because so far you haven't helped me find out what I want. So, there is nothing you can say that will get me to join- "
"I'll tell your mother about what your doing." Waller said with a small smirk on her face.
"… You wouldn't dare…" I said my eyes going wide in fear… If my mom knew what I have been doing… Granted I brought it on myself but still… See my mom let me do what I want within a limit… And given everything I have done since I got here and before? Yeah, I could get into some major trouble… See for right now I live my dad, so any reports are sent to him, and he doesn't care what I do… Which works for me. However, if my mom found out… I would be dead.
Smiling the warden pointed behind me. "Join a club and be an active member in it and I will consider not telling her."
"One day when I get what I want you won't be able to threaten me anymore." I said staring at her before turning around and walking back to see what… club I would have to join.
As I wandered around the gym I came to the conclusion that my hatred of school was well justified. This entire club thing was so stupid, and boring I couldn't see the point in joining one… They were designed for the social aspect of it all. Seriously Glee Club? I saw that stupid tv show so I knew what crap went on there. There was a detective club, but I didn't want to be a detective so no need for me to go there. There was a gardening club but seeing how Plant Girl ran it and she didn't like me, I chose to leave it alone… Well that and I killed plants… seriously I had a black thumb when it came to plants.
The band club wasn't for me either, I had no musical talent what so ever… So that was a no. Let's see the United Federation of Planets…. I'm from Earth… Granted I am also from Asgard but that wasn't another planet it was a plane of existence… Plus Blunder Girl was there along with Orange… I know she said her name was Starfire, but I just called her Orange.
So that club was out… Seriously damn Warden Waller I don't want to join- "Wait they have a science club?" Taking a moment to wander over to the booth I looked over some of what they did and whistled. "Access to the advance stuff at Wayne Tech, STAR Labs and Lex Corp? Now that would be fun… What I would give to have access to that tech."
"Well then why not join the club."
Looking up to the voice I found myself face to face with a brown-haired teen wearing a mixture of green and black with a lantern on his chest, standing next to him was a black-haired girl wearing a pink outfit and she was looking at him with a dreamy look in her eye.
"I am considering it… Uh…." I said drawing a complete on the green guy's name.
Smiling friendly he held out his hand. "Hal, but you can call me Green Lantern or GL, and next to me is Star Sapphire."
"Calder." Grinning I took his hand, now most of my fellow prisoners were not worth talking to but this GL guy seemed alright. Though I think Star Bright over there hasn't even noticed me, so I will ignore her for now. "So, what do you guy's do in the club?"
"Well all members are given access to advance technology and allowed to pursue whatever interests them and we show off our creations to one another." Hal explained as he handed me pamphlet that explained everything. "Though some of us aren't on the genius level that some of our classmates are."
I think he was trying to make a playful jab at me but at this point I didn't care… There was one thing I loved more then fighting and that was messing with tech. "Now… unless it was for the meetings I wouldn't have to interact with the others, will I?"
"Not at all, so are you interested?" GL asked staring at me with a questioning gaze.
Grinning widely, I nodded. "Where do I sign up?"
My first week with the science club was well… Interesting and fun to say the least. It wasn't every day that I had access to some of the most advance tech in the world without having to steal it first… Yeah dad's a villain so he sometimes stole tech from other labs. Though most of the time it was me doing the stealing, not that I minded it's just it's nice not getting shot at when I want to mess with say the core of a giant robot.
Where was I? Oh yes, I was having fun and GL was right I didn't have to interact with any of the other club members unless it was for the meetings. Even then those were short. So, I never had to deal with people long. Luckily the club had Barry and M'gann though as smart as Barry was he was more into criminal science, while M'gann preferred going over Martian science which I will admit went over my head from time to time. I needed to really learn more about their biology and how it interacts with the world… However, until I could get M'gann to explain everything to me without blushing I would just leave it alone.
Plus, my real project was re-building my power scanner and updating it. Because to be honest I built the original out of left over scrap that I had in my room, but now that I had access to some of the best tech around? Oh yeah this will work out greatly… Or it should for some reason I was having some trouble with the software… See I based the original scanner on Amazo the android created by Professor Ivo. However, since I had only guesses on how it worked, and the damn thing didn't work for me….
Part of it was the fact that I had a poor understanding of the software behind Professor Ivo's work and despite the fact I had access to all this research and tech… I was still no closer to figuring out how Ivo did what he did… Yes, my scanner was able to read that Shiva chick, but it didn't do anything for me… Hell it didn't even list my skills, but it did for her.
Sighing I placed the new power scanner down on the workbench and decided to walk around to clear my head, maybe if I had the chance to think I could work on this problem later. Standing to my feet I slowly began to walk around the little lab/workspace, but I stopped when I came across an interesting sight. It was one of Blunder Girl's friends, the redhead Mouse Girl… I had no idea she was a member here. I guess behind that ridiculous costume there was a brain somewhere.
Walking a little closer I looked over her work, from what I could see she was working on some kind grapple gun, but she was having trouble with it from what I could see. From what I could make out, she was having trouble with the wire and grapple itself. From what I could see on her blueprints she had a good working theory on the wire but the nylon substance she was using wasn't strong enough or long lasting. Seeing how I fought Batman before and I have seen what his grapple wire was made of I decided to pass it along to her.
Who says I can't be helpful sometimes?
"Have you tried using monofilament wire? It's longer lasting, and have you tried switching from a gas-powered gun to a spring-loaded delivery system? Also use diamond drill tips instead of a titanium claw?"
Blinking Mouse Girl looked up from her work with a smile. "Thanks why didn't I think- "However her words of thanks were cut short upon seeing me grinning at her. "Oh, it's you…" She said her expression changing to one of disgust. "What do you want?"
"Well looked like you were having problems, so I figured I would pass on some advice." Shrugging I leaned against her worktable. "Plus, I was bored."
Frowning the red-head sighed. "Well you can leave now."
Staring down at girl I turned my head. "What's your problem? I just offered some advice."
"My problem? Like I need some advice from a slacker like you!" Mouse Girl got to her feet and slammed her hands on the table… You know if I didn't know any better I would say she was angry with me. "I can't believe someone like you is even here."
Frowning I crossed my arms. "What do you mean someone like me? Are you implying that I'm stupid?"
"If the shoe fits, but it's more than that you're a slacker and a brute." Mouse Girl glared at me. "You do what you want when you want with no care for anyone else. You caused damage to the school, hurt one of my friends and yet you aren't even punished for your actions."
"And that bothers huh?" Staring at the red-head I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, it bothers me, you're a villain a bad guy!" Mouse Girl stuck her finger in my face.
Reaching out I gripped her wrist. "Really? You think because of a few actions you know me huh?" Staring down at the girl I released her wrist and shrugged. "Then that's your opinion." Whatever she was going to say died her in throat.
"Really…? You're just going to…?"
"I can't change your opinion of me with words Batgirl, so I won't bother." Shrugging I placed my hands on my hips. "I won't justify my actions to you, I did what I did and there is no changing it." Placing my hands on my hips I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm an ass and a danger to most people I will never deny that. However, there is more to me then you think. Like I enjoy science, and building things. I also enjoy fighting people who provide challenges, to me hence why I pick fights with really strong people. Like when I fought Batman back in Gotham."
Mouse Girl simply stared at me in shock and slowly sat down. "I still can't believe you fought Batman."
"Yeah, I did, and I have to say for a guy without powers he kicks ass." Shrugging I placed my hands in my pockets. "Anyway, I will leave you to it." Walking away from Mouse Girl I headed back to my own work table I decided after that little heart to heart I should get back to work… However, the same problems still plagued me.
"Have you considered using a AI interface, and have it scan the target for the metahuman marker in DNA?"
Turning around I saw Mouse Girl standing over my shoulder. "You know… I can't believe I thought of that… Though to be honest it may take me a while, I am complete crap when it comes to software and programing."
"Well you're in luck I happen to be a whiz when it comes to software. How about this, you help me with my project and I help you with yours. Who knows maybe my opinion of you may change if we work together." Mouse Girl grabbed a chair and sat next to me and held out her hand. "Deal?"
Thinking over it I nodded with a grin taking her hand in mine. "Deal, though to be honest I really doubt it, but hey anything's possible."
