AT LONG LAST! Finally my muse decides to speak again for this story! Apparently it (my muse) had more fun building the hardest wall in the world to demolish than helping me... Not amusing in the slightest for me...

Well, now this story can finally progress. I'm thinking there are only 6-7 chapters max left for this story. A big THANK YOU to all my reviewers and readers for being patient with me!

Mentors - Chapter 10

She was drifting though an eternity of nothingness when the vivid memories and horrible nightmares assailed her. The time when she was experimented on, the long recovery after the lab accident, and her rage consuming her as she mercilessly used her powers to try and destroy her once creator.

She would have her vengeance for what he did and took from her. Doubly, because of what he'd done to a mere child as well.

Heat filled her, bringing her body and mind slowly back to the realm of the conscious. Though part of her wished to remain in the darkness and not face the painfully sympathetic faces of her new teammates and the foes she must eventually encounter in battle…

If anyone had told Grava that waking up only to have a Martian in your dazed mind was pleasant, she would have sent them on a one way trip to the center of the Earth without so much as a blink. So it was natural that she was… 'irritated' when Grava woke up and felt Miss Martian's telepathic link in her mind.

No, irritated would be a vast understatement. Volcanic would have been at least scratched the surface of the truth. It didn't help that all her memories of her time being an experiment had resurfaced so it obviously took all of her willpower to not send everyone around her flying. Instead, she took a deep breath then looked straight at Miss Martian, trying her hardest to be civil if not blunt.

"Get. Out. Now…"

"Grava! You're awa-"

"Get out of my head now, M'gann!"

"But I'm not in-"

"Your link! Sever it! Destroy it! I don't care how, just break it now!"

Grava's last comment startled M'gann so much that the entire team suddenly got dizzy, except Grava strangely. As soon as the link was severed, Grava got up, pulled down her hood, and silently stormed towards the stern. Aqualad was about to go after her when Artemis, who'd joined the team once she and Robin had disposed of their half of the Cobra Venom, placed a restraining hand on his arm. "Let me take care of this one. I sort of know where she's coming from."

Aqualad hesitated, no doubt thinking it was his duty as leader to confront Grava with the problem, but given the volatile situation with Grava and the remaining tasks still undone for the mission, he nodded. After a few brief orders, he led the rest of the team to do a final sweep to make sure the crew was securely confined below and that no crates of Cobra Venom had accidently been overlooked, leaving Artemis to face Grava alone.

The archer sighed then stared in the direction of the stern. What had she gotten herself into this time?

She finally found Grava leaning against a deck rail, looking out at a rough sea. Artemis wasn't very good at judging emotions but it certainly didn't look like Grava was explosive at the moment. "Hey."

Grava only glanced back before resuming her vigil staring at the ocean. "What is it, Artemis?"

"Hoping you'd calm down enough for a civil conversation."

"A civil conversation? I just had my mind nearly destroyed because of that infernal telepathic link leaving me exposed to the enemy, and you want me to be civil?"

"Hey, hey! Don't blame M'gann for something you never told us about. How were we supposed to know you had enemies? Wait a second… Don't tell me they're goons for that one enemy you're after?"

"I knew you were the sharpest of the lot…"

"Sharp? Huh… Hey! Is that supposed to be some sort of criticism?"

Grava laughed and actually gave Artemis a small smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Artemis growled.

Grava quickly stifled the laugh. "Sorry, you reminded me of my sister for a moment."

Grava's face fell back to its normal emotionless expression. "I really miss her. I guess that's why I'm always on edge. I've never been away from her for so long without some sort of contact… I'm worried about what could've happen to her. Even more so now that my enemy has resurfaced again…"

"No offense but why are you telling me this?" Artemis asked; shocked a tiny bit that Grava actually was conversing.

"You're the only one who would understand me and my situation, Artemis. You should know I don't hand out trust lightly. So don't betray me, or I'll make sure you regret it. Now come on, Aqualad's probably wondering what's taking us so long."

Artemis could only blink once and stare at Grava as the cloaked girl strode towards the team's rendezvous point. "I'm the only one who would understand?"

The rest of the team's mission was completed and went smoothly with Grava behaving exceptionally well to make up for the time they lost when she went unconscious. When the team arrived back on the mountain, Batman was waiting for them, his expression blank.

Aqualad was about to make his report when the Caped Crusader held up a hand to stop him. He turned to Grava, "Report to J'onn, Gravatina."

The Telmarine clenched her fists and glared at Batman. "Not until you tell me whether or not I've passed your little tests!"

"You'll be told when you need to know."

Yellow light appeared from under Grava's hood and the girl was about to raise one of her hands when Artemis grabbed her by the arm. Everyone grew suddenly silent as the girls stared at each other. One look at the expression on the archer's face and about a minute of contemplation later, Grava forced her powers down.

Gently, she tugged her arm out of Artemis' grasp then walked deeper into the mountain to speak with J'onn. After she'd left, Wally looked around the group and asked, "Did I miss something?"

Artemis gave one of her signature scowls followed by Batman giving the speedster a hard glare that caused fear even though his eyes were not visible. Wally gulped, "Shutting up now."

Batman turned to Aqualad. "Report."

After the Atlantean gave his report, Batman went to one of the computer terminals. Two teenage-looking boys appeared on them with what seemed to be bios running alongside the pictures. One boy had short, combed black hair, a white form-fitting uniform, and red eyes. The other wore a black form-fitting uniform but it was accessorized into a punk style get-up, his white hair was long and spiked, and he had startling blue eyes.

Their names were Mind Stormer and Ravager.

Batman turned back to the team. "I doubt Grava mentioned these two since we told her to keep it secret. However, after your last mission, you need to know these two will be after Grava and anyone with her. Both of them are extremely masterful telepaths. Mind Stormer specializes in tearing down mental defenses and Ravager is adept at siphoning any and all information from a target providing he has an opening."

"These two are extremely dangerous. If any of you face both of them alone, disengage immediately."

The team agreed to Batman's terms, not entirely sure why they had to agree to this if they hadn't even seen the two telepaths yet. However, Batman wasn't done.

"Also, you have a new mission."

Yes, yes... I know what you're thinking. You've waited for at least three weeks and she ends the chapter with a huge cliffhanger? Trust me, if I could have had it any other way I would have ended it that way.

Please tell me what you all think so far whether through reviews or PMing! And again, thank you for being so patient.

~Aurora Shadowglen~