Nightstar found it difficult to bond with her team.
The rest of the first day was spent in each of their own rooms arranging it all to their liking. When this part of moving in was done they all felt it would be rude to stay locked up inside instead of socializing with their roommates.
Lizzy was nice enough but very blunt, but she definitely seemed like a fun person. She was the easiest to get along with for Nightstar, but soon she was taken away by a phone call to their suite.
Each suite was given one telephone and one computer for updates and training/class schedule. It also served to alert them to any missions they'd be given the chance to do.
The phone was first answered eagerly by Damien, but was disappointed to learn from Nightwing that it was not for him. He handed it to Lizzy who said a simple hello and listened quietly for a moment, and then hung up quickly and left the suite saying she had to go talk about an error with her information with one of the supervisors.
Nightstar noticed how Damien rolled his eyes as if her excuse was lame. It made her wonder how much he knew about them, and what Lizzy was really up to.
Damien and Ezekiel made their own excuses after Lizzy. Ezekial needed to study to keep up his skills. This sounded legitimate enough. Damien stated that he needed to go speak with someone and left hastily out the door.
Nightstar was left alone in the main room. There was nothing of interest in the main room so she slipped into her own room and closed the door behind her. She locked the door and closed the curtains over her window, only turning on a floor lamp in her room. Finally Nightstar pulled out from her duffle bag an old brown shoe box and placed it on her bed and pulled off the lid carefully.
She stared down at the contents of the box and almost felt like crying. Everything her Mother had left her was left in this little shoe box. Her only inheritance, but it held nothing of the life she and her Mother had. No photos of them together, only two from her time as a Titan.
"Why couldn't you leave me something? Anything to remember the time we were together Mom?" This frustrated her more than anything. It always made her wonder if she had any happy loving memories of her Mother hidden away.
Did she love me?
Did I love her?
Who is my Father?
What happened to you Mom?
More questions came to her every day, but the one that pestered her all the time was why she barely remembered a thing from their time together?
What happened to me the day you disappeared?
"Mom where are you?" She whispered desolately to the empty room.
WWWWWWWWW
"Felicity, stop pouting." A man scolded his daughter.
"Father" She said reverently. "You know I am bored. When shall I have a new assignment?"
"Things are not changing soon Felicity."
"I could get Elizabeth if that is-."
"Stop it! You failed to control her! Your inability to control her allowed her to betray our family."
Felicity's eyes were burning anger now, but she held it in. She did not feel this seething rage toward him, but towards her half-sister Elizabeth.
She bent her head and kept her eyes to the floor, and said humbly "Forgive me Father. I only hate to be a disappointment in your eyes. I will prove my loyalty and regain control of her again when the time is right."
He sighed heavily, and placed his hands on his child's shoulders. "I hope to see that as well. Go to bed now, sleep, and if a task for you comes I shall inform you." The man turned away from his daughter and left her alone in the room.
When he was gone she wanted to scream out all her rage, but she held it in as she did a moment ago.
"I hate you Elizabeth!" She cried passionately in thought. "I hope to see you dead beneath my feet so Father may see who is indeed the most powerful of his children. I will enjoy every second of your death, but before that I'll enjoy your face as you see me kill your weak little twin first. Hah! You'll beg me to spare her, but I won't. You know Father won't care for her loss, I bet he'd encourage it too. The strong survive while the weak die as he always says."
A phone rang in Father's office. Felicity stayed where she was in the hopes it was an assignment.
Her hope proved to be true.
Her Father answered and spoke quickly before he called Felicity into his office.
She came in smiling innocently waiting for the word.
"Felicity, Bio-Corp is moving back into Jump City. Slade wishes to speak with us about a task he needs done."
WWWWWWWW
Now the new team had a chance to bond during training time.
Everyone was outside in the mini outdoor gym.
However in the first team vs. team fight, they failed miserably. They were all lectured immediately for their inability to mingle with each other. Today they had the pleasure of being lectured by all four of their supervisors.
Ezekiel focused more on the creation of his spells instead of his team's whereabouts in the fight.
Lizzy was busy looking for a chance to fight instead of defending a teammate in need of time for their chance to get a hit in.
Damien just tried to handle it all by himself instead of teaming up with of his fellows.
Nightstar, they felt, was holding back what she could really do which did not help the situation one bit.
"I have an idea." Nightwing finally stated after a moment of cruel silence from their teachers as they waited to be reprimanded some more. "Why don't we let each one of you fight solo against one member of a different team. That way you can show off your abilities, and your teammates will see what you can do. After training though you will have to have bonding session to really set it in."
Three of them groaned while one rolled his eyes under his hood.
"Ezekiel can go first." Cyborg said. "Then Lizzy, Damien, and finally Nightstar."
"Who is my challenger?" He breathed the words aloud in Cyborg's head. The rest of his team moved to the front benches.
Cyborg did his best not to shudder, he glance around quickly for a strong opponent. "Ummmm…Hey Echo!" He pointed to a tall girl with short curly brown hair that cover a small square head that held two light green eyes. "We need a challenger you up for it?"
"Sure!" She jumped up eagerly wanting the chance to show off badly. "What type are you?" She asked Ezekiel as she came to the center ring of the black top.
"Magic"
Echo's eyes widened, but she gave a quick nod and stated her own abilities. "Sound"
"Your name says it all." He replied.
Her eyes narrowed making them look icy. "What's Ezekiel mean anyway? Weird name if you ask me."
"'God strengthens' is its meaning, and my god gives me all the strength I need."
"Whatever, can we fight yet?" Echo asked Cyborg.
"Start whenever you want you two." Cyborg answered.
"Sounds like they already have." Beast Boy said to Cyborg.
Echo waited for Ezekiel to make the first move.
Ezekiel took a few steps away from Echo and sat down cross legged on the ground.
"Ezekiel, what the heck are you doing?" Damien yelled.
Ezekiel ignored him, and bent his head as though he were in prayer.
"Get up before she gets you!" Lizzy added on too.
"Be quiet!" Nightstar snapped at them. They glanced at her like she was crazy. "Let's see what he's going to do."
Echo started to laugh. "Give up already!" She jeered. "That's just perfect. This'll be quick." She smirked as she pulled in a huge breath of air, and then the screeching began.
It was like a banshee from hell was summoned to pierce everyone's eardrums with a sharp spike. Her cries made everyone on the benches cover their ears to protect themselves from her wail.
Everyone cringed except Ezekiel. He was wrapped up in a cone of light that blocked at all the noise around him. A temporary defense until he came up with an attack strong enough to make him victor.
A temporary curse will have to do. She only has an offensive ability it seems, no defense ability to protect herself. A silencer curse should end this quickly. I'll just need to catch her unaware. To do this I will have to drop the shield for it to get to her, but I have to do it when she is not screaming or else I will not be able to think.
Hmmmmm
Ezekiel looked up at her and observed her wailing. It seemed to weaken as she screeched on and on.
When she runs out of breath she will need to take in a new one. I'll wait for that moment to cast my spell.
However her cries were being to make cracks in his shield. He hoped dearly that she would run out of breath soon.
She's reaching her limit, but my shield is falling apart fast.
"You will win." A soft voice spoke to him. "I have faith in you always…Ezekiel."
The voice that spoke, the one he cherished hearing, gave him new strength. Enough strength that his shield mended itself instantly once the loving voice faded away.
All who sat on the benches were amazed that he was able to do that. Especially his teacher Raven who smiled in approval, a rare thing from her.
Echo noticed too, and knew then she would lose. Her need for fresh air was coming quick. In just a moment her cries stopped and she tried to be quick as she pulled in the air in front of her quickly.
Ezekiel was ready for her to breath. The moment he saw her beginning to pull in the air, he dropped the shield, and his spell he set into motion in an instant.
He pulled back his hood, and then everyone gasped at his face. Ezekiel had bronze skin, his head was bald except for the intricate tattoos that covered his scalp, his eyes were silver with hidden rainbows that shined in light, and the most gruesome part of his face was his mouth. His lips were sewn shut with thick pure black string.
His fingers traced those stitches and as they pulled away it seemed he was pulling some of the thread away with just his fingertips. Then his hand shot out away from him, his two first fingers pointed, the little black thread he produced shot out like a bullet at Echo.
Echo was stopped mid breath when she saw his peculiar attack spell. Then when it reached her she began screaming again, but this time in terror.
The thread was weaving itself in and out between her lips, not even piercing just sliding straight through, and sealing them up tight.
When her lips were tied she clawed at the string trying to pull it away. Cyborg then stepped in the middle of the ring and yelled. "Since Echo cannot attack I decide that Ezekiel has won this match."
When this was said the stitches on her mouth disappeared in a poof of black smoke.
"As you can see," He spoke in her thoughts "the ones I gave you were temporary, unlike mine." He traced his fingers over his again.
Echo only shuddered and ran back to her team on the benches.
"Thank you Semira." He said to the vanished voice.
Raven walked to him as he left the ring. "A very good job with your shield Ezekiel, and that spell you used at the end was equally impressive."
"Thank you." He said respectfully.
"I look forward to seeing the rest of your spells in my class." She then went back to join her team.
"You're up Lizzy."
"About time!" Lizzy jumped up and Ezekiel took her spot as she walked off to the ring. "Wait till you guys see the full extent of my skills."
WWWWWWWWW
Slade was busy entertaining three guests at his hideout. They arrived quickly to provide their services to Slade. Two of the guests were girls, both sisters, but only related by to each other by their Father. The older one was Felicity, with dark auburn hair and a tan complexion, and light crystal blue eyes. Her younger sister, Isabella, was sickly pale with blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, and brown eyes that were so dull they seemed dead.
The third guest was their Father, Dr. Luke Thorton. A tall man who looked much like his daughter Felicity, auburn hair with blue eyes, but much broader than her slim figure.
"Dr. Thorton I am glad to see you." They shook hands while the girls stood quietly to the side.
"It has been some time since we last saw each other." Dr. Thorton replied. "When we found that woman you were looking for."
"Yes, it was, it is good that I have moved past that little skirmish we had."
"Yes it is, what do you wish from us today Slade?"
"That woman you were so interested in…"
"Yes, does she still live?"
"I take excellent care of her. I need answers to certain questions I have, after that I'd like to make a deal with you."
"What sort of deal Slade?"
"You see I need answers and I need an army to get what I've been looking for. If you provide me those I'll give you her."
Dr. Thorton was excited now.
"You mean you'll give her to me? Oh Slade I'll give the strongest that I have and more. Weapons too! I'm glad I am forgiven, but please may I have one of my specialists examine her. I want to be sure she is in excellent health. I would not want anything to tamper with her pure genetics."
"That would be acceptable. In fact I will allow you to see her now if you wish."
"I would like that very much Slade."
"Vincent!" His old butler came shuffling in. "Take Dr. Thorton to the prison cells, so that he may see his new acquisition."
"Yes sir. Follow me Dr. Thorton." He guided Thorton away to the lower levels of Slade's lair.
Slade was now left alone with the two sisters.
"Ladies, you've both grown up since the last time I saw you two."
"We certainly have Slade; especially Isabella, almost a young woman now." She smiled charmingly.
"Your younger siblings are doing well too?"
"Oh yes, they are all in excellent health."
Isabella nodded in agreement.
"And have you heard from Elizabeth? Or know of her doings?"
Isabella flinched at the mention of her twin. Felicity frowned, upset that this family matter was brought up.
"We do not hear from her now, but we keep watch on her actions."
"It must be difficult to deal with, especially for your Father, being betrayed by family."
"Well he'll move on." She said harshly. "When we complete this mission and he claims a new Mother we have a new little brother or sister to look forward to."
WWWWWWWWW
Lizzy strode to the center of the blacktop they fought on, all the while keeping her brave face on. No one could tell from her cocky grin that she was still severely stressed by her previous life. The only indicator would be how her dull eyes did not match her arrogant grin.
"Damn it! I got quit it this tough act and get along with this team." Mental sigh. "Let's just get this over with and then I'll handle all the other shit I have to deal with. Just focus on the orders and do as the task requi-." Mental slap to the face. "Not like that; don't say it like that, never say it like him!"
"Hey Lizzy! Focus!" Damian shouted from the bench. "They already called up your opponent."
Lizzy had drifted to far away in her thoughts. She looked up to see her opponent standing across from her.
Another girl, only this one was a definite magic user. She looked like a gothic gypsy. Her long skirt was a glowing dark green with black flowered lace covering the rich color. Her torso was constricted in a black corset covered by a shiny black beaded sweater; the knot for it tied between her breasts and the sleeves split and fanning out around her forearms. Wrapped around her waist was a belt with one leather pocket attached to hold an object yet to be seen.
Her skin was tan and smooth. Her eyes were a cloudy grey blue with a ring of yellow-green around the pupil. Her hair was dirty blond and was plaited elegantly on her head. Her rosey lips curved slyly as she observed Lizzy.
Now having Lizzy's full attention she introduced herself. "They call me Tarot."
"Magic user?" Lizzy wondered.
Tarot nodded.
Lizzy smiled in a friendly manner. "I'm a shifter."
"The first I've ever faced." Tarot murmured.
"Then I'll show you how tough we can be." Lizzy said crouching down like she was about to pounce.
Tarot prepared herself by pulling out the hidden object from the pocket on her belt. Now she held her main weapon in her hand…a deck of cards!
Some people started to snicker as they watched Tarot shuffle her cards. Lizzy did not giggle at this so fearsome weapon; she knew almost anything could be a weapon.
Tarot drew one card from the deck and looked at it for a moment. Then she showed it to Lizzy.
"The Emperor," She explained "and in reverse too." The card was upside down. It had a picture of a man wearing a crown, holding a scepter in one hand, and wearing royal robes.
"It tells me that your life was once ruled by a tyrannical man." She threw it down on the ground and it landed face up. She then pulled another card from her deck. "The Lovers." She showed a young man and woman holding hands looking to each other affectionately. "He made you decide. A tough decision, where you had to choose what was logical or what you believed in." She kept on drawing and throwing them down on the ground, always landing face up, while Lizzy watched puzzled.
"Your lover was The Knight of Swords. So clever and brave, but he left you so quickly only leaving troubles for you in the future." Another card drawn "The Tower, you changed your old ways so dramatically, but luckily it gave you freedom." The final card she pulled "Death, you face change in your future, painful change." She threw it down with the others and then paused like she waiting for something to happen.
Lizzy raised an eyebrow.
I want to fight, not get a vague tarot reading about my life. What a waste. Is that all she's got? Ugh, let's get this over with.
Lizzy decided to just change her body instead of morphing into some other being. She made herself taller than Tarot then built up her arm muscles so Tarot would not be able to escape her grip, and for precaution she evolved her eyes in case Tarot had some sort of movement ability she did not know of yet and she would need keener eyes to observe it closely.
She rushed forward at high speed ready to pin Tarot down and win the fight.
Tarot was watching her attacker charge; she smiled and yelled "Find me!"
Lizzy was close to knocking her down, but something shoved her back a few feet and she fell back on to the ground.
"What the he-." Her curse was cut short by what she saw in front of her.
The Emperor was standing in Tarot's place. His escape from the card was not what shocked her though. It was his appearance; his hair was dark auburn, pale crystal blue eyes, and a tan complexion. It was her Father.
"How? How are you here?" She cried.
Those on the benches were confused too. They could not see what Lizzy saw. Her team was especially worried since Tarot was not far away from Lizzy.
"What's going on?" Nightstar asked. "Ezekiel, can you tell us what's happening?"
"Yes, I can see the illusions Tarot casted. Very strong…it will be difficult for Lizzy to find which one Tarot is hiding in."
"There are others?"
"Each card is an illusion, a personal illusion of Lizzy's life."
"She better figure it out." Damian muttered.
Lizzy looked around at each illusion.
A young man was on a white steed with a woman holding on to him. The man pierced Lizzy's heart painfully. Everything she saw brought back her cherished memories that hurt her to recollect. His long dark hair that curled around his face and the light blue eyes with hazel wrapped around the pupil. The girl was herself, but this version of her reminded her, and frightened her, of how she used to be. How she was made to be cold and gullible.
The Lizzy on the horse carried no weapon, but the man held a sword he was ready to slash.
The tower card had turned into a great tall tower repeatedly being struck by lightning and caught aflame. This one only made her feel shocked by how real it was; the sound of the crumbling lightning and the heat of the fire.
The last one petrified her. This card come to life, Death, was the most perfect representative from her life. The woman that rode the white steed with the red eyes wore black armor with the visor up. Her face was sucked in and boney. Her light brown hair was thinning and her eyes carried heavy bags.
The Emperor revered Death looking to her, and bowing.
"Of course you'd do that Father. She's the favorite." Lizzy said bitterly to The Emperor.
Crap! Freaking illusions! Jeesh they picked the one person I'd have the most difficulty beating. (Sigh) Analyze the situation; she has to be hiding somewhere.
Lizzy turned around trying to think who Tarot could be disguised as, but Tarot was not waiting to be found. The Knight of Swords and his Lady dashed forward on his steed, and his sword flew towards her neck. Lizzy flipped backwards avoiding the deadly cut realizing after she landed there was no way an illusion could hurt her. All it could do was psych her out.
Lizzy rushed forward and through The Knight of Swords. Her fist formed growing larger and becoming hard as rock. She charged at The Emperor remembering that when she first charged he knocked her down. Tarot had to be disguised as him for that to be possible. However she just passed through him like she had with the Knight.
When she turned back around The Emperor came at her with his scepter, and it actually hit her. It swiped across her forward and knocked her back down on the ground.
"Did you think this little mind trick could not hurt you? As long as I'm with it, it can hurt you." Tarot's voice cried out.
Lizzy listened and knew Tarot was no longer with the Emperor.
She can change places quickly. Damn it! I got to find a way to follow her movements, or at least figure where she goes to watch me when I'm not attacking.
Lizzy brainstormed for a logical strategy.
These are my illusions. Only I can see them because I know the people who represent them. Except that Tower, that one's just there.
I can see them, but the audience can't. They can only see Tarot and I. My team will most likely be looking at me, but everyone else could be looking at either of us.
Lizzy searched for the eyes on the benches that could point her in the direction of her opponent. Some eyes wandered away bored, others stared at her wondering her next move, and the ones she wanted were staring in admiration at Tarot. One of those pair pointed to the Tower.
Of course, The Emperor, The Lovers/ Knight of Swords, and Death are distracters. She hides in the Tower when not attacking.
I can't attack yet. If I do she'll move, but if I can get her to switch back after attacking me, then I'll get her.
Lizzy decided to go for death this time since she seemed to carry no weapon of her own. Lizzy this time decided to go animal and changed into a mountain lion. Her lion form rushed forward and leaped at Death's horse trying to claw it, but the horse reared up and kicked her with its front legs.
Tarot had appeared there, and would be back in the Tower now so Lizzy switched direction and ran dead on to the Tower, where her opponent just returned to. Lizzy knocked Tarot over, and when she was down she hopped up and held her down with her paws and growled, making Tarot shake.
"The winner is Lizzy!" Cyborg yelled. "Get off her and back to your bench!" He yelled at Lizzy. She hopped off and walked back on all fours to her team. She changed back when she reached the bench and sat down next to Nightstar.
"Good job Liz!" Nightstar patted her on the back.
"Indeed, I believe I may have been wrong about you."
"Thanks Ezekiel," It was the closest thing to a complement she could get from him. "Better head up Damian." She informed.
"Yeah" Damian got up headed over to Cyborg who was helping Tarot up from the ground.
"Alright miss?" Cyborg asked.
"Very well sir, I was able to hint the importance of my opponent's future, and now all shall be well." Tarot foretold. Then she walked off dramatically to her bench.
Damian rolled his eyes as he watched her walk away. "What a fraud."
"Let' see." Cyborg muttered as he scanned the benches for the third opponent.
"Hey! You there!" He pointed to a slim Tameranian girl. "What's your name?"
"Sky Moon" She answered back to him.
"Come on up Sky, you're facing Damian in this match."
Damian looked her up and down; he found it hard to look away from her. Her light red/brown hair was tied back by some sort of metal cuff it looked like. She wore a purple mini skirt with triangle silver flaps on it. Her top was like a tube top, a tight light purple tube top with a silver border. Her eyes were pale green that held no twinkle in the iris. Eyes that held a serious determination that challenged his own.
Damian pulled out his staff, and swung it around his shoulders and got into his stance to intimidate.
Sky Moon made no sign as to what she thought of this display of confidence. She only walked to the center, her eyes staying on him the whole time, and waited for the signal to start.
"Begin!"
Damian charged forward ready to strike. I've got this one in the bag!
As soon he was in arms reach of her she did a quick leap and was behind him, she spun quickly around to his backside and reached around with quick reflexes, she did not grab him, she grabbed either end of his metal staff. Sky jerked it easily out of his hands, and bent it all around his torso trapping his arms in a makeshift straight jacket.
"Sky is the winner!" Cyborg announced. "She had Damian impaired in less than 10 seconds!"
Damian cursed at himself.
Sky walked around to face Damian. She smiled a little in amusement and then moved to unwind Damian's staff and bend it back to its original form. While doing so she spoke coldly about his team.
"You will need to grow in strength. You will face difficulties," then she glanced at Nightstar on the bench deliberately "especially with a Troq on your team." Then she walked away proudly leaving his weapon in his hands where they originally were.
Damian glanced between Sky and Nightstar quickly, wondering how she could say that about a fellow Tameranian. He noticed then the differences. Sky had an orange tone while Nightstar was almost as pale as snow. Her hair was dark like night, but he had seen a few Tameranian's with similar shades of hair like hers, it was not common trait though. Sky's eyes were the common color of Tameran, but Nighstar, he could not see her eyes passed her curtain of bangs.
What's the difference? Besides skin, or is that just it?
"Nightstar! Come on up!" Beast Boy shouted.
She stood up and walked to the middle of the black top. When she passed by Damian she glanced at him and saw him scrutinizing her closely. Nightstar knew he would not see her staring at him so she stared straight back without him even knowing.
"Who would be good for her?" Cyborg whispered to Beast Boy.
"I'm not sure." Beast Boy answered.
"I have an idea." Nightwing interjected. "Galffin you're up!" He called to another Tameranian. The difference between him and Sky was size. He was wide and tall and with thick muscles bulging out of his legs and arms. Nightstar was almost the same size as Sky so she was dwarfed by comparison.
"Oh God…she's dead." Lizzy decided instantly.
"Let us see what happens." Ezekiel thought to her and Damian beside him.