Disclaimer: Sky High (2005) and any characters within the movie belong to Disney. Anything from the Superman, Batman or Justice League universes belongs to DC Comics. I own my original characters and my plot. I am not trying to pass any of these characters or copyrighted ideas off as my own and therefore it isn't plagiarism or copyright infringement.
Chapter Fourteen – Agro Cat
My school day sucked between the whispers and other dumb jocks making ill-advised comments. I get home and sure I know Bruce said the training would continue but I thought they'd give me a bit of a break. Ha, what was I thinking? Even with my elevated intellect, I should've known better. So I do some training with Damian, and after having my ass handed to me again I took a nap just to forget the pain I am in. I wish I could've wiped that smug smile of his smug little face, but after I get "schooled" by him I learned he was raised by the damn Assassins guild and has been the current Robin since he was thirteen! He's been training with Bruce for years and I've never been formally trained, what I know I've taught myself. I've stayed fit because of my love of free running or "show boating" as some have called it. You would think with my quick reflexes that I would be able to take Damian in any fight but somehow that little jerk has me in a head lock and slams me into the mat like we're putting on some pro wrestling event. I'm sure there are plenty of guys at Sky High who'd pay to watch my ass getting kicked by my little brother, but all I can say is If he gets any ideas about that I'll personally kill him.
Okay now to the point of my rant, as you're reading my long winded, hand cramping explanation you could be wondering what training with Damien has to do with my day sucking. Well, I guess getting my butt kicked by the junior bird boy a second time isn't the disturbing part, annoying yes but not disturbing. What's disturbing is that I somehow ended up passing out again! I mean I know I may not be 100% but c'mon that's twice now. So, they let me sleep until Warren finished his shift at the Paper Lantern. Mmmm the thought of Chinese food and his delicious smell make him even more appetizing I know getting sidetracked but come on if you could anticipate sparing with someone as smoking hot (pun intended) as Warren opposed to a smug, irritating little brother you'd be as excited as I am. Warren can pin me anytime he wants even if he's caked in dirt, sweat, and cheated to get me on the floor. I still want to rip his shirt off and run my tongue up his chest- these damn shots aren't working…oh well! =)
So, the reason why I'm really pissed off is in addition to that dream the next one had J'onn invading it. This dream wasn't so good, more like a nightmare. Warren was wreathing in pain on the floor as a hooded figure sent electric shocks through his body. It was like a scene out of star wars as he convulsed and screamed so loud it shook me to the core, I felt so helpless. Then for some reason I couldn't move my right arm or left leg and I was in terrible pain. I wanted to run and free him, tend to his wounds when I suddenly woke up to the green man in my room. Apparently we have to do some mental training to strengthen my mind and keeping intruders out. I don't know who is attacking me in my dreams…crap, I just thought of something. Sweet Dreams, I bet you that bitch was in my head and that's why the need for the training. J'onn just popped up with a plate of Oreo cookies, can it get any better? (That's sarcasm!)
Helena put the journal in the nightstand, "So, I take it you heard what I thought?"
"Indeed, I do have one request from now on. No more comments about my appearance, please. I am aware you have some issues with me but I am here to help you. Do we have an agreement?" J'onn extended his hand with an Oreo cookie in it.
Helena looked at his hand then back at him, smiling she took the cookie, "Well, I guess I've been a little harsh. Okay, from now on I'll cut back to maybe one insult a day and not about your outfit."
J'onn raised an eyebrow, "Very well, now we must begin your mental preparation. Sweet Dreams is deliberately attacking you, her reasons are unknown. She is taking your attraction for Warren and using it to her advantage by producing disturbing images. My assumption is that she is trying to weaken you mentally in hope of defeating you in a real confrontation."
"She's probably pissed that I got her buddies busted with my little run in at SCUM headquarters. There aren't many of them left so she probably wants me to suffer or some crap like that. So, what's your plan?" Helena took a bite from the Oreo.
"My plan is to prepare you mentally for any attacks she may try to unleash in your dreams. It is apparent Sweet Dreams cannot take you on when you are awake. To your credit you possess too much control of your conscience mind." J'onn walked over to a chair in the corner and levitated above it with his legs crossed.
"Okay, so what are you doing now, yoga? Can you do me a favor?" Helena turned her head. J'onn smiled and took his cape to cover him. "Thanks, I didn't need to see your Martian dinglberries."
"If you are done, let us begin. First I need you to get on your bed in a sitting position and close your eyes. I will guide you from there." J'onn's red eyes focused on her.
As she sat on her bed and relaxed Helena found she was standing in a dark room with a light shining down on her. Looking around she was surprised by J'onn stood behind her, "This is the training grounds."
"Jesus!" Helena jumped back with her fist up and about to hit J'onn when she stopped. "You sure know how to make an entrance, scared the crap outta me."
"I did not make an entrance and the fear you feel now is nothing compared to what Sweet Dreams can induce." J'onn coolly replied.
"Okay I get the point. So what are we going to do here?" Helena crossed her arms and gave J'onn an irritated look.
"We train your mind to tell real from imaginary." To J'onn's right Warren appeared shirtless and sweaty in tight leather pants. He looked like he wanted to do more than wrestle. His smell filled the environment and Helena almost lost control.
"Oh my God, you can't be serious! You know this isn't going to help me concentrate, he's so yummy I can't resist him for long." Helena slowly began to walk towards Warren as he extended his hand and smiled.
"Helena, I've been waiting for this moment. Ever since the birthday party when you threw yourself at me. I have wanted you to myself ever since, be with me." Warren took her hand and pulled her close, his eyes glowing red as he leaned in the kiss her when suddenly he disappeared.
"Now what did we learn in this exercise?" J'onn's voice echoed as she made a small step forward and looked around frantically. Turning quickly to J'onn anger and frustration filled her face.
"That you're a dick, bring him back! I wasn't done with him!" Helena's eyes were wide and visibly excited.
"That was not really Warren that was an image I created based upon an earlier dream. Its realism shows how exact and to the extreme Sweet Dreams will go."
"I hate you right now. I know I'm going to have to change my bedding when we get done. So how can I tell when it's a dream and when it isn't?" Helena's breathing began to calm as she crouched down and held her knees.
"When I created the Warren from your dream, did you notice anything different about him?" J'onn folded his arms.
"Well, aside from showing me some actual attention he looked and smelled the way he normally does."
Helena stood up.
"Are you sure you smelled what you smelled? Remember the mind is a receptacle of sights, sounds, touch, and smells. Sweet Dreams knows this and can make you smell, see, or taste anything she wants you to. How will you be able to tell your dreams from her attacks?" J'onn put his hands behind his back and pace.
"Well, I would need some kind of subconscious marker to identify my Warren from hers. Something she wouldn't know about. But if she can get into my head when I am asleep how can I hide that certain smell?" Helena rested her hands on her hips.
"You need to suppress it and only activate it when you create Warren in your dreams. By doing this it would have an adverse effect on her creation, making him smell like melted plastic."
J'onn disappeared and was replaced by the image of Warren tied to a chair. His hands were covered in suppression cuffs and his face was bloody, black and blue. Warren looked like he was being tortured and beaten and his eyes lit up when he saw Helena. "Helena, help me! They are going to kill me! Get me out of here!" Warren pleaded leaning forward in the chair.
Helena ran to him but was stopped by an invisible barrier that threw her back. Getting up she began slamming against the barrier. With each hit a wave of electrical energy spread out from each location. "Warren! I can't get to you, what is this? Who's doing this to you?"
"I don't know, they only wore hoods, they didn't even ask me questions. You gotta find a way to get me outta here!" Warren strained against the chair as he tried to break free. Above him a trap door opened and water began to fill the area. The barrier was in a square shape and was quickly filling with water.
Helena slammed against the barrier as the water slowly crept up and soon the water was up to his neck, "Warren! Warren you need to stand up! Do something please I can't get into help you, please!" Helena cried while continuing to slam her fists against the barrier wall.
"I can't Helena I can't keep my head above the water. I lo-"The water covered Warren completely and all Helena could do was watch him staring at her in the water. He couldn't hold his breath for long and he had to let go of his air. Sinking to her knees she watched him die, her hands slowly slapping the wall until she curled up in a ball, crying uncontrollably.
"What did we learn from this exercise?" J'onn's voice echoed.
Helena looked up and everything was gone except her tears. Slowly standing she gave J'onn a sad, angry look. "Can we stop I need to stop for now."
"Do you think Sweet Dreams will stop if you ask her? Now tell me what you learned." J'onn insisted.
Scowling at him she thought about what just happened. She knew it wasn't real but couldn't get the image of a dead Warren out of her mind. Then what J'onn had said earlier about telling the difference between her version of Warren and a false version came flooding back. She needed to create some sort of association that would let her know the difference, a smell or an image.
"Well, what did you learn?" J'onn repeated the question as he got into her face.
"Sandalwood and a snowflake," Helena smiled.
"What does that mean?" J'onn was a little confused by her response, and then her words had their intended impact. "I see, now you know how to defend yourself when Sweet Dreams tries to attack in your sleep. We are done for today, you may wake up." With those words Helena's eyes opened.
Looking around she noticed the time. "That's not possible! It's only been five minutes? It felt like hours, how did you do that?" Helena stood up and grabbed the alarm clock in disbelief.
"The mind is capable of perceiving time in different ways. Have you noticed when you take naps and you dream for what seem like hours yet only twenty minutes have passed? That is how Sweet Dreams will try to break you and it is up to you to recognize when she is manipulating the situation." J'onn took a bite of an Oreo cookie and floated above the same chair.
"I need some kind of defense other than visual cues, something that will scare her and keep her out of my head. I have just the thing and I will need your help, are you game?" Helena smiled, J'onn lifting his right eyebrow and nodded his head.
This is the Hubby—quite the training Helena went through and what is she cooking up to stop Sweet Dreams? Review and find out!