Green and Red Pt. I
Star City
January 1, 2035
1:24:52 ETD
Lian had just arrived home from her stay in her grandmother's apartment. She had been to Gotham Academy for further studies. She pulled her suitcase and was ready to visit her best friend and family for New Year's.
"Can't wait to see everyone in New Year." Lian said. She exited a terminal train after leaving the plane. "All the training from the sensei literally paid off." She then heard her phone buzzing in vibration. Lian took it out of her pocket, and it was a message from her grandmother.
"Oh, it's just Grandma. Gonna reply back."
Lian: Got home safe, Grandma. I'll call you when I see Dad. Love you.
Grandma: Be careful, Lian. Have a safe trip.
"And sent. Now to keep going." To her surprise, among the crowd, a certain young boy she remembered for 3 years was waiting for someone. Lian took a careful approach, and there was no doubt in her mind that it was the same boy who became her best friend.
"Joey?!" The boy turned, it was Joseph himself. He was surprised to see Lian after being away from Star City for a study trip. "Lian?" He asked. Lian fiercely ran up to him and gave him a bear hug. And laughed joyfully as Joseph was taken aback.
"I can't believe it's you!" Lian squealed. She parted herself from him to give him air. Joseph also smiled to see his only friend again. The laughter he saw in her was the only thing that kept him smiling. "Me too, Lian. Me too."
"Where have you been?! It feels like forever!" Lian exclaimed. Wanting to know the details of the events while apart. "Mom got promoted to a new position and decided that Grant and I should move in with her. We were at Los Angeles."
"Wow, that is something."
"It's not so bad. I mean from here, my brother finally got time for me. Mom is still a busy woman, as always. But she made sure to contact us from here." Joseph explains.
"Any new buddies so far?" Lian asked.
"Um...not exactly..." Joseph said, embarrassed. Lian cannot help but comfort the shy boy. "Aww! It's because you missed your best friend! Come on, tell me you missed your best buddy!" Lian teased while ruffling his hair and hugging him, Joseph blushed since it had been forever. "Dah, stop!" The crowd watching as Lian makes a scene. People thought it was some teen couple playing around.
Joseph was left go, but cannot help but feel some muscle that Lian had been having. Hard bones, tight squeeze. "I felt something hard in your arms. Had you been working out?" He asked.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I had been practicing overnight." Lian replied.
Mt. Fuji
April 8, 2034
3:09:23 UTD
Lian is in Japan, the mountain of Mt. Fuji. Home to the Order of the Phoenix, an organization made up of former members of the League of Shadows who defected to dedicated their lives of healing and defending Earth.
Lian was practicing her punches left and right. Forth and back. "Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah!" She keeps shouted for every punch she put force to. Then she lifted her foot for a kick. "Hyah!"
Then she practice her sword techniques, swinging it upward, and then rapidly downwards. "Tah, hah! Hyah!" The more she worked her arms, the more tired she gets. But even with a break of sweat, Lian doesn't stop as the cherry blossoms rain like ashes.
Watching from the bench was her master, Nyssa Al Ghul, a former member of the League of Shadows, and currently a leader of the Order of the Phoenix. She was watching Lian practicing while drinking tea. Once an assassin to the League of Shadows, Nyssa felt reborn to help those who cannot defend themselves.
Then the other members throw fruit at Lian as she draws her sword, and one by one, Lian diced the fruits thrown at her as part of using her senses. With a blindfold to test Lian. Once she is finished, Nyssa clasped her hands loudly. Gesturing the test to stop. "Enough!"
Lian takes off the blindfold to turn to Nyssa. The sensei then approached her with her hands behind her back, formally. "Very good, Lian. Your skills have immensely raised." In response, Lian bowed to her. "Thank you, Sensei." She replied. Nyssa then turned to the entrance of the temple. She then turned her head to Lian again. "Follow me, Lian."
"Of course, Sensei." Lian complied.
When they reached the top balcony of the temple. Both teacher and student watched other students getting into position. "Sensei, if I may, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Lian asked.
"See those students, Lian? This is the legacy that the League of Shadows will try to stop. As the next defenders of Earth, you will be the one to give them the examples of the balance between yin and yang. No longer will we use swords to kill and abuse of power. Only to protect." Nyssa explains. "And you have became the symbol of that balance, Lian. That's what it means to protect the world. Once I pass away, you will take my place as head of this clan."
"Sensei Nyssa. You said you knew my mom during your time in the League of Shadows. I was hoping by letting you teach me, maybe you can tell me a little about her." Lian said. Nyssa remained silent. But knows that the truth about Lian's mother will have to come to light. But revealing the truth in an instant will be painful to the girl.
"Lian, while it was true that I knew your mother. I believe it was too soon. However, that is for you to find out yourself. Once you find the truth, it will be up to you to decide your own path. I know you wanted answers since your grandmother gave me permission to take you under my wing. But I believe you can help make a difference for those who wanted to turn to the side of good. If it means to discover more about yourself, then I won't stop you from finding out. But you have to be careful for what you found. The past was never easy."
Metropolis
January 1, 2035
4:01:54 UTD
In the beach that was already in low temperature. A handsome young man with blonde hair and blue eyes, with a red top and leather tights with a golden emblem on his abdomen. Emerged from the cold waters like a mysterious creature from the movies. But more than a human being.
Civilians who witness the emergence was confused and shocked to see the mysterious boy without any proper wear for cold diving. "W-where did that young man came from?" An old man asked his fellow elderly.
A group of young woman who saw this are at awe. "Oh my god, he's so handsome. Should I get him a coat? He must be shivering." One young lady gasped. Then another woman fainted. Then the third woman whispered to the first. "Is it just me, or does he look like a model?"
"Hey look." The women narrowed their eyes as the middle woman points out, and saw gills on the young man's neck. They knew they had encountered an Atlantean. "Okay, so he came from underwater. But still handsome."
"Excuse me?" The accent was coming from the same young man approaching them. "Have you madames seen this woman?" The boy showed the women a photograph of another woman. For reasons of suspected sleeper agents.
"Oh, my, I have seen her before. Didn't get her name, but I did overheard that she was on Metropolis High School." The young Atlantean puts the photo away. And turned back to the women. "Thank you, I appreciated this." He said. Heading his way to Metropolis High to seek the suspect.
Star City
January 1, 2035
6:07:13 UTD
Lian and Joseph were enjoying their time buying coffee. Then they tapped their drinks for salutes. "Cheers!" They both declared. Taking sips of coffee. "A new year begins. Am I right?" Lian asked. Joseph nods.
"Three years. And already I missed Star City." Joseph said.
"Duh, it's where we first met. I have to admit, I kinda miss fighting those crooks we saw last time." Lian admits.
"Not the takeaway I was expecting." Joseph replied. Lian looked at Joseph, she he looked back. The two were not sure what to say to each other as they stared into each other's eyes.
"Have you...ahem...found your mom yet?" Joseph asked. Lian sighs, putting the mug down.
"Not really. I tried going to anyone who would've known Mom. No luck. And even if they want to tell, they all just shut up when I brought her up." She groaned, upset that anyone with possible answers will not tell her about her mother.
"First, I went to Detective Grayson, a friend of my dad's. But all he says is that she was confirmed to be deceased. Then I went to my grandma, and she also told me she is also dead. Argh! Why does everyone keep telling me she was dead? I saw it in their eyes that they're lying. Dad taught me on how to tell who's lying by looking into their eyes. Then comes Auntie Dinah and Libby, they don't know about Mom's whereabout today. Least they're not lying for that." Lian explains.
"Any chance you saw your sister again?" Asked Lian. Joseph coughed after swallowing coffee a bit too fast. "Sorry, I haven't. I asked her friends about her. No luck. They said that she moved from Gotham City after Dad moved. Like I said, I don't know Dad. To me, he was ghost since he left. I guess the reason because after Mom found out about Rose, she was really mad. Took me and Grant with her after the divorce, and Dad took Rose. It all started when Dad took in Rose, claiming that he adopted her after her parents died. But at first, I didn't know Rose, Grant and I were biologically related through our Dad."
"Hold on, you didn't know Rose was your sister from the beginning?"
"You could say that. Grant and I did not seem to mind having a sister. But the truth makes it worse. One night I heard Mom and Dad fighting, I heard Mom found out that Rose was Dad's biological child from an affair before I was born. It was rough hearing this, but Rose was there for me when I feel down. But later we were separated. I never saw her, or Dad again. Sometimes I wondered what Dad has in mind. Has he also thought about me and Grant? To be honest, I don't wanna know. Grant took it badly and hated Dad ever since. Mom shut herself down. Grant went to work in the military. My family is already broken as it was. So I wasn't bothered if I was alone. Then Mom legally changed our surname to her maiden name, Kane after we moved back then. Until I met you."
"I did not know. It was just...yikes..." Lian placed her palm on her forehead. Overwhelmed by the details. "Wait a second. You dad...my mom...The way you described the details. I'm sorry but, I think your Mom might be hiding something about this. What if this is somehow connected?" Asked Lian.
"Come to think of it. Mom did either burn some photographs or photoshopped Dad out. Even has a safe with all the documents about him. I can't remember his face." Joseph said.
"Let's hang at my house. I know my Dad isn't police, but he somehow managed to get files of criminals." Lian said the very word that made Joseph flinch. The word "criminal" did feel like a knife to him. Lian did not mean to say that.
"Um...sorry. I did not say your dad might be...I thought..."
"No, no. It's fine. Maybe there could be some answers we can find here." Joseph assured her.
"Okay. But If I'm wrong, I owe coffee." Lian said.
"Deal." Joseph agreed.
Metropolis
January 2, 2035
7:25:22 ETD
Metropolis High School. It was a new year for Jonny Kent and Jennifer Pierce. Unknown to them both, they happened to met as kids years ago. Jen, whom Jennifer was mostly called, is in the engineer class. Working on an old model car.
Jonny was in Biology class. Alongside him was his friend, Kathy Branden. "Good evening, class. Welcome to your freshman year of high school. Unfortunately the main science teacher was absent due to medical reasons, and was forced to remain in the hospital. So today I am sending a new teacher in class."
"Already they changed teachers? Mr. Stein was so nice." Kathy whispered to Jonny.
"I know. I heard he was going to teach here once we reached 9th grade. Wonder what happened to him?" Jonny asked. Kathy shrugged. Both friends attend the same school together and they had Professor Stein as their teacher, but that did not stop him from teaching teenagers.
"...as for today, I want to introduce you all to Ms. Komal Anderson." Appeared before them was a woman walking with clicks of boot heels on every step she took. Winter romper, soft fabric, and a coat. Black shirt and purple eyes. The male students were at awe to see her. They did not expect for the teacher to be very beautiful, not even Jonny. Kathy, and the other female students did not seemed pleased with the substitute.
"Hello there...students. It's a pleasure to meet you all." Said Ms. Anderson. Jonny was too dazed when looking at the substitute. He can it look away. Kathy waved her hand on front of his face, but to no avail.
"Dude, best substitute ever." One of their classmates whispered.
"Pretty hot, I know."
"I wonder if she's the wrestling type. Cause look at her muscles."
"More like a queen." They all, sans Kathy and Jonny, were whispering none stop. "Ms. Anderson" took pleasure from those compliments.
"Hehehe. How kind of you, boys. Now then, let's start the lesson. Shall we, class?" Ms. Anderson giggled like a teenage girl, which makes it hard for the two to think the teacher was of age to get hired to teach. Kathy felt that something about the teacher did not look right. She talked very seductively, which isn't right. But nothing else came up yet. The way how she lets compliments go by. Something tells her that she might have something to do with the other teacher's absence.
After school, Jonny and Kathy were walking to their next classes. Kathy had been talking to Jonny about the new substitute, as her suspicions couldn't wear off. "I cannot help but feel that something isn't right about Ms. Anderson. I mean a new teacher acting alm flirty, and then talking strange syllables on the chalkboard. Don't you think it's too suspicious?" Asked Kathy.
Jonny thought about what Kathy just said. During their class, Ms. Anderson had been writing strange syllables that no human was familiar with. But Jonny saw those syllables before, almost as if he went up to space before.
He remembered the same syllables in a wrecked space pod with similar runes. It would mean something ancient. The signs were clear that someone was hiding among them. Jonny was only half-human.
"Come to think of it. Ms. Anderson is one strange character. Plus her outfit is rather out of season. I mean, I don't think she feels any cold, not a single shover down her spine." Jonny replied to his best friend.
"Yikes. Too weird." Kathy shivered at the sight of the new teacher. To them, something about the woman is much more disturbing than they thought she might be.
Jonny then hears an echo of a flick of a window opening. He can hear from afar when he hears a girl climbing out of the school window. She jumps off and walks out of the school. "Jonny? Are you listening?! Jon?! Jonny!" He then wakes up after he hears Kathy snapping his fingers.
Because of his enhanced hearing, and Kathy's finger snapping near his face, it felt like a sonic boom to his ears. "Ow! Kathy!"
"Jonny?! Did you even hear what I said?! Class is starting!" Jonny the remembers. But he thought about going after the senior student that snuck out of class. "Uh...Ugh, my stomach hurts! Hey, Kathy, can you let the teacher know I am going to the nurse's office. I am not feeling well. Also don't worry about the homework, I'll ask Mom to drive me back to school to retrieve it."
Jonny faked his pain by clutching onto his stomach and grunts to make it seem real. Kathy, whom did not seem to believe him completely, blinks her eyes. "You okay? You seem fine to me."
"Ooh, ow! I think it's food poisoning from the cafeteria. Ah! It's so painful! Who's idea was it to put expired mayonnaise in those sandwiches?!" Jonny make the sounds of pain as real as possible to sneak out. Kathy, feeling bad, decided to let him be.
"Okay, I'll buy. Want me to take you to the nurse's office?" Kathy sighs, finally gave up on interrogation.
"No, I'll get there myself. Thanks, Kathy. See you later."
"Kay, see ya. Hope you feel better." Kathy waved. Then Jonny walked to another aisle of the hallway and ran as soon as Kathy was out of sight, Jonny ran to find some place to sneak out without getting caught. But then bumped into a man in a lab coat. And a bunch of papers fly down until they touched the floor.
Jonny shook his head and sees the papers. "Oh, sorry about this." He gets up and helped the man picked up the papers. "Oh, don't worry about it, young man, thank you. Do you know the way to the Biology room?"
"Sure, it's three aisles ahead. Also, are you supposed to assist Ms. Anderson in Biology Class?"
"Anderson? I don't know about this, why didn't the school inform me that someone else was there? I was supposed to be filling in for Mr. Stein." Jonny's eyes popped wide to hear this. He did not think that the teacher he saw was a fake.
Then the man before him looked at him. "Um, sir?" Asked Jonny. "Oh, I apologized. Dr. Ryan Choi. I recently transfered from Ivy Town. It was a big traffic, so I was a bit late for the first day." Choi shook Jonny's hand. "Oh, haha. That's literally weird! How come they did not get a background check...on her...? Anyway, I am Jonathan Kent." Jonny paused as he realized that the "teacher" might be up to something no good.
"Oh, I still have a few classes to attend in Physics for the Junior students. I also might need to see the staff about this substitute teacher, very off. Nice to meet you, Mister Kent. See you tomorrow in class." Dr. Choi walks towards his next class. Jonny waved as he had to hurry to catch up to the senior student. "Nice meeting you, Mr. Choi!"
Jonny then sprints as soon as the new teacher was gone. Then went through the bathroom window to search for the senior student. He hears where she is going and follows the sound of her footsteps.
"Now let's see where you're going." Jonny said to himself before sneaking away from the school and hid in the alleys to take off his dress short and glasses, revealing the shirt he was wearing under with the "S" emblem.
Author's note: Sorry about the short chapter, I had little of time due to busiest reasons. But here we get a flash back with Lian and Nyssa in a role of mentor and student.
Plus we also got Jon Kent following Jennifer Pierce, and the two will eventually befriend each other once they ran into each other. We can also see Lian and Joseph's relationship through their shared past of repressed memories.
Thanks for reading, hope you fellow writers have a nice day.