Pariahs
July 16th
09:08 EDT
Washington DC
"Really, Novia? Summer camp?" Her aunt's scolding is hardly audible over the noise of the busy diner. They had just ordered breakfast and the waitress not too long ago stopped by with their drinks.
"Didn't think she'd buy it either..." Novia mutters as she stares at her lemonade, the condensation had left the glass to become cloudy. She stirs her lemonade with the straw, plucking the spiraled twigs of mint out and setting it aside. She swore she told the waitress not to garnish it but oh well.
"It's not about buying anything. You promised you would at least tell them." Her aunt chides, bringing her cup of coffee to her lips.
Novia can't help but recoil. As always, the woman takes her coffee black, which is disgusting. Novia could never understand the appeal for a beverage that's bitter. Her mother drinks her coffee the same way.
She sets her lemonade to the side, suddenly not thirsty, "It just wasn't as easy as I imagined. Besides, when I told her she sounded so happy,"
"But how long do you think it'll last?" Amanda asks.
Novia frowns, resting her cheek in her hand, as she looks out the window, "Hopefully long enough for me to think of something,"
July 18th
11:18 EDT
Mount Justice
The sky is cloudless, sunny. Nothing obstructs the blue sky that stretches above the fields. There is a faint scent of salt that melts in the air. And the breeze that comes with it is refreshing, caressing the skin in the most comforting way that balances the summer heat.
The team eagerly awaits outside for Red Tornado. In fact, not too long ago they were tracking his arrival, counting the minutes till the android returns from his League duties. And in the distance, they can see a silhouette in the sky. A red one, bringing a gust of wind along with it.
The grass flails from the wind brought forth by Red Tornado. And as he lands, he looks at the six teenagers. Expressionless (which is natural for him), "Greetings. Is there a reason you all intercept me outside the cave?"
"We hoped you had a mission for us," Aqualad inquires.
"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility," Red Tornado reminds him—all of them.
Robin frowns. Novia is certain that behind his shades is frustration. And whether this frustration was amounting since their first exchange, she cannot tell. But it's there, nonetheless.
He steps forward, "It's been over a week, and noth—"
"You will be tested soon enough," Red Tornado interrupts. "For the time being, simply enjoy each other's company."
Aqualad glances over at his team members, "This team isn't a social club,"
Surprisingly, Red Tornado agrees, "No, but I am told social interaction is an important team-building exercise," Then he walks past them, "Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarizing yourselves with the cave." He doesn't say another word nor waits for the team's response before he retreats into the cave.
Robin huffs, "Does he think we're falling for this?"
"Oh! I can find out!" Miss Martian beams. With her focus on Red Tornado, she narrows her eyes in thought. Then after a few seconds, she gives up. "I'm sorry, I forgot I can't read his mind. He's a machine... Inorganic."
"You're telepathic?" Novia speaks up. She recalls how easily Miss Martian finished her sentence, now suspecting she was aided by telepathy.
Miss Martian turns to her, proudly, "Well, yes. All Martians are. Telekinetic too."
Kid Flash leans close to Miss Martian. "Soo… You know what I'm thinking right now?" She doesn't respond immediately and for the moment it looks like she actually considers reading whatever perverted thought lingers in his mind. But Robin is quick to interject, shoving an elbow in his friend's back.
"We all know what you're thinking,"
Aqualad sighs, evidently still ruminating Tornado's final words. He weighs the odds, then he finally comes to a decision. "We'll tour the 'clubhouse'," he says.
"Well, Superboy, Novia, and I live here. We can act as tour guides!" Miss Martian offers.
Superboy turns away immediately, detached from the whole idea, "Don't look at me," He says.
Kid places his arms over M'gann and Novia, "We won't. A private tour from the ladies sounds much better,"
Novia pushes him off, "Count me out as well,"
"And nobody said anything about private," Robin adds.
"We're all going," Aqualad orders, a bit annoyed. The others sigh, but none dares to openly protest. Rather, they all turn their attention to Miss Martian as she begins the tour.
"So, this is would be our front door," She announces.
§§§
It takes the group around an hour to finish. They find themselves wandering a room with water resting in a carved-out, shallow pool. In the distance, she hears the outrushing of a waterfall. Its soothing echo fills the room. The water is quite inviting, reminding Novia of the cave pools in Bermuda. Yet the water before her is barely enough to wet the ankles.
"So why did the League abandon Mount Justice for a tourist trap?" Superboy asks the team.
Novia looks around at first, confused before she can realize that he was referring to The Hall. The same place where Robin, Speedy, Kid Flash, and Aqualad were under the pretense they'd become official League members—as Kid Flash had explained to her with clear disdain.
Turned out the League sidelining the three led them to Cadmus. And as for Speedy—
"The cave's secret location was… compromised," Aqualad says.
Miss Martian's eyes widen, "But if the bad guys know about the cave, we'll have to be on constant alert—"
Robin takes her hand reassuringly, "The bad guys know we know that they know about the cave. So, they'll never think to look here." Miss Martian flashes him a puzzled expression, trying to decipher what he said.
Kid Flash snatches Robin's hand, "He means we're hiding in plain sight."
"That makes… more sense." she still doesn't sound convinced.
Superboy sniffs the air, "Does anyone else smell smoke?"
"My cookies!" Miss Martian gasps and flies off without warning. She disappears down the corridor.
There comes a charcoal odor that indicates something is indeed burning. It's pervasive and it dominates the hallways. It grows even stronger as the team nears the kitchen. Miss Martian waves a rag before the oven while it coughs out small clouds of smoke.
A tray of charred cookies sits on the marble counter as the rest of the team stares at it. Except for Kid Flash who, strangely, is eating them.
"It was kind of you to make this," Aqualad stills stares at the burnt cookies, unwilling to eat them despite his graciousness.
"Thanks, Aqualad." Miss Martian smiles faintly.
"We're off duty, call me Kaldur'ahm." Then he thinks briefly, "Actually… my friends call me Kaldur,"
"I'm Wally," Kid Flash swallows then rests his elbow on the counter, "See? I already trust you with my secret ID." He smirks at Miss Martian. Then points to Robin, "Unlike Mr. Dark Glasses over there. Batman's prohibits Boy Wonder from telling anyone his real name."
Novia crosses her legs and leans against the counter. Now it all makes sense. She looks at Kid Flash then at Robin, "Please tell me you're joking," The smile on Kid Flash's face doesn't fade. He only nods at Robin who looks back at him disapprovingly—not even offering his attention to Novia as she expects his verbal confirmation.
But silence in itself is an answer—though not one that she'd prefer. But it's true: Robin can't reveal his identity. Not even to his team. Which is just—
Weird.
Miss Martian finally speaks up, "Well my name isn't a secret. It's M'gann M'orzz" Then she blushes, "But you can call me Megan. It's an Earth name. And I'm on Earth now."
Superboy turns to leave the kitchen. Clearly, he's had enough of socializing. Even though he has only spoken once—or possibly twice. And when Novia thinks about it, this is the most socially active he's been since Cadmus. Nearly a week she's been at Mount Justice, and he's never really around to talk.
Suddenly Superboy seizes in place, grunting. He turns back to the group with eyes steeped in anger—pure hatred. And they focus on M'gann.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD"
Novia shifts from the counter. Alerted by Superboy's words, she vitrifies with a protective arm before M'gann. She doesn't doubt he could break through her in a second, but she addresses him sternly "What is wrong with y—"
I don't understand. Everyone on Mars communicates telepathically. A voice—like a needle—pierces her mind, breaking her vitreous state. It's familiar—inquisitive and naïve.
M'gann.
"M'gann, stop," Aqualad commands as soon as he comes to. She retracts, apologetic but also a bit offended. Soon, Novia and the others begin to feel the pressure in their minds' subside.
"Things are different here on Earth. Here, your powers are an extreme invasion of privacy," Aqualad explains.
"Disruptive too," Novia groans, feeling disjointed from being thrust out of her glass state.
"Besides, Cadmus' psychic G-gnomes left a bad taste in his brain," Wally teases.
M'gann turns to Superboy, shocked, "I-I didn't mean—"
"Just. Stay. Out." He snaps. He storms out of the kitchen, leaving M'gann distraught and the team silently standing around the counter.
It is within this awkward moment that Novia contemplates leaving too. The tour was long over anyway. And Aqualad—Kaldur—never required them to stay afterward.
But M'gann, with newfound energy, jumps up, "Hel-lo Megan! I know what we can do!" She flies out of the kitchen and down the hall. The remaining four exchange puzzled expressions before slowly walking behind her.
M'gann leads them all to the elevator—somehow convincing Superboy to join them as well. He remains quiet as it descends, refusing to make eye contact with anyone—especially M'gann. But she remains content as the elevator chimes and opens to reveal the hangar. And at the center of its launch pad sits a red and black ovoid object.
"My Martian Bio-Ship," she introduces.
Wally chuckles, "Cute—not aerodynamic—but cute."
M'gann turns to him with a smile, "It's at rest silly. I'll wake it." She extends her hand toward the object. Responsively, it molds into something larger. A ship. Sleek with two wing-like protrusions on the sides that extend towards them to form a paralleling tip.
Novia watches with mouth agape as the ship rotates. Where she comes from, ships don't just mold themselves into existence.
The hatch opens, melting into small stairs for them to step on. M'gann is the first to enter. She has to coax her team to follow as they were all too busy watching the aircraft in awe.
The ship is surprisingly bigger on the inside. Six seats suddenly erect from nothing. As Novia takes hers, the seatbelts autonomously rise and fasten her in. It's unusual at first as the texture is strange. It starts as viscous, but when it takes awakens, it becomes firm.
M'gann takes her seat at the center. Two illuminated orbs rise to meet her hands, "Red Tornado, please open the bay doors." She commands. The door opens and without delay, the ship takes off. Its movements brisk yet unfelt. Although Novia sees the ship do a barrel roll, she doesn't feel lightheaded or nauseous from its actions.
"Incredible," Robin breathes.
More like surreal. Novia thinks, wide-eyed. The green of mountaintops combined with the sparkling of the ocean beneath is all too beautiful. Even though she had hoped to train with Canary today, she can't regret this moment.
From the corner of her eye, she catches Kaldur whisper something to Superboy. Rather than respond, Superboy grows tense and looks away. M'gann, witnessing this with guilt residing from earlier, lowers her head.
"He'll come around," Robin mutters to her.
"He doesn't seem to like me much," M'gann says.
"He doesn't seem to like anything," Novia admits.
Wally speaks up, "You guys realize he has superhearing?" The four turn to Superboy who is now sitting with rounded shoulders and furrowed brows.
Novia quickly changes the conversation, "Uhh.. so M'gann, what other amazing talents are you hiding?"
"How about some Martian shapeshifting?" Robin suggests.
M'gann rises, removing her hands from the glowing orbs. She focuses on Novia. With a blink, her green skin darkens into a brown shade. Her red hair shortens, saturating into jet black braids with copper rings. And her outfit bursts into a gray cardigan over jean shorts as she smiles down at Novia with her brand-new, brown eyes.
"Get. Out." Novia gasps. If not for the seatbelts holding her firmly in place, she would be standing, likely walking around her clone with careful examination.
M'gann laughs in a way that is all too familiar to Novia. The Martian turns her attention to Robin. Her brown skin fades away to bring forth a paler tone. A familiar red and black costume wraps around her body and a black cape blooms from her back. Her braids unravel themselves, now becoming shorter and straight. Her eyes are replaced with a mask and the transformation is finalized with an "R" on her chest.
Robin.
Or, well—it would be an exact copy had Robin been a girl. Because even in Robin's colors, M'gann still retains her feminine figure.
The Martian looks to Wally next. She does a quick turn, and her form changes immediately. A yellow bodysuit replaces the black and red. The cape fades away as her hair spikes up and becomes red once more. A lightning bolt symbol appears on her chest as she finally takes the form of a feminine Kid Flash.
Wally sighs as M'gann flexes, "Is it wrong that I think I'm hot?"
Robin applauds with a raised brow, "Bravo, but I don't think the last two will fool anyone,"
M'gann blushes, her form reverts as she reclaims her seat, "Mimicking boys is a lot harder,"
"And your clothes?" Aqualad asks.
M'gann looks down, "Oh, they're organic like the ship. They respond to my mental commands."
"As long as they're the only ones," Superboy grumbles with disdain. His words send M'gann to drop her head, still remorseful from the earlier accident.
"Can you do that ghosting-through-walls thing that Manhunter does?" Wally chimes in.
M'gann blinks, "You mean density shifting? No… That takes a lot of skill."
"Flash can vibrate his molecules right through a wall," Robin adds, chuckling lightly. "When Kid tries it, bloody nose."
"Dude," Wally hisses after hearing M'gann giggle.
"Here's something I can do," She lightly places her hands over the glowing orbs, "Camouflage mode."
Nothing about the interior of the ship changes. In fact, Novia was slightly perplexed until she glances outside to find that the wings of the ship have disappeared. But not just the wings, the entire exterior of the ship left with it.
"No way," she murmurs, her stare growing intense from awe. She squints when she catches a falter. Along the cragged horizon is a silver outline, faint but quivering against the atmosphere. The wings. They're not gone but transparent.
"Red Tornado to Miss Martian," Everyone freezes, upon hearing Tornado's voice.
"An emergency alert has been triggered at the Happy Harbor Power Plant. I suggest you investigate—covertly. I'm sending coordinates," The comms whir off. And immediately, the teenagers exchange silent glances.
Novia tugs at the sleeves of her cardigan, "Are we getting our suits first or…?"
Robin scoffs, "It's nothing. Tornado's just keeping us busy again."
"Well… A simple fire led you guys to Superboy. We should see what's causing the alert." M'gann adds with optimism.
The mention of Cadmus tightens Novia's chest. She says nothing, fists clenching in hope that this emergency alert is nothing remotely similar.
Superboy speaks after a prolonged silence, "I think I know the cause..."
His words are too casual to register as a warning. And nobody suspects that he was referring to the presence of a tornado in the distance. That is—until all of their attention fixates on the adjacent parking lot.
The tornado homes in on them, tearing through the asphalt and tossing vehicles across the parking lot. The sound of feral winds ruptures the air, growing louder with every second. Soon, the Bio-Ship is within its grasps. It violently jostles the ship and the spin it's thrust into feels endless. Novia clutches her stomach, queasiness sending her to vitrify—though with some difficulty.
"Hold… on…" M'gann grunts as she focuses. The orbs beneath her palm brighten in response. The ship recovers and tears itself from the tornado's hold, landing at the edge of the parking lot.
As the team jumps out of the ship, lightheaded and dazed, they're immediately faced with chaos. Civilians scatter in fear, their screams drowned out by the roar of the tornado. Novia can't help but feel dread as she watches a mother snatch her child away from the flying debris.
"Robin, are tornado's common in New England?" Aqualad asks and when he receives no reply, he looks around to find that his teammate is nowhere in sight. "Robin?!" He calls.
"He was just here," M'gann assures. Meanwhile, Novia doesn't remember seeing Robin after they got off the ship. But more importantly, her skin has been reacting to the distant shattering of glass. She blinks—not just shattering but there's also an intense force. Wind, specifically. And it's close by.
"There!" She points, rushing to the nearby warehouse that is growing windowless by the second.
When they enter, Novia feels another burst of wind blow out a window. A loud thud can be heard as Robin is thrust into a pillar. His assailant standing only a few feet away. A man in a metallic suit with a stocky physique and large fists. Most of its face is covered by a muffler of some sort and two bright blue pipes connect from his shoulders to his fists.
"Who's your new friend?" Superboy lands beside him. Roars of wind emanate from the man as he hefts Robin from the floor.
Robin dusts himself off, "Didn't catch his name. But he plays kinda rough."
He doesn't press for more information. The presence of an enemy gives him reason enough to charge. The man merely watches him, unmoved.
"My apologies," A voice emits from the hollowed suit. One that is sonorous and masculine, "But you may address me as Mr. Twister." His arms rise and from them, comes bellowing winds that quickly form into tornados. They overcome Superboy, thrusting him against the wall.
"Well, there goes teamwork," Novia sighs to herself as she watches him crash into the concrete. Her vitrification earns an intrigued stare from M'gann. When Aqualad gives them the signal, all four of them rush Mr. Twister. But, for some reason, he doesn't shift. He stands as bold as they had met him—unfazed by the fact he's outnumbered one to four.
Kid barely makes contact. His attempt to kick Mr. Twister is thwarted by the sturdiness of the man's armor. He counters the boy swiftly, grabbing him by the legs and releasing him with a gust of wind that sends him skidding across the lawn beyond the warehouse.
Then he turns, sending more wind to the remaining three. As Novia falls, her nails digging into the concrete produce a screech. She faintly hears M'gann and Aqualad being cast into the wall behind her. And with a sudden lash of air, she is finally thrust back with them. Her body cracks as it hits the rail, shuddering as it mends.
Mr. Twister scoffs, "Do you children have no adult supervision? I find your presence here to be quite… disturbing."
"Well, we hate to see you disturbed," Robin barks as the five of them regroup to his side, "Let's see if you're still turbed once we kick your can."
M'gann extends her hand towards the ventilation system above Mr. Twister. Focusing, it begins to rattle. Then she pulls back, causing steam to pour down over him and obstruct his vision whilst Superboy leads an assault from above.
Wind erupts from beneath, displacing the steam and seizing the clone just as his fist reaches inches away from Mr. Twister's head. He repels Superboy with a wave of his large hand, sending him back towards the team at full force.
And there's little time to react. The five are struck by his limp body. Novia doesn't even consider shattering until after his weight—combined with the team's—falls on her. And it's Superboy's immense strength that had become their undoing, leaving them not only defeated but also disjointed beneath him.
"Indeed. That was quite… turbing." The complacency in Mr. Twister's tone is heard over the rising sound of the wind.
Novia feels her concentration wane. Fading from her glass state, her ears begin to ring, stiffening with the sound of the wind. It grows louder. Louder. Louder. And like that—it's gone, and the warehouse is silent.
"Guys?" The words hardly escape her lips—more of a grunt, if anything. Her lungs are constricted enough as it is. But gratefully, something shifts beside her. Though it pushes against her ribs, the overall pressure begins to alleviate. Slowly, everyone begins to rise and the weight upon her rolls off with a thump.
Novia shakes her head, steadying herself with the support of Aqualad's shoulder. A bit dazed, she blinks looking at Robin, "Wait—after all that, your shades are still on?"
He brushes himself off, a slight glower revealed in his brow, but he says nothing.
"Did you just ignore me?" She demands though it's evident he did. And it's even more grating when he doesn't even respond to her, instead, he turns to the others.
"We need to regroup with KF," Robin tells before rushing towards the exit with Superboy and Aqualad in tow.
M'gann looks back at Novia confused, "Did I miss something?"
"Perhaps we both did," she says between her teeth.
The factory shakes from the pounding of wind. A tornado smashes at the entrance just as they arrive. More glass shatters, and along with it comes the decrepit foundation. Novia swore she heard Wally's yelp somewhere throughout the crash. But as the dust clears, she sees him hovering in the air.
"I got you, Wally," M'gann calls over the noise. She lowers the speedster with her telekinetic grasp, briefly earning his appreciation before they all settle on the man before them.
A strong wind lifts Mr. Twister in the air. His suit emits a hollow sound as he speaks, "I would have thought you'd all learn your limitations by now."
Novia hasn't noticed the initial signs of Aqualad's composure crumbling. And it's why she's astonished when he snaps, "What do you want?!"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm waiting for a real hero." Mr. Twister responds. His smugness grows more irritating with every exchange.
Ouch, Novia mouths. Though the insult was more abrasive towards the trio than to her, Superboy and M'gann, she can't help but feel somewhat defensive over the words. Real? She doesn't want to know what they constitute as in his book.
Aqualad turns his attention to M'gann, demanding her to read the man's mind.
She stammers, "I-I thought I wasn't supposed to do that."
"It's okay with the bad guys!" Robin barks.
Novia was about to intervene—yell at Robin for yelling at M'gann. But the Martian speaks before she can even open her mouth.
"Nothing—I'm getting nothing!" She blurts in frustration. Then, suddenly, she opens her eyes and smiles. "Hel-lo Megan! Mr. Twister is Red Tornado in disguise! He's inorganic—an android. And how many androids do we know that can generate tornados?"
"Red Tornado did send us here," Aqualad confirms.
"After saying we'd be tested soon enough? This is his test." Robin adds. "Something to keep us busy,"
Kid Flash groans, "Speedy called it. We're a joke."
Frustrated, the three sidekicks confront Mr. Twister—or rather—Red Tornado. Novia falls back, still uneasy despite it all making sense. Red Tornado did note they'd be tested soon. And she can't think of any other aerokinetic android—not that she knows any. But still...
"We know who you are and what you want!" Robin raises his voice over the wind.
"So, let's end this," Aqualad says.
Red Tornado lowers his head in agreement, "Consider it ended."
He raises his arms, drawing in more energy. Novia feels the air briefly recoil then churn as dark funnels rise from the android's palms. The funnels take to the sky, rotating and entangling into each other until they accumulate into a ring of black clouds.
Aqualad looks around, still defiant, "An impressive show. But we will not engage!"
The clouds grow dense, and the air begins to grow colder, and the clouds enclose around them. And then—
CRACK.
Lightning flashes within the darkness. Thunder roars not too far behind with a palpable vibration that makes her skin crawl, somewhat roil.
"This isn't right," Novia trembles from both the cold and fear. Beside her, Superboy watches on in concerned silence and M'gann's eyes grow wide.
Kid Flash takes a step back, "Uhh… Can Red Tornado do that?" Another flash of lightning. This time it touches the asphalt not too far from the group.
"You think I'm Tornado?" The android derides, "How ironic,"
Instantly, a streak of lightning rips through the sky, hitting the ground. The earth erupts before them like an earthquake, sending debris and the team flying backward. Nothing but the sound of screams and the thunder could be heard. Darkness follows suit. And what happens next, Novia doesn't fully recall. But she is certain about one thing:
That android is not Red Tornado.
§§§
She lurches over after lapsing back into consciousness. Everything around them has fallen quiet—almost peaceful—which is odd because she doesn't remember the team beating Mr. Twister.
"What happened?" Kid Flash groans.
Miss Martian turns to them, wringing her wrists, "I used the Bio-Ship to camouflage us,"
"So, we didn't win?" Novia asks only to wish she didn't when she sees M'gann's frown. That android is still out there.
Something breaks, shaking the earth. Novia stiffens, expecting it to be Mr. Twister who has likely returned to finish them off.
Rather, she hears Superboy yell, and another smash follows as he punches a boulder into pebbles. He faces them, furious. "She tricked us into thinking Twister was Red Tornado." His eyes focus on M'gann, burning with the same disdain he had for her earlier. Only this time Novia lacks the energy to place herself between the two.
"She didn't do it on purpose," Aqualad speaks up, preventing the clone from getting any closer.
Robin helps Kid up, reasoning, "It was a rookie mistake. We shouldn't have listened,"
"You are pretty inexperienced." Kid Flash agrees. Reluctant as he's forced to come to terms. He refuses to hold eye contact with her, "Hit the showers. We'll take it from here."
"And stay out of our way," Superboy snaps. The three head off. No doubt in search of Mr. Twister. M'gann lowers her head, clearly upset and embarrassed. Novia tries to offer her her hand, but the Martian refuses.
"I just wanted to be part of the team," she whispers.
Kaldur sighs, rubbing his head, "To be honest, I'm not sure we even have a team."
Before leaving he looks to Novia who crosses her arms in disapproval. He wishes to say more, but he doesn't. With half of his team already gone off to face a dangerous android, he doesn't have much time. So, he leaves Novia and M'gann beside the Bio-Ship.
M'gann rises, back to Novia as she wipes what may be tears from her face, "You should go too,"
"No, I'm pretty sure The Cave isn't that way," Novia says. She places a hand on M'gann's shoulder, grinning, "And besides, after that, I don't think they deserve our help."
M'gann musters a small smile and the two enter the Bio-Ship.
§§§
"So, does it hurt?" M'gann asks Novia out of the blue as she flies the Bio-Ship along Happy Harbor's coast. The silence between them hasn't been too long. But long enough, apparently, to warrant a conversation.
"Does what hurt?"
"Turning into glass—I mean, you seem to transition so smoothly. But what do you feel?" M'gann gushes.
Novia blinks. Taken aback because no one has ever asked her about vitrification—more importantly how she felt doing it. Not to say that there isn't a feeling. It's one that she has certainly grown accustomed to by now—after a year of practice. But she struggles to string the right words together.
"It's quiet," she says.
M'gann tilts her head, "Quiet? As in, you don't hear anything?"
Novia shakes her head, "No. Yes. I mean—I don't feel anything either. It's all just... quiet."
She wants to explain her powers—or what she understands so far about them. The sound and feel of glass are all perceivable now. But when she vitrifies, it's all silent. For a while, she has surmised it has to with her skin—or the lack of. But maybe it's more complicated. And she can't expect her father to explain something he doesn't know about.
"Do you feel heavy when you do it?" M'gann asks.
"Heavy?" Novia raises a brow at her before settling. "Only when I shift a particular part," she says, recalling Mateo. The poor guy. She hopes his foot has healed by now.
"But when I shatter, I feel really light," she continues. She tugs on her cardigan, "Though it's not the most practical option at times,"
It takes a while before M'gann figures out what she was implying. She laughs. The perks of having organic clothing, perhaps. Lucky her never having to worry about the whereabouts of her clothes during a mission.
Abruptly, a holographic screen pops up and spans across the Bio-Ship. They fall silent at the sight of Red Tornado standing before them.
"Miss Martian, I am still receiving an emergency alert in the lower Happy Harbor area. May I ask why the Bio-Ship is being rerouted back to the Cave?"
"We... ran into some trouble," M'gann says, avoidant.
"The boys kicked us out," Novia impassively states. And of course, she means M'gann rather than us. But at this point, she isn't sure if she wants to stick with an all-guy team.
M'gann shoots her a worried expression before stammering her explanation.
"You see, well—we did check out the alert as a team. But we ran into another android at the powerplant with aerokinetic abilities. I assumed it was you in disguise after I realized I couldn't use my telepathy. And from there, it kinda..." she trails off, sighing upon the memory of the incident. "Red Tornado, we could really use your help,"
"If I intervene it would not be to help." Red Tornado responds. But he continues with a certain consideration somewhere in his hollow tone, "But, it is an odd coincidence that this Twister shares my elemental abilities and my immunity to telepathy."
M'gann gasps, "Hel-lo Megan!"
"What?" Novia sits up just as M'gann disconnects the call with Red Tornado.
"Mr. Twister is an android like Red Tornado!" M'gann says.
Novia frowns, "Yeah M'gann, we kinda figured that out earlier,"
"No. I mean he's an android that is too much like Red Tornado. I mean, think about it!" M'gann exclaims, redirecting the ship back to the southern end of Happy Harbor.
In the distance, Novia can make out the funnels as they touch land, tornados ripping through the small town near the sea.
"Okay, why are we going back?"
"We're going to let Mr. Twister meet his match," M'gann smirks. She rises, "Can you steer while I try to make contact with the others?"
"Uhhh..." Novia stares at the two blue orbs. They definitely don't scream dirigible. But neither does the entire ship. So she settles into M'gann's seat anyway and places her hand on them the same way she saw M'gann do it.
At first, she only feels the warmth from the light. It becomes a buzz beneath her skin, like electricity pricking at her palms. And finally, she transcends, nearly screaming because the world around her becomes bleached—horrifying as it was during her childhood. But it's the silence that holds her breath, tells her that it wasn't glass that dragged her here. And far off, she hears a hum. A voice. Effeminate but not her own nor M'gann's.
Impossible.
But what else could it be? Who else can it be? It feels silly as she thinks about it. But M'gann's Bio-Ship might be a female.
As though in response, the white light disperses, and Novia is suddenly faced with what lies outside. Everything. The mountaintops, the buildings beneath them, the birds among them—all of it is within her perspective.
"No way..." Novia murmurs as she dodges an incoming sparrow. She doesn't even feel the ship as it torque-rolls higher into the air. None of it seems real. Somewhere within the vessel, she can feel M'gann. Her voice is muffled, cottony against the Bio-Ship's own tune. Then it grows hollow, more proximate until she can feel a shadow loom beside her.
She blinks from total concentration. Her heart nearly jumps when she's faced with Red Tornado. The actual League member standing right before her.
"How did you get here?!"
Red Tornado merely watches her with his usual stilled, robotic expression. And it makes Novia go rigid when she hears a giggle emit from him.
"It's me, silly," Red Tornado says with M'gann's voice. Novia gawks at her android form, perplexed. So, this is was what she meant by making Twister meet his match.
M'gann's voice shifts back to the hollow, more formal tone of Red Tornado, "When I give the mental command, you must shatter and restrain Mr. Twister"
So, we're helping the guys after all. Novia pouts. But she exhales loudly and settles back into her seat. "Fine," she says, slight bitterness in her tone.
"But—" M'gann raises a red finger, "you may need to leave those,"
She points to Novia's cardigan. Now it is she who takes a moment to grasp the situation. And when she does, her face grows warm.
"W-wait a minute!" she cries.
"No time. And do not forget your signal." M'gann says as a hole opens at the base of the ship. She flies out with a sweeping wind as Red Tornado would. And from the window, Novia can see her—Red Tornado—confront Mr. Twister.
The girl groans, realizing she won't be able to come to terms with any of this before her time comes to strike. So, she shatters with half a breath, wary not to look back at the falling articles of clothes. Promptly, M'gann's thoughts overlap her own.
Now, Novia!
She shatters, the Bio-Ship barely opening a hole before her shards slip through. They bear down with force, abrupt resentment as they home in on the same android that belittled her. Her arms materialize, locking his behind him and her legs fasten around his own.
He tries to resist, metal straining against glass. But he ceases upon a roar, neither of them seeing Superboy rushing towards them. The clone sends a series of punches into the torso of Mr. Twister.
Novia feels his rage as well as the android's efforts to escape his predicament. He twists and staggers through the beating. And she grunts with every effort to restrain him. Only when she hears the crackling of electricity and sees the outpouring of dark exhaust around them, does she finally release Twister. Superboy sends his metal carcass into the sea with a final punch.
"Overkill much?" Novia exhales, waving away the remnants of black clouds.
"No," Superboy says tersely. As though he would gladly run into the water and continue dismantling the android. And he probably would have if the ocean didn't heave Mr. Twister within a matter of seconds.
SPLOOSH
The android lands on the dock with a loud thump. A dismembered hunk of metal—only three limbs intact—and experiencing a horrible shortage that sends him to twitch. Novia almost feels bad for him.
(Almost).
M'gann seizes what's left of Mr. Twister with her telekinesis, offering no words—not even a quip—before she tears off his remaining arm and pipage with a gesture of her hand. Robin launches a pair of bombs into the levitating Twister and the explosion sends him crashing face first with a burst of dust from the impact.
Smoke billows out from the android as it drags itself to its knees, still shaking from a shortage. The team surrounds him cautiously, silenced as the torso collapses to eject a man in a green and white bodysuit.
He's unhealthily slender with a head full of unkempt, brown hair and pale—nearly white—sideburns. There is meekness in his eyes as he looks up at the six teens. Nearly fearful. It is a face that Novia struggles to associate with the ruthless android from before.
"Foul," he whimpers, crawling towards them, "I-I-I call foul,"
It has to be mind control, Novia reasons with herself.
M'gann doesn't speak. She simply closes the space between her and the man. Then she looks back for something. And when her eyes lock onto the nearest boulder, she extends her hand to it. Through telekinesis, it rises into the air.
"M'gann, NO!" Aqualad yells, realizing far too late.
BOOM
The boulder smashes the man. Novia screams, covering her mouth. And the team stares on in disbelief. Eyes shift between the boulder and M'gann who watches it with satisfaction.
"Don't know how things are done on Mars. But on Earth, we don't execute our captives!" Robin exclaims.
M'gann smiles, deviously, "You said you trust me," She raises the boulder. Novia turns away, squeamish and already expecting the worst possible visceral gore.
"That's why I couldn't read his mind." M'gann continues. Novia blinks for a moment. She walks over to the small crater the boulder left.
Her heart rate lowers at the sight. Bits and pieces of robot parts and synthetic skin lay crushed in the hole. A lone green eye is the only part of it that is fully intact.
Novia shivers. That man wasn't a man at all. He was an android. An android within an android.
Wally kneels down and picks up the eye, "Cool. Souvenir."
Aqualad places a hand on M'gann's shoulder, "We should have had more faith in you,"
Wally laughs, "Yeah. You rocked this mission,"
July 18th
20:30 EDT
Mount Justice
She watches Robin and Wally as they examine the remains of the android in the mission room. Across the erected table are sheets of metal and raveled cords. Separated are the iron replicas of its osseous counterparts. Ribs, a spine, remnants of what could have been legs, and the jaw of a skull.
She doesn't bother touching anything—certain that if she does, it'll only elicit a negative reaction from the two tech-enthusiasts. Besides, she finds their jargon mildly amusing, as indiscernible as it is.
Beside her, Superboy stares silently at a small holographic screen that identifies parts of the android as Robin and Wally go through it.
The room falls quiet upon the arrival of Red Tornado with Aqualad and M'gann drifting close behind. They've been debriefing him on the mission—or more likely, Aqualad and M'gann have been explaining the whole ordeal whilst Tornado offers them his usual inflectionless replies.
Red Tornado pauses before the table, "Is this the aforementioned android?"
"Yes, and we believe it was sent to either sabotage or destroy you," Aqualad explains for what sounds like his hundredth time.
"Is that why you wouldn't help us?" M'gann asks.
"No, this was your battle. I do not believe it is my role to solve your problems for you. Nor is it your role to solve mine," Red Tornado says.
M'gann frowns, still concerned, "But if you're in danger—"
"Consider this matter closed," Tornado dismisses, leaving for the zeta-tube.
The team looks at each other with varying concern—Superboy remaining the most removed so far. But who knows what he's really thinking?
"Batman, Aquaman, and The Flash would've jumped right in to fix things," Wally sighs.
"Guess if we're gonna have a babysitter, a heartless machine is exactly what we need," Robin agrees.
Wally nudges him, "Dude, harsh,"
Red Tornado halts before the zeta-beam. "It is also, inaccurate," he adds casually, "I do have a heart. Carbon-steel alloy."
Then he turns to Robin, "I also have excellent hearing,"
Robin winces in embarrassment, scratching his head, "Right. Sorry. I'll strive to be more accurate next time."
"And more respectful," Aqualad adds.
M'gann lands beside Novia and Superboy, sighing as they watch the boys from a distance, "That was fun, wasn't it?"
Considering the assortment of chaos the Martian has gone through, she somehow has retained a good mood. Her smile is as the day they met. As though she wasn't just ostracized by the team—a pariah who was nearly killed by an android only to be yelled at by a teammate. The same teammate who she dares stand next to—who she dares smile at with considerable warmth.
And it's questionable—so questionable that even Superboy raises his brow at M'gann's naïveté. But Novia suddenly understands the attraction. How corrosive she feels at a thought, only to brush it off, smiling as she recalls—
M'gann somehow convinced her to go naked.
She places a hand on M'gann's shoulder, "Yeah. Fun,"