"Good fight"

"Thanks...but I...probably should've...gone bigger...towards the end...it might have...made a difference...when he did that one...movement"

Katherine was still struggling to catch her breath despite all her training five minutes later not knowing that part of why she was so winded was that she had actually been hit when she thought Doomsday had missed that one punch, her left side had been grazed and she had a cracked rib but fortunately her lung wasn't currently punctured (she had deliberately forgone both external and internal shielding to conserve what energy she could in case she needed to use a knockout attack)

"Think you need to seek medical attention?"

"Yeah"

She's taken to the hospital where her breathing upped her priority and that's when they discover her cracked rib and the pressure it was putting on her lung, they also realized that she was risking a punctured lung with how bad the crack was and so decided to operate instead of letting there be natural healing

"We need family permission unless you're eighteen"

"Eighteen"

"Good sign this and then we're taking you to surgery"

Five hours later Katherine woke up to a worried Captain Faireborn in her room

"Let me guess, the League"

"Not exactly, there were EDC officers there that saw you in the fight and then there was also the news being there too, as such I was already on the way when the phone call came in"

"Oh, give me a day and I'll be out and you know it"

"Indeed I do, surprised you're not as out of it as you should be all things considered"

"Training and the drugs given to me for surgery"

"Oh yeah, forgot you always did act weird with those drugs in your system and we did train you to resist drugs in case of capture"

"Even knowing I'm in a hospital setting my body is too ingrained in getting rid of drugs to not let me recover as fast as possible while unconscious"

"In any case your family wasn't too happy about being left out but they also understood why they were and they also know where you are temporarily, I just came to give them an update despite you being eighteen"

"Figured as much, for now though I think that there's a nurse waiting"

"Oh there is, I insisted on talking to you first to update you on a few things"

"Oh, what kinds of updates?"

"Besides knowing you were involved in the fight the family wanted you to know that they've secured the creature's remains and are working on a way of making sure that there's no other creatures like it so that this doesn't ever happen again"

"Thank goodness for that the League know their plans?"

"Yes and they too are relieved about that"

"Don't doubt it, I guess all that's left is to finish school and then join my chosen job after graduation"

"And the League"

"Yes and the League, but that little bit is of course secret"

"But of course"

It actually was two days after she was admitted to the hospital when she was informed she was cleared to go because the doctors decided to keep her an extra day after what appeared to be the start of an infection that they wanted to keep an eye on for a day

"I know you wanted to leave sooner and in all honesty I would have but..."

"You needed to keep an eye on me because of the fever which could indicate the start of an infection, I completely understand"

"Well now that we have all the results we need you're cleared to leave, however I would suggest following up with your primary care in about a week"

"Will do"

Katherine did indeed do a follow up and got the all clear regarding the infection but she also was informed of the fact that as she already knew she would be sidelined from any sports for at least another six weeks to allow for proper healing and when she told her family a League representative was also there

"You're banned from League training until you get the all clear from medical too"

"Oh I knew that the moment they told me I needed surgery to repair a cracked rib because that's standard procedure in my family too, emergencies are the only exception to any fighting I do period the end of it"

"Learn the hard way?"

"Fortunately no, but it was still ingrained in me from a young age that the no fighting when I was injured rule was non-negotiable, at least I learned things the easy way Lieutenant Carson"

"So I wanted to get back into shape as soon as possible whenever I was injured that's not a crime"

"Except you always set yourself back at least three weeks"

"You have a point in that regards"

"In any case I know how hard and how fast to push things in order to get back into proper shape and also know to obey doctor's orders in order to facilitate such returns"

"What will you do in the meantime?"

"Heal and do what training I can do to keep myself in shape and my abilities under control"

"By the way, how are you going to keep your League identity being linked to your real identity?"

"Oh, there's ways that you don't know of, I'll be completely separate from my true self whenever I fight in my League identity even with the use of my powers"

What no one knew was that the people who accidentally gave Kerenai powers knew that until she was old enough to properly be declared an adult her abilities not only made her dangerous to the enemy but also a target, as such until she was of legal age and used her powers under her own identity long enough with a recognized authority she had the ability to make people forget she had special powers if she so chose to do so, with that ability only her family, the EDC officers, a very select few members of fellow EDC kids and all of the League knew about her abilities but no one else ever remembered her using her powers. There was also the fact that her family helped a lot also in hiding her abilities from the public by taking care of those who weren't wiped of their memories like they were supposed to by giving them special drugs that caused them memory loss regarding her abilities as such she was going to remain safe except for EDC enemies due to the fact that EDC enemies were immune to the mind wipes and as such she would be recognized no matter which identity she fought in, but due to the fact that EDC enemies were occasionally teaming up against the League that was a bit of a moot point in everyone's mind

"If you're sure..."

"I'm sure"

"Very well then, so...all that's left is half a year of school and then you graduate and officially join your job"

"Yes, it's been a long time coming in some ways but in others it doesn't seem to have been so long since I transferred to this school for safety reasons"

"So, you definitely have an identity in mind when you join the League and they know that identity?"

"Yes and we've done training with me in my costume and identity, we've also done training with my family while I was in my League identity to help us even further in how to react once I officially join the League and shouldn't know them at first"

"Okay, so I guess all that's left is you finishing your education in order to actually join the workforce"

"Half a year more and then I will be able to get a job to live on my own"

"You're still required to visit on a regular basis you know that right?"

"Oh yeah my family would never get off my case if I don't"

"In any case we need to think about how you're going to school this year after that...incident with the car recently"

"That's a good point I do need to figure something out for sure because of that incident, and I liked that car too but it is what it is"

The incident in question was a combination of an accident (another EDC kid was driving it that day with her permission because that kid's car was in the shop for a break replacement) involving a drunk driver where everyone considered it a miracle that no one was seriously hurt or killed and the police requesting that they use the car in a demonstration for high schools because the damage to the car wasn't actually all that bad, primarily a bent fender and two doors being caved in slightly but the police completely wrecked the car for their demonstration and she had yet to get a replacement car

"We'll figure everything out eventually, maybe get you a new car"

"Or my family gives me rides temporarily"

"Not Prowl or Barricade though"

"Never those two, I know for a fact that Barricade is on loan to the police in Japan of all places while Prowl is on Cybertron, but even if they weren't it would never be those two due to long established policies when I was first adopted by them"

"Wait, it's been established for that long?"

"Oh yeah, they understood the moment my parents made their request what that could mean for them in such an event"

"Understood, but other family members could still give you a needed ride"

"True enough"

Ultimately the arrangement was that Jazz, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker or Ironhide would give Katherine a ride until she found a new car for herself after going through several dealers and test drives to find the car that she liked the most

"So, you finally found your new car?"

"Yep, only took me half the semester"

"At least you have a car for your move and work travel"

"True enough"

"Though first you need to finish school"

"Exactly, getting to school will be so much easier because there are classmates that want rides with me but because I can't do that to family I have been saying no but now I can help them"

"You know that your family wouldn't have minded"

"But I do for...complicated reasons, besides everyone knows that I am borrowing cars after that accident and we couldn't have kept that up if there were others with me"

"Good point, didn't think about that one"

"Well for now all that I need to worry about is finishing the semester and going to the graduation ceremony with the others like me"

"That's right, you weren't the only transfer that year, though apparently there are times when there is only one person graduating half a year late it isn't that often"

"Exactly, now then it's time for bed so I need to get ready and then get sleep"

The rest of the school year passed by normally, Katherine gave rides to the students she had promised, students who knew she was leaving soon, but considering the fact that they were going to be driving soon enough themselves she figured that she could teach them a little bit about driving while getting them to and from school and then the day came that she graduated and while her Cybertronian family couldn't physically be there there were EDC officers and a couple of Justice League members too in their civilian identities naturally to see her transition from the life of a child to a life of a young adult, with some support still from her family until she was fully self sufficient with her job and one of the group was Clark Kent aka Superman

"Well, you're finally out of school, the Planet is expecting you on the second by the way"

"Closed down for the holidays?"

"Exactly"

"Understood"

Clark then leans in and whispers in her ear knowing that no one else would overhear their conversation

"The League doesn't want to see you until then either for reasons I am not getting into with you, ever"

"Understood, still want to see you guys at watchtower though day after Christmas"

"Care to elaborate?"

"Not really, don't worry it's not to start working before you guys declare it it's for something a little more personal and private"

"Understood"

Once back at base there was a graduation party waiting for her with her adoptive family and she then mentioned that both jobs didn't want her until the new year but that she was still planning on moving into her new apartment within the next week

"We figured no matter what was decided with your jobs you would keep your promise regarding the apartment so we don't mind"

"Though...I do want some help with moving now that I think about it"

"What changed your mind?"

(Sighs) "My history teacher this last semester, turns out that he's retiring and after learning about my interest in history in general...well he just gave me his entire collection of history books, combine that with my own books and the other awards I have won at the school and it means I need help moving everything into the apartment"

"We'll get everything arranged at that time then"

"I know you will, but considering the fact that I initially said I could handle everything myself I wanted you guys to be warned that I now actually need help so that you can get the arrangements made"

"We've actually been on standby since we felt you might change your mind once you started packing your car, full arrangements haven't been made yet but we already have the start of a plan"

"Good, by the way have you thought of a League name besides your temporary one?"

"Yes I have, it's probably not the greatest but it's my choice"

"Which means they may want you to change it"

"I know, but for now it's going to be my name and if it needs changed then I will ask for help"

"Do we even want to know what you've picked?"

"Not until I am formally introduced"

"Very well"

"And while I would love to stay a little longer part of my thought process is getting used to my new home city"

"That makes sense actually, plus it also let's you get used to what the holidays are potentially like"

"Exactly"

"But still, what are you going to do besides acclimate to your new environment while waiting to star work?"

"I'll think of something, besides I have that trip to the watchtower I need to do first remember?"

"Oh yeah, forgot about that thing you had to do there even if you can't officially be a member until the second"

"Exactly, they know that I am going to be going up there but they also know that I understand that I will not be allowed to join in their patrols or fights until I officially join on the second"

"Very well just...be careful when going up there okay?"

"Don't worry I will be"

"Good, we're all on the same page then"

"By the way don't be surprised if the League asks for official meeting between EDC and new member"

"We won't be, it's why we've done all that training recently"

"That and the League has warned us of their new policy that was started about a year before you returned home after that incident in England"

"Oh...that I wasn't aware of"

"We know that, it just never affected you and as such we didn't feel the need to inform you of that little piece of information"

"Understood, still...I was nine years old when that policy was put into place"

"True, but like we said it never directly affected you due to the League long since saying that you weren't to meet any of them until absolutely necessary understanding that doing so could make you an even bigger target than what you already were"

"True enough considering the reasons behind my school transfer"

"Exactly, they were right, the meeting was unfortunately necessary at that time and you know it"

"I know, they had to fight their enemies and unfortunately being who I am, and the fact that EDC enemies got involved soon after I had no other choice but to meet and fight besides them"

"In any case we're going to formally meet you once you officially join the League as per the policy, but we're still going to have to be careful about how quickly we're even semi-familiar with each other"

"No kidding, that would just make both of us bigger targets than we've ever been considering the fact that my adoption isn't necessarily a secret amongst EDC enemies but it's also not exactly known at the same time with said enemies"

"We know, that makes things very, very complicated"

"No kidding, it's always hard to tell who knows that I'm not only Katherine Kerenai but also Katherine of Cybertron and who doesn't when fighting the enemies, though it does appear that all Quintessons know my dual identities, one of which I don't even really use unless it's for official documents"

"And even then it depends on the documents you're dealing with"

"No kidding, for the most part I use my birth name but there are certain documents that require me to use my adoptive name solely or alongside my birth name"

"Those documents are always interesting to read because not only is there dual signatures at the end but the reasons behind the dual signatures is always necessary and the wording is also very interesting"

"No kidding, I also hate those specific documents almost every single time due to the fact that quite frankly there are potential traps in the wording if I'm not careful about reading through completely"

"Wasn't aware of that bit, but now that we think about it that makes since, we're glad we taught you how to read documents from a young age with knowing that bit now"

"Same here, now then I need to start packing boxes so that when it's time for me to move into the apartment I'm ready to just drive there"

"Need any boxes for that?"

"Yes actually I do"

"Why haven't you gotten any before?"

"I tried, always failed in getting what I needed unfortunately"

"How long have you been trying?"

"Since about halfway through summer"

"That's a long time"

"Other things have either taken priority or the boxes were needed for other things"

"So that's where those boxes came from"

"Yes Captain Faireborn, that's where the boxes came from"

"Sorry"

"No problem, they were needed so they were freely given just means I don't have packing boxes is all"

"Well time to get you those boxes you need and they are staying with you understood?"

"Completely"

"Good, now then come on time to get you packing boxes and I know the best place regarding price so you're following me"

Soon enough Katherine was packed and just waiting for moving day

"So how long do you have before you move again?"

"Four days"

"Got it"

Soon enough Katherine was in her new apartment a week before Christmas and saw the craziness that the traffic had the potential to be in, Christmas that year was pretty sedate but she knew the next year she would have guests over to celebrate with her instead. And then just as she promised the day after Christmas she was up in the watchtower