I have a poll on my profile page asking a question I really want to have answered. I'm trying to get as many answers as I can, and very few people visit my profile. Please answer, and be honest about it.


I only own my OC's!


Welcome to Happy Harbor

JULY 17th STAR CITY

It's 11:16 at night. Two men are unloading a crate full of green cases. Suddenly, an arrow strikes between the two under the crate. The two drop it, and it breaks open. Brick uses his foot to flip a gun up and catches it before aiming it to where Speedy is standing on a metal frame. "You again! I'm starting to get insulted Green Arrow's not messing up my operations personally." He then fires the gun.

Speedy squints before jumping to another girder. He then swings from the railing of a nearby catwalk before springing off it onto a lower girder, then onto another catwalk before running away, all the while dodging bullets. He flips over another shot before aiming an arrow at Brick's gun and hitting the target right in the center, blowing the gun and Brick's suit and shirt.

"Do you know what I pay for a suit in my size?" he turns to his gang. "Scorch the earth, boys."

Kid Flash then darts through them, slamming into one. The other two aim their guns at him. Their guns are then hit by two batarangs.

Robin laughs as he swings over the two and lands on a stack of crates beside where Snowfire is hiding and runs behind the crate beside her. "Good hit, Robin."

"Thanks."

"Aqualad then lands in front of them and activates his water-bearers, forming a whip that he uses to slam the two thugs into the open crate. The two men then fall flat on their faces. Brick lifts a chunk of earth and flings it at Speedy, who barely manages to dodge it. Speedy then braces himself against a crate and prepares an arrow. He once again nails Brick, this time in the middle of the back with an exploding arrow. Brick chucks another rock. Speedy dodges it, but Aqualad steps over and slices it in half with his water-bearers formed into a sword. Speedy then steps back up and fires another exploding arrow.

Aqualad retracts the water as his tattoos fade back to black. "The cave is perfect. It has everything the team will need."

Robin flips in behind them as Snowfire flies over and lands beside him. Speedy starts before turning to them. "For covert missions. You know, spy stuff."

Kid Flash darts over. "Wait till you see Superboy and Miss Martian." He holds out a hand. "But I saw her first."

Brick picks up another boulder and chucks it at them. Speedy takes off behind Aqualad, Robin runs the other way, Kid Flash dives off the crates, Snowfire flies into the air, and Aqualad prepares his water-bearers with dual maces. He smashes the boulder, then Speedy arms three more arrows and fires, all three hitting Brick's chest. He falls back as the arrows explode one at a time. Brick all but falls, bracing himself with one hand. He laughs evilly. "Tell Arrow he shouldn't send boys to do a man's job."

"So I'm nobody?" Snowfire covers her hands in her white-blue fire and fires three on-target shots.

Speedy pulls out another arrow and takes aim.

Brick holds out his arms. "Go ahead."

Speedy fires, hitting dead center. The arrow then releases a red foamy substance.

Kid Flash runs over and stops in a crouch. "High-density polyurethane foam." He gives Speedy a thumbs up. "Nice."

Speedy walks toward Aqualad, Robin, and Snowfire. "So, Speedy, you in?"

He stops and turns to Robin and Snowfire. "Pass. I'm done letting Arrow and the League tell me what to do. I don't need a babysitter or a clubhouse hang-out with the other kids. Your Junior Justice League is a joke." Aqualad stands from the crate he had been leaning against. "Something to keep you busy and in your place." He walks off.

Snowfire flies over and lands in front of him. "This team is important to me."

He pushes past Snowfire. "I don't want any part of it." He disappears into the shadows.

Snowfire looks at her feet sadly. Robin steps up behind her and lays a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure he didn't mean it that way."

Snowfire looks back and smiles at Robin. "I know."


GOTHAM

The two of us go to a secluded corner of the room so we could talk without having to worry too much about people overhearing. I sigh as Bruce hands me a glass, and take a small sip before thanking him. I know he doesn't drink, but he's got to keep up his act, so he uses ginger soda to fake it, and he keeps with my beliefs by doing the same for me. "I don't know how you deal with it, Bruce. These parties are boring."

"I can't disagree."

I look down at my light pink floor length dress with a silver shoulder-to-chest collar and sigh. "Then why hold them?"

"I have to have some way to hide my identity."

"I work at a county hospital."

"I—"

"I know. Head of Wayne Enterprises. The Billionaire Orphan, as I've heard some people call you. And it's Circus Freak and Charity Case for Dick." Bruce nods. "And for me, it was always just Freak—being ignored because I was different. Being invisible unless someone wanted a verbal punching bag or to make me embarrass myself because I was so gullible." I sigh heavily. "I learned growing up to never trust anyone explicitly. I learned to observe closely, to pay attention to what I see. I learned to find the truth without asking a single question, unlike a certain Bat that always scared me when I was little—then again, the Lion King scared me when I was little."

"Dick's scared of it."

"Well, I expected that one, Bruce. He had to watch his entire family fall to their deaths." I sigh. "Why all the senseless violence? I mean, I like looking at guns, and have since I was in eighth grade, but I rarely use them, and I sure never kill!"

"Would you ever shoot someone?"

"Why the frag did you think I left home in the first place!?" Bruce stares at me at the small outburst, causing me to sigh. "Aaron didn't want me to call the cops, so he gave me a handful of bullets for my .22. Well, I didn't want to shoot him, so I left home and rented an apartment in Plymouth. When I found out about the Carter Foundation having a shelter/halfway house for abused women and children, as well as women with mental disorders, I moved to Chicago. He heard of my love for medicine, and hired me on as a Physician's Assistant so I could learn, and offered to put me through medical school when I'm ready. I told him about my hero work, and he started funding me, making it easier for me to be the hero I want to be."

"He wanted you to shoot him?"

I sigh before nodding. "Yet he thinks I can believe that he's going to stop now that Mom's dead. He's hurting my family now, Bruce, but I can't go back."

"Why not?"

"Because some things, you can never go back to, Bruce. Some things, you just have to leave alone. "Don't mess with the memory of a life passed on"." I sigh. "I think—"

"Go ahead. You don't have to be afraid."
"No, it's silly."

Bruce lays a hand on mine. "Tell me."

"I think I'm falling for you, but with your reputation, it's… foolish…" I smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. "See—silly."

"It's not foolish. I created that reputation to hide my nightly patrols." He looks up to make sure we're still alone, then turns to me. "Where are you and your cousin staying?"

"Some motel. I barely managed to scrape enough together for it." Bruce turns to me with a confused look. "I don't make a lot only working three days a week helping Carter, I'm still working on that book that never seems to flow, and Chicago always needs my help." I sigh. "At least J'onn handles the alien issues that flood the good side of town."

Bruce nods, and we both fall silent.

After a few minutes, I turn to Bruce and sigh. "You're sure the kids are okay out there?"

"They're just talking with Roy about joining them."

"I know, Bruce, but Liv's only eight."

"Dick is a responsible teen, Sheyenne."

I smile. "I know. I was too, at his age, but—"

"But she's like a daughter to you."

I nod. "Yeah."

"They should be okay."

"I know. They're well-trained." I sigh. "But they're also in a city full of criminals searching for one seventeen year old boy."

"The team can handle it." Bruce sighs before returning to our earlier topic. "Where are you staying? You really shouldn't be renting a motel room here in Gotham. It's not safe in this town."

"Won't "Batman" keep it safe around my room?"

"Batman has to worry about Crime Alley. He has to prevent another child becoming an orphan there."

"Trust me, I understand." I sigh. "So then where do we go?"

"Come to the Manor. You'll be safe there."

I sigh. "All right, but Liv and I stay in our own room."

"I'll call Alfred and have him get the suite ready."


THAT NIGHT

Robin and Kid Flash lead Snowfire into the Batcave, where Bruce and I are already waiting. As soon as the two boys walk in, Kid Flash slips off his cowl and Robin takes off his mask. Snowfire glances at the two before taking off her mask as well, and handing it to me. I have a nightgown draped over my arm for Olivia, and I'm wearing a matching version in my size. "What took you two so long?"

"Brick. We wound up fighting him while we were talking with Speedy."

"And?"

"He refused."

"Oh…" I sigh. "I was hoping that my talk with him at the Hall changed his mind."

"Guess it didn't. Don't worry, we're feeling the aster."

Olivia looks up to me. "Riley? What's "aster" mean?"

"Dick uses back-formations. It means he takes off the prefixes of words that can't usually stand without them. Aster is the opposite of a disaster."

"Oh…so things went good? But he said no…and called us a joke…"

I crouch to her level. "Livy, your team will be a great addition to the league—trust me. Roy doesn't know what he's missing." I straighten up before handing her the nightgown on my arm. "Now, go get changed. Bruce was nice enough to let us stay here overnight. Alfred is getting the rooms ready right now, as well as a snack for you, Dick, and Wally before the three of you go to sleep."


THE NEXT MORNING

I sit up and stretch before turning and waking my cousin.

"Riley? Where are we?"

"Wayne Manor. Bruce let us stay here last night."

"What's for breakfast?"

"I have no idea. Alfred's cooking downstairs. Come on! You know Wally spent the night!"

She nods before running for the stairs.

I laugh softly before running to catch up with her. "Slow down before you fall, silly. Bruce may have a lot of money, but I don't, and if you break a bone, I won't have my partner either."


I sigh as I stand from the table. "Now come on, we have to get to the Cave."

"You're coming?"

"Of course. You know I have a place in this team—as the medic."

"But no one got hurt last night."

I smile. "I know. I'm only going there for a few minutes, to look around the medical bay." I sigh. "April has only allowed you to join the team if we tell her that you're going to hang out with them. She has to know, and since we stayed in Gotham last night, she doesn't. I'll call her before I leave and let her know." I smile. "Now, go get dressed. We're leaving soon."


JULY 18th MOUNT JUSTICE

Recognized: Mariposa-17. Robin-B-01. Kid Flash-B-03. Snowfire-B-05.

Robin, Kid Flash, Snowfire, and I walk into the cave. Robin, Kid Flash, and Snowfire are wearing civvies, while I'm in my costume. Robin is wearing a green hoodie, dark blue skinny jeans, and a black jacket with his black and white sneakers and dark sunglasses. Kid Flash is wearing a yellow long sleeved T-shirt and a red short sleeved collared shirt with blue-gray jeans and his sneakers, and Snowfire is wearing a light blue frozen T-shirt with long pink sleeves, blue jeans with a snowflake graphic on the left leg and embroidered snowflakes on the back pockets, light blue socks, and silver tennis shoes with her pink rhinestone studded star necklace.

Kid Flash and Robin dart to where the other three members are gathered while Snowfire and I fly over to them.

We find rest of the team staring at a map on the comm screens, a small image of Red Tornado over the ocean on the image. Aqualad is staring at the map.

Robin speaks up first. "Did you ask him?"

"What did he say?"

Snowfire smiles up at the Atlantian teen. "Do we have a mission?"

Aqualad turns to us. "He's arriving now."

Kid Flash turns and socks Robin on the shoulder. "Then what are we waiting for?" He then runs to greet Red Tornado. Robin, Snowfire, and I share a look before running after him. Aqualad walks after us. Superboy and Miss Martian share a look, then Miss Martian flies while Superboy walks after us.

Miss Martian flies up beside Snowfire. "Why are you running?"

She smiles. "Trying to be a normal kid."

"We lost our last semblance of normalcy when we became the Star Healers. Today, unless we get a mission, Snowfire is to be a normal kid. No flying."

We run out the door. Red Tornado lands in front of us on a literal red tornado, his blue and gold cape upright behind him.

Kid Flash waves his hand above his head. "Red Tornado."

Red Tornado lands and looks at us. "Greetings. Is there a reason you intercept me outside the cave?"

Aqualad steps up. "We hoped you had a mission for us."

"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility."

Robin steps up. "It's been over a week and—"

I lay a hand on his shoulder before sighing. "What was last night?"

Red Tornado holds up a hand to silence Robin. "You will be tested soon enough." He lowers his hand. "For the time being, simply enjoy each other's company."

Aqualad looks up at our team's guardian. "This team is not a social club."

"No. But I am told social interaction is an important team-building exercise." He briefly points to us. "Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarizing yourself with the cave." He walks past us and into the cave.

Kid Flash punches Robin in the arm. ""Keep busy"."

"Does he think we're falling for this?"

Superboy glares at us.

Miss Martian, wearing a mauve skirt and shrug, and a white T-shirt, speaks up eagerly. "Oh, I'll find out." She focuses on Red Tornado.

A blue beam scans Red Tornado as he walks in. Recognized: Red Tornado-16.

"I'm sorry. I forgot he's a machine. Inorganic. I cannot read his mind."

Kid Flash smiles slightly at her. "Nice try, though."

"It's not that we're trying to trick you, Kid Flash, it's just that there's nothing covert to do. You're out of work—free time."

Kid Flash looks at Miss Martian. "So, uh, you know what I'm thinking right now?"

Robin scoffs. "We all know what you're thinking now." He elbows Kid Flash in the back.

"Ow."

"Mari doesn't want me using my telepathy too much. It gives me headaches."

Aqualad looks down. "And now we tour the clubhouse."

I look at the Atlantian. "What's with the passive-aggression?"

Miss Martian looks at us. "Well. Superboy and I live here. We can play tour guides."

The five of them all turn to Superboy. "Don't look at me."

Kid Flash turns back around to where he's looking at Miss Martian. "We won't. A private tour sounds much more fun."

Robin scowls. "She never said private."

Snowfire giggles slightly. "Let Kid Flirt be."

"Team building. We'll all go."

The seven of us start back into the cave. Robin punches Kid Flash as he walks past. I lightly sock his arm before leaning in to whisper. "She said leave Kid Flirt alone, Circus Boy."

If Miss Martian hears our conversation, she hugely ignores it. "So this would be our front door."


Miss Martian finishes the tour on a cliff. "And this would be the back. The cave is actually the entire mountain."

We head back inside. "It was hollowed out and reinforced by Superman and Green Lantern in the early days of the League.

Superboy asks the big question. "Then why abandon it for the Hall of Justice?"

Aqualad gives him the answer we're all waiting for. "The cave's secret location was compromised."

"So they traded it for a tourist trap? Yeah, that makes sense."

I scoff. "Tell me about it. This place is so cool."

Miss Martian touches her fingers to her chin. "If villains know of the cave, we must be on constant alert."

Robin grabs her hand while giving me a happy and reassuring smile. "The bad guys know we know they know about the place. They'd never look here."

"Thank God." I sigh in relief.

Kid Flash lays a hand on Robin's. "He means we're hiding in plain sight."

"Ah, that's much clearer."

Superboy sniffs the air. "I smell smoke."

Miss Martian gasps. "My cookies." She flies off toward the kitchen and telekinetically takes a tray of burnt cookies out of the oven.

We all run in after her. Kid Flash eyes them curiously. "I was trying our Grammy Jones' recipe from episode seventeen of—uh, heh. Never mind."

Robin leans closer to her as I lay a hand on her arm. "I bet they'd have tasted great." The three of us turn at a crunching sound. "He doesn't seem to mind."

Kid Flash gives us a sheepish look. "I have a serious metabolism."

"I'll…make more?" She smiles sheepishly.

"It was sweet of you to make any."

"Thanks, Aqualad."

"We're off-duty. Call me Kaldur'Ahm." He lays a hand on his chest before lowering it. "Actually, my friends call me Kaldur."

Kid Flash lowers the burnt cookie he's eating. "I'm Wally." He leans on one elbow on the counter. "See—I already trust you with my secret ID…unlike Mr. Dark Glasses over here." He leans forward on the counter as Robin and I glare at him. "Batman's forbidden Boy Wonder from telling anyone his real name."

"Mine's no secret. It's M'gann M'orzz." She puts her hands on her hips before relaxing. "But you can call me Megan. It's an Earth name, and I'm on Earth now."

"You can call her Star."

Wally gives Snowfire a look. "Star?"

Robin gives me a look. I shrug lightly. "We're still only human, Rob."

Superboy stands from where he's leaning of the counter behind us, then walks away.

"Don't worry, Superboy."

Superboy gasps and turns to glare at us all.

"We'll find you an Earth name too."

Superboy raises a hand to his head. "Get out of my head!" He throws the hand down violently.

"What's wrong? I don't understand." Everyone but Superboy, Snowfire, and I grimace in pain. Wally and Robin grab their heads in pain. "Everyone on Mars communicates telepathically." Kaldur reaches up and lays a hand on his head.

"M'gann, stop." Kaldur says forcefully. He softens his voice. "Things are different on Earth. Here, your powers are an extreme invasion of privacy."

"Besides, Cadmus' creepy little…" Wally raises his hand to cover his mouth, forgetting that Superboy has super hearing. "Psychic G-Gnomes left a bad taste in his brain."

"I didn't mean to—"

Superboy scowls. "Just. Stay. Out." He walks away.

"I'll go talk with the Cranky Kryptonian." I sigh softly.

"Hello, Megan. I know what we can do." She flies out of the room, over the counter. Robin shrugs, then the boys and Snowfire follow after her.


"Superboy?"

He turns to look at me. "What do you want?"

I blink at his harshness, then sigh softly. "I know how you feel."

"How? You, Snowfire, and M'gann could just talk all day like that."

I walk over and sit beside him. "Snowfire got a headache listening to Desmond fifty-two floors above. I know it's hard for you, right now, but Snowfire and I—we know what it's like."

He turns to me. "What do you mean?"

Robin walks to the doorway, simply listening in.

"We've only had our powers for seven months, remember? We're still getting used to our powers ourselves." I sigh. "I'm gonna go find Snowfire. I still have to tell her mother we're with the team."


M'gann steps up to the doorway. "Superboy, please?"

"Don't talk to me."

M'gann looks at the floor. After a moment, he looks back and finds her still in the doorway. He then stands and walks over to her.


We take an elevator down to a large room. The only thing occupying the room is a large red oval. "It's my Martian bio-ship."

"Cute." Kid Flash motions to the oval. "Not aerodynamic, but cute."

M'gann motions to the oval behind her. "It's at rest, Silly." She holds up a hand. "I'll wake it."

The red oval shape-shifts into a large ship, then turns it to where the door is facing us.

"Cool."

She steps toward it before turning back to us. "Well, are you coming?"

Robin and Snowfire share a look, his confused and hers excited, then we all head inside. Chairs shape-shift out of the floor. "Whoa."

"Strap in for launch."

Robin and Wally grin to each other before they head for opposite ends of the room. Snowfire runs after Robin, and giggles slightly at his reaction when the chair sucks him in and the belt forms around him. "Oh!" She giggles and settles into the chair between Robin and M'gann.

"Cool."

I sit down between M'gann and Wally, and allow the bio-ship to buckle me in. "Welcome to Alien Technology 101." Snowfire giggles.

M'gann sits in the driver's seat. "Red Tornado, please open the bay doors."

The doors open. Two glowing orbs appear, and M'gann uses them to steer the ship out.

Snowfire squeals, more out of excitement than fear, as the bio-ship flips over and does a barrel roll.

Robin turns to us. "Incredible."

Wally sighs as he stares at M'gann. "She sure is." He suddenly realizes what he had said when M'gann turns to him. "I-I mean, the ship, which, like all ships is a she."

I laugh. "Real smooth, KF."

M'gann turns to us. "Fast with his feet, not so much with his mouth."

"Dude!"

Kaldur turns to Superboy. "I may not have psychic powers, but I can tell what you're thinking. You overreacted and you don't know how to apologize. Just say sorry."

Superboy looks at him before turning away.

Robin and I notice that M'gann is watching Superboy. "He'll come around."

"He doesn't seem to like me much."

I smile gently. "M'gann, he's just shy. A lot of boys are."

Wally leans on one elbow. "You guys remember he has super hearing, right?"

We all turn to Superboy for a second, then Robin turns to M'gann. "Hey, how bout showing us a little Martian shape-shifting?"

M'gann stands and steps to the middle of the ship. She starts to change her color, first to a female version of Robin, then Kid Flash.

"Is it wrong that I think I'm hot?"

I facepalm. "Uh, yes."

Robin claps his hands. "Impressive. But you know you're not exactly going to fool anyone with those."

"Mimicking boys is a lot harder." She walks over and sits back in the chair.

Kaldur turns to face her. "And your clothes…"

"They're organic, like the ship. They respond to my mental commands."

"Snowfire and I could do that too, but we choose not to."

"As long as they're the only ones."

Wally turns to her. "Can you do that ghosting through walls thing that Manhunter does?"

She gives him a confused look. "Density-shifting? N-no. it's a very advanced technique."

Robin sits forward. "Flash can vibrate his molecules right through a wall." He laughs. "When he tries it, bloody nose."

"Dude!"

"I'm still discovering more about our powers myself. I don't know what all we can or can't do yet." I sigh. "I do know that Snowfire is still learning to use the blue inferno as a weapon rather than a healing mechanism—she's really good at healing—just ask Robin and Wally."

"Here's one thing I can do." She camouflages the bio-ship. "Camouflage mode."

"Red Tornado to Miss Martian."

Robin and I share a look.

"An emergency alert has been triggered at the Happy Harbor Power Plant. I suggest you investigate—covertly. I'm sending coordinates."

"Received. Adjusting course."

"Tornado's keeping us busy again."

"Well, a simple fire led you to Superboy."

"Everyone believes the crazy ex-sidekick that wouldn't join you." I sigh. "Ever think that just maybe there's actually trouble somewhere, trouble that you six can help with?"

They all turn to look at me.

"Don't listen to Speedy anymore. He doesn't know what he's talking about."

M'gann and I share a look. "We should find out what caused the alert."

Superboy looks out the window. "I think I know the cause."

We all look over to see a tornado. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, my two main fears still not allowing me to keep from panicking.

"Mariposa?"

"Kind of…scared of tornadoes."

"Just try to get whelmed."

"I am, Robin, I am." I take another deep breath. "Let's take care of this fiasco."

Camouflage shorts out as we get sucked into the tornado. Robin turns to me and tries to comfort me. "Try to stay traught. We're okay."

I smirk at the teen. It's taken some getting used to, with the way he butchers the English language, but after spending so much time with him and his guardian...he's come to be like a son to me. "Staying traught."

Robin nods. "Good."

We all groan, feeling the stress of the tornado on the bio-ship. M'gann closes her eyes and sends a stronger pulse through the orbs, causing them to glow brighter, and we fly out of the tornado. M'gann lands the bio-ship and we all jump out the bottom.

Screams come from the factory. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "People are in trouble. This is more important than your fears."

They all give me a look."

"Robin, are tornadoes common in New England? Robin?"

We hear laughter from somewhere nearby.

"He was just here."

I sigh. "He's like a ninja sometimes. Robin needs to stop doing that. He really does."

Superboy turns to me. "What?"

"Running into danger without realizing it."

We look up to see the windows in the factory blowing out.


Inside, a robot in a scarf uses a tornado to slam Robin into the wall. He falls with a groan. We run in.

Superboy jumps and lands beside Robin. "Who's your new friend?"

Snowfire and I fly over to him. "Robin!"

"Didn't catch his name." Robin sits up. "But he plays kinda rough."

"Yeah, we saw." I kneel to him. "You okay?"

"Fine."

"My apologies. You may address me as Mr. Twister." He fires two tornadoes toward Superboy, making it hard for him to run. He then catches Superboy into a twister and slams him into a wall.

M'gann turns to see him fall to the ground beside a metal railing, then turns to Kaldur, Wally, Snowfire, and I. Wally pulls out a spare pair of goggles. Robin stands to his feet with a hand on his stomach. M'gann gives Kaldur a look, and he nods slightly. She nods in reply.

Wally starts running for the robot as M'gann starts flying for him. I give Robin a look, then glance back to Superboy. Afterwards, I nod down to Snowfire and we both instinctively cover our hands in the blue inferno. "You get Rob, I'll get Supey."

Snowfire nods and turns to the teen, covering her tiny hands in her white-blue fire. "Hold still, Robin. This will only take a second." She lowers her voice to a soft whisper, just quiet enough for Superboy to miss. "Better than having Alfred mad at Bruce again."

While she's busy with Robin, I fly over to Superboy and kneel before starting to work.

Wally does a flip and kicks the robot in his face, but the robot sends him flying out the door. He then turns and sees Kaldur and M'gann coming for him, and sends them flying as well. Kaldur hits a pillar while M'gann hits the floor right behind me.

Robin scowls before pulling out two of his disc bombs behind his back. Snowfire flies over, and takes the same stance, her left hand still covered in her white-blue fire.

"I was prepared to be challenged by a superhero. I was not, however, expecting children."

She and Robin strike together. "We're not children!" he throws two disc bombs while Snowfire sends a fire punch. Mr. twister creates another tornado. Snowfire's fire blast hits the first, along with the tornado, and makes both blow up, causing it to fade away.

"Heh heh…oops."

Robin's second disc bomb hits his chest, and he flicks it off.

"Objectively, you are." The disc bomb blows up harmlessly away from the robot. "Have you no adult supervision? I find your presence here quite disturbing."

"They have adult supervision: ME!"

They all gather together, minus Wally, who is still face-first in the dirt.

"Well, we'd hate to see you disturbed. Let's see if you're more turbed once we kick your can!"

M'gann holds up her hands, then pulls them back forcefully, causing the metal contraption above Mr. Twister to open up and cascade dust and debris over him.

Mr. Twister roars and sends two tornadoes at us. Superboy, who was hanging onto a metal railing connected to a catwalk, is sent flying right as M'gann takes off, causing the two to crash into each other, then into a wall. Kaldur prepares an electrical attack, only for him, Robin, and Snowfire to be blown back when he slams his hands into the ground and creates two low twisters. While Snowfire manages to stick close to the Earth because of her small size, Kaldur and Robin are slammed into each other.

She stands and dusts herself off. 'Okay, I'll be the first to say this isn't working.'

"Indeed, that was quite turbing. Thank you." He rises into the air and flies off.

I look around and growl threateningly in his general direction, then turn to the teens. "Everyone okay?"

They slowly look up at me. I catch sight of the pain in Snowfire's eyes, and hear the soft whimper in her voice. "Mari?"

I scowl at the robot. "I didn't want to do this, but I have no other choice. You hurt my baby girl!" I take a deep breath and concentrate, shifting into a fifteen-foot version of myself.


Outside, Wally is just coming around. He sees Mr. Twister leave the building, and runs over to where he's right in front of the robot. He does a couple sped-up rolls to dodge, then glares at the robot. "What have you done to my team?"

"Embarrassed them, largely."

"Not me, Half-Clock!" I run over, the sunlight causing my costume to sparkle, which stuns the speedster. I manage to land a few good punches before he blows me into a tree with a tornado.

He then creates a tornado, sucking in the speedster. When it hits the building, it turns to a cloud of dust. M'gann catches him with telekinesis, and reveals Wally is floating, curled in a ball in preparation to meet the wall.

"I got you, Wally."

"Oh. Thanks." He stands back up as she releases him.

They all walk closer to Wally. I glance back and use my power to fix the tree before returning to my normal size and turning back to the team. "Thanks for catching him, M'gann. I got a little preoccupied getting to know that tree."

Robin and Snowfire laugh.

Mr. Twister turns to us. "I would have thought you had all learned your limitations by now."

Kaldur steps forward. "What do you want!"

Mr. Twister flies into the air. "Isn't it obvious? I'm waiting for a real hero."

I glare up at him. "Well, you got them." The others turn to me. "Raw, untrained power can be used in ways the trained guys can no longer access. Trust me—I'm one of you. I'm newer than anyone but Snowy, Superboy, and Miss Martian." I smirk. "And I plan to blow that Half-Clock away." I turn back to the robot. "Holding out for a hero, huh? Well, time to learn the true meaning of hero."

Kaldur turns to M'gann. "Read his mind, find a weakness."

"I thought I wasn't supposed to do that."

Robin snaps at her. "It's okay with the bad guys!"

M'gann touches her forehead and focuses. "Nothing. I'm getting nothing." She slaps her forehead. "Hello, Megan! Mr. Twister is Red Tornado in disguise! He's inorganic. An android. How many androids do you know that can generate tornadoes?"

Kaldur's eyes widen. "Red Tornado sent us here."

Robin scowls. "After saying we'd be tested soon enough. This is his test." He throws his arms out. "Something to keep us busy."

Wally looks down. "Speedy called it. We're a joke."

Kaldur slams a fist into his hand.

"This game, so over." The three boys storm toward Mr. Twister.

I look closer at the robot's appearance. "Black accents, not yellow. Blue tubes coming out of his back. The scarf… He's not Red Tornado. M'gann, he's not Red Tornado."

Robin points a finger at Mr. Twister. "We know who you are, and what you want."

Kaldur spreads his arms. "So let's end this."

Mr. Twister glares down at the trio. "Consider it ended." He creates a huge storm by sending two twisters from his hands toward the sky. The tornadoes cross, and a third forms between them. I take a deep breath before looking up. 'The team is in danger. Fear has no place on the battlefield. Fear has no place on the battlefield.'

Kaldur glares up at him. "An impressive show, but we will not indulge you. We will not engage."

An open eye forms, thunder crashes, and lightning strikes.

Wally gives us a nervous look. "Uh, can Red Tornado…do that?"

"You think I'm Tornado? Ironic." A lightning bolt rushes toward us and sends us flying backward.

Superboy rips off his shredded jacket and jumps for the robot, only to get hit by lightning. He falls to the Earth and carves a ditch from the fall, stopping beside all of us.

'It's not Tornado.' I shake off the shock of watching the robot take down the team and look around.

M'gann wakes up and brushes her hair back. She then sits on her knees and looks toward the sky.

Mr. Twister floats down to us with lightning sizzling from his fingers and spreading through the sky. He suddenly floats back up. "Fine, then. I won't deny you children have power."

Wally comes around, and M'gann clamps a hand over his mouth.

"Playing hide-and-seek with you will not help me achieve my objectives. So stay concealed. If you confront me again, I will show no mercy." Mr. Twister flies away.

M'gann and I watch him fly away. I then turn to look at where Snowfire landed.

Wally sits up. "What happened?"

"I placed the bio-ship between us."

Superboy punches the dirt he's up to the waist in and shouts frustratedly. "That supposed to make it right? you tricked us into thinking Twister was Red Tornado."

The other boys surround her. I stand in front of her. "Superboy, stand down. She couldn't read his intents like I could. He's not Tornado, which means we have to stop him at all costs."

Kaldur steps up behind us. "Mariposa's right. She didn't do it on purpose."

I lay a hand on M'gann's shoulder. "And M'gann saved our lives."

Robin steps up beside me. "It was a rookie mistake. We shouldn't have listened."

I step up toward Superboy. "We both made a mistake. I should have spoken up sooner." I turn to Snowfire. "You okay, Sweetheart?"

"I'm okay, Mari."

"Good."

Wally shrugs at M'gann. "You are pretty inexperienced. Hit the showers. We'll take it from here."

Superboy walks in front of the two. "Stay out of our way."

Snowfire kneels to M'gann. "You'll get there. You just need to train—we all need to train."

I smile before laying a hand on Snowfire's shoulder. "Snowfire's right. You're a new team, and we're all rookies."

Snowfire stands and looks after the boys as they all run after Mr. Twister. Superboy jumps while Wally starts running. She then looks up at me with questions in her eyes. "Mari?"

"We'll get there, Snowy." The two of us then fly after the three boys.

"I was just trying to be part of the team." M'gann looks at the ground.

Kaldur rubs the back of his head. "To be honest, I'm not sure we really have a team." He starts to run after us.


Two tornadoes are terrorizing the city and harbor. People run and scream as boats crash onto the land. Soon, a third tornado takes out a house. "Certainly, this will get the required attention."

"You got ours, full and undivided." Wally runs up to Mr. Twister and kicks him in the face, causing him to slide back a couple feet.

"Immaterial and insufficient. You are a distraction I can no longer tolerate."

Superboy screams as he lands, barely missing Mr. Twister. The robot slides back several feet, then creates two tornadoes and sends them toward Superboy.


WITH MISS MARTIAN

M'gann contacts Red Tornado as she flies the bio-ship back to the cave. "The team really needs your help."

"If I intervened, it would not be to help. Still, it is an odd coincidence that this Twister shares my elemental abilities, and my immunity to telepathy."

M'gann hits her head suddenly. "Hello, Megan!"


WITH US

Robin, Kaldur, Snowfire, and I arrive on scene. We run up onto a vehicle before jumping off, Robin doing some kind of fancy flip as he does. Mr. Twister spins around, controlling a twister. Kaldur turns and barely avoids it, only to be picked up by another and flung. He hits the porch of a nearby beach house.

Wally runs over, only to get lifted by a tornado himself. Once he hits the ground, he rolls, gets back to his feet, and runs.

Robin activates some of his disc bombs and throws them into the tornado chasing him, causing it to go off course and disperse. He then throws three flash grenades at Mr. Twister. They destroy the tornado and distract Mr. Twister. The distraction is enough for Superboy to almost get a good hit from above. Mr. Twister creates another tornado and sends Superboy flying through the air.

Snowfire and I cover our hands in our blue fire and start firing at the tornado nearest us. Mr. Twister then uses a small tornado to pick up a boat tied to the docks and fling it after him.

Kaldur comes to in a pile of debris from the two story beach house, right as Superboy starts to land. He gets out of the way right before Superboy lands, the boat getting too close for comfort. The house's last support is knocked loose when Superboy lands, and the house collapses. I turn and hold up my left hand, stopping the boat in mid-air before Snowfire sends a weak fire punch with her right hand, blowing up the boat. Kaldur ducks as the boat's motor almost hits him.

"Sorry, Kaldur, my bad!"

I lay a hand on her shoulder. "Our bad, Kaldur."

Kaldur picks up the motor and flings it at Mr. Twister, causing him to fling it away with a tornado.

Robin is hiding behind a damaged, nose-in-the-ground boat. Snowfire and I join him seconds before Wally darts over.

Wally smirks. "Impressive."

I glare at him. "Not. Good. At. Psychokinesis."

"Sure fooled us."

I sigh softly. "We're both still learning, remember? It's only been eight months since we became heroes."

Wally backs up against the boat and glances around the corner, then back at Robin, who is pulling his utility belt out of his pocket. "You brought your utility belt?"

""Never leave home without it." First thing Batman taught me." Robin clips his utility belt over one shoulder.

Wally laughs. "Yeah, right after, "Never go to the bathroom without it."

"Wally, don't pick on the guy. He's not the only one with backup weapons on him." I giggle softly. ""Hope for the best and prepare for the worst". Only good thing Aaron taught me."

"Backup weapons?"

I smirk before slipping one of my fans out of my pocket. "Listen to me, all of you." Wally and Robin grab their heads as the telepathic message comes in from M'gann.

Kaldur lands beside Superboy as he throws the last of the rubble off him. "What did we tell you?"

"I know, and I know I messed up. But now I'm very clear on what we need to do. Please, trust me."

People around are running for their lives. A police officer attempts to manage the chaos. "Get back! Everyone clear the area!" More people run as someone looking like Red Tornado flies in. one man stops to look up.

"Hit the showers, boys."

I glare at the offending robot, knowing instantly that it's not all it seems. "We're not boys!" 'And Red Tornado doesn't fly like that.'

"I was hoping you could handle this. Clearly you cannot."

Robin throws out his hands. "But we've got a plan now."

Snowfire elbows him in the side. "Red Tornado doesn't fly like that, far as I know."

"The Subject is not up for debate."

The five of them walk away, with Snowfire sticking close to Robin, trying to explain things to no avail.

"I was beginning to believe you'd never show up."

"I'm here now."

'Tornado' creates a tornado behind him and sends it at Twister, who dodges and creates another one. He sends it toward 'Tornado', only for it to be dispersed.

"We are evenly matched, Twister."

He creates a tornado behind him and sends it toward Twister.

"No, Tornado, we are not."

Twister punches the ground, sending a blast of air up, then activates the electricity in his hands. He fires a bolt toward 'Tornado', who dodges, even as Twister follows him with the blast. Soon, a damaged boat is blown up, and 'Tornado' is hit. He flies back, electricity crackling.

"Remain still, android." Cables come out of his fingers and attach to Tornado's head. "The reprograming won't take long.

I glance nervously to Superboy.

'Tornado' reaches up and grabs the cables before turning his head to look at Twister. Within seconds, M'gann's face appears where Tornado's had been. "Longer than you might think." She holds tight to the cables.

"No."

Wally runs fast enough to create a tornado behind Twister, proving that he tornadoes had been him at the same time that he pushes Twister back. Superboy runs up behind Twister and punches him in the back, then in the chest several times, punching hard enough to seriously damage the robot. With one more punch, Twister is down. He bounces off the edge of the dock and falls into the water. There, Kaldur hits him in the chest with an anchor, then shocks him, causing an explosion and snapping off an arm. Twister splashes out of the water.

M'gann lifts him into the air with her telekinesis, then spreads her arms apart, snapping off his other arm and sending another shock through him. Robin and Snowfire then run over, Robin holding three disc-bombs. He activates them before throwing them up to the robot. All three hit true to their target, and the damaged Twister hits the ground, smoke pouring from his wounds. He pushes himself up to his knees and looks at the five of us on the ground. Wally pulls his goggles up as M'gann lands.

I smile down at Snowfire. "I'm just glad we didn't need to use our secret weapon."

The chest plating of the robot opens, revealing what appears to be a human, who promptly falls flat on his face. "Foul. I call foul."

M'gann and Kaldur step up. M'gann reaches an arm out and picks up a rock before moving to throw it on the man.

"Kaldur steps quickly, trying to stop her. "M'gann, no!"

She smashes the man with the rock. Robin and Wally look horrified and surprised respectively. Robin then glares at M'gann as Kaldur steps up behind her.

"Don't know how things are done on Mars, but on Earth we don't execute our captives."

I step over and rest a hand on Robin's shoulder. "There's more to this than meets the eye, Rob."

"You said you'd trust me." M'gann smirks and lifts the rock off the supposed man, revealing him to be a robot as well. She points to the mess of metal. "That's why I couldn't read his mind."

Wally kneels to the ground and picks up an eye. "Cool. Souvenir." He flicks it into the air and catches it.

Kaldur rests a hand on M'gann's shoulder. "We should have had more faith in you."
M'gann smiles.

"Yeah. You rocked this mission. Get it? Rocked? Heh."

"Yeah, Wally, we get it." I laugh slightly in spite of myself as Snowfire starts giggling.

"Ignore him." Robin steps over. "We're just all turbed you're on the team."

"Thanks. Me too."


Back in the cave, they meet with Tornado. Kaldur starts to explain what happened. "It was clearly created to sabotage or destroy you."

"Agreed."

M'gann looks up to Tornado. "Is that why you wouldn't help us?"

"No. this was your battle. I do not believe it is my role to solve your problems for you. Nor should you solve mine for me."

We all look up from where Robin is analyzing the remains of the smaller robot.

M'gann speaks up. "But if you're in danger—"

I interrupt her. "We're not going to let you get sent off-line by some Half-clock."

"Consider this matter closed." Tornado turns to walk away.

Wally, Robin, and Snowfire step over. "Batman, Aquaman, and Flash, they'd have jumped right in to fix things."

"Mariposa did."

I lay a hand on her shoulder before kneeling in front of her. "Snowy, you know Batman gave me a temporary place on this team, just until you're a little older. I only jumped in when you all got knocked out, but left you guys in charge of the team. After all, this is your league."

"Guess if we're gonna have a babysitter, a heartless machine is exactly what we need."

I glare at Robin as Snowfire socks him in the arm. "Offensive much?"

"Dude, harsh."

"And inaccurate. I have a heart. Carbon-steel alloy. I also have excellent hearing."

"Ha, right. sorry. I'll strive to be more accurate."

Kaldur steps over and lays a hand on his shoulder. "And more respectful."

Tornado heads off down the hall as M'gann and I stare after him.

I glance back down the hall after Tornado as Snowfire falls into step with the boys.

"Speedy was so wrong."

"This team thing?"

"Might just work out."

Superboy glances at M'gann. "Sorry." He then follows us down the hall.

M'gann smiles.


I knock on the door to the room I had seen Red Tornado enter. "Tornado?" I hear a sound. "I know you don't want the team to fight your battles for you, but I'm still in the League. You may be a robot, but you're still important to me. I will protect those I love, even if it gets me killed. My life is a small price to pay for other's safety."


I walk into the main space and see M'gann sitting on the couch, watching something with Snowfire on the giant TV. I quickly walk over to the Martian. "M'gann?"

She turns to me. "What is it?"

"We need to talk about something your Uncle J'onn said to me. Snowfire, if I find you off that couch when we get back, you're not coming to the Cave for a week."


"You are white."

"Uncle J'onn told you?"

"It was my own fault, M'gann." I sigh. "And if it matters at all, I am very upset about what he's doing here. Two of my Mom's closest friends adopted an African American girl—one each—and they're both close to me. One is Snowfire's age, and one Robin's age. They're both the nicest girls you'll ever meet—Arianna is almost like a sister to me—my friend Violet and I are like twins, and she's with us whenever she's around. I'm not one of the many people who hate the minorities." I smirk. "As a matter of fact, I called your uncle out on his apparent prejudice against you the day we formed this team."

"Why?"

"I live and fight in Chicago too. Your Uncle is a cop, I'm a Physician's Assistant, as well as a writer in my down time. I work at an inner city hospital, M'gann, with people of every race and place in life. My patients are as well, and I know just by looking at you that you're not like the others he's told the League—and the other members of the League have told me from when they faced several. You're different—in a good way." I lay a hand on her shoulder. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You are M'gann M'orrz, and you are only as good as you let yourself be. What others say doesn't matter in the end."