"How is it that people come up with the worst aliases...Aliai? No, aliases." I ask, but don't look up from my book.
It was a lazy day at the cave. There weren't any missions, so we were left to our own devices. Kaldur, Wally, Robin, and Megan were having a holo-air-hockey tournament, Superboy was off in Metropolis probably trying to Get Superman to notice him, and I was reading over the League's past through a collection of files that Red had given me after some persuasion.
Even though I wasn't exactly a newbie to the game, having a solid year of on-field training under my belt plus a year of off-field training before that. That being said: in France we don't really get full coverage of the Justice League, so although I know most big-time villains, I didn't know all of them. And as Francis Bacon says: Knowledge is Power.
"I mean, sure, it can be hard picking a name that's already taken. I mean, my name literally means a gentle breeze. But come on: The Lump? Matter Eater Lad? Top? Like Mister Twister wasn't bad enough!"
"Hey! Top is no laughing matter Lin'." Wally says, his attention still staying on his game with Kaldur.
"But he has such a boring and unpredictable name!" I groan. "If you're going to become a supervillain, you should choose something that's cool but still makes sense."
"Take pity on the poor souls." Rob says, smirking at me. "They don't have our creativity."
Suddenly, our conversation was brought to a halt as Superboy came brooding in. Megan asked how Metropolis was, but she was just ignored as Superboy went marching through the holographic air table, ending the game.
Great, Superboy in a worse mood than usual. Hooray.
"Something wrong?" I asked, but was only met a low grunt from the clone.
Wellat least he acknowledged me...
"Ready for training everyone?" A strict, steady and soothing femalee voice said and we all turned to see Black Canary and Martian Manhunter walking into the cave.
"Uncle J'onn!" "Black Canary!" Megan and I said respectfully. Megan flew over to give her uncle a hug and I smiled and put my book down as my eyes met the woman who had grown to be like a mother figure to me since mine passed away.
"Megan, I was in the neighborhood. So I thought I'd see how you were adjusting." Martian Manhunter said to his niece.
"A few bumps, but I'm learning."
"That's all I can ask." The eldest martian said.
I walked over to Dinah and she placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled, but then her eyes left my face and narrowed.
"Stick around." She said, and I turned to see that she was talking to Superboy. "Class is in session."
All of us, including Superboy, stood on the edge of the holographic circle in the center of the room while Dinah stood confidently in the circle itself.
I would kill to have her badass confidence.
"I consider it an honor to be your teacher." She said. "I'll throw a lot at you; everything I've learned from my own mentors...And my own bruises." She stopped as she took of her cropped leather jacket, and looked pained as she moved an arm that I saw was in bandages.
"Are you okay? What happened?" I asked.
"The job." She said nonchalantly, but still had an edge to her voice that said 'dont push is'.
"Now, combat is about controlling conflict: putting the battle on your own terms. Always acting, never reacting. I'll need a sparring partner."
"Right here." Wally said, raising a hand and stepping into the circle. "And after this..." He stopped to throw the peel of the banana he had been eating into the garbage can. "I'll show you my moves."
I smiled to myself.
This is going to be good.
Dinah smirked before launching a punch at Wally's head, who in turn blocked it before Dinah sent a low roundabout kick to Wally's feet, which sent him sprawled to the floor. Suddenly a holographic circle appeared above Wally the read Kid Flash: Fail.
Nice touch
"Good block." Dinah said. "But can anyone see what he did wrong?"
"Oh, oh." Rob said, stepping forward with a smirk. "He hit on the teacher and he got served?"
"Dude!" Wally groaned at his best friend.
"He allowed me to dictate the terms of-""Oh please." Superboy cut Dinah off. "With my powers, the battle is always on my terms. I'm a living weapon: and this is a waste of my time."
"Prove it." Dinah said strictly, and Superboy stepped into the circle to prove himself.
He punched at her, but she dodged and grabbed his arm; using his momentum to flip him onto his back. Superboy growled as the holographic symbol made it evident that he had failed.
"You're angry: good." Dinah noted. "Don't react: Chanel that anger into-"
Dinah was forced to stop giving her advice when Superboy launched another punch at her, and she flipped over his head and kicked the clone's legs out from under him: causing him to topple over.
Robin let out a laugh, causing Kaldur to elbow him. However the preteen simply covered his mouth with his hand, his laughs still evident.
"That's it." Superboy growled, getting up and pushing past Dinah. "I'm done."
"Training is mandatory." Dinah said sternly, trying to put a hand on Superboy's shoulder to stop him, but the Kryptonian shrugged her off.
The room was plunged into a tense atmosphere that made everyone uncomfortable. Thankfully, it was cut when Batman's face appeared on a holographic screen.
"Batman to the cave." The caped crusader said, and we all gathered around the screen. "Five hours ago a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary."
Another screen appeared, showing the league fighting a figure.
"The attacker was capable of studying, and duplicating the powers and abilities of its opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous as our for gained more and more power with each combatant."
"Woah..." Wally muttered. "One guy with all the powers of the league?"
My stomach plummeted and I could feel my face go pale at the thought. The league was a force to be reckoned with, and a single person with all their powers and abilities...
"In the end it took eight leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android." Batman said.
"Android?" Robin asked. "Who built it? T. ."
Speaking of bad names...
"Good guess Robin, but no. Red Tornado doesn't think so." Batman said.
"The technology bears the signature of Professor Ivo." Martian Manhunter said, reminding us all that he was still there.
"Ivo?" Kaldur and I asked in unison.
"But isn't Ivo dead? Or did I read that wrong..?" I finished.
"It's what we thought...Or hoped." Dinah said.
"To ensure that this threat is permanently neutralized: we're sending two separate trucks with the Android's parts to two different STAR labs facilities in Boston and New York for immediate evaluation." Batman said. "Every precaution is being taken. Four additional decoy trucks will be sent for confusion in case Ivo, or anyone else, tries to recover the remains. You will be split into undercover teams to safeguard the real trucks."
"Yes! Roadtrip!" Wally said excitedly.
"So now we take out your trash?" Superboy exclaims, and I resist the urge to facepalm.
Out of all the people to pick a fight with...
"You have something better to do?" Batman shoots back, causing Superboy to scowl.
"Coordinates received." Kaldur said, breaking the stare-down between the Boy of Steel and the Dark Knight. "On our way."