Professor Zoom and the WRONG Impulse

By: Reina Grayson and Malaizjan De Jesus

Chapter Three

Neo Gotham

The event was already heavily populated, but the parents were being very vigilant since it was tigers that their children would be so close to. With it being kids, the tigers were actually tiger cubs and all the different tiger species were represented.

Rini was being carried by Terry and she was able to shift her clothes to rhinestone-littered jeans with a lavender glittery long-sleeved top.

All of the other mothers eyed Terry and Dana sighed as Terry realized that Rini made those women eye him like candy.

"Remember; be careful with your powers, okay," Dana said.

"I will." Rini giggled when she saw one woman lick her lips while looking at Terry."Why did she do that?" she asked quietly to Terry.

Terry groaned.

"It's something adults do, you're not ready for it." Dana answered.

"Oh. Like when Mommy looks at Daddy and me and Reilie have to stay with our grandparents?" she asked innocently.

Dana and Terry laughed. "Alright, that's what it is, but don't tell Meygan or Kevin that we told you alright." Terry remarked as he caught his breath.

"Okay!" Rini then saw the Siberian Tiger cubs come out from behind a door. "Lookey Terry! Dana! The baby tigers!" she said happily, bouncing in Terry's arms eagerly.

"Calm down, we have to wait till it's safe to pet them, okay."

"Ok..." Rini watched as the caretaker motioned for the parents to come forward.

Rini was set on her feet after getting her to the front of the group. Terry and Dana stayed off to the side to watch.

"Ok kids. My name's Erica and I'm your host tonight. Are you ready to pet some tigers?"

"YEEAAAHHHH!" cried all of the kids.

Erica picked up the Siberian Tiger cub and placed it in her lap. "This is Greg. He's 6 months old..."

"This was a good idea, Ter," Dana whispered to Terry.

"I do have a good idea every once in a while," he teased.

"Maybe you'll have another after Rini's back with the others." Dana remarked.

"Maybe..." Terry took Dana's hand and gave it a quick squeeze.

"White tigers are SOOO pretty." Rini was heard saying to Erica.

Erica had passed of the Siberian cub for the White Tiger one. "They are." Erica answered. In fact, this one is only 2 months old. As you can see, her claws are slowly growing..."

"Can I pet her?" Rini asked

"Sure." Erica allowed Rini to lightly pet the cub.

It purred at her touch.

Rini eyed the White Tiger cub and its blue eyes held hers. 'Hi!' she said mentally.

'Hi!' The cub answered back.

'You know, my cousin has a stuffed white tiger...don't worry, it's not a real one, just a toy.'

'Would you like a real one?' The tiger asked.

'Yeah! Just wondering, why are white tigers favored by circuses.' Rini asked the tiger, hoping she would know.

'Because we were once a rare and exotic cat,' the cat answered. 'At least my mom said so. I'm Kiko.' Erica kept talking about the revival of the White Tigers but Rini was already deep in conversation with Kiko.

'I'm Rini.'

'How are we talking? I never met a human who could talk to me like this?'

'I have telepathy.'

Kiko meowed and Rini laughed.

"Rini is enjoying herself," Dana smiled.

"Why do I get the feeling she's mentally talking to that tiger." Terry lowly said.

"Maybe because she's not moving," Dana whispered back.

'Why do you ask about circuses?' Kiko questioned.

'My granddad and deceased great aunt...along with their parents were in the circus.'

'Your daddy is cute...or so I've heard the female humans say.'

'Thanks!'

Erica then stood up with Kiko in her arms. "For the parents, all of the cubs will be at the petting zoo for another hour. Feel free to take your children to them." Erica then walked off, and Rini blinked.

Rini turned around and ran to Dana and Terry. "C'mon! I wanna pet Kiko more!" The small girl cried.

"You like Kiko?" Terry asked, now knowing that she HAD been talking to the white tiger cub.

"Oh yes! She's beautiful."

"I guess all the Graysons are drawn to circus tigers." Dana said, knowing of Dick's history in the circus.

Dana took Rini's hand and shrugging her shoulders, the two took Rini to the cubs.

"That's true." Terry added, catching up to them.

"It's the gypsy in us." Rini said with a smile.

"I see."

Rini went right for Kiko.

'Hi, Rini.'

'Hi Kiko!' Rini reached out to pet Kiko behind her ears.

Kiko purred.

'I wonder if mommy could adopt you and you come live with me.'

'I don't think I could leave my family behind,' Kiko told her.

'How about we adopt you and I come visit whenever I can?'

'That sounds nice.' Thanks Rini.'

'Oh, and these aren't my parents, they're my godparents.' Rini said, remembering what Kiko said earlier about her daddy.

'They fooled me,' Kiko told the girl.

All too soon the petting zoo ended and all of the cubs had to go back to their parents.

Rini was sad as Kiko was taken from her.

'Bye Kiko.'

'Bye Rini. Come back and visit me soon.' Kiko said.

'Ok.'

"Ok Rini. Time to go," Dana announced.

"I'm going to talk to mommy about something serious later." Rini said with a smile.

"Oh really?" Terry said.

"I want to adopt Kiko, but she can stay here with her family."

Dana and Terry were speechless.

"But can I go to the bathroom first?" she asked.

BBBBBBBBBBBB

"Alright, so we need a plan for when Eclipse and Shock find out where Zoom is hiding." Dick stated as everyone from the original team and 2nd generation without families were ready.

Jason thought about it for 10 seconds. "Hit 'em hard and fast."

"Always your plan, but Zoom's smart, we need a GOOD plan." Dick remarked.

"I'll lure him out...but Eclipse and Shock can't handle Speed Racer alone." Wally stated.

"But that NEEDS to be the plan. Zoom's fast. Wally is better with his speed but Bart would be the better choice. They need to take him down before he gets re-enforcements. See, Bart can do that. He gets Speed Racer and then joins Wally."

"No, Dad and Bart need to handle Zoom...I still owe Speed Racer for our last encounter."

"Brian's idea is good...wait, did I just say that?" Dick stated.

"Hey, Brian's way smarter than me!" Wally protested.

"Oh really?" Jason said with a smirk.

"No Jason, you can't shoot at him to see if he catch all the bullets," Artemis shook her head.

"I was just saying that Wally actually admitted that someone was smarter than him...but then again it's not a far reach."

Brian looked ready to smash Jason's face in.

"Hey, I'm just teasing your dad, don't worry," Jason said as he saw Brian's anger.

"But Brian's right, Zoom knows about him, but Speed Racer's a novice with his powers...Alright, so Wally and Bart will draw Zoom out." Dick started.

"Wait, why not confuse him at first." Bart spoke up.

"What're'ya thinking?"

"I'm saying, Zoom's expecting me...but if Wally arrives alone, then He'll think I'm too scared to show up; once he's away from the kids, we really give it to him...TOGETHER." Bart explained.

"Perfect!" Wally exclaimed.

"Meanwhile, Areina and Orin have agreed to keep the others of Delta occupied and with Terry and Dana keeping Rini occupied, they shouldn't find out." Mathen said, showing that Alpha squad was helping out how they could.

"Rini isn't going to like that." Bart pointed out.

"If she's distracted, then she won't know what's going on any further than she already does."

"I can't believe her camouflage mode appeared at this age!" M'gann said, still shocked at her granddaughter's power growth."

"And she's learning her demon powers at the same pace as Meygan did." Mathen's voice hitched at the phrase demon powers.

"Hey, it was bound to happen that one of her kids would get them. Don't worry, Rini's smart as well, she'll know what to do with them." Brian stated.

"But she got them all and Reilie didn't?" Mathen questioned.

"Maybe it was fate that Rini did. Reilie got all BUT the demon powers."

"And no magic. Meygan doesn't think she has any magic what so ever..."

"It can be a case where one child or more do not get magic from their parents...just look at Brie." Serenity remarked.

"Yeah...I think that's why Meygan wants another child…a son." Kevin chimed in.

"No wonder you've been busy." Brian joked. "I swear I can hear BOTH of you at night."

"Did you knock up my sister AGAIN!?" Mathen asked. "Is she at home because you did?!"

"I was just kidding!" Brian recanted.

"No, she's not even at home- she's training on the same mountain she went to after the FIRST war." Kevin said.

"Oh boy..." Dick commented.

"You know she'll never stop, dear." Serenity reassured her husband.

"Back to getting Wes and Iesha back. Is everyone alright with Wally luring Zoom out then Bart joining in?" Dick asked

"Yeah!" came several voices.

"Then I'll go and help Luna and VJ get the kids back. Speed Racer won't know what hit him." Brian added.

"Ok then. We wait till we hear from the kids then the plan goes into action."

BBBBBBBBBBBB

As they walked away from the bathrooms, Rini saw Erica leaving the petting area with Kiko in tow. She followed them, forgetting about Dana and Terry.

"You know Terry...I bought that one dress that you liked last week." she teased.

"Um...there's a little girl behind us. I can't say what I want to." Terry answered with regret in his voice.

"Oh right, and her power, can't think it either..." Dana remarked.

Meanwhile, Rini watched as Erica opened the door to the White Tiger Den. She watched Erica let Kiko go. Then when Erica walked away, Rini ran to the door before it closed and she snuck inside.

Rini looked around as she walked further inside. 'Kiko!' Rini said excitedly. 'I can stay!'

Kiko turned around. 'Rini!' Then she saw her parents stalking the little girl.

Kiko ran over and licked Rini; then her parents came out of the shadows.

Rini saw them as they came out. 'Hi! I'm Rini!'

'Hello young one,' said Kiko's mother. 'It has been many years since I've spoken to one like you.'

Kiko's father continued to growl at Rini.

'Like me?'

'I was a young tiger when I met a man. A green man in a cape.'

"That's great Uncle J'onn!" Rini said happily.

'You know Martian Manhunter?' Kiko's mother asked.

"I'm his great grandniece."

'Ah...He named me Felicia.' Felicia looked to her mate and reassured him as Kiko stood by Rini.

'What is Felicia doing?'

'She's calming my dad. It's ok Rini...'

Kiko's father crept his way to Rini and sat before her.

'Hello.' Rini said to Kiko's father and she hesitated before petting him.

Kiko's father nodded and purred his approval.

Rini grinned and petted him. 'Do you have a name?'

'Como.'

'This is so sway! Can I stay with you guys?' Rini asked innocently.

'You do not belong here, where is your family now.' Como said softly.

'I followed Erica. She had Kiko so I didn't see where they went.'

Como's response was to kneel down so Rini could climb on. Once she climbed on, he told her. 'You can stay until Erica arrives; or your family.' He then took her to the cave area, Felicia and Kiko followed.

'Thank you Como.' Rini said. 'So I can play with Kiko till then?'

'Of course. The other tigers are leery of humans so please stay close.'

'Okay.'

Terry and Dana were at the entrance ready to leave when Dana looked back.

"Terry, she's gone!" cried Dana.

Terry stopped. "Crap..."

"She was really having fun with the tigers..." Dana said.

"Slag it, she went to their cage alone!"

Dana then saw the lady that had done the event. "C'mon!"

Terry and Dana ran to Erica before she hung up her swipe card. "Excuse me...We think our goddaughter went to the tiger's den. Can you show us where it is?"

Erica was shocked. "Was she the little girl who liked Kiko?" she asked.

Both nodded.

Erica gripped her keycard. "Follow me."

By the time they got back to the White Tiger Den, Rini was sleeping with Kiko, and all 20 tigers were around them, providing warmth.

"Oh wow..." Erica whispered.

"Amazing..." Dana said.

"How do we get her out?" Terry asked.

It was then that Como the tiger looked up and saw Erica then gently picked up the sleeping Rini by the back of her shirt and carried her out of the den.

He headed to the side door as Erica opened it. He gently lowered Rini into Erica's arms and backed away.

"Thank you, Como." Erica said.

Erica nodded and holding the sleeping Rini close, left the den and closed the door.

Terry took Rini into his arms. "Thank you," he told Erica.

"I'm surprised she wasn't hurt." Erica remarked.

"Rini loves cats, big or little." Dana explained, hiding the fact that Rini was a powerful girl.

"Then they sensed her love for them." Erica said with a smile.

Rini snuggled into Terry and he closed his jacket over her.

"Looks like she's worn out, thank you again, Erica." Terry said as he watched Rini sleep.

"You're welcome; good night." Erica watched the young couple go before re-entering the den.

Como walked to her and nuzzled her leg.

"Is she like me, Como?" Erica asked.

He let out a low growl in answer.

"She's part Martian. Just like me." Erica said then morphed her skin to its natural green. She smiled happily. "I could tell M'gann's blood was in her veins. Dad would be so happy…and proud of his niece."

As Felicia made her way to them, Erica changed her skin tone back and petted the female tiger.

'He would be, Erica.'