Author's Notes: I've been on exactly... three planes in my lifetime. And that was about a year ago. All three within a week. So everything I have written about planes comes from vague recollections - and, yes, I was right next to the wing all three times. It's the only view I know... And, yeah, I have been to Bloomington Airport. Got a connecting flight to Chicago from Bloomington. Nice place. I've spent a large portion of my life in Central Illinois, so I'm writing about what I know. It would have worked better to set the story in Denver, but as I've never been there... Well, I didn't want to get it wrong. Sorry! I know these are all excuses. Feel free to criticize.

A Matter of Pride: Chapter twenty-two; Land

"You know the drill. I need your jewelry, bags, shoes, jackets, and anything metal to go in these bins. Step through the metal detector and you may reclaim your belongings soon thereafter," drawled the bored security guard at the entrance to the terminal. He had obviously said this so many times in his career that he couldn't be bothered to care anymore.

Rhea pulled a gray bin toward her and emptied into it some change from her pockets, her boots, and the simple bracelet on her wrist. Rhea moved toward the metal detector. Terra narrowed her eyes. Under her tee shirt was a plate metal outfit. There was no way it wouldn't go off. Rhea stopped before entering, however, and dropped her clip into the bucket. Terra was dumbfounded. Their clips were the last vestiges of Keb, and their parents. Terra had never, ever taken hers off willingly. And Rhea, when Terra was Delani, could not be seen without it. But Rhea dropped it into the bin with a disdainful sniff and flounced through the metal detector without another thought. There was no wail, not even a beep. No hint of sound.

The guard poked through Rhea's bag, was satisfied that it contained nothing deadly or illegal, and gave the bin back to Rhea. He pushed another expectantly toward Terra.

She obediently placed her Titans communicator in it, her backpack, and her shoes. She started to follow Rhea, but was stopped.

"I need your gloves and your clip, miss," the guard said. Frowning, Terra pulled off her gloves and placed them in the bin. She shoved her hands quickly into her pockets. Apparently, that movement made the guard suspicious. "I need the clip, and I'll need to see your hands, miss. Just routine."

Terra shook her head mutely. She couldn't bring herself to take off the blue butterfly ornament.

"Good grief, 'Lani!" Rhea fumed, marching back through. She smiled flirtatiously at the guard. "Please forgive her, sir. Her hands are badly scarred. It's a vanity thing, you understand." Rhea pulled out Terra's clip and dropped it in the bin.

"Rhea!" Terra gasped, furious, but the older girl was forcibly dragging her through the metal detector. For the third time, nothing happened, even with Rhea's uniform. The instant she could, Terra grabbed her clip and returned it to its place, then pulled on her gloves quickly. Her shoes and bag were reclaimed more slowly.

"Thanks for your time," muttered the guard, once more bored out of his wits. He returned to his post and rested his chin on his hands.

---

"Flight K-3 is now boarding," announced a tinny, monotone, female voice over the intercom.

"That's us! Come on, 'Lani!" Rhea chirped. Terra glanced at her. Though Rhea was smiling, her eyes glinted in a way that was not cheerfulness and, worse, she still hadn't put in her clip. Terra stood and followed Rhea to the gate. People were already lining up. A flight attendant was checking tickets before allowing people to exit the terminal and go to the plane. Rhea, when it was their turn, handed the man two tickets. He punched them and handed them back, nodding once. Rhea pulled Terra through the door and to their seats on the plane.

Terra had never been on an airplane before. Rhea had, obviously, as she settled right down in her seat. Terra, by the window, shifted to look out. The plane's wing stretched out beside her.

Before takeoff, about fifteen minutes later (Terra had resorted to reading the book in her bag. It was thoroughly boring and yet, somehow, strangely fascinating at the same time), a flight attendant ran through the emergency procedures with the passengers. The pilot reminded them to please fasten their seat belts and keep them fastened until the light went off. The plane whirred loudly. Terra put the book away and gazed out the window again. Strangely, the wing was pushing out a metal flap, curved, with little shingles like feathers or something. Terra felt the plane rise and blinked at the sudden heady rush.

"Chew on this. Otherwise your ears will pop," Rhea said, holding out a stick of gum. Terra shook her head, making the older girl roll her eyes. "Suit yourself. And don't blame me."

Terra felt the pressure rising uncomfortably in her ears and swallowed hard a few times.

---

The sisters didn't talk at all for most of the flight. Terra finally decided to break the silence after finishing the novella for the second time. "Rhea, why are we going to Denver?"

"Connecting flight," Rhea yawned. "We're actually going to the Midwest, but they didn't have any flights from Jump City."

"Where are we going?"

"We're landing in a little town called, what was it, Bloomington. That's the one. Now shut up. Read that book I gave you."

"Did already. Twice."

Rhea rolled her eyes. "Next you're going to be asking if we're there yet." She pulled out a phone and dialed. Terra listened to her side of the conversation. "It's me. ... Rhea, you dunce! Yeah, oh. Anyway, we're on our way. ... 'Lani. 'Lani's with me. ... I don't know. Maybe two hours? ... You'd better be there. ... Yes. ... No, let it be a surprise. ... That was sarcasm! I swear, you're such an idiot. ... You'd better be. See you in a couple hours." She hung up.

"Who was that?"

"Don't ask stupid questions. I'm in a bad mood." To herself, Rhea muttered, "I don't believe him. How could Slade let such an idiot work for him?!"

Terra was silent for a few moments. "Rhea?"

"What?"

"Are we there yet?"

Rhea rolled her eyes. "No, we are not, Delani. And if you even think about asking that again, I swear that you shall find out how painful it is to have a super-heated pebble forcibly inserted into your digestive tract, especially when it gets stuck there."

Terra winced, turned to the window, and said no more. Rhea was wearing Slade's uniform, which meant she had been or perhaps currently was under Slade's tutelage. That meant that Rhea, too, knew the three basic rules of villainy.

She watched the clouds passing by, utterly bored, until the wings whirred again and the feather-like contraptions prepared to land.