A/N: Here is the next installment of Red Tornado's Journal. However, you can't read it until the 25th.

...

Oh, fine, you can read it now. But you won't get any updates for four (or five) days to make this fit chronologically.

Yes, goddammit, he WILL be addicted to The Doors. If you don't know who they are, you suck. Google them immediately.

I'm actually pleasantly surprised at the positive reaction to this crap I'm churning out. I suppose you also love Reddy (and his cluelessness).

Please forgive my science nerding out in this bit; I'm pretty sure that in order to understand this chapter you need to have done a GCSE in Chemistry.


Cold As Ice; Music To My Ears; Sweet as Sugar; Cold Comfort

Red Tornado's Journal: 22nd July

This morning Robin wheeled a substantial number (approximately 20) of steel barrels ("milk churns") containing an unknown substance (judging from thermal scans it was a very cold material) into the cave. This was met with great satisfaction by both Zatanna and Artemis. (Reasons are unclear.) Kid Flash was tied up to prevent him from interfering with the unloading of said substance. (Once more, reasons elude me.)

This substance was, upon further inspection, found to be a bright green in colour and contained many small black-brown chips of another substance. Black Canary assures me the contents of these milk churns is not dangerous in any way, and that it is in fact very beneficial.

I am tempted to doubt her appraisal, as all female members of the team (including Black Canary herself) vociferously attacked this substance with fascinating implements consisting of a shallow bowl attached to a medium length handle, which is apparently designated a "spoon." (This requires further study.)

I also believe that the delivery of the milk churns was directly influenced by events on the 20th July, but this has as yet been unproven.

My own studies of this "iced cream" (I have taken some samples from one of the churns) have shed no light on its purpose, however I have learned that is is comprised primarily of a compound with the chemical formula C12H22O11 - sucrose - or, as it is termed by the general human populace, "sugar." It also contains a trace amount of iodine, which I can only imagine was procured from an Earth-native species of seaweed. I do not see how this helps my investigations, but I have recorded it nonetheless.


Red Tornado's Journal: 23rd July

Today I discovered a compact storage disc which had a small amount of sonic data on it. Upon digitisation of the disc, (and subsequent questioning of Green Lantern Hal Jordan) it transpired that this sonic data is in fact a form of human entertainment known as "music", and this music in particular was composed by a group of humans who named themselves "The Doors." I have no idea why such a name appealed to them, but I have found the melodic composition and harmonic activity to be remarkably assuaging upon one's mind. I shall continue my research into human musical invention as I have observed that it is integral to human culture.


Red Tornado's Journal: 24th July

Three of the churns have been drained of their contents. The effects on the female population of the Cave are as follows:

- 7.324 percent increase in alertness

- Minor increase in frequency of reckless behaviour

- Slight (2.37 percent) increase in speed of speech

- Fascinating increase in frequency of "giggles" - up 18.32 percent

I must investigate the effects of the sucrose compound (and the other members of the saccharide family – glucose, fructose, maltose, and starch) on other examples of human (and superhuman) biology.


Red Tornado's Journal: 25th July

Seven of the churns are empty at the present count. Security footage indicates that the primary consumer of the iced cream is Zatanna, closely followed by Artemis and Rocket.

Research shows that human females often use this iced cream as a source of emotional comfort. In Zatanna's case, the consumption of cream must stem from the absence of her father, Giovanni Zatarra (Doctor Fate), although I have not yet reached a conclusion regarding Rocket and Artemis.

Robin is also a source of comfort for Zatanna, although I do not believe the two are romantically involved (see 20th July for earlier speculations upon this). Investigation of the security feeds after dark would indicate that any time Zatanna is feeling upset or depressed during the night, she makes her way to Robin's room. Robin himself is exceptionally good at telling "what is up" with Zatanna.

Last night, for example, she went to Robin crying quietly. He simply held her in his arms until she fell asleep, then laid her carefully on his bed, put the bedcovers over her, and slept on the floor. This, I believe, is an excellent example of that very human quality "compassion." (It also may be a possible indication of the romantic feelings Robin harbours for Zatanna, but I am ill-equipped to draw any conclusions on this matter.)

I have decided to keep this information to myself for the time being, as I do not believe that either of them wishes it to be made common knowledge.

I have yet to learn the meaning of the word "bondage." This is somewhat irksome but I am confident of a revelation soon.

Tests with the compounds glucose (C6H12O5) and its isomer fructose have shown an increase in both physical and mental energy. Administered to The Flash, the glucose and sucrose compounds hypercharge the speed and strength of the subject, but the excess energy quickly burns off (in under an hour) due to the accelerated metabolism that The Flash possesses. (This would appear to explain why Kid Flash was detained for the duration of the unloading of the sucrose-rich iced cream – to prevent him from becoming a nuisance (or a "bloody pain in the arse", as Artemis is fond of saying).)

Study on "The Doors" has developed a problem: I require more of these "CDs" to conduct my investigations. The "John Smith" android is ready for use. I will have to use it to purchase additional musical pieces for study.

Conclusion: These four days have provided me with much useful information on humanity, all of it useful in my quest to become more human. However, I am also mindful of the many questions that remain, or have revealed themselves due to my studies, which I have yet to find answers to.