Episode Five

Changes

Chapter Four

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

11:14 – Station Time

July 19, 2007

A few days had passed since Cassie had come up the Watchtower and there wasn't a single mark or even bruise on her face. There wasn't even any pain, swelling or anything and it wasn't because of anything they had given her. Apparently her own body had healed itself and at an alarming rate.

She had undergone a few tests but hadn't really had much explained to her. She still didn't know why she had these abilities or where they had come from. Her mother had also come to see her every night to make sure she was okay. She lied and said she was. In reality, she was scared.

The only good thing about what had happened was that her identity had been kept intact. She was reported as just a blonde superpowered teenager. She didn't know how her name wasn't everywhere, but she was grateful. It meant that her life hadn't been completely screwed up by her beatdown from Aresia.

The door chime to her room sounded and she looked up with a start. Slowly, she rose up from where she sat and made her way over, opening the automatic sliding door with the push of a button.

"Oh, hi Wonder Woman," Cassie said after seeing who it was.

"I've told you. Call me Diana."

"Do you want to come in?" Cassie offered.

"No. I just came to remind you that you are free to roam the space station if you so wish."

Cassie felt a little awkward. "I know, I just don't feel like it."

"I am more than happy to show you around later if you want?" Diana offered.

"Thanks, but I really just want to go home, y'know?"

"I can understand that," Diana sympathised. "We want to learn more about your abilities and where they came from first. We don't want you hurting anyone by accident."

"I know," Cassie accepted. She knew exactly how unpredictable her strength could be. "That's what's at the forefront of my mind."

"We'll figure it out, I promise."

Cassie hoped so, however, deep down she also hoped they didn't. If they figured out how she got her power, did she really want them taking away? The logical part of her brain told her that she was better without these powers, but her heart wanted her to embrace them.

The sound of someone biting loudly into an apple drew their attention. Behind them, Cassie saw a man sat in a chair wearing a white outfit of some kind which exposed most of his chest. He also wore a large golden belt, wrist cuffs and helmet which was adorned with small golden wings. Her first thought was to wonder who he was, the seconf was how did he get into her room and the third was why did he look like he was straight out of ancient Greece.

Diana frowned. "Hermes?" she asked as she stepped into the room, the doors sliding shut behind her.

"Isn't this sweet," he said before taking another bite.

"What are you doing here?" the Amazon questioned clearly unimpressed. "Do you know something about Cassie and her powers?"

"Maybe," Hermes answered obtusely.

"Please, be straight with me, Hermes," Diana urged. "No games."

"Fine," he said, tossing the half-eaten apple aside as he stood up from the chair he was sitting on. "I have a message for you, Diana. The girl here is special and gets her power from her father."

"My father?" Cassie questioned in surprise. "You know who he is?"

"Ah, wouldn't you like to know," Hermes said smugly. He then shrugged. "Truth be told, so would I, but it's a little bit hush-hush at the moment."

"Please," Cassie said, stepping forwards her hands interlocked as though she were about to pray. "If you know who it is. Mom's never told me."

Hermes took a bite out of a new apple that seemed to have appeared from nowhere but didn't answer the question.

Diana rested a hand on Cassie's shoulder. "Hermes, if you know anything?"

"Her mother never told her, because her mother didn't know either," Hermes said, his speech seemingly unimpeded from eating.

Diana wasn't satisfied. "If you know something you should tell us. Who is he?"

"I don't know, but I don't think there are that many to choose from on Mount Olympus. And before you ask, no, it's not me."

"Then who?"

"I'm not here to tell you that. What I am here to say that Zeus knows and he thinks it would be best if you trained her."

"That's it?" Diana questioned. "That's all you're here to say?"

"That's all. Now, I've got to run, things to do."

"Wait," Cassie shouted out as she reached for him. But it was already too late, he was gone. Even the apple he had thrown on the floor was gone.

The teen turned to the Amazon. She felt confused and unsure of what had just happened. Had that really been Hermes? Did the ancient Greek gods actually exist? This was becoming too much for her to cope with. "What is going on?" Cassie demanded staring at the space where the strange man had stood only moments earlier. "Who was that?"

Diana gripped her other shoulder and turned Cassie so that she was facing her. "It seems that your paternal parent was from Olympus."

Cassie pulled free from Diana's grip "That's stupid. I'm just an ordinary girl. Olympus is just a dumb legend."

"Olympus is quite real and it appears that you aren't an ordinary girl and never were."

Cassie walked over to the tall thin window and stared out of it down towards Earth. This was more than she expected and more than she could take in.

"Why didn't my mom ever tell me?"

"From what Hermes said, she didn't know."

"How could she not know if she hooked up with a god? They don't exactly blend in."

"They can if they want to," Diana said. "We will have to talk with your mother when she comes up here this evening."

Cassie turned away from the window to face her. "When I put on those gauntlets, it was a thrill. I felt like a superhero. But I could take them off. I can't take this off. It's with me. I need answers."

"I wish I could give them to you," Diana said. "But having what you have isn't that bad. You just have to learn to keep your strength in check and I will help you with that."

Cassie turned back to face the window and stared back down at Earth. It looked so peaceful from up here, so tranquil. She glanced back at Wonder Woman. "Do you think I would make a good superhero?"

"If that's what you want, then yes, I do," Diana told her. "You are brave and from what I know you have a good heart."

"Thanks," Cassie said, looking back down at the planet below. Did she want this? Honestly, she wasn't sure, but there was always the dream.

"Come, let's go for a walk," Diana offered.

"Sure," Cassie agreed as they headed out of the room into the corridor.

A group of technicians walked by and gave them a "hello" before disappearing around the corner.

"I've seen a lot of them, around this area" Cassie commented, regarding the technicians.

"Yes," Wonder Woman said with a nod. "The station was damaged a few months ago. We're still repairing it. Though what I'm told is that the construction has nearly finished."

"How bad was it?"

"Pretty bad. Anyway, would you like to meet some of the other founding members of the Justice League. Some of them are on the station. We are going to have a meeting shortly."

"Which ones?"

"Everyone but Batman and Green Lantern is here. Lantern is on some other planet on a mission and Batman is." She paused as she looked for the right words. "He's doing whatever he does when he goes dark."

"Isn't he always dark?" Cassie asked, half jokingly.

"I suppose he is. I meant when he cuts himself off. He does it every once in a while. Usually, when there's a case in Gotham he feels needs all of his attention."

They stepped into an elevator.

"Do you have a lot of meetings?" Cassie asked

"As of late, yes. A lot is going on right now."

The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. The two of them stepped out and continued along the corridor.

"Are they expecting me to show up?" Cassie asked.

"I told them you might come to meet them, yes. Are you nervous?"

Cassie shook her head. "Me? No, I'm not nervous." That was a bit of a lie. She was feeling a little nervous. She was about to meet the rest of the founders of the Justice League after all. Well, apart from Batman and Green Lantern.

"Here we are," Diana said as they stepped through an automatic sliding door.

She followed her in and saw four of the seven sat at the table. Out of all of them, the Martian stood out the most. His red piercing eyes unsettled her and she found herself moving behind Wonder Woman.

Shayera chuckled. "Isn't that cute, she's shy."

Martian Manhunter spoke next. "I believe my physical appearance has distressed her somewhat."

Cassie cringed. When he put it like that it made her sound a little bigoted.

She stepped out from behind Wonder Woman. "Sorry," she apologised. She had been in this room for less than a minute and she had already made an idiot out of herself.

"There is no need to be sorry," J'onn told her.

"Maybe I should leave and come back in and start again?" Cassie said, trying to be funny. But the way she said it made it sound more awkward than anything remotely humorous.

Wonder Woman decided to take point. She gestured at those sat at the table. "I believe you already know who each of them are."

Cassie nodded. "Superman, Martian Manhunter, Flash and Hawkgirl."

Shayera visibly grimaced. "People still refer to me as Hawkgirl?" she asked.

"Yeah," Cassie said with a slight shrug. "It's just what people know you as."

"So much for going with "Shayera" so I was more relatable," the Thanagarian commented.

Flash grinned. "Maybe it's time you put on the old costume again?"

Shayera shook her head. "No, that part of my life is over. But I do have something in the works."

"Yeah?" Flash inquired. "A new costume?"

"I'll tell you later," Shayera urged as she looked over at Cassie. "It was nice to meet you."

"Yes, it was," Superman agreed.

J'onn bowed his head while Flash gave her a thumbs up.

Cassie glanced at Diana before looking back at the four of them. "It was nice meeting you too."

Diana turned her full attention to her. "I'll see you later. You're free to wander the upper levels of the Watchtower."

"Okay, thanks, maybe I will," Cassie said as she turned and left the room.

As she stood there on the outside, she realised she had literally no idea as to where to go from here. Actually, she did. Seeing Hermes and what he had told her made her realise she needed to re-evaluate things. She needed time to think about it, to come to terms with the fact that she might not be entirely human.

That last thought made her feel like a stranger in her own body.

It was an unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling that she hated. She wanted it to go away, but even once she had gotten back to her cabin, the feeling didn't go away.

When she next saw her mother, she was going to get some answers about her father. She felt that after all these years she was owed them.

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

18:14 – Station Time

July 19, 2007

"Frank was a wonderful man," Helena said to Cassie and Diana as the three sat there in Cassie's room aboard the Watchtower. "He was smart, funny and always knew what to say. We dated, we danced in the moonlight, we did everything that every fairytale prince and princess did, it seemed to him that money wasn't an obstacle. He was the only man I ever loved."

"What happened to him?" her daughter questioned. "You've never really talked about him."

"One day he was just gone."

"Gone?" Cassie questioned. "How?"

"As I said. One day he was gone. It wasn't until a few months after I realised I was pregnant."

Right now, Helena didn't know about the visiting Olympian or what he had told them. Cassie still wasn't sure if she believed what he had said herself, but deep down she knew there was some truth to it. She had after all seen him with her own two eyes and heard him speak and saw him vanish.

Cassie rested her hands on her knees and leant forward. "Mom, Hermes the Olympian God says my dad's one of them, one of the gods."

Helena rested her hand on her daughter's. "Of course he wasn't, Cass. He was just a man."

Diana interjected. "He was definitely more than that. The gods don't trouble themselves with mortal affairs, not usually. Hermes himself gave us this information. If he was here, then there has to be truth to it. Otherwise, it's beneath him."

Helena looked up at the Amazon. "Fine, I'll bite. Which god was he? Which god used me?"

"We don't know," Cassie said. "He didn't tell us."

"This is absurd," Helena scoffed.

"Then why did he leave, mom?" Cassie questioned.

"Because he got what he wanted from me and moved on," Helena said. "Nothing more."

Diana half-agreed. "That much is certain, however, I believe what Hermes told us was true."

"If you really saw this Hermes," Helena said, disbelieving them.

"I saw him too," Cassie said. "He was here, he spoke to us."

"This is all nonsense. Cassie, we're going home. You've spent enough time up here with these lunatics."

"Mom, calm down. I'm just as freaked as you are, but something has to have caused this."

"Yes, those stupid magical armour pieces," Helena said. "I should have known they would have had some kind of side-effects."

"This wasn't caused by them," Diana assured her. "This power has always been within your daughter."

"Lies, all of it. Cassie come-on, we're going."

Helena stood up and so did Cassie. The teen looked at Wonder Woman. "Thanks for everything, but mom's right. I want to go home now. All of this is just too much."

Diana nodded in understanding. "Keep the communicators we gave you," she said. "Just in case."

"No, I don't think we want to," Helena said, passing Diana hers. She then gestured for her daughter to do the same. Cassie pulled the device from her ear and then pretended to put it into Wonder Woman's palm.

Realising the young woman's intent, Diana quickly closed her hand to hide the fact that there was only one communicator in it. "If you change your mind, seek out a man called Dick Grayson. He's currently residing in Gateway City."

"We won't." Helena gripped her daughter's upper arm. "Come on Cassie, it's time to go."

"I'll escort you," Diana offered.

"Go ahead," Helena accepted reluctantly. "But you won't change my mind."

Wonder Woman escorted them both to the teleporter and said farewell before sending them both down to Gateway City.

It was Diana's opinion that Cassie should stay here for training, however, it wasn't really their choice, it was Cassie's and her mother's. She hoped the teen girl wouldn't shy away from the gift she had been given and instead would embrace it.

Time would tell if she did or not.

Gateway City

United States

13:04 – Western Summer Time

July 27, 2007

The last few days had been somewhat tense and uncomfortable between Helena and Cassie. Her mother had shut her down every time she had tried to talk about what had happened to her. Helena was partially in denial that her daughter was anything but normal.

One thing Cassie had noticed was that her mother had given her things to open such as jars and soda bottles when she couldn't open them. Normally she just tried until she managed it. Now, she half-hearted the attempt, then handed them over for Cassie to open.

She had unfortunately lost her job at Enzo's Diner. That in itself didn't concern her, though what did was how many working there knew of her abilities? Being put through the side of the diner wall wasn't exactly something that went unnoticed and she did worry about someone that worked there selling her name to some tabloid or something.

It was actually something that was keeping her awake at night. That one day her mother would bring home a newspaper, or she would see her face online telling the world who and what she was.

Too many people knew already. That cop and doctor at the hospital, Anaya and her friends, a handful at the diner. Any single one of them could tell the world that she was the one that had fought with Aresia. Though fight wasn't the correct term. Got beaten up by was more apt.

The only one she trusted that knew that her secret that was not her mother or the Justice League was Kati.

In fact that afternoon she was heading to pick Kati up. Cassie had actually arranged a meeting with Wonder Woman just out of town at an old abandoned factory. She wasn't taking Kati there to show off that she knew the Justice League or anything, more for moral support.

Her mother didn't know she was in contact with the Justice League and she didn't know that Kati knew and she definitely was unaware that she was going to be meeting with the Amazon.

Cassie pulled up outside of Kati's house and found her friend waiting for her.

"Hi," Kati said timidly as she climbed into the passenger seat. "How are you doing?"

"Fine I guess," Cassie answered.

The two of them hadn't seen each other since before the incident with Aresia. The closest they'd gotten was a few texts and a phone call. All of which they hadn't spoken about Cassie's problem.

"I saw the destruction on the news," Kati said. "Did she um, y'know. Did she really throw you through that bus?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Cassie said firmly.

"Okay. So you said we were going somewhere?"

"Yeah, to the old car factory on the outskirts of town."

"Why? You gonna throw some old cars?"

Cassie shot her a glance. "No, I'm meeting up with Wonder Woman."

"Wow, really?" Kati asked excitedly. "Wonder Woman?"

"Yeah. She doesn't know I'm bringing you along."

"She won't be mad, will she?"

"Maybe, but I want you there. You're my friend and I want you there."

"Thanks, Cass, I really mean that. Meeting Wonder Woman is like totally a dream of mine."

Cassie glanced in the rear-view mirror. "We should be heading off," she said as she pulled away from the curb.

Kati looked out of the side window. "So what's she like?"

"Who Wonder Woman?"

"Yeah."

"Intimidating."

Kati turned to face her friend. "You thought she was intimidating?"

"She has this presence, y'know. Like she's the most important and also dangerous thing in the room. It's crazy because when you see her on the news or whatever she looks like this Supermodel, but in person that kinda takes a back seat. I feel like some commoner in the presence of royalty."

"But isn't she actually like Amazon royalty? For real?"

"Yeah, she is, which doesn't help."

"Sounds like you're in awe of her."

"Oh, you will be too, I can guarantee. She has a strong personality and she's probably the strongest woman like in the whole world."

"Stronger than Supergirl?" Kati asked.

"Probably," Cassie said as they headed out of the city. "The place is about a half-mile up ahead."

It wasn't long until Cassie had pulled up outside the old factory and the two of them had climbed out of the car. They walked up to it and found a large heavy padlock through the large rusted gate. They wouldn't be getting in without some kind of property damage.

"How do we get through?" Kati asked.

"I could just snap the lock," Cassie said, reaching for it.

"Wait, isn't that illegal?"

"We're gonna be trespassing anyway, so does it matter?"

Kati shrugged. "I guess not."

Cassie reached for the lock once more.

"Hold on," Kati said stopping her. "How will Wonder Woman get inside?"

"Probably fly in or get teleported in. She's probably in there already."

Kati still couldn't quite believe they had that kind of technology. "They really have a teleporter?"

"Yeah, I've used it. Twice," Cassie said, as though it wasn't a big deal.

"You have?"

"Yeah, it's pretty weird actually."

"Wow, I bet it is. Sounds awesome," Kati said feeling a little jealous. She knew the chances of her ever being teleported anywhere were slim to nill.

"It is awesome," Cassie confirmed, before turning her attention back to the lock. "So can I break this lock now, or is there something else you wanna ask me?"

"Just one more thing. You pointed out that Wonder Woman could fly in. Can you fly?"

"No," Cassie said. "Why would I be able to fly?"

"Why would you be able to punch trees over and lift up cars?" Kati asked her right back. "Have you tried?"

"No, but I don't think I can fly. That would be a little too freaky."

"I guess. You could try, though, right?"

"I'm not going to make an idiot out of myself trying to fly."

"It's just me here, Cass. Nobody else around to see you."

Cassie jumped on the spot. "See, can't fly, now let's just break that lock and head inside."

"Okay, sure," Kati said with disappointment as Cassie snapped the lock open.

She pulled the gate open enough for the two of them to step through then pulled it shut.

Cassie led the way towards the large building. "She said she would be in the main production line area," Cassie told Kati as she forced a door open.

"Don't you think this seems kinda shady for the Justice League?" Kati pointed out as they walked through a dusty hallway. "Why not teleport you up to their space station?"

"It's just a meeting," Cassie said. "Besides, my mom doesn't want me to have anything to do with the Justice League and since I'm not legally an adult, Diana thought it best if we kept it low-key and not get the league directly involved."

"Wait, you call Wonder Woman, Diana?"

"Yeah, it's what she told me to call her."

"That's so awesome. But it still seems shady to me. Couldn't she meet you somewhere nicer?"

Cassie pushed a door open and they both stepped through onto the factory floor.

"She's supposed to be in here," Cassie commented as they walked alongside an old unused machine.

"You were supposed to come alone," a voice said from above.

The two of them looked up to see Wonder Woman descend down and land in front of them.

"Sorry, but I felt better bringing my friend Kati along."

"So, you told her?"

"She knew I had powers before you did," Cassie explained. "I needed someone to talk to and she's my best friend. I trust her."

Kati waved timidly. "Um, hello."

Wonder Woman shot her a glare and Kati hid behind Cassie.

"Don't be mad at her," Cassie said. "I brought her along, she never asked. It's my fault."

Wonder Woman rested her fists on her hips. "This is a dilapidated building. She could be seriously hurt in here."

That confused her. "Then why did you bring me here if it's so dangerous?"

"Because nothing in here will seriously hurt either of us," the Amazon pointed out. "But she could easily be injured or killed."

Cassie hadn't even considered that. "Oh," was all she said.

"She will have to wait outside," Wonder Woman told her.

Cassie turned to Kati. "I'm really sorry," she said apologetically. "I didn't think."

Kati shrugged. "It's fine, Cass." She looked over to Wonder Woman and waved again. "It was really nice meeting you." She turned back to Cassie. "I'll wait in the car."

Cassie watched as her friend walked away. She turned back to Wonder Woman, feeling angry at how she had treated her friend. "You could have been nicer," she accosted.

"I'm not angry at her, I'm angry at you. You shouldn't have brought her along. If you want, we can meet up somewhere safer at a later date, but for now, you're here to train."

"She's my friend," Cassie said, feeling like she needed to explain her actions. "I wanted her to be here for whatever it is we're doing here." She glanced around the factory. "What is it we're doing here anyway?"

"Weren't you listening?" the Amazon asked. "You're here for training," Diana told her. "I'm going to make sure that when you're ready to join us that you are truly ready."

"You still think I'm league material?"

"I know you're league material," Wonder Woman said as she stepped up to her. "shall we begin?"

Cassie rolled her shoulders in preparation and nodded. "Yeah, let's begin."

A/N

So, I did quite a bit of reading on Cassie Sandsmark (but wikis don't give hints on personality). She's the second Wonder Girl in the comics and her original origin as far as I can tell, seems to be a case of "Let's give her powers through these artefacts" then realise it would be cooler if she was Zeus' daughter and have her ask for the powers so she doesn't have to rely on the artefacts.

I decided the better route was to have her use said artefacts at the end of the last story, but due to her heritage they cause a change within her. Sort of her natural latent abilities are awakened by the artefacts she used at the end of the last story, instead of her asking for them. She is a demigod, so the abilities are there. I also wanted her to be a bit more real. How would someone react if they suddenly started getting super strength? In comics and cartoons, it's usually. "This is cool, I'm gonna be a superhero/villain".

Also, I know Wonder Girl can fly, but that discovery is something that can wait until later.

All of these shorts will have some impact on the next story and beyond. Thanks for reading.

Updated January 2018