Same disclaimers as before.

Chapter 4: Equip

Ariel stared at Raven from the floor of the brightly-lit bathroom. The hero finished checking herself in the mirror and sat down cross-legged on the floor a few feet from Ariel. Ariel wished she had more room to retreat to.

"Alright," said Raven with a sigh, "If you do not wish to talk, then just listen. I know about you. I felt your presence and I know your past. But I do no judge you for it. I, of, all people, understand the importance of second chances." Ariel pulled in her legs as far as she could, curling into the tightest fetal position she had ever mustered. It would take two trucks and a crowbar to unfurl her at that point. Raven didn't seem to mind. "I forgive you for what you tried to do to me," she said, "But you have to forgive yourself." Ariel didn't say anything and kept her head down, unable to look Raven in the eye. Raven sighed, "I know how corny that sounds, but it really is true. I don't hate you, but you hate yourself for hating me." Raven waited for a response she knew was never coming. "Our powers are very similar, and it would be an honor for me to mentor you and teach you to use your powers like I do. But I can only do that if you can face me, and apparently you cannot face me until you face yourself."

There was no venom in Raven's voice, but Ariel felt poisoned nonetheless. Raven stood up and brushed off her purple cloak. She walked out of the bathroom, leaving Ariel to weep in peace. Memories flashed through her head and she whimpered, rubbing her arms. She needed her razor, that would make things easier. As she tried to block the memories, voices began to rise in her mind, voices that weren't hers.

This is so cool! I have superpowers!

Is that Wonder Woman? She's so much hotter in real life!

I wonder how these teleporters work.

Ariel clutched her head and squealed in pain and fear. She rolled over onto her side, waiting for the voices to quell.

. . .

Josh followed the Flash into the reactor core. "Well, here it is," said the Flash, "This reactor powers the entire Watchtower. Firestorm helped set it up."

Josh craned his neck to see every nook and cranny of the room. "Where do you get funding for this thing? I always wondered."

"Eh, a private grant from Wayne Industries. Alright, follow me, I gotta show you something." Flash took off with Josh on his heels. Josh grimaced in embarrassment at the flaming trail he left behind him. He had only had his powers for a few hours and wasn't quite able to keep his feet from lighting up the floor in fire whenever he ran at his new-found super-speed. Luckily, there were a number of people around the Watchtower with the ability to put out his fires as quickly as he set them.

It took almost a second for them to reach the War Room, although it was almost a minute for them. Flash stopped at one of the machines in the War Room, grabbing Josh by the scruff of his shirt before the new speedster could fly off across the room. "Good to see you're getting a hang of the Speed-Force." He said, setting Josh down.

"The what now?"

Flash turned to the machine and touched a screen on the side. A list of options appeared and Flash scrolled through them, looking for something in particular. "The Speed-Force," he explained without looking up, "It's just an intra-dimensional source of limitless power that us speedsters can access to slow down time, thus giving us super-speed. Here." The Flash found what he was looking for and pressed the button. There was a slight crunching noise and a grind as a pair of boots fell out of the machine. "Size 14, right?" Flash handed the boots to Josh. "These increase your traction to the ground, keep your friction up, plus they're fireproof."

Josh took the boots and quickly stepped out of his loafers. "What's with the fancy getup anyway?" Asked Flash as Josh laced up the boots.

"I had a job interview at the Daily Planet when Brainiac captured me."

"Reporter, editor, or photographer?"

"Reporter." Josh stood up and shook his feet to adjust to the new shoes. He ran around the room at super-speed, coming to a complete halt next to the Flash. "Huh, works like a charm."

Flash winced, "Not exactly." Josh looked back and saw he had set the room ablaze with his flaming feet. Flash began rotating his arms at lightning speed. "Let me show you a little trick." The speed of the Flash's arms created a vacuum vortex, stealing the oxygen from the flames and putting half of them out. "Now you try." Josh flexed his fingers and raised his arms. He began to twirling them like helicopter blades. Flash quickly grabbed his arms before he could make a bigger fool of himself. "More…circular."

Josh nodded and tried again, this time achieving the desired motion. He sped up his arms and watched as a vacuum formed from his limbs. He pointed at the fire and quickly sucked away the oxygen. "Cool!" he muttered as the fire died away, "Now if I could just stop making the fire in the first place."

"Why would you want that?" Asked Flash, "You have literal firepower! Why wouldn't you want that?"

"Cause I can't really, you know, control it." Said Josh. He waved his hand, still white hot. "I feel like I've got this fire in my stomach, but I can't put it out whenever I want, it just kinda burns as it wants."

Flash rubbed his chin and ran to the wall. He flipped open a hidden panel and pressed a few buttons. "Do you scare easy?"

"Umm, yes?" A holographic image appeared in front of Josh. He fell back in surprise and horror as he looked into the face of duality. "Is that…?"

"Harvey Dent, formerly of Gotham City District Attorney's Office, now a member of Batman's Rogues Gallery under the alias of 'Two-Face'." Said Flash, "Well, don't be shy. Give him a punch." Josh stared with wide eyes at the well-known criminal before him. He hesitantly moved forwards and gave a gentle punch to the hard-light hologram before quickly retreating. Flash sighed and pressed another button. The hologram of Two-Face shifted as it was given permission to move. The illusion glared at Josh who was now looking for the right place to cower. Two-Face drew twin pistols and took aim as Josh yelped and took off, reigniting the room in fire as he dashed outside of Two-Face's line of fire. Two-Face took a shot and clipped Josh in the heel. Josh tumbled and smashed face-first into a wall.

"Oww!" he exclaimed, "What was that?"

Flash shrugged. "Well it wouldn't be a realistic training exercise if the bullets didn't do diddly-squat, now would it?" Josh clambered to his feet and dashed behind the boot-dispensing machine for cover. Flash checked his nails. "Can I offer some advice?"

Josh winced as a holographic bullet whizzed past his head. "Advice would be good!" he yelled.

"Go on the offensive and not those little jabs either." Flash steepled his fingers. "Tell you what, I see you do a full-on haymaker, and I'll shut off the program." Josh grit his teeth and clenched his fists. "C'mon! Pretend it's an ex or something!" Said Flash.

"Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod," murmured Josh. He spun around; ready to leap at Two-Face, but a bullet caught him right between the eyes. He grunted in pain and he scrambled back behind his cover.

"Wait for the right moment!" Called Flash, "You're a speedster; you have all the time in the world!" Josh cringed as one of the bullets ricocheted off the wall and hit him on the arm. It had about the same force as a very powerful paintball bullet. "You said you have a fire in your stomach! Don't try to control it, let it flow and disperse through your body." Josh concentrated and flexed his abdomen. He felt the fire in his stomach break up like a cracker and disintegrate; he felt the fire move through his body like blood, filling him with strength and energy. Josh panted as he looked at his hands. They were alight with the fire he felt in his body. He turned his head, listening to the sounds of fire. The time between the bullets grew as Josh sped up. "Wait for it!" called Flash, "Wait for it!" There was an audible click as both of Two-Face's clips emptied. "Now!"

Josh shot out from behind his cover and jumped up, his arm outstretched and covered from shoulder to knuckles in intense fire. The crook of his elbow connected with Two-Face's neck and the criminal sank like a sack of bricks. A sack of bricks on fire. Josh panted as the fire in his body subsided and the hologram of Two-Face flickered off.

Flash grinned. "Well? How do you feel?"

Josh looked up. "Really, really good." He stood up and glanced at his sleeve. "Damn, I really liked this blazer." His sleeve was nearly scorched off. What was left of it was crisp and raggedy.

Flash rubbed his chin. "Look, Josh, I'm gonna ask you outright. Do you want to be a hero?"

Josh looked at his hands; they were still warm from his brief training. He sighed and closed his fists. "Look, Flash, I love what you heroes do. I think you're a vital part of society and I would love to be a part of that."

"But?" Flash motioned for him to continue.

"But…I have a lot of baggage. I've been in therapy for years. I have more phobias than those listed in a first-year med school textbook. I'm just not built for this hero stuff."

Flash nodded and put his hand on Josh's shoulder. "It's cool man. Just don't become a villain. You seem like a nice guy, I'd hate to have to take you down." Josh smiled and nodded. "Now, let's get you home. The Metropolis teleporter is just up there in the Central Hub." Josh nodded and took off towards the pad. He darted down corridors and between people. He stopped a few stories below the Metropolis teleporter. Looking back, he was surprised to see that he hadn't left a fire trail. Perhaps he had used up his fire when he fought Two-Face? He looked up with and chewed his lip in wonder. He glanced at the wall nearby and a thought came to his mind. He backed up and cracked his neck. He shot forward towards the wall at super-speed. Just as he was about to hit it, Josh lifted is leg and placed it on the wall, pulling his body into a vertical run. Josh was now running up a wall. He stared at his feet in amazement and laughed victoriously. He looked up and pushed off from the wall, jumping onto the teleporter pad. He landed with a crouch and stood up, proud of his success.

"Hey, Josh," he turned and saw Ariel walking up the stairs to the pad. She looked even paler than before and had her arms wrapped around herself.

"Ariel! Is everything okay?" He asked, running over to her.

"I'm fine. I see you've learned a little more about you're powers."

"Yeah, the Flash was a big help."

"Good for you."

"Was Raven helpful? I hear she does good work with the Titans."

Ariel hesitated before answering. "No, not really."

"Oh? That's too bad." They stood together in silence for a moment before Josh said, "Well, ready to go home?"

Ariel nodded. "Yeah, my mother must be worried."

Josh looked up at the light that shone upon the two of them. "Metropolis, please, outside the Daily Planet if you can manage it." There was a flash of white light and the two linked as they found themselves in a brick room.

There was a police officer there that tipped his cap to them. "Welcome to MPD 7th precinct, folks." He said, "Where can I take you."

. . .

He brought them outside and took them in his squad car. Josh was dropped off at his apartment first. "It was nice to meet you, Ariel. I hope things work out for you." He said with a smile as he got out.

"You too," she said softly. She was surprised to realize that she meant it. Josh was a good person. He had helped her even when she was a stranger and deserved a good life. It was another ten minutes before the she was dropped off at her mother's apartment. Ariel zoned out as her mother hugged her and cried over her and fussed over her.

Finally, she found herself in her bed, a welcome change of light comfort after a hard day. The weight of her life was taken off of her shoulders and she sighed, letting sleep claim her. As soon as she shut her eyes, however, four red ones opened and she snapped back awake, her eyes wide with fear. Without even looking, she reached under her bed and pulled out a razor blade.

. . .

Devon stared at Lex. "You want me to hit all of these…at the same time?"

Lex smiled. "Yes, and if you do, then you can have some candy."

Devon looked worriedly at the white targets that surrounded him. Lex stood back as Devon opened his mouth and sucked in air. Devon's scream shattered three of the targets, leaving four. Lex sighed and drew a taser from his breast pocket. With a sharp jab, he plunged the taser into Devon's back. The boy screeched with pain and arched his back, screaming to the sky. The remaining targets were destroyed and Lex thrown backwards as Devon lost consciousness.