Mount Justice had been completely destroyed. Audrey had a box of all that remained of her possessions. A few clothes, some cookbooks, and her mother's lucky headband.
Oh, how she wished Ted hadn't moved to the retirement , she knew that was a terrible idea.
She looked around the Warehouse. It was dingy, and creaky, but the heat worked and Nightwing and the others had renovated it while Venus and the other escapees recovered.
Her and Miss Martian would share a corner of the room curtained off from the rest. But, it wasn't so bad.
If anything, it reminded her of her time with Bambi and the other. Venus shook away the thought of her old friend, too tired to get upset.
Audrey sat in her bed, facing the wall. She laid there, eyes open, lost in thought. What had she done? Going to someone like Luthor for help? She knew not to trust him, but he knew more about her mother then even she did.
Was it hope?
Or desperation?
She rolled around, looking at her room. Miss Martian was gone. It was grey and standard, but it had a few poster's and some books on the computer desk.
She looked back at her clock.
8:30 am.
She had to be at Luthor's at nine thirty. She stared at the clock for what felt like forever, before getting up, looking for civilian clothes to wear.
A pale lavender pullover sweater, black leggings that went to her knees, and a white pair of sneaker's.
It was a plan outfit, but how presentable did she need to look exactly? She walked towards the building, before a voice stopped her.
"Audrey, over here," a car was pulled on the side of road, in front of the entrance. Lex sat on one side, window rolled down.
"I thought the meeting was here," She explained.
"Quite alright, my dear," He smiled. "I wanted to meet here; but this really isn't a place to train," He said. Audrey looked back at the building, and cautiously nodded her head in agreement, remembering where they were; Right in the center of metropolis.
She hurried of the the car, getting on the other side. She took a seat facing Luthor. She stayed quiet, contemplating whether he was going to say anything.
"Audrey, have you ever heard of Cadmus?" He asked.
"Cadmus?" Audrey asked. The name rung a bell, but she couldn't precisely place her finger on it.
"Yes; It's a laboratory outside the city," Lex explained. "Audrey,"
"Yes?"
"Your mother, She, in a way, helped create it," Lex revealed.
Audrey's eye's widened. "Really?!" She asked. "She really did something like that?"
"Oh yes; Don't you think the daughter of someone who helped create such a magnificent program should be given the opportunity to sharpen the skills with the tool's her mother created?" Lex asked.
"I mean...That kinda make's sense," She hesitated. "What does Cadmus do exactly?" She asked.
Lex leaned back in her seat. "Nothing too crazy; but a very invested in study human DNA and abilities," He explained.
"Like... Superpowers?" Audrey asked.
"Yes," Lex Luthor smiled. "That paints a large part of the portrait," He said.
"Oh, "
Luthor tapped on the window.
"Look outside," He grinned.
Venus looked seeing the Cadmus lab. It was white and polished, very professional looking.
Venus stood in a large white room, small circular patches attached to head and back of the neck.
It was simple. Hit the target on the other side of the room. Audrey frowned nervously, the room large and the target intimidatingly small.
"You may now start a fire," A voice said. She looked up at a window on the wall, seeing a scientist giving her thumb's up.
She turned back, putting her hands together. A flame circled them, before a flame shot out. It flew, only to land away from the target, burning out on the ground
"A little more?" A voice answered. Audrey lowered her head, embarrassed.
She couldn't.
"Small shocks will be administered to the nervous system," A voice called.
Audrey's eyebrows raised. They were going to shock her?
She was surprised when she didn't feel much pain. But, her fire somehow became significantly bigger.
She smiled, watching.
More shocks were induced. Audrey's flame had risen in length and volume; almost like a giant flamethrower. She completely incinerated the target, and soon the shocks stopped. Adrenaline washed over her, feeding that feeling of power.
Audrey stopped her flames, taking a knee as she breathed deeply
The pain of the higher shocks was overcome by the exhilaration of the power she displayed.
"That was very good, Audrey," Luthor walked in from door.
"I've never done that before; I didn't even know I could," She smiled.
"Yes, well stick with me; I can make you stronger then ever before," He put a hand out.
Audrey shook it, not as hesitant as last time.
"Thank you sir," She smiled.
The first two weeks of training went smoothly. She was out of the warehouse at 4 am, and at the Lab by 4:30.
Everyday her fire control got better, and the shocks were less and less. They were still there, but less painful. She stopped noticing them after the fourth day, the adrenaline overcoming the pain.
"Venus; Wonder girl, " Nightwing's voice rung out thought the small warehouse. Venus sat up from her bed. She ran out, stopping beside Wonder girl when she reached her.
"Icicle Jr and Mammoth are attacking Central City. No reason is known, but I want you to stop them before serious damage is done," He explained.
Wonder girl and Venus nodded, turning to the Zeta Tube.
"I'm gonna make ice rink of this place!" Icicle Jr cheered, freezing over downtown. Mammoth was smashing things, grinning wildly.
"Stop villains!" Wonder Girl's voice called. Mammoth was knocked away, and Venus came running to face Icicle.
"Well well well, look like the side chicks are here," He sneered. Venus's fist flamed up.
Icicle ran at her, and the two fought hand to hand with the elements at their fingers. They fought, until Icicle increased his icy fist, getting the upper hand. He punched her away, sending her down.
Venus supported herself on one knee. She wiped blood from her mouth. She got up, flames around her fist.
"What are you gonna do? flick sparks at me?!" Icicle sneered. Audrey put her hands together, side by side, creating a flamethrower. Her anger fed it, the flame getting bigger and stronger.
Icicle took a knee as Venus got closer. The flames stopped as his icy armor was gone. She grabbed his shirt, sending a flaming fist to his face.
It was hard, and sent him down, only to be picked up again by the shirt
As she pulled her fist back for a second, someone grabbed it.
"The police are here," Wondergirl informed. Venus looked at her, before looking back at Icicle.
"Oh," She mumbled, snapped from her anger. She let him go, Wondergirl flew him over to police.
"C'mon. Let's go home," Wondergirl patted her back.
"I don't know what happened," Audrey explained to Dr. Becker, "The adrenaline was just so intense,"
Dr. Beatrice Becker, one of the scientist's at Cadmus; She had been assigned to help Audrey.
Audrey sat on a table, watching Dr. Becker
"Did he taunt you or insult you in anyway?" She asked.
"yes," Audrey muttered.
"There you go; Anyone would get angry at that," She insisted.
Audrey thought about it for a moment, before dismissing it.
"I guess," concern still hung in her voice.
"Audrey, were going to try something new today," She explained. Audrey raised a brow.
"Do you think you can fly; Because I can," Dr. Becker stated.
Audrey blinked, surprised. "F-fly?" She stuttered.
smiled. "Yes, fly. And no, I don't mean rocketing yourself ten feet for a few seconds. I mean flying high," She explained.
"Really?"
"Really," Dr. Becker said. "Your mother could fly," She said.
Audrey's face lightened. "You knew my mother" She asked.
Dr. Becker. "Cleary-Claire! Yes, I knew Claire," She smiled sheepishly.
Audrey looked at her, but dismissed it. It was a long time before anyone had seen her mother. Perhaps it was just a slip of the tongue.
"Alright, but let's get back to the subject," Dr. Becker insisted. "Stand in the designated area," She said.
Dr. Becker and Audrey made there way to training room.
"Stand there," Dr. Becker pointed to the designated square.
Audrey stood there, waiting for instructions.
"Focus on your flame," Dr. Becker said. "Focus your energy though your entire body," She instructed. Shock patches were applied applied to shoulders.
Audrey closed her eyes, putting her hands out on each side, letting flame swirl around her body. She felt strange, almost a tingling sensation.
It was uncomfortable and confusing.
The patches were more painful then ever, giving her very painful shocks until smoke arose.
They had been melted away
Suddenly Audrey got a horrible sick feeling. She opened her eyes. She wasn't floating but her body shook uncontrollably, her skin turning a pale yellow; like magma.
She gasped, dropping. She fell to the floor, her body still trembling. She looked towards Dr. Becker
"What was that?!" She gasped. The Doctor looked her over.
"Your power are reaching whole new level's," She smiled. "Your's are improving greatly; Your getting stronger and stronger! The patches couldn't even handle them."
"Y-ya," Audrey said weakly. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable in the lab.
" I think I'm gonna go home," She told doctor Becker nodded.
Audrey sat in the kitchen, making herself dinner. She wore Black fuzzy pants and a blue sweater; comfort clothes.
She felt terrible. That surge of power; she never felt that way before. It was scary, to say the least. She held her upper arms, getting chills. She rubbed her head, walking to the sink. She stood over it for a moment, thinking she would throw up.
Nothing
She wasn't sick, she reminded herself. Just nervous.
She turned back too the toasted chicken sandwich she made, only for it to be gone. She turned back again, started to see a figure beside her.
He wore a black shirt and yellow boxers.
"Impulse!" She yelped, surprised. She didn't recognize him without his costume for a moment.
He stood there, nonchalantly eating the sandwich she made.
"Sorry bou't the sandwich," He said, food in his mouth. "Didn't see ya when I ran by," He explained.
"It's fine; I wasn't that hungry," She mumbled.
Impulse blinked. "You ok?" He asked. He put down his sandwich, looking at her. "You seem upset," He asked.
"I'm ok," Venus said. "I just feel...overwhelmed," She explained. She didn't want to tell him Everything.
"Wanna watch a movie?" Impulse. Venus raised a brow. Impulse already pulled a bag of popcorn, emptying it into a pot. He put it out to Venus, who understood. She placed a hand under it, using the heat from her hand to pop it. Impulse zipped around, putting it into a bowl.
"A movie?" She questioned. Then she remembered. They weren't in the cave anymore. T.V was right upstairs. Nightwing was out with Miss Martian and Superboy, while Beastboy had already fallen asleep.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Audrey asked, walking up the stairs to the higher level.
"Helped Beast Boy moved, then hanged a little. We were gonna watch it, but he passed out after 8:00 pm," He explained.
"Oh," Audrey said. "Well, feel free to stay here tonight. The couch isn't bad," Audrey explained.
The two sat on the couch, Impulse putting the dvd in the player and back to the couch in a zip. Audrey clicked the remote, starting the movie.
The two watched for a moment, before Audrey turned to Impulse
"Impulse-"
" Call me Bart,"
"Ok, Bart," Venus looked at him seriously. "I need too ask you something," She said. "I'm just really curious," She explained beforehand.
"About what, Audrey?" Impulse asked, throwing some popcorn into his mouth.
"Did you really come here as a tourist?"
"I guess," Bart said. "The future I was living in wasn't that great," He explained. "I guess, I did want to see life before it went on the mode,"
"The mode?" Audrey grinned lightly.
Bart smiled, snorting a bit. He looked over, noticing a red mark on her shoulder.
"What's that," Bart asked pointing. Audrey turned, looking at her shoulder. She hadn't noticed before, either.
"I don't know," She answered. "I didn't even notice it; let's get back to the movie," She said, hoping to change the subject.
"Crash," Bart smiled. They both turned to the movie. Bart stuffed his face with popcorn, and Audrey ate slowly, her worries disappearing and her appetite returning.
Just two kids watching a movie on a Friday night.
"Aww," Miss Martian giggled as she leaned over the couch. "Someone, get my phone," She grinned.
Superboy walked upstairs, followed by Nightwing.
"For what?" Superboy asked, raising a brow.
"Whisper; Whisper!" She exclaimed quietly. "Can't you see there cuddling?!"
"Cuddling?" Superman and Nightwing both questioned.
"Isn't it cute?" Miss Martian smiled. Nightwing and Superboy looked at each other.
"Cuddling? They look like they're trying to strangle each other," Nightwing said reluctantly.
It was true; Audrey was half slipped off the couch. One leg was angled over Bart, the other straight. Her arms were curled into her chest, and a small line of drool went down her mouth, and her head was turned on an awkward position on the couch arm.
Bart's hand was still in the popcorn, and some popcorn in his mouth. In a running position, one leg off the couch. One arm was wrapped around Audrey's leg, the other off the couch into the bowl. His head laid on the couch, having fallen off the pillow.
They look as if they had lost a battle.
"Should I move them?" Miss Martian asked.
"let 'em sleep," Nightwing grinned. "Next time they get rebellious, tell we have pictures. Beside's, they have to go to Black Canary Tomorrow for counseling,"
Miss Martian smiled, looking over to Superboy, who smiled. They stared at each for a moment, blushing, before looking away.
The both walked down the stairs, avoiding each other's gaze.