"Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape. "

...

"Her body was a prison, her mind was a prison. Her memories were a prison. The people she loved. She couldn't get away from the hurt of them."

The Cave

September 19

20:20 EDT

"On other news; we've gotten word that billionaire Bruce Wayne has reneged all partnerships and dealings with Lexcorp and its subsidiaries on accounts he would not divulge. Who knows what this might mean for both Wayne Enterprises and Lexcorps' future in business. . . . "

Olivia leaned over from her slump on the couch to turn off the television. She finally got out from the glares of her new 'teammates' and was looking forward to some calming, mindless entertainment. But even that had to be ruined by the news, although she should have expected that. Never watch the news channel if you want to stay in a good mood. She should have at least learned that since her liberation.

By now, if he didn't already, Luthor would know she spilled the beans on him. Her capture or death probably wouldn't have been high on his to-do list before. Now she was sure that she was going to get the brunt of his anger. Besides, it's not like he had the most stable of relationships with Wayne. He spent all that time and effort, just for it to be blown to bits by her running mouth.

"Well, I didn't like him much anyway," she mumbled to herself, "and I don't owe him anything."

Without anything else to do she stood up, stretched, and began her wandering around the mountain's insides. The mini heroes hadn't felt the need to show her around, except for her new room. More like her designated living space. It wasn't hers and she wasn't about to call it that. It was a bland room with gray walls and floor, with the farthest wall being made of the rocky material of the cave. She already had scrapes on her arms from where she elbowed it on accident, the surface was rough and had small, stinging points that were difficult to see but easily felt. Although they crumbled once they made contact with her skin. At least she had a respectable bathroom now, with a full bathtub and shower combination, a toilet with a mirror above it, and a sink. It was more than she had before.

Olivia felt that she would be spending a lot of time in her newly assigned bedroom. The prospect of that would not nearly be so bad if she had any of her stuff with her. Over the past two months she had been collecting little trinkets and toystuffs that she was fast growing fond of. Not to mention the expensive electronics she . . . acquired. If by illegal means.

Her computer especially was important to her. Once she got the hang of using it, it became her main means of learning about the world around her. Stumbling around the streets asking people about childish and ignorant things was no way to gain knowledge. Not only would people just brush her off, but she would have no idea if they were being serious and truthful about it.

Olivia's thoughts broke up as she looked around herself. She had taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in front of the door to a work-out room. Not feeling particularly excited about returning to her room to do nothing and being a girl to seize an opportunity when it arises, she walked inside.

Outfitted with training machines she didn't know the name for, except the treadmills which she had a dangerous encounter with before, she felt a small grin take place of the frown on her face. She had more than enough energy, and time, to burn.

"Thank goodness the team had a mission to go on," she thought happily. "No-one to glare, bother, or otherwise harass me."

All but one, that is. She couldn't believe that she had to have a babysitter of all things. What was she going to do, go out and get assassinated or something? Not likely.

Unfortunately, without all those distractions, she was left with her thoughts. On more than one occasion during her experiments with the exercise equipment Olivia thought about her recent employer, Lex Luthor. She knew from word on the street that he wasn't one to be messed with, and that he could be extremely cunning and ruthless when the situation or desire called for it. He had contacts with a large number of super-villains and deadly mercenaries who would be more than happy to relieve him of some money for a job.

With so many ways to gain resources and information, Olivia reasoned that he would know something about Cadmus Labs. Or, if she was lucky, who ran the operations inside. All of her wheedling and obedience to that vile man and his dimwit thugs all washed down the drain when she got captured. What a waste. But what kind of girl would she be if she couldn't improvise?

She would use the heroes as a shield while simultaneously trying to gain their trust, and hopefully getting onto whatever track of Cadmus she could find. On her own, if need be. Cadmus took her childhood away, cheated her out of growing up and filling her life with special memories you can only get when you're young. Of course, her own mothe- the woman that gave birth to her was at fault too. She wasn't worth it though; she could rot in a hole for all Olivia cared about her. Oh, who was she kidding?

It still hurt like it did all those years ago. The memories came every time she fell asleep; over and over they played until Olivia woke up crying. It was either that or grotesque nightmares of the slimy Cadmus hallways.

She just wanted them to know what she went through. She wanted them to pay. So what if she was forced to manipulate and use the people around her. They were just a means to an end. Olivia would never care about them, right?

Now it was high time she found a way out of this forsaken cave.

Why, just why, did Red Tornado have to leave? Now Kid Flash had to oh so spectacular job of watching the new girl. Who, might he add, just so happened to still work for the bad guys only yesterday! He just didn't understand why they would let her onto the team. His team!

What was he supposed to do while the others were out having fun and going on a mission? Play cards with that hot- er, possibly evil mastermind Olivia? No way. Just no, he still had some dignity left. Speaking of her, where had she gone?

Kid had been alternatively watching the monitor that showed the girl and pigging out on junk food. She had stayed in her room for a good couple hours, came into the lounge to watch the news, and then. . .

Ah, she was in the workout room. Kid Flash whistled. She looked good- er, she was very athletic-

"Oh come one!" he groaned. "She stole from your best friend, dude! Not cool." He was all alone and he still couldn't get out of the mess his brain made. She ended up doing all the machines for at least a half hour each, except for the treadmill for some reason. Maybe she didn't like running. What a horrible thought.

Shouldn't the mission be done already? It's been hours for crying out loud! It could be that they're staying out later on purpose; after all he had been pranking them again recently. You would think that by now he would have learned to ease up a bit.

His hand lazily plunged back into the foil bag of chips, only to find to his dismay that his last bag was empty. Kid Flash was bored now. Bored to tears and without any food. Just as he was about to get up to strike a conversation (he was desperate, all right?), he noticed that Olivia finished her exercising and left the room.

With his speed he could catch up to her in no time, but he was sort of curious where she would go next. Well, why not ask? He was anxious to do something, anything. So much that he couldn't care less if she was a criminal- ex-criminal?

Just a flash later and he found her. He could see her tense up the moment she heard him approach. Was it she didn't like him or was she trying to sneak off somewhere? The answer to that was easy, everybody like him and that left just one answer.

"Hey, where you off to?" he asked nonchalantly.

For crying out loud, all she wanted was to be left alone right now. Why was Kid Flash even bothering her in the first place? As far as Olivia could tell, he didn't like her. Just like all the others. She didn't have a problem with it, but why force her into unwanted conversations? What an ignoramus. Ha, she heard that word last week and had been waiting all that time just to use her bit of newfound vocabulary.

Supposedly, she could just keep walking but in high probability the idiot would just follow. Possibly while talking . . . best to get this over with quickly.

"To my room," Olivia replied blandly. Her cheery disposition she had, while completely faked, when she was first introduced quickly disappeared as the day wore on and her patience wore thin. "Is that a problem? Or do I need to check in with you before I take a shower?"

She noticed a slight blush appear on his face. No clues were forthcoming as to why his face was turning pink. It's possible his speed and high metabolism kept his body temperature higher than a normal person's, maybe he just . . . overheated? It was the likeliest option that Olivia could think of, it's not like she said anything embarrassing.

"No, no," he answered quickly, "I just need to know where you are. It's sorta my job right now- until the others get back, that is."

"I'm aware," she muttered. "If that's all you needed to know then I'll be on my way."

"Why don't I walk you to your room?"

Oh, please don't. She may have wanted to extract information from these heroes while she was here, but not him. To soon would it be if she never saw him again. There was just something about him she couldn't explain that grated on her nerves. It could be the incessant talking, even if it wasn't directed at her or his lack of privacy, for starters. To think she had only just met the guy a few hours ago. Olivia didn't know whether to be impressed or not, usually she could tolerate most people for a good amount of time. After all, each person was a new experience for her.

"That's really not necessary, I'm sure there are a lot of other things you need to get done around here."

"For one, I don't. And for two, you're heading in the complete opposite way. Unless the rooms aren't where you're going. . ."

He just wasn't going to give up. With a defeated sigh she lifted her arm in a, 'lead the way' motion. And she swore to whatever might be able to hear her, if he started talking she didn't care if she had to resort to plugging her ears. She was starting to regret this decision already. They were practically, what was it called, bi-polar. Either they ignored her completely or they wouldn't leave her alone.

Plus, they didn't even show her where the kitchen was earlier. Damn heroes.

Kid Flash may not have been the most observant of teenagers at times, but he could tell from one look that the girl walking behind him was in a foul mood. He could understand though. He did force her into his company after all. But he needed to keep an eye on her and he was bored.

So far she hadn't even yelled at him. Sighed and rolled her eyes, yes, but that was weak. This was his new game for the moment; annoy the new girl until she snapped. It was going to be both a fun time and a way to test her patience so he knew for future reference.

He just needed questions that would really get her blood going. Ask about her tragic (or maybe not-so-tragic) backstory? Nah, there is no way she would tell him of all people.

"Hey," he said suddenly. Why think too hard about this anyway? Just roll with the punches, he figured. "What got you into villainy in the first place? Bad parent issues, Never got enough attention as a child, Not that I'm sayin' those justify stealing and stuff, I'm just curious."

Surprisingly, she chuckled softly. If it was a tad darkly, who was he to say? After a moment, she quieted down and spoke in a detached voice. "Who said anything pushed me into it in the first place, maybe I just like it."

Kid Flash stopped and turned around in disgust, looking her square in the eye. "But why," he asked, "why go out to steal and hurt good people?"

"Why not?" stepped around him and continued walking. "I think I can find my way back from here."

The speedster would have stepped to follow her, but his earpiece chose that moment to let him know someone was on the other line. "Yes?" he spoke hotly.

"Uh, everything alright there buddy?"

"Oh hey, Rob. That new girl and I were just talking. What's up?"

"We'll be at the Cave in a few minutes, thought I'd give you a heads-up."

"Thanks man, see you in a few."

"Are you sure everything's fine? You don't seem all that gruntled."

"You and were words, I swear. Really, Rob, I am fine. She's just- I don't get her, you know? She's hiding something, I just don't know what. How far along are you? Have you found anything out?"

"No, not yet Kid. It's like she never existed. I need to narrow down the parameters somehow and dig deeper. I'll let you know once something comes up."

"Alright, Robin, then in the meantime, we'll do what Batman and Superman asked us to do and keep an eye on her."

"Sounds good, Robin out."

Kid Flash let out a sigh. Man, was he hungry. He wondered if Miss Martian would be up for shopping soon. . .

Justice. Oy vey, she hated that pompous word like nothing else. Cadmus scientists would say it all the time. That she was a weapon of justice, for justice. Justice was a word used by people who wanted an excuse. Why should she contribute to that?

Those stupid heroes thought they knew everything. They really were so confident that their good intentions were enough. Olivia sighed, burying her head into her bed sheets. What was she even doing? She was free now, wasn't she? Maybe she should just enjoy it while it lasted.

She sighed again as she scratched her fingernails on the cave wall beside her bed, knowing that while Cadmus was free to hurt more people she couldn't give up. Not just yet. They were relentless; if they lost her they would just find another person to replace her. Or try to get her back. Both thoughts were equally horrifying.

But she wasn't going to get anywhere trapped in this cave. If she couldn't use the doors or zeta tubes then she would have to make her own exit. The problem was how a where. Obviously the safest place would be the room she was laying in now. Hopefully, the heroes here would respect the basic principles of privacy.

While she was thinking, a piece of the wall she was scraping at broke off. Then it dawned on her, she could tunnel under the mountain. With either Kid Flash's speed or Superboy's strength it should be doable. A lot of hard work, yes, but doable.

Not wanting to meet up with Kid Annoying again so soon, Olivia wondered if the team members were back yet. Only one way to find out, she supposed. So, with weary determination she got up and put on a smile. Perhaps if she got out of this whole mess in one piece she would take up acting, it looked like fun.

As she traveled down the hallways closer to the lounge area, she could begin to faintly make out voices. It looks like she had good timing. Olivia sat on her heels and wrapped her arms around her knees and watched.

The junior heroes looked tired, but happy. Interactions between each other looked easy and Olivia felt a little envious, not understanding how they could be friendly so effortlessly and without expecting anything in return. It's definitely not how the other people she met acted.

Even if she didn't care much for the heroes' mindsets and ideals, she was fascinated by them. Although you would never get her to admit that to anyone even if you tried your hardest. The bright costumes were entrancing.

Her own costume, if you could call it that, was black with only a splash of color. If you wanted to sneak places you couldn't wear bright colors, as it was told to her. But she saw it didn't stop Robin at all.

Robin. It was who she associated with her escape from Cadmus. Technically, he, Aqualad, and Kid Flash all contributed but it was Robin who was the first person outside of Cadmus she even talked to. And while she hated the weakness, she had become attached to him from afar, almost looking to him as an idol of sorts.

If she was going to be completely truthful to herself, it was the main reason she convinced Batman to let her join the Team. She was going to find a way to repay him, along with Aqualad and Kid Flash. Besides, she promised herself she would find a way. She didn't know much, but she knew she wasn't the kind of girl to break a promise. Not like her mother. Not like her father, who always said they would be there for her.

Olivia snapped herself out of her thoughts. Superboy was walking her way. All she needed was one innocent brush of her skin and his. . .

She wasn't going to be trapped again. She would always find a way out, this she promised to herself.

A/N: Hey guys, long time no see! Aheh, uh well school started back up so if I get all my daily work done I might have time to slip onto here and write. But just to let you know I'm still grounded, but I doubt I'll get caught. I can just say I'm writing an essay or something. I'm started to seriously doubt I'll ever get pardoned from my bad grades. ugh.

Thanks for reading guys. Hopefully, you guys are liking this story. I have a general outline for the plot but each chapter is written mostly extempore. So if you guys want to see anything within the next chapters just ask and I'll try my hardest to incorporate it, if you want.

Please review to give me pointers on how to improve, or what you like/dislike about it. Each critique will help me make my writing better. Thanks!

~Piggy out