Disclaimer: While I do okay at world building, I don't own Victorious or any of it's characters. So, yea…

:}

David was surprised, later that evening, when he found his youngest moping in the living room. "Whats wrong, Tori?"

"Nothing, it's just..." The morose Vega girl gave a sight. "Jade sent a mass text, letting us know she won't be able to hang out any more."

"Did she say why?" He asked.

"She got in trouble, and has a chizload of community service to do." Tori groaned. "Jade really needed to learn not to take so many risks. But no, she went and trespassed on the house where they filmed 'The Scissoring.' That, and she's always pulling one prank or another, usually on me. But despite those pranks, that attitude, she means well." Her shoulders shrugged, as she found more to say. "I mean, we're friends now, despite her bad attitude. She'd helped me, more then once, and I help her when I can." A momentary sob was chocked back. "But now, cause she had to go do whatever, she won't be around." Brown doe eyes looked at her father. "Daddy, how can I be her friend if she's not around?"

"Was she kicked out of school?" He asked, already knowing she wasn't.

"No, but she'll be so busy she won't have any time to hang out with any of her friends." Tori groaned.

"Tori, she has to pay her debt to society." David tried to explain. "Sometimes, in paying that debt, some sacrifices have to be made. At least she didn't wind up in prison."

"I know." Tori sighed. "But at least, in prison, that'd be the excuse for us not being able to be friends any more. This, it's bad. I worked so hard to be her friend, and now, when I was making progress, she went and did this. I mean, I think it has to do with her breaking up with Beck last week. She was no longer constrained, so she felt like she had nothing to lose. Or maybe Beck broke up with her to stop her from doing whatever, and it backfired, cause Jade can be stubborn sometimes. Most of the time." A quick shake of her head ended that thought. "Whatever the reason, she's gonna need her friends to get through this, and we won't be able to be there for her. I don't think she's ready for this."

"She'll just have to tough it out." The father said. 'I had no idea her hooks were that deep in my baby girl. Maybe it's a good thing we were able to catch her this time. Who knows what kind of danger she's have brought to my family.'

David didn't give it another thought, other then the occasional worry about what kind of danger Jade really represented to the world. 'Black Dahlia will be reformed, maybe. Odds are against it, cause not one candidate has completed the program yet. They're too set in their ways.' He reminded himself. 'Tough love isn't always easy to take. I just hope that Jade's up to this...'

"David, I'm worried." Holly said, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"About what?" He asked, making sure his children weren't close enough to overhear, just in case this was police business. Holly had been involved with the police Metahuman programs since he'd met her, having agreed to be his wife partially in order to see what kind of metahuman abilities, if any, their children would have.

"Black Dahlia." Holly said. "I'm not so sure working with her is going to help you with your long term plans. I mean, will she really be able to help keep the street safe?"

"You have no idea how powerful she is." David said, letting out a low whistle.

"Any chance I can get a look at her genetics?" Holly asked, her voice hinted at how excited she was feeling at these new possibilities.

"She's a mystic." He told her. "Magic, not genetics, as the basis for her power."

"I was led to believe those tended not to be that strong." Holly said, looking out the window. "She the exception?"

"I have no idea." The police officer said. "But she took on me and Constable, and would have beaten us, if she'd had a better idea of how her powers worked. And better tactics. Hell, better tactics, we'd have lost, and she'd be out there, a threat to who knows how many people. No, it's a good thing we caught her when we did, cause she's so powerful. Still, I'll admit, not so sure she's savable."

"Then you need to talk to Mister Alexander." Holly recommended. "He's intimately acquainted with Project Redemption, so he'll have a good idea of the best way to handle her."

"Yea, I should give him the heads up anyways." David sighed.

"Wait, is she a student at Hollywood Arts? Are our children in danger?" For that moment, Holly felt maternal. Being a good mother wasn't one of her strong suites. She was in this for the science, regardless of managing to make David love her. She'd grown to care about him, and she did love her children, but the scientist in her wanted to see what kind of abilities, if any, his altered cells would give their children. Already, Trina was promising, while Tori had interesting abilities she had no idea how to focus. 'Too bad neither one of them wants to be a police officer. I mean, The Blue Generation Initiative would love it if I was able to recruit at least one full time. Warpath used to be such a main stay...'

"One of Tori's little band of friend, actually." David admitted, not worried about giving away secrets. Holly, with her many connections, would be able to find out anyways. "But I'm going to make sure she's so busy she won't have time to put our children in danger."

"Good." Holly said. "Too bad she's a mystic. Damn, you say she's a powerhouse."

"Yep." David agreed. "And I promised she be my sidekick, just as soon as the trainers from Project Redemption say she's ready. So, assuming she makes it through, yea, motivation."

"I'm still gonna look into this." Holly warned her husband. "If she's that strong, I need to know more…"

David watched his wife almost salivate at what she might learn from this girl she'd barely cared about, despite how close the goth had gotten to her children. Now she was interesting.

Jade sat there, in her room, not sure what to do with herself. 'So, they've given me my schedule, and it's not as bad as it could be. Just a couple of hours each day. Plus, I can shift things if necessary, for school projects, plays and the like. I CAN still get my chiz done. The only thing I won't have time for is friends.' She sighed. 'It's okay, who needs friends anyways. I'm the Black Dahlia, and I held my own against both Blue Steel and Constable. I'm no one to mess with. And the world will know, soon enough...' A dark thought drifted through her head, as darker magics, the kind she'd avoided in her studies, called out to her, promising a way out of this dilemma.

However, she quickly let that go. 'Grandpa, I'm sorry. I had no idea I'd just mess things up. Maybe we'll get lucky and I'll get seriously hurt in the line of duty, and then they won't make me their slave.' She settled in to cry, not happy about the current turn of events.

It was hardly the first time in her life that she had to face things that were her own fault, but this time, the issues that were messing her up were totally on her, and she knew it. Jade had, after all, made one choice that she felt was right, and suspected that a different choice would have let her escape, her identity still her own. But regret warred with those darker thoughts, until she settled the argument by reminding herself that this, bad as it was, was what her grandfather wanted. She felt she owed him so much, the lest she could do was go at it alone for the time being. 'Maybe they'll let me talk to Grandpa? I know he's a criminal, but I need some comfort...'

The next day, Jade walked into Hollywood Arts and skillfully avoided her friends. 'Seeing Beck with Tori will only hurt, and I'm not ready for that. Not yet. So, just avoid them for the now, and focus on what I have to do. Then, after, I can maybe try to salvage a friendship or two. Two years from now, after they've all gone away, and I'm left here trying to find my way in this business. No, I HAVE to make it in show business, cause my grandfather wants me to. He wants me to be a film maker, be legitimate. I don't care if no one has ever graduated from Project Redemption, I'll be the first, and I'll make it, just to show my father I'm not some mindless thug, and neither was grandpa.'

Across the hall, her friends were dealing with business as usual, not yet aware that Jade wouldn't come talk to them. "So, Tori, I know it's kinda soon, but I'm free, and I was wondering if maybe we could go out for real? I mean, Jade pretty much said it'd be okay, back before she and I got together again."

"Yea, but you also said something, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the one for you." Tori said. "You told me you like your girls to be opinionated, with a big mouth, and a bit of a challenge. I'm not really any of those things."

"Yea, but you're hot." Andre said. "Wait, I didn't say that, cause you're my best friend, and I'm not trying to date you. I mean, it's not that your not attractive, cause Hot, it's just I like being friends."

"Easy there, big fella." Beck steadied the musician. "Yes, she's a beautiful girl, but we don't need to remind her of that. She knows. Besides, I'm thinking that maybe Tori's various drama's may be the kind of challenge I like. So, Tori, I'll get it if you still say no, but will you go out with me?"

"No." Tori said.

"Why not?" Beck asked. He'd almost whined, but his innate coolness was too strong to just be that needy. Barely.

"I told you." Tori said. "Besides, I can't do that to Jade, even if she's no longer with the group. Look, I get it, she'd be okay with us dating. I still don't feel comfortable dating you. I'll just find myself someone, all on my own."

"So, Beck, maybe you should give yourself some time." Robbie recommended. "I mean, you only broke up a week ago, and it's all still fresh."

"Except they work so well together." Cat sighed.

"You won't even admit you're interested in Robbie." Beck told the petite girl. "Sorry, that wasn't appropriate."

"Even if it's true." Tori said. "Sorry, did I say that out loud?"

"Yes, you did." Cat huffed. Only, a moment later, her face broke out into a smile. "Say, did you hear about Blue Steels latest appearance?"

"I heard he and Constable got into a fight with some mega villain?" Andre said. "Course, that s hardly new, but this time, there's like no information on the fight. The aftermath, that's kinda obvious. Whomever it was tore up the streets, left hardened earth all over the place, and ripped a police transport vehicle open. So, maybe someone strong?"

"Maybe." Tori said. "I don't like to think about the kinds of crazies they fight. I mean, yea, both are powerful, but in the superhuman world, both are low end."

Beck smiled. "Fearless, dedicated, strong and fast and well trained, but low end." He checked off. "But they also have an impressive win to loss ratio. The city's better off having them. And the criminal who challenged them, whomever it was, they're probably keeping them out of the news for a very good reason. Maybe the police are afraid of drawing the wrong kind of attention?"

"Maybe, but all I know is, I sleep better knowing we have police hero's out there, defending out lives." Robbie added.

"Still not going out with you." Cat told the nerdy boy. "I don't wanna risk out friendship. That's probably a very good reason Beck and Tori shouldn't date either. Plus, I don't want Tori getting buried in the desert." She leaned closer to Tori. "That might ruin whatever you were wearing."

"Buried in the desert usually means disposing of a body." Beck told the redhead. "As in dead."

"Oh, then I'd guess Tori wouldn't be as upset about the condition of her cloths." Cat said. "Then again, she shouldn't be caught dead in that peach shirt she wore last week."

From her place nearby, hovering at the edge of the group, Trina wanted to laugh at Cat's statement. However, she muffled that reaction, wanting to stay somewhat unnoticed. Her real goal that day was making sure Tori and her friends were okay. 'Jade was Black Dahlia. From what mom told me, she still is. Man, that's scary. She was that close to our family. I should find her, make sure she's not causing trouble. That's what mom wanted me to do anyways, so maybe it's a good idea. Just, she took on dad AND constable, at the same time, and with all their gadgets. I mean, god, I'm strong, and I can be stronger, stronger then dad. Question becomes, if I'm alone, can I stop her? Do I have nearly the power to stop her?'

Despite her trepidation, Trina still sought the goth out. Once she found Jade, Trina kept her distance, not wanting to be seen watching the girl. 'Luckily, she has no idea why I'm here, and despite the rumors, I do have friends. I've been able to use them as shields, so Jade doesn't really see me, just me and a few others hanging out before class. Speaking of, time to get moving...'

The kids at Hollywood Arts found that particular Monday to be extra tense, even though almost no one had a clue why. Only a couple of students knew that something was going on, and most of them just saw the hole in the main people, as Jade kept her distance. But it was just the beginning, the first day where she was out, so no one knew what was going on or if Jade would be back soon. But they did see how Jade avoided her friends, how they seemed not to care, and how sad the whole thing made the goth.

Trina was also seen skulking about, and everyone assumed she knew something was going on. What no one seem to understand was that Trina wasn't keeping an eye on Jade to see if there was an opening for her to get with Beck, but seeing if she was needed to try and put the sad girl down. Jade, for her part, noticed Trina, but because the older girl could hide among some of her friends, the sight only reminded Jade of how alone she was now.

As the day wore on, Trina sent her father a couple of texts, letting him know that Jade was keeping her distance. 'Good.' David thought, even as he made arrangements to head over to the school. 'I'll have Trina continue to keep an eye on her, but right now, it seems like Jade's taking her part of the deal seriously. Plus, Jade's suffering, just what every criminal needs to remind them that there are consequences for breaking the law.'

David sent his eldest a couple of texted replies, then called to make an appointment to see Lane Alexander, the counselor at Hollywood Arts. The man had also been an adviser for the Blue Generation Initiative, one of the projects that Holly was also heavily involved with. "Yea, I'm gonna go talk with Lane, make arrangements for him to keep an eye on miss West. I have my eldest doing it, but she has class, and won't always be there to keep our new project from going off the rails as time goes by."

"He said to drop by just after lunch." The voice on the other end said. David didn't much care who was manning the switchboard that day, he just knew that he needed to make sure all the precautions were in place, given the newest estimates on just how much power Jade might have.

Back at school, in the last class before lunch, Jade found herself face to face with her friends. It was Sikowitz, and while she had one or another of the gang in her other classes, Jade had again managed to avoid interactions up until that moment. The raven haired girl followed her new protocol, sneaking in right before the bell, taking whatever seat was open regardless of how bad it may be, and keeping her head down. When the class was over, she'd either be the first out, or linger to ask some made up question to the teacher, thus keeping her from accidentally running into her friends. Jade had even loaded up on her books, planning on carrying the extra weight all day, just because Robbie's locker was right next to hers. And so far, it'd worked, with Jade basically being a ghost at Hollywood Arts.

Only, today, like many days, Sikowitz was late. 'How, when he has a class right before ours, does he manage to be late?' Jade thought as she made busywork fumbling through her overloaded bag, looking for a book she already found.

"Jade. Psst, Jade. You there?" Cat whispered, just loud enough that the whole class could hear her.

"Sorry, busy." Jade tried, not ready to explain that she was supposed to distance herself from her friends so she wouldn't have any distractions from her new duties in Project Redemption.

"Oh come on, Jade, just talk to me." Cat groaned. "Why did you say you wouldn't be able to go with me to the mall? We hardly get to spend any time together any more, now that I moved to Venice of America. The mall would let me shop for materials I'd need to make my newest dress, while you could find a place to scare the children. You like scaring children, and it gives us a good timer for my shopping, since they usually kick you out after half an hour or so."

Jade wanted to correct the girl, let her know that she didn't always want to scare the children. Usually, Jade just people watched until she felt Cat had spent enough time and money, then had security escort them out. It was why, despite being kicked out a dozen plus times, she was welcomed back in that mall. But Jade also didn't know how to explain to Cat she was on probation, and couldn't hang out any more.

"She's on probation." Beck said. "That means, for her, she has her scheduled controlled. She may even have been put into a group home, and would be expected to head straight there after school. No, anything she wants to do will have to be approved by her probation officer, maybe her group home or foster family, and then there would have to be supervision. And Cat, do you know what will happen to her if she doesn't follow their procedures?"

"They'll make her wear pink?" Cat guessed. "Oh Jade, you'd look so sweet in pink."

"They'd send her to jail." Beck corrected. "Big persons jail, where she'd stay until a judge decided on the best way to correct her behavior. So no, she can't hang out, and I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to do a background check on her friends, to see if she would be allowed to even call us, assuming she gets phone privileges."

'Wow, Beck knows a lot about the system.' Jade thought. "Sorry, Cat, but that's the reason I've been so distant. It hurts, thinking about how I may not be able to see you guys. I want to hang out, have lunch, but they told me to stay away from my regular friends until you could be vetted. I'm only doing whats best for me right now." Jade's voice was unusually soft, as she desperately wanted this conversation to be over. 'They say no one has ever completed the Project Redemption training. Gonna try, but in case I fail, I don't want to go through the pain of having lost them too. So sorry, Cat, but right now, I don't have a friend in the whole world.'

The door flew open and Sikowitz raced in. "Sorry I'm late but I tried to go to the store during the break between classes, and it took a bit longer then I expected."

Andre chirped in. "Wait, there's like five minutes between classes, and it takes that long to get to the closest store. What made you think you would make it there and back?"

"Power walking." The acting teacher said. "Only I wasn't as fast as I thought I was. Apparently, when I timed myself to calculate my speed, I failed to carry, or rather, placed the decimal point in the wrong place. I was so sure I could get there and back. I just needed to be sure, and so..."

"And you couldn't test it during lunch?" Beck asked.

"Don't think we're gonna like this answer." Tori warned.

"I needed a more precise timer then my watch." Sikowitz insisted. "But then, after I was already out and on my way, I realized I could have just used the timer on my cell phone. So, jokes on me, and we didn't miss too much class, cause I got a ride back. Now then, based on this event, I want each of you to write a scene about a fail in your own life. Try to make it about your own fails… Jade…." The eyes on the whole class locked on the dark haired girl. "But anyways, write, and we'll break into pairs, or more, and act out the easier of those scenes."

As the class got busy writing, the quirky teacher slid in next to Robbie, and addressed Rex. "So, what did I miss?"

"Turns out Jade got busted over the weekend, and was assigned parole." The mannequin said. "So now she's not hanging with the gang any more, cause she's gonna have to let the man check out all her fiends. Course, while Rob here will be allowed, assuming his stalking and sex based offenses aren't brought to light, I'm too dangerous to let near her, which is too bad, cause now that she and Beck are done, I'm the kind of bad boy she needs in her life. A little danger with me could have satisfied her, thus letting her avoid whatever bit of vandalism she got clipped for."

"I see." Sikowitz said, looking out the window. 'Jade, can you hear my thoughts?'

Jade looked up, startled, only to see something near by, and then refocus her mind on the task at hand. 'Jade, can you...'

'Yes, I can hear them, now leave me alone.' Jade mentally snapped. 'I'm trying to write about the time my grandfather helped me build a tree fort in his back yard. I wanted one, but my parents rented, and had no desire to build anything for the landlords. So after they said no, my grandpa let me make one in his place. I had no idea what I was doing, and neither did he, so he called in someone he knew. Only, by then I'd already ruined at least a dozen boards. Naturally, after letting me go nuts, destroying half of what I built, he comforted me as I cried over not being able to make my vision real, then made me a root-beer float. And, when I next visited him, there was a surprisingly good approximation of my rough sketch build in the tree. Grandpa had his professional friend help him make it between my visits. I...' Her thoughts drifted to the joy of her grandfathers wanting to make her happy, as well as how much she wanted to do it on her own. She didn't even blink at the thought of her favorite teacher being some kind of mystic, focusing instead on the brief flash of happy memories.

'So, what I wanted to ask was, this probation, does it have anything to do with the powerful mystic aura I've seen growing around you for the past few years?' The teacher asked, all the while managing to carry on a totally shallow conversation with Rex.

'Yes.' Jade admitted. 'I'm the Black Dahlia.'

Sikowitz looked shocked. 'Time travel…? No, how about...'

'I borrowed the name.' Jade mentally snapped, frustration growing as she tried to focus on the happy memory of her childhood fail. 'Now, can I please get this done?'

Sikowitz stood up. "Everyone carry on. I have other groups to check in on." After announcing that, he drifted off from group to group to see what was happening, leaving Jade very aware that she wasn't the only mystic in the room.

'I wonder why I never noticed?' She thought, reaching out with her mystic senses and not finding much around the teacher. But pushing a bit harder let her know there was an illusion of sorts covering his aura. 'Not as powerful as I am, but a lot more skilled in using what he has. Probably hides it so whatever bullies are out there won't notice him. Or maybe he just doesn't need to be noticed around so many hostages? No matter, now I know, and maybe I'll be able to use his advice as I move forward. Like, how the hell am I gonna make it through Project Redemption?'

The quirky teacher seemed to have forgotten about his students admission, but in reality he was researching what that name meant. 'I sent my spirit familiar out to gather what it could. Scary how quickly it got back to me. Jade made a mess of things, and in the process let the mystic world know just how strong she's grown. All without a proper teacher.' He focused on solutions. 'I need to talk to Mister Vega, let him know that Jade will need a mentor, someone knowledgeable in the mystic arts, if they want her to succeed. Having me there will give her a much better chance of succeeding in their attempts to reform her. After all, there are many many stumbling blocks she'll encounter along the way, and she needs someone to help her navigate, make it through, give her hope. Of course, my helping out, that means talking to Lane, cause Mister Vega doesn't know about my past. No big, I was one of the good guys. I shouldn't have too much trouble signing on, as long as they don't expect too much from Mister Cadabra's former sidekick. Then again, how much do you expect from a guy named Abra. Maybe I should change that, get me some respect, while honoring the past…'

:}

Okay, the Vega girls do have their own abilities. Plus, Jade is being isolated. Of course, Sikowitz, it seems, has a past. Lets see if that leads to anything, or if I'm just leaving yet another hanging plot point.

Thoughts?