Disclaimer: Wow, still don't own. So, anyways… Don't sue
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David found Beck working with Brad in the training room. "So, how'd things go?"
"The people who made the armor tried to think ahead, so the systems adapt quickly. However, even with that, Beck is still learning to walk. Boy fell down half a dozen times so far." Brad announced.
"Hay, at least I don't have to freak out when putting the armor on." Beck said.
"How long?" David asked.
"Three weeks, maybe more." Brad replied. "But that's a very fast pace, and it's more Beck's ability to pick this chiz up then the armor, which is trying to adapt to his movements, but will take a lot longer to figure this chiz out."
"Four weeks, and we get you flying, plus weapon training." Blue Steel said. "Then we introduce you to Black Dahlia. Man, this is going to be a trip."
"And Robbie?" Beck asked.
"We're working on him." The hero said, trying to sound noncommittal. 'Do I really want the most screwed up of Tori's friend as a part of this. Not that Jade was a picture of mental health, but to have Robbie? Why not just include Cat while I'm at it? No, lets keep the group small, manageable. The others, we'll keep an eye on them, and react as necessary.' He checked his watch. 'Gonna be a long, long day.'
As soon as he could, David made his way to Lane's office, via the back entrance, and from there to a changing room. Blue Steel was gone, and Officer David Vega took his place, walking into Hollywood Arts to see what his children were up to.
"Dave, got a moment?" Lane asked.
"Sure." David said, stopping to talk with the guidance councilor. He entered the mans office, suspecting they'd need a bit more privacy. "So, whats up?"
"Couple of things, actually." Lane started. "If you don't mind, I'd like to start off with Jade. She's been isolating herself lately, and I think it's those the rules you still have her under. Honestly, they're not helping."
"Because kids who isolate are more likely to develop antisocial personality traits, more prone to self harm, and criminal behavior." David paraphrased. "Yea, I already got that information from Holly, along with a list of other facts she's prepared, cause my wife likes to win, even when I don't have that much say in the matter. It's okay. I've agreed to several changes in the program that will provide her with more social support. I'm even gonna encourage her to go back to hanging out with her friends at lunch, once we get through a couple of hurdles."
"Like her training?" Lane asked.
"Like my youngest has decided to try and date her." David said. "Jade being isolated is making the early parts of the romance easier. Then, I can have Tori reintroduce her to the gang, just as long as we make sure she keeps up with her various training's. Hell, I even want her doing performances again. I just need to make sure she serves her sentence, and maybe becomes a better person along the way."
"So, Tori and Jade, huh?" Lane asked. "Sounds like there's a story behind it. Care to share, or is this something I won't understand?"
"How much do you know about Tori's powers?" David asked. "She explained them to us the other night, to help us better understand why this thing with her and Jade are happening as quickly as it did, and I kinda understand."
"I don't have proof yet, but given that Tori is working with Sikowitz, and he used to be Abra, Mister Cadabra's sidekick, I'd have to guess something mystical?" Lane started. "Only, Tori, like Trina, should have some inborn powers. So the question becomes, what kind of powers would you want training from a mystic for? Mental, maybe? Or possibly some kind of freaky side powers, like luck manipulation. Given her grades are good, but not grand, I'd say luck powers, cause she does tend to get things going her way. I'd also guess their there not really under her control quite yet."
"Nail on the head." David said, impressed. "Sikowitz taught her to wish for feelings, not specifics, cause sometimes the image in the mind doesn't match the reality. So, Tori put all her power to work finding her someone to love, a high school sweetheart who would be one of those story book romances, stay together until they're old and gray, and she got Jade."
"That would explain quite a bit now, wouldn't it?" Lane asked. "Tori's powers have to have their limits, but by choosing the Black Dahlia, she gives herself an edge, all without knowing that she's chosen someone who will be her protector when times get rough."
"Not just that." David continued. "Tori's probability manipulation will help Jade out too, giving Dahlia an edge she'll need in dealing with her power, as well as mystical complications that seem to pop up from time to time." It was a theory, but to the experienced hero, it made sense.
"I see, kind of a mutual protection thing." Lane said. "So, either of them even dimly aware of that, or do they just think they're suddenly attracted to each other?"
"Tori is very aware of how her powers work, but not why they chose Jade." David explained. "However, I should point out, according to Trina, they did have that semi-attracted to one another thing already going, and thanks to whatever, Tori hit on Jade right when she was vulnerable. It's a start. I suspect, while they can screw things up, that this could well be a romance for the ages."
"For the ages." Lane agreed. "And you're okay with this?"
"Took me a minute." The super hero admitted. "But it actually fits with Holly's plan to keep Jade grounded. Just, different love interest. And as I came to confirm what Tori's powers are, it makes them lasting as a couple all that much more likely. Right now, as I see things, I'm okay with it. I just need to make sure Jade becomes the kind of person I hope she can, while Tori doesn't get distracted, or think she can use her powers to do better."
"I doubt the first will happen, but it's always possible, as they go through their fights and reconciliations, that the latter will happen, more then once." Lane agreed. "So, that it, or is there anything else?"
"How's Warpath doing?" David asked.
"Warpath, now there we have a problem." Lane said. "Trina is so gifted, strong and quick and capable, with a good head on her shoulders in a crisis. All those aspects seem enhanced in Warpaths form. However, she has absolutely no desire to use that power, or to be a hero. She wants to sing, or dance, or do something in entertainment. Trina wants to be famous."
"I'll talk to her." David said.
"No, I suggest we wait, see how this whole involvement in project Redemption works out. I think, maybe, Trina needs to see the good she can do. Then, we'll just have to hope she finds something in entertainment she's good at, cause I don't need her frustrated and defeated. Again, trying to make heroes here, not villains." Lane's voice was grim, dire.
"I know my daughter." David said. "She's gonna somehow find her way to doing the right thing. We just need to be there to help if she gets a little lost along the way." He smiled. "Looks like my day just got planned out for me. Let me take care of something..."
With that statement, he walked out the door to make a call and have Blue Steel's car recovered. 'I'm just gonna be David today, spending time at Hollywood Arts to cover some police work, and spend some time with my girls. Jade knows who I am, that's gonna make this an even more interesting time. Maybe I'll take her to lunch with the girls? Nhaa, too early. Let the romance bloom, and I'll broach that subject later.'
Lane, for his part, called a student in, one of the few others who'd been a part of the Blue Generation Initiative. 'I need a spy in on this, if I'm gonna stay on top of things, and I must admit, given her abilities, she's one of the best. Not like I can keep her out, not if she's the least bit interested...'
Jade found herself feeling oddly relieved by Mister Vega's reaction, even as she realized that both the Vega parents were involved in her life now. 'At least now, things can't get much more complicated.' She thought. 'Now, to find my girl...' A smile crossed her face at the thought of her and Tori dating.
Lunch was different, because while Jade ate alone in the library, as usual, this time she wasn't feeling as isolated. Just today, Reggie returned her cell phone, one of the perks Holly had decided she deserved for putting up with Masters. 'Makes it a lot easier to contact me. Guessing that should have been my first clue that Masters wasn't planning on upholding his end of the deal, he refused to let me have a phone, even though it would make it so much easier to contact me in an emergency...'
The phone meant texting, with Tori and her exchanging messages. Each time the breaking glass sound cracked, the blue eyed girl was reminded that someone cared. 'I just hope we can work out visiting rights for Cat, cause I wanna eat outside with my friends. Man, who'd have thought that would be a possibility, as opposed to a longing I'd feel for the next few years, if not longer. Yea, I was moving towards a break, where I'd either give in, or rebel, and neither led to me earning my freedom. No, Masters wanted a slave, broken and servile, to follow orders and nothing else.'
However, while Tori was indeed exchanging texts with her girl, she was even further from the gang, having been taken out by her father. Her and Trina were at a restaurant, enjoying a nice meal with their dad. "So, this is nice." Tori observed.
"Yea, is mom gonna join us?" Trina added.
"I've invited her, but the new responsibilities, the new job, they kinda take up a lot of her time now." The police officer told the girls. "I'm just hoping, once we get all her ideas up and running, she'll have more time. With everything that's happening, we're gonna need to pull together as a family even more then ever before."
"What about Jade?" Trina asked. "No, probably too early for her. We wait for Tori here to be groping her in public, then invite her someplace where even my bold sister would feel bad invading her dress."
"TRINA!" Tori hissed, holding her voice down out of a strong desire not to make a scene.
"Jade has a long way to go before we trust her enough to involve taking her out." David said, keeping his calm. "I do like the changes we're starting to see in her, but the damage Masters did, on top of what her family has done, that may not be fixed so quickly. Holly assures me that Jade's moving in the right direction, but we need to keep pounding into her the idea that we care. That to the police, she's not just a weapon, but a person we want to have the happiest life the law would allow." He gave that a moment. "While I'm sure a little pampering would help, it's better we send the message in a way that still reinforces who we are and what we expect out of her. So instead of a lunch out, she gets martial arts training. She gets to learn how tough she can be, all the while discovering we do care about her health. So, that's who she is right now, someone we want something out of, but also a damaged girl who may have major trust issues as a result of her life, made worse by mister Masters program."
"Have you found someone for the crown?" Trina asked. "Not wanting to change the subject, but consider what I speculated, just the other night. We want her on board, contributing to that part of the program. So find someone, but make Jade a part of the choosing process, so she can feel better when the hero appears wearing that body."
"Your mother is considering that option." David assured his girls. "Now, Tori, just because we're letting you date a criminal doesn't mean we're gonna let your grades slip. We're watching, and we'll intervene if we have too. Powers or no, you need your education."
"Like book smarts and chiz." Trina told her sister. "I mean, think on this. They want me to become part of their force, maybe just a reservist, maybe more, but then they wanna push the book smarts, cause that's such a major part of the equation." Sarcasm edged the older girls voice.
David dropped his fork. "Dad, is everything all right?" Tori asked, now worried about what this action meant.
"Trina's right, we do need to teach Jade more then just book learning." The police officer said, looking at his oldest with a new sense of wonder. "Not enough to work on her physical abilities, and her knowledge, when her biggest weaknesses are tactical, and street smarts. Tactical, that we're set up to correct. But street smarts, that's a whole different kettle of fish. In time, we're gonna have to teach her how to interact with the streets, how to see whats there, and not ignore what our eyes usually just slide over."
Tori leaned over to her sister. "Um, any idea what he's talking about?" She tried to whisper.
"You girls, your gonna need to learn that too." David continued. "You're gonna have to learn how to read the streets, how to tell whats going on with the criminal element, not just in the form of crimes, but where the people are. You need to know how to read the streets." He smiled at his children. "I won't have time today, but maybe Saturday, we can go someplace, and I can show you the real Los Angeles. The city hidden within the city." His eyes were almost ablaze. "It's what training days are for anyways, so why not."
Tori smiled as as she texted her girlfriend, letting Jade know that her father was plotting something educational for her and her sister. 'This is gonna be a shock, I just know it...' She thought.
Still later, Jade found herself not wanting her ride to the police station. Tori was holding her hand, with Trina standing by, ready to take both her and her father home. They'd told Jade that their father had gotten a ride to work, then to the school, and as such was in need of a ride home. The goth just nodded along, not having any reason to counter their story.
"You should get going." Jade sighed. "My ride is here anyways, and I can't put this off. I have a workshop to attend, and they get pissy if I'm late."
"I'll miss you." Tori cooed at her girl.
"I'll miss you too." Jade said back, not wanting to get into one of those cutesy fights about who'll miss who the most.
"And your keeping this relationship secret from whom?" Trina asked. "Look, Tori, I need to get you home and then get myself out. I'm meeting a friend."
"Okay, lets go." Tori said, looking longingly at her girl.
"Man, that's happening fast, isn't it?" David noted. "Still, I should probably head back in, see about a few things. But once Trina gets me home, I can just drive myself."
"See you, Vega." Jade tossed out, then forced herself to go, because someone had too. 'God, Trina's right. We were practically making out in the main hall. Not gonna be much of a secret if we just put it out there. And while I'm at it, maybe I should just take out an add in the paper, letting people know I'm the Black Dahlia as well. No, gonna need to learn me some discretion, so I don't telegraph this to whomever might wanna use this against me...'
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So, David has realized tat some things need to be trained, and I'm thinking, not gonna cover those. Still, interesting development. Wonder what will happen when Jade meets Warpath? Guessing I'll get there, eventually.
Review. I wanna know your thoughts.