Outside the Vega residence, Robbie tried to stand as causally as he could, pulling on every ounce of cool he possessed in order to impress the busty older girl. "Mom will be here soon, so..." Trina smiled, and headed back inside.
"I thought I was gonna help you carry in groceries." Rob protested.
"Nah, just getting someone to do the manual labor for me." Trina tossed back. "Besides, mom does wanna talk to you. Didn't say why, just she had to have words with you, and it was important."
That left the Jewish boy standing outside, in the unfamiliar space near the garage, waiting for Misses Vega to show up. After a few moments, a voice brought his attention to the fact that he wasn't as comfortable with this part of the Vega home as he felt with other, more familiar parts. "Waiting for someone?"
"Mister, er, Officer Vega…?" Rob said, his mind searching for some kind of greeting. "Er, I was told to wait for your wife here, and now that I think about it, maybe Trina should have waited with me, cause this is awkward, and it's you. Not sure what your wife wants with me..."
"Oh, I'm well aware of what she wants." David said, walking up to the boy. "I just, they didn't tell me they were ready yet."
Uncomfortable, and oddly dirty, thoughts popped out of Robbie's head as David stood next to him. The younger man was confused, his mind trying to find anything that the woman might need to discuss with him. Anything that would include the odd, almost cryptic words of her husband. Thoughts failed the nerdy boy, who was left thinking, unable to clearly distinguish whatever was going on. He found himself wishing that Trina had stayed. She may not have liked him that much, but she was a far more familiar presence in his life. 'Besides, I crashed their viewing of that comedy, 'Terms of Endearment', and I doubt they've forgiven me yet.'
It wasn't long after that when Holly's car pulled up, and the boy watched as David greeted his wife. Soft words exchanged between the two, and then, with a flourish, he pointed to the boy.
"Robbie Shapiro." Holly said, smiling. "They're pulling the trigger on you." Her smile was odd, almost intimidating, while trying to be encouraging.
"Yea, looks like." David shrugged. "Look, I barley get to know anything about this, so I'll just be here, pretending I know more, while Holly explains everything to you. Me, just a bystander, making sure no one else overhears."
"Trina said you had groceries..." Rob said, looking for any type of cargo. The car was mysteriously empty.
"Groceries are driven to the front door, or maybe the back, cause then, all level ground." Holly said, glaceing behind Robbie to the tall flights of stairs that separated the house from it's garage, and the few lower rooms located down there. Rooms that held stored decorations, as well as an exercise room. Rooms Robbie had seen, back when Trina had him haul decorations up for that one Christmas. "Now, lets get down to business."
"Okay, whats up?" Rob tried, again, to sound casual. Inside, he could hear Rex chiding him for his lack of anything cool.
"We're almost ready to train you in the use of the Heroes Crown, in what we're calling The Enchantment Tests. However, Tet didn't sound like that thrilling of an acronym, so we're just going with Project Crown. You follow?"
"Er..." His brown eyes tracked to her husband, who seemed to be checking out the condition of the shrubbery near the driveway. "I mean, what?" Quickly he added. "I know about the crown, Jade, er…. Damn, what was her code name again…"
"Dahlia." David said. "We call her Dahlia. Technically, she's the Black Dahlia, but that's a bit wordy, so we use the short version, and I'm doing all the talking."
"David is part of the liaison squad assigned to helping keep an eye on Jade." Holly filled in. "And because Jade's grandfather was the previous user of the crown, called himself Pandion..."
"Named after one of two mythic kinds of Athens." Robbie jumped in. "Or the hero, who is believed to be an amalgamation of both." His smile broke at the look Holly was giving him. "Sorry, you were saying..."
"I'm in charge of project Redemption, and your use of the Heroes crown is authorized through my department." She filled in with a huff. "That means, you'll be answering to me. We clear?"
"Yes, ma'am." Rob snapped. Again, he felt how intimidating this woman could be when she wanted to.
Holly continued. "Today, Mister Abra, our mystic adviser, worked with Dahlia, and tweaked the crown. Starting Monday, we want you training with her. You learn to use the crown, and help us out when we need it. Strictly part time, emergencies and special cases only. But having an extra meta around can only help. And hopefully, by then, Mister Abra will have filled me in on what all the chiz he did does, so we'll be better able to use your contributions.'
"And you'll be in charge." Rob repeated. His mind was racing, trying to figure out why, other then her being his new boss, he was feeling so intimidated. 'I'm gonna be a hero, jam it, so how is it this woman, she scared the living chiz outta me. Hell, Officer Vega almost feels like he's here to keep me safe...'
"Now, as I was saying, you're biggest qualification isn't just your comparability with the crown, it's the simple fact that Dahlia is your friend, and was willing, reluctantly, to work with you." The director filled him in. "That means your main job is to help Dahlia through this experience, and should we get other recruits, you'd be helping them too. In short, you're likability will be part of what you bring to the project. Then again, you'll also be bringing the powers of the Heroes Crown, as well as whatever that other thing Abra snagged for us. Said it belonged to Mister Cadabra, so we know it's at least fashionable, right?" She gave a sly smile. "Anyways, tell your friends I had you help me move something in storage, and when you get a chance, talk to Jade about getting a ride to our initiative." She nodded. "And Rob, we use code names when we're in the project, so you can call me Misses V."
"I do anyways." Robbie nodded. "Okay, see ya then..." He staggered as he raced back up to his friends.
"Relax, it's gonna work." David said, even as his smirk showed through.
Jade felt better about her future then she had in a long while. She'd once again been asked to do a weekend training exercise, but unlike the one from a few weeks prior, she was support. Jade had been brought in to act as support for the police in rescue exercises, showing that sometimes the resources they had available expand once a meta showed up on the scene.
It was two hard days, with the first covering over six hours as she worked with different teams, learning how to be put to work in various scenarios. Police, fire, EMT, Jade was passed from one unit to the next with alarming frequency, all the while some officer or another was told to act as her liaison. Said officer had to quickly learn her abilities, and establish a secure communications link, relaying orders to her as the situation on the grounds change. Jade was tired, but had already improved her noncombat abilities noticeably by the end of that first day. Then she went home and worked hard on her homework, having been warned that there would be no rest the next day.
Sunday was the simulated terrorist attacks. The department had planned on simulating several coordinated attacks, with all their available meta's present to be used to the best advantage. The scope was ambitious, and while the number of regular officers was small, the overall test involved hundreds of people, including whole slews of actors playing victims. Jade found that, once again, she could have her mission shifted at a moments notice. It was also the first time she showed up with Blue Steel. For the training, she was his sidekick, though once things got heavy, she was really on her own.
The pale girl was just too flexible, and so was constantly on the move, rescuing one person or another as the day wore on. Later, as the fifth attack subsided, and the planned looting mixed with a meta villain attack, Jade found herself far from the action. People were needed to combat the many after threats that such a disaster might build, but Jade, Dahlia, wasn't near those events. She was still rescuing people, fighting fires, and otherwise putting her powers to the greater good. The Black Dahlia's magics were essential for the success of so many rescues, Jade often finding herself helping carry out a comatose patient for the hundreth time that day, that her presence on the battlefield was considered a misuse of her abilities. Another valuable lesson for the girl.
Jade spent almost sixteen hours on Sunday training, going through the various parts of the simulation, often facing problems that would otherwise take whole teams, or draw vast resources to handle, even if only a simulation. She pushed her magics to the limits, dowsing fires and stabilizing buildings in addition to more mundane methods of helping. As a result, towards the end of the day, while making rescues or helping out, she was often in real danger herself, her reserves severely drained. Exhausted, but feeling better about herself then she had in a long, long time, she was rewarded with renewed contact with her grandfather. Jade was told she could video chat with Jonathan Sinclair, without supervision, because both seemed to be living up to the letter of their agreement. She'd just have to make arrangements.
Jade was smiling as she waited for the final debriefing. "Dahlia, go home." Blue Steel told her. "Days over, and you can learn all the gory details tomorrow, with a fresh perspective."
"I'll need a ride." Jade replied. "I, er, I kinda depleted my reserves. My mystic battery's totally out, and I may have hurt myself, pushing past my limits. Hell, I had to scale a wall, and pull the last victim out myself."
"God, Dahlia, if you're that down, let us know." David warned. "If all you have left is what anyone else can do, then we don't wanna be sending you into danger. We have plenty of people far better trained to help."
"It's okay, girl wasn't that big." Jade shrugged, and David noticed how tired she was. Jade was barely on her feet. "Only problem is, I think Meredith recognized me. Perception filter was weakened, cause I needed the power to help people, lifting that collapsed building, and then I had to go and pull her from that wreckage." Blue eyes watched the tall man. "It's okay, though. Not sure she got a good look at me, and my veil, it does give me some cover. Still…. Had no idea anyone from Hollywood Arts would be here."
"Normally we don't use 'em, cause they're too young. Can't put minors in any real danger, ya know." One of the officers near by told them. "However, if they're also in the community response classes, learning how to be community disaster response officers, then we can make exceptions."
"So, Dahlia, why don't I get you a ride home, and then you go relax." Blue Steel said. "It's been a longer day for us then just about anyone, and I think, maybe, we should just get what rest we can. After all, no rest for the wicked. I have work tomorrow, and you have school plus training. New recruit." He smiled at her, even though his helmet covered his face, the clear face plate still showed his expressions, while his voice showing his sincerity.
"Then how about that ride?" Jade asked.
"I'm here." A man in a nice, if cheap looking tuxido announced. Mister Abra had arrived. "Dahlia, why don't you ride with me in my Magical Mystery Machine, and I'll get you home in no time."
Jade saw it, Sikowitz's Van, only now it had been painted into an approximation of the van best known from the various "Scooby Doo" shows. The colors seemed to sparkle, just a bit more, and there was an air of mystery, even magic, about the vehicle, but to her tired eyes, it was the old hippies van, somehow repainted. "Okay, my rides here. Steel, tell my probation officer, I took a ride with Abra here. And Constable," She smiled at the other police meta, "Nice working with ya."
As they drove off, Constable looked to the more experienced police meta. "So, that's the girl we fought, huh? Girl did nice work."
"I'm just glad Misses V got her involved in this training." The older man replied. "This is the kind of stuff that helps a hero feel like a they're part of the system. Besides, it was a very valuable learning experience for her. You, me, we have our uses in a disaster, especially when the bad guys started trying to use the looters as cover for his plot. Nice of them to have gotten Jarex to agree to play that part. Just glad he didn't try anything for real. Semi-retired villains out on parole are a touchy group to work with at the best of times. Still, we came into our own then. Honestly, other then the fact that we're still moving, ready to do whats needed, after over twelve hours, we're not that much more useful then the average cop in a disaster situation."
"Not true." Constable countered. "Our presence, out voiced, those get people to listen, and that can help avert further victims. You and me, we're PR weapons, and THAT'S our best use on a long day like today." He smiled, chuckling. "That, and you brought us Dahlia, who did how much today?"
"Yea, but she overdid it. Girls gonna be hurting for the next week." Blue Steel told his sometimes partner.
"Which is exactly like it should be." Constable told him. "This was as lifelike as we could make it. Dahlia's hurting, cause she acted like a hero. I mean, sure, you're right, when her power wore down, she should have told, maybe found some way to rest up, recharge. First rule is still 'no more victims.' But the fact she kept going, tried to help, even risking becoming another victim, that shows she's taking to the right ideals. So now, we, or rather you, just have to mold those ideals, and help her learn her limits."
"I'm betting Dahlia's pestering Abra right now for some kind of external battery, like the kids have for recharging their phones." David noted, smiling as they made their way to their respective rides home.
Monday came, and Jade was exhausted, but happy as she made her way up from the Hollywood Arts basement. 'Figures, Reggie wasn't giving me any breaks, just cause I spent all weekend working my ass off in that simulation. Man, everything hurts, and I don't have the chance to use my magic to take the edge off, cause still kinda drained. My fault for overdoing it, but hay, you do what you have too. Still, Reggie was going extra heavy this morning...'
"Jade, how're you doing?" Trina asked as they passed in the hall.
"Older Vega." Jade greeted, showing just a touch of contempt at the older girl.
"So, I saw you at the simulation..." Trina tried.
"YOU were at the simulation?" The pale girl felt shocked. 'Trina was there? How? What was she doing there?'
"I'm a community disaster response officers, as well as an actress." Trina said, a bit of smugness showing. "I was pretending to be there, worrying about my 'baby'. Man, it took the team forever to rescue me and my fake baby."
"Yea..." Jade hesitated, "And what makes you think.. I mean…." Blue eyes studied the older girl. "You know, don't you?"
"I'm involved in the Blue Generation Initiative." Trina shrugged. "You already know why. Anyways, the children of known Meta's, they keep an eye on us, and me, I got training, clearance, cause I hate not knowing what dad's up to." She sighed. "And by training, I mean, more then just a community Disaster Response officer. Even if nothing happens, they wanna keep an eye on you, just in case something changes. Me and Tori, they've been watching us, even though we're yet to display any obvious powers."
"How can I believe you?" Jade challenged.
"If I were a meta, I'd have been out there, with you, doing the simulation." Trina shrugged. 'Except I'm just a reservist, and mom felt it would be better for me to be there as an actress.' She mentally added.
"Okay, I believe you." Jade slumped. "Does Tori know?"
"About Dahlia? Yea. Mom didn't wanna tell her, but she's good at finding chiz out. Honestly, if I didn't have the clearance, from my other police training's, I'd probably have heard about you from her." Trina shrugged. "No idea how she finds that chiz out, but she does. And before you say it, we had her tested, and she isn't reading minds. Good thing too, cause a girls gotta have her secrets. Me, I think Dante is sweet on her, and blabed. Not a good thing for a police mystic to do, right?" Another smile. "But that's just the theory. Anyways, cause mom knows I'm cleared, she sometimes uses me to help get people alone so she can talk to them, if she's not using some other surrogate, which is why I now know about Robbie and that crown thingy. He starts that today, right?"
"How much do you know?" Jade asked. "And Tori, she knows about Dahlia? Did she know when she decided we should be a couple?"
"Don't know, didn't ask." Trina said. "But that's not why she wants you. Honestly, she told me she just noticed, one day, just who you were, other then the whole Dahlia thing, and that's when she decided you'd be a couple. And as for how much do I know, not that much. I learned a LOT watching what I could of your actions on Sunday. Man, you're..."
"Yea, whatever." Jade waved her off. 'Not gonna admit to how much I'm hurting right now...'
"BTW, FYI, Meredith is also part of the Blue Generation Initiative." Trina said. 'Might as well tell her a bit more. It's not like agreeable girl is gonna suffer from this bit of confession. Maybe it'll help explain why we got that extra training, cause you normally have to be over eighteen to take it.'
"Meredith…?" Jade wrapped her mind around that. "Her dad is..."
"Her dad makes cupcakes." Trina filled in. "Her mom, however, was some minor hero who wanted her child involved with the BGI."
"Lots of initials there." Jade smiled, honestly happy to be having this oddly informative conversation.
"Try living on a military base." Trina shrugged. "I have a friend, grew up on a series of military bases before they moved out here." Brown eyes captured Jade's. "Okay, I have a dad who grew up on a series of military bases. He chose to be a cop instead of a soldier, cause he didn't want his kids to grow up moving all the time. No sin, just a choice."
"Yea, that makes sense." Jade nodded. "So, I have to go..." She pointed away.
"Yea, Tori will see you later." Trina said, and started to walk away, only to hesitate. "Oh, right, I did have an errand. Talk to your probation officer, cause mom said your loser friends should now be cleared. At least for lunch."
Jade walked away, her mind reeling from this new revelation. 'Gotta find out how much she really knows...'
Later, she'd find out that Holly did sometimes have Trina drop off some takeout when she was working late. But the biggest news, the biggest change was that she may just be having lunch with Cat today. "Hi, Eric, just checking, I heard a rumor that my friends have been cleared..."
"Under certain circumstances." The assistant social worker clarified. "You can see them at school, or in an approved home, like your girlfriend's. As long as it's under those circumstances, and you have someone we know we can trust around, then we're good with you seeing the rest of your friends. Just, as you know, not gonna be that much time… Not until we're sure you're up to speed with your training. Did I mention the reservist police academy training yet?"
"I thought that's what I'm getting as is?" Jade questioned.
"Oh, really?" Eric sounded more surprised then anything else.
"Yea, they're making me study the law and everything." The pale girl sighed. "That wasn't part of what they told you, is it?"
"I just knew you'd have to get the training." The man explained. "If they can cover it in the program, then go for it. I just, you'll learn a lot about teamwork, surviving on the streets, everything, from the training. So, yea..." He sounded more off balance then before.
"Not that informed about what we're doing, that's kinda bad." Jade lamented.
"Not cleared." Eric said.
"But Trina is?" Jade asked.
"Trina who?" Eric asked.
"Tori's sister." Jade snapped. "Wait, you didn't know about her, did you?"
"Let me check my files…" There was the sound of typing on a keyboard. "Lets see… Trina Vega… Okay, all my notes say is She's been given a lot of clearance." Eric noted as he looked at his files. "She probably knows a lot more then I do."
"Yea, whatever." Jade finished. "I gotta go now, cause I have school, and then lunch with my friends!"
:}
Jade learned herself something today. See, not enough comic books go into any real details about how the superheroes handle natural disasters and the like. I'd figure they talk with the police and first responders, the experts on the scene, and help out when and where they can.
So, what'd you think of Robbie's dilemma? Boy has a teenage boys imagination. Plus, now he gets to play hero. Too bad he wasn't ready for that big simulation, cause it'd have been an education for him.
So, any guesses about Meredith?