Disclaimer: Guess.

:}

Eric was not his usual chatty self as he drove Jade to her training. Part of it may have been the weight of the new that they were dealing with, or that he was now expected to, that in addition to the rest of his job, act as liaison to the "Volunteer" heroes who'd be joining the project. Mostly, it was the nerdy boy in the back seat. "So, mister Shapiro, how much do you know?" The associate probation officer finaly asked.

"Just that we're going to some way cool secret base where I'll start training with this mystic doohickey, and then I'll be the one with the power." Rob replied.

"And I'll keep him in line." Jade added. She, however, preferred the silence. "So, Rob, you got your story straight for your family?"

"Yea, I tell them I'm working on a project for school, part of my community service requirements." The boy said. "But why do I have to lie to Rex?"

"Cause he's almost as big a blabbermouth as Cat." Jade growled. "I don't need my secrets spread all over the slap, no mater how much wood that guy thinks he can lay based on knowing me."

"Okay, that makes sense." The Jewish boy agreed.

"And Rex is…?" Eric asked.

"Complicated." Jade admitted. "He's kinda a person, but he's also a, er..." Blue eyes lingered on her friend, in the back seat, who she normally wouldn't much care about if his feelings were hurt. 'Rex has always kinda just been accepted. Like we all agreed, somewhere along the line, that we treat the damned puppet like a person, and move on.'

"He's a Mannequin American." Rob clarified. "But he's practically family. In fact, I still feel guilty about selling him that one time, and at the time, he was all in about doing it."

"Ooookaaay." Eric said. "Silence it is. Who wants to see how deep into their thoughts they can get while I finish this drive?"

They sat, once again lost in the silence, as the drive finished, and an all too familiar building grew in front of them. Before they knew it, they were pulling into the county police building, and from there, finding the spacial elevator that express delivered them down to the sub sub basement where the project was hidden.

"Wow, that was way cool." Robbie exclaimed.

"Dude! Relax! It's just a restricted elevator." The blue eyed girl chided. "No view, nothing to distinguish it from any other elevator except it goes down to this sub level."

"Still, we rode an elevator down, deep into the earth, and..." His breath hitched as the doors opened, and they saw the entry to the project. Reception was, to Jade's eyes, boring, with the armored troopers almost blending into the background now that they were just to guard the place in case of unauthorized entry. But to Robbie, it was a whole new world, a completely buried secret project, hidden in the center of Los Angeles, deep under the earth and cement. "Cooolllll!"

One of the Policetech armors stepped forward, ignoring the child like outburst. "Okay, I need to see some ID."

Jade pulled out her student ID. "I'm in the system." She told the figure.

"I know." The officers modulated voice replied. "But you know how they like procedure here." His face-plate shifted to look at Robbie. "Student ID."

Robbie presented his student ID. "Why no drivers license?" He asked.

"The school has a special deal with the police." Eric filled in. "You're genetic data in on that card." He shrugged. "At least, it is now. The armor can scan the card, and then do a quick check on you, and see if you're who you claim to be. Next, Jade and you will go through that scanner there, the thing that looks a bit like a metal detector, and we'll know for sure if you're who we're expecting, or some shape changer is trying to infiltrate."

"Mister Shapiro, could you walk through again?' The armored figure asked as Robbie finished his walk through. "Okay, thanks."

"It was scanning me, wasn't it?" Robbie asked Jade.

"Yep." Jade confirmed. "The card may have the ability to hold your DNA data, but nothing at Hollywood Arts can scan you in. No, they needed to get the base, and they knew, if I was real, odds were you'd be too."

"You kids work hard, and I'll be here when it's time to take you home." Eric called from the elivator side of the scanners, not being allowed to go any deeper then reception.

"So, when do I get this Crown thingy?" Robbie wondered aloud.

"After you see Misses V." One of the techs said. "Dahlia, get into costume and head to the classroom. We're focusing on book learning today, and the next week. That is, other then that ritual thingy your gonna be doing. Misses V wants to be sure you've fully recovered before we use you in the field again. Until then, we're gonna be focusing on Achilles Junior here."

"Sorry, what now?" Jade asked.

"Mister Abra has acquired Achilles Amulet, and with that, and the Heroes Crown, we'll be calling your friend Achilles Jr." The tech informed her. "Now, you go get changed, while Junior here heads off to see Misses V. She's decided it's time for him to see the woman behind the curtain."

Robbie was led to the same office that Masters once used, to find Holly sitting there, warm smile on her face, and an open chair for him to sit in, right in front of the desk. "Robbie, please, come and sit. We have a lot to discuss." She gestured for him to enter.

"Misses Vega?" He felt genuinely surprised, despite her revealing everything to him just a few days ago.

"Admit it, you never believed I was the one in charge. Well, I do this for a living, young man, and I do it well." Holly said, her unusual warmth easing the nervous boy into the conversation. "Okay, only had this job a couple of months now, but man, it's just what I needed." Her eyes shifted ever so slighly as she took in the boy again. "I'm a geneticist by training, and I still sometimes use that science stuff to better understand my charges. But over the many years I've been studying Meta's, I've found my study of their psychology grew far more then understanding how they worked. Seems, people with powers, they're in most ways just like you or me. They just have the added complication of whatever powers they have, and we both know power does ugly things to people. It's why I call for a gentile hand when dealing with young Meta's, as well as why I was willing to agree to both Dahlia's and Steel Copper's request that we bring you into the project. So, adjusted yet?"

"You're in charge?" He asked, awe showing on his face. Somehow, despite what she'd told him, just days ago, he'd never really believed she'd be the one in charge. 'Worked here, sure, but in charge...'

"Like I said, about time, but yea." Misses V said. "Funny, my original code name was supposed to just be V, but everyone calls me Misses V, so I guess it changed. Still, one doesn't fight with evolution, as long as the changes don't interfere with our ability to achieve our goals." Her eyes now hardened. "And by our goals, I mean mine. Produce serviceable Meta's for the police, weapons that we can deploy to keep the public safe." Her hard gaze burned, but softened as a thought hit. "Maybe weapons is the wrong word. Tools. Those who choose to serve are tools, cause a weapon, it does damage, and out heroes, the have to be able to help people, rescues and care and everything we as police do. So, you understand what I've been hinting at?"

"I'm a tool?" Rob repeated.

"I know Rex thinks so, but not exactly." She shrugged. "You're a guinea pig, as well as our best hope, for now, of containing Dahlia. You have no idea how potent she's becoming, and by having friends on the same path, people motivated to be a force for good, we believe Dahlia will be more motivated to stay the course, be a hero. So, it's not an easy job, but are you up for it?"

"Hells yea!" Rob exclaimed.

"Okay, then today will be about learning the Crown." She continued. "We call it the Heroes Crown, which may well be it's original name, but it's also Pandion's Crown, cause we believe it traces back to the original. Either way, we had Mister Abra, along with several of his friends, help guide Dahlia in using her magics to enchant the crown, and today you'll be using it. We'll see just what you'll be able to do, as well as how hard it is to adapt to using the new body it comes with. Finally, we need to study that body, it's limits and chiz, so we're better able to use it in the future. Anyways, that's about it for today's goals." Another smile. "Any questions?"

"Will I be learning cool fighting techniques and chiz?" Rob wondered. Memories of his earlier sparring match with Jade was still fresh in his mind, and he was anxious to master those skills, so he could stand up for himself, as well as maybe help others.

"We may have programmed some in." Holly noted with a shrug. "Part of what we're trying to learn. Regardless, we'll find out, soon enough, and once we know what we're working with, then we'll go on to improving the tool. So, why don't you head down to the lab, and try the thing on. Dante is waiting."

Robbie found Jade waiting for him. "Okay, I need you to know, I've seen part of whats about to happen before, but never the transfer of ownership." She told him. "My grandfather never wanted me to see this part of him, so I watched some footage, and that kind of chiz, while researching this toy. Lets hope it lives up to expectations."

"Let me explain." A nondescript man, early to mid thirties, said. A white man with dark brown hair, he seemed to be so average as to blend in. Only the sideways glances he gave Jade, as well as the more attractive guards, hinted at anything beyond a shruggers personality. "I'm Dante, and I'm in charge of this part of the project, as well as the Blue Coven Project. In short, I'm a wizard."

"You as powerful as Jade?" Rob wondered.

"He's not even as powerful as Sikowitz." Jade grumbled. "Then again, Abra's knowledge has grown a lot, cause he likes to complain how he's nothing compared to Cadabra, but the whack jobs learned his stuff. He has him a nice little bit of power, and knows how to use so many spells. I guess I'm saying, Dante here can only dream of being as skilled or powerful a mage as a retired former sidekick."

"And yet, I'm standing right here." The police mystic said. "Right here. So either I've developed the ability to become unseen, something I was so sure I'd developed back in High School..."

"Right with you, brother." Rob nodded along.

"No, Rob, you're part of the popular crowd." Jade corrected the boy. "You're just creepy, which you have in common with Dante here."

"So Dante's his code name here?" Robbie asked. "I remember you saying something about everyone using code names here."

"A, no, not everyone does." Jade told her friend. "Many of the scientist don't worry about those things, when they probably should, cause this place, not meant for the happy to be here types." Her blue eyes glanced around.

"And B, no, Dante is literally my first name." The police mystic said. "I'm officer Gray. I know, hell of a name, right? I think I was always supposed to be a mystic, but I joined the police because I felt magic is a tool best used for the benefit of the people." He stood a bit taller. "And they taught me. Funny thing, magic, learning it can get expensive. Books and fetishes and candles and the like. I spent over a decade studying magic for the LAPD, cross training with Bureau 13, and before they got their hands on Jade here, or her mentor, I was it. The departments absolute expert on magic."

'As well as a total perve.' Robbie added, but kept it in his mind. Living with Rex had given him an inside knowledge on people like Dante, and he didn't like the man that much. "So, lets get this ritual done."

The next half hour would be this overly complicated ritual, mostly performed in ancient Greek, where Robbie was offered as the new user of the crown. Jade, who did her part surprisingly well, was the one to surrender the crown in her grandfathers name, and when it was done, Robbie placed the crown, in the form of a bronze Olive Wreath, upon his head, saying the command words, and his body shifted to the heroes form. It was tall, solid, with a body and face Jade had never seen before.

Robbie had gained eight inches and over a hundred and fifty pounds, but the real shock was the change to his features. Now more Greek then Hebrew, he didn't really look like anyone either of them knew. 'I set the image to change, but...' Jade's mind reeled.

"So, I feel taller." Rob noted, his voice rich and deep and rumbled from deep inside his body. "So, now I learn to walk?"

"What now?" Jade felt shaken.

"New body, gonna need me some time to get used to it's properties." The transformed nerd said. "So, lets see what this puppy can do."

The scientists put him through his paces, watching as he effortlessly moved about the training facilities, mastering the obstacle course, lifting weights and moving objects with an ease that felt superhuman. "Wow, this is so… Neat. Betting I can take just about any of the bullies who like to taunt me…!" A wicked smile crossed the heroic face.

"Only, that's not what we're here for." Dahlia warned, her own powers crackling around her.

"Yea, I know." Robbie sighed. "But that much power, it sure is tempting." His brown eyes took in the mystic girls stance. "Ready to stop me if I lost it?" He chuckled.

"If I have too." Jade said, holding herself ready.

"Good call." Rob told her. "This body, it's so powerful, I'd have had several responders on standby, just in case."

"We did." One of the guards in the Police Tech Armor said. "Just glad we didn't need to use force. That, and Dahlia, she needs to learn limits, cause..."

"I've been learning." Jade growled at the guard, but she understood, this time, it was just ribbing, a form of bonding that she actually understood from before she gained her powers. 'They're just messing with me. I'm one of them now, and their letting me know it.'

"Anyways, from what we can tell, you're about as potent as Constable, only with more mass then most." A scientist filled in. "Makes you about equal to Blue Steel. Funny, that edge of superhuman meta is becoming more and more common."

"I have a question." Dante jumped in. "May I test something?" He pulled out a knife, smiling as he approached Robbie. "Don't worry, not gonna do anything permanent. Just, I need to cast a spell, and a bit of bloodletting is required. Soooo." He slid the knife along Robs huge, muscular arm, drawing a line of blood. "Change back please."

Robbie said the short phrase he'd been taught, and shifted to his human form. The shallow wound was gone. "Wow, I feel so small now." He glanced at Dahlia. "How'd your grandfather ever endure being this, when he could be that?"

"That was just his cover identity, for when he was committing crimes." Jade told her friend. "Real power isn't the form, but the respect he bought with it. Now, Dante, what did your spell teach you?"

"That the other body, it's conjuration." The older mystic said. "I think, once he calls it back, we'll know for sure, but I'm thinking the body has advantages, and one of them is it's a fresh conjuration each time." He smiled at the pale woman. "That'd explain why he didn't just live in that body. It didn't age, cause he would dismiss and recast the body from time to time. Also, if I'm right, then the clothing is a conjuration, and we don't have to worry about an expandable bodysuit. Still, the real value of it, if I'm right, is that the damage doesn't transfer." He grabbed Robbie's arm, showing a lack of even so much as a scar. "Now call the body."

Robbie did the chant, and assumed the form of Pandion, only now, changed, it was Achilles junior. The wound on the arm was gone, and with it, Rob found himself enduring a short burst of painful training as his body was stabbed and cut, then allowed to reset, showing a lack of transferal of wounds. "Okay, as long as you don't get yourself killed, you just dismiss the old body, with all it's wounds, and assume the new, pristine and whole. Next, lets see how much of our modifications took." Dante told Rob.

"Guys, it's getting kinda late, and we need to go soon." Jade pointed out.

"Just a few more tests, and we're done for today." Dante assured the girl. "Achilles, we're gonna have you spar with a couple of our trainers. Lets see what you can do. And Junior, control."

They sparred, and Jade saw that some of the martial skills they'd hoped to install in the body took. Only, it lacked experience, cause it mostly transferred from the hosts body, and Robbie, a trained stage fighter, still lacked the intensive hand to hand fighting experience they'd hoped to give him.

"Okay, that's enough for today." Doctor Smith called it. "We'll start this again tomorrow, when we have Warpath, and the second half of the combo we're giving mister Shapiro here."

"Warpath?" Robbie asked. "Second half?"

"Achilles amulet, rumored to be the true source of his invulnerability." Smith told him.

Jade jumped in, having taken a moment to read up on what little they had on the amulet. "Okay, time to get me home." Her blue eyes lingered on her friend. "Um, we don't exactly live near one another. Any chance he can get his own ride?" She was already pulling the boy towards the exit, the crown off, resting in it's case.

"We can give him a ride." Holly called as she approached the elevator. "Time to shed this police persona and re-embrace being a mother. And that mother needs to get home to her family. However, Robbie, I believe you're along the way, so I'll give you a ride." She smiled at the boy. "Jade, make sure you get home and spend some quality time with your family. Tori's busy tonight, but will want girlfriend time tomorrow. Make sure you're rested up for that."

"Right, cause working for my girlfriends mother won't cause any blurring of the lines." Jade deadpanned.

"Hay, I waited until we were almost at the elevator." Holly sniped, enjoying the feeling of family she'd installed in her charge. "Besides, I like to have me a talk with my special projects, and we won't need witnesses."

"Okay, see ya." Jade said. But it was still almost a minute in the elevator, the three of them, before they separated, with Jade finding Eric and heading home.

In the car, holly smiled at the boy. "Okay, it's like this. We keep a Chinese wall between our police lives and our personal lives. None of your fiends get to know about this place."

"Yea, you told me." Robbie nodded along. "Man, that big body could be addictive. Maybe his powers are just human max, but it's far more then most people will ever have."

"And as much as you wanna talk about that, you don't." Holly cautioned. "That's the thing. Jade, she's had months to learn this, but we don't talk about fight club outside of fight club. In there, we use code names, cause that's who we are. Outside, we separate our identities, and that includes how you interact with Jade. Dahlia is a valuable member of the Police Meta unit, while Jade is a deranged sociopath who'd allowing her love of my daughter to pull her towards better choices. Remember that, and we'll have fewer problems."

"Got it." Rob agreed.

"So, do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?" The woman pushed.

"Don't tell Cat." He guessed.

"No mater how cool it may be, never reveal our secrets to outsiders." Holly clarified. "Especially not Cat, who never met a secret she didn't mass tweet. However, that includes what you talk to Jade about. Wanna gripe about the program, you do it on program property, or in alternate identities. Never out here where civilians can overhear. I only want a couple of subtle changes noticeable out there."

"Like?" Robbie wondered.

"Like you and Jade can still be friends." The director told him. "In fact, in time, I'm betting you'll be even closer friends then before." She smiled. "Just don't read too much into that, cause she's dating my daughter. Also, I expect you to do right by yourself, which means work hard in school, so you have a future outside the Police Meta Program. Now, you're home, so make sure you get your homework done, and we'll evaluate how much training you'll need tomorrow after we see what the amulet gives us."

:}

So, we've gotten to see a bit of Robbie, as well as the temptation of his unusual abilities. Thinking is biggest gift is gonna be the new body chiz, cause he can take so much damage, just as long as he survives, and can change back, and just have a new hero body the next time.

Thoughts? Also, yes, Rob's got Rex, and that puppet is a criminal in the making. But Robbie is less dependent on him then in the past, and this could well help build him to being a better hero. Also, he knows, Jade can whip his ass. So, yea, hero.

Thoughts.