I had to figure out what would be a good costume. There was a lot of work in deciding how it would look. What colors would it be? What would the style look like? I knew I would probably need some sort of mask and gloves would probably also be a good idea. I was smart enough to know that I shouldn't reveal my identity, even though a lot of people didn't know who I was. I wondered if I could make something out of the clothes that I brought with me. I looked in my dresser and found this surf top of mine that I brought even though Starling City didn't really have anywhere to surf. I also had a bikini bottom that I could pair with it. It would require a bit of sewing, but it wasn't as if I didn't know how to sew. It was actually taught in Markovian school to both boys and girls. They figured it was a good skill to have because it was needed in a few different professions from surgeon to seamstress to…well that's about it.
After a trip to the fabric and a little bit of sewing and cutting, I had the foundation of a costume. It was now a leotard with the shoulders cut out. One reason that I chose it when that it had a symbol for the Earth on it which was an upside-down triangle with a horizontal line through it. I also got a yellow mask and gloves and boots. I was leaving my legs uncovered, which I didn't have too much a problem with. I was going to be a vigilante. I modeled it in front of the mirror. The last thing that I needed to do was come up with a name. What would be a good name for a vigilante?
That was when it hit me. Since I was using an alias, I could use my name as a superhero identity Terra sounded like a good name for a vigilante with earth-based powers. Actually, it was kind of ironic that my parents gave me such a name. I wondered how people would react when they saw my powers. I figured that they would probably be freaked out by a girl with powers like mine, but I imagine that it would be easier to win them over if I used my powers for good.
I decided to put some clothes over my costume, removing the mask and gloves It was cold enough where layers would probably be a good idea anyway. I went to knock on Laurel's door to see if she wanted to do anything.
However, before I could, the door opened and I saw both Laurel and Sara. They looked like they were ready to go out.
"Alice." Laurel greeted me in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see if you wanted to do something, but it looks like you already have plans." I stated as I started to leave.
"Wait." She told me. I stopped. "Sara and I were going to go to the zoo, but you could come if you want."
"I guess I can do that." I agreed. "Just let me get my bag."
I went back to my apartment and grabbed a handbag where I could put the rest of my costume. I was fairly confident that they wouldn't try to search my bag. It was something that I would probably wouldn't be able to get away with if I was some other race, but I don't want to bring up something like. Plus, it was a zoo and not some major event.
The three of us headed to the zoo. It had been a while since I had been to the zoo. Since Markovia was such a small nation, there was only one in the whole country. That one wasn't very big. I had a feeling that Star City would have a bigger one. I couldn't help but wonder if they would have any animals native to Markovia.
"Why won't you go to the zoo with me?" I asked Slade.
"I've never really liked the idea of animals being held in cages. I never really liked the idea of anyone being held in cages." He explained. I was pretty sure that he was being held in a cage. I knew he had kidnapped Thea, but apparently let her go not long after.
"You never seem to want to do anything fun." I pointed out.
"You know that I don't like to go out in public." He replied.
"I wonder if I'm ever going to be able to get you to get over your aversion to people." I stated.
"I told you, it's not an aversion. I've been separated from society for years and I'm not exactly looking to rejoin it." He remarked.
"Alice?" Laurel asked which snapped me out of my mind.
"What?" I replied in confusion.
"We were just wondering if you were going to be paying." Sara declared.
"Oh." I responded. I then realized that I only had my Markovian credit card with me. I needed to get another one. "I think I forgot my card. Would you mind? I can pay you back later."
"I've got it." Sara replied as she took out some cash and flashed me a smile. There she was again making me blush. I wondered if she was doing it on purpose.
Overall, I had a good time at the zoo. I liked seeing some of the animals that I had never seen before. They had bears there and they also had kangaroos. I personally didn't think that the animals looked unhappy. Some of them seemed sleepy but maybe that was because it was the daytime. Or maybe it was because they put tranquilizers in their food.
That night, I wasn't going to be working because no one was really going to the club on a Sunday night. Thea said that she could handle it herself. I decided that it would be a good time to go out and try to stop some crime. I needed to figure out how I was going to do that.
I decided to go to the police station and implant a listening device in my ear. I hoped that it would be good enough that I could actually hear what was said.
"Captain Lance, we've just got a toxicology report on the latest victim." An officer said. "It turns out the victim had a form of vertigo in his system."
Vertigo was a drug that had recently been introduced my country. They never managed to catch the man responsible, but I knew it could have deadly consequences.
"Vertigo? That's impossible?" A man who I assumed was Captain Lance said. "The Arrow killed that Vertigo guy."
"Maybe someone else created a new form of vertigo." The officer opined. "It was a different formula than what we're used to seeing."
I couldn't help but wonder if it was the same guy who had been in my country. I wasn't sure if he was the same guy that been in my country. It was possible. The vertigo drug had been spreading all over Europe.
So, I knew what I was I looking for, but I didn't know where I was looking. I imagined that what his name wouldn't be out in the open. Then again, maybe he would. It would take a little bit of time. Could I do what cops in multiple countries hadn't been able to do? Of course, I did have an advantage over them and that was my powers. I could use them to my advantage. One thing that I had learned was that I could fly by creating a platform out of air particles in the air. Obviously, my powers were better suited for a more earthly climate than a city, but this was what I had to do.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
"Hello?" I asked in confusion.
"Do you want to get dinner?" Oliver questioned. I was very confused.
"How did you get my number?" I inquired.
"Thea gave it to me." He answered. Oh, I had given it to her with my contact info. "She also said that I should ask you. She said it was a little something to pay her back for getting the house back…even though she was the reason we lost it in the first place."
"I guess I can go out." I replied. I wanted to get him to notice my vigilantism, but I also wanted to get closer to him.
"Great, I'll come at pick you up." He stated. I quickly realized the problem with that.
"I need to get changed." I declared. "Meet me in thirty minutes."
"That sounds good." He agreed.
I had to race home and find a dress to wear. I was definitely not expecting things to move so fast. I couldn't help but wonder if Thea always meddled in his love life. I couldn't find much about his recent dating history other than the fact that he was briefly connected to convicted killer Helena Bertinelli, also known as the Huntress.
I finally decided on a hot pink dress. I didn't even know where he wanted to go, so I had no idea what to wear. I was nervous because I hadn't been on a date in a long time. I really didn't know a lot about American dating customs. I wasn't sure whether or not sex on the first date was even acceptable because there were some sources that said that it was and others that said it wasn't.
He knocked on my door and I put on some pink heels. They were a lighter shade since I didn't have any hot pink ones.
"Hi." I greeted him. I actually wished that I had some jewelry but I didn't think to bring any with me.
"Hi." He reciprocated. "You look very pretty."
"Thanks, I wasn't sure what to wear because I don't know where we're going." I explained.
"It's just a little place called Table Salt, but you'll be fine." He told me.
I quickly found out that Table Salt was the most expensive place in Starling City. Apparently, he was able to get a table because he was Oliver Queen. Of course, I was able to get the same luxuries in Markovia, so I couldn't really judge him for it.
"I wasn't expecting something so fancy." I admitted.
"Well I really wasn't sure if Big Belly Burger was appropriate for a first date." He quipped. "So where did you move from again?"
"Jump City." I answered once again. "They didn't have places like this there."
I hoped that he hadn't ever been to Jump City because for all I knew, there were places like that.
"Do you know what food is good here?" I questioned.
"The salmon is pretty good if you like fish." He replied.
"I lived near the coast. I love fish." I answered. That was something that was true if I was lying about my origin or not. I put my hand up to the call for the waiter when suddenly, I heard something flying towards us. It looked like a rocket. I believed that there was a phrase that Americans had for something so unexpected and that was 'What the fuck?'. Oliver then grabbed me and we ducked to the ground. I decided to quickly make a shield of dust while his head was down. I hoped that he wouldn't see my eyes glow yellow.
"Are you okay?" He asked me.
"Yeah." I responded. As the dust cleared, I managed to see a face. I recognized that face from a wanted poster. It was Werner Zytle. He was wanted all over Europe for various crimes including murder and drug trafficking. I would bet that he was the mastermind behind the new vertigo.
Ten more people could be added to his list of murders, along with about 50 cases of attempted murder. I wished that I could tell the police what I knew, but A: I didn't really want the police solving things and B: didn't want to reveal that I was of European descent.
"The man who did this is going to pay." Oliver declared.
"Oliver, there is nothing that we can do about it." I told him. "Maybe this is something that is better left to the Arrow or any of the other heroes of the world."
"You're right. I should take you home.' He agreed. I was pretty sure that it wouldn't be appropriate to sex after something like that.
I also wasn't sure if it was appropriate to kiss either. It hadn't been much of a date, but I hoped that he wouldn't be discouraged from going on a second first date. I decided to just say good night to him.
Once, he was gone, I decided to change into my costume. After a search, I was able to find suspected locations of Werner Zytle. I did feel that I wouldn't be alone in looking for him.
I went out the window. It was easier than going down the hall in my costume. I was beginning to think that the whole apartment thing wouldn't work well with having a secret identity. I would probably need somewhere that I could change at least.
I was also thankful that it was kind of late because I was pretty sure that people would react strangely to a woman flying around on a platform made of dirt.
Within a few minutes, I was able to find Zytle's hideout. It looked like I had been beaten there because the guards had been beaten up. One of them had also been shot non-lethally with an arrow. I wondered what he would think when he saw me.
However, before I could go in, I saw someone falling off the building. I flew over and couldn't help but notice it was a woman in black. I caught her and noticed that she had been shot with an arrow, but she was still breathing. She actually seemed like she was still conscious. I then realized that I wasn't strong enough to carry her and took her to the ground.
"Who are you?" She asked. I knew that voice. I recognized that voice. It was Sara. I didn't know that Sara was a vigilante. Had she been the one who stormed in?
"I am Terra." I answered.
So, Terra ended up saving Sara, who was shot by Malcolm directly and not Thea. She also has a superhero identity. Unfortunately her first date with Oliver went up in smoke. Please don't forget to review.