Ok, so this chapter is a little long. I hope you don't mind this storyline, I'm honestly struggling with it so I can't say how good it's going to be. I considered scrapping it and figuring out something else as the main story of year two, but the idea was so good in my head that I decided to just struggle through it and hope it turns out halfway decent. I would love some feedback on it, so please review.
Year two:
Mallory soared over Metropolis, enjoying the solitude. It had been three months since her breakup and finding out that she was mostly alien, and she was just starting to get over the shocks. She hadn't had as much time to patrol her city lately because of missions and having to make time to visit her parents and brother, and she planned on staying in the city all day.
"Well, Torch, good to see you," Superman called.
Mallory sighed and waited for him to catch up. "Hey," she replied.
"Any trouble today?" he asked.
Mallory shrugged. She'd stopped one armed robbery and assisted the police in capturing Toyman, but she hadn't really been watching for trouble. "Some," she said, then turned onto her back and flew facing the sky for a time.
"You're in a good mood today," Superman commented.
"Well, no school, no babysitting, no missions, and no Batman for a whole day. Why wouldn't I be in a good mood?"
Clark chuckled. "Good point."
Just then their comms beeped and they answered them. "There's a situation at the cave. We need all available members of the League and team at Mount Justice immediately," Batman said.
"Well, Torch, looks like your day just got filled up," Superman said.
Mallory glared at him. "This is your fault," she said grumpily.
"How is it my fault?" Clark asked with a laugh.
"You made me jinx myself," she replied, flying for the nearest zeta tube.
"Recognized, Inferno, B08, Superman, 01."
Mallory and Clark appeared in the cave's training room to see that the entire league and team were there, standing in a circle. Mallory craned her neck to see what they were looking at, but she couldn't make anything out over the Hawks' wings. Canary and Flash moved to the side to let them through, revealing a group of strange teens at the center. One of the girls turned around. She had blonde hair and a superman shield on the chest of her blue crop-top shirt.
"Hey, Kal," she said.
"Kara?" Superman said in disbelief.
The girl grinned and walked over to hug him. "Been a while, huh?" she asked.
"Why are you here?" Clark asked her.
"Well, I can't tell you, or it'll mess up time and blah blah blah, you know the drill," Kara replied with a grin.
"Kara, this is Torch. She works in Metropolis with me."
"It's Inferno, actually," Mallory said. Supergirl didn't get a chance to answer. A squeal came from the other strange girl and she walked over to them.
"Oh my gosh, Inferno?" she exclaimed.
Mallory looked at her quizzically. "Yes," she said.
"And in your old suit? So shway! Gotta say, though, I think I like the new suit better. It's more stylish. Of course, you have to have a good costume in the League."
"The League?" Malory asked.
"Careful, Inferno," a green boy said.
Mallory looked between them questioningly. "Your name is Inferno, too?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah, I hope you don't mind. I took your name because, well, you're just such an inspiration. I mean, you're like one of the best heroes in history! Sa-"
"Inferno!" the green boy yelled, and the girl shut her mouth. "Oops," she muttered.
"What are you talking about?" Mallory asked, thoroughly confused. The other Inferno averted her eyes.
"I am sorry, Inferno, but we cannot tell you about your future. You already know too much thanks to my friend here," the green boy said.
Mallory groaned. "What's going on here?" she asked.
"It's simple," Batman said. "They're from the future."
Mallory stared at the four teens. The League was in the Watchtower deciding what to do with them, so the team was stuck keeping an eye on them in the meantime.
"So, you're like, actually from the future?" Rocket asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"Yeah. We came back for a mission, and I couldn't come back without coming here first," Supergirl said.
"But, you were in this time," Kid Flash said to Supergirl.
She smiled. "Yeah, then I was brought to the future to help when a villain captured the entire Legion of Superheroes, and I decided to stay in the future." She and the green boy, who had introduced himself as Brainiac 5, were holding hands, which seemed like an explanation of why she decided to stay.
"Right. And what's your deal?" Conner asked the other two, Inferno two and Polar Boy.
"We're members of the Legion. We've been deployed on a mission, and we'll be going back to our time as soon as it's completed," Polar Boy said.
Mallory eyed the other Inferno's suit. It had sleeves that went to her elbows and shorts that cut off a few inches above her knees. Most of the suit was orange, like hers, but the shorts had flame accents on them and yellow boots that ended below the knee completed the look. Her hair was strawberry blonde and cut short, something like Wally's haircut.
"What is this mission?" Robin asked, curious.
Kara and Brainiac exchanged a glance, and she shook her head slightly. Brainiac said, "We can't tell you, it could affect the timeline if we did."
Supergirl walked over to Conner and Mallory and pulled them to the side. "I've wanted to meet you both since I first found out about you. I'm so glad you're there to watch Clark's back," she said quietly.
They nodded. Mallory had never really considered herself part of the Super family, but Kara sure seemed to. It felt strange, being the only one without Kryptonian powers and the S shield. "I hope we'll have time to get to know each other while I'm here," Kara continued. Mallory nodded again.
The other Inferno came over to her. Mallory noticed all the other future people watching her warily. "I'm sorry, this might be weird, but would you train with me?" she asked.
Mallory laughed a little. "Um, sure, if you want," she replied.
"Oh my hero, seriously?" future inferno asked.
Mallory shrugged. "I mean, sure, if you want."
"Are you kidding me?! You're my idol! You're the reason I decided to become a hero in the first place!"
Mallory nodded, feeling very uncomfortable. "Right, well, uh, I train every day for a few hours before the team trains together," she told the girl. "My training room is-"
"Oh, I know, down the hall and around the corner," future Inferno finished for her.
Mallory and Conner exchanged a glance. "How did you know that?" she asked.
"Oh, I've toured the cave a million times. I know everything about it," she replied.
Mallory nodded awkwardly, and Conner rolled his eyes and muttered, "Right, of course."
"Recognized, Batman, 02, Superman, 01," the computer announced, and the teens watched as the Leaguers appeared.
"Wow, that takes forever," Polar Boy muttered, not disrespectfully, more like genuinely surprised.
Batman stepped right up to the group, and Superman stood slightly behind him. "The Legion members will stay here in the cave, and will have to be in civilian gear when going out in public," Batman announced. He went back to the zeta tube, but Clark stayed behind.
"Kara, we have some catching up to do," he said, and he and Supergirl left together. The rest of the Legion turned to the team expectantly.
"I'll show you where your rooms are," Megan said. She set up the link and she flew off to the bedrooms with the three time travelers hurrying after her.
The team moved closer together out of habit before Zatanna started their conversation with, "I hate to say it, but I hope they don't stay long."
"Yeah, me too," Mallory admitted, feeling a little bad. She wouldn't mind getting to know Supergirl better, but she could already tell that Inferno was going to get under her skin.
"I don't know, I mean, it's kinda cool. They traveled from the future. Think of all the stuff they know about us. They probably know everything, like our secret identities and when we join the League," Rocket said.
"Yeah, and all our future failures and when and how we die. But they won't tell us any of it, and even if they would, I don't think I want to know," Mallory argued.
"I'm just saying, it's not all bad," Rocket said.
"Yeah, no offense, Raquel, but you don't have to live with them. If you don't like them, you can just stay in your city for a while," Zatanna pointed out.
"Besides," Kalder said, "it is dangerous to have them around. They have already given Mallory information about her future that could change the timeline. Think of what else they could do, simply by knowing what happens in our futures."
"So what do we do?" Artemis asked.
"We give them space, only interact with them when it's absolutely necessary," Robin put in. They looked at each other, already knowing how hard that would be. The cave could get small just with the team in it, and the time travelers would be staying just a few rooms away from Mallory and Zatanna.
"Perhaps you four should find somewhere else to stay until the Legion leaves," Kalder suggested.
"No," Conner said firmly, and Robin added, "They can't do that. If the Legion hadn't showed up, they would have stayed in the cave. If they change, that could mess up the timeline."
Mallory sighed. "How are we supposed to know what we would have done if they hadn't come?" "We can't possibly know. Well just have to try to stick to our normal routines," Megan said.
Mallory grinned. "Great. See ya," she said, heading for the zeta tube.
"Where are you going? We need to stick around the cave in case there's a problem," Robin said.
"Well, today was my day off, and I would have spent the whole day in Metropolis if they hadn't showed up. If I don't go relax, something horrible could happen to the timeline," she said with a fake shudder. Robin raised an eyebrow and she sighed and walked back to the group. "Sometimes you're as bad as Batman," she grumbled.
"So, what, we just hang out here until, when?" Wally asked.
"Until they start working on their mission," Robin replied.
Mallory groaned. The whole day could go by by the time that happened. She sighed and started for her training room, resigned to settle for flying around in there instead of the open Metropolis sky.
After a while of just flying around the training room, Mallory set up some targets and started working on her form. She started the training program and got ready.
Several targets came at her, and she shot fire at them, burning only their hands. Shots of water came at her, and she dodged them and flew over and around them gracefully. More targets moved for her, and she shot at them while flying away from them. Next were the rubber bullets. Since Batman had found out that she could stop a bullet, he'd made her add that to her training sessions. She summoned her fire and put up a circular shield in front of her, pushing more fire into it every second. The rain of bullets ended, and she let the shield drop. She ignored the pain starting to rise in her and hopped over the puddle of melted rubber on the floor. She walked through, shooting targets above her, then flew up and took them out. She hovered in the air, catching her breath as she surveyed the fallen targets, allowing herself a small smile of satisfaction.
"Shway!"
Mallory started at the voice in the doorway. She turned and saw the other Inferno standing there, staring at her in amazement.
"Um, thanks?" Mallory replied, not sure what the word meant.
"You're so good. Can you give me a few pointers?"
Mallory looked behind her for any other members of the Legion. "Is that allowed? I mean, couldn't that mess up your future?"
The girl laughed. "No. People do it all the time," she replied.
Mallory nodded reluctantly. "Well, ok, sure. You want to run through a session and let me see what you can do?"
The girl happily obliged. She went to the holographic screen and started typing. "Wow, this tech is ancient," she mentioned happily.
Mallory raised her eyebrows. If she thought the League's state of the art technology was ancient, what must she think of the regular old computers and tvs civilians used?
The girl figured it out after a moment and pressed the start button. Mallory moved to the door so she could watch without getting in the way. The session started, and Inferno flew into the air.
When the targets started coming for her, she spread her arms and sent pellets of fire at each one. The water came, and she flew straight through it without getting hit. More targets came at her and she shot them, then the gun barrels popped out and the rubber bullets started coming at her. She made an x out of her arms and a bubble of fire surrounded her, something like one of Rockets force fields, and the bullets melted on contact. Mallory stared at her as she ran through the rest of the session and landed eagerly in front of her.
"Well?" she asked.
"Well, your technique is good," Mallory commented, not wanting to admit that there really wasn't anything she could say was wrong with it.
"Thanks! I mean, most of it was yours, but I added my own stuff to it."
Mallory shook her head. "You know, for a time traveler, you really don't keep secrets very well," she said. She hadn't recognized any of the techniques the girl had used.
The Legionaire bit her lip. "Oh, I'm sorry. I just need to shut up, don't I? It's just so hard not to tell you what I know. I've spent countless hours reading your files and learning your moves and all. I mean, I know everything about you."
Mallory cleared her throat, trying to cover the fact that she felt very uncomfortable being with a complete stranger that knew everything about her. "Um, ok? Look, uh, Inferno, I don't want to be rude, but maybe you should try to spend as little time as possible around me. It seems like spending time with me might be too much of a temptation for you."
She sighed. "Well, all right, Mallory," she said after a moment.
Mallory cringed. She didn't know why she should be surprised that someone from the future knew her name, but it made her skin crawl just the same. "Um, maybe just call me Inferno, all right?" she said awkwardly.
"Inferno!" someone yelled, and they both turned to the door. Wally looked between them and groaned. "This is going to get confusing," he muttered.
"Oh, you can call me Sandy," the future Inferno said.
Mallory and Wally raised their eyebrows. "Are we allowed to know that?" he asked.
"Oh, sure. As long as you don't spread it around, it's fine."
They exchanged a glance. "Right, well, Mal, Supergirl wants to see the team," he said.
Mallory nodded and they started for the mission room. "She called me Mallory," she muttered as they walked.
"So?" Wally asked.
"So she told me that she knows everything about me. The fangirl stuff is really starting to freak me out."
He nodded. "Yeah, she is a bit much," he agreed.
"I mean, it's just so weird to have my future replacement here wanting to be best friends and for me to give her tips," she continued.
"She's not your replacement, she just has the same powers as you and took your name," he said with a grin.
Mallory rolled her eyes. "I don't think you would like it very much if someone came from the future with the same powers as you talking about how you're a dead hero and they love you so much they took your name," she said.
Wally shrugged. "She never called you a dead hero," he pointed out.
"Well, they live like a thousand years from now. I'm assuming that my time is up by then," she said.
"I guess. But don't think of her as your replacement, think of it as a legacy. You're not forgotten in the future."
She sighed. "Why are you such an optimist?" she asked, still irritated that she'd had to give up her free day for this.
He laughed and said, "well, someone on the team has to be."
Mallory thought of the team, and with the exception of Wally and Megan, they were all pessimists and realists. "True," she agreed, then she rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. "Legacy or not, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to take Sandy. I might need to go spend some time with my parents."
"I thought they were getting the house redone," Wally mentioned, "are they even going to have room for you?"
Mallory sighed. She'd forgotten all about that. "Man, I miss Roy being around. And I miss his couch."
"He got rid of his apartment," Wally told her, his voice gaining a serious tone. She sighed. She'd figured he would. He didn't want to be found, and if he stayed in his old place, she and Wally and Robin would have been coming and going. "I'd say you could stay at my house, but my mom's cousin is visiting and it might be a little hard to explain you to her," he said.
She nodded. "Thanks anyway. I'll figure something out."
They walked in the mission room to find Superman and Supergirl waiting for them. Zatanna and Megan came in behind them and the team waited for the supers to say what they needed to say.
"Listen, I know that the whole time travel thing is weird, but I just wanted to tell you that it's not that big of a deal if you do something different because we're here. I mean, I changed time periods. That's a pretty big deal, but it didn't change too much in the history books."
Kalder visibly relaxed at this news.
"Also, I know Inferno's a little‒ hyper, but she's one of the best fighters in the Legion, so just, well I guess I'm just saying don't hate her too much." She said it to the team, but she caught Mallory's eye. Mallory nodded slightly. She would try, anyway. It wasn't going to be easy, but she'd try. "All right, well, that was all I was going to say," Kara said, and Megan, Zatanna, Kalder, and Wally left. Artemis, Robin, Conner, and her lingered.
"What do you need?" Superman asked.
"Well, I, for one, would just like to know a little more about this whole thing," Robin said, and Artemis put a hand on her hip, waiting. Mallory tilted her head a little, wondering why he didn't just go to Batman. Surely the most paranoid member of the League had gotten all the answers from the Legion that he needed.
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you," Kara said.
"Can't, or won't?" Robin asked. "You just told us that it doesn't really matter what we do, so why would telling us what your mission is jeopardize anything?"
Kara sighed. "it just would, I can't tell you any more."
Artemis and Robin left, no doubt to do some digging, but Mallory and Conner stayed. Kara smiled. "Good, I was hoping we would get a chance to talk," she said.
"We could talk somewhere more, open," Mallory suggested.
Superman looked at Kara. "Metropolis is nice this time of year," he said. She thought about it for a moment.
"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to just fly along." Mallory grinned and the four of them went to the zeta tube to go to their city.
Who is your favorite character? Least favorite character? Favorite part of the story so far? Least favorite part? Suggestions for characters or where the story could go? Questions about a character or part of the story?