Chapter 2

Castlevania

It's been over a week since Draken was introduced to the Team and during said time period, Draken had spent most of his time feeding on the animals in the castle's store house while also repairing most of the damage done to the Castle during the battle against his father. With the help of Wonder Woman, Draken was able to fully repair the damage done to the Castle.

The Amazon had been generous enough to educate him on some of the norms of society and the Justice League supposed no killing rule. Though he did not have any issue with the rule, he felt that there were situations that required the death of an enemy, regardless Draken believe he will not have any issue abiding to the rule.

Finally being at full strength, Draken casted an invisibility spell around the Castle and Belmont hold along with adaptive micro-opto electronics combined with phase shifting spell to prevent intruders from infiltrating the castle without his consent. Batman had also installed a Zeta Tube close to the Castle for Draken to access. Currently the young Vampire is going through one of the many Dictionary's Wonder Woman had gotten for him, though this particular one was in Greek. Due to his vampire side, he was able to accumulate about fifteen Dictionary's of different languages and was becoming slightly familiar with most current time words and objects. With his current book in hand, he is walking towards the Zeta Tube with the intention of going to Mount Justice.

Mount Justice

"Recognized: Draken, B06." A computerized voice said as he stepped out of the Zeta Tube.

Though slightly similar to the castle's teleportation system, the Zeta Tube left a bad taste in the Vampire's mouth, though he believed in time he would get used to it.

"Draken!" Said Vampire looked away from his book to see Ms. Martian flying towards him out of one of the halls.

"Morning, Ms. Martian," he greeted.

"What are you doing here?" she pulled up and landed in front of him, her arms folded shyly over her body.

"Wonder Woman said that we might be given a mission today." Draken simply said

"Oh, okay. Follow me!" She turned and started walking back towards the hallway she came from.

"I take it the other's aren't here yet?" Draken asked as he followed her, with his eyes not leaving his book.

Yeah, but me and Superboy actually live here." M'gann said

"I see."

"So how was your week?" M'gann asked

"It was, educative." Draken said dragging the last part

"Recognize: Aqualad B01, Robin B02, Kid Flash B03."

"Seems they're already here." Draken noted

"Hello Megan, let's go meet them" M'gann said quickly as she flew back towards the Tubes with Draken tailing her.

"Hi guys, how did it go with Speedy?" M'gann asked, seeing their haggard faces.

"Speedy said no," Kid Flash grunted, "'Junior Justice League'. Why didn't I think of that? We should totally call ourselves that."

"Isn't that what we are?" Draken asked almost innocently

"Dude!"

"What are you doing here, Draken?" Aqualad asked

"Wonder Woman." Draken simply said

"That's right," Robin remarked, "You're her Protege now. What's it like?"

"It's fine I guess." Draken said

"So what's it like being a Vampire?" Kid Flash asked as he shot behind Draken and slung an arm over his shoulder

Draken rolled his at the speedster who almost reminded him of Trevor. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"It's cool, bro." Robin said, "We won't push, won't we?" he glared pointedly at Kid Flash.

"What?" demanded the red-head, "I won't push, alright?"

"Push what?" everyone turned to see Superboy walking out of the shadows in a leather coat and a black shirt with the Superman crest outlined in red.

"We were just discussing how we all are entitled to our secrets," said Aqualad, "Our pasts are unimportant. It is our future as a team that we must focus on." There was a beeping noise and they all turned to see a large, holographic screen pop up.

"Approaching," said the computer as it opened several charts and maps on the screen, "Red Tornado."

"Ooh! Maybe he has a mission for us!" Robin exclaimed.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Kid Flash shot out of the room like a miniature hurricane, the rest of the team in tow. They reached the hangar and the Cave's secret entrance just as Red Tornado set down on the ground, carried by a swirling, scarlet funnel of wind.

"Greetings," said the android in a robotic voice, "Is there a reason you intercept me outside the cave?"

"We hoped you had a mission for us," Aqualad said, stepping forwards.

"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility."

"But it's been over a week!" Robin complained, "We need-"

"Do not fear," Red Tornado assured them, "You will be tested soon enough. For the time being, simply enjoy each other's company."

"This team is not a social club," Aqualad said with a scowl.

"I am told interaction is an important team-building exercise," Red Tornado said as he walked past them into the hideout, "Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarizing yourself with the cave."

"Keep busy!" Kid Flash hissed to the android's back.

"Does he think we're falling for this?" Robin muttered.

"Oh! I'll find out!" M'gann whispered as she narrowed her eyes at the robot's retreating form causing Draken to raise a brow. "Ugh," she said after a moment, "I-I'm sorry, I forgot he's a machine, inorganic. I cannot read his mind."

"Nice try though," Kid Flash offered as he stepped in closer, "Know what I'm thinking right now?"

"We all know what you're thinking right now," Robin chuckled

"Definitely Trevor, only without the alcohol addiction." Draken thought

"And now," Aqualad signed, "We tour the clubhouse."

"Well, Superboy and I live here," M'gann said, "We can play tour guides.

"Don't look at me." Superboy said defensively as all eyes turned to him.

"We won't," Kid Flash replied, "A private tour sounds much more fun."

"She never said private." Draken thought with a sign

"Team-building," Aqualad nodded, "We'll all go."

M'gann smiled as she led them back into the cave. "This would be our front door and hangar," she said, "Down that way is the kitchen and bathrooms, bedrooms are over there, we have a rec room and gym down that hall there, I'm pretty sure that's a hologram room, but I'm not sure. The Cave is actually the entire mountain."

"It was hollowed out and reinforced by Superman and Green Lantern back in the early days of the League," explained Kid Flash as they entered the Cave's secondary hall, half-filled with an underground freshwater pool.

"Then why abandon it for the Hall of Justice?" asked Superboy.

"The Cave's location was compromised," Aqualad said.

"And they traded it in for a tourist trap? Yeah, that makes sense."

"If the cave's location is known" M'gann though out loud, "Then we must be on constant alert."

"The bad guys know we know they know about this place," Robin said, taking Ms. Martian's hand. "They'd never think to look here."

M'gann looked confused until Kid Flash shot up next to her and whispered, "He means we're hiding in plain sight."

"Ah," she said, scratching her head, "That's much…clearer."

Draken and Superboy sniffed the air before the clone frowned. "Is something burning?"

M'gann's eyes widened. "My cookies!" She shot off down the hall towards the kitchen. By the time the others caught up with her, she was using her telekinesis to lift a tray of burnt and blackened cookies out of the oven. She laid them on the counter sadly. "I was trying out Grammy Jones's recipe from episode 17 of…ah, heh, nevermind." She grinned at the others, trying to hide her slip-up.

"I bet they'd have tasted great," Robin reassured her, "He doesn't seem to mind."

Kid Flash was munching away at the burnt treats. "What? I have a serious metabolism!" he said as he continued to eat.

"I'll make more?" M'gaan said

"It was sweet of you to make any," Kaldur said with a generous smile across his face, she felt so welcome by them all, nothing could ruin this moment as the alien-girl smiled so bright she could light up a city by herself

"Thanks, Aqualad" M'gann smiled at him.

"Out of costume, call me Kaldur'ahm," Aqualad said. "Actually, my friends call me Kaldur."

"I'm Wally," said Kid Flash, leaning on the counter, "See, I already trust you with my secret I.D. Unlike Mr. Dark Glasses here," he motioned to Robin, "Batman's forbidden boy wonder from telling anyone his real name."

"Draken Tepes." The Vampire simple said

"Well mine's no secret," gushed M'gann, "It's M'gann M'orzz, but you can call me Megan. It's an Earth name. And I'm on Earth now." She grinned happily. Superboy scowled and started to walk away. M'gann gave him a sorrowful look and he suddenly swiveled around to face her.

"Get out of my head!" he shouted. Everyone turned to look at M'gann and she returned their looks with confusion.

" What's wrong?" M'gann's voice rang through everyone's head causing them to clutch their heads except Draken, " I don't understand. Everyone on Mars communicates telepathically."

"M'gann, stop!" commanded Kaldur, "On Earth, your powers are an extreme invasion of privacy."

Plus, Cadmus' psychic G-Gnomes left a bad taste in his brain," Wally recited looking over to Superboy gripping the door-frame warping the metal with his bare-hands.

"I didn't mean to-"

"Just stay out of my HEAD!" Superboy spoke with a growl and stomped out of the room in a huff.

"Draken, you okay?" Robin asked. "You don't seem bothered by her being in your head." Robin noted as everyone turned to see Draken wasn't affected by her ability

"I'm merely surprised she could easily bypass my mental defense. Regardless I'm already used to it." Draken said

"Seriously?" Kid Flash asked in shock

"Our family Butler has a habit of entering my mind." Draken said not directly mentioning Death

M'gann's Eyes seem to glitter at the prospect that she wouldn't have any issue communicating with Draken telepathically. Draken noticed this but said nothing.

Silence followed quickly as she tried desperately to think of something to break the tension, "Hello Megan, I know what we can do!" M'gaan suddenly spoke up after several seconds of silence, "Follow me!" everyone simply shrugged and moved to follow except Superboy who had chosen to sit on the couch.

Draken saw this and stayed behind for a moment, "You coming?".

Draken watched as Superboy grunted loudly and left his place watching the blank TV screen and followed his team-mates into the hall towards the hangar bay. They approached the metal hangar doors and went wide eyed as the doors split slowly revealing a large crimson-red ship the size of a small house laying before them.

"It's my Martian Bio-Ship," M'gaan said as they walked into the hangar where the giant red sphere shaped ship laid auspiciously.

"Cute, not very aerodynamic but, cute," Wally said as M'gaan chuckled slightly at his lack of knowledge on Martian technology.

"It's at rest silly; here, I'll wake it," M'gaan waved her hand in the air causing the sphere to shift and melt growing wings and even a hatch, which opened with only another gesture of the Martian teens hand. "You guys coming?" She asked grabbing hold of the hatch and hopping inside.

"It's alive." Draken noted placing his hand on the ship as he was greeted with faint feelings of emotion

M'gann blushed slightly as Draken had unintentionally touched her mind

Inside was cool and dimly lit. Everyone was seated at a long dashboard except for M'gann who was sitting in what appeared to be the captain's chair. "Oh good. Red Tornado, please open the bay doors." Outside the windshield, the wall cracked as the hanger opened wide. With a slight hum, the Bioship lifted off the ground and shot forwards out into the open sky. Draken felt his stomach flip as a weightless sensation overcame him.

"This is incredible!" exclaimed Robin, peering out over the ocean.

"She sure is." Draken hunched his shoulders slightly as he realized Wally was talking about M'gann. "The ship, I mean," Wally quickly backtracked, "Because, like all ships, she's a she."

"Fast with his feet, not so much with his mouth," Robin snickered.

"Dude!"

"Hey, how about showing us some Martian shape shifting?" Robin asked as M'gaan smiled and rose from her seat.

"Sure, I haven't fully mastered it yet but," She looked over at Draken before shifting into a female version of him. Then she shifted into a female version of Robin in full uniform spite him only being civilian clothes. She spun and became a feminine Kid Flash.

"Is it wrong to think I'm hot?" he asked.

"Impressive but, you're not going to fool anyone with those," Robin pointed out as M'gaan reverted to her usual look as her clothes and skin returned to normal.

"Mimicking boys is a lot harder," she sat down slightly flustered, the male genitalia still alluded her.

"And your clothes?" Kaldur asked curiously.

"They're organic, like the ship, they respond to my mental commands!"

"As long as they're the only ones," Superboy mumbled spitefully causing M'gaan to frown slightly feeling like a child who broke rules she didn't even know existed.

Suddenly, black shadows engulfed Draken where he sat. Everyone stared at his seat as the shadow faded, revealing a perfect copy of M'gann in his place.

"How do I look?" Draken asked in M'gann's skin

"Dude! You can shape shift?" cried Wally as Draken reverted back

"Shape shifting is an almost basic Vampire ability." Draken shrugged

"Just how many powers do you have?" asked Robin in awe.

"A bunch," he said

"I guess that's something we have in common," M'gann said with a subtle blush.

"Can you do that ghosting through walls thing that Manhunter does?" Kid Flash asked

"Density shifting? No, that's way too advanced for me," M'gaan looked down at her feet before Robin chimed in to comfort her.

"Dont worry about it; Flash can vibrate his molecules strait through a solid objects, when Wally tries it? Bloody nose!"

"Dude!"

"Here's something I can do!" as her mental command was sent via telepathic link, the entire external shell of the Bio-Ship began melting with its surroundings, dissapearing completely into the sky almost entirely invisible, "Camouflage mode!"

"Ooh! Perfect for late-night getaways, huh?" Wally winked.

"Keep your testosterone levels in check." Draken groaned cursing his heightened sense of smell

"Red Tornado to Miss Martian; an emergency alert has been triggered at the Happy Harbor Power Plant. I suggest you investigate, covertly, I'm sending coordinates to your Bio-Ship now," The quick connection to Red Tornado was cut as latitude and longitude coordinates were sent to the center console in front of the Martian pilot.

"Received," said M'gann, all whimsy in her voice lost as she grew serious, "Adjusting trajectory."

Aqualad sighed. "Tornado's just keeping us busy again."

"Like you have anything better to do?" countered Robin.

"Um, guys?" Robin said, his face pressed against the window, "Remind me, are tornados common in New England?" Everyone looked up to see a giant, spinning wind tube right in front of them. M'gann grit her teeth as she tried to pull up, but it was too late. They were sucked into the massive vacuum and flung about like a rag doll. Luckily, everyone was strapped down, but the whiplash was terrible. M'gann quickly guided them out of the tornado and into a parking lot. Nearby was a large building that must have been the power plant.

M'gann opened a hole in the floor and everyone jumped out, landing on the pavement. As one they, they stared up at the massive tornado that ravaged across the building. Robin shot forwards with the other's unaware of his departure except Draken

Almost immediately, he got thrown back against the far wall by violent gusts of wind. Robin grunted as he hit the wall and crumpled to the floor. He looked up to see the rest of the team run in as well and stare at their enemy. It appeared to be a person in a suit of high-tech armor. It was red with tubes of blue liquid pumping through its shoulders. Rags wrapped like a scarf around his head.

"Who's your new friend?" asked Superboy as he helped Robin to his feet.

"Didn't catch his name!" panted Robin, "But he plays kind of rough!"

"My apologies," said the villain in a synthesized voice, "You may refer to me as Mr. Twister." The villain said as he formed twin tornados in his hands and sent them spinning at a charging Superboy. The young clone was sent wheeling back into the wall. Wally jump kicked at Twister, but he was thrown out into the grass beyond a loading dock. Kaldur and M'gann charged simultaneously and were blown away by two gusts.

Seeing his allies fall, Draken took out his Scythe before charging Mr Twister. Seeing this, he sent twin tornadoes at the vampire, but before they could hit Draken morphed into a swarm of Bats evading the attack before reverting back to normal as he grabbed Twister slamming him into multiple buildings.

"Stand down." Draken told Twister only to get hit with a lightning bolts that sent him flying into a ship causing an explosion

"What have you done to my team?" shouted Wally as he dodged a burst of wind.

"Your team?" Robin asked as he jumped to avoid a wave of air, "Since when is this your team?" Wally glared at Robin as Twister shot a tornado at him, lifting him up into the air and tossing him at the building.

"I got you!" cried M'gann as she and the rest of the team ran out. She grabbed Wally with her telekinesis and lowered him to the ground.

"What do you want?" shouted Kaldur, electricity crackling up and down his arms.

"Isn't it obvious?" asked Twister, flying up in the air, "I'm waiting for a real hero."

"M'gann, read his mind!" shouted Kaldur.

"I thought I wasn't supposed to do that!"

"It's okay when it's the bad guys!" shouted Robin, "Now hurry!" M'gann focused for a second, but then her eyes widened.

"Nothing! I'm getting nothing!" she said, "Of course! Hello Megan! Mr. Twister is Red Tornado in disguise!" Everyone stared at her. "Think about it," she explained, "He's inorganic, and android! And how many androids do you know that can generate tornados?"

"Red Tornado sent us here," muttered Kaldur.

"After saying we'd be tested soon," barked Robin angrily, "This is his test! Something to keep us busy!"

"Speedy called it!" growled Wally, "We're a joke."

Kaldur pounded his fist. "This game is over!" he shouted as electricity started to build in Twister's hand

"Guys, can Red Tornado do that?" Kid Flash asked

"You think I'm Tornado?" Twister laughed "Ironic." He then launched bolts of lightning at the team knocking them off their feet. Superboy tried one last charge at Twister, only to be thrown backwards by a second lightning bolt.

M'gann then placed her Bioship above the team while in camouflage mode. The shimmering outline of the Bioship in camouflage mode hovered between them and Twister.

"Fine," said Twister impatiently, "I won't deny you children have power, but playing hide-and-seek with you will not help me achieve my objectives, so stay concealed for all I care. But know that if you fight me again, I will show no mercy." With that, he flew off into the sky, vanishing from sight.

"What just happened?" asked Wally as he sat up.

"I put the Bioship between us," explained M'gann, standing up.

Superboy punched a rock that had been dredged up by his fall. "And that's supposed to make it right?" he shouted, tossing aside his shredded jacket, "You tricked us into believing that was Red Tornado!"

"I-"

"You're just too inexperienced with how heroes fight," said Kaldur sympathetically, "Hit the showers. We'll take it from here."

"Stay out of our way," muttered Superboy gruffly as he walked off in the direction Twister had gone, Wally and Robin quickly joining him.

"I was just trying to be part of the team," M'gann said a single tear dripped down her cheek.

"To be honest," said Kaldur grimly, "I'm not sure we really have a team."

M'gann thought for a moment before slapping her forehead again. "Hello Megan! I've got a plan" she cried out.

Meanwhile

Draken had managed to save the people on the ship he was blasted into. Dropping of the last human he looked on to where the battle against Twister was being held. Annoyed at letting his guard down, he began to glow Red as he blasted towards Twister's location

With Twister

On the ground, the rest of the team was having their butts handed to them as Twister rampaged through downtown Happy Harbor, eventually coming to rest on the town green. Although the boys managed to land a few punches, they spent most of their time either trying to avoid the spinning attacks or getting thrown around like sacs of potatoes, wreaking the colonial buildings surrounding the green.

" Everyone! Listen to me," M'gann's voice cried in their heads.

"What did we tell you?!" roared Superboy as he tossed a boat engine at Twister.

" I know!" M'gann rushed, " I know I messed up, but we're very clear on what we need to do now. Please, just trust me." They were all silent as M'gann relayed her plan to them and their gazes met when she finished. They confirmed her idea with a nod and continued to dodge and weave the enemy attacks.

Red Tornado flew overhead and landed behind them as the citizenry was being evacuated. "Hit the showers, boys," he said, "I was hoping you could handle this. Clearly, you cannot."

"But we have a plan now!" protested Robin.

"The subject is not up for debate," said the robot, not accepting any disobedience from his command.

"I was beginning to believe you'd never show up," Twister said about to form a tornado, but that never happened as he got slammed to the ground by a Red blur. The team looked in shock as a pissed Draken floated above Twister

"You." Twister raised his hand with the intention of blasting the Vampire but noticed his right arm was missing. Looking up he saw it in the hands of Draken

Before Twister could process what happened, Draken sped towards him taking his other arm, then his left leg, right leg and finally his head causing the limbless Twister to fall to the ground

As Tornado morphed into M'gann, the team gathered around Twister as he sat up and clambered out of his armor.

"F-foul!" said the frail old man in the armor as he fell on the ground, "I-I call foul!"

M'gann rolled her eyes and used her telekinesis to rip up a large piece of Earth."M'gann!" cried Kaldur, his eyes widening as he realized what she was about to do, "No!" But it was too late. She brought down the rock hard on the old man, crushing him underneath. For a moment, the whole team was silent, eyes moving back and forth between M'gann and the rock.

"I don't know how things work on Mars," said Robin slowly, venom in his voice, "But on Earth, we don't execute our captives!"

"And you said you trusted me," smirked M'gann. She lifted up the rock and they all gasped except Draken as they saw that the old pilot was just an android, made of gears and cogs. "That's why I couldn't read his mind," she explained as Wally grabbed a semi-crushed mechanical eye ball.

"Cool. Souvenir," Kid Flash said as he pocketed the eye ball

"We should have had more faith in you," Kaldur said, putting his hands on M'gann's shoulders.

"Yeah, M'gann," said Wally with a grin, "You rocked this mission. Get it?" he pointed to the rock she had used, "Rocked!"

"Ignore him," Draken to her, "I think he thinks he's funny." She giggled and smiled at him.

"I for one am just glad we have you guys on the team," said Robin.

"Me too," agreed M'gann.

"But dude, that was really badass." Kid Flash said referring to how he defeated Twister

"Where were you anyway?" Robin asked

"I was taking the civilians away from the battle field." Draken said

"That makes sense." Kid Flash said

Mount Justice

Later, they were all assembled in the main hall of the Cave. The remaining, crushed parts of the android were laid out before them and Red Tornado.

"It's almost like it was built specifically to fight you," observed Kaldur.

"Agreed," nodded the robot. "Regardless you all performed admirable." Tornado said walking away down a hallway.

"I take it you never intended to help us?" Draken asked

"This was your mission." Tornado said simply causing Draken to nod

"Batman, Aquaman, and Flash," muttered Wally, "They'd have jumped right in to fix things."

"I guess if we're going to have a babysitter," said Robin, "A heartless machine is exactly what we need."

"Dude!" hissed Wally, "Harsh!"

"And inaccurate," Red Tornado called back, "I have a heart. Carbon-steel alloy. I also have excellent hearing."

"Right," said a flustered Robin, "Sorry…I'll try to, ah, be more…accurate in the future."

"And more respectful," Kaldur butted in.

"See that you do," said Red Tornado, turning away.

"Speedy was so wrong about this," smiled Wally as he headed towards the kitchen.

"This team thing might just work out," agreed Robin as he and Kaldur followed.

Aqualad sighed and rubbed his shoulder. "I'm going to take a bath. They have a nice hot tub I've been wanting to try out."

"Sounds good," Superboy nodded as he walked off. Slowly, he turned to M'gann. He sighed and rubbed the back of his head, scratching an invisible itch. "Listen, M'gann, I…I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier."

"Oh!" M'gann looked at him, surprise on her face, "Um, thanks." She blushed slightly and quickly flew off.