Location: Mission Briefing Room
Interactions: The Team

---

The days following the Atlantis mission had been… challenging for Viktor. The most challenging time he’s possibly ever had to deal with. Whatever Kassy did to him seemed to have left a mental scar that plagued him with vivid visions of violence directed at him. The worst part of it was his attempt at hiding how bad it truly was from the others. A minor distraction. It will pass.

He kept his distance from many on the team, even more so than usual. His normal spot on the couch remained vacant and the lounge was absent of any bad reality television shows. He spent many of his days outdoors around the mountain or in his room, save for the times in the past few days when one might catch him interacting with Alisa.

---

Within the briefing room, Viktor maintained his usual pose in the briefing room and appeared stoic as ever amongst the rest of his team. He noted Daphne’s absence but Martian Manhunter, her mentor, starting the briefing without her presence gave him the feeling she had good reason for not being there. What wasn’t usual was the deep breath Viktor took just before Martian Manhunter began to speak. It was almost as if he wasn’t quite ready. The mission… He listened in on the details.

“The goal is to locate the missing teens and discern the extent of Kobra's involvement."

He let the words sink in, but a glance at Alisa kept them from polluting what was truly important. After his talk with her, he practiced meditating using a single mantra. As long as it ensures the team’s wellbeing and success, it matters. He didn’t think there was much more to say, but before he could step off and away, Martian Manhunter delivered news of Daphne’s current condition.

Viktor’s emerald eyes stared almost blankly at the tank before he simply shook his head. He wondered what Dr. Hall might have done for this to happen. There was no mention if it was his study sessions that induced this state but he knew Dr. Hall and Dr. Bingley were cut from the same cloth. Never finding a stopping point and always hyper-focused on the goal regardless of what happened to anyone or anything else. Viktor knew he was cut from that very same cloth but he wouldn’t let that type of thinking rule him. Not as long as he could fight it.

He noted the others’ approach toward Daphne in her glass case. He, however, remained where he stood, as it was briefed she couldn’t be reached. He felt conflicted as all he could remember was their conversation on the submarine.


He averted his gaze from her form and quickly decided to place his focus elsewhere. Casper had just spoken up about volunteering as bait for the mission. With a raised eyebrow, he replied.

“Your initiative is commendable, but I think we need more information on Kobra’s targets before dangling out the wrong bait.” Viktor’s attention then shifted towards their mission briefer. “Martian Manhunter, is there any other correspondence between the missing teenagers. Metahuman powers, physique, hair color, hobbies?” Viktor listed hoping there was more to go on.

---

Much weight hung on the shoulders of Young Justice in the days that followed from the mission to Atlantis. Some walked with their heads lower, others simply kept to themselves. As it seemed, for a lot of them, this mission was their first time dealing with internal turmoil within the team. The same couldn’t be said for the animal boy. Even with all of the aftermath: Kassy getting locked up briefly, Zachy nursing a wound, Daffy-Knee having to go out of town, then finally Talon resigning from the team.

Those things made him sad inside, but it didn’t last very long. There were many times on his former BSF squad that something bad happened. There were many days that he personally suffered back then. However, it was with those, that he was also taught to recognize that sulking in the pain did nothing for anyone; not even yourself.

Thus, Ja had given himself the task of looking after the others in the days leading up to this one. A spot of sunshine came with the reemergence of Casper, which personally put some of Ja’s thoughts about his disappearance at ease. Ultimately, though, he ended up spending most of his time with Kassy. She seemed to be going through a lot more internal struggle than even Vicky.

However, as should be expected, their task force had to continue operating, so Kilamanjaro was ready for action upon going into the briefing. This time, they were met with a real life alien; Martian Manhunter. He was even green and bald, but he anything but small. Regardless of how cool he looked, Ja kept himself from goofing or asking questions of the Justice Leaguer.

Moreover the information brought made Ja’s posture tense some. The phrase “Meta-Human Youth Center”, struck a chord with him. That a place where kids like him could go willingly, existed in America. In Buredunia, the “Meta-Human Youth Center” was the training grounds and camps; where metas were forged into weapons through fire and brimstone…That whoever these Kobra people were would take advantage of that place to steal people for their own purposes too, gave familiar light to Ja’s resolve to stop them.

Though, the mission with the personal stake wasn’t enough to rattle him on its own. No, what rattled Ja was what he didn’t see. While Martian Man had been talking, he couldn’t help but let his eyes wander around the room. His senses indicated pulses of the Green in this very room, but not just any at random. It was familiar…Looking about, he could only see his teammates…most of them, at least. When Martian Man had mentioned having to show them something with a somewhat downcast inflection in his otherwise monotone speech pattern, Ja’s attention returned.

It was when he pulled down the case, Ja felt a lump in his throat. The back of his eyes stung, but no tears came out of them. The face that held such strength in it days ago, frozen in a state of unconsciousness. A highly bewildering set of motions radiated through his body at once. His mind and emotions felt horrible that something happened to one of his most cared for friends that left her like this. Yet, with her closer, Ja felt the pulse of the Green from earlier in a much stronger form. His eyes and brain told him that she wasn’t right, that something was wrong, but his senses through the Red whispered otherwise.

The confusion so intertwined with concern made parts of his mane stand on end, as he was momentarily stunned. It was the approaching footsteps of someone else approaching that made him stir back into the moment and he turned his head to see Kassandra. Seeing her finally come out of her room for something other than food inclined him to smile briefly at her in encouragement.

However, Ja expression defaulted to one more serious as his teammates offered their input; finding himself agreeing with Viktor. Hex, despite his powers and even age, he wasn’t quite the type to blend in with the place. On top of being a new face, his appearance was rather distinctive and memorable. Those factors would draw more eyes than theirs and in turn make him a difficult target. If these people operated anything like BSF and this situation mishandled, they could quickly put together that they’d been made…

Regardless, Ja would do his utmost to stop this.

For the sake of his fallen friends whose memories were carved into his skin…

Location: Communications complex
Interactions: The Team

---

The Martian Manhunter watched the Team react to Daphne's state. It was obvious his protege was a loved member of this Team. He'd hoped she would settle in well. During their mentorship, he learned Daphne’s home life had become unstable. The emergence of her powers awakened an obsessive scholarly desire in her father. On the outside, they looked like any regular family. A single dad, always working, the older brother watching out for his younger sister in high school.

At first glance it looked like Mr. Hall only cared about his career, using Daphne’s meta-human powers as the genesis for his research publication. It was also a reason to spend time together. When he began to dig deeper he could see the dysfunctional family dynamics. The Martian uncovered that Mr. Hall carried a great deal of regret in one of his many conversations with Daphne. He wanted to make up for lost time and reconnect with the teen girl, whom he realized he barely knew. In turn, Daphne wanted to help him with his publication. It could possibly be the breakthrough he’d been chasing after for years. She hoped after writing the publication he’d spend less time working.

The Martian was proud of the way she put herself out there during missions. Always with a healthy dose of very real fear. It took courage to put that aside and take on the mantle of a hero.

“Promise you’ll get me back if it takes over again. Please get me back….”

He stared at the dark corners of the communications complex, a single tear falling from his deep-set eyes.

“Martian Manhunter, is there any other correspondence between the missing teenagers. Metahuman powers, physique, hair color, hobbies?”

Viktor drew him from his mind back into the present. He looked at the stoic hero, taking his time to gather his thoughts before answering. A good minute and a half passed before he answered Viktor.
“There don’t seem to be many unifying qualities, apart from their age and gender. There is no correlation between their meta-human powers. Each victim was reported to be athletically inclined, but the similarities are negligible. You will have to do more reconnaissance on site."

The Martian Manhunter explained to the Team they had another five hours to prepare and rest, before traveling by zeta to New Mexico. He finally dismissed the Team, taking Daphne with him to relocate her to the improvised greenhouse located on the base level.

Location
💀 Headquarters.

Interactions
💀 @dreamingflowers



Five hours to prepare. Casper scarcely needed the time, for there was little he could arrange. The boy leaned towards his magic, powers divorced from the concept of preparation. Rather, the ghost remained, a blindfolded gaze lingering upon Daphne’s glass cage. Whether a metal container enveloped her, or little more than a thin layer of translucence, it made no difference for the Wraithborn. A soul, bright and brimming, shackled to the material. Could the lad breathe, a sigh would surely have trickled past his lips, alas, it was a motion he couldn’t manage. A mere ghost, a specter, there was much others took for granted, much that Casper was unable to perform. He was energy, necrotic magic contained within a doll-like body robbed of what it once possessed, now a mere hollow shell.

”I will not weave my magic in an attempt to change this,” Casper spoke, his phantasmal voice a quiet trickle, claws gently placed upon the glass barrier separating him from Daphne. ”There is nothing I can do. Death cannot help life blossom, not like this, not without sacrifice.” Necromancy, the power of Death; it was capable of a lot, but neither Casper nor a creature like Nekron had the ability to bloom life. It was quite the opposite.

It was a gentle, solemn act, Casper’s body casting aside its physical restraints, an ethereal shroud washing over him as the boy’s hand slipped inside that container, meeting Daphne’s shape and solidified. He felt her essence, her very life against the palm of his hand. So strong, yet so fragile. It was the face of life itself, beauty uncontested. With obsidian claws tracing against Daphne’s hardened, wooden self, Casper’s eyes fell shut behind that blindfold. So much power running through him, the currents of Death itself, and yet, he could do nothing. The lad felt something he rarely confronted, a sense of helplessness. This was not an issue stretching into Daphne’s soul, but rather, one belonging to the material world.

Retracting his hand, appendage phasing through the thin glass separating the pair, Casper continued to speak, voice quiet as ever. ”I don’t know if you can hear me..,” he began, ”but I have always been.., drawn to you.” A brief pause struck, the boy’s forehead moving to rest against the surface of Daphne’s cage. ”Ironic, isn’t it? When I was in the Spirit World, I learned a lot about myself,” information he was previously unaware of, blissfully so. ”I am drawn to life because it’s in my nature to destroy it. I was created to free Death from its prison and be its herald, and by some fucking virtue of spirit, here I am, having stood against my nature, my purpose, and now..,” sharp teeth clenched, claws dragging against the glass, ”I fought a war, I stood against Nekron’s temptations, I destroyed my father, and yet.., I can’t even get you out of a fucking metamorphisis..,” the boy’s hand clenched, a light thud heard as he smacked the glass. ”I made you a promise, and I failed.” Despite his musings of misery and self doubt, Casper was aware that his presence would have done nothing to alleviate this issue. Had he been here, nothing would have changed, would it? Perhaps he could have dealt with Kassandra when she lost herself, a scenario he was uncertain of, equally uncertain as he was of how that correlated with Daphne’s current situation.

”We’re going to save those kids, Daphne, and I will remain at your side, no matter how long you slumber. Death is never far away, after all..,” the lad finished before he turned, sliding down the glass. There he would sit, quietly leaning against his friend’s cage, eyes falling shut.

Location: Mission Briefing Room -> Viktor’s Room
Interactions: The Team

---

“Little to go on as usual,” Viktor commented dryly. With five hours to play with, he was sure he could take a second look at the briefing. It was obvious Martian Manhunter was distracted with Daphne’s condition after his long minute and a half pause before answering him. If not for the respect he had for the Justice League member, he might have walked away after the first thirty seconds.

Besides giving the mission a second look, he figured he could put some thought into what Daphne's condition was. Thoughts swam through his mind as he left the briefing room and headed to his room.

100% plant? Not likely, but she might be close. If her plant form is relative to being 50% plant… Then what was that? 90? More? I need to review more data… But I need everything… Only five hours… There’s a mission… It’s not my problem… But it matters… His eyes looked upon a spot on his desk where a petri dish containing a leaf sample of Daphne used to be. The one taken after the conclusion of the first obstacle course run. The detached piece of her was not a true leaf, yet it behaved and was affected like one. He took a seat at his desk, and the idea of contacting Daphne’s father came to mind.

He shook his head with a sigh, opened his laptop, and got to work.

---

---

Daphne. Alisa felt her spirit drop to her feet as Martian Manhunter revealed what had become of her friend. What happened? What did her dad do to make her… like this? She could barely bring herself to look at Daphne, entombed in greenery. This next mission would be hard without her. So hard. Her infinite gentleness couldn’t be matched by anyone else on the team. Even with the return of Casper, the team would still be missing something important without her.

Alisa gazed at the ghostly boy for a moment before looking away and furrowing her brow. His return had shocked her- she had thought him dead for sure- yet beyond a few cursory words and an enthusiastic ‘welcome back!’ they hadn’t talked. She doubted that would change too much. The thought of not being friends with one of her new teammates didn’t torture her as much as it had a month ago, now that she had found friends. Not that her friends had been very forthcoming as of late. Viktor had ignored her for most of the past weeks before a heartfelt conversation between them that had led to their friendship being stronger than ever, and Aleen’a was almost completely absent. And everyone else was the same as them. Ja had seemed to bounce back, while Kassy had sequestered herself in her bedroom after the awful way the Atlantis mission had ended. Alisa didn’t blame her. She wasn’t a monster, but having something that personal exposed hurt. Zach was hurt but still as sassy as ever, and Daphne was… well.

In a way, Alisa felt she was the only one who had emerged from these past few weeks unscathed. She had to be the strong one, the steady rock for the rest to lean on. Alisa was coming to understand her purpose on the team more and more as just that- someone who could be counted on to be trusted and to protect the team in crisis. It was something she was suited to.

Five hours was a long time to prep. Alisa headed to the lab after the briefing, sparing a sad glance back for Daphne. There was nothing she could do for her now. She remembered the last Kobra-related mission well- La Hoya, Argentina, where they had lost Casper and Felix. If their plan to pose as bait worked, they’d need some way to recover any information gleaned from their base. That was where Alisa’s new flash-drive technology, uncreatively termed ‘flash drive pinkie’, could come in. Memorizing the entire computer was an awful gambit, but connecting herself directly was a foolish one. Allowing her to download information like a computer while also protecting her core computer was the ideal, and what she was trying to improve.

In the lab, Alisa sat on the stool and booted up the computer, bringing out her tools while she waited for the program to start. She was nearly done. Hopefully she could finish this project in five hours.

---

Aleen'a's tears continued to stream down her cheeks as J'onn J'onzz explained the rest of their mission and dismissed them. He said they had five hours to prepare before their trip to their destination which was called New Mexico. Ale didn't understand why humans would name their cities with the term 'New'. Perhaps it was their indication that it was an upgraded version of its old predecessor and that it had been made better by them. Despite her confusion, she was sad about Daphne's condition to ask her question.

Black Canary said it will take time for Ale to fully recover though she also admitted that she was not sure how long it would take for her. After all, Tamaraneans had different psyches than humans. Her only knowledge about Ale's kind was with Canary's limited interactions with Kori and this was also only the fourth time a Tamaranean had ever set foot on Earth soil...

Ale wouldn't know who to approach either. Everyone had to focus on their own thing for the mission and everyone was also still probably reflecting on their last mission, not to mention what had happened to Daphne right now. Just thinking about what happened to her almost made Ale cry a river again as she made her way to her room. She was in tears as she got ready for the mission. She wasn't just sad about Daphne either. Judging from the current state of her psyche, it seemed that Ale can get sad about practically anything.

Again, she was too dazed by the constant feeling of sadness to think straight which lead her to wander off again. She knew humans would eat ice cream whenever they were feeling sad so her body naturally lead her toward the kitchen. However, since she wasn't thinking straight, Ale instead picked up a tub of wasabi and ate scoops of it instead.

She was sniffling and wiping the tears from her face while eating wasabi and walking aimlessly through the headquarters. Eventually, Ale found herself in the laboratories where Alisa was working on something on her computer.

"Alisa... You are working...?" Ale would ask before breaking out in tears. "You are so hard in working. You... You dedicate all your time in working... I am so proud of..." Alisa would not understand the rest of what Aleen'a said. Her mouth was now full of wasabi again she mistook for ice cream and all that came out were strangled noises and groans of sadness while tears streamed down her face.

Location: Base of Mount Justice --> Greenhouse
Interactions: Martian Manhunter, Hex

---

Cain pulled up at the base of Mount Justice. He turned off the motor and waited, staring at the entrance. He gripped the steering wheel tight and his knuckles turned white. He felt the same mix of apprehension, adrenaline and fear he did before entering a flaming building. They told him what happened last. His dad lied about it for three days. The only reason he couldn't keep it up was because of her birthday. Daphne wouldn't just disappear on her birthday. The guys back at his station told him to leave mid shift. At first he wanted to go to Gotham University, confront his dad, punch him in the face. Ask him what the hell he'd done. While he was driving he realized his sister needed him more.

He sighed, running a hand across his tired face. Cain exited the car and walked over to the entrance where J'onn was waiting for him.
"Morning J'onn...." His voice cracked, both with dryness and the emotion he was trying to push down. The Martian Manhunter put a sympathetic hand on the young firefighter's shoulder. They didn't speak much on the way to the Greenhouse. With every step Cain felt worse.

The pair entered the improvised greenhouse. It was the size of a small garden shed, made of glass. Potted plants were whimsically arranged in the remaining space around Daphne. Cain stared at his sister, feeling a mixed bag of feelings. Mostly anger.
“I told you not to go Daph, Dad’s career isn’t your responsibility”

He didn’t talk, not even when the Martian Manhunter left. Cain’s face was set in a hard expression. He sighed loudly and softened up a little.They told him they weren’t sure if she could hear him.
“Hey Daph…..happy birthday sis…”
He rubbed the back of his neck. Cain looked at her serene face, searching for any hint of recognition. There wasn’t any. He sighed again and continued his side of the conversation.

“I fixed up your car with the guys back at the shop, worked out the dents, cleaned up the paint. Even added a bunch of flowers on the doors, made it look real nice. So it’s ready for your next accident.”

“You’re really a shit driver Daph” He laughed. The sound was hollow. Cain cleared his throat and noticed someone sitting next to Daphne. He didn’t see it before, a scrawny weird kid bundled up on the floor.

“Who the fuck are you??”

Location
Headquarters.

Interactions
@dreamingflowers

---

Was it truly a victory? Casper has prolonged the inevitable, a truth he couldn’t escape. Insurmountable power gazed across the veil, eyes of impossible black maintaining constant watch. The temptations would continue, the calling never ending. There were moments in that war where Casper nearly abandoned his quest, where he stood at the brink of devastation. An eternal struggle couldn’t possibly produce the same outcome throughout the ages. It was a mathematical impossibility, and Nekron needed a single victory for his plans to be realized.

Claws dug into his flesh as Casper’s razor teeth clenched. A poetic scene, contemplating the spread of death, absolute and final, where lamentations of life stagnating a mere layer of glass away echoed within the boy’s mind. He was fighting a losing battle, and the sight before him attested to this fact, be it in a day or a thousand years. The lad was no fool, he knew fully well why Nekron expressed such patience, for what was time to beings such as them? Knew people the stakes at hand, Casper would have been hunted by the very heroes he worked for, and the lad would not stop their advance. 'She taught me the Phantom Dance for a reason,' came a thought, Casper’s eyes traveling skyward as he gazed onto the ceiling.

The Spirit Realm had afforded him much, some things coming into light following his absence. He was still young, still inexperienced in the grand scheme of an infinite cosmos. Those much wiser than he foretold a future Casper never considered, or more accurately; did not want to confront.

As long as the Wraith existed, he would be a threat; by no fault of his own. Whether he walked in the footsteps of his mother or the twisted legacy of his father, every single step brought him closer to Nekron. As his powers grew, so too did the risk of unlocking a cage; Nekron’s Land of the Unliving.

Daphne reminded him of this, her motionless stasis speaking louder than any words the boy had ever expressed for himself. One single victory in the Spirit World meant nothing. A thousand victories would mean nothing, because in the end, a single loss meant everything. It was not a conflict he could continue, for how could he struggle against an entity whose greatest means of success was the Wraith himself? 'She knew I would come to this conclusion, whether it was today or a hundred years from now.' A mentor had taken him under her wing during that war, a woman whose expertise and wisdom was the reason behind Casper’s eventual, if short-lived success.

“You’ve been quiet for a while,” Coal spoke, a beak gently moving to peck against Casper’s temple.

”It’s funny,” the Wraith spoke, ”how I was terrified of my powers in the wrong hands, when I was given the solution so long ago.” Until now, it had not been a solution. It had not been a thought.

“Take that step and there’s no way back, kiddo’,” the crow mused, “it’s a one and only. You do what you’re thinking, and that’s it.”

”Do you have any better ideas?” Casper offered in turn, ”I was created for an explicit purpose, and one war won’t change that.”

Shaking his head, Coal continued, “nah,” he began, “it won’t, and I don’t,” the spirit confirmed. “You’d be giving up a lot. Granted, you’ll get shit in return, but even with what Mirran taught you, it’ll be a change.”

A change, something spirling through Casper’s mind. What else but a change was needed for stagnancy to shatter? A change was exactly what was required, a breaking of the wheel. Even if Duke Murdock Blackwood failed once, what he had set in motion would continue until that spinning destiny was unrailed.

Torn from his thoughts, Casper shifted a blindfolded gaze towards a newcomer. He had not seen this soul before. Not from any venue, nook, or cranny that he could recall. ‘Who the fuck are you?’ indeed. A moment of silence lingered, the Wraith’s focus remaining fixed on someone whose words denoted him a relative. Daphne’s brother. How he must have suffered, witnessing a dear sister embraced by a prison of her own making. Any parent, any brother would curse those at her side, those affording her orders and missions presented. How could they not, for they had all failed her.

Rising to his feet, Casper’s spectral eyes fell shut beneath that blindfold. ”I am sorry..,” he uttered, slow, deliberate steps bringing him past the young man. The boy scarcely knew how to introduce himself. Who was he? It was difficult to say, for until this very moment, Casper had been puppeteered by others. Until this moment, his every step had been calculated, and his sense of self trickled away as if a fading wind. ”..I’ll leave you to your sister..,” he finished, a quiet statement to summarize the turmoil within.

---

It would appear that Casper required those five hours, after all. Perhaps the fates smiled upon him, for this decision, one to sever everything he had known, would take time to execute. It was a process he understood, one coursing through him without the need of an explanation or instruction. It made sense now, more so than ever before. Words Mirran had shared with him; ‘Walk your own path, and you will see the sins left by those before you washed away’. The woman was known for speaking in riddles, and now the answer to her most cryptic rambling had finally revealed itself.

Sitting upon the floor in his room, darkness filled every corner of the boy’s shaded abode. A spell was in progress; the last he would ever cast. A spell to fundamentally change him, one to concentrate every fraction of magic into his very being, fusing with it to create something new. It was a process of stripping Casper of something he had held dear; his spellcraft. Rather, it would be woven into him, into his very essence.

It was a spell to render the boy unable to further utilize his magic, but rather, allowed for a different approach entirely. Most notably, he would from this moment on be entirely unable to unlock Nekron’s cage, whether he was bestowed a Black Lantern ring or not. Internalizing his powers, the Wraith called it. Casting aside the fragility of a wizard and replacing it with a knight’s vigilance.

Indeed, it was a process, one he thanked five free hours for. Magic wrapped itself around his ghostly essence, embracing it as he was strengthened by each advance, destructive forces abandoning their position to take new form. Change, it was the enemy of prophecy, the enemy of fate. If Casper aimed to step forward and sever shackles eternally present, he would need to destroy all that was before, by allowing it to blossom into something new. How ironic, blossoms in death, and yet, the only way forward.

It was upon this path that claws no longer beckoned spells to their side, but rather, wrapped themselves around the shaft of a weapon. Hex, a product of his father, had evolved. Hex finally took it upon himself to step out of the darkness and into position as Spectre, Casper’s own legacy.

---

Note - To finally cut himself free from a predestined future where he can create his own, Casper has risen anew. His powers have changed, and are available on his character sheet and this post.

Zach was sitting in his bed checking on all of his social media. He had missed a lot of livestreams during his recovery period, and Zach couldn’t leave the people hanging for that long. Even lying injured in the infirmary bed, he still had to check in with all of his precious followers.

Then, there was a knock at the door, and then another familiar face stepped in. “Hey kid. Can I come in.”

Zach answered without even looking up from his phone. “What’s stopping you? You’re already in here.”

Zatanna sighed, and shut the door behind her. “Seems like you’re feeling better. Not many can take a blast from an Atlantean energy spear and live.”

“Yeah, thank god for magic and modern technology huh?” It was only at that moment he looked up at his cousin. “Thanks for saving my life btw. Is that why you came in here? Don’t you get enough adoration already?”

Zatanna stood there with arms crossed. “While I’m sure Kassy appreciates it… Don’t you ever do anything like that again! You could have been killed. Why did you do it? That was a boneheaded thing to do, recklessly putting yourself in danger like that.”

Zach scoffed and rolled his eyes. He knew the lecture was coming. “If I had been killed, Bingely probably would have gotten a harsher sentence. That asshole deserves it. Anyway, like you wouldn’t have done the same thing if it were Batman, or Nightwing, or Constantine the one getting shot at?”

“It doesn’t change the fact that it’s a stupid thing to do. I’m sure there were other alternatives.”

Zach sighed. “Well there wasn’t. I’m sure you know, my magic isn’t as powerful as yours. I couldn’t redirect that attack even if I wanted to… My magic wasn’t working…” He looked back down at his phone. “Without that, what good am I to this team? All I can do are fancy party tricks. At least now I did something useful.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“I’m a social media sensation cuz. I’m not a super hero, I’m barely a magician. I mean, you had to bring Casper in to be your backup protege… Heard he’s back by the way. As if I need another reminder of how inadequate I am.”

“Stop right there. You know good and well that’s not why he’s here. I don’t know why you have it out for Caspser, but it needs to stop. He didn’t do anything to deserve it…” Zatanna turned around to leave. “It seems like you still need more time resting… But, I don’t know what I have to do to get it through your head, but you are not inadequate.” With that, she left.

—-



Zach spent much of the time after the mission in the infirmary. Either being physically healed with magic and technology. Or getting a therapy session from Black Canary. She said the same things his cousin told him, but Zach still hadn’t believed it. Physically Zach was better, but mentally and emotionally not as much. But he disguised it with his trademark sass and bravado like he usually does.

Zach attended the briefing, but didn’t really acknowledge any of the others, even when the comatose Daphne was brought out, Zach made every effort not to react. Apparently someone was kidnapping teens from the youth center. Now it was their job to investigate. Additionally, Daphne was basically in a coma, and no one had any idea what happened to her.

After Martian Manhunter dismissed the team, Zach went to the bathroom to dye his hair. Zachary Zatara was famous, and would stick out like a sore thumb at a youth center filled with troubled teens. Besides, he did always want to try being blonde for a little bit.

Location: Greenhouse
Interactions: Daphtree

---

It was only a matter of time before Viktor himself within the small greenhouse standing in front of Daphne. Her brother Cain had already departed but Viktor had no desire to meet him anyway.

He stared dully upon her still and hardened form that bore a resemblance to the sculptings he made on the trees within the woods surrounding the headquarters. Was she just like them now? Just a sculpting of who she used to be in a tree?

“You could have smiled… or made that unsure face you make most of the time.” The blankness of her expression almost made her seem lifeless despite being a living tree being carefully nurtured with the ultraviolet lighting and the fresh soil she was anchored into. “Talon left us.” The news was a surprise to him when he heard it. Between Talon and himself, the former seemed to mesh much better with the members of the team. He was able to find the nuance and displayed that he wasn’t just what the Court of Owls made him be. Viktor couldn’t help but find it strange that that difference might have been what led to his departure. He changed too fast to keep up. His instincts clashed with his actions and it was apparent during the last mission. Viktor couldn’t help but think he was partially to blame. “I am not gloating. I am informing you of your friend’s departure. I am also not blaming you. It was his decision, so don’t feel guilty about it.” He shrugged.

“But you will anyway.” Viktor sighed and took a few steps toward her before placing his hand where her shoulder was. His fingers delicately traced over the bark and the shape of her arm. “This, however… This is your responsibility. If anyone is going to get you out of this, it’s you.” His hand left her as he crossed his armed over his chest. “But I’ll help you… and it’s not because Alisa or anyone else told me to. I said I would help you on the submarine, and you need it now more than ever, yes?” There was a brief pause as he started to circle her while speaking as if he was briefing her.

“Your powers have lost control previously in two notable instances. When you choked Talon during the obstacle course, and when you…” He sighed as he carefully chose his words. “...during the La Hoya mission. During the obstacle course, your vines were entangled around Talon’s neck. Your power was trying to kill him. I’m still not sure why. With the La Hoya mission, your body barked up due to exposure to cold temperatures. And now after Dr. Hall’s recent experiment, you turned into this. Protection maybe, but there isn’t a threat anymore. Your father and his experiments are not here… but perhaps you are still afraid. Perhaps you don’t feel safe… or your powers simply don’t want you to be vulnerable ever again.” He stopped in front of her again, eyes on hers. “Simple… I will just convince you both you’re wrong… That this is still the one place you can go to where it's safe… Homebase.” He gave her a single nod before making his way out. “One day at a time, Daph.”

---

Cold, quiet, and uncomfortable. Viktor and the infirmary had more in common than he'd like. It was a place he didn't want to be, especially when he knew he was fine physically. Despite the exceptional results of the few tests conducted on him, Black Canary and Red Tornado worried about the young man's mind. Viktor had explained in as much detail as he could what he experienced from Kassy's mental attack on him, and though he seemed unbothered, Viktor had suffered a wound he wasn't sure he could shrug off.

Viktor was good at hiding how he felt, and this led to him only having to stay just a few more hours. Besides, he was getting quite sick of hearing Zach continuously livestream about being shot. At the moment he sat up as comfortably as he could while watching the hit show 13 Week Fiance!

Into the door of the infirmary came a familiar headbush that bopped left and right, mushed down the middle by familiar green headphones. Below that was the body of Kilamanjaro, in a white t-shirt and frog pajama pants, interestingly enough. Held in his hand was a cloche-covered plate of sorts. A small smile came to his features in greeting, pulling his headphones down to rest on his neck. Placing the plate on one of those overbed tables, Ja rolled it closer to Vicky.

“Hai friend…doing okay?”

“Hello…” Viktor's greeting was drier than usual, juxtaposing Kilamanjaro's peppy mood. He briefly eyed the cloche-covered plate before returning his attention to his bushy-haired teammate. “Yes, I'm doing okay.” His eye looked back to the cloche. “You don't have to feed me… and you didn't need to visit.” Most who didn’t know him well might have found this typical but the young man was behaving more harshly, especially towards Ja.

The youth in question felt the tension and his smile dipped a little. He understood perhaps not needing to feed Viktor, the guy could feed himself…Though, the part about not needing to visit him seemed to come out personally. From what Jamhad remembered, the traumas suffered by Vicky ran deep…He couldn’t know what happened in his head, but Ja saw it as all the more reason to offer reassurance.

“No, maybe not, but I wanted to be sure that my pack recovers good after how wounding the last mission was…” Was his gentle reply, and with it, he pulled off the top of the cloche to reveal: “Puff Puff balls! They made them all the time in Buredunia. They are like….what are they called here— doughnuts!”

Viktor grabbed one, studying the pastry with critical eyes. Ja’s enthusiasm for the tasty treat failed to influence Viktor’s apprehension to try it. He was sure it was delicious but he probably wouldn’t enjoy it in the mood he was in. Out of everyone on the team, Ja was possibly the most persistent. Shaking him away with cold words would never work, but since he was here…

“Ja.” Viktor said the name as if testing the sound of it. “Who is Kila?”

A small flash of confusion seemed to wash across the young man’s features. “It is me..? It was what I was called by people in Buredunia and friends that were not my Amai. ‘Ja’ is what my family calls me by…” A more contemplative look came across the animal boy’s features, while Viktor retained his more stern expression. He was not completely sure where he was going with this but he’d keep digging.

“Did you hear of someone else called by that name?” There was a brief silence.

“You seem to prefer it at times. And when you do prefer it…” Viktor held up the puff puff ball between his index finger and thumb before pressing on it. Its shape now resembled a wheel. “You’re quite different. Superficially, you’re the same but everything else I’ve observed is… not troubling but interesting.” Viktor took a modest bite of the pastry.

Ja seemed to mull over the concepts that Vicky was presenting with a gentle bob of his head left and right. “I’m different?” He said aloud, but still seemed lost in his mind. “I…in Atlantis, I briefly gave in to the Red’s fury within…I felt different then…” He admitted. The particular circumstance was a detail Viktor had noted while looking over the transcripts of the mission debriefings.

“But you said ‘at times’…meaning more than once…” He mused, still looking for other potential times when he didn’t feel like himself. Yet, the only memories that seemed strange or where there were holes happened before his arrival on the team. Surely Viktor wouldn’t be talking about that.

“Okay, well, if I start acting differently, then let me know.” He nodded, more so to himself as he took notice of his friend eating one. “Do you like it?”

“It is ade- It’s quite tasty.” The hint of a smile formed at the edges of his lips. He could not deny or lowball the deliciousness of the puff puff ball. His face quickly grew pensive with the more serious matter. “And if I let you know, it won’t be…” Viktor’s curiosity was piqued by Ja’s duality now more than ever. “I’ll do it.” He simply said with a compliant nod before tossing the rest of the pastry into his mouth. So it is not just a change in attitude… He quickly gulped down the treat before continuing. “Knowing what is occurring with you will only improve the success rate of our tasks and missions. Take the encounter with the squid for instance. Don’t you find it odd that you did not use your power over the Red in a situation concerning a hostile creature?”

“I…I remember being on the submarine but it is blurry…And I remember blacking out at some time afterwards…I felt the squid dying when I awoke.” Ja’s voice went quieter the longer he spoke, his eyes downcast as if speaking of a passed friend. “The word ‘Hostile’ doesn’t quite fit to me…he was afraid and mistook the submarine for a whale…I didn’t wake up in time to tell anyone…I couldn’t stop the Professor from killing him…”

“Neither could Talon.” In his pettiness, Viktor let the comment linger on its own and pulled out his phone, and tapped the screen as if to artificially let a few seconds pass. “Hostile or afraid, you failed to relay information you should have had from the start. A lapse in judgment? Maybe. A lapse in ability? More plausible. Why did you even leave the submarine with an oxygen tank and helmet?”

“It was part of the armor…though, perhaps when I blacked out, my abilities wouldn’t have gotten blurred if I didn’t have them…” He trailed, then paused though as if realizing something. With a more firm expression, Ja looked back up at Viktor directly.

“You were also in the submarine and didn’t stop Bingley either.” He picked up on the petty nature that Vicky used to casually discredit their teammate.

“Lapse in my ability? No. The difference between Dr. Bingley’s actions and mine is that I chose not to act on my desire. Talon could have stopped him… but he was conflicted. If told to, he would have fired. I know it.”

Ja’s face almost appeared to visibly sink back into his mane at Viktor’s words. A betrayed tingle welled up in his stomach and up his throat. He said that the difference between him and the man in Atlantis’ custody was that he didn’t fire…even though he wanted to. It didn’t sit right in Ja’s head…he just told Vicky that the squid was afraid and acting out of self-defense, yet talked about his desire to have killed it without even a hint of regret. All that the young lion could express at that moment was: “…De..sire?”

“Desire.” Viktor repeated without the slightest hesitation.

“Wh…” Ja’s breath was starting to regain some traction, shoulders rising and falling as his voice gained more base. “What do you mean desire?! Are you telling me that you wanted to kill the animal that had no affiliation with our mission? Just because it crossed our path?”

“The same creature that struck you? Yes. The same creature that obstructed our path and threatened the well-being of our team members? Yes.” Viktor grabbed another pastry, appearing unbothered by the tension between him and the young lion. “What? Do you think I enjoyed the idea? It was simply the best option. Why can't some of you understand that? Were we supposed to wait for you to save the day?”

The longer Viktor spoke, the golden tinge in Kilamanjaro’s eyes faded slowly into amber, further into ruby. “I think that disregarding life so easily, without care to nuance, is what makes you just the same as Bingley. That you are no different from the people that my Amai and Iwisa wanted to save me from!” His voice took an upshift before it became more melancholic as he spoke his next words.

“I feel the Red’s fury boiling within me; wanting to lash out at you. If my resolve to contain it weakens, and it becomes a threat to both you and Zach: Does that mean that your best option is to kill me?” Their eyes locked. Viktor mentally prepared for the worst.

Without regret, he replied…

---

Kassy stared mutely at the transformed Daphne, her eyes widening. How could this be? When had it happened? She knew that Daph sometimes had trouble with her power, but this was something else entirely.

She stretched her fingers out, as if wanting to touch the glass case, but then quickly restrained herself. Now was not the time. She had to use all her energy just to focus on the mission briefing. So, metahumans were going missing, hm? And they had another chance at Kobra? She remembered the aftermath, the embarrassment of failing both missions involving Kobra. While the Kassy from before may have jumped at the chance to even the score, the current Kassy barely mustered a quiet “Yes, sir” before heading for the door after they were dismissed.

The Team was well out of sync. They were all in their own heads. She could tell that even without having to reach out for her teammates’ minds. It probably didn’t bode well. And it was all her fault. If she hadn’t lost control, if she hadn’t been there at all, they’d all be fine.

5 hours.

A part of her wanted to just go back to her room and sit in her pool for the majority of it. But no, if this was going to work, she’d need a disguise and a backstory. The disguise part would be easy enough. The backstory, maybe not so much.

Kilamanjaro, meanwhile, momentarily stood with a hand at his chest. He was still trying to understand the odd feeling that Daphne gave off. To feel the green more intensely implied more life opposed to death…yet their friend appeared to be locked in her form, like what happened on their first mission…One that he had failed, personally. Not this one, nothing would steal away his focus this time. In which case, this time they’d need to do disguises again, like for the circus mission.

That meant, as much as his instincts would dread, his headbush would have to be reshaped. Which, there was only one that he had trusted with that since he got here, and it made him purse his lips a bit. Regardless of possible reluctance at her emotional distance, she hadn’t been harsh to him so far. Thus, Ja turned to Kassy, with a K again since Casper was back, and stood with a wrist in the other hand.

”Do you think you’ll have time to help me with my disguise?”

“...” Kassy looked at Ja, her eyes a little blank before snapping onto him. “Oh. Yeah. Okay.” She was surprised he was asking for her help. Then again, it wasn’t like he had options. Who else could actually do his hair? “Might as well do it now.”

Without indicating that he should follow or not, Kassy walked off from the mission briefing room. She knew the others on the team would be taking care of their own business. There was no reason to bother them.

Taking her words as a prompt, Ja was soon to follow afterwards, but briefly eyed Daphne’s case as Martian Man took it away. They’d find a way to fix this…

After gathering the necessary tools from her room, she joined Ja in his own room. It was a strange entanglement of chaos and order with several plants within. SIlently, she bade him sit in a low chair while she stood, carefully combing and brushing out his thick mane.

For some time she was completely silent, simply oiling his hair and getting it prepared for braiding. Then, without warning, she spoke up softly. Her voice had little of the melody it used to have. In fact it was almost completely flat.

“I… I have to tell you something. About what happened in Atlantis.”

Ja was between feeling chills go down his spine, and trying to force himself still as the whiskers whined to his brain. He maintained self control through the brushing and combing, and took Kassy’s sudden dialogue as a means of distraction.

”Okay, go ahead.” He egged her on with a soft edge to his voice.

Kassy took a careful deep breath. Might as well be done with it. It wasn’t like the team could hate her more. "When you started to choke that Deluge member, and you heard a voice telling you to stop? That… was me." Her eyes were suddenly burning.

"I can get into people's heads and influence their thoughts. I wouldn’t have done it if there was a better solution." A tear slipped from her face, probably dropping in Ja's hair. "I'm sorry. I just thought you deserved to know."

A moment passed as Ja absorbed her words. Ambuya spoke of suchlike power in the past, belonging to sorcerers and masters of Vodou. She said to be cautious around those ones, as he should when around spirits. Though, with the way Kassy described her actions, it was sorrowful. Moreover, even though oiled, his sensitive hairs could distinguish between the previous liquid applied and the tear that dropped onto it. With that, he slowly turned his head around to face her.

”Thank you, Kassy.” He replied with a docile smile.

"If I had time for another plan, I would have-" What Ja said slowly sunk in. Her fingers stalled in his hair. "Wait. You're thanking me?" A trace of suspicion slipped in her eyes. "My power shouldn't be used at all. I don't understand why you're thanking me."

”Many things have happened to my head over the years…when the Red’s fury comes over my mind, it blinds me in the moment but returns the memories…What happened down there wasn’t the first time. Lives got lost in the past…and those memories still haunt me…so, thank you for using your forbidden powers to help me.”

Kassy stared at him for a solid ten seconds. "I… no one has ever thanked me for that. Ever." Her nimble hands started to braid again. "It was always "filthy siren" this and "magical freak" that. Even my own family…" She stopped, hands trembling. "I'd say you're welcome, but I don't think you get it." Without continuing to explain, she simply moved on.

"Assuming you'd even care for my help, is there anything I can do to help you keep your fury under control? Well…" Trailing off, she realized it was high hypocrisy for her to offer something she had proven she couldn’t do.

"Nevermind. I can't help you. Ask someone else." She started braiding again.

”Well…I do not think that the Red’s fury can ever really be contained…It is part of the Red; making it part of me. The wild within me is what makes my ability to connect with animals strong…I just need to keep my focus better… Ja replied, making sure to remain still. She spoke from a place of great suffering, one that he could relate to, given his own past. At the very least, Ja wanted to give her the support and understanding that Iwisa had given him.

And…I would not say “thank you”, unless I meant it truthfully. If it were not for you, people would have died. The Kassy that I’ve come to know and come to care for, isn’t bad. The Kassy I know is smart, and kind, and always tries to do the right thing. Even if it is hard for her, and even if it’s for people she doesn’t like…I don’t know any magical monsters or speaker machine sounds that behave like that.”

Kassy considered Ja's words for a quiet moment, starting the next braid. Ja was a lot of things, but a liar wasn't one of them. "I… guess it was the only option in the moment. And you don't have to thank me. You're my friend."

A flicker of a smile. One that dropped quickly. "By the way. Whoever told you to supervise me, tell them I don't need it. I'm not going anywhere. Just waiting until…" She suddenly had a lump in her throat. "The League changes their minds." Indeed, Ja would have easily seen that her things were stored and her room bare. She couldn’t shake the thought that the call would come for her, and she'd be out. Might as well make it easy.

"There's plenty of magic with Casper back, anyway. You guys don't need me. Mind control is a villainous power anyway.”

With those last few statements, Ja paused, turning his head to look up at her again. “No one told me to supervise you…” He started, turning the rest of his body to face her more fully. Pulling up one of the small sleeves on his t-shirt, he revealed the scar lines before he continued. “I am sure you have seen them before— times when we have gone swimming. Each is a memory of a friend that has met the end of their circle of life.” A hand of his took one of hers that had previously been braiding. He guided it to his right oblique area of his torso; a rigid, thin line could be felt beneath the fabric.

”M’Ssaiya was a friend of mine whom I had lost, not in battle with opponents but within himself. His mind often plagued him with many terrible thoughts about others and himself… Ja’s voice trailed into silence, eyes to the floor and he released Kassy’s hand. ”He was alone when those thoughts led to his destruction…I don’t want that happen to others that I care about…so…I did not want you to be alone.”

Kassy delicately ran one finger over the scar before Ja let her go. She had seen them before, but didn't know each scar had a story and a person behind it. "I'm sorry about your friend." She paused, trying to word the next sentence as gently as possible.

"As for… terrible thoughts… I've definitely had them. They've been worse lately. So I guess your watching over me isn't a bad idea." A deep sigh escaped her, and a confused look clouded her eyes. "Why don't you hate me like the others? I just keep coming back to that question and I can't answer it. I put everyone in so much danger…"

”You were pushed past your breaking point. Everyone has and will at some time…so why should I hate you for it?” Ja offered a small smile before looking up in thought.

”A man was afraid of bees because he saw them sting people on TV. That was all he knew about them, and he didn’t try to learn about them, so he hated them. So, he went outside, out of his way into the woods with a stick to kill all the bees in a hive. One bee flew past him as he walked deeper into the woods. Instead of wondering why the bee didn’t sting him, he swung at it with his stick. Threatened and angry, the bee flew back and stung the man. Who is to blame, the bee or the man?”

“Huh?” Kassy stared at Ja, rather confused as to why he was suddenly talking about bees. She let the story roll around in her head while she braided. "It's part of a bee's nature to sting, but only in self defense. And it isn't the bee's fault that the man is ignorant about them. Bees do good things, right? They make honey, and help flowers to grow, and-" It seemed to click then. "Ohh, I get it. You're calling me a bee."

Now that she thought about it, it was an excellent metaphor. "You're trying to tell me it's not my fault. That's… well." She had to think about it more, but she didn't have a good argument against it.

"You're a lot wiser than you act sometimes, Ja."

“Ambuya— grandma, taught me many stories. I blame the Professor for meddling with things he did not understand. I cannot tell you or the others how to feel, but I know how I do. I think that the league, who are much smarter than me, would understand…So what reason would they have to change their minds?”

Kassy nodded a little, recognizing the wisdom in this. She still wasn't convinced that the sandy ground she found herself on wouldn't crumble at any minute though. "I can think of quite a few, but I won't bore you." She lapsed into silence, focusing on the rest of his hair. It was done fairly quickly.

"Alright, you're free."

Realizing what had now happened, Ja touched a few of the braids. The slick sensation was still weird, but he beamed up at Kassy and bobbed his head around, flicking the braids everywhere. “This is great! Thank you.” He exclaimed with a chuckle. “Do you need help with your disguise?”

"Maybe." Kassy mused. "I have an idea. I think I'll have to find some hair dye, and loose clothes. If I look overly casual, then it should make me seem different than I usually am." Indeed, Kassy was a very feminine young lady. She usually wore girlish clothes and lots of jewelry, even makeup from time to time. But she'd forgo all of that for her disguise.

"Can I borrow one of your hoodies?"

Ja nodded without much hesitation, bobbling over towards his closet and pulling the door open. Inside were about a dozen plastic toys lined up on a shelf above the clothes rack. They were of different animals, and his clothes were separated beneath seemingly each by animal’s color. From the black and white of zebras to the multicolored chameleon, some were simple and some were fancy designer. He briefly eyed them, seeing several different hoodies sprawled within, before stepping back to let Kassy choose.

”My amai often sends me many clothes…modeling and all of that.”

"Wow." Kassy murmured, impressed by the selection."Let me try this one." She pulled a red and black hoodie from the expansive collection and put it on. The sleeves were loose enough, but it was too snug in the front."Whoops. Nevermind." She put it back on the same hanger. "Guess I'll figure something out."

“You can keep it if you want, even if it isn’t for the mission.” Ja offered with a smile, stepping away from the closet and closer to the window.

"Really? Sure, why not." She took it back and folded it neatly over her arm, then joined him by the window. "Thank you for everything. I mean it." She laid a hand on his shoulder and gave him a little squeeze. "You've given me plenty to think about."

”Anytime, Kassy.”

M E T A H U M A N Y O U T H C E N T E R

---

The Team arrived a couple of streets down from the Metahuman Youth Center. The Zeta Tube port was located in an unassuming clay brick house, one of many in Tao. It served as the perfect disguise. A short fifteen minute walk in the hot afternoon sun got them to where they needed to be. The Youth Center looked like an ill fit in the picturesque town. A hulking grey stone infrastructure, beating out most other buildings in size. Upon entering it was obvious the complex was founded by some serious money. Air conditioned halls drove off the stifling heat. Subtle influences of Taos could be spotted in the decor. Local artistry lined the walls and surrounding rooms. It gave the inside a bit of warmth and charm in an otherwise mostly aseptic environment.

They were instructed to wait for their contact to arrive. Thiago, a seventeen year old meta-human who'd been living at the center for roughly eleven months. He knew his way around the place, and had eyes and ears on the meta's inside. Though he had a reputation of being flaky, hot headed and loud mouthed. A good thirty minutes passed. The fire manipulating meta-human was nowhere to be found.

A presumed employee passed by the Team for the third time, finally addressing the group.
"Good afternoon folks. You're probably waiting on a tour of the place. I heard you all would be staying here a while and I must say, you're more than welcome here! I'm willing to bet Thiago is hauled up somewhere else."

"You know, the guy who was supposed to give you a tour. You'll know him when you see him, usually trash talking his friends with flames coming out of his ears.”

"Oh by the way, my name is Tomás . I work as one of the event coordinators for the center."

The Team got a tour of the facilities around the Youth Center which included a pool, a gym, gaming area, cafeteria, basketball court and a large library and garden. After the tour they were left with directions to get some lunch. Without any leads from their contact they would have to figure out their next step on their own.

The group arrived in New Mexico in record time. When they arrived, they were supposed to wait for their contact to show up. Except… The contact never came. Instead, someone who worked at the place came and gave them the grand tour. He showed the group the entire facilities including the pool (hot guys in swimsuits,) the gym, (hot guys working out) a basketball (hot guys in tank tops playing basketball. Some not wearing shirts at all,) and some other places… After that, they were left to their own devices. Although it was suggested they get lunch.

“Ok, so what’s the plan? Are we gonna split up and look for clues? Great, I’ll go investigate the pool. Lots of potential there. See you all later.” Zach flourished, and took off. He did not wait for anybody else on the team to respond. He went to the bathroom, and magiked himself a swimsuit, and then cannonballed into the pool. The water was the perfect temperature. It was hot out there in New Mexico.

Of course, Zach had no intention of doing any sort of investigation. He was here to watch the boys.

Location
Metahuman Youth Center.

Interactions
N/A

---

The outline of an impressive building stretched along the distance, a square framing itself perfectly between skies and earth. It was a colorful display, bright souls roaming the youth center as if a dancing rainbow, teenagers and children seeking refuge from an unforgiving world, one each member of Spectre’s group was well aware of, in their very own way. Friends had vanished, allies had been traumatized, and imprisoned within their own misery. What arrived at the youth center wasn’t a capable task force of battle-hardened warriors. It was a gathering of kids battling themselves more so than any opponent they may come across.

Zach had remained the same, and Casper noted it a shame. To the Spirit World and back, some things evidently never changed. In a way, he sought comfort in that. Stability presented itself in many ways, and Zach’s obsession with the flesh was one of these aspects. Spectre did not deign to answer, but rather saw the magical soul waltz off before his attention shifted towards those who afforded him a similarly curious gaze. Hidden behind a blindfold black as night, Casper’s eyes peered beyond the veil, meeting prospects he would eventually allow a moment’s interaction.

Gender, color, ethnicity, all superficial aspects passing him by unnoticed. Rather, Casper’s focus narrowed in on the brightness flashing before him, as if the very elementals themselves were presented.

Left to his own devices, Spectre reasoned that information could be found in every corner, if one only sought its lingering presence. Though Casper’s nature was officially branded a ‘Metahuman’, those present within the youth center likely peered upon him with a layer of skepticism; understandably so. He was a creature dancing between life and death, a wraith. Neither Metahuman nor alien, the boy was out of place wherever he found himself, which after a war in a world of ghosts came as a somewhat welcomed addition.

Claws traced a path down Spectre’s hoodie, a baggy shirt blanketing a scrawny shape, one now harboring deceptive power following the boy’s final spell. No longer a mage, he would stand between these children and their foe as a guardian, and a knight.

Weightless steps brought the phantasm forth. Pondering where he should begin, the lounge seemed reasonable, and without Coal present, the wisdom of a dear friend was lacking. One could not wear the disguise of a Metahuman while a talking crow followed closely behind.

It was when the group’s tour reached Casper’s designation that he decided to step away. These children had suffered loss, and it was a sensitive topic he would need to approach carefully. Close friends faded, never to be seen again. It was what made a Hero, setting aside one’s own strife to focus on the mission at hand; a role Spectre was presented to upon the sound of a voice. He lowered his gaze, blindfold meeting a meek tune. “Hello,” the voice of a girl, one still marching through the years of childhood. There was something in her hand, something extended, a dim essence of life flowing through it. A flower; soft, green streams outlining its shape. Feeling digits atop his obsidian claws, Casper noted how she would guide his inhuman fingers towards its stem where a smile greeted him, one sadly impossible to register. “There! A welcome flower!”

To be met by such innocent compassion on a journey towards corners so dark they were christened by kidnapped teenagers was almost ironic, a mockery towards the task at hand, and yet a reminder as to why he was here. They were looking for someone’s brother, someone’s sister. Someone’s friend, someone’s child. Dearing a step through the miasma of blackness, Casper allowed a faint, sharp-toothed smile to bridge itself across his lips. ”Thank you,” the boy responded, digits wrapping around his claws before pulling him along.

It was difficult to determine the age of his initially acquired friend, but narrowing it down to twelve or thirteen seemed a reasonable conclusion. “We’re watching a movie!” A pause lingered in the air, the girl turning to meet Casper with a sheepish grin presented upon her features. “O-oh..,” she gulped. He couldn’t very well watch a movie, could he?

Unable to stifle another faint smile from peeking forth, Spectre shook his head. ”I’ll listen to a movie with you,” he spoke, gently lowering himself to the sofa. The lounge was populated by a handful of residents, their attention fluctuating between previous activities and peculiar newcomers to the youth center. From here, Casper was left with questions to ask, albeit unsure of where to begin.

“I’m Shania!” The girl spoke up, her soul a bright concentration of life yet untouched by the cynicism of experience.

”Casper,” the wraith returned. He had hoped to come across someone older, someone who in all likelihood had substantial knowledge to share, but perhaps Shania knew more than the ghost assumed of her.

Location: Metahuman Youth Center, Taos, New Mexico
Interactions: The Team

---

“Typical.” Viktor couldn’t help but comment on Zach’s intentions during this mission. He couldn’t say his opinion of him was getting any better after what happened in Las Vegas. “And expected.” He faced the others that were left. Casper had already gone, leaving Viktor to assume his spectral teammate was taking the initiative in finding a lead. During normal circumstances, he might have wanted some sort of heads up, but the team couldn’t appear as what they were. It was best to have minimal contact and move in small groups or solo. Keeping that in mind, Viktor used this single moment to quietly address the others in his somewhat grunge attire and black aviator sunglasses.

“Looks like we have the additional objective of finding our contact but let's try to find out what we can on our own too. I’ll be heading to the gym if anyone wants to accompany me….” He offered before marching off towards his objective. “Bye, losers.” Viktor’s naturally dry tone was almost fitting for the archetype he was going for. Athletically inclined teenage males… The description lingered at the forefront of his thoughts as he walked forth. It was the only lead the team had now but it was a start.

---

New Mexico was warmer than Aleen'a expected. The sun shone a little brighter here as well which was just what she needed. According to Black Canary, as a Tamaranean that thrived in ultraviolet radiation, being exposed to as much sunlight as she could will help greatly in her recovery. As for her 'disguise', she just randomly picked them out from her closet and put them on without thinking straight. Aleen'a was wearing a black slip dress with floral patterns over a white plain t-shirt, a pair of black platform shoes, and an unkempt ponytail. She inadvertently gave off a strong 90's vibe with her outfit.

The team was supposed to meet up with their contact but they were instead given a tour of the place instead. During the tour, Aleen'a saw a diverse range of teenagers all with their own unique abilities. She would even assume some of them were alien if she didn't know they were all completely human. It was all very interesting to Aleen'a that they all looked so different while still being the same in their physiology, and yet they chose to fight each other over their differences instead of celebrating each other's uniqueness. The thought was enough to make her cry but thankfully, it wasn't as heavy as before.

During the wait and the trip to their mission, Aleen'a had somehow mellowed out. She still felt sad but at least she wasn't crying over the most trivial things anymore. She also did get some rest but she will still be prone to aimlessly wandering around and doing things that will spell instant death if a normal human were to do them.

When the tour guide left them, it was automatically the start of their mission. Viktor and Rain went to the pool and gym respectively while Casper already left before any of them knew. The tour guide did suggest for them to get some lunch and it did seem like a good idea to stock up on some energy just in case something bad will happen because in the nature of their missions, something bad will definitely happen.

"I shall follow along what Tomás said and eat lunch. Perhaps it will also be a good time to gather information while enjoying their meals. I will definitely ask them if they have ice cream with the wasabi flavor." Aleen'a said and started to walk to the direction of the cafeteria.

M E T A H U M A N Y O U T H C E N T E R

---

The pool

It was relatively quiet at the pool for the time of day. A handful of teens were lounging around, having drinks and sunbathing. The only people in the pool were two girls who were chatting on a pink and purple floatie. They were laughing and pointing at one of the guys who dove into the pool to retrieve their sunken sunglasses.

The lifeguard sat on a lounge bed closest to the pool, most likely bored out of his skull. He was wearing sunglasses and staring at his phone. It didn’t look like he was particularly busy. It didn’t take him long to notice the new arrival among the regulars. A guy with aggressively dyed blonde hair and hot pink swimming shorts. Zach cannon balled into the pool which made him smirk.

He zoomed in on Zach and snapped a picture before making his way over to him.
“Hey blondie, want me to get your back for you?”

The lifeguard had a cocky attitude about him. He picked up a bottle of sunblock and played around with it, throwing it up over his head and catching it behind his back. He lifted up his sunglasses and smiled.

The gym

Charlie was nearly finished with his first set of chest exercises, he wiped some sweat from his forehead and took a breather. He grabbed the bottle of water beside him and glugged it down. It was way too hot for this crap. He dried off his face with his tank top. This gym session was forced on him and he came half prepared. Only for the moron not to show up. Thiago could be such an asshole sometimes.

He got up from his seat to stretch. A weird looking guy entered the gym. He was giving heavy grease lightning vibes and didn’t look at all like he had any business working out. Charlie was sure he did though, likely when he wasn’t parading around dressed like John Travolta. The guy was built solid. It was annoying. Charlie didn’t feel like finishing up his set and he walked up to the new guy.

“Hey dude, do you need to borrow some workout clothes or something?”

The Cafeteria

Upon entering the cafeteria, Aleen'a would be met with the sight of various teenagers seated at tables. Some tables were nearly filled up, while others had no more than two people sharing a meal and conversation.

“Gotta love Nacho Day!” A passing teen said aloud amongst his group of friends. The group was on their way to the longer line in the cafeteria serving nachos with a station for toppings and condiments beyond the front of the line. Other food options were available of course but not quite as popular today. Just as Aleen'a absorbed all before her eyes, a voice of intrigue addressed her from behind.

“Whoa… I mean, hi! You're just really tall. I mean that's not a bad thing but it's… cool? I'm sorry if that's offensive or anything. I just… I just have a hard time breaking the ice with new people and… and I'm talking way too much.” She frowned before she simply decided to just stick to the basics. “What I mean to say is… Hi, my name is Cecile and I haven't seen you around here before. When'd you get here?”

Location: Metahuman Youth Center, Taos, New Mexico
Interactions: NPC Metahuman

Kassandra split from the group without a word. She had taken the rest of her mission prep time to quickly dye and flat iron her hair. One minor illusion later, and she was a dark-skinned, green eyed redhead. Victor had been surprisingly generous in lending her one of his own hoodies, and she was wearing that and a pair of jean shorts that were chafing her thighs. A pair of false lensed glasses completed the look.

One of the upgrades made to her weapon of choice had been something to make it more portable. On a truly covert mission like this one, she couldn’t very well walk around with a giant golden staff. With a few more runes carved in, it had been temporarily shrunk to the size of a microphone. It was neatly tucked away under the back of the hoodie, where she could reach it easily. Kassy knew they had done other things, but she didn’t know exactly what they were.

She wandered the center aimlessly with her eyes downcast, letting her ears absorb bits and pieces of conversation. So far, it all sounded normal enough. Chatting about other people, today’s lunch, rumors, tv shows. It all seemed so average. Some of them looked at her, but when she didn’t make eye contact, they left her be.

The summer heat was making her a touch ill, even indoors, so she found herself wandering to the cafeteria for a bottle of water. She saw Aleen’a getting stared at by one of the center teens, and decided to make a wide berth. They weren’t really supposed to know each other, after all. That, and she wasn’t sure that she was the best person to be around the empathetic Tamaranean.

She snagged two bottles of water from a small drink station, and sat at a random cafeteria table, just observing.

“Hey.” A voice startled her out of her spying. There was a girl at the table, dressed all in black. A black long-sleeved shirt, long black skirt, and very tall black shoes. Her hair was dyed a rich obsidian, though Kass could just barely see brown roots peeking from her scalp. The girl even had black makeup. It was a look that Kass hadn’t seen before. Interesting.

“You must be new here.”

Kassy shrugged vaguely. That was their cover story, after all. “...how’d you guess?”

“This is my table. No one sits here.”

“...oh.” She blinked, making to rise up. “I’ll leave.”

“Nah. No big.” The girl shrugged just as loosely as Kassy had. “Just know that you’re probably already ruining your reputation just by sitting here.”

Kassy frowned, genuinely confused. “...my… I’m sorry, what?”

The girl leaned forward. “Y’see. No one likes me here. They think I’m a weirdo.”

“Oh.” Kass stared off, then tipped her head. “Being metahumans, isn’t everyone a weirdo?”

Was that a smile on the girl’s face? Kassy wasn’t sure. “Yeah, you’d think. But somehow, people like me always get left on the sidelines.”

“Yeah?” That sparked Kassy’s attention. “I understand. You’ve got this power you never asked for, and everyone hates you for it. And you’d do anything just to be rid of it.”

“Shit. You do understand.” The girl sounded a little stunned. “...I’m Raquel.”

“Eveline.” Kassy offered a hand, but Raquel balked, leaning back.

“Sorry. I can’t really touch people. I’m poisonous.”

“You’re literally poisonous?”

“Yep. My pores exude a kind of neurotoxin. Or at least that’s what they told me. So… people stay away.” A defeated sort of sigh escaped her. “All the others said they’re waiting for me to ‘go villain’. Like my power automatically makes me evil or something.”

“…” Kassy lifted her eyebrows. And then, for the first time in a while, she smiled. “Well. We might have lot to talk about.”