( Chapter Three )
Mister Twister

Having fun was not on Charlotte's itinerary. She woke up for the on-going tests to calculate how much high-temperature plasmic energy she could handle before she got hurt. Since the explosion at Cadmus, Hank has had doctors in and out of her room. Forcing her to cause explosions ranging from all sizes. In the past it had only been small ones, ones that had a strong impact but never caused tragedies. This time around Hank wanted to see the distance she could go. What was her breaking point.

  From the rise of the sun Charlotte had been up following every order thrown her way. They wanted to test her limits, and if feasible, demolish them. She was tired. Covered in sweat and blisters, Charlotte laid on the ground of her room. The white tiles cooled her skin as she breathed heavily. She had been given a break to rest before being sent off to Mount Justice. One she had gratefully taken.

  The skin around her hands were pink with bumps that were slowly healing, mending themselves till the skin smoothed. Her eyes were heavy as she groaned in pain, stray tears falling from the corners of her eyes.

  The world wanted heroes to save them but what about when the hero needs saving?

  Dr. Miller banged on the glass, alerting the young girl of her presence. Charlotte didn't bother opening her eyes to look as the woman told her she needed to leave shortly. Charlotte remained laying there unresponsive. She kept her eyes closed, limbs sprawled and defiance in her bones. She stayed that way till the doctor left her in peace.

  She was out of it. Exhausted and still expected to go save lives. What good was any of this doing? She was too tired to do much of anything, how was she supposed to play dress-up today? Charlotte let out a shallow breath as the last of the blisters disappeared. Opening one eye she looked at the clock on the wall telling her she needed to leave soon if she wanted to catch a mission with the team. Which she didn't.

  Charlotte rolled onto her stomach with a huff and groan. Her bones felt heavy as she stood on wobbling legs. She used the wall as a crutch, leading her into the conjoined bathroom where she started a shower.

  She sat there on the floor feeling the ice cold water cascade down her back. There, alone where nobody could see, she cried. Begged for whatever god listening to end it. If she could not have freedom, she would have death.

"Recognized: Pyro, b-0-5"

  Charlotte, sporting a shirt for some punk band, made her presence known to the three of her teammates already standing at the computer of their headquarters. The bags under her eyes dulled the light of her smile, but neither of the young heroes mentioned it, assuming she had a rough night patrolling with Fire. In truth, Charlotte had been confined to her father's lab as her space was continuously invaded.

  "You're here," Miss Martian smiled while waving at her, getting a tight lipped smile in return. The lack of enthusiasm had the green girl believing Charlotte hadn't been all that excited to be there —and she'd be right.

  Superboy was watching her. He had expected to see a playful glint in her eyes, maybe a smirk like he had been familiarizing himself with since Cadmus, but she just stood there leaning against the computer with her eyes slowly blinking.

  "I was beginning to worry," Aqualad observed the girl who looked like she would fall over if she wasn't using the computer to keep her upright. "You did not show up yesterday."

  Charlotte shrugged, "I was busy."

  Aqualad wanted to push the subject out of concern but she didn't look to be in one of her bright and thrilling moods. He and Charlotte had worked together very few times but when they had, the girl was always lightening the mood. Making the job seem less of, well, a job. Now she looked sickly and glum. It made him curious for what darkness she had seen in the last twenty-four hours.

  "Recognized: Robin, b-0-1. Kid Flash, b-0-3."

  Charlotte watched with a yawn as the boys dressed in their civilian attire came running over with looks of excitement. Robin peered up at the computer screen where the team was monitoring Red Tornado's movements, tracking him as he flew to Mount Justice. "Did you ask him?" The youngest of the team asked the same time Kid rushed out, "what did he say?"

  "He's arriving now." Aqualad grinned, though his eyes kept glancing back at Charlotte.

  Kid Flash hit Robin's shoulder playfully with an eager voice he said, "then what are we waiting for?" and sped off to the ramp — not using his super speed to keep up the same pace as Robin and Aqualad who followed.

  Charlotte remained against the computer with Miss Martian and Superboy, her eyes looking between them as the bubbly yet shy girl smiled at him. She raised a brow in their direction. Superboy turned to her with a shake of his head and walked away, after their team. Miss Martian flew close behind while Charlotte took slow steps leading outside.

  They watched as Red Tornado touched down on the ground, using one of his tornadoes to levitate him. "Red Tornado!" Kid yelled to get his attention.

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

  Aqualad asked the first question while Charlotte leaned against his shoulder. The warm temperature of her skin made him a little uncomfortable given he was already wearing a sweater, yet he did not move away from her. "We hoped you had a mission for us."

  "Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility."

  Robin stepped forward with a scowl forming. Anyone could see he was getting tired of not having anything to do, of not working as a team on real missions. "But it's been over a week, and nothing —"

  Red Tornado cut him off with a hand raised in front of him and spoke in his monotone voice, "you'll be tested soon enough."

  Charlotte frowned from where she remained against Aqualad. She hated tests, especially ones on her abilities. Whether it's her powers or skill set. She didn't know if she could handle another test, let alone a mission. She was exhausted and that ten minute break back at Reeve's Labs had done nothing for her.

  "For the time being, simply enjoy each other's company."

  Aqualad shook his head and moved his arm to rest over Charlotte's shoulder so she could get more comfortable. "This team is not a social club."

  Charlotte had to agree but anything was better than fighting right now. She would gladly take an hour just exploring the mountain and maybe even finding a room to take a nap in. Hank wouldn't be expecting her back at the lab till later in the night, that would give her time to relax. This might even give her the chance to have a somewhat normal day.

  "No, but I am told social interaction is an important team-building exercise." Red Tornado began with a short pause. "Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarizing yourself with the cave." They watched him walk off and down the ramp, which was really just a piece of the mountain.

  Kid hit Robin's shoulder lightly with a sour expression as he mocked the android, "keep busy." He turned to his teammates, hands stuffed in his pockets and a glare drilling into the back of Red Tornado's head.

  "Does he think we're falling for this?" Robin grumbled from between Kid and Superboy.

  Wanting to feel useful Miss Martian suggested she look inside his mind. It was a good idea but proved ineffective as she said, "I — I'm sorry. I forgot he's a machine, inorganic. I cannot read his mind."

  "Nice try, though." Kid tried being encouraging, however, his mood shifted to one of flirtation as he leaned into the Martian's personal space. "So, uh, y'know what I'm thinkin' right now?"

  Charlotte rolled her eyes, "it doesn't take a genius to know what you're thinking." Robin laughed in agreement.

  "And now we tour the clubhouse." Aqualad dropped his arm from Charlotte's shoulder, stepping toward the half of the mountain that acted as a ramp.

  "Well, Superboy and I live here." Miss Martian folded her hands in front of her. Her eyes glanced in Charlotte's direction every few seconds, checking to see if she was listening. The alien could admit she was a bit of a fan to the heroine calling herself Pyro. "We can play tour guides."

  The five turned to the clone expectantly. "Don't look at me," he muttered.

  "Nobody's looking at your ugly mug," Charlotte plastered on a small grin while walking past him to get closer to Miss Martian, who was smiling excitedly at her.

  Superboy's jaw clenched but he said nothing as Kid Flash cut in, adding his two cents. "We won't," the ginger boy turned to their green teammate with his hands in his pockets. "A private tour sounds much more fun."

  "Wait, wait." Robin glared at his best friend with a scowl forming. "She never said private."

  Aqualad looked at his team in contemplation. His brows furrowed as his eyes narrowed and corners of his mouth twitched downward. "Team building," he said. "We'll all go."

  The tour hadn't been as boring as Charlotte expected. They went into each room of the base, hearing about what kind of decorations Miss Martian wanted to throw around to spurs up the place. She said something about taking a team photo but Charlotte could have heard wrong. She wasn't paying too much attention to things being said or shown. The very first time she had been to the new headquarters a couple weeks ago she had given herself a tour, one that didn't last this long.

  They had been walking around Mount Justice for a little under an hour and the team was beginning to fall into a comfortable atmosphere. During the tour, Miss Martian had asked Charlotte questions about being a hero from a young age, what it was like to go out alone. But she never got an answer, the redhead ignored her pestering for the better half of the forty minutes. It did little to sway the Martian from hooking their arms together as she smiled brightly.

  "The cave is actually the entire mountain!" Miss Martian chirped as they walked down the stairs to the hanger. Her excitement made it hard for the pyrokinetic heroine to ignore. Charlotte had to admit the base of operations was larger than anything she had seen and did have minor qualities that had her feeling not too down about working as a team. Like the gadgets and them being close to the beach.

  "It was hollowed out and reinforced by Superman and Green Lantern in the early days of the League." Kid Flash stuffed his hands in his pockets while looking around their headquarters, a giddy glimmer in his eyes.

  Superboy furrowed his brows, turning to his teammates. "Then why abandon it for the Hall of Justice?" He asked.

  "The cave's secret location was compromised."

  "So they traded it in for a tourist trap?" Superboy's question had the team remembering he had no idea the League's real base was in Space, the Watchtower hadn't come up before and Charlotte thought for sure, Superman or even Green Arrow with his big mouth would have told him. "Yeah, that makes sense." The clone rolled his eyes.

  "If villains know of the cave we must be on constant alert." Miss Martian frowned with a downcast look passing through her eyes.

  Robin took her hand in his with a smirk curving at his lips while Charlotte removed her arm from Miss Martian's and rolled her own eyes. "The bad guys know we know they know about the place so they'd never think to look here."

  Kid Flash put his hand on top of theirs, detangling their connected limbs as he said, "what he means is, we're hiding in plain sight."

  "Ah, that's much clearer." She folded her hands in front of her while glancing over at Charlotte who now stood beside Superboy glaring at the side of his face while he refused to look at her.

  Superboy sniffed at the air with a crease forming between his brows, "I smell smoke."

  Miss Martian gasped loudly as she hovered above the ground, flying in the direction of the main living quarters. "My cookies!" She yelled.

The teens followed after her, not at all in a rush. By the time they reached her she was putting a tray of burnt cookies on the counter with a saddened expression. "I was trying out Grammy Jones recipe from episode 17 of...huh, never mind." She avoided their eyes but Robin tried being encouraging by telling her, "I bet they'd have tasted great."

Crunching sounds came from the speedster as he devoured a couple cookies all the while Charlotte kept passing him one after the next. "He doesn't seem to mind."

"I have a serious metabolism."

"I'll make more," Miss Martian said unsurely.

Aqualad stood on the opposite side of Charlotte, hands held at his sides as he said, "it was sweet of you to make any."

Miss Martian shyly replied, "thanks Aqualad."

"We're off duty." He stood up straighter, if that were possible. "Call me Kaldur'ahm. Actually, my friends call me Kaldur."

"I'm Wally," Kid Flash introduced himself dreamily while leaning across the counter on her elbow. "See, I already trust you with my secret ID...unlike Mr. Dark Glasses over here." He gestured to Robin who stood with his arms crossed over his chest, looking unamused by his best friend. "Batman's forbidden boy wonder from telling anyone his real name."

Miss Martian rested her hands on her hips, "mine's no secret. It's M'gann M'orzz. But, you can call me Megan." Her excited shine danced its way back into her eyes as Charlotte looked at her. "It's an earth name, and I'm on earth now."

Eyes turned to Charlotte expectantly. She knew they already knew her real name. It wasn't a secret among the public so she didn't know what they wanted from her. She just continued to stare at them for a minute in silence, slowly blinking. "Uh, I guess you can call me Lotte."

"I knew that would be your nickname!" Miss Martian gave a little cheer to herself while clapping her hands together. At that the girl got the slightest smile from the ginger girl.

Superboy went to walk away but stopped with a grunt of surprise, maybe irritation. His eyes locked on Miss Martian as he yelled, "get out of my head!" The team turned to her confused.

"What's wrong? I — I don't understand. Everyone on Mars communicates telepathically."

While the teens held the side of their heads with uncomfortable groans, the Martian felt a pang of guilt but she was unfamiliar with how things worked on Earth. Charlotte leaned against the closest person to her — which happened to be Superboy — and held both hands on either side of her head while her eyes squeezed shut.

"M'gann, stop." Aqualad ordered. The pressure disappeared from their minds as the alien took a step back as if she had been slapped, and Charlotte was tempted to do just that. "Things are different on Earth. Here, your powers are an extreme invasion of privacy."

Kid added, "besides, Cadmus' creepy little psychic genomes left a bad taste in his brain."

"I —" Miss Martian stuttered. "I didn't mean to."

If Charlotte was a nicer person she would have tried reassuring the girl that everything was okay, that it was a mistake and they've all made them. But, she wasn't. Charlotte did have a heart, one she kept guarded but it's there, sometimes she forgets to use it. Like now. The explosive teen looked at Miss Martian with a deadpan expression that had the alien shrinking in on herself.

Charlotte was not a vile person who lacked empathy. She knew this, and yet as she continued to stare at Miss Martian she felt like a grade - A asshole. She couldn't tell her that it was okay, or that she just needed to be mindful of how things worked on Earth. Charlotte had nothing against Miss Martian. Really she didn't, but having someone in her brain had upset her.

"Just stay out." Superboy barked. The clone walked into the living-room connected to the kitchen and sat on the couch, looking pissed off.

A silence surrounded the teens as Miss Martian peered down at her shoes in embarrassment and discomfort. She hadn't meant to upset anyone. Getting an idea, the corners of her lips twitched into a smile as she lightly hit her palm against her forehead. "Hello, Megan." She said, earning a raised brow from Charlotte. "I know what we can do."

Miss Martian had led the five through an elevator up to the hanger where her bioship is kept. Superboy had been reluctant to join and Charlotte wanted to find a room to sleep the day away in, but the others had been excited to see what their new friend had thought of. It was a small sphere that was mostly red with black details, too small to fit the whole team or even herself, comfortably. It was underwhelming.

"It's my Martian bioship," Miss Martian told them as they stepped closer to the vehicle of transportation.

"Cute," Kid Flash commented. "Not aerodynamic, but cute."

"It's at rest, silly." She shook her head while hovering a hand in the ship's direction. "I'll wake it." The group watched on as the bioship changed in shape and size, accommodating to fit the team with extra space. Now that had Charlotte's eyes widening, just the slightest.

The ship turned to allow the team access, lowering a ramp. Alien tech was new to Charlotte, as she was always on Earth and cooped in her father's laboratory, getting blood drawn and tests taken. She was unfamiliar with the energy that came from Miss Martian's possession. It was thrilling, almost. Oh who was she kidding? The bioship was the coolest thing she had seen since meeting Fire.

Miss Martian began making her way up the ramp, glancing over her shoulder at her friends as she asked, "are you coming?"

​​The boys walked forward, following Miss Martian into the bioship. Charlotte followed soon after, though her steps were slower and a little off balance from exhaustion. Inside the ship five seats sprouted from the ground for each of them to sit in before another formed in front of Miss Martian to pilot. "Strap in for launch," she instructed them.

Not needing to be told twice, the group took their seats. Robin and Kid Flash on either side of the Martian while Superboy, Aqualad, and Charlotte in the three seats below. Seatbelts grew over them, securing them safely. It felt weird but Charlotte was fascinated with the tech of another planet, far more advanced than their own.

"Red Tornado, please open the bay doors."

Charlotte leaned back in her seat, peering through the front window as Miss Martian flew them into the light blue sky, soaring above the large body of water. Feeling eyes on her, she turned to Aqualad who was staring at her quizzically. She did not like the way he was looking at her, like she was made of glass and about to shatter. It made her sick. "Do you have a staring problem?"

"I apologize," he said in a hushed tone. "Have you been sleeping?"

No she hadn't been, and not for lack of trying. Anytime she would drift off she would be met with the pricks of needles in her arms and flashing lights overhead. At some point she would be awoken by her father or one of the doctors wanting to push her limits further, see how much she could handle at the snap of a finger. The past two weeks were no different, if anything it was worse.

"Yeah," she lied even though a part of her wanted to confide in someone, anyone. "Rough night patrolling."

Seeing he was getting nowhere with Charlotte, Aqualad turned to Superboy who sat on the opposite side of him. The silence coming from him telling the older boy he was stuck in deep thought. "I may not have psychic powers but I can guess what you're thinking." He released a small sigh, "you overreacted and you don't know how to apologize. Just say sorry."

Charlotte leaned across Aqualad, "or you could do a kind gesture" she suggested. "Maybe get her flowers as an apology."

Superboy's brows pinched together but he didn't disagree with either of them. He remained silent and looked forward. Though he did glance at Charlotte through the corner of his eyes as she rolled her own. He knew he should just say he was sorry but finding the words and will to do so was challenging.

"Hey, how 'bout showing us a little Martian shape-shifting?" Robin asked from his seat behind the clone.

Miss Martian stood and walked around her control system, taking on the form of the Boy Wonder before spinning into the disguise of Kid Flash. Though it looked off with the feminine features and anatomy. It was still impressive despite the fact.

"Is it wrong that I think I'm hot?" Kid asked dreamily.

Charlotte turned to face him with a light laugh, "usually I'd call you an idiot but I can't even fault you this time."

Miss Martian's cheeks gained a pink hue in the process of shifting back into her normal appearance, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear and peering down at her shoes bashfully.

Robin clapped, "impress but you know you're not exactly gonna fool anyone with those."

The alien teen sat back down with an embarrassed smile. "Mimicking boys is a lot harder."

"And your clothes?" Aqualad asked.

"They're organic, like the ship." Miss Martian pulled at her short-sleeve sweater, "they respond to my mental commands."

"As long as they're the only ones," Superboy snapped.

Charlotte glared at him with the corners of her mouth curling in disgust. She could admit she was not the friendliest person but Miss Martian already apologized and had been nothing but kind — maybe too kind, he didn't need to act like an ass. "So," she looked over her shoulder at the Martian, "it's cool that your clothes can do that. Makes changing into your hero suit so much faster."

"It does!" A small smile graced the green teens face. "I was playing around with the white and black of my suit the other day, I wanted to try maybe a navy blue or a dark purple." She rambled on while Charlotte listened.

"I didn't get to choose my colors," Charlotte spoke quietly, almost to herself but Aqualad and Superboy heard.

Kid Flash scratched the back of his neck with a light frown that soon turned into a look of excitement. "Can you do that ghosting through walls thing that Manhunter does?"

"Density shifting? No, it's — it's a very advanced technique."

Robin leaned over with a playful smirk, "Flash can vibrate his molecules right through a wall." He gestures over to Kid with a laugh, "when he tries it, bloody nose."

"Gross."

"Dude!"

  A comfortable silence fell over the team before Miss Martian held her hands over the control system, "here's something I can do." The teens were confused but from the outside, the bioship turned invisible. "Camouflage mode."

  Charlotte crossed her ankle over her knee with her eyes fluttering closed and a small yawn falling from her mouth. Sitting down made her even more tired than before and the steady movement of the ship was lulling the girl to sleep. She would have fallen asleep right there had it not been for the sound of Red Tornado's voice coming through the radio.

  "Red Tornado to Miss Martian," he said. "An emergency alert has been triggered at the Happy Harbor power plant. I suggest you investigate covertly. I'm sending coordinates."

  Miss Martian nodded along despite Red Tornado not being able to see her. "Received, adjusting course."

  "Tornado's keeping us busy again," Robin scoffed.

  Charlotte pursed her lips in thought, "at least it's not walking around a whole ass mountain again."

  "Well, a simple fire led you to Superboy," Miss Martian tried being positive but that only made Charlotte chuckle lightly, though it sounded more like a scoff that got stuck in her throat.

  "I wouldn't call that a good thing."

Miss Martian flew them into Happy Harbor, hovering over the parking lot to the storehouse. The team looked around at each other with questions left in the air. Charlotte felt Aqualad nudge her arm with his elbow, causing her to turn to him with furrowed brows. He said nothing verbally but the look in his eyes, asking if she was up for this, to which the girl only shrugged. They were about to find out.

"We should find out what caused the alert," Miss Martian said.

Superboy sat forward while looking out the windows, a small sigh of contempt falling from his lips. "I think I know the cause." He gestured to one side of the parking-lot where a tornado was sweeping cars from the ground and throwing them as if they weighed nothing.

The tornado came toward the bioship, encasing them as they shook violently. "I'm gonna barf!" Charlotte covered her mouth as a wave of motion-sickness passed through the teen. They spun in circles as Miss Martian tried flying them out with a grunt of exertion. Putting more force onto the control system they flew into the clear sky with sighs of relief.

Miss Martian brought them over to the parking-lot on the other end of the storehouse, opened a hole in the floor so the six could drop out. Charlotte had a hand clutching onto Aqualad's arm as she bent over with her free hand over her stomach. Aqualad rested a hand on her back as she gathered herself.

"Robin, are tornadoes common to New Egland?" Aqualad asked as civilians screamed in fear. Not getting a response he looked beside him to see the shortest of the team had disappeared with a maniacal laugh.

"He was just here," Miss Martian frowned.

Charlotte shrugged, "he does that."

The windows to the storehouse busted, gaining the attention of the remaining teammates. With shared looks of determination the teens ran into the building to see Robin being thrown into the wall closest to them. Charlotte and the others jumped down to the level below and stood beside Robin who was picking himself up, though Charlotte did offer a hand. "Thanks, Lotte." He tried grinning through the ache in his back.

"Who's your new friend?" Superboy asked with sarcasm lacing his tone.

"Didn't catch his name but he plays kinda rough!" He yelled after the clone who charged at the villain.

"My apologies. You may address me as Mister Twister." He said as he created two large tornadoes to throw Superboy across the room.

Miss Martian nodded to Charlotte and the boys as they prepared to fight. Kid pulled his goggles over his eyes from his pocket while Aqualad squared his shoulders. Charlotte stretched her back with a bored expression before forming balls of fire in the palms of her hands.

Kid was the first to run up to Mister twister, using the moment of his speed to throw himself into a front flip to kick the armored chest. He had been thrown out the window with a heavy gust of wind and away from the others. Charlotte tensed from where she stood with Robin. Next, Aqualad and Miss Martian came charging at him but had also been thrown back in yells of frustration.

"I was prepared to be challenged by a hero," Mister Twister taunted. "I was not, however, expecting children."

Robin lowered his voice into a whisper, "when I say 'go' make a stream of fire." Charlotte nodded as she watched him slyly grab an explosive bird-a-rang from his sweater. "We're not children!" He yelled while throwing the bird-a-rang at the man, another following as they exploded in a tornado made by the villain. He lodged another one in the chest plate but Mister twister flicked it away as if it were a piece of lint.

"Objectively, you are. Have you no adult supervision? I find your presence here quite disturbing."

"Well, we hate to see you disturbed." Robin took a step back from Charlotte, "let's see if you're more turbed once we kick your can. Go!"

Charlotte didn't want to do this, not again. The past two weeks have been nothing but a pain as she was forced into using her abilities, and now Robin was requiring her to use them again. She could already feel the exhaustion creeping up on her as she forced the high-temperature plasmic energy into her hands and shot it at Mister Twister with a pained groan that soon turned into a scream the longer she held it.

Mister Twister hadn't been able to dodge the attack as he had hoped, half of his arm getting fried from Charlotte's inaccuracy as she had closed her eyes in the moment of her pain. Hoping if she didn't see the act, it would hurt less.

Charlotte was breathing heavily as her arms dropped at her sides. She tried taking a step forward but stumbled a little till she felt a hand steady her. She looked up to see Miss Martian looking at her worriedly but the expression disappeared as they turned back to face Mister Twister.

  Miss Martian used her telekinesis to burst the pipe overhead, creating a veil of smoke to act as a screen to hide them. Superboy used this diversion to charge at the man with his fist raised and ready to land a hit but Mister Twister used his heavy winds to throw him into Miss Martian who was on her way over to him.

  Robin and Aqualad tried attacking next but were encased in separate tornadoes before being forced to headbut one another. They fell to the ground with a grunt. "Indeed, that was quite turbing." He said while looking at Charlotte who was busy staring down at her hands in anguish. Not wanting to ruin the armor he flew outside while she was distracted. "Thank you."

  Charlotte could feel the rise of the skin beneath her gloves. Using her powers non-stop was breaking the girl, her exhilarated healing could not keep up with every cell needing to be rebuilt. She wanted to scream, cry, maybe even tear Mister Twister apart with nothing but her bare hands. She looked up from her hands when she felt a presence beside her.

  "You let him get away," Superboy growled but all Charlotte could do was roll her eyes.

  "Yeah, like I could have stopped him on my own."

  Robin crossed his arms over his chest, "you were able to get a hit in." The boy's lips pulled into a half smile. "If you were looking at him I'm sure you would have been able to fry the suit."

  Charlotte's jaw clenched but she said nothing, just shook her head and began walking out of the storehouse. There was a dark gray tornado coming straight for the building and she was almost positive she heard Kid Flash screaming from inside. Before he could hit the outside of the wall Miss Martian caught him with her telekinesis, causing him to hover above ground.

  "I got you, Wally," she said.

"Thanks," the speedster grinned as his feet landed on the ground.

  "I would have thought you had all learned your limitations by now." Mister Twister was taunting them, but Charlotte did know her limits. Everyone just seemed to want to break them.

  "What do you want!?" Aqualad yelled as he took a step forward.

  Mister Twister flew high into the air while continuing to face the team of ex-sidekicks. "Isn't it obvious? I'm waiting for a real hero."

  Aqualad turned to Miss Martian. "Read his mind, find a weakness," he instructed.

  Frantically, Miss Martian said, "I thought I wasn't supposed to do that."

  "It's okay with the bad guys!" Robin huffed.

  Miss Martian frowned but held two fingers to her temple while closing her eyes. She tried searching his mind for anything but came up blank. She was getting the same emptiness as when she tried reading Red Tornadoes mind earlier that afternoon. "Nothing. I'm getting nothing." She hit the side of her head with a smile growing. "Hello, Megan. Mister Twister is Red Tornado in disguise. He's inorganic, and android. And how many androids do you know that can generate tornadoes?"

  "Red Tornado sent us here," Aqualad grumbled in anger.

  Robin was just as enraged by the news, feeling a sense of betrayal. "After saying we'd be tested soon enough. This," he gestured to the android still hovering in the sky above the teens, "is his test. Something to keep us busy."

  "Speedy called it. We're a joke." Kid glared at the blue sky.

  While the team was furious and hurt Charlotte could only feel relieved. If this was not a real mission then she wouldn't have to fight anymore, she could rest. She wouldn't have to ruin every cell in her body over and over again. She could let the team do their thing while she tries to heal to the best of her ability. Maybe she should have felt betrayed by Fire but she could never hold any ill feelings towards the woman who acted more like family than her own father.

Aqualad punched his fist into the palm of his hand with a grunt of frustration before walking towards Mister Twister so he was standing below him. "This game, so over" Kid crossed his arms over his chest while following the eldest of the team.

"We know who you are and what you want!" Robin yelled with a finger pointed at the android, making him look like he was about to scold a toddler — in Charlotte's opinion.

"So let's end this," Aqualad narrowed his eyes as the team stood with him looking determined to get this over with.

"Consider it ended," Mister Twister lifted his hands into the air, combining two large tornadoes into one giant big one. The sky darkened as a heavy wind picked up around them, causing a chill to run up their backs. Charlotte was regretting not bringing a sweater when she was sent to Mount Justice earlier.

Aqualad's voice boomed over the storm, despite the fact the expressions on the faces of his team fell. "An impressive show but we will not indulge you!"

Charlotte stood up straighter while pushing her hair out of her face, "uh Kaldur, I think we're about to get the Wizard of Oz treatment."

The Atlantean ignored her as he continued to address Mister Twister in his moment of anger. "We will not engage!"

Lightning struck the ground as Charlotte moved closer to Superboy who responded by quirking a brow at her closeness. She said nothing but the clone didn't mind too much. As long as she wasn't throwing insults at him.

"Uh, can Red Tornado do that?" Kid asked with a shaking voice.

Another bolt of lightning struck the sky as Charlotte jumped, cursing to herself. "You think I'm Tornado? Ironic." A streak of lightning hit the ground in front of the teens, causing an explosion that knocked them back with screams of surprise.

Superboy had been able to cocoon himself around Charlotte as they rolled against the grass, protecting her from the blast as she shook. "Why are you scared? You're literally a bomb." He sassed with his arms still around her as they laid on the ground, her beside him.

"I'm not scared, asshole," she punched his arm while pushing herself away from him. "Excuse me for having a reaction to the environment we're in!"

"I'm not saving you again." He stood with his brows furrowed together in frustration, the sleeves of his jacket completely torn.

Charlotte glared at him, "save me?! Please, I don't need a Superman wannabe coming to my rescue!"

The two matched each other's glare with similar scowls till Superboy pushed past her and ripped off the remaining pieces of his jacket. Charlotte watched as he leapt into the air and swung at Mister Twister but he was shot down by a string of electricity. He crashed into the ground at the pyrokinetic teen's feet.

Charlotte lightly kicked his shoulder with her foot, "you alive?" He groaned in response.

She looked up at the sky as Mister Twister neared, electricity coming from his hands. She braced herself for a fight that never came. He stopped a distance from them, watching as they disappeared from sight. Charlotte was confused and looked back at Miss Martian who held a finger to her lips, silencing the oncoming question.

"Fine, then." The android said, "I won't deny you children have power —" Miss Martian held a hand over Kid's mouth as he groaned, "but playing hide-and-seek with you would not help me achieve my objectives. So stay concealed. If you confront me again, I will show no mercy." The robotic villain left them to gather themselves in an uncomfortable silence.

Charlotte looked to Miss Martian who appeared guilty while the others sat up from where they had been sprawled out on the ground. "What happened?" Kid Flash asked the green teen.

"I placed the bioship between us," she told them.

Superboy punched the rocks to the right of him with grunts of irritation while the redheaded girl rolled her eyes at his dramatics, though she did have an amused grin. "And that's supposed to make it right?" He snapped at Miss Martian, stalking towards her. "You tricked us into thinking Twister was Red Tornado."

"It was an honest mistake, you should get it Supes." Charlotte moved over to Miss Martian who was shrinking in on herself. She placed herself between the Martian and Kryptonian. "Back off."

"She didn't do it on purpose," Aqualad came to her defense.

"It was a rookie mistake." Robin tried sticking up for his friend but it came off as if he too were blaming the girl. "We shouldn't have listened."

Kid Flash agreed with the Boy Wonder, "you are pretty inexperienced." The speedster frowned while stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans, "hit the showers. We'll take it from here."

Superboy stepped closer, looking at Miss Martian over Charlotte's shoulder as they stood chest to chest, both glaring harshly at one another. "Stay out of our way."

"Did that fall give you a wedgie of something?" Charlotte called after him as he walked away, Robin and Kid Flash following.

Miss Martian frowned from where she sat, "I was just trying to be part of the team."

Charlotte was not the comforting type, not emotionally at least. She's never had to be a shoulder to cry on for a friend since Robin had Kid for that, so she was at a loss here. "I'll go back with you, no point in me sticking around if they're just gonna be idiots."

The shorter girl looked up at her with a look of appreciation though her frown was still in place. At least someone was on her side.

Aqualad sighed, addressing Miss Martian's previous words. "To be honest, I'm not sure we really have a team."

Charlotte offered a hand to help Miss Martian to her feet as Aqualad ran after the others. She tried looking friendly, going as far as to offer her a bright smile though Miss Martian thought it looked like it physically pained her to attempt it. The girls walked back to the bioship in silence, Miss Martian sitting in the piloting seat while Charlotte sat beside her.

"Listen, Superboy, Kid, and Robin are idiots." Charlotte started with a sigh. "Neither of them are used to working in a team and honestly, for two geniuses, they don't use their brains much."

"I just wanted this to work, I wanted friends."

"Friends are overrated."

Miss Martian raised a brow, "you have Kaldur and Robin, even Wally."

Charlotte shrugged, "we're stuck together because of our mentors. Trust me, if I had a choice I wouldn't have any friends."

"I don't think that's true." Miss Martian started the bioship, setting course back to Mount Justice. "You act like you hate everything but you want friendship just as much as I do, you want to belong somewhere."

Charlotte clenched her jaw with her brows threading together, "are you reading my mind?"

She shook her head once then grimaced. "It was an accident back in the kitchen. I can't pretend to understand what you're going through but being alone isn't going to benefit you, it's not good for anyone."

Seeing as she wasn't going to get anything out of Charlotte, Miss Martian decided to call Red Tornado to help the team. It didn't take long for him to answer but the taller of the two girls was already yawning and getting comfortable in her seat.

"The team really needs your help," Miss Martian directed towards the digital image of Red Tornado as they neared their headquarters.

"If I intervened, it would not be to help." Tornado informed the girls. "Still, it is an odd coincidence that this Twister shares my elemental abilities and my immunity to telepathy."

"Hello, Megan" she hit the side of her head with a grin.

"Please stop doing that," Charlotte huffed.

"Thank you, Red Tornado." She said before hanging up the call and turning the ship around back in the direction of Happy Harbor.

"Listen to me. All of you."

Charlotte clenched the sides of her head with a groan at the intrusion of her mind. "M'gann I'm going to smack you."

"What did we tell you!?" Superboy's angry voice echoed through their minds.

"Great he's here too."

"I know and I know I messed up but now I'm very clear on what we need to do. Please trust me."

With the team now having a fool-proof plan thanks to Miss Martian, the teens on the ground played their role of surprised and irritated 'sidekicks' to perfection as Red Tornado flew over the harbor and towards the fountain where Mister Twister stood waiting in front of the four boys. Somewhere through the swarm of civilians Charlotte was running till she reached a house that looked like someone had completely demolished with only one half still standing tall.

She caught Robin's eyes as he gave her a sly nod which she responded with a two-finger salute.

"Hit the showers, boys." Red Tornado landed on the ground with his back to them, "I was hoping you could handle this. Clearly you cannot."

Robin threw his arms up dramatically while he glared at the android, "but we've got a plan now."

"The subject is not up for debate."

The boys shared a look before dispersing, each going their separate directions. Robin went behind the demolished house where Charlotte stood watching the scene. The two said nothing as they fistbumped.

"I was beginning to believe you'd never show up." Mister Twister said.

"I'm here now." The hero threw a tornado of his own at the other android but it was dodged easily, as if Red Tornado had lost his precision in the time of playing the team's den mother.

One created by Mister Twister was then thrown at Red Tornado, the one previously created swirling together as they were expelled. "We are evenly matched, Twister." Rocks were lifted from the ground using heavy winds to direct them towards the opponent.

"No, Tornado, we are not!" He sent a blast of electricity into him despite his efforts to avoid the hit. Red Tornado went down with a thud as Mister Twister stood over him with wires protruding through his fingers and hooking into the side of his neck. "Remain still, android. The reprogramming won't take long."

Red Tornado's head turned to face him as his hand gripped the wires and pulled them from his head. With a smile the face of the hero turned to Miss Martian as she said, "longer than you might think."

She used her telekinesis to throw Mister Twister into a tornado created by Kid Flash spinning with his enhanced speed. He was tossed over to Superboy who came running to punch a hole through his stomach before being tossed into the bay where Aqualad hit him with his water-bearers with a wave of electricity to shock him.

Mister Twister was thrown up back on land where Charlotte stood looking bored and tired, just wanting to get this over with. She gripped the arm she blasted earlier and used her plasmic energy to cause an explosion in the palm of her hands. Completely destroying it in the process as it went up in pieces. It was all she could muster in that moment before Miss Martian took over, dismembering him the rest of the way.

Seeing as Charlotte could not take care of the rest of the robotic body, Robin came in with his explosive bird-a-rangs. He threw them at his chest as Miss Martian had Mister Twister hover in the air, leaving him nothing but a stomach as he dropped to the ground in the circle created by the teens.

The stomach opened to reveal a man, he fell out with a groan and crawled to his knees in front of them. "Foul, I — I call foul."

Miss Martian levitated a boulder and used it to crush the man as Aqualad yelled out at her to stop. Charlotte continued to watch on in indifference, she had complete trust in the girl, even if she didn't openly say it.

Robin looked beyond angry and hurt at her actions, he stepped up yelling at her with malice dripping from each word. "Don't know how things are done on Mars but on Earth, we don't execute our captives!"

"You said you trust me," Miss Martian smirked down at him while lifting the boulder from the man to reveal parts of him that looked more machine than human. "That's why I couldn't read his mind."

Kid Flash picked up the glass eye with a grin, "cool, souvenir." He tossed it into the air and caught it in the palm of his hand, holding it out for Charlotte to see.

Aqualad placed a hand on Miss Martian's shoulder when the girl with fire in her veins elbowed him in the side. "We should have had more faith in you."

"Yeah," Kid agreed. "You rocked this mission. Get it? Rocked," he laughed.

Charlotte fought a smile that was threatening to show so she turned the other way which happened to be where Superboy was looking at her, almost apologetically. "Apologize to her," she mouthed to which the clone shook his head stubbornly.

"Ignore him," Robin rolled his eyes. "We're all just turbed you're on the team."

"Thanks," Miss Martian smiled brightly while she blushed shyly, "me too."

Standing back inside Mount Justice around the parts of Mister Twister, the team were inside the main lobby debriefing Red Tornado on what had happened. Charlotte stood between Aqualad and Superboy, or more like she was leaning against the Atlantean and trying to keep herself from kicking the clone who still hadn't apologized to Miss Martian.

"It was clearly created to sabotage or destroy you," Aqualad told the android.

"Agreed," Tornado said simply.

"Such a man of words," Charlotte muttered under her breath.

Miss Martian took a step closer to Red Tornado with a curious frown. "Is that why you wouldn't help us?" She asked.

"No, this was your battle. I do not believe it is my role to solve your problems for you. Nor should you solve mine for me."

The team looked on with furrowed brows, at a loss for words, all besides Miss Martian who pushed the subject. "But if you're in danger —"

"Consider this matter closed." He turned and walked towards the zeta-tube.

Kid walked forward with his hands tucked in his pockets, watching Red Tornado as he began to leave. "Batman, Aquaman, and Flash, they'd have jumped right in to fix things."

"And then scold us for one reason or another," Charlotte added while Robin nodded along.

"Guess if we're gonna have a babysitter, a heartless machine is exactly what we need."

"Dude, harsh" Kid slapped his shoulder with a grimace.

"And inaccurate." Red Tornado stopped before he got to the transporter, "I have a heart, carbon-steel alloy. I also have excellent hearing."

Robin let out an awkward laugh, "right. Sorry, I'll strive to be more accurate."

Aqualad stepped up beside him when Charlotte leaned off of him, "and more respectful."

Charlotte looked between her teammates with a tired sigh through her nose, her eyes were getting the heavier she remained standing there. She started walking to the hall where rooms were lined for when they were needed overnight at the cave, one room designated specifically for her right beside Miss Martian's. "Now that this is over I'm finally gonna take a nap." She yawned while stretching her arms over her head.

Miss Martian caught up with her before she could leave, blocking her path with a hopeful smile. "Sleep on us being friends?"

Charlotte didn't have the heart to tell her no, or even ignore her so with the corners of her own mouth lifting into a small grin she said, "why not."



















NOTE!

This chapter was seriously 8,315 words in total and took me way too long to write. I don't even know how many baja blasts I drank writing this.

I love Lotte beefing with Conner for literally no reason. he's just there and she's ready to ruin his day.