First Impressions (Open)

[Luz Lupina]

Luz, who was now currently Hack sat on the couch with his arms crossed over his chest. He was patiently waiting for his mentor, who was going to take him to the teammates he was supposed to meet today. He hoped they would be able to work together, surely that wouldn’t be too hard to do? He wasn’t very sure, if he was honest with himself. He wasn’t really use to working on a team, having to rely on other people, as Hack at least, as Luz he was used to having to rely on other people to help him, but not as Hack. He had just gotten use to working with his mentor, he wasn’t sure if he could handle working on a team full of strangers. He didn’t know if his teammates would abandon him if, no when they would learn of the large secret he was keeping from them. Yes he wanted to keep the fact that he was crippled a secret from his new teammates who might become his friends. But his main worry was would they still be his friends if they knew he was a cripple? He sure hoped so but doubt lingered in his mind.

Hack waited for another five minutes before his mentor, Hawkwoman showed up, his mother and his mentor had a brief conversation before the woman let her son go and Hawkwoman took him to a nearby Zeta Tube that was near his house. The two walked up to the out-of-order telephone booth and Hack was shoved in when he stalled at the entrance unsure how it worked. In a flash of white light Hawkwoman appeared beside her protégée as the computer announced her and Hack’s arrival into the central meeting room. Hack had walked further into the large room and was looking around at it in curiosity. He could see why they called it Mount Justice or the Cave as his mentor said some of his new teammates called it. He found very interesting that they had made a mountain their base of operations, or at least one of their bases of operations. The Justice League probably had more than one base that much he was pretty sure of.

Hawkwoman smirked at how he took in the meeting room of Mount Justice. He was completely entranced. “Like what you see?” the woman asked failing to hide her amusement at her protégée’s speechlessness. Hack shrugged, fighting off his earlier giddy state. ”It’s cool.” He answered simply, getting serious quite quickly, much to his mentor’s amusement. Hack didn’t want to look like a dork in front of his new teammates. The thought of his teammates made a shiver run down his spine. He wasn’t sure what his new teammates would be like, but he hoped the first meeting would go smoothly and all wouldn’t be blown to hell.

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[Zatanna]

Zatanna had attended school today. There was times that she would miss out but she had to go back before someone in the league found out and she got into trouble. Zatanna hated going to school it always made her sad. Many people would ask about her dad for he was the one who dropped her off and gave some of the girls flowers from his magic tricks. A lot of students loved her dad and always thought he was sweet. Which was true he was always nice and with all the questions just made her down. Sitting in class she got most of her work done in class so she didn’t have to take anything home with her.

Getting out of her last class at three she walked out of the academy and headed down the streets. One thing she hated was her uniform. At first when she first came to school she loved the uniform know it was just a pain in the ass to get on and off. Since most of the time she didn’t use her magic unless she was running late. Getting close to her home she got inside and saw that everything was covered. Normally she wouldn’t stop here but she just wanted to see if she could bring anything back. When she grabbed a few spell books she walked to where the portal would be to take her home. Pushing in the buttons she walked through it.

Once she did the computer announced her coming in. As she walked out she saw Hawkwoman and saw the boy that was with her. “What brings you hear Hawkwoman? Who is that?” Zatanna walked towards them as she fixed her uniform ready to get this off. Zatanna couldn’t believe she was meeting anther new person. It was just a shock to her cause normally the rest of the team would up on this. Looking back at the door she was waiting for them to all show up. Shrugging she turned back to the two. “Oh can you excuse me really fast. This uniform is really bothering me.” Taking a deep breath she began to focus on her energy. “Egnahc siht mrofinu ot ym elprup ittehgaps parts dna ym etihw stnap htiw ym etihw seohs (Change this uniform to my purple spaghetti strap and my white pants with my white shoes).” Light wrapped around her and she changed really fast. As the smoke and light vanished she was changed. Smiling she looked at the new guy and Hawkwoman.

[cyclone]

A few days have passed after her visit to the Hall of Justice with Red Tornado and meeting both Zatanna and Atom, whom were totally awesome. During those days, Maxine worked and ended making her costume. She felt totally proud of it, especially because she did it with her own hands and grabbed a witch hat as a last detail. After a lot of thinking she decided to use the codename of Cyclone, in honor of her father and aunt, who when they were kids were the sidekicks of her grandmother, the original Red Tornado. Huey liked the idea and when she told Red Tornado he simply said it was a nice name.

The next morning Red Tornado called her and told Maxine to go after class to the park near she lived and told her that he is gonna bring to the Mount Justice, the base of the Team. Maxine was very happy by the news and barely could hide her emotion. When the classes ended, Maxine run first towards her house to change to her costume. After switching clothes, she found there her monkey Frankie who was eating an orange. "Come here buddy! I'm sure that Red Tornado wont mind you go with us"said Maxine as she grabbed the monkey and flew towards the park. Once she landed, it took her a while to find Red Tornado hiding in one of the alleys, in front of an out-of-order telephone. The android explained her that inside the cabin there is a Zeta Tube that would transport them to the cave. He then gave Maxine the instructions of how to use it and both entered. Maxine was totally excited, by all of this. Once inside, the android, the girl and the monkey disappeared in a flash of white light.

"Recognized Red Tornado 16! Recognized Cyclone B11!"announced the computer of the cave. Then they appeared in the center of the meeting room. Maxine admired with her mouth open and jumping happily all the cave. "Was the cave what you expected?"asked the android to Maxine. "It's more than I expected! It's really amazing, thanks for bringing me here!"answered Maxine. Frankie was able to hold himself in Maxine's shoulder and was doing his best for not falling to the ground. Maxine realized it and stopped her small jumps. "Sorry Frankie"said Maxine. Then Red Tornado saw Zatanna, Hawkwoman and a guy with a strange armor. "Hello Hawkwoman, Zatanna"greeted Red Tornado. "Hi Zatanna!"said happily Maxine."Who is he?"asked Maxine pointing to the new guy. She has never heard of him before. "You must be Hack, the protegée of Hawkwoman, right?"asked Red Tornado. Maxine didn't heard the name before in her life, and was really surprised to hear that Hawkwoman has a sidekick too. "Hello"said Maxine shyly to the armored guy and to Hawkwoman.

[Luz Lupina]

Hack blinked as a white light flashed in the corner of his vision and he witnessed Zatanna stepping out of the zeta tube in her uniform, obviously she had just gotten back from school. He had gotten back from school twenty minutes earlier and spent a full ten waiting for his mentor and another five minutes waiting for his mother and his mentor to stop talking so that they could leave for the Cave. Hack vaguely wondered what school Zatanna went to but it wasn’t a question he was going to ask out loud. The thirteen year old bit back a snarky comment that he really wanted to say in response to how Zatanna had addressed Hawkwoman, like he couldn’t speak for himself. Hawkwoman took it all in stride after shooting a quick warning glance at her protégée to mind his manners, she answered. “I am here to show my protégée, Hack, the Cave and I brought him here to meet you all. It would do him good to meet you now, since you will be working together. I’m sure Batman said something already about Hack’s joining?” the Justice Leaguer said, the last part forming itself into a question.

Hawkwoman and Hack had no protests in when the young girl asked them to excuse her for a moment. Hack watched as Zatanna worked her magic, literally. He watched in masked awe as her uniform changed something more comfortable. He had to admit, that was cool. Sure he had seen the Justice League and their sidekicks on TV before but he’d never seen a someone use their powers in his real life, besides himself. ”Zatanna, this is Hack. Hack, this is Zatanna.” Hawkwoman introduced them. Hack nodded and held out his hand to Zatanna. “It is nice to meet you, Zatanna.” He said politely, remembering his manners. The politeness was something you could thank his mentor Hawkwoman for.

Hack found his attention to be divided when once again the zeta tube flashed with a white light and two people stepped out, one he recognized quickly as Red Tornado, another member of the Justice League and the red haired girl, Cyclone as she called, he didn’t recognize and he wondered why there was a monkey on the girl’s shoulder? He chalked that up to another question that he wouldn’t ask aloud. ”Hello Red Tornado, Cyclone.” Hawkwoman said with a small smile at both mentor and protégée. Hack raised an eyebrow behind his mask as he took in the new girl’s appearance; she was wearing her costume that much was obvious. He watched the two girls interact; it was obvious that they knew each other. Zatanna and Cyclone had probably met before. He didn’t appreciate being pointed at by the new older girl or how she asked Zatanna who he was. That was annoying, couldn’t people just ask him who he was and not his mentor or someone else like he wasn’t even in the room? Luckily no one would have been able to see his lips twisting into a scowl or how his eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

His annoyance was evaporated when Red Tornado turned to him and addressed him, not his mentor. He was glad he was finally being addressed by someone, instead of someone speaking for him. He nodded to Red Tornado. "That I am." He said smiling behind his mask. I wonder how he works… he thought and winched when his mentor addressed him. “Don’t even think about it.” she warned. It was creepy how his mentor seemed to know just when he was thinking about how something worked and wanted to take it apart and put it back together to see for himself. He crossed his arms and glared his mentor. “I wasn’t going to do anything!” He defended himself. “Sure you weren’t.” the woman responded in disbelief, an eyebrow quirked upwards. He rolled his eyes and muttered something rude in Spanish. He sighed in annoyance and turned to address Cyclone as she said ‘Hello’ to him and his mentor. He smiled slightly, although it looked more like a grimace from behind his mask. ”Hello Cyclone.” He greeted the other protégée with the same politeness he had shown Zatanna earlier. He wasn’t about to let his annoyance with his mentor let him make a bad first impression.

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[Zatanna]

Zatanna smiled. “Well looks like I’m meeting the new people first.” Zatanna gave Hawkwoman an small smile. “No I didn’t hear nothing about him coming in. But then again I’m in class a lot. Aqualad might have heard about it but I never did. Batman has been not doing well. We have another new person she is a girl actually.” Going in front of Hack she nodded “It is really nice to meet you too Hack. So umm are you going to be dressed like that all time? I mean it gets hot in here from time to time.” Zatanna hoped he didn’t take it in a bad way. “If I ever say something that you don’t like just tell me.”

Turning around she heard another announcement and smiled. “Hello Cyclone.” Turning to her to Hack she smiled “New team member.” Zatanna turned back to her and looked at him. When she heard Hawkwoman say something Zatanna’s smile went away. The way she spoke to him sounded like her father warning her about things. “Well then what do we do now? I don’t know where the others are. I would say they are still in school and what not.” Zatanna tried to get happy once more but it was hard with how Hawkwoman was treating Hack.

Looking at Red Tornado “So any clue what is going on now?” Zatanna stood between the two new members of the team. Not sure how any of the others were going to like this. “Red Tornado why has nobody told us about Hack and Cyclone? Is the League okay?” Zatanna asked. She crossed her arms not liking this at all. “Please don’t lie either.”

[cyclone]

"It's good to meet you Hack. I hope we all have a great time together during the missions. And your armor looks cool."said the red haired girl to Hack. She raised an eyebrow when Hawkwoman warned the armored boy and he defended himself saying that he wasn't planing to do anything. "I'm not so sure if I want to know what you were planning"said Maxine a little insecure, but she didn't like the looks he gave to Red Tornado. She still couldn't believe that Hawkwoman knew her name, well it was obvious she knew it as she was one of the new recruits. Although she felt a little uncomfortable with the way the winged woman scolded Hack. "So then the others members aren't here yet?"asked Cyclone to Zatanna a little disappointed. Maxine wanted to meet the rst of the team once she arrived, but she can still wait for them here in the cave. She has the rest fo the day after all. Meanwhile, Frankie jumped of her shoulder and run towards a coach, where he lay down.

"Wait a minute you didn't know anything about us?"asked Maxine surprised when Zatanna asked Red Tornado what was going on and said that she and the team didn't know about her and Hack. Now she was getting a little more worried and looked at Red Tornado. "The reasons you didn't heard about Cyclone is that I decided to take her as my protegèe a few days ago, a very hasty decision that even surprised the other members of the League, but one I think it would be good"said Red Tornado to Zatanna. He still hadn't told to the team the past about Maxine and the results of Atom's analysis, but he was planning to do it as he promised to Zatanna. He and the league were investigating about Morrow's other apprentice, but they hadn't found anything yet. "And about Hack, I think that Hawkwoman or Hack himself can explain"said Red Tornado. Maxine didn't know what to say, but she was glad that Red Tornado trusted in her.

[Luz Lupina]

Hawkwoman nodded to Zatanna, a small smile on her lips. “It’s not our fault if the others are slow in getting here. They will just have to meet Hack and Cyclone later.” she said shrugging her shoulders. The woman blinked upon hearing Zatanna’s remark. ”I see. I assumed he would have told the Team about Hack at least. Seeing as he was there when I recruited Hack to be my protégée.” the woman said with a shake of her head causing her red hair to sway with the movement. The woman smiled in amusement at the other girl’s(Cyclone’s) insecurity. “And Cyclone, don’t take his looks too seriously, he was just curious about Red Tornado was built. He won’t try anything.” she assured the young red-head. Hack nodded in agreement. “What she said.” He agreed with a shrug of his shoulders.

Hack turned his attention to Zatanna who spoke to him. He nodded his head in response to her question before answering verbally. “I will be. I wish to keep my secret identity, a secret. I hope you don’t mind.” he responded simply. Really there was no polite or easy way to say that he was going to be keeping his secret identity a secret from his new teammates and potential friends. That was basically telling them that he didn’t trust them, and as right now he didn’t trust them as far as he could throw them. “I’ll keep that in mind, Zatanna.” He said, meaning her last comment about telling her when she said something he didn’t like. Hack turned toward Cyclone and smiled at her from behind his mask. ”I’m sure we’ll all get along fine.” He said automatically. Hopefully… He added silently in doubt. ”Um thanks? Your costume looks cool to.” He said a bit awkwardly, having never been complimented about his armor before. I’m with Zatanna on that one, they’re probably still in school. I don’t think our schools get off at the same time. he thought to himself, while he thought he turned his attention toward the Cyclone’s monkey who had just ran over to the couch. Why does she have a monkey? he thought in curiosity.

Hack snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Zatanna ask Red Tornado a question regarding why the Team wasn’t informed of his and Cyclone’s arrival. Yes he was wondering that himself, but he chose to stay quiet and listen, figuring he’d get more answers that way, by listening. Hack raised an eyebrow when Red Tornado said that choosing Cyclone was a hasty decision and it made him wonder if perhaps Hawkwoman’s recruitment of him was just as hasty, but he really hoped it wasn’t.

Hawkwoman hid her frown when she noticed the forcefulness in Zatanna’s voice; the girl didn’t want them to lie. She looked over at Red Tornado and raised an eyebrow at him. “Yes, I must say the hasteful decision did shock me.” She agreed with a shake of her head. “While Red Tornado’s choice on Cyclone was hasteful but a good one.” She said as she gave an approving nod to Red Tornado and Cyclone. ”I watched Hack for a month before I approached him with Batman, while he was patrolling on his own. He agreed to it, obviously. So he has been my protégée for a three months since I recruited him to become my protégée. During that time I wasn’t only just training him, I took him with me to protect the city, but I kept him off the news, with the help of Batman and the rest of the League. I was going to allow him to reveal himself next month to the media as my protégée. I had just assumed Batman would have told Robin and Aqualad who both would have told the rest of the Team.” Hawkwoman admitted with a shake of her head. Hack merely nodded his head. “We both agreed that keeping me on the down-low would be good, for the time being.” He said shrugging, really it didn’t concern him much, but he was glad that Hawkwoman had finally told him –not directly of course- how long she had been watching him.

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[Zatanna]

Zatanna shook her head no. “I’m telling the truth but yeah I have no clue that two new members were joining us.” Nodding to what Hawkwoman said she closed her e yes and rubbed the her head a little. “School sucks a lot.” Laughing she looked at all four of them.

“Hack if you want you can always get sunglasses. Robin that is what he does, he wears sunglasses when he is not in uniform. It might help so you don’t have to walk around in that all day.” Zatanna figured it was good advice.

Thinking about what Hawkwoman said she smiled “Maybe Batman is coming to realize that we are getting older and don’t need the League to tell us what is going on all the time. That we will figure it out on our own. Sure most of the missions come from Batman but sometimes we do our own.” Zatanna said “Just think one day we will be the Justice League not this. We will be the ones up there.” That was really the only thing she could think of. It was time for all of them to be become a team to work together to become just as good as the elders. Even if they were almost just as good as them, Zatanna new they needed to get better on following orders and listing to one another. The League always gets new members so our team will be getting them as well.” Zatanna looked at Red Tornado and Hawkwoman. “Am I right at all?”

[cyclone]

Maxine felt a little relieved when Hack and Hawkwoman assured her, that the armored hero wouldn't do anything to Red Tornado. She wouldn't like that anything bad could happen to the android. Many people sees him as only a pile of wires and metal, but he has his feelings too. He was only a little distant, that was the problem. "Zattan is rigth, you could use sunglasses to hide your secret identity. So then you wouldn't be very uncomfortable carrying your armor all the day in the cave"said Maxine with a nod as she moved to the sofa. She sat down, grabbed her monkey Frankie and put him on her lap. "Stay here Frankie"said as she gently caressed his head.

"Thanks! It took em a while to work on the dessing of the costume, I was thinking in adding originally a cape, like the one Red Tornado and my grandma used to wear, but I ended dismissing the idea. The hardest part was picking the codename, but I'm satisfied witht he one I picked in the end"said Maxine glad that Hack liked her costume too. She felt a little unsecure if the rest fo the team would believe that the costume was silly. She smiled more confident when Hawkwoman told that she agreed with Red Tornado's decission. She felt accepted for first time in her life and it felt wonderfull. She wondered if that's how Elphaba felt when she entered on Whiz for first time.

She then listened to Hawkwoman explanation of how she started training Hack. "So then you were patroling before Hack? That sounds really cool. And well, I wouldn't say that school sucks entirely. It especially depends how is your day"said Maxine to the magician. Red Tornado listened to Zatanna's explanation. "You have fair points Zatanna. I think that after New Year you prooved themselves. Things would get complicated and all of us need all the help we can get."said Red Tornado. After all this time he worked as mother hen of the team, he has learned to trust them and a part fo him feel that they were nearly ready.

[Luz Lupina]

Hawkwoman nodded. ”I see. And I never suspected you of lying, Zatanna. It’s fine. Batman could have been planning on telling you all later or maybe he just wanted you to learn to accept new members when they come instead with Batman or one of the other Leaguers telling you all about a new teammate.” She said shrugging her shoulders. Hack merely nodded with what Zatanna said about school. He agreed wholeheartedly with her. School did suck.

Hack rolled his eyes in annoyance but he let out a dry chuckle at Zatanna’s remark about the sunglasses. He sighed when Cyclone joined in and added her two cents into the conversation about sunglasses and him being like Robin. Things were just far more complicated than what they seemed. Had things not been so complicated then he would have just come with sunglasses like Robin did, but things weren’t that easy or simple. He shook his head fought the urge to run his hand through his non-existent hair, seeing as his armor was covering his hair, hiding everything that was descriptive about his appearance from view. “Sorry but things are more complicated than that.” He said simply, just barely keeping the irritation out of his voice, hoping they would both drop the subject and not try and pry answers out of him. ”And my armor isn’t heavy, it’s lightweight and flexible and it isn’t uncomfortable either.” He said with a shrug of his shoulders. If they don’t drop the subject… I’m going to lose my patience with them. he thought slowly growing more and more annoyed with the conversation as it went on. He watched as Cyclone walked over to the couch, sitting down and retrieving her monkey. He was still wondering why she had a monkey! “Why do you have a monkey? Is he or she, your pet?” He asked suddenly, hoping to change the subject.

He shrugged at her answer. His annoyance fading some. “You’re welcome and it suits you.” He said simply, not knowing what else to say about that. “Yes picking a codename can be quite hard. Picking my codename hadn’t been a walk in the park either.” He agreed. Hack nodded. ”Yes I was, I still do. And it was and still is cool.” he said with a small smile appearing on his lips. ”As for school. I think it sucks, that’s just my opinion.” he said calmly.

Hawkwoman nodded in agreement with Red Tornado. “I agree with him. You and the others have proved yourselves capable of handling yourselves. So I don’t’ see why we would need to tell you everythingm seeing as you do need to learn how to learn things on your own.” She agreed. She thought they were ready to start handling things on their own.

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[static]

Static had been utterly surprised, yet again, when the JL popped up at his and Gear’s ‘hideout’ or rather old abandoned gas station once more. It seemed the team just couldn’t get enough of him, or that’s what he liked to tell himself at least. This time though they weren’t here to have him supercharge the watchtower, defeat Brainiac, or travel through time. This time they were there to tell him about a team, a team of other young super heroes that he and Gear were to join. Gear of course wasn’t there as his dad had taken him on vacation, but it was still really cool news. Sure it sucked that they hadn’t invited him to be a part of the actual league yet but he was getting there. Maybe a team with all the ‘sidekicks’ was what he needed. A team where his experience would definitely be needed.

The best part was they installed the teleporter thing right there in the gas station in Dakota. This way he could get to Mount Justice, the Young Justice’ base, whenever he wanted. It was so cool, or shway as future Batman Terry had said. GL stuck around to show him how it worked, and explain all the finer details to him but after that he too was called off to do some Justice League work. Man he couldn’t wait the three years or so when he’d actually be able to fight a long side those guys as part of the JL again. Again because to him, he had already been a part of the Justice League twice and knew from his time traveling experience he was definitely going to be on the team and one of the greatest heroes in the world some day.

“Here we go, dang this is gona be so cool.” Static said with a grin as he cracked his fingers and stood in front of the retina scanner. It flashed over his eyes and spoke out loud, ‘Recognized Static.’ Whistling he stepped forward into the Zeta tube like portal and came out the other side in Mount Justice. Once again his name was announced by the weird voice thing and he blinked looking around. “Shwaay…” He said with a chuckle still using Terry’s word at times, because he figured; hey why not get it started now? That of course was when he noticed the other people in the room. Three of them he recognized, Red Tornado the only league member he hadn’t ever talked too, Hawkwoman and her deadly looking mace by her side, and finally Zatanna. The other two though didn’t ring a bell in his mind at all, and he was obsessed with super heroes as Richie sometimes put it.

“Hey Hawkwoman, no hard feelings, right?” He asked jokingly with a smile as he backed up a bit from the winged woman with the mace. He knew she didn’t have any bad feelings towards him from the last time they met. He had only shocked her and the other members so that Brainiac’s mind control chips would fizzle out. It wasn’t like he had shocked her more than just that time, right? When he waited for an answer he looked around trying to figure out just where everyone else was. He knew Flash, Batman, and GL were off on some mission when they left him to figure out the Zeta Tube thing by himself but he expected more League Members or at least there sidekicks.