After School Villains Club (2)

Ninja school

Ray Viles

We left the lab that day with alternatives to a few of our existing toys.  The jacks specifically since we were almost out but alongside were semi smart cars that could surround a target and erect a force field and our own versions of the foam grenade we used at Star Labs.  These grenades looked like gatchi balls, they bounce a bit before cracking like an egg. We tested them out in an abandoned lot.

The prize for Garfield though was a choker, something he frowned at till he learned what it did. Penny called it using her phone and it took the call when Garf pressed the button. 
"Is this okay to use when I transform" Garf had asked.
"When you were ape-shaped, you shed" Penny had explained, "I took a page from Barbara and made the collar out of your hair!"

We all had one, except Penny who installed one in her helmet. Designed to solve the problem of phones constantly being destroyed or damaged, some fiddling showed they could project holograms of street maps, internet and other basic functions. Later that day as a group we monitored and kept track of our patsies, nothing much went wrong. it was Monday again before anything interesting happened.

On the way to Lady Shiva's Ninja camp, I navigated while my mother drove. The time passed in a weird silence, I didn't know whether she was proud, annoyed or what! Artemis' face was stiff, her eyes fixed on the road. Now and again she'd open her mouth as though about to talk, only to bite her lip.

Normally I would have biked to the next town or taken the train but this first time had to be different.  When I checked the sign up page online, Shiva had very clearly written "Parent or Guardian consent required! Wavers and declaration forms must be signed."

We spent the entire drive in this weird limbo,  pulling up in the old car-park for the rail yard then moving to park in the disabled park. I got out first,  popping the door,  slamming it. As Artemis opened her door I obtained the crutch from the back seat. As I waited for her to stand and get her balance,  neither of us spoke. She simply took it, leaning on it heavily and hobbling along.  I walked beside her just to be certain.

"You fret to much." She said eventually,  I stayed silent. She took a breath and continued, "Its not my first time with broken bones,  your grandfather certainly broke enough of mine when I was training." She moved on her own, if slowly.  Still I walked her into the building where the recruits were gathering.

"Whatever you think.  Hurting people  even You. It's not how I want to use my powers. I'll never enjoy this kind of thing. " I responded, and we went silent again.  Inside the main building I identified a tall and gorgeous middle aged woman, lean and muscled from years of exercising. She talked with two other adults and I guessed she must be Lady Shiva.
A short distance from them, a group of kids gossiped. Two faces surprised me though.  A dark haired girl with a nasal voice and an attitude that could cut through steel was harassing a boy slightly smaller but much fitter.  He did not wear the mask or the head wear, and a white shirt and jacket covered his upper body, this was very clearly Robin.

I would be training alongside Robin and Miss A. Great. Just great.
scuffing my foot on the floor I shrugged, braced myself and went to speak with them.

"Yeah, so I was supposed to start on actual super-powered crime. This is just a setback. I'd rather join a team like yours than a basic course like this." I cringed yes that was Marcia.
"Well we are looking for members but that's..." The boy had noticed me. I waited as Marcia tilted her head back,  looked me up and down.  Then groaned.

"Oh no. No no, that is enough of that.  This is a hero course not a nerd course!" a waving fingure gestured to all of me. I tried not to act offended.

"Good to see you too!!" I greeted then immediately ignored the side-kick. "Hi, I'm Ray, son of expert mercenary Artemis, grandson of the Sports-Master. Convinced my mother over there to enrol me in a hero course." I pointed at Artemis.

This was not normally a good idea, passing on that information but from everything Claire had said this boy was decent and had even been respectful to Sharkie. In a similar situation maybe he'd make a good rival.

"That's Artemis?" he seamed confused, "I know she's worked with the league once or twice. Was the accident what took her out of the industry?"

"Ah, excuse me. Who cares, it's a villain family isn't it! You just as good as outed yourself as a villain, nerd boy. Which makes sense considering your friends!" I shrugged off Marcia's response. She wasn't who I was here to impress.

"No. She left the industry after whatever bullocks happened between her and my father. The injury was more recent. She can't train me anymore so..." I watched Robin nod his response.

"I honestly didn't think I'd learn anything after Batman, disappeared." the boy's voice caught in his throat on "disappeared", but he continued talking. "I ran in Lady Shiva  while I was working on a drug bust. Apparently she knew him back in the day, so. Thought I'd try it."

Marcia actually went silent. At first I thought it was a candid moment of respect, but one of the adults had arrived. An older, white haired man with a lean figure and a full dinner jacket and suit. He strode smoothly, wielding a cane and spoke with the confidence of someone who was always listened to. At a guess, this was the Original!

As the man placed a hand on Marcia's shoulder, she tensed but did not pull away. Her face, a mask of expectation. Looking at the man Robin and Myself both moved at once, stepping forward and flanking Marcia. Our presence on either side actually made him step back and she turned around, looking at us with confusion.

"Alright little Miss. As promised, if you can get through Lady Shiva's course you'll be back on track for Hero Work. We were just about to progress to super powered crime. Don't dissapoint me." the man looked us over. "Are these two friends?"

"No sir." was the prompt reply, "They're Rivals. Ray from school and Robin from the Titans!"

"Ahhh! Good." was the curt reply, and he reached out to shake our hands. "I am Mr Winters, Miss Bradley's guardian and trainer. I expect you two to do your best, rival her so she can beat you, etc. I have high hopes for the young Miss Bradley!" And then, cane under his arm the man strode away.

My mother approached next, I eyed her carefully. How to approach this? Stepping in towards her good side I reached an arm around her back and gave a gentle squeeze. She seamed genuinely shocked, for good reason, but returned the hug. "You know I'm proud of you." was all she said, returning the hug. "Break some skulls kid!" Then I made sure she got out to the car safely.

I wouldn't need her to drop me off every session, just this once.

Looking back at Robin and Marcia, I was starting to suspect something. That kids in the industry usually had weird or unhealthy relationships with their parents.

Training started simple. For the next month I attended four days a week, after school. This would seriously eat into villain time, but that was alright. Villainy wouldn't pull too much time and what I learned here would let me meet and beat my idols. It was absolutely perfect.