Second Chances: Stargirl - Rough Draft

Chapter 9

Mike Dugan was trying to sneak into the Pit Stop, since he thought that Courtney and her friends were out at the movies or something and Barbara was at work and his dad was out of town, so now seemed like the best time to try to get to the backroom which was where he knew the JSA trained and where his dad stored his giant robot Stripe. A robot that Mike wanted to drive and prove that he could be a part of the team.

"Going somewhere?" Courtney asked Mike as she stepped out of the room and busted him.

"How did you know?" Mike asked.

"Because you're not as sneaky as you think you are." Courtney said with a chuckle.

"Come on Courtney. You're the JSA's leader, can't you let me join?" Mike asked.

"If things were different, I would, but Mike, Pat is your father, which means that he has veto power that I can't overrule." Courtney said.

"I don't get it. He never stopped you from using your staff. Now I'm trying to do the same thing you are, but you won't let me." Mike said.

"That's different. The staff chose me, Mike. It was my dad's and he promised my dad that he'd keep me safe and when the staff chose me, it became clear to him that the only way to keep me safe was to honor his other promise to my dad, which was keep the JSA's torch lit." Courtney said.

"Still, he won't even give me a chance, but he let's two people with no real connection to the JSA join the club." Mike said.

"Yolanda has powers and Beth was picked by Dr. Midnite's sidekick, Hootie. Mike, I promise, someday you'll get your chance. You just have to be patient." Courtney said.

"What would you have done if the staff hadn't chosen you?" Mike asked randomly.

"Then I'd still be a member of the JSA, because this is personal for me Mike. Those jerks took my father from me. And I will do whatever it takes to get justice for him. For all of the lives that the ISA took." Courtney said.

"And I get that, but you'll need all the help you can get." Mike said.

"We've got more help than you think. Mike, I get that you want to help, I grew up hearing the same stories you did, but you can't just barge in and demand a seat at the table. You have to earn it and being a legacy is not enough for that." Courtney said.

"Says the girl who only has the staff because she's Starman's legacy." Mike said angrily, only to have his stepsister glare at him.

"Watch it Mike. I get that you're upset, but don't take it out on me and don't talk about my dad like that again. Otherwise you might find yourself on the wrong end of my staff. And before you came here today, I was going to make another appeal to your dad to give you a shot when he got back." Courtney said.

"Wait, you were?" Mike asked.

"I was. But now, why should I if you're gonna talk to me like that?" Courtney asked him angrily.

"Court." Mike said.

"No Mike, it's like I said, you want a spot on the JSA so badly, then find a way to earn it." Courtney said and MIke could tell by the tone of her voice that he'd pushed her too far and that it would be best to wait until she'd cooled off to try and apologize to her.

Once again, he'd let his jealousy of his sister get the better of him and it had cost him another attempt to get on the team. He needed to find a way to prove himself. However, he was pulled from his thoughts when he noticed something pink and sparkling on one of the desks of the shop and while normally he wouldn't notice something like that, he did this time because it was literally sparkling, like magically sparkling.

"What the hell?" Mike asked as he walked over to the pen and picked up and suddenly, he heard some random voice in his head saying the words so cool nonstop until finally, Mike couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop saying so cool!" Mike shouted as suddenly, a bolt of pink lightning shot out of the pen and took the form of something that Mike wasn't even sure how to describe.

"As you wish my master." the creature said, seemingly serious, only to burst out laughing.

"Oh my god, you should see the look on your face." the creature said.

"What the hell are you?" Mike asked.

"You mean your old man never told you about me? The awe inspiring Thunderbolt and your new best friend Mike Dugan?" the Thunderbolt asked.

"Thunderbolt. Like, from the JSA?" MIke asked, vague memories coming back to him now.

"Yeah. As in Johnny Thunder and the Thunderbolt." the Thunderbolt said.

"Courtney, can you please come out here?" Mike shouted towards the door to the backroom and Courtney reluctantly walked out.

"Mike, what is going." Courtney asked, only to trail off when she saw the pen in his hand, and more importantly, the creature hovering behind her brother.

"Whoa, how did you get that?" Courtney asked as she looked at the Thunderbolt, the genie, not the pen, in awe.

"It just showed up here out of nowhere. You recognize it?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, but the last time I saw that pen was when it was on display at the JSA headquarters, but if it appeared to you then that means." Courtney asked.

"That's right Ms. Whitmore, I have found my new friend. And I am sorry I never came out when you tried to say the magic words, but you were already destined to inherit your father's staff. The idea of one person possessing two powers of light this magnitude, well, it's not a good idea." the Thunderbolt said.

"I'm just happy I finally get to meet you. My dad told me stories about the amazing Thunderbolt and all the incredible and hilarious things you used to pull off." Courtney said and Thunderbolt laughed.

"Yeah, Starman and I got along great." Thunderbolt said.

"So, can I join the JSA now? You know I didn't mean for this to happen right?" Mike asked and Courtney chuckled and nodded.

"Don't worry, I know. He chose you for a reason. And while I'd like to say yes, we still need to get your dad's all clear, especially since he'll likely freak out when he realizes that the pen is missing." Courtney said and Mike nodded.

"In the meantime, I'll introduce you to the rest of the team." Courtney said that part to the Thunderbolt.

"Can't wait." the Thunderbolt said with a grin as they headed towards the backroom.