That night, the Whitmore-Dugans had Rick and his mom over for dinner, since tonight they were going to tell Rick the truth about his father and grandfather. Courtney was already in a good mood, since in addition to the talk she'd had with Yolanda earlier today, when she'd got home from school today, Pat told her that another member of the JSA was still alive, Jay Garrick, aka, the Flash, though his real name was actually Henry Allen and apparently he was considering moving himself, his wife and most significantly, his daughter Chloe, who'd inherited his powers and who would likely be joining the JSA's ranks. Something that made Courtney very happy, since building a new JSA was proving to be easier than she'd thought it would be, since she was their new Starman and they also had a new Wildcat and a new Black Lightning and by she was hoping that by the end of tonight, they'd have a new Hourman and soon they'd have a new Flash too. Things were looking up.
Anyways, after they ate, Courtney decided that the best way to tell Rick the truth was just to show him the Citadel, since this was a case where seeing was truly believing.
"What is this room?" Rick asked, since he'd never seen it in any of the times he'd come over to Courtney's house before.
"It was my dad's office before he died." Courtney said.
"Wait, I thought you said that your dad walked out on you guys." Rick asked.
"That's because until recently, I thought that was the case." Courtney said, glaring at her mom, making it clear that she wasn't off the hook by a long shot yet.
"What is going on?" Rick asked.
"Hopefully things will make sense in a minute. But I doubt it." Courtney said as she placed her hand on the picture of her and her dad that triggered the hidden elevator.
"Wait, you have a secret elevator in your house?" Rick asked.
"Trust me Rick, that's the least surprising thing about this place. But do you trust me?" Courtney asked.
"I'm not sure." Rick said and while normally Courtney would be offended by that, but under the circumstances, she could understand why.
"I promise, we'll explain everything once we get down there." Courtney said as she, Rick, their parents, Yolanda and Jen got in the elevator and headed down to the Citadel.
"So you're telling me that both my father and my grandfather were members of this Justice Society of America that was originally founded as a secret black ops unit for Allies during World War 2?" Rick asked.
"We have that in common, since my dad and grandfather were in the same boat. My grandfather invented a weapon called the cosmic staff, which he used to fight alongside both of your grandparents during World War 2 as members of the first Justice Society of America where they helped turn the tide of the war to the Allies' favor." Courtney said.
"How come no one knows about that?" Rick asked.
"Because that version of the JSA was a secret unit that technically didn't exist. Other members of that JSA were Commander Steel, Hawkman, Hawkgirl and the Black Canary. Your grandparents were Hourman and Vixen while Courtney's grandfather was the first Starman." Pat said.
"After the war, the JSA went their separate ways, though eventually the second generation was built by several other heroes during that time, including your father, Rex Tyler, who was the second Hourman, Yolanda's uncle and godfather, Ted Grant, the first Wildcat, Jen's father, Jefferson Pierce, who's also Black LIghtning, and Courtney's father, Sylvester Pemberton, the second Starman. Other members of that JSA were the Flash, Dr. Fate, Johnny Thunder and the Thunderbolt, Sandman, Green Lantern and Dr. Midnite." Pat said.
"What happened to them?" Rick asked.
"Most of them died in an attack by their archenemies, the Injustice Society of America and I know, Courtney already told me how lame that name is and I do kind of agree." Pat said.
"Did dad die in that?" Rick asked.
"No, your father was one of the only survivors." Wendy said.
"My dad died that night though. That kind of ruined Christmas, since until now, I thought Christmas was the day my dad walked out on me, not the day he died." Courtney said.
"I'm sorry." Rick said.
"It's okay, but from what we can guess, it sounds like the ISA had something to do with your dad's death too, we just don't know how. But that's why I'm building a new JSA. To get justice for my dad and all the members of the JSA that the ISA killed." Courtney said.
"How's that going?" Rick asked.
"I've already recruited two people." Courtney said.
"I'm gonna be the new Wildcat." Yolanda said as she showed Rick her claws.
"And you have powers?" Rick asked.
"Yeah don't ask." Yolanda said.
"And I inherited powers from my dad, though I'm going by the name Lightning." Jen said as she showed him her powers.
"And I want in." Rick said and Courtney grinned.
"I was hoping you'd say that." Courtney said.
"And you'll get another member since Rick's cousin Mari is coming to stay with us and she has her grandmother's totem, which gives her the ability to call on the spirits of any creature in the animal kingdom and gives her their abilities." Wendy said.
"Sounds great." Courtney said.
"How did dad get the name Hourman?" Rick asked.
"Because of the hourglass his father invented. It gave the user superstrength for one hour a day, since they learned the hard way that if the power is not limited, things can get ugly." Wendy said, since she'd seen the toll the hourglass had taken on her husband when he'd been dumb enough to remove the limiter from it.
"And you're not getting the hourglass yet." Pat said.
"Why not?" Rick asked.
"Because you need to learn to control your temper and your anger. Until you do, I don't think that giving you the hourglass is a good idea." Wnedy said.
"What's the point of being Hourman if I don't have the hourglass?" Rick asked.
"Your dad didn't rely on the hourglass to be a hero. Just like how mine didn't just rely on the staff. They're tools, but we can't depend on them. That's why in addition to learning how to use the staff, I'm also learning to fight without it, just like how both Yolanda and Jen are learning to fight without their powers." Courtney said and Pat nodded.
"But at least you can use the staff." Rick pointed out.
"Rick, this is a call that's out of my hands. It's your mom's call." Courtney said.
YOU ARE READING
Second Chances: Stargirl
FanfictionPart Two of new version of Second Chances. Courtney Whitmore was living a relatively normal life until her mother married Pat Dugan. That was when she found the Cosmic staff and learned the truth about her father's disappearance and his legacy. Afte...
