UnMasked Nomad

27

^^ Young Justice December 2017 ^^

— Erin —

After we'd all eaten breakfast, (me sharing the protein bars with the two demigods, which successfully quelled their hunger, before they ate all the food in my fridge,) I sat us down in the little boat I used to get around outside the island's primary net, and took us to the newly finished ThunderDome, docking at a small, unassuming wooden pier, and unloading us and the supplies I'd brought along. Food, first aid, some magazines for whoever was bored, and massage oil, for if someone pulled a muscle pretty badly.

"Alright, ladies! Welcome to the ThunderDome. It's essentially indestructible, so you don't have to worry about breaking it. So, what'll we do first?" I asked, pulling off my jacket and pistol belt, setting them aside.

"First we'll discover your limitations!!! You can run twice as fast as young Wally West could, and almost as fast as Bart Allen, but you do not do so! Why?" Wonder Woman asked, stretching with Cassandra Sandsmark and Dinah.

"Well, Because it burns energy that I don't have, first of all, and because my brain cannot process those speeds for sharp turns, such as would be necessary in combat. Unless I'm running in a relatively straight line, across country or down an interstate, I can't afford to crash into something; especially considering it's whatever, or god forbid whoever I'd hit that would get hurt, not me. Also, strategically, if I'm always moving at human speeds, no one will know my max speed, and therefore any traps set for me will be designed for near-human speeds, giving me time to escape them. Lastly: I do not like to rely on abilities, even those that I do have control over." I answered easily, and began stretching as well.

"I see. That is wise, but should you not attempt to gain control over the speed? It is a mighty tool, in the right hands." Diana hummed.

"That's part of why we're here, isn't it?" I raised an eyebrow at her wryly.

She laughed. "Ah, you're correct, of course... so what abilities do you use regularly?"

"Super-Strength, -though rarely, and dialed down to meet the strength of each opponent as I discover their abilities,- Invulnerability, -again rarely, and I'm working on using that less, I'd not like to become reliant upon it,- and My shadow Portals, as well. I'm aware of their entirety, more than any of my other abilities; I know the physics behind them, I know how to open and close them, I know how other people can open or close them, with the aid of alien technology." I shrugged, and went back to stretching.

"And that deep understanding, beyond just knowing their limits, why is that important?" She asked, checking her sword's edge.

"They are based firmly in Science, and I understand them. My ability to understand the workings of the universe is central to my confidence. That I can predict outcomes of physical things has always served me well. But physics are different here, so a little familiarity is good for my sanity." I explained, and then bent backwards, touching my hands to the backs of my feet.

Dinah whistled slowly. "That is some impressive flexibility..."

I raised my right leg into a perfect split, whilst still bent backwards and holding my left ankle. "Thanks. An Indian Gal taught me the Kama Sutra positions in p- uh... I mean, my Teacher of Martial Arts taught me flexibility... for fighting!!!" I glanced at Cassie, pretending my halt and changing of the answer had been to censor myself for her innocent ears, not to hide my past from them.

She blushed bright red, and that helped my cause as the others laughed off her embarrassment.

We spent another ten minutes or so stretching, and then Diana sic'ed Cassie on me, stating that we should be of about equal physical strength. I let the girl punch me in the stomach, to gauge her strength, and grunted softly, surprised by the weight behind the punch, and slightly impressed that the scrap of a woman was so strong.