002
- the woman from the red lands-

THROUGH TWISTING AND CONFUSING HALLWAYS, THE REACHED THE ELEVATOR ESPONSON USED TO TAKE THE TITANS TO A HIGHER LEVEL. They followed both Esponson and Kruger up to the Applied Sciences wing, the researchers all in high gear as they rushed around. Kruger and Esponson exchanged a few notes before Kruger stepped away, two others that looked like twins following her to the elevator. Cole looked around with a dumb smile and wide eyes, memorising every detail of the hyper modern lab even if it closely resembled the style for the entire building.

Esponson took a deep breath as she turned back to face everyone. "Like Bernard had said, we have been rushing a bit, so a few things need to be sorted out," Doctor Esponson explained as the other Doctors continued to work.

"You don't need to explain yourselves, we're very grateful for this opportunity," Kory said, reassuring the kind woman.

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "But I do have a few things that will be able to hold us over while we wait. Sorry to play favourites, but Mr Grayson did mention that both Terran and Cole currently do not have suits. And we can't have that? Can we?" Cole's gaze snapped up, his eyes practically sparkling with delight. He looked at Tim who shared the same giddy look, like they had just been handed the most delicious candy. Esponson grabbed a large case, similar to the one both Jason and Dick had kept their Robin suits in and handed it to Cole. "Please."

Cole placed it on a desk and Hazel leant against one of the other tables, watching her brother nearly break the case as he opened it. "Why does he get a suit?" Gar huffed, moving to stand beside Hazel.

Hazel grinned and looked over her shoulder, ensuring the others weren't listening before looking back at Gar. "You'll get one, saw Dick's messages," Hazel said, glancing up at Gar. His head spun to stare at her, and she laughed. "Just act surprised when Dick takes you for a surprise." They both laughed softly but turned their attention back to Cole as Esponson began to explain the suit perks.

"It uses the most durable fibre all throughout its design, you're basically bullet proof," Esponson said as Cole pulled the green material from the case. She then chuckled softly, "But don't test that theory, the fibres can wear down." Cole pulled the fabric out completely, flicking it out to reveal it was a dark green, almost black, leather jacket with complimentary purple highlights along the collar and sleeves.

"No way!" Terran shouted in excitement rushing to grab the jacket sleeve. She spun the fabric, her fingers tracing the purple stitching, "This is Veman. Symbols and runes of protection."

Esponson grinned, "Put it on." Cole looked back at the Doctor and smiled, as pulled it on, flattening out the collar. "Say Lid'oql'dr," Esponson said, a slight click to her pronunciation as she spoke. Cole took a breath and repeated the word. A green light rippled over his body, from his neck to his ankles, his body encasing the same dark green leather. The purple accents carried through, even matching the boots he had decided to wear this morning.

"Holy shit!" Tim cursed with a smile. "The Poison Suit."

Cole spun and held his arms out, showing off the suit to the group. "Looking good Martin," Rachel laughed. "I think green's your colour. Right Tim?" Tim nodded quickly and Cole smiled as he looked at the purple detailing.

Esponson smiled, "Click your tongue twice, it will return to a jacket." Cole clicked his tongue and the green light returned to reverse the process. Esponson grabbed the second case and handed it to Terran. "Same processes."

Terran pulled out a jacket the same dark colour, but it was cropped shorter at the torso and instead of purple highlights it had dark blue accents. Terran called for the suit to activate and the same bright green light encased Terran, covering her in a similar leather suit but it had white detailing on the torso. "Okay never mind, Terran looks better." Terran turned to Rachel and gave her a small wink. "Toxin Suit. Nice."

Esponson grabbed a dark green jacket, the edges lined with gold colouring, "Mr Grayson kindly lent us the design for your Venom suit. So, everything has been compacted into this." Esponson handed Hazel the dark leather jacket and Hazel thanked her.

She flicked out the jacket, checking over the new gold details, Gar pointing out that one looked like a small bird. Hazel huffed as she looked at it closer, her fingers tracing the pattern, "I'm never going to unsee that, thanks."

"You're welcome," Gar teased with a grin.

The electric doors slid open, revealing Dick, Conner and Bernard on the other side. "Mr Logan, would you like to follow me," Bernard called with a grin. "Mr Drake, you're welcome to follow."

"Act surprised," Hazel whispered. Gar laughed and hit her arm softly as he kicked himself off the table to follow Tim and Bernard.

"Right on time too," Esponson spoke up as another set of doors opened, a research team rolling in a large sparkling stone, Doctor Kruger walking in with them.

"Sorry to disturb show and tell, but could I possibly take the Lillis siblings?" Kruger requested.

"We don't actually share the same last name," Terran pointed out, still messing with the collar of her jacket. "We really should though."

"We could make one up," Cole suggested, also distracted by the suit. "Haze, you wanna make up a last name?"

Hazel laughed and pushed herself off the table, "Why don't we see what Doctor Kruger wants to show us then we can talk about a last name." Terran groaned, complaining about Hazel under her breath as the three started to follow the Doctor back to the elevator.

The doctor led the three through the halls of the ET division, explaining the different projects running, even pointing out the team monitoring Tamaran. Kruger led them to a sealed room, the door unlocking with the swipe of her keycard. The doors opened revealing the large room inside adorned with Veman symbols, paintings, and all sorts of items like weapons, clothing and samples from the planet.

The doors closed behind them and some of the researchers turned to stare, "We're quite the fanbase for your father," Kruger explained away as Terran noticed the staring.

Cole gave a small wave and Terran stepped behind him, shying under their eyes. "How do you have all this stuff?" Hazel asked, stepping toward a centre table holding a long crystal bow. Beside it on the table was a framed picture of Videl shaking hands with none other than Superman himself. Hazel stepped closer, tilting her head at the picture and brushing away the purple feathers hung in front of it, recognising the green earrings and septum jewellery. "I've seen this before. Albeit a much smaller version."

"There was an attack on the other side of the galaxy, Kal-El went out to assist but someone was already there," Kruger explained, taking a step forward to point at the photo. "Videl came back with Kal-El stuck around for a while, made our jobs much easier." Hazel hummed and turned away from the photo, looking at what she guessed to be fancy headdresses.

"Do you know when, like the year?" Cole asked, stepping closer, Terran shuffling to keep up with him.

Kruger hummed soft, scratching the back of her head. "September 1999," A young boy spoke up. He stepped towards them, and Hazel reached out to shake his hand. His smile grew as he shook her hand, "Terry Maxwell. I'm a bit of a super fan."

"Hold on, I," Terran coughed under her breath as Terry and Hazel turned to her, "I thought you had only seen photos of him at CADMUS Labs and Cole's."

Kruger hummed, almost laughing at the mention. "CADMUS is well known for taking others' research," Kruger explained. She looked to her left and a woman with light brown hair nodded. "Well let's run some tests, just check in all your powers, then you can go crazy through everything."

Terry raced back to his computer and Hazel squeezed Terran's shoulder. Terran looked up at Hazel and quickly shook her head. "Oh no, I'm not going first," Terran whispered, her voice fast.

"If you go first, it means you don't have to sit around and wait for your turn," Cole whispered, leaning down to Terran.

Hazel let go of Terran's shoulder and nodded her forward, "You'll be great. You're quite literally born for this. I'll even count you in."

Terran groaned under her breath and stepped up, letting the teams set up their sensors to read Terran's power. Terran looked up at the sensor, a large metal box made out of what looked like a fence. "So my father had this power?" Terran asked, getting a short yes as Terry placed sensor patches on the backs of her hand.

"That's why we would like to test it," Kruger explained as Terry busied himself. "Your father is a very, very powerful man so we want to make sure everything is in line with how old you all are, and what levels of power you're accessing."

They stepped back but Hazel stayed close to Terran as she continued to nervously bounce on the balls of her feet. Terran shook her hands out pulling the low buzzing to her hands in orbs of blue power in her palms. Hazel counted her down and Terran threw her hands out, her power slamming into the cage reader, the monitor capturing the power levels.

Terran waited until the final wisps of white and blue power faded before she dropped her hands, stubbing slightly but Hazel pressed her hand to her back, steadying to her footing. Hazel mumbled a good job under her breath and Terran chuckled softly. Cole clapped softly, stepping up next to Hazel, "How'd she do doc?"

Kruger laughed as she looked over the two readings, "You're a 78 percent in comparison," Kruger said with a chuckle. "Amazing for your age and experience."

Terran laughed and looked up at Hazel with a grin. "Nice job, you can go sit now," Hazel whispered.

Cole reached into his pocket, pulling out the wrapped pack of half empty chocolate pretzels. Terran took them with a grin and wandered over to the collection of photos in the tall case. Cole stepped up next, Terry pressing the sticky patches to his skin. Cole rubbed his hands together, focussing on the static electricity on his palms and others stepped back and Hazel counted him in. Cole held his hand out, the purple lightning racing from his hand and attaching to the metal cage. The cage shook slightly, rattling as the power hit against it. Cole raced to tear his hands back, shaking out the lightning in small sparks.

Hazel stared at Cole; her eyes wide open but a proud smile on her face. "Uh, brilliant Mr Martin," Kruger said, her voice slightly strained.

"I'm sorry, I absorbed a storm a couple days ago," Cole chuckled, shaking his shoulders nervously. "Sorry, again."

"Definitely explains the high reading, 97," Terry said, staring at the monitors.

"Your average body reading is in the 60's," Kruger pointed out, spinning the computer so Cole could look over the readings. She traced her finger along the blue power line, "This is you. And this is your father." She tapped the glass, pointing at the red line. "Again, average for your age and experience."

"How are you able to calculate all of this? Like determine the average?" Cole asked, taking off the patches so he could step closer, checking the power readings.

"Mr Videl gave us some data for us to work off of, trial runs to test his power in comparison to Kal-El," Kruger explained, handing Cole a tablet filled with medical research and data that he read over quickly.

"How'd he do in comparison?" Terran asked, still eating the chocolate pretzels.

"Well we're not a Superman fan club," Kruger teased and Terran smiled. They cleared the screen and Hazel stepped up, shaking her arms out. Terry stuck the patches to the back on her hands calling out to Kruger.

"Jesus, try not to set the fire alarm off," The brunette girl spoke up. Hazel looked up and the girl spun the screen to face Hazel. "Trish Maxwell. Uh, Hazel your core temperature is 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit." Terry spun on his heel, staring up at the screen.

Terran raced to stand beside Hazel, staring up at the screen, a large red light in the centre of Hazel's body reading. "How are you not sweating?" Terry whispered to himself, grabbing a tablet. Terran reached out, pressing her hand to Hazel's forehead, checking her skin but her forehead was cold. "Has this high temperature been a recent thing?"

"Past couple of weeks," Hazel said, shrugging.

"Miss Lillis, I need to place another set of sensors, is that okay?" Kruger asked, looking up from the computer.

"You just said Miss Lillis," Cole repeated, stepping forward.

"Is this serious?" Terran asked, looking up at Kruger.

"Um, that all depends," The doctor said with a shrug. "It could be nothing and I'm just overacting." Kruger stepped up to Hazel and she nodded letting the woman place a sensor on the back of her neck and the centre of her chest.

"You legally have to tell us what's happening," Terran said, raising her head, her nerves entirely replaced with worry. "As her next her of kin, we have a right-"

"She's not dead and that's not how that works," Cole interrupted quickly.

Cole and Terran continued to ramble on with each other and to whoever moved too quickly. Hazel watched Kruger whisper with Trish as she showed her a set of data that made Kruger bite her knuckle in frustration. Whatever was happening was not a good thing and by the way Trish and Terry had started to argue, it was not something they expected. Hazel pulled out her phone and turned to Cole, holding it out to him. "My card's connected; you know the password. Go to the gift shop, or cafeteria," Hazel instructed.

Cole stared at her for a moment. "I'm not hungry, Haze," Cole insisted.

"Then take Terran."

"Hey-"

"No heys, go do something for 10 minutes," Hazel ordered, pushing his shoulder softly. Cole huffed and snatched Hazel's phone, turning for the door. Terran paused to grab a printed picture of Videl before running after Cole. Hazel waited until the doors shut behind before she turned back to the doctor.

"He's right through," Hazel said, catching Kruger's attention, "You called me Miss Lillis."

Kruger tapped her fingers against the desk, working out the data with each tap. "We always had trouble with calculating this kind of energy," Kruger began, turning to face Hazel. "Yes, this energy is like the sun, you can't exactly calculate the sun with a data cage. Your father liked to remind us of that."

Hazel shrugged softly as she began to take off the sensor patches, "Videl must have told you everything about how this works. Why is all this so shocking?"

Kruger took a deep breath, "Because it's enough power to destroy half a universe." Hazel tossed the patches aside and stared at Kruger. "Obviously you are not meant to have this level of power."

"No shit. You know why?"

"Not at this time," Kruger said, her gaze dropping slightly. "But what I do know is at this stage, this power is pretty dormant. It may come off in small sparks or beams, usually in a red light." Hazel's eyes snapped up to Kruger and she sighed. "By that look I'm guessing that's already happening."

"Before we came here, this red light showed up in my hands," Hazel explained subconsciously clenching her fist at her side. "It was more of a nuisance than anything else."

"Okay, basically you're having your own solar flares," Trish spoke up, spinning to Hazel. "It'll take a crazy amount of power to fully trigger this to explode. But if it does, it has the power of a supernova." She finished by making a small explosion gesture with her hands.

Hazel scratched the back of her head and nodded, "So don't use too much power until you know what's causing this or I could potentially destroy the universe."

"Basically," Kruger said, nodding.

❁

Dick, Conner and Tim stood to the side as Bernard and Esponson presented Gar with a red glove, a bright gem in the centre. Gar looked up at Dick with a large smile as Esponson showed him how the glove worked. "Garfield Logan," Bernard started as Esponson started to help Gar put the glove on properly, "Your days of stripping naked in public are over."

Gar laughed as he clenched his fist, getting used to the feeling of the tight glove on his hand. "Just when I was starting to like it."

He looked up at Dick again and he huffed. "Hazel already told you were getting a suit, didn't she?" Dick scoffed, though he kept his smile while crossing his arms over his chest.

"She may have mentioned it," Gar said sheepishly. He turned to Bernard and Esponson, "Can I give it a try?"

Bernard nodded, "Sure." He and Esponson stepped back, making their way to the others.

Gar turned, looking at the others once more before taking a deep breath, his eyes changing to bright green. The gem on the back of the glove lit up a bright red and he slammed his hand to the gem, the suit taking over his body. But before he could fully transform it was like his mind drifted away, slipping somewhere else.

He expected to be standing in the Lab instead he was sprawled face first in red sand. Gar twitched as if he had lost all control of his muscles and was fighting to use them again, and when he finally could he pushed himself onto his hands, ignoring the red sand that had stuck to the skin of his face. He shook his head and stared up at the looming tree in front of him, its branches spread wide with bones dangling from string.

The entire world was red and sandy, hills and mountains all around but the tree was the only thing that stood out, he couldn't see anything else like it. The wind blew through, picking up the sand. He screwed his eyes shut, successfully averting his gaze before it could fill with sand.

A hand touched his face, soft, almost familiar, but he didn't open his eyes. But he also didn't pull away. "Do not look at me." It was a woman, but it was like her voice was distorted with the wind. "Just listen."

Gar obeyed the woman and suddenly all he could hear was the terrible, pained screeches of dying animals. Gar's eyes snapped open, searching for the woman but there was no one, just him and the tree. He took a breath and stood.

He stood; his eyes wide as he stared at the S.T.A.R Labs ceiling. It took a moment for Gar to realise he was standing back in the lab and when he did, he spun to look at Dick. The entire lab had been destroyed, smoke spilling from electrical fires, wires hanging from the ceiling and sparks flying from broken equipment.

He spotted Dick helping Bernard over a dented desk. "Hey," Gar called. The alarm continued to blare, and Gar's eyes darted over to Conner pulling out a shelf that had been skewered through a hall. "What happened?"

Dick noticed Gar stepping forward and he jumped back, raising his hands in defence. Gar flinched back, confusion and guilt rushing through him as he watched Tim take a step back as well. Conner looked back at Dick before shouting at Gar, "You turned into a Gorilla!"

Gar's eyebrows, "What?"

"And a velociraptor," Dick added.

"And one of those little guys, with the uh. . ." Tim trailed off, losing the words in his mouth, "the shell. What are they called?"

Gar stammered, "A turtle?"

"Uh, no, they're from Texas," Tim said, stumbling over his words.

"Uh, armarillo!" Conner shouted in confidence, finally removing the scissors caught in his jacket.

"Armadillo," Dick corrected.

Tim nodded quickly, "Yes, an armadillo."

"Apparently the gorilla had something against my morphology lab," Bernard complained, tossing aside a broken piece of equipment.

"I'm. . . really sorry about that," Gar apologised.

"You don't remember anything that happened?" Dick asked, taking a step forward.

"No, I- I started to transform, and then. . ." Gar trailed off, looking down as his eyes darted across the floor.

"Look has any-" Dick shot Bernard a very pointed look and he took a breath, calming his voice. "Has anything like this happened before?"

Gar shook his head softly, "No."

"All right. Well, your, um. . ." Bernard grabbed his, and only, working tablet, checking over Gar's scans, which Dick looked at as well. "Your alpha waves fluctuated slightly. Uh, but just to be sure, we will check the suit for any possible anomalies before you leave, all right?" Gar barely nodded, Bernard's words not the most comforting. Bernard turned, cursing under his breath.

Gar tried to look at the damage, but Dick was already in front of him, calling his name. "You feeling okay?"

Gar nodded again, "Yeah. There's just a. . ."

"Conner, it's time," Bernard spoke up and Gar stopped himself. Bernard walked past them and nodded at Dick before shouting at the security, "Let's get this cleaned up."

Dick looked at Gar once more and squeezed his shoulder.

- rapture -