Chapter 1

"All Is Never As It Seems."

By Leaftop

Dedicated in loving memory to: Emma Logue

(*1)"And we call for sunny skies," the news man reported over the television. "Even the stars should be the brightest they have ever been. Some say an angel is on it's way, and that's why the clouds have parted!"

"Can we turn off the television?" Nova sighed, pacing back and forth. "I would really like to get this over with as soon as possible."

His name is Robbie Baldwin. Among his friends here, he is better known as Speeball. Robbie heaved a heavy sigh, leaned forward and turned off the television, muttering under his breath, "I don't think I am going to like this."

Dwayne stepped forward. "Since the Warriors began, Taylor Foundation has been funding the New Warriors and the 'Crash Pad.' I feel it is my time to hang up the super hero business and get on with my life."

"What?" Nova suddenly spun around. "Oh, come on Thrash man. You can't be serious? What happened to this whole motto of 'living my life to service justice' bit you have been feeding us since day one?"

Dwayne looked down. "I have put my ghosts to rest. For the longest time, I wanted to make sure no one else would ever suffer like I did. That no one's parents, child, aunt, uncle - anyone - would ever be gunned down again." Dwayne looked around. "I did that, for as long as I could. But it's come to the time that I feel - my own father wants me to stop. He wants me to begin my life and stop living in the past. I feel that he wants me to make sure the Taylor business succeeds. That I have a family and kids, and carry on my family tree. Every day since Tai 'raised' me,(*2) I laid my life on the line for this world. Every day I took another chance that I wouldn't be coming back, and that I might very well join my parents. I'm not afraid to die. I never have been. But I feel that my own father wants me to stop this. He wants me to be sure that I have a family to carry on with. I feel he wants me to begin living for myself and not for the rest of the world. I know that sounds selfish..."

"It doesn't," Dagger said, leaning against a table. Tandy was a beautiful blonde who lost her innocence at a very young age as well, when she was exposed to a drug experiment that changed her life forever. "If I could go back, if I had a way to live my life all over again - or to even start anew, I would do it without question." She stood up and walked towards Dwayne Taylor, who had always been better known as Night Thrasher. She placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "You never need to explain. If you feel this isn't your place anymore, then it's always up to you to pull out." She gave Night Thrasher a gentle hug as a jealous Cloak looked on, sneering under his dark hood. She pulled back and traced his face, her fingers running down the scar that Midnight's Fire had given him. "If you're worried about the streets, Cloak and I will keep them safe. We've been fighting this war since we became Cloak and Dagger, we'll keep fighting this war till the end." With that, Dagger turned to the others. "I know this was supposed to be a meeting about memberships for the New Warriors, but I don't want to wait to speak out. You might already know my decision," she added. "My place is with Cloak. On the streets. That's where I'll be if you ever need me." With that she turned to Cloak and nodded, "Let's go."

For all intents and purposes, she seemed to step directly inside of him as he folded himself into the darkness... and they were both gone.

Speedball shook his head. "I knew I wasn't going to like this."

Chris Powell played with the amulet he wore around his neck. "Man, I hate to follow that and especially with the news I have."

"Let me guess," Speedball muttered into his hand.

Chris Powell was better known as Darkhawk and only recently revealed his true identity to the members of the New Warriors. He worked with them from time to time and even managed to feel extremely comfortable working with them. "Yeah," he nodded towards Speedball. "I have stuff at home I need to take care of. I am starting college and everything. It's just a really hectic time in my life right now. I..."

Now it was Mickey who stepped forward. In her sleek Turbo outfit, which she recently redesigned using mental commands - modelling it after her best friend's model version of the outfit. "I'm in the same boat," she commented.

"This is going wonderful," Speedball sighed. "Why don't we just disband now instead of hearing everyone's reason for no longer being in the New Warriors?"

"If you had let me finish, Robbie," Turbo smiled. "I was going to say that when I visited Mike's grave - I remembered how much he wanted to be Turbo. How badly he wanted to be the super hero to save the day. To save the ladies in distress. Mike died for that dream.(*3) It's not fair. Life isn't fair it seems," she added after a moment. "But it's for Mike. It's for the people like Mike who have their dreams that I am proud to say, count me in for the New Warriors."

Nova stood behind Mikey. "Well, glad to see someone has a sense of spirit." He looked over Mikey's new design. "I wonder if I should change my costume too?"

Timeslip smiled. "I wouldn't do it if I were you. I have a bad feeling that no one would like it."

"Are your powers coming back or something?" Nova asked, puzzled.

"No," Timeslip smiled. "Let's just say sometimes I get these 'feelings' about certain things."

Firestar and Justice were the next to approach. "As much as we have always felt the New Warriors was our family," Angel began. "Vance and I," she stared into his eyes and found her heart smiling. "We have decided to try and lead a normal life. Maybe get our own place together. Maybe one day," she said with swelling pride. "Even have a family of our own."

Vance nodded. "I know this comes as a shock," he added, half joking. "But I have been through a lot lately. Since the... incident with my father... me serving time... and everything else... I have thought about a lot of things.(*4) In jail, you really have a lot of time to reflect on your life. I'm not hanging up the old tights and cape forever," he added, seeing everyone's look of surprise. "I just want to try and make a crack at this thing they call a 'normal life.'"

"Why not?" Speedball muttered. "Seems to be the 'in' thing to do."

Namorita was next to stand at the table. "I have always felt my place was here with the New Warriors. With my cousin, Namor, back in Atlantis, I would be honored to be here again." Her brows came together. "And when we're ready, we're going to take down Undertow once and for all." (*5)

"Wonderful," Speedball sighed. "We get a red hot babe, who's blood is red hot."

Rage was next. He gave a look to Speedball and it said it all.

"Not you too," Speedball sighed. "Rage, out of everyone, I would have never thought you'd turn your back on me."

"I relate to what Dwayne said," Rage replied. "I feel like my Granny Staples is telling me to go to school. Get an education. Make something out of my life. I think she still wants me to be a hero, but she wants to make sure that I have an education too.(*6) After all, a real hero is someone who completes school, and really knows how to fight a villian both physically and mentally."

"Rage is getting psychological with me," Speedball said in disbelief.

"Where's Sil? And Powerpax?" Nova asked, looking around.

"Sil never answered the call," Speedball shrugged. "As for Alex... he's less than thrilled with what happened to Friday... I don't think he will be joining us anytime soon.(*7)"

"So we have: Speedball, Turbo, Timeslip, Namorita, and myself," Nova commented. "And Timeslip doesn't even have her powers back.(*8)"

"You have one more," Dwayne said.

"Who?" Speedball asked.

"Night Thrasher," Dwayne smiled.

"But I thought - !" Speedball began, when suddenly a figure appeared in the doorway.

"Am I late for the party or what?" the shadow asked before finally stepping into the light.

Beneath the mask they could see it was a black man, just as Dwayne was. One question formed on all their lips. "Who?"

"I met him down in the projects," Dwayne smiled. "He has the same fire for fighting crime as I did when I started. I figured he could train with you. I trust all of you to take good care of him and show him the ropes."

The man in the Night Thrasher removed his helm, revealing a young black man with long dread-locks. "May I present to you, Trey Rollins," Dwayne smiled. "The New Night Thrasher."

Trey put his helmet back on. "Drop the 'Night' bit and just call me Thrasher."

A figure who had remained quiet smiled. "This is exciting."

Speedball looked over. "You would find this exciting, Carlton." Speedball leaned his head back and looked out the window, watched as the thick clouds rolled in. "Well, I guess it's decided." He paused. "Hey, didn't the weather man call for clear skies?"

"Yeah, since when are they right?" Nova sighed.

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Somewhere else in the Crash Pad... a thick layer of smoke drifted through the hallway. In the shadows, it took human form. "It's over here," the figure said to itself. "I just need a few more pieces and everything should be ready to go..."

To Be Continued...

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