reborn in young justice1

The Cave was quiet, save for the rhythmic hum of the training room's equipment. I stood in the center of the room, my fists clenched, energy flickering around me.

"Focus," I muttered to myself, trying to channel the raw power within me into something useful.

The energy sparked and twisted, forming an unstable orb in my hands. I concentrated harder, willing it to hold its shape. For a moment, it seemed to stabilize, glowing steadily. But then it fizzled out, leaving my hands empty.

Frustration boiled over, and I slammed my fist into the ground. A small shockwave rippled out, shaking the floor slightly.

"You're letting your emotions control you," a voice said from the doorway.

I looked up to see Red Tornado standing there, his glowing eyes fixed on me.

"Easier said than done," I replied, standing up and brushing off my hands.

He stepped into the room, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Your abilities are unique, but they require discipline. Without it, you risk losing control at critical moments."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know. But every time I try to focus, it feels like the energy has a mind of its own. Like it doesn't want to be controlled."

Red Tornado regarded me silently for a moment. "Perhaps you are approaching it from the wrong perspective. Instead of trying to dominate the energy, consider working with it. Treat it as an extension of yourself, not an external force."

"Work with it?" I repeated, skeptical.

He nodded. "Your abilities are part of you. Learn to trust yourself, and the energy will respond in kind."

His words lingered in my mind as he left the room.

I spent the next few hours trying to put Red Tornado's advice into practice. Instead of forcing the energy into specific shapes, I let it flow naturally, observing how it responded to my thoughts and emotions.

To my surprise, it began to feel… easier. The energy was still wild and unpredictable, but I could sense a connection forming, like a thread linking it to my will.

By the time I took a break, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this wasn't as impossible as it seemed.

Later that evening, I found myself in the Cave's common area, scrolling through the holographic interface of the computer. I was trying to find any information about the League of Shadows that might give me a clue as to why they were interested in me.

Most of the files were restricted, locked behind layers of security. But one document caught my eye—a report on a recent League operation that had been intercepted by the Justice League.

The report mentioned a facility where the League had been conducting experiments on metahumans. The details were vague, but it mentioned something about "harnessing raw energy."

Raw energy… Could that have something to do with me?

Before I could dig deeper, the Cave's alert system activated again.

"Incoming communication from the bioship."

I tapped the console, and Miss Martian's face appeared on the screen. She looked worried.

"Kade, we need your help," she said quickly.

"What's going on?" I asked, my heart racing.

"We've been ambushed," she said. "The League of Shadows was waiting for us. We're pinned down, and we can't hold them off much longer."

"Where are you?"

She sent me their coordinates, and I recognized the location—it was only a short distance from the Cave.

"I'm on my way," I said without hesitation.

"Kade, wait," she said. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"No," I admitted. "But I'm not letting you face this alone."

I grabbed one of the Cave's hover bikes and sped off toward the coordinates. The wind whipped past me as I pushed the bike to its limits, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

By the time I reached the team's location, the scene was pure chaos. The team was cornered in a ruined building, fighting off a group of shadowy figures armed with blades and high-tech weapons.

I didn't think—I just acted.

I leapt off the bike, summoning an energy blast mid-air and hurling it at one of the attackers. The explosion sent them flying, drawing the attention of the others.

"Kade?" Kid Flash shouted, surprised.

"Thought you could use some backup," I said, landing beside him.

"About time," he said with a grin, before zipping off to take down another enemy.

The fight was intense, but for the first time, I felt like I was holding my own. The energy inside me responded more smoothly, forming shields to block attacks and blasts to counter the enemies.

But the League's operatives were relentless, their movements precise and coordinated. One of them—a tall figure with a curved blade—targeted me specifically, their strikes fast and brutal.

I barely managed to keep up, deflecting their attacks with hastily formed shields. But I could feel myself tiring, the energy flickering as my focus wavered.

"Come on, Kade," I muttered to myself. "You can do this."

Summoning every ounce of strength, I unleashed a powerful blast that sent the attacker sprawling. But before I could catch my breath, another operative lunged at me from behind.

A green arrow whizzed past, striking them in the shoulder and pinning them to the wall.

"Nice shot," I said, turning to see Artemis lowering her bow.

"Don't get cocky," she said, smirking. "We're not done yet."

With the team working together, we managed to drive the League's operatives back. They retreated into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as they'd appeared.

As we regrouped, Aqualad placed a hand on my shoulder. "You fought well, Kade. Thank you for coming to our aid."

I nodded, still catching my breath. "I couldn't just sit back and do nothing."

Robin gave me a grudging nod of approval. "Not bad, newbie. But don't think this means we're going easy on you in training."

I chuckled, the tension easing slightly.

Miss Martian smiled at me. "You really came through for us."

For the first time since I joined the team, I felt like I'd earned my place.

But in the back of my mind, I knew this was just the beginning. The League of Shadows wasn't done with us—or with me.