"It looked like a button compared to the size of the wave coming at it."
From here, I could hear the screams from the SS Atlantis as I got up from my chair. I took a peek out my fog-covered window.
"Good Lord..."
A giant wave was rising from the sea, towering over the poor ship. It looked like a button compared to the size of the wave coming at it.
"Team, we have to evacuate the people in the fastest way we can," Aqualad reminded. "Erica, try your best at controlling that wave."
The hatch under me opened, and I took a deep breath.
"Let's DO this!" KF shouted, jumping through his opening.
I flew through the hatch and steadied myself in front of the wave.
Dang it! I need a solid place to stand. I flew back to the ship and stood in the highest spot.
"Better." I raised my arms above me and took my left leg up.
"It's like a little dance", I had explained to Aqualad once.
A COMPLICATED little dance, I added to myself.
That was when it happened. I could feel my soul flying out of this world, letting the Avatar inside me take control.
I felt as if I was dead. The wave receded back towards the ocean, away from the ship, away from the people.
I fell to the wooden boards, the crashing of water rang in my ears. I felt my soul coming back to my body, giving me an earsplitting headache.
"Erica! Are you okay?" called Megan as she ran up to me.
I rubbed my head and got up on my feet. "Yeah, I just have a headache."
"What did I tell you?" Robin said as he joined us with the rest of the team. "You did GREAT!"
He hugged me tightly, making my headache feel more painful.
"Your eyes started glowing!" KF exclaimed as we pulled away.
"Really?" I asked. "This was my first time in the Avatar state."
"Well, being in the Avatar state is AWESOME! I wish I could do that!"
Artemis laughed halfheartedly. "Being super fast isn't enough for you, Kid?"
Back at Mount Justice, Batman was replaying the video of the evacuation over and over again. In the time I had sent the wave back, the team had at least 40 people on lifeboats, heading to land already.
Well, they're not the Young Justice for nothing.
"Good job, Team," Batman congratulated solemnly. "Hit the showers, and then head home."
I was on my way to the showers when Batman stopped me.
"Wait, Erica. I need to talk to you."
We waited until everybody was out of the room when he started talking.
"Erica, when you were in the Avatar state, you seemed even more powerful than you usually do."
"And?" I challenged.
He seemed to look for words. "You don't know how to get in the Avatar state." It wasn't a question.
I shook my head. "Nope."
He turned away from me and looked at the computer. "Starting tomorrow, you will be training with Aquaman upon the use of water. I want you to get in touch with your Avatar as much as you can."
"Really? That would be so cool!" I realized I was starting to jump.
"When you get enough training, you could handle most of the natural disasters."
"Yeah?" My hands were balled into fists, excited for what he was going to say next.
"And in time," he continued, "You could leave the team and become your own superhero."
My happiness faded. "Leave the team?" I repeated.
"But only after you turn 18," he added.
I'm 17 now, and my birthday won't be here until another three months. I breathed a sigh of relief that three months would be a long time.
"But you have to train well to become your own superhero." This time he was looking at me.
"Don't you think it's a little too soon for me to be my own superhero?" I asked. "I mean, Young Justice was the bestest thing that has ever happened to me, and I don't wanna leave that early."
Batman cringed at something he was thinking of. "Your thoughts might change. My first Robin left to be his own hero, and so did Speedy."
"Who's Speedy?" I demanded.
"Green Arrow's sidekick, but--"
"I thought Artemis was his sidekick!" I interrupted sternly.
He sighed. "That's what I mean. Speedy left Green Arrow to be his own hero, and that's when Artemis came along."
"Ohhh," I said, understanding.
"Think about it," he suggested. "Like I said, your thoughts might change. Now head to the showers. You smell like tuna."
I smiled at how he left his seriousness so quickly. "Alright."
As I went for the showers, I wasn't sure if I ever wanted to leave the team. I needed them more than anything.
But three months was a long time, right?
Or was it?
"I needed them more than anything."
