Starships

Chapter 19

I hate lying to my parents, but that is what I have been doing. I would tell them that I needed help in English class and Ms. Prince offered Richard to tutor me. Well, its more like a white lie, as Richard puts it. Yes, I go over to the Manor after school for English help. But once we are done we train.

"So How to Kill a Mockingbird  isn't a step by step guide?" I ask.

"Yes. The title is very misleading." Richard tells me.

I put a bookmark in the book and close it. I pack my backpack up and Richard does the same. Once we are packed we go to the Batcave. I have learned that there are many ways to get to the cave. 

Once we get down there, we are greeted with Jason's presence. He is also training. I change into some athletic clothing as Richard goes and talks to Jason. I come back wearing black leggings and a crop top. Richard and Jason are talking about the schedule of who is patrolling which days. 

"Star and I have Friday night." Richard tells not just Jason, but to me as well.

"Glorious!" I clap my hands together. I am excited to do the patrolling this weekend. Richard told me at Bruce and Alfred have been working on a new uniform for me to wear. I brought my old uniform to Alfred a few days prior. He sketched some ideas out and asked for my options. Alfred told me that it should be done by Friday. 

"You two are training again?" Jason asks.

"Yes." Richard says as he leaves to also change. 

"You don't seem to need much training. Since thats what you were learned all of you life." Jason sits at the large computer monitor. He is clicking through some files. Eventually he finds the news broadcast.

"Well, I just so. But its good to learn about who to work with others. On Tamaran we didn't do that much. We were taught how to fight on our own." I explain.

Before Jason can say anything, Richard comes back. He is wearing sweatpants with no shirt. He is showing off his abs. I don't know if he is trying to make Jason jealous or flatter me, but it's working on me.

"Are you ready?" Richard asks me. I nod and we head to the mat. We stretch out together. I learn while working with Richard that he has a background of martial arts. His parents along with Richard were The Flying Graysons. They were a famous circus act. His parents died while preforming one evening. That is how Richard lost his parents. I would not know what to do if I lost my parents, or even my sister. I am happy that Bruce came into Richard's life, but I can tell that every so often Richard's past haunts him. Especially when we are training. For instance yesterday, we were working on a move together. We both jumped off of the edge of a manmade cliff that Bruce has. While we were free falling, fear rushed through me when I saw that there was no bottom. Due to the fear I was not able to focus my sense of flight to work. Good thing that Richard had his grappling hooks so he can get hold of me and the edge of the cliff we were standing on prior. I felt the rope wrap around my waist and I was pulled up. When Richard got hold of me, he held me close. I had to remind him many times that I was okay and that my powers work based on my emotions. After a while of being embraced, he finally let me go, and he called it a day. 

We finished stretching out and I asked Richard what his plan is for today. He told me that we will work on one-on-one combat, and some team work. I nod and get up. Richard also gets up and we get into our positions. Richard has a series of weapons that he likes to use. When he asked if I would like any, I said no. 

We both get into our ready stances. Richard makes the first move and does a series of flips towards me. I hover up and release starbolts towards his moving body. I try to not actually hit him, but Richard told me that if I did, he would be okay. I do not know how human bodies would react to my starbolts, so I make sure I don't hit him, just in case it does some serious damage. Richard gets to me and flies up trying to kick me. His foot makes contact with my stomach which sends me flying a bit back. This made me angry. Once I got my control back I send myself flying to Richard and I take hold of his right foot and I send us both in the air. Richard is dangling upside down in the air. He is trying to think of ways to get out of this puzzle. I pretend that I am about to let go, which makes Richard's eyes grow wide.