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</div><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#808080">...Two Weeks Ago...</span><br/>
</span><br/><br/>The smell of burning rubber woke June from her sleep, finally pulling her from the deep slumber she had been forced into.  Her body felt weak and heavy, and she was oh so tired.  All she wanted to do was sleep, but there was a certain smell in the air that caused a red flag to pop up in her brain, even in her unconscious state.<i>Smoke</i>.<br/><br/>It burned her lungs as she breathed in, throwing her body into a violent coughing fit.  Pulling the neckline of her black shirt up over her nose and mouth to try and shield herself from the smoke, June slowly sat up to have a look around.  What was going on...?  From what she could last remember, she had gone for a drive to try and clear her head.  But after that... it was all blank.<br/><br/>Her eyes stung as she opened them, leaving them vulnerable to the smog and causing them to water a little.  She was in a car... surrounded by smoke and an odd, flickering orange light.  It looked a lot like fire, but there was something... off about it.  For a moment, June just watched as the strange flames licked at the car she was in, scorching everything it touched.  The alarm didn't seem to off in her head until it was too late, eyes widening in a delayed reaction as her body jerked upright in the drivers seat.<br/><br/>Her car was on<i>fire</i>.<br/><br/>A panic settled in her eyes as she sprung to action, frantically reaching down to undo her seat-belt.  But she did, she saw something that much more terrifying.  The seat-belt had already been burned into nothing but ashes, and orange flames covered her body, licking at her skin.  But she wasn't just on fire, as if that wasn't already enough.  June was<i>bathed</i>in the orange flames, from head to toe.  Screaming in fear, she reached over to try to open the drivers side door, desperately pushing at it with everything she had.  Her movements were frenzied and filled with panic, heart pumping with adrenaline and fear.  It wasn't budging.  A wild look came to her blue eyes as she desperately tried to pat out the flames, chest heaving with labored breaths brought on by her distressed state.  She was going to die.  She was going to burn alive in this metal coffin, out here in the middle of God knows where.  Her body would melt into the seat... perhaps even be unrecognizable by the time anyone found her.  No one would know what happened to her... And her family would be left with yet another tragic death to grieve.  June waited to feel the pain as the flames singed her skin, her heart pounding in fear as her small frame nearly trembled in the seat.  But the pain never came.  In fact... there was no pain<i>at all</i>.<br/><br/>Looking down, June stretched out her arms, watching as the fire slowly burned holes in her long-sleeve shirt.  They danced and flickered in the dark, casting eerie shadows as they spread across her skin.  It felt a little warmer wherever they touched, but there wasn't any pain like there should have been.  Her skin wasn't being burnt to a crisp, and there wasn't even any redness or discoloration.  The fire was just... there.  Destroying everything else around her, but leaving her unharmed.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff">"The fuck...?"</span>she whispered in astonishment, eyes wide as she stared at the fire.  It didn't just seem to be unharming her either... The closer she looked, the more it seemed like the fire was<i>coming</i>from her.  It was starting to freak her out, her mind not able to understand what was going on.  That is, until the memories from earlier suddenly came flooding back to her.<br/><br/>It had happened just a few hours ago.  The death of both her father and brother was just too much for her to handle, and she had broken down again, wishing for the power to prevent this pain from happening to anyone else.  More than that, she wished to punish those who enjoyed hurting others... To make them feel the pain they exacted on everyone else.  Her wish had apparently been granted... But not by a righteous being.  A demon had granted her this power, and there was no doubt in her mind he had ulterior motives for doing so.  Could this... this<i>power</i>then, really be a good thing?  Was it safe for her to use?<br/><br/>Suddenly, the car jerked and shuddered, giving way to the destructive flames that were swallowing it up.  June's head jerked up and swiveled over to look at the drivers side door, listening to the creaking of metal and watching as the door was ripped open and flung aside.  A dark figure stood outside the opening, bending down to peer inside from a safe-ish distance.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">"Well well... And here I thought I'd just be saving some civiliian from a burning car.  Doesn't look like you need saving though." </span>Strawberry-blonde hair fell down to cover what was now obviously a woman's face, however June swore she could practically hear her grinning as she spoke.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">"You're an interesting one for sure..."</span><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#808080">...Present Day...</span></span><br/><br/><br/>Fists were flying at her face faster than she could keep up with, forcing her to duck and dodge the blows aimed at her cheeks, shoulders, and sides.  Fortunately for June, she had been taught at an early age by her father how to fight and defend herself.  But despite his military background, it still wasn't enough to keep up with the flurry of punches.  Her opponent wasn't only quick, but she was precise as well, never missing a beat as she advanced on her.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff">"Uugh!" </span>Groaning as a fist hit her in the stomach, June doubled over and stumbled backwards.  Man... she really wasn't holding back.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">"Stand up straight.  Stay on your toes.  You let your guard down for one second, and you're dead."</span>the blonde woman said, no compassion or mercy in her voice as she continued to advance on June.<br/><br/>Tiger Lily was the name of the super-heroine that had found her the night she got her powers.  Unbeknownst to June, she had watched over her for a week as she got acclimated to her new-found abilities.  When she had gone a little overboard apprehending two muggers a few days ago -- giving one third degree burns and causing the other to go blind in one eye -- the full fledged superhero had taken it upon herself to be her mentor and guide her.  June got the feeling that was more out of concern for the safety of civilians, than out of concern for her.  But didn't matter.  Whatever her reason was, the small blonde was still benefitting from it.  Being able to train with a real superhero would surely help her master her powers after all.<br/><br/>June had to admit though, it was frustrating.  All she wanted to do was go out and make a difference. She wanted to put the bad guys in jail and save lives.  She wanted to<i>fight</i>.  But after she lost her cool, Tiger Lily had given her orders not to go out into the field alone.  So here she was, dodging and weaving the blows Tiger Lily decided to throw at her, like a puppet on a string.  The dark-haired superhero suddenly swung a leg out and kicked her hard in the chest, sending her stumbling back several feet before falling to the ground.  June groaned in pain as her back hit the cement, sprawled out on the rooftop they were training on as she gasped for breath.  The superhero was much more experienced and skilled than June was, and there had been no doubt from the beginning that she would beat her.  Still, it wounded June's pride each time she fell to the masked woman.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">"We've been at this for days.  I would have expected you would have shown <i>some</i> improvement by now."</span>Tiger Lily took a couple steps forward, standing over June's body as she looked down at her with a disappointed expression on her face.  Her black hair billowed out in the wind, adorned in a tight fitting black and purple suit and a purple half-mask.  Gritting her teeth, June clutched her side as she glared up at the woman.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff">"Maybe if I could get some experience out in the field, instead of playing around on this damn rooftop, I would."</span>She had powers.  Why couldn't she just use them?<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">"Not an option.  And you know why."</span>Turning her back to her apprentice, Tiger Lily made her way over to the edge of the roof.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff">"How am I supposed to get control of my powers, when I can't even use them?"</span>Sitting up, June's voice was breathless and ragged, with a hint of a wince at the end as she felt the pain in her side.  That was going to leave a bruise...<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">"You can.  <i>Far away</i> from other people."</span>Turning her head, the taller woman pointedly narrowed her eyes at June.  Blue eyes glared daggers right back at her, however in the end, June sighed and begrudgingly relented.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff">"Whatever.  I'll do what I want..."</span>she grumbled under her breath.  They both knew she wouldn't go against her orders though, as June knew full well what Tiger Lily would do to her if she did.  The woman held no compassion towards her, no mercy.  This was simply an act of duty; another way of keeping civilians safe.  June was a threat that she needed to keep close surveillance on, and should she need to eliminate her, she would.  They both knew that.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">"Same time tomorrow June.  Keep working on your technique.  And come up with a secret identity while you're at it.  If people knew what you could do and who you really were, it would put the people you love at risk.  Believe me."</span>Before she could even think to reply, Tiger Lily jumped off the building, her jet black hair billowing out in the wind as dark vines sprouted from her back to help propel her down safely.  Okay... as much as the woman annoyed her, June had to admit that was cool.<br/><br/>Sighing, June slowly stood up, wincing as a sharp pain shot down her back.  Yup.. she was going to be sore tomorrow.  Stretching out her arms and back, the small blonde woman ran a hand through her messy blonde hair and walked over to the door that led out onto the roof.  Opening it up, she started to decend the steps, making her way down three flights of them before she finally reached the bottom.  There, she opened the stairway doors and walked out into what looked to be a gym, with a boxing ring square in the center.  A few punching bags also hung on the far right wall, and lockers were on the wall to the left.  The building was a fitness center only a couple blocks from her apartment, and was mostly abandoned due to its relatively small size.  The second and third floors were empty, with only the gym being the one thing that was somewhat in tact.  It was ideal for their daily training sessions though, and June did appreciate having the smaller gym to herself most of the time.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff">"Work on my technique, she ways..."</span>Grumbling to herself, June pulled the long-sleeved grey shirt off her back, leaving her in just a black sports bra, a pair of dark jeans, and black converse sneakers.  It was freezing cold outside, but June was hot and already starting to sweat from her sparring match.  The cold never really bothered her anyhow.  At least, not after that night.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff">"I'm not a fucking puppet..."</span>Balling up her fists, June walked over to one of the punching bags, pulled her arm back, and slammed her fist hard into the material.  Doing the same with the other hand, she started to wail on the bag as she let out her anger and frustration, making sure not to get sloppy with her form.  One day, she'd prove to Tiger Lily that she was wrong, and that she could be a great superhero.  Until then, June would keep practicing until she could beat her, and show the world what she could do.  With her goal in mind, the small blonde channeled her remaining energy into trying to perfect her technique, her fists pummeling the leather bag over and over again, long after the sun had gone down and the night was in full swing.