Titans Forever #1 "Changes"
Written By Tobias Christopher
The Justice League Watchtower
Two Years Ago
Robin, Impulse, Superboy and Wonder Girl were standing in front of the Justice League. All of them looked nervous, especially when Batman looked at them. He made even the toughest members of the group want to break down and cry. After several minutes of silence, the Man of Steel spoke up.
"We know what happened was an accident," Superman said as he looked at the young heroes. He didn't want to be here, but things had progressed to the point where there was no other option. "But you were responsible for this and now because of your fighting and disregard for such a dangerous situation, a life has been shattered."
"We know," Robin said as he stepped forward. "What happened was our fault. We weren't working as a team, and it cost us."
"Ever since Young Justice formed, the four of you, and your other team members have been responsible for a... wide variety of calamitous situations," Wonder Woman said. "Including letting a known mass murderer into your ranks."
"Lobo never killed anyone on our watch," Superboy replied as he stepped forward. "And he took off a week ago*. We haven't heard from him since."
"Because of what's happened, Lex Luthor is once again attempting to push his meta human sanction law," Superman told them with a heavy sigh. "The media is having a field day. Something has to be done before this situation gets worse."
"What are you saying?" Impulse asked as he removed his headphones. "Seriously, I wasn't listening."
Batman sighed as he gave Impulse the death look. Impulse stepped back slightly. "We have no choice but to disband Young Justice. You will still be allowed to operate individually, under the watch of your guardians. Max Mercury, Mrs. Sandsmark, Cadmus and myself will be responsible for your actions until you turn 18."
"But-" Superboy started to say as the final decision was made unanimous.
"All of you are dismissed," Batman said as the four young heroes lowered their heads in shame and walked away. "You have 24 hours to clean out your headquarters before it's sealed off permanently."
And that was the end of Young Justice...
A small, uncharted island several hundred miles off the coast of California
Today
"This is indeed a glorious day," a woman said as she sat on a throne, her face hidden by darkness. "We are once again fully operational and ready to unleash our plans."
"My queen, there seems to be a problem," a man said as he looked at the screen. "Everything is up and running except for the core. Without that, our power won't last long."
"Then get the core running," the woman said angrily.
"It's not that simple," the technician said nervously. "The core is missing one final component that, unlike the rest of the device, can't be duplicated. It's a one of a kind piece. Mr. Savage built it with one very special component in mind."
"Then send our men to bring it here," the H.I.V.E. Mistress said as she continued to sit in the shadows. "I want nothing to stand in our way."
UCLA
18 year old Bart Allen looked at the empty dorm room and pushed a strand of his long brown hair out of his yellow eyes. He was wearing a red tank top, white shorts, and red sneakers as he entered the room for the first time. In the blink of an eye, the room was filled with furniture, rock posters, and various things from home. His six-foot frame sat back in a beanbag chair and popped open a grape soda to relax. He'd just performed a job that should have taken all day within thirty seconds.
"Wow, you work fast," a young man with short blonde hair said as he walked in, wearing a baseball jersey, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. He was carrying a box as he walked in and set it down.
Bart looked up at his roommate. "Hey, Cody. Didn't think you'd be here this soon."
"Are you kidding?" Cody asked as Bart handed him a soda. "My dad couldn't wait to push me out the door."
"Sounds like my Uncle Jay," Bart replied as the two toasted. "Well, here's to the start of our new life."
The two tapped cans and took a drink.
"Hello, my name is Mr. Tooley," the man said, dressed in a fancy suit as he stood in front of the large class. "And for those of you that think this class will be easy, you are seriously mistaken. I run a tight ship here, and I do not tolerate slackers."
Cameron Weinberg sat toward the top of the class, chewing on his pen. He had mussed blonde hair, with a yellow and blue shirt, blue jeans, and black tennis shoes. He was trying not to lose his concentration, but his ADD was quickly overriding what the instructor was saying.
"If you have any questions, ask my teaching assistant, Mr. Emerson," Mr. Tooley said as he pointed to a young man with short cut brown hair, wearing a brown jacket, blue t-shirt, black pants, and brown boots. "He will gladly answer any inquiries."
Cameron was already doodling on his paper. He was already phasing out everything Mr. Tooley was telling him. Luckily he could feel a meta's power in the room, allowing him to siphon their abilities for his own temporary use.
"Heh, super genius," Cam thought to himself. "Looks like I picked the right class to take."
Tim Drake was pacing around his room, trying to find an excuse to end the conversation.
"Yes, Dana, I've got enough money," Tim said with a sigh. "Yes, I go to the Laundromat every few days... yes, I have enough blankets."
Tim's roommate Ives was sitting at his desk, chuckling to himself. He was glad he was smart enough to avoid his parent's calls.
"I really have to go, Dana," Tim said as he looked at his watch. "I really have to study."
Tim hung up and looked over at Ives. "Keep laughing. I'll e-mail your parents with the pics of you at that kegger our first night here."
"Hey, that was a proud moment in my life," Ives replied. "I almost finished the keg myself."
"You were naked and passed out on the lawn a quarter of the way in," Tim told him as he headed for his closet. He pushed a secret door open, revealing his costume. Robin was going to be making the rounds on campus as soon as it got dark.
Cassie Sandsmark, wearing a black shirt, blue jean shorts, and white shoes, was walking down the campus street when she heard hooting and hollering coming from several drunken frat boys. She brushed her blonde hair out of her eyes and tried to ignore them as she walked past, but one reached out and grabbed her butt. She stopped and turned around, giving the boys a quizzical look.
Thirty seconds later, the boy who had grabbed her was in nothing but his boxers, hanging from a flagpole, and the other two were lying on the roof of the frat house with black eyes.
A young woman was screaming as she ran along the campus. She kept looking back, seeing the young men following her. It was late at night, and most of the students were already asleep in the dorms. The young woman tripped and hit the ground as the trio of young men approached, smiling.
"Told you that you wouldn't get away," the group's leader said as he bent over to grab her, when a bo staff struck the man's arm, causing him to scream in pain.
"That's no way to treat a lady," the masked man's voice said as the trio looked around as a series of super fast punches and kicks swiftly took them out, sending them crashing to the ground, unconscious. The young woman was too dazed to see anything but flashes of red and black, then black cape jumping into a tree and onto a rooftop, disappearing out of sight. The Campus Police arrived minutes later to help her.
Grant Emerson was grading papers late at night in the classroom at the science lab. He needed a cup of coffee, so he stood up and walked out into the hall to get some. He put his money in and patiently waited for his coffee to pour, but nothing happened. He shook the machine, but nothing came out. Grant sighed as his hand glowed with a bright blue energy. He punched the machine, causing a cup to drop and fill with coffee. He took his beverage and walked back into the classroom like nothing had happened.
Bart walked out of the bedroom, wearing a pair of maroon pajama pants as he headed for the kitchen for a drink. He opened the fridge and realized they were out of juice. He'd have to make a run to the corner store for some... but that would be far too easy for such a simple task.
Bart threw on his costume and zipped out the door. Next stop, Paris...
The H.I.V.E. foot soldiers, a dozen men in dark black and blue armor with matching helmets, silently crept onto the campus. Their mission was to steal the final component of the core that would power the H.I.V.E's operation. It was on the campus, and the foot soldiers were tracking it with a small handheld device.
"There it is," the first guard said as they saw the science lab. Meanwhile, on a rooftop across the way, Robin, the Boy Wonder was watching them, wondering if he could take out all twelve before they noticed him.
Impulse suddenly appeared right behind him, holding a carton of orange juice. He snuck up toward Robin to surprise him.
"Hi, Bart," Robin said as he continued looking down at the H.I.V.E. Troops without ever looking behind him.
"How'd you know it was me?" Impulse asked as he stood next to Robin.
"Stealth was never your strong suit," Robin replied as he looked at his friend. He never realized how much Bart had grown over the last two years. He no longer resembled the scrawny little speedster he knew in Young Justice. "So, how's college life treating you?"
"Not bad," Impulse replied with a sigh. "It's just... you know."
"Yeah," Robin replied, knowing his friend couldn't find the words. "You know Cassie's going to this college, too?"
"I heard," Impulse replied as he looked toward the H.I.V.E. Troops. "I've just... been nervous. I haven't talked to her or Connor since that day at the Watchtower. You didn't... talk to them, did you?"
"I've spoken to both on occasion," Robin replied as he stared forward. "Don't worry, I didn't tell them."
"Thanks," Impulse replied. "So, who are the guys in the armor?"
"No idea," Robin told him. "But there's 12 of them here, it's after midnight, and they're headed toward the science lab. None of these things are good signs."
"Want to kick some ass together for old time's sake?" Impulse asked as he smiled at Robin.
"You bet," Robin replied. He jumped off the roof as Impulse sped down the wall.
The two rushed toward the troops, who were too focused to see the two heroes coming toward them. One of the troops saw Robin swinging toward him in the reflective surface of the glass door. He turned and fired his gun, but Impulse zipped by and grabbed the bullet.
"Nobody said anything about metas!" the guard shouted as the troops went on alert and aimed their guns. Robin pulled out a batarang and flung it, knocking three of the guns out of the troop's hands. Impulse started landing a series of super fast punches on two of the guards.
The H.I.V.E. Mistress watched the battle from a security camera, to make sure the foot soldiers were doing their jobs.
"Robin and Impulse?" the woman asked. "If those two are there, there could be more heroes lurking about. Abort the mission."
"But my Queen, those are our best men," the technician said.
"We can't risk those two finding out about our plans," The Mistress replied. "Now ABORT!"
The technician sighed as he flipped a red switch.
Robin and Impulse had taken down the last guard, and were ready to interrogate them, when the foot soldiers started spontaneously combusting inside their armor.
"The hell?" Impulse asked as he zipped away and grabbed a fire extinguisher. He tried to stop the foot soldiers from igniting, but it was too late. Within seconds, the dozen men were dead. Robin checked them for I.D.'s.
"Nothing," Robin said. "Whoever sent these guys took every precaution. There's nothing to go on. The armor was laced with some of kind of chemical to kill these guys, probably set off by a detonator somewhere."
"But what were they after?" Impulse asked.
"I don't know," Robin replied as he looked up at Bart. "But I know whoever sent these guys won't give up so easily."
The H.I.V.E. Mistress looked at the technician. "I want to know everything there is to know on those two, and who might be working with them. I want to be ready the next time we strike."
A knock came at the door as Cassie answered, wearing a red robe and pink fuzzy slippers. She opened the door and found Bart and Tim standing there, wearing their signature colors through their clothes. Bart was wearing a white t-shirt and red sweatpants with brown boots and Tim in a green sweatshirt, black jeans, and black sneakers. Cassie squealed as she hugged them.
"It's been too long," Cassie said as she let them in. "How have you been?"
"Good," Tim replied with a smile. "We heard you were going here and had to see for ourselves."
"Bart, is that you?" Cassie asked as she looked at him. He was easily twice as muscular as he was when she last saw him, but with the same shaggy brown hair and oversized shoes.
"Yeah," Bart blushed. "You look great."
"Thanks," Cassie replied. "I've been training on Themiscyra for the last year and a half. I'm almost a full Amazon."
"Congratulations," Tim said as he looked around the nicely decorated apartment. "Bruce agreed to let me come all the way out to California. Says it's time for me to start operating on my own."
Bart was zipping around the apartment, taking in every little detail.
"What about you, Bart?" Cassie asked. "Any other major changes?"
Tim looked at Bart and nodded. Cassie, being one of his oldest friends, needed to know.
Cassie noticed the nod between Tim and Bart, and the sad look on Bart's face. She wouldn't force Bart's hand. He'd tell her when he was ready.
"Nothing major," Bart replied as he sat down. "So, has anyone talked to Connor?"
"He's still in high school," Tim told the two. "Being raised by Cadmus doesn't exactly give you the high school credits required to go to college."
"Maybe it's better if Connor's not here," Cassie told them. "I mean, after what happened..."
"Good point," Tim said with a sigh. "But it has been a few years. Maybe Connor's forgotten all about it."
"About what?" Bart asked, not knowing what the two were talking about.
"Nothing," Tim told him as he looked at Cassie. "It's all in the past."
Grant was walking back toward his dorm to get a few hours of sleep before he had to be at his first class, when he saw Cameron walking down the street with a potted plant in his hands.
"What are you doing?" Grant asked as he looked at the young man.
"Taking my plant out for some sunlight," Cam replied. "She needs her exercise, too."
"... Right," Grant replied as he backed away.
"You're a meta," Cam said as he felt Grant's powers. "I can kind of tell these things."
"Yeah, so?" Grant asked as Cam started walking with him.
"Well, it's just... I don't know many metas," Cam told him. "I'm kind of one myself."
"Somehow I don't think taking plants out for exercise is a power," Grant replied as Cam's hand started glowing with a blue energy. "So, what are your-"
"My powers are your powers," Cam told him. "I can siphon anyone's powers and use them as long as I'm near that person."
"That's nice," Grant said as he started walking away as Cam kept up with him.
"So, are you like a superhero or something?" Cam asked as he continued holding the plant. "Or are you just pretending to be normal like I am?"
Grant started to say something, and then decided not too.
Meanwhile, the H.I.V.E. Mistress had sent one plainclothes foot soldier to find the component, and was walking past Grant when the device went off.
"Found it."
Cassie, Tim, and Bart were sitting in a small diner on campus, catching up with each other's lives.
"I can't believe we've all changed so much," Cassie said as she looked at her friends. "You two have grown up so much since I last saw you."
"It wasn't by choice," Bart told her. "When Max disappeared... it hurt because he was like a father to me. Then Wally sent me off to live with Jay and Joan, and things seemed a little better. I even started dating Carol for a while. But we broke up a few months later because... it was my fault."
"I'm sorry, Bart," Cassie said as she held his hand. "Is there anyone special in your life now?"
Before Bart could answer, Tim looked up from the paper he was reading. "Look at this. A bunch of high tech thefts all along the coast."
"So?" Bart asked as he looked over at Tim.
"So," Tim said as he pulled out a magnifying glass and held it over the picture in the paper. "Recognize that?"
Bart and Cassie saw armor lying in the bushes in front of the building that had been robbed.
"The guys who blew up in front of us last night," Bart realized. "But what did they need from the science lab?"
"I don't know," Tim replied. "We need to do some research."
"Too bad Connor's not here," Bart said as he sighed. "It's just not the same without him."
Smallville, Kansas
Martha Kent walked into the farmhouse, holding the mail, sorting it into bills, junk mail, and Connor's brown bagged 'special magazines'. She never opened those, she just pretended that Connor needed them for a school project.
Connor Kent was sitting on the couch, holding an ice pack on his forehead, where an unruly cow had hit him when Connor made an attempt to milk her earlier. It took all his strength to not use his tactile telekinesis to make her udder explode.
"Here's a letter for you, Connor," Martha said as Connor opened it up and saw an invitation to a frat party.
"This isn't for me," Connor said. "It's addressed to a Cosmo Kent. It's an invite to a college party in California. Some kind of reunion."
"Well, I'll just-" Martha started to say as Connor jumped up.
"I'll deliver it," Connor said as he pulled his boots on. "I need to get some fresh air anyway, and all my chores are done for the day."
"Connor Kent, don't even think about going to that party," Martha warned him. "You're still in high school."
"I know, but it might be fun to see what's in store for me next year," Connor replied as he headed for the door. "Besides, it's not like I'm going to be drinking. I know better than that."
"Alright," Martha said as she kissed him on his forehead. "Just be careful, and don't stay out too late."
As Martha headed for the kitchen, she heard Connor shout as he took to the air.
"PARTY!"
A computer file was played for the Queen.
"These are all the metas that have been sighted on campus since the school year began," the technician told the H.I.V.E. Mistress. "Robin, Impulse, Wonder Girl, Damage, and Omni are the most recent ones spotted."
"Then we'll need a distraction to keep them busy while we get what we need," the woman said. "And I know exactly how to distract them..."
"Alright, I've put in a call with my... contact," Tim said as he walked with Bart and Cassie back toward Cassie's dorm room. He'd just gotten off the line with Oracle, who was to send him a list of everything that had been stolen from the high-tech labs along the coast. "Once we know what those guys are here for, we'll know how to protect it."
"Did you guys ever think about us... getting back together?" Bart asked as he kept a few steps ahead of them. "As a team?"
"Every day," Cassie replied with a soft sigh. "I missed us working together."
"It can't happen," Tim replied as he stayed behind them. "Not with our history. Not with what happened. You know this wouldn't work without Connor. Young Justice failed because we couldn't work as a team because there were too many secrets."
Bart turned back toward Tim. "Some of us keep secrets for a reason."
"Bart, are you alright?" Cassie asked, noticing the cold look in his eyes. No, this wasn't the same Bart she knew. Somewhere since the last time she saw him...Bart Allen had changed. She just didn't know if it was for the better.
Bart turned his head back around and kept walking, lowering his head as he looked at the ground. Cassie looked at Tim.
"Don't ask me, because I can't tell," Tim told her. "It's... something Bart has to do on his own."
The three friends kept silent as they continued the long walk back. They were only a few feet apart physically, but in reality they were worlds apart.
Another foot soldier, also dressed in plain clothes, planted the explosive device in the bushes outside of the dorm room, just as others were doing the same all along campus. Soon, at least twenty devices were planted, all set to go off in exactly one hour.
To Be Continued…