Titans 2.0

Story Arc 1: Titans GO!

Issue 6: Return To Gotham

4:07 PM

Triskelion II

August 22,2011 (Mon)

In a descending elevator

"Ok," Peter said as he went down a list on the clipboard in his hand. "So Durrann and I managed to squeeze in the oil slick, ejector seat, and password protection system into the dashboard panel and just about everything else you asked for is in the gear shift panel. Some stuff was a bit too complicated for us to build but it's pretty good for a first try."

"Hey, I'd be happy if it manages to pull out of the driveway," said Jade jokingly. The elevator stopped and the doors opened to reveal the "garage" of the Triskelion . It was full of S.H.I.E.L.D tanks, motorcycles, and other vehicles as well as an object under a white sheet surrounded by the rest of the team in their respective civilian identities.

"Well," said Jade as she and Peter approached the team. "Let's see it."

Durrann Brown zoomed to the front of the sheet and began his well-rehearsed speech.

"Ladies and Gentlemen , boy and girls, teenagers of all ages, I give you, modified by the brilliant mind of Durrann Brown and the much less brilliant mind of Peter Parker the one, the only, the mechanic mercenary, the rumble in the jungle," quickly, Durrann sped around the sheet just fast enough to create a gust strong enough to blow the sheet away. "THE T-CAR!" Underneath the sheet was a bright red sports car decorated with Flash's lightning blot on the sides and Robin's insignia on the hood.

"So, whaddya think," asked Peter.

"I think," said Jade as she walked over to the car and began to examine it. "I think that this car was black when I bought it."

"Yeah," said Durrann. "But red looks so much better on me."

Jade rolled her eyes in annoyance. "And out of curiosity, where'd you get the name T-Car?"

"Well," began Durrann. " Pete and I were going through some old blueprints for a "how to modify a sports car for dummies" book and we came across some blueprints for the car of the previous titans."

"Ppfft," exclaimed Peter in disbelief. "As if. You wanted to name it the "Flash-mobile" !"

"Would've been better said T-Car," Durrann argued back.

"Well, paintjob aside," said Jade. "Excellent work you two. I'll be leaving immediately. " Jade reached into the front pocket of her jeans and pulled out car keys. "I should be back before school starts," she said as she unlocked the door and hopped into the driver's seat.

"About that," interrupted Peter, sticking his head through the passenger side window. "I was thinking that maybe you should-"

"Should what," snapped Jade as she started the engine.

"Well," said Peter. "It's just that the last time you were in Gotham alone you got captured by Mysterio and that guy with the faces."

"Two Face," asked Jade.

"Yeah that guy," Peter replied. " So I was thinking that maybe you should take one of us with you."

Jade rolled the thought around in her mind as she weighed the pros and cons of taking a companion with her. Her thoughts flashed to her two most recent solo ventures: Her encounter with Two Face and Mysterio in the alley that resulted in her capture, and when she was knocked unconscious by Red X after crashing into the warehouse alone. "Yeah," Jade said as she stepped out of the car. "You've got a point there Mr. Parker."

"Great," smiled Peter. "Now the question is, who ya taking?"

7: 52 P.M

Highway I-90

Should I say something, thought Ororo Munroe as she and Jade sped down the highway. I mean, we've been riding for almost three hours and neither of us have said I word. I should totally say something. She fidgeted with her fingers in her lap for a moment before deciding to speak.

"Sooo," began Ororo, breaking the awkward silence. "We're going to Wayne Manor eh?"

"Yep," replied Jade.

"That's pretty awesome."

"I guess."

The two fell into silence for another few minutes until Ororo decided to restart the conversation.

"Well thanks for bringing me along," Ororo said with a weak smile.

"Sure," replied Jade.

"So, why me," Ororo asked.

Jade glanced over at her it was almost as if she didn't understand the question.

"I mean, why did you pick me to take with you anyways," clarified Ororo

Jade's eyes returned to the road. "You were the most logical choice," she said. "Peter annoys me and he has family over, Flash would have hit on me the entire ride, Static has a hard time restraining his powers; if something were to happen in the cave I wouldn't want him to trash it, and there's just something about this new "Captain America" that doesn't sit well with me."

"Oh," said Ororo as she looked down at her hands.

"I mean, that wasn't the only reason," said Jade quickly, hearing the disappointment in Ororo's voice. "You are a nice companion."

"Thank you," said Ororo. "Sorry, but I thought that maybe you needed someone to girl talk with."

"Girl talk ?" asked Robin.

"You know," said Ororo. "Hair, makeup, clothes, shoes, boys, or girls if that's what you're into. I mean not to say that you're interested in women but I mean if you -" Jade flung her hand up in front of Ororo's face to stop her rambling.

"I get it," she said. "Just haven't girl talked in a while."

"Oh," said Ororo. "But are you-do you-I mean it's none of my business but I-" Jade held her hand up again.

"It's ok," she said. "I'm not bisexual. I admit, there was a time when I was a bit curious but that was a while back. So you don't have to worry about me hitting on you or anything."

"Oh no," said Ororo with a smile. "I wasn't worried I was just interested is all."

"Interested?" asked Jade as she raised her eyebrow. "So are you?"

"No no no no," said Ororo blushing slightly. "That was a poor choice of words. I meant curious."

"Oh and besides," said Jade as she recalled her more recent observations of her team. "You're into Static aren't you?"

"Yeah kinda," replied Ororo blushing even more.

"But," started Jade, "You seem to be keeping him on thin ice lately." Unconsciously, the gears in her mind that her mentor had instilled in her, the gears that could breakdown any criminal with just the basic information in a file, began to turn.

"I don't even know why," Ororo sighed, turning her head toward the passenger window. "I'm not even mad at him anymore. And I really do like him."

"You're probably still grieving over Hank." Jade spoke quickly. So quickly in fact that she hadn't realized what she had said until the words had already been spoken. It only took her a matter of seconds to come to terms with what she had just said. But by then, Ororo was already looking over at her will disbelief, and a small tear in her eyes.

"How-," stuttered Ororo, "How did you -" Ororo couldn't finish her sentence for the memories that came flooding into her mind. Hank McCoy, otherwise known as Beast, was Ororo's boyfriend six months ago. Then Ultimatum happened. Despite the time that had passed, Ororo could still remember the wet, lifeless corpse that Warren Worthington brought back to her and the other X-men on that horrific day. It still gave her nightmares.

"I'm sorry," Jade glanced at Ororo with concern. " I've read all of your files. It just slipped out."

"It's fine," replied Ororo as she mustered a smile. "I guess I really needed to hear that. I guess I haven't really come to terms with it myself have I? "

"No," said Jade. "Not if you're letting your feelings for him get in the way of your feelings for Virgil." Looking over at her companion, Jade saw Ororo look down into her lap with an expression of melancholy. "You really like him huh," Jade asked.

"Yeah," Ororo replied.

Jade sighed. "Well, I think that Hank would want you to be happy Ororo. A pretty girl like yourself shouldn't have to spend her life alone."

Almost blushing, Ororo replied. "Thanks."

"And don 't worry," Jade continued. "I won't tell anyone."

"Really," Ororo asked with a gleam in her eye. "That is extremely cool of you."

"Well I am an extremely cool person," replied Jade in a cocky tone.

Feeling more relaxed around her travelling partner, Ororo took a look around the car again . It seemed far more inviting than when she initially entered. There was something else. This time, Ororo noticed the corner of a CD case sticking out beside Robin's seat.

"Is that what I think it is" asked Ororo as she grabbed the CD case. She didn't even get to bring the case close enough to read before Robin snatched it from her hand.

"No, no it isn't," Jade snapped quickly. "This CD contains-Wayne Manor's-important audio files."

Ororo smiled at the obvious lie. "Audio files huh?" She held the CD from the case up for Jade to see. " Let's have a listen then." Before Jade could reach for the disc, Ororo jammed it into the CD player.

J-pop came blasting through the car's speakers.

Embarrassed, Jade quickly pushed the stop button. Only moments ago, she was "extremely cool." Now, here she was with girly, poppy , Japanese music on her CD. She had been compromised. She didn't dare look at Ororo' s face.

"I know," Jade started. " The leader of the mini Justice League isn't supposed to-"

"I freaking love J-pop!" Ororo's face lit up with excitement. Jade's face relaxed with relief. "I was the only one at the whole school who did. Where did you get this vinyl?"

"W-Well," Jade began cautiously. "I sort of got Bruce to invest in some Japanese music companies. So, I usually get early access to new albums. I've actually got a ton in my room at home. "

Ororo screeched with joy. "This is great! OMG, we can listen to them all night and do each other's hair and nails." She leaned over and threw her arm around the driver's shoulder. "I tell you Robin," Ororo said. "This is the start of a beautiful friendship."

"Maybe it is," said Jade with a chuckle. "And you can just call me Jade."