School had just ended and I was heading back to the orphanage when I heard an explosion behind me. I whirled around nearly dropping my books. I flung them into my backpack, ignoring the people bumping into me as they ran away from the explosion. I fished for my camera and ran towards the scene.
My name is Dakoda Richards, but everyone calls me Kodi. I have long, curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. I'm pretty tall for a fourteen-year-old. I work for the school newspaper at Jump High, which is in Jump City. There's always major news here because this is where the Teen Titans are. My section of the paper is crime so I'm all about the Teen Titans.
Once I got my camera, I plowed through the crowd of frantic civilians to the sight of the explosion. I was disappointed that all I saw was a smoking bank. I sighed but started snapping pictures.
I was so focused on the pictures, that I didn't notice the Titans on the Horizon, or the footsteps approaching me from behind.
A strong, smooth hand clapped down on my shoulder. I shrieked and spun around. I almost dropped my camera as I looked into the eyes of one of the Teen Titan's arch enemies. Red X wears a black suit and a white mask, both with a red x on it. He is a slick and sly villain.
I took a step back as he looked down at me. I could hear his low chuckle as he took a step towards me.
"Hey there, cutie," he said in a voice that made my skin crawl. "Are you lost? I'd love to help you find your way." I turned to run as he reached for me, but he grabbed my arms and pinned them behind my back. "What a cute little decoration you'd make," he whispered sinisterly and I screamed.
"Red X!" a voice called. Both Red X's and my heads whipped around. Robin said, glaring behind his mask. Red X's grip tightened causing me to wince.
Robin is the leader of the Teen Titans his brave and never gives up. He doesn't have any powers, but doesn't need any with his weapons and martial arts skills.
"Come and get her," he challenged. Robin grabbed a weapon and poised to throw it, but Red X whirled around, putting me between him and the weapon.
Robin faltered and put away the weapon. "Teen Titans! Get the girl!" he called to the team. I noticed the rest of the team had surrounded us.
"Um, my name's Kodi," I mumbled looking down.
"Hi, Kodi," Beast Boy said cheerfully which made me blush.
Beast Boy is the jokester. He's my favorite member, not to mention my crush. He can transform into any animal, whether it's common, rare, extinct, or from another planet. He's goofy and can be dim at times. He's always trying to brighten the mood with a sense of humor that I can't help but laugh at.
"Beast Boy, not now!" Cyborg scolded. Cyborg is the muscle. He's part robot which gives him super strong and a sonic cannon. He knows everything about technology.
"Don't take a step towards her!" Red X growled. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him whip out a red high-tech gun. I felt him shove it against my back. He grabbed me shoulder and pulled m closer to him. "And don't you think about moving," he chuckled quietly.
I didn't move. I saw this gun before. It's a Fire Pistol: one pull of the trigger lets out a bullet with about one hundred cubic feet of extremely flammable gas inside of it. The gas is called Explogas and the bullet is called an Explogas-bullet. Explogas catches fire whenever it touches a solid object.
Explogas was a failed experiment by firemen. They tried to make a spray-on gas that makes anything completely inflammable, but made the opposite. Before they got the chance to get rid of it, a villain got hold of it and created the Fire Pistol and Explogas-bullet. He wasn't very bright, because he couldn't think of good names and he posted a blog about it which got him caught, but not before selling about fifty F-Pistols with twenty packs of Explogas-bullets each. And apparently, Red X got his hands on one.
The Titans tensed, wanting to save me but not wanting me turned to ashes. Red X, still holding my shoulder started backing up, dragging me with him.
I looked frantically at the Titans who stared at me somberly and glowered at Red X. I clenched my jaw and balled my hands into fists. "I refuse to let it end like this," I thought. I dug my heels into the gravel defiantly.
Red X stopped and snarled at me, "Honey, you don't want to do this." I heard him cock the gun. I bit my lip and stayed put. "Fine," he muttered.
I closed my eyes and heard Raven whispering. Raven, the brains, is my favorite of the two girls. She likes her peace and quiet, and is a little cranky. She has telekinesis, can levitate, and knows how to handle every situation. Raven's powers are strongest when she mutters three words: Azarath Metrione Zinthos, which is what she had whispered.
I heard Red X grunt in pain and felt him let go of me. I instantly opened my eyes and ran I didn't stop until I was behind the line of Titans. I saw Raven was using her powers to smack him around with the F-Pistol
Starfire turned and smiled at me. "Do not worry, Friend, you are now safe." Starfire is the sweetest of all of the Titans. She is from a different planet where her people have super strength, can fly, and can shoot "starbolts" out of their hands and eyes. She is new to our planet's customs which makes her seem ditsy.
Red X grabbed the F-Pistol, breaking Raven's concentration. He pointed it at me and pulled the trigger.
"Titans! Separate!" Robin ordered and was obeyed immediately. "Kodi, get down!" I hit the ground immediately. He crouched down next to me and flung his cape between us and the Explogas which was rapidly approaching us.
I heard an explosion that made my eardrums shudder and the cape vibrate violently.
"Did it blow up on the cape?" I asked as Robin flung it off.
"Yup. It's high-density polymerized titanium. Ten times stronger than steel." He explained.
"Sweet!" I exclaimed.
"Darn it! That was the last bullet!" Red X whined.
"Titans! Go!" Robin barked and the whole team leapt into action.
I took my camera and started clicking swiftly. I slowed to a stop when I noticed the Titans were losing. They were being thrown everywhere and it didn't even look like Red X was sweating.
I watched in shock as he flung Starfire, the last Titans standing, miles away.
I looked at me and started laughing evilly, pointing the F-Pistol at me again.
"I-I thought you s-said it w-was empty," I stuttered backing away.
"You know what we bad guys do, Kodi?" he asked, spitting my name. "We lie."
He pulled the trigger and I screamed.