Teen Titans: Resurrection and Redemption
Note: Obviously I don't own Teen Titans and all that that encompasses; I do own Touch (You'll see). Also I will call the characters by their "real names." This leads to an interesting proposition with Robin. The creators left his un-ID'ed on purpose, and even though the character was supposed to be based on Dick Grayson, I disagree. Greatly disagree, however in spirit with the blatant Robin Starfire thing, and the fact that the old comics had the same thing I will honor that.
I wish to create each chapter (as that this is, in reality, our wishes on paper) as an episode. By remaining faithful to the "scripting" style that all comic authors and Screenwriters use, I hope to mold this world like you were watching it on TV. If you are reading these works, I must assume that you understand the basic emotional mindsets of each character on the 'toon.' I would also like to take this time to explain my intentions, and my purpose. It was brought to my attention that I shouldn't have made a character that can beat the Titan's easily. I say to this, bullocks. It is done all the time. Seru in Dragon Ball Z beats the fighters, until the last episode of the saga when Gohan goes nuts and achieves the next level. It's called cliff hanger. It doesn't have to happen at the very end of the episode. Any unresolved issue is a cliff hanger. Also, the new character is an even match for the Titans, but being caught (with your pants) unaware tends to make you a little slack. It broke the Batman's back; and Batman is unbeatable. This is a revision. If I am mistaken, then this chapter is the proving ground. Please offer constructive reviews, I will take (and relish) "Ohh, good fic, love it", but I want to gauge the success of this attempt. If I get good constructive reviews, I'll rewrite it to fix the problems. IF you didn't like it, let me know why. Flames are just that, flames.
This involves relationships, but not graphically. I don't write sex all well, nor do I wish to learn. I'm going more for the graphic side of R-Ratings. It's going be dark, going to an Ennis style Punisher, and try for the light hearted Cartoon Network style. Also involves a new character, called Touch. I got the idea after rereading some x-men and x-force comics.
Obviously: Thought (Or in mid-sentence, emphasis), "Quote (Dialogue)", Normal Text
Chapter 1: Out of the Shadows
It had been a year. None of them had slept well. Not since she sacrificed her life for them. The darkness only accentuated the pain. Something was going on at Titans Tower. Random images of people caught the corners of their eyes. Starfire had to have Robin and Cyborg stay in and right outside her room at night, until she fell asleep. She saw him, if only for a brief second, she was sure of it. Larger, red hair, muscular build, he was rushing out of her closet. Robin always got the feeling he was being watched. Cyborg just set his security level higher. And Beast Boy, of course, sulked. He had been morphing randomly, fighting in his sleep. But with what. Raven usually kept her mirror on alert, so her soul self would be able to manifest and alert her. Terra, I can never forgive you. I hope you stay that way. Forever. Forever more huh? That's a long time. Who's here? Just me Raven, your soul self. Sorry. In Nevermore there was a commotion. He had entered like he owned the place. He smelled like him. But he charmed them all. It is here that Raven begins to doubt herself. They were acting weird. They were hiding something from her. But she could not discern what.
Two months later.
He struck a match and lit a cognac dipped Al Capone. Inhaling deeply, savoring the sweet smoke as it slowly enters his lungs. The dark cave flickered with the buzzing lights overhear. The throned figure stared at him intently.
"You have the new data?"
"Yeah, this suit is amazing. Being invisible makes everything a tad bit easier."
The shadowed man smiled, sadistically. Good, he thought, they have no idea. He beckoned the smoker closer. After the figure flicked some ashes on the floor he sauntered forward. A suitcase slid across the floor towards the walking man.
"Touch, I believe the money in that case will be more than enough."
"Hmm, Mr. Wilson, it's not the money, it's the fight."
Glowering, spiteful eyes, "DO NOT CALL ME THAT!"
"Heh, I'm sorry, Deathstroke the Terminator, is THAT better"
"Don't presume use that tone with me, you are in my employ, and I will kill you for such outrages."
The lights buzzed out for a few seconds. Touch's left cheek muscle underneath his eye twitched violently. Affecting a mask of indifference, he produced a three point five inch optical disc. He walked to the monitor and slid the disc in the input device on the terminal.
He began his report.
"The Titans:
Starfire a.k.a Koriand'r; Powers: Solar based energy manipulation, emotional based strength..
Beast Boy a.k.a Garfield Logan; Powers: Anthropomorphist (Ability to change into any animal shape)
Cyborg a.k.a Victor Stone; Powers: Mechanically enhanced humanoid
Raven a.k.a Rachel Roth; Powers: Emotionally impacted magic manipulation
Terra a.k.a Tara Markov; Powers: Terraforming, possible Terramorphing, or also called Geomancy
Finally Robin a.k.a Dick Grayson, Powers: None, Abilities: possess incredible conditioning, and extreme technological knowledge
Terra was obviously a double agent, deceased, encased in stone as of a year ago. The others still reside in the repaired Titan Tower. Security defenses have been improved. Once lockdown commences, each lock requires two codes; and then tower is nigh impenetrable. All windows were replaced with heat resistant bulletproof glass. You've really made them extremely paranoid."
"Very good, BUT I already knew that. Stop wasting my valuable time with your mindless prattle. Does it appear they have improved their powers or abilities?"
Clinching his jaw, "Marginally, at best."
"I will need to test this 'marginal improvement.'"
"It will be my last," he smirked "I grow weary of this chump work."
"As you wish, I will not endeavor to retrieve your broken and bloody corpse once they have destroyed you." Slade retorted back, remembering his various defeats.
"Fine by me." Touch spat those last words out. He cocked his head; held one nostril closed and cleared his nose on the floor. Inhaling one last time, he stepped on the cigarillo. He sauntered out of the cave, heading towards his destination. Slade tensed. Arrogant bastard. Perhaps I shall kill him next. Slade was still injured, recouping. A fall into molten lava can do that to you.
The sky was a brilliant blue, breezes gently swaying the trees, the clouds shaping themselves lazily, all these factors made for a great day. Cyborg and Beast Boy were jamming away at volleyball. Robin and Starfire were training, with Raven off in her own little world back in the tower. The Titans were having a good time. It had been a while since any trouble had occurred, lulling them into a lax state.
It's been a year since Slade died. Why do I feel uneasy? Robin always reverted back to thoughts of Slade. He got slammed hard by a swift kick.
"Oomph" Robin breathed. "Ow, watch it Star."
"I am sorry Robin. I am not hurting you, am I?" Starfire rushed to his side.
"Slightly." Robin smirked. He always let his guard down when sparring. Especially with her. She has learned so much, it seems her memory is in good shape. So gorgeous. Always cheerful. I wish I could learn how to do that. Starfire helped him up and Robin dusted his suit off. Just then the Alarm went off. The team rushed to the main hall, where there was a great pounding on the door. Raven blacked in ahead of the group, tense from being disturbed. The remaining Titans appeared behind her in defensive stances.
"Person's got big balls or a death wish." Cyborg readied his sonic cannon.
"Yeah, I've wanted to crack some skulls lately." Beast Boy cracked his knuckles, morphing into a tiger.
"Titans, keep your guard up, whoever it is can be assumed to be strong." Robin barked, assuming his defensive martial artist stance.
Raven said nothing but generated defensive shields around her self. Starfire just waited, pensively. They all had elevated heart rates, each one ready to pounce. The door crashed to the ground with an ear shattering bang. Once the dust settled he was among them, faster than expected. Beast Boy pounced biting into the man's arm. He just flinched, flinging the tiger across the room. Then he smiled. Looking straight at Cyborg as he flexed, grunting in pain. Something happened that they were not ready for. The intruder began to transform. He contorted and convulsed, growing hair, and developing large muscles along with a canine appearance. Once they put their mouths back in their heads from the floor, they stared at him. A 7' wolf man stood before them, snarling, laughing.
"Hmm I didn't expect the shapeshifter to attack first. Let's play."
"Who are you?" Robin demanded, blocking a paw swipe.
"Yes, villain, I wish to know what to call you." Starfire innocently said, throwing her starbolts at him.
"Guys, lets invite him in for tea, and offer to do his laundry while we're at it." Cyborg countered, dodging a furious round house.
"Arrgh!" Beast Boy charged him, shifting to a mammoth. Raven with tendrils of ebony energy restrained the thing as best she could, allowing Beast Boy to slam into the wolf thing.
"Hmm, Good. Tactics." The canine popped his neck, flexing his muscles. He regained his footing, sprinting towards the mammoth, landing a solid uppercut to the stomach, Beast Boy crumpled under the blow, reverting back to his humanoid form, and away as the wolf kicked him hard. It wasn't his true target, as Raven barely had time to deploy a flimsy shield.
"RAVEN!" Cyborg screamed, launching himself at the assailant with a round house of his own.
"Oomph, Vic," the stranger blocked the blow easily, slightly reeling. "That would have broken my arm, if I hadn't absorbed some of Beast Boy's powers"
Cyborg dropped his guard, "Absorbed…? ...Vic…? How…?" Cyborg slumped catching a sharp knee to the gut, and clasped fists hammered into his back.
"Cyborg! YOU SHALL NOT HURT MY FRIENDS ANY LONGER!" Starfire charged, flinging Energy bolts at an unholy pace. She was angry; he dropped her friends like they were nothing. Using some quick flight moves she positioned herself behind the wolf stranger. She charged, preparing her eye beams, when he struck. He caught her fast, grabbing her arm and stomach. Starfire felt weakened, the stranger seeming stronger. He flung her clear across the room, slamming into the recovering Beast Boy. They both sank to the floor, out for the count.
"STAR! NO! I'll get you. No one hurts my friends" Robin charged him, shouting towards Raven to help out. "Try and block him, hold him if possible."
"Silly little bird, I will enjoy this," dodging a Bird-o-rang, he charged up an energy ball, focusing it at Raven. He loosed it, charging at Robin. Raven's eyes widened. His energy ball looked just like Starfire's bolt. What is going on? Raven melted into the ground. Back on the floor the two combatants were trading blow after blow. Robin allowed his emotions to reign, each kick and punch reflexive, uncontrolled. The stranger smirked, dodging some of the blows, welcoming others. Then Robin made a mistake, he stopped for a split moment. The rabid beast man dropped down and pounced, slamming into Robin's side, racked his head with an elbow, grabbing Robin's arm and cleanly pulled the shoulder out of socket with a sickening pop. Robin grit his teeth, and let the white light of unconsciousness fade in. Raven came out, angry, flying towards the assailant. He had enough time to morph back to human, and reach in his pocket. Pulling his lighter out, he held it upside down in his hand, motioning a stop, flicking the lighter open, and lighting it with his thumb. Raven screeched to a stop, and flung a light fixture at him. He dodged it, flicking his hand upright and generated a ball of flame, flinging it at Raven.
"My dear Poe bird, do you want me to leave, to return nevermore?" He chuckled, his pun enraging her.
"I want you to die." Raven collapsed the cabinets pulling them into a ball.
"Too bad, it's not in the cards." He charged her head on, surrounding himself in flames, morphing into an eagle. Slamming into her bubble, breaking it took all he had, but she was down.
Beast Boy awoke groggily, to the smell of smoke, cigar smoke. The stranger had tied them all up is some strong restraints. Inhaling deeply, he opened his eyes and stared at Beast Boy.
"Hey, no smoking allowed."
"Mr. Logan, I don't think you are in a position to stop me. Those restraints will stop even a morpher, sorry."
"Who are you? I think you owe us that!" Robin spat out, angrily.
"I owe you nothing. You are lucky that I haven't killed you, but I wish to be friends." He smirked "Since conversation is good for the soul, I'll spill my guts. Then we can have a slumber party, sharing makeup secrets."
Beast Boy snickered, Robin glared at him.
"My name is Touch a.k.a. Nathaniel Caleb. Powers: Mimicry, touch based; Telekinesis. All other abilities come from the mimicry. I'm 19 years old. Trained in marital arts, I gained my telekinesis by killing my sensei, my father. I absorb meta-human abilities on contact. I am a wizard at gathering information, and seek and destroy missions. I've been spying on you for the past year and a half. Getting to know each of you. Intimately. My employer, Deathstroke the Terminator, has paid me a lot of money for my services. Want anything else?"
"How do you know their names?"
"Easy Mr. Grayson," Robin dropped his jaw. "Contact between Gotham and here made it easy for yours, Cyborg never really hid it, just never said anything. Neither did Beast Boy. Ms Roth was a little more difficult, as that is just an alias as well, her real name is hidden in the Para demon realm. Koriand'r was the hardest, but a transmission back to home world and, viola, I knew. Your restraints will be easy to get out of if you wish, just apply a little thought; once the pain wears off, the answer is right beneath you. You might want to get out before Deathstroke gets my report. This will be the last time I come here as an enemy, the next time should be on invitation. Quoth this raven never more" Raven smoldered, still reeling from the invasion.
With that Touch got up, put out his Capone, morphed into a Raven, smirked, and flew out the door. A briefcase appeared on the door step.
Back at the cave Slade smirked. Touch did well. I wonder how much of an exercise he would provide for me?
"Your friend is coming soon, you might want to prepare."
"I have no friends, as you put it. I need no one."
"Might I suggest rehiring your three little graduates, and perhaps Dr. Light, for a Fearsome Five, so to speak? It might offer some protection from the oncoming fun. With you as leader, of course"
Touch lit a Capone, leaving the man to his thoughts. Slade closed the file, contemplating his next move. A smile crept across his face. It would be soon.
Going for a "what if I wrote Teen Titans", and was allowed to make it a little, ok sometimes lot, darker. Read and Review, if you wish