Titans International Issue 1: A Broken Family
"To have a good friend is one of the highest delights of life; to be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings."
Prologue: It has been six months since the Marauder and Wonderboy have left the Teen Titans. Since then Superboy was killed during the Infinite Crisis fighting Superboy-Prime. He died valiantly saving all of existence from being destroyed by the Anti-Moniter. Shortly after his death, Kid Flash, and Robin left the Titan's for personal reasons which ultimately lead up to Wonder Girl quitting the team. With no heart or a sense of family the Teen Titans began to fall apart. Many young heroes have tried to form a new team of Titans and all have failed miserably. Now Robin is back as Red Robin to once again form a new team of Titans, and try once more to create a family out of strangers.
Crimson Canary walked into the kitchen just in time to see Cyborg with his sonic canon charged, and ready to blow Ravager to pieces. Ravager narrowly leaped away from the attack, but was caught by the explosion created by the sonic boom when it collided with the wall behind her.
(Ravager) Ow!
Incubus who was peacefully peeling oranges before Cyborg entered the kitchen took the pans hanging on the wall behind him and started launching them at Cyborg in an attempt to distract him.
(Incubus) Why is he attacking us? What's wrong with him?
Ravager answered as she continued to dodge Cyborgs assault.
(Ravager) Considering the last time he saw me, I was trying to kill Raven... I'd say nothing. We could use a little help over here J.D.
(Crimson Canary) I can't attack him. That's Cyborg! Were his friends.
(Ravager) Well right now I'd say he doesn't realize that, and it would be greatly appreciated if you would just fucking help us!
(Incubus) Uh oh, you have to put another dollar in the swear jar.
Incubus gracefully slid between Cyborgs legs and latched himself onto Cyborgs back.
(Incubus) Cyborg calm down! Were not the bad guys, were just eating lunch. We live here!
Cyborg completely ignored him and elbowed Incubus in the ribs, causing him to groan in pain as he released his grip. Cyborg charged up his sonic canon, but before he could aim at the fallen Titan, Ravager swooped in and swiped Cyborgs arm with both of her blades. She expected to at least dent the metal but Ravager hardly even chipped the top layer.
(Unknown Boy) Sweet, Ravagers swords cant cut through him. The promethium alloy and self repairing nanotech shell is working.
(Unknown Girl) Totally my idea.
(Ravager) Will one of you geeks get his remote and shut him off!
(Unknown Boy) Emergency shutdown?
(Unknown Girl) I thought you put it in?
(Unknown Boy) I thought you did?
Before the two realized it, they were stuck in a metal fishnet that they installed in Cyborg themselves.
Cyborg grabbed Incubus and Ravager by their heads, and slammed them into a wall.
(Cyborg) Who are you guys?
(Incubus) Were the Teen Titans.
(Cyborg) No your not!
(Incubus) Were the "new Teen Titans".
(Cyborg) I was a new Teen Titan.
Cyborg tightened his grip on Incubus' throat, forcing him to gasp for air.
(Crimson Canary) I'm sorry Cyborg, but this has gone on long enough!
Crimson Canary took a deep breathe, then made sure he was at an angle were he wouldn't harm his fellow Titans before releasing his mighty canary cry. A red tinge filled the kitchen as Cyborg was sent hurtling back into a wall, indirectly wreaking a painting of the founding five Titans. Cyborg shook himself off, then gave Crimson Canary a vicious glare.
(Cyborg) Let's see if your sonic scream, is more powerful then my sonic canon.
(Crimson Canary) Take your best shot.
(Red Robin) Vic, welcome back.
Cyborg's sonic canon reverted back his mechanical arm.
(Cyborg) Robin?
(Red Robin) It's Red Robin now. We all hoped you'd be awake soon.
(Cyborg) What's going on?
(Unknown Girl) We kicked some major butt repairing and improving you is what.
(Unknown Boy) And now we have to remodel the kitchen.
(Red Robin) These two are Marvin and Wendy. Their kind of the caretakers of the tower. They spent the last four months rebuilding you.
(Wendy) Our Dad sent us over to help after we graduated M.I.T... when we were sixteen.
(Marvin) I'm the oldest.
(Wendy) By like five minutes.
(Red Robin) This is Elliot Merrill.
Incubus brushed some dirt and rubble of himself before introducing himself to Cyborg.
(Incubus) Incubus. I don't have a mentor. I was doing the solo thing until Tim invited me to join the Titans.
(Cyborg) Can't say I've heard of you.
(Incubus) Most people haven't. Not yet at least.
(Red Robin) The one who knocked you back with the sonic cry is Jaron Lark.
(Crimson Canary) I go by Crimson Canary on the field.
(Cyborg) Since when has Black Canary taken on a progeny?
(Crimson Canary) Oh it's been a while. She's secretly ashamed of me.
Everyone stared at Crimson Canary with blank faces for a short moment.
(Crimson Canary) Guys, seriously? I was joking.
Cyborg glanced at Ravager with a slight look of disgust showing in his expression.
(Cyborg) Would you mind telling me what in the hell Slade's daughters doing here?
(Ravager) Oh don't worry Cyborg. I'm not like Terra... I'm a good girl now.
(Red Robin) I suppose you'd like me to bring you up to speed.
Cyborg nodded then Red Robin motioned Cyborg to follow him to the front of the Tower.
(Red Robin) When you came back from space, you were pretty messed up.
(Cyborg) Where's Kory?
(Red Robin) Not all of you came back.
(Cyborg) Is she...
(Red Robin) She's still out there... we hope.
(Cyborg) Where are the other Titan's?
(Red Robin) According to Green Arrow, Mia's off on some island with Conner Hawke. Bart is... he's kind of retired. Raven quit after she and Gar broke up.
(Cyborg) Where is Gar?
(Red Robin) He's rejoined the Doom Patrol.
(Cyborg) The Doom Patrol?
(Red Robin) And Conner...
Red Robin directed his attention to the statue made in the honor of Superboy's memory.
(Red Robin) He saved the universe. Superboy saved everybody.
Cyborg fell to his knee's and cracked the pavement slamming his fist into the ground as a tear fell from his human eye.
(Cyborg) No... not Superboy. Where's Cassie?
(Red Robin) She's been trying to stop the Brotherhood of Evil here in the city. I've asked her to come back a few times but she keeps turning the offer down. That might be different with you there. She missed you very much... we all did.
Cyborg stared at the statue of Superboy for a short moment.
(Cyborg) When do we leave?
~San Francisco, Star Labs~
The Titans arrived in front of Star Labs were they witnessed Cassie decking a bull.
(Cassie) A bull? Is that really the best you can do?
After punching the bull Cassie wrapped it up in her luminous scarlett lasso, and sent red volts of lightning into her opponent. After she was done with her assault, the bull reverted back to the form of a skinny woman with dark hair.
(Cassie) You move, and you'll be getting another five hundred volts.
(Cyborg) I'd ask if you want help, but it doesn't look like you need it.
Cassie spun around in shock, not at all expecting to hear Cyborgs voice.
(Cassie) Oh my god! Cyborg?
Cassie quickly flew into his arms for a giant hug.
(Cassie) You're okay!
(Cyborg) One of the advantages of being part machine... I'm sorry about Conner.
(Cassie) I'm sorry too.
(Red Robin) Cassie Vic's back. You should come back too.
(Cassie) No.
(Red Robin) But Cass...
Ravager slipped behind Red Robin and wrapped an arm around his chest as she fiddled with his emblem with her middle finger.
(Ravager) Come on Tim, we've asked Wonder Girl to join three times now and she keeps saying no. Please don't start begging. Wonder Girl's not worth begging for.
Ravager unsheathed one of her blades and pointed it in Cassie's face.
(Cassie) Don't call me, Wonder Girl! And get your filthy blade out of my face.
Ravager unsheathed her second blade and pointed it in Cassie's face.
(Ravager) What? You mean these? Or what, Wonder Girl?
(Cassie) I said don't call me...
Cassie backhand Ravager with a small fraction of her strength, knocking her back and breaking her nose.
(Cassie) WONDER GIRL!
Worried, Incubus rushed to Ravagers side and helped her get to her feet.
(Incubus) What the hell is your problem? She wasn't going to touch you!
(Ravager) I was thinking about it.
(Cassie) Stay away from me Popeye. Your lucky your only have a broken nose, and not a broken skull.
Cassie returned her attention back to Red Robin.
(Red Robin) The Brotherhood of Evil has been attacking some of the most advanced labs in the country. We've both been trying to hunt them down. Let's do it together. We need you Cassie... I need you.
Cassie's face suddenly grew with rage.
(Cassie) What did you do after Superboy died?
Red Robin turned away from Cassie, a little ashamed to look her in the eye.
(Red Robin) I trained... I got better.
(Cassie) Wrong! You ran away! You went on a trip around the world with Batman!
Cassie grabbed Red Robin by his shoulder and forced him to face her.
(Cassie) You left me all alone, and now I'm supposed to come back to the Titans because you "need" me? I've spent the last four months learning how to not need anyone.
(Crimson Canary) Wonder... um I mean Cassie. That freak you tied up. She's kind of gone.
Cassie retrieved her empty lasso from Crimson Canary.
(Cassie) So am I.
Without another word the Titans watched Cassie flew off into the sky.
~Titans Tower, Sub Basement~
(Cyborg) These are not the Teen Titans Tim.
(Red Robin) They're the best I could get right now.
(Cyborg) Deathstroke's daughter, and the little black devil are the best you could do? I'll admit that Crimson Canary is a good asset for the team, but it's not close to enough.
(Red Robin) Elliot's not really a devil.
(Cyborg) Then what about Ravager? She's a killer! She should be locked up for her crimes.
Cyborg opened up the video phone from Red Robins computer.
(Red Robin) Who are you calling?
(Cyborg) The Doom Patrol. I'm getting Gar, and the three of us are going to bring the real Titans back together.
When Cyborg was connected with the Doom Patrol headquarters, he was sent straight to a video voice mail of Bumblebee.
(Cyborg) Bumblebee?
(Bumblebee Recording) Hello... You've reached the Dayton Manor in Prague, headquarters of the Doom Patrol. Were unavailable right now, but if you leave a message we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
(Cyborg) Karen's a member of the Doom Patrol?
(Red Robin) These last few months have changed everyone. Gar, Bart, Cassie.
(Cyborg) You?
(Red Robin) I have my share of problems, but it's nothing I can't handle.
(Cyborg) Are you sure your alright?
Red Robin stood silent for a moment before answering.
(Red Robin) Yeah... I'm fine.
~Red Robin Cave~
(Computer) Welcome back Red Robin.
(Red Robin) Computer, report.
(Computer) Attempt ninety six complete. Protein link failure at forty one hours zero minutes and two seconds. Attempt ninety six unsuccessful.
(Red Robin) Suggestion?
(Computer) Stabilizer needed. Specifics unknown.
(Red Robin) Computer, initiate next attempt.
Red Robin stood in front of the cloning tube he set up in his cave, and thought about how much he missed his best friend, and how much the Titans needed him.
(Computer) Superboy cloning attempt ninety seven initiated...