Author's Notes of Doom! :D
Hi everyone, I've written a few Teen Titans fanfictions before but they've all been crossovers. This is my first truly standalone fic and I hope it goes well :D. I will accept ideas for character creations but I don't want to spoil the plot by revealing the specifications and details just yet, wait til chapter three please :). If all goes well and I don't drive myself into insanity with this damned chemistry courseload I've foolishly put on myself I hope to continue this fanfiction into the future. I hate to ask, but please review :3. I want to know how good I'm doing as a writer and if people like the story or not. AND NOW, I BEGIN THIS TRAINWRECK OF GRAMMATICAL ERRORS I CALL A FANFICTION, BUAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Throughout the day, newspapers had been distributed throughout the small, isolated town of Taromak with a rather ominous headline, "Portal Storms rage in the South."A short, medium built man with thick, long, black hair sat in a café on Main Street near the front window, reading one of these papers that had been left by a previous patron.
"Starting on two days ago on Tuesday, a strange phenomenon began in the Southlands. Strange, glowing 'holes' have begun forming from between 1000-2000 meters in elevation off the ground. These holes have been confirmed by multiple credible eyewitnesses. Theories abound to what these they may be, but it has been there is believed to be a link to them and yet another strange phenomena; the sudden mass sightings of strange creatures in the same area. Though many of these creatures have reportedly been harmless, a few of them seem to be extraordinarily aggressive. Therefore, all travellers in affected regions are advised to use exceeding caution when out in the open. In response to the potential threat, local police forces have begun coordinating with army groups…"
"What rubbish," Dick scoffed. "Kory, are you sure you didn't accidently hand out tabloids today?"
"What are you talkin' bout, mister?" A sweet, feminine voice asked from behind the counter.
"These bloody portal storms! What is all this?" He asked incredulously.
Kory finished up cleaning the counter walked over towards her favorite patron and crush. Markus gazed up at her, his affection obviously mutual. And who could blame him? Kory was a beauty; a young, petite woman with long orange hair she was currently keeping neatly tied in a ponytail and a delightful personality. "You mean you haven't heard?"
"Nay, I've been sleepin' in today."
"Hmph, I figured you'd be the last person up in town and my last customer of the day like usual." Kory teased.
"Hey now, if I wasn't a lazy bum we'd never get any alone time together!"
Kory chuckled, "The way business has been lately, probably not."
Dick resisted the lead to change conversational topics and kept his mind focused on the paper, "Anyway, what were you sayin' bout this portal rubbish?"
"Well, late last night a runner came into town to warn us that we was in danger." Kory explained, her voice losing its normal cheerful tone. "He said this town was right in right in the center of four of those 'portals' or whatever they be calling them."
Dick's incredulous gaze did not waver, "Ya sure this bloke wasn't just some drunk?"
Kory shook her head. "No he was official, had his army identification n' everything. I don't thinks it's a hoax; be a fair bit of trouble to pull off."
Dick nodded, "True, true. Well damn, are they thinkin' those beasties may be a threat to the town?"
"Tis possible, sweetie." Her smile reformed on her face. "Which is why you need to get up n see me earlier tomorrow. Don't want any of them gobblin ya up in your sleep."
Dick chuckled, "Eh, may be a good alternative to the workload I've put on this week. I'm probably going to need a lot of your coffee to get it done."
"Light or extra strong?" Kory asked, her smile widening.
"Extra strong with excess sugar." Dick said, his own smile mischievous.
Their conversation was cut short by the distinct sound of a rifle report. It sounded like it had been shot at the edge of town.
"Well, looks like the beasties are here!" Dick announced.
Cyborg was sleeping on the half-circle couch in the Titan's main living room after a long night of video games, his form illuminated only by the moon and stars shining through the wall sized window in front of him. He awoke with a startle when a cold, electronic and feminine voice announced loudly, "Incoming Tramission."
"Ugh…. Why can't they ever take a night off…" He groaned as he walked over to the living room's computer terminal and punched in a few commands. He rubbed both of his eyes with his two fists, his robotic one out of habit. He removed them in time to see a face from long in the past on the main screen.
"Hey Cyborg!"
"What?" He gasped before punching a large blue button on the terminal. With a voice filled with excitement he said: "Titans, get your butts up and into the living room now!"
A moment later, his comrades shuffled in all looking half asleep as well. This somber state wore off immediately when they noticed who was on the monitor. It was Terra. She had called them.
"No way…" Robin said.
"How joyful! I knew you would return to us" Starfire beamed.
"Terra!" Beast Boy cried out, his face as bright as a boy's on Christmas. He dashed towards the computer, wishing he could reach his arms through it to give his former girlfriend the hug of her life. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew Slade's forgetful serum or whatever he used on you would wear off!"
"I know, I'm sorry I've been gone for so long Beast Boy." She said, her voice a mix between sadness and joy. She cocked an eyebrow, "Forgetful serum?"
"Huh? You mean it wasn't Slade who…"
"No, it wasn't me, Beast Boy." A cold voice announced.
Robin gasped, "No…"
"Surpris, surprise," Raven groaned sarcastically.
Robin growled, "What is this, Slade?"
"Patience, my apprentice," The monotone voice of their most hated enemy said before he himself entered the screen. Like usual, half his face was encased in blackness.
Terra nearly burst into tears as he did so, "I'm so sorry… he didn't give me any choice.. I don't-"
"You've done your job admirably, Terra." Slade said before two of his androids gagged the former Titan and dragged her off screen. "You see Titans, I've grown weary of this constant game, and since rebuilding my empire after my most unfortunate demise has been a bit…" He paused, looking for the right words, "problematic… I'm about ready for retirement. However, like any man I have a desire to leave a lasting legacy, and though I'm sure this city will always remember me, I believe my mark on five of its residents' memories could be a bit more... engraved."
"Quit beating around the bush, Slade!" Robin barked.
Slade smiled behind the mask, "You never change, Robin." He taunted. "I didn't just bring Terra here to get your attention; I brought her here because I intend to end her life while you watch."
"Y-You bastard! You wouldn't.. you can't!" Beast Boy cried.
"This is low, even for you Slade." Cyborg said, his eyebrow lowering.
"Really, Cyborg?" Slade taunted again. "Isn't capital punishment acceptable judgment for murder? And here I thought you believed in justice. However, I will give you a chance to stop me… I'm transmitting the coordinates of my position now. I'll see you soon, kids."
A map was brought up on the screen showing the location of Slade's hideout. It was in a wooded area outside the city. After a few seconds, the screen went black.
"Alright Titans, we need to be cautious on this one. We have to take it slow." Robin announced.
"Are you nuts! Terra's life is on the line here!" Beast Boy argued, his voice frantic. "We need to get over there now!"
"Easy Beast Boy, we all care about Terra here but I doubt Slade would just kill her to harm us or out of vengeance," Robin said, struggling to keep a calm voice for the sake of his team. "He always has an ulterior motive to whatever he does. This has to be a trap."
"What if for once he's not bluffing, though?" Raven piped in. "Did you hear his voice? It was filled with hatred. He obviously has a grudge against both us and Terra."
"That's true, but I don't think Slade is the type to ever let his emotions get to him to that extent. In the past he's killed but only to further his goals. He is and always has been a cold, calculating bastard."
"We're wasting time discussing this!" Beast Boy interjected. "If you think it's a trap Robin, hurry up and get a plan ready so we can get a move on."
Cyborg set a comforting hand on Beast Boy's shoulder, "Don't worry man, we'll rescue her and bring that asshole to long-overdue justice."
The Titans quickly left the tower and sped East towards the great forest, Robin formulating and then explaining a plan on the way. After only about twenty minutes they had covered thirty miles and were near their destination. At the coordinates was nothing but a small hatch on the ground covered by several fallen autumn leaves.
"This has to be it." Robin announced, examining the hatch. "Alright, you guys know the plan. Starfire and Beast Boy; you're with me. Raven and Cyborg; you stay topside and wait for my -"
"We know the plan, Robin." Beast Boy interrupted, his voice still showing signs of anxiety. "Let's get down there."
Robin nodded before opening the hatch. A vertical tunnel with a ladder on the side seemed to stretch down forever into a dark oblivion. "Beast Boy, you're sure you're up to this, right?"
Beast Boy nodded quickly, "Don't worry Robin, I'm not going to let my feelings get to me. I'm sorry for being so jumpy."
Robin smiled, "You don't need to apologize, and you're right we should get going. I don't think Slade will throw us any obstacles, but keep on your toes anyway."
And so they descended… and descended… and descended for what seemed like an eternity, Starfire's starbolt the only thing keeping the darkness at bay. They finally came to the end of the vertical tunnel and arrived at a long, dark hallway. Two standing sentry turrets on both sides were there to meet them. They quickly sounded a noisy alert and their barrels turned towards the trio. Before they could get a chance to fire, however, two star bolts slammed into them, melting them down to a pool of gray liquid.
"I take it back; Slade always did love to toy with us." Robin said spitefully. As if to respond to him, a television screen hanging on the wall blared to life. Slade's mask could be seen on it.
"Actually Robin, that's just my alarm system." Slade said matter-of-factly. "I'm afraid I didn't bother to equip this lair with the more non-lethal variety."
"Cute, Slade." Beast Boy replied. "How about you show yourself instead of letting your machines do the fighting like-"
"Don't worry Beast Boy, I never keep my guests waiting for too long." Slade interjected, his voice as arrogant as ever. "Go down the right hall facing away from the ladder until you reach the door at the end of it. Do hurry, I can't wait to see you again… and neither can Terra." The screen went blank. The only light was once again coming from Starfire's starbolts.
"Son of a bitch…" Robin muttered before signaling his teammates to follow him down the long dark hallway.
Terra sat in the middle of a large, cylindrical, concrete room in a wooden chair, a rope securing her to it tightly and a gag preventing her from saying a word. Two Sladebots stood beside her, awaiting directives. A sudden pounding came from one of the only two entrances to the room before the steel door was thrown off its hinges by the horn of a rhinoceros. The Sladebots lifted their two machine guns and aimed at the doorway. Unfortunately for Sladebot #1, he found his trigger-finger could no longer operate when his right arm was severed from his torso by a bird-a-rang.
The three Titans entered the room and fanned out into different directions. Sladebot #2 opened fire on Robin with 950 rounds per minute. Robin ducked and rolled to avoid the maelstrom of bullets. The walls behind where he previously had been began to be torn up by the fierce barrage, sending chunks of and dust everywhere. Fortunately, before the robot could get a lock on the Boy Wonder, a starbolt slammed into its head, melting it, short-circuiting its entire system and causing his body to fall to the ground. Starfire sped towards the remaining armless Sladebot. It found himself grabbed the alien warrior and hurtled towards Beast Boy.
Beast Boy had anticipated this and morphed into his rhinoceros form once again. He caught the robot with his horn, impaling it through the chest. Sladebot #1 began convulsing as white lines of electricity cascaded about its body. After a few seconds, it went limp. Beat Boy casually tossed Slade's minion aside before transforming back to elf-form. He quickly rushed over to his former love along with Starfire and Robin. The latter quickly withdrew another birdarang and used it to cut the ropes off the chair while Beast Boy ripped the rag out of Terra's mouth.
She gasped, "Are you guys idiots! Why the hell did you come here!"
Beast Boy was unfazed by her verbal barrage and as tears fell from his eyes leapt towards Terra to embrace her. He wanted to say something… anything, but couldn't find the words for the situation. However, the look on his face was all that was needed.
Robin quickly opened his communicator, "Raven, do you have a fix on us?" He asked slightly frantically.
"I'm coming in now." Raven announced, her voice the usual monotone despite the situation. "Keep your shirt on."
"Terra… why are you so cold?" Beast Boy asked.
Terra ignored Beast Boy and instead faced Robin, "Why didn't Raven and Cyborg come with you?"
Robin cocked an eyebrow at this, "I left them behind as backup just in case we fell into a trap. However, I'm guessing it was only to come once we were to make our way out of here. However, I don't think Slade knew how easy we could get you out of here once we knew your location."
As he finished speaking a large, transparent raven appeared out of nowhere in the room. It dissipated, revealing Cyborg and Raven. They had teleported.
"On the contrary, Robin; I do" Slade's voice emanated from Terra's mouth. "I've been aware of that trick Raven has ever since it was used at the HIVE academy."
"What the Hell?" Beat Boy gasped before shedding his hug and leaping back as if Terra had been Slade himself.
The android in disguise of Terra quickly began to power down before collapsing on the floor. Its image began flickering in between it and Terra before finally deciding upon the normal, black-outfitted Sladebot. It had been using a hologram. Slade himself entered the room through the destroyed doorway. Two of his robotic minions followed dragging the real Terra, bound and gagged.
"It's so very easy to create a hologram when you have an actual person around to model it after." Slade said casually. "I'm so glad I could all make it here, it's been such a long time."
"You know we aren't too happy to see you, right?" Robin growled.
"I'm hurt Robin." Slade mocked. "An apprentice should always look forward to seeing his master."
"I'm not your apprentice." Robin replied coldly.
"Enough bullcrap Slade! Why did you want us here!" Beast Boy shouted.
"In truth, I only wanted two of you here." He said, his eye darting between two Titans in particular. "However, the presence of the rest of you is of little consequence. You see, for quite a while now I have been obsessed with morality and its relation to the afterlife. Are people born good or evil, or is it something we just... 'pick up' on the road to death? If the latter is true, is there judgment waiting for us there? If so," He paused for emphasis. "Can it be avoided? These questions have been with me for quite a while. I thought they would be answered when entering the service of my former master, but that only raised more questions. Truthfully, I still don't know if there is a heaven or a hell. I've theorized that my old 'master' may have been some sort of gatekeeper to the latter; which would explain how he 'rescued' me, though I can't be sure."
"By old master you mean Trigon?" Raven asked.
"Indeed, you wouldn't happen to have the answer to the question I seek, do you?" Slade asked.
Raven shook her head, "I know little of my 'father's' true nature other than what my mother told me."
"A pity." Slade responded, his voice actually showing a hint of sorrow.
"So… you're looking for immortality." Robin mused. "You're trying to avoid divine justice; if it exists."
"I merely seek answers." Slade replied. "Now, I may have finally found a way to gain them. For that I need help from more than just you actually… brace yourselves, we are about to take a little trip."