Author's Note: I received my first issue of Teen Titans a couple of years ago from a relative, probably around 1985. It was the one and only issue I have and apparently lost it, never to return to me again. Though my knowledge of the continuing saga of the Titans is aptly limited, I guess it wouldn't hurt to retrace those roots-- and start from the beginning (in a sense).

Disclaimer: All characters, settings, and other of the usual legal stuff are the property of DC Comics and Warner Brothers Television. I'd even call out the names of the original artists who created each character if I have to! Uhmmm… let's see… "Batman/Robin" by Bob Kane… I think he also did Robin… "Starfire", "Raven", "Cyborg", "Beast Boy"… never mind… But the Disclaimer still stands!

Prologue:

Outside, dark clouds of every shade of black and gray obscured much of the cerulean sky that overlooks the Atlantic. Situated on the sloping face of a cliff is a long stretch of winding road lined with pine and oak trees and at the end lay a large mansion. To the north following the coastline is the bird's eye distance of the Gotham Harbor more than fifty miles away.

It was the only place in the world where he could enjoy the peace and tranquility from the outside world, away from the everyday dealings of people from nearly all walks of life. Hidden within one of the least visited rooms in the mansion, the Armor Room held the collection of some of the world's authentic pieces of medieval suits of armor and weapons ranging from the Arthurian armor pieces up to the end of the Renaissance. Guarding the middle of the room stood several English suits at both sides of the red strip of carpet like soldiers-at-arms in a welcoming reception, glinting majestically under the many columns of artificial lights. The hollow echoes of wingtips on hardwood courses all throughout the room as one lone individual walked past several glass displays that contained several English longbows and lances. Despite of the many overhead lamps and lights, the shadows prevail much of the atmosphere as dark patches concealed much of his face. Near the twelve-foot tall Venetian window covered with royal blue velvet curtains allowed a marvelous view of the sea is a large iron object shaped like a narrow egg over six-feet tall. Placing his hand along the metal-wrought etches and other intricate designs coursing through it that feature an effeminate face and a rounded oval body that a full-grown adult could fit inside, the Iron Maiden is one of the many torture devices from the Dark Ages. Anyone who are subjected in this medieval device could only make use of the little space without having to be skewered with the spikes attached from the inside: a feat to have survive inside it without exhausting their strength for many days. The maiden felt like ice to the touch.

His ears perk up when he picked up the clicking sounds of the door handles. Golden rays of the setting sun bursts through the opened portal and staving away the darkness. At the other side of the doors stood another individual whose form is also shrouded by his own shadow created from the sun behind him.

"Sir, your helicopter will be arriving shortly." The elderly male voice spoke with an English accent.

"Thank you."

The silence between the two men, right where weapons of various shapes and sizes are being displayed, would appear unnerving to a casual observer. But having to have served the family of his employ and those before him, he knew that silence is the only respite to an ailing question that hangs over his master's thoughts.

"Are you thinking about tomorrow's proceedings with the board of directors and public officials in Jump City?"

"Not really." The man mumbled. "I admit that last one had had a hand, but I'm thinking of a friend over there."

The hollowed sounds of spit-shined loafers from the elderly man echoed across the Armor Room and the muffled silence returned as he crossed the carpet. He stood next to the glass display of the well-rendered replica of Excalibur.

"Pardon my candor, sir, but all this hesitation would seem to be out-of-character, especially if it's coming from you. For nearly ten years since you've started, I have never seen you place a weighing thought on family matters. I have always watched you to be a person who expresses his concerns even though one may not need of it."

"It was then. It's all in the past."

Again silence returned to the room as the elderly man waited patiently for his master, only to be replaced by the sound of rotor wash from its powerful engines. In a large clearing of the south lawn, a helicopter hovered twenty feet above the helipad before descending to a full landing.

"It is time, sir."

Chapter 01: A Weekend Visit

The piercing shrill of numerous buzzers broke out all over the school building, calling out the attention of the high school body in their classrooms. Last minute calls from teachers to the students mixed with the clamor of hurried gathering of books and other personal belongings stirred the atmosphere with the vigor of early summer. Within minutes, students began milling out from its doors and into the warmth despite of the prevailing dark wisps of clouds that hovered gloomily in the sky. Everyone has been chattering about how to spend the weekend. There were even talks about a pre-graduation party also circulated among the seniors.

Among those pouring out the doors is an eighteen-year-old young man wearing a hooded red sweatshirt of subdued color, khaki pants and moth-eaten sneakers. His onyx hair was slightly combed to the back and carrying a dark brown PVC sports bag that hung over his left shoulder. Despite of his boyish appearance, he bears an air of seriousness around. Trailing behind him is a group of boys his age, and guessing by the slightly puffed markings on their faces it seems that the boy have worked them through a rigorous sparring session in the school Karate Team.

"Damn, cap," A junior high black boy nearly twice as tall grunted as he swung his arm across the boy's shoulder, "maybe you should consider joining the Olympics with those wicked cool moves of yours."

"The Olympics?" Another junior high boy with sandy hair groaned as he nurses his left arm, "If you keep this up you're bound to waste us in practice alone or worse you'll waste them other athletes in the Games. Maybe you should, I dunno, join the Teen Titans instead."

Some of the boys chortled except for the captain himself as he rolled his eyes and slightly shook his head.

"I kinda doubt that," the last boy from behind called out, "if he did get accepted, he's gonna be the first one to get voted off the island on the first day! I mean, c'mon Gray, you sound like an old man when it comes to leading our team." Clearing his throat, the boy begins to mimic the voice of their captain during practice, but not entirely convincing.

The boy named Gray nearly tripped when he heard the last comment. Turning around, he caught the eyes of the three boys and their smile faded from their lips.

"Chill, Gray," the black boy raised his hands at him and stuttered, "we're just playin', you know?"

Gray still kept his piercing gaze upon his three companions, but softens somewhat when he noticed their anxious looks at him. With a grin he broke the ice instantly between them as the three released their breath.

"Well," the black boy shook his head slightly, "at least you should come with us at the party tomorrow Saturday. You know, the one held at McGinnis's place?"

"You mean Shane McGinnis?" the boy with sandy hair broke to a wide grin.

"One and only, bro." The black boy answered then turned to Gray. "What do you say, cap? I mean this'll probably be the last time you'll be beating us around."

Gray looks up at the darkened sky, watching the numerous pillars of the golden rays that managed to burst free.

"I'll try." Gray sighed a bit.

Gray and the three boys parted at the intersection that leads downtown after a few minutes, talking about nothing else except for the party. He crosses the pedestrian path that leads towards the industrial sector and Jump City Lake. Along the way, numerous stores, restaurants and shops lined both sides of the busy street and a few people in business attire sat in one of many of the sidewalk tables indulging in talk and lattes.

As he passed by an electronics shop where new TV models were displayed, something familiar caught the corner of his eye as he turned his head to face the display window. The traffic outside was loud enough on a weekend rush hour that even with the combined volume of the television screens failed to overcome the clamor. Here, the news program shows a live coverage of a man exiting his Leers private jet. The screens were fixed on one channel and the camera was aimed at the man in close-up view with the familiar insignia of the Wayne Enterprises emblazoned near the hatch, partly obscured by the camera angle. His eyes kept switching from the man and closed caption as he watched.

"Today, multi-billionaire and company president Bruce Wayne arrived at the Jump City International Airport where he would announce the expansion of his automotive and electronics assembly plants, which it will give another ten thousand job openings in hopes to clear the staggering 2.5 percent unemployment rate. Along with his CEO, they hope to once again attempt to establish a trade link with Japan, which for years have closed its doors on imports, at the same time flooded the local market with its electronic exports, causing a high downsizing rate in the local industry. Wayne's efforts underwent massive difficulties.

"Meanwhile, Lex Corporation has addressed the Union today with its promise of…"

With its one and only audience leaving the scene, the television played on with its regular programming as Gray took long and hurried strides away. His vision is beginning to spin with abnormal heat slowly rising in his head and his breathing intense.

"I can't live under your shadow forever, Bruce." Gray hissed and his words dripped in acid.

Spiel:

Well? How's that for my first attempt? I guess the tone's a little too serious to be something as fun as the animated series despite of a few serious episodes like the 'Apprentice' episode. In some ways it's unedited, but I kinda like my writing in that way and I also love watching MTV Unplugged :P

Dedication:

To Jncera and the other Titanheads. We hardly knew each other but we have something in common. Rob and Rae deserve each other indeed! :) Starfire's deserving, too, but as the saying goes: birds of a feather!

Next Chapter:

Robin gets two unexpected visitors. One is the man who made him who he is and the girl who made him choose his life with the Titans!