Titans Assemble

Chapter 3

DISCLAIMER I ONLY OWN ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

heads up, if you submit characters with links to pictures for costumes their not getting in. also, i have a beta, but i'm getting bored with waiting so here is the next chapter flaws and all, nobody is perfect.

His eyes were ringing, sounds close to him sounded miles away. Leaning against his sword to keep from face planting Firestorm shakily climbed to his feet and took in his surroundings. Jemima was still down, but safe, as Ariana kept them both shielded with her magic, he didn't think it would last though. The things pounding on it looked like a cross between rats and lizards, mouths full of serrated teeth, and those watery black eyes, patches of brown hair stuck out in knotted tuffs. The creatures were dressed in what looked like armor they'd stolen from corpses, dented and missing pieces.

The shield started to buckle inward as three of them hammered at it with curved scimitars, dripping red with blood, and the largest looked to be swinging a sledgehammer, with a pointed spike coming out the top. Taking a step forward he lowered the faceplate on his helmet and he raised his sword up onto his shoulder and charged.

With a loud cry of anger he drew their attention, but; they made a fatal mistake. One of the smaller ones hissed angrily and charged towards him and leaped high in the air. Swing his sword at an angle Firestorm cut down through it diagonally, spilling green blood and intestines onto his armor. The momentum of the corpse cause it to land behind him.

"Alright you ugly mothers," he said, beckoning them, mockingly with his hand. "Who else wants some?"

They charged together this time. Smirking under his helmet, Firestorm ducked the swing of the hammer and rammed his sword into the stomach of the second creature, stopping it in mid-swing. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing up, that meant danger, ducking again he felt the air as the hammer whizzed by, mere inches from him, before it sent the other creature's head flying from it's body. Spinning on his heels Firestorm pulled his sword free from the stiffening corpse, letting it fall to the ground, and sliced the last one completely in half.

The monster only sneered as it raised the hammer over its head, as it prepared to swing the top half of it's body feel backwards with a thud. Sighing in relief he turned to check on the girls. Ariana was shouting something and pointing. Turning to look he was shocked to say the least. Approaching slowly was a minotaur, well over 8 feet tall with wide pointed horns, it was dressed in only a dirty loincloth. But the real horror was what it carried, upside down in it's left hand was Foxface, her collar bone was jutting out of her body, as her head swiveled on a broken neck as the minotaur moved. Palladian was being dragged along the ground, his face was a red mess, both of his eyes were swollen shut and his arms were completely gone at the elbows.

"Oh my god," Firestorm said, taking a step back. "This can't be happening."

With a roar the monster tossed the two Titans away as if they were nothing, and charged full force. It was faster than he expected, before he could react Firestorm was sent flying by a punch from the creature, skidding along the ground his sword landed away from him. Looking up at the sky he felt his body go numb as the massive bull monster stood over him. Raising one hoof it brought it down. Firestorm closed his eyes and prepared for death, but; nothing happened. Opening his eyes he was surprised to see everything was frozen.

"Training failed," a computerized voice said, as everything vanished, and he was left alone in a white room. The door on the far side opened and Palladian entered, followed by the others.

"You failed this training exercise Firestorm," Palladian said, holding out his hand to help him up. "If this had been a real invasion we'd all be dead."

"Thanks for trying to save me," Jemima said, her costume looked like something out of Cats, complete with collar and hair in several places. "I thought you were really brave."

To Firestorm's surprise, the shorter girl hugged him; causing Foxface and Ariana to snicker at him as he blushed.

"Ok that's enough. Ariana your up next," Palladian said, heading back towards the door. The others followed, leaving the magic user behind. "your fighting killer robots from another dimension."

She hmphed at this.

"I wanted to fight zombies," she whined.

"That's Jemima's," he replied, causing the small girl to stop and look at him in shock.

Bren Tenkage was angry, though he didn't show it, his face was calm and his voice was even, the only give away was a small twitch at the corner of his eye. The reason he was angry, was sitting in his chair, had it's dirty feet propped up on his desk, and was drinking his private supply of soda. The offender was a tall, lean man dressed in a black leather vest worn open to show off his six pack, black jeans, and motorcycle boots. His red hair was spiked up and wavy, it looked like fire.

"Tell me mate, what kind of CEO drinks Coke from champagne glasses?" he asked, his voice thick with an Australian accent.

"Why not," he replied, leaving it at that. "Want to tell me why you're here?"

"To be honest, its no fun back home in Dimension X. everything is dead and burned," he replied. "Mainly because I did it. They call me Dark Blazer, and who might you be?"

"The names Bren Tenkage, and your in my chair," he said, as he reached into his pocket. His hand found a remote, and he pressed the button. Dark Blazer was caught unaware as the chair leaned back sharply, and sent him tumbling into a trap door. Bren smiled, Dark Blazer would be getting a refreshing dip in the river. After his chair righted itself, and the trap door closed, he went to sit down, and pressed a button on the intercom. "Wesley, tighten security in the building, and bring me a clean glass, I need a drink."

Dark Blazer surfaced and spat the rancid water from his mouth. Climbing up onto dry ground his body erupted in a black fire that burned hotter than 10,000 suns. When it disappeared, he was completely dry.

"So what if that bloke was a boring git," he said, as he smiled manically and his hand became engulfed in flames. "I've got a whole city to have fun with."

Professor Harrison Ward had a vision, a vision of a world where robots lived alongside humans in a peaceful and technological sound world. He'd spent years in technical schools, learning about computers and circuit boards and he also spent time learning how to weld and operate power tools so he could build his own robot. Finally he achieved his dream, all his hard work had paid off.

Although not like he'd planned. His first and greatest creation was a large android he called IVO, designed to help workers by lifting heavy objects or moving broken down heavy equipment. Unfortunately it currently had him in a choke hold, gasping for breath. He pounded his hands against the automaton's arm and stared into it's cold yellow eyes, trying to find a shred of compassion for it's creator.

He saw nothing.

"Why….. I am….. Your father," he said, as his throat constricted in the steel grasp of his creation. "Why…. Are…. You…. Doing this?"

For a moment it didn't say anything.

"Declaration: I like killing meatbags," it said, before brutally snapping the scrawny neck of Harrison Ward. Throwing the corpse aside like a limp rag doll, the massive metal monster began a new initiative, upgrading itself.

From the pits of hell it dragged itself, from the burning fires, and screaming damned it wished to escape. It came to Bludhaven. Draped in black with long sharp claws and dripping wet fangs, it would feast as it pleased on the weak and the strong alike.

Trigon could not reach it here, the wards prevented him from coming to earth. But; it would have its feast, Bludhaven would be its kingdom, and it would rule like a king. Wrapping the black cloak around its itself, the creature vanished into the shadows.

The hunt was on.

END CHAPTER 3