Young Justice Titans: Changing One's Fate

By SageModeSasuke

Chapter 3: Regaining One's Self.

It had been nearly eight months since Raven, who I now knew as Rachel, the Titan who saved me, and Virgil, an adorable little nerd who I met at college who had a crush on me, his TA. How he graduated before me I'll still never know, but I digress. I have been attending these meetings, and getting my head back together. I had even found out that the drug that was shoved into my veins was called Mirakuru, or Miracle. It messed my head up something fierce, and has some weird side effects, but we can save that for later. Rachel had been using her empathy powers to try to help me to get past the darkness still in my heart, and teaching me how to tap into my spirit a little. It's a heck of a ride talking to my own spirit, but she says it will make me more focused. I heard from the one called Nightwing that the Mirakuru stuff is what messed up that Slade Wilson guy. Some sort of super world renowned killer.

'On another note; despite my recurring nightmares, and waking up in a cold sweat every night since the original event, I have now officially become awesome! I'm hanging with a few members of the Young Justice Titans. Multi- billionaire Bruce Wayne is my sponsor, and I am getting enhanced Martial Arts lessons from the one they call Red Robin in private, but he kind of looks like that Tim Drake-Wayne guy. What am I saying?' I laugh a little to myself. 'People will really think I'm crazy if I start saying things like that out loud. That would be like saying Bruce Wayne is Green Arrow or Superman. I joke to myself to try to help keep down the mental anguish of the last few months of my life, and the suffering that I go through every time I look in the mirror.

Truth be told, I am only really comfortable around one man and that is Virgil. When I train with Red Robin I have had three episodes of what Virgil deemed Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He was always trying to look out for me even when I barely paid him any attention in school. He is patient and kind, but ignores my advances. He knows I am messing with him, but I am his patient, so even if we wanted to get serious, he was always the 'by the books' kind of guy. My guard even lowers slightly when he enters the room. One day he offers me the chance to go to church with him. I get up this morning after remembering accepting the offer, and start to get dressed in the items Mr. Alfred Pennyworth, Mr. Wayne's butler dropped by. I don't know how I could ever thank Mr. Wayne for his generosity and support. After seeing all of the changes in the Asylum, actually no. It was no longer the Arkham Asylum. It's name had officially been changed to 'The Assisted Living Center For The Challenged.' It had a nice ring to it, I ponder as I am escorted out to a van filled with others from the center. I am disappointed at the sight of more 'inmates' but I guess I could go with the flow today.

As we are riding in a slightly cramped van at what I had thought was at least halfway to the church, all hell decided it was time to break loose as we crossed onto the Gotham Bay bridge. The bridge cables started to buckle, and cars were starting to slam into each other and either side of the bridge. Virgil pulled the car over to the center divider of the bridge and looked around with a nervous sweat appearing. Then I realized he could not do anything with all these people watching. While tapping my foot I realize I am tapping something metal. It's an old school metal trashcan lid inside the van. I open my door to Virgil's obvious annoyance, as he grabs my arm gently, but firmly. I look at him, and he sees what I am trying to convey with my eyes. I was hoping he would. As quietly as I could I placed the lid underneath the car, and started my verbal thought process.

"Hey, Dr. Hawkins. Maybe you could check on the other people. We will be okay." I say as calmly as the situation would allow.

He slipped out of the van, and I slid over into the driver's seat again to his dismay. I then proceed to inform him. "Where am I going? The very public trial has shown me as a crazy bitch. If I try to go anywhere in Gotham I will immediately be shoveled back to crazy town, and my sponsor might un-sponsor me. No thanks. I might be slightly off, but crazy does not equal stupid. At least not in my world. Now go help who you can doctor. We will stay here." I assure as I engage the child safety locks preventing those behind me to attempt to make a break for it. I do consider just for a moment trying to get the heck out of there though, but it was a fleeting thought.

Normally with what happens next, I should be screaming, but after learning of who my psych shrink was in his off hours, this didn't bother me in the slightest, and I was almost giddy to see what happens next. I was not disappointed as Dr. Hawkins 'fell' off the bridge with the next cable break. Literally within seconds something amazing happens.

The four bridge cables that has broken were lifting back up as if by magic. Magic surrounded by electricity. The cars began to get off of the bridge, as the hero known as Static Shock levitates up standing on a metal trashcan lid as he did in his younger days, but the worst possible thing happens. Another cable pops, and knocks Static into the bay below. The screaming inside the car does nothing to alleviate my concern or worry. I finally snap.

"Shut up you noisy bastards!" Which scares them quiet for the moment. My mind goes into high gear. I reach into Virgil's work bag, and find his phone. After a few tries I figure out his pin number to unlock the phone. I would have to have a little talk with him about this pin number later if we survive this. Another cable breaks and smashes the car's roof in ahead of us. I spin around daring anyone to make a sound. I only take a moment to decide whether to call nine-one-one, or go go another route. I look through the contacts, and find Rachel's number. I act like I am pressing three buttons like I am dialing the police for the benefit of those behind me in case they are questioned later by the police. I then proceed to press talk when I reached Rachel's oh so beautiful picture. I know that if anyone could save us in time it would be her. After what seemed to be forever, she answers;

"Hey Virgil. What's up…"

"Yes, Nine, one, one, my name is Tani," cutting her off to get here here asap. "The Gotham Bay Bridge has started to collapse. Static Shock was able to stabilize it long enough for some to make it off, but not all of us before he had been knocked out himself by one of the cables."

"Understood Tani. You made the right call."

I don't know where she is, or who she's with, but the moment I heard two magical words from her, I know everything would be alright.

"Titans Go!"

And the moment the line goes dead, the rest of the bridge collapses. I see us as the van begins to fall, and then everything goes black…

I open my eyes, and see…

A symbol known across the world. A large red S on a towering man. A man respected and and awe inspiring. I had to be dreaming. He smiled at my apparent gawking. My phobia of men vanishing for just a brief second. I could not help it, but I finally got the words out, even with the window's up.

"Thank you Superman!" and he replied equally loud as he carried us to safety.

"I was on my way back to Metropolis when I heard your phone's particular signal pulse, and whom you were speaking to. You did well to call the 'police.' They got the word out to the Titans somehow. The should be arriving…" He stopped speaking as he turned toward a very large black raven soaring across the sky at mach speeds…"now." he finished, noticing publicly known Green Lantern Guy Gardner had also joined the party with Wonder Woman.

As the Justice League members finished up the rescue efforts, Static was being teleported to the Justice League's mansion headquarters, the Hall of Justice to have his injuries tended to, or so I hope as I saw him vanish. I take the keys out of the ignition and call for 'a Titan' to escort us back and with a little work I was able to calm my compatriots down.

Days later I was eventually called into Dr. Hawkins office to find Mr. Wayne there waiting for me.

"Mr. Wayne. Sir." I fumble nervously. He lets out a small laugh.

"No need to be so Rigid around me. At least not yet." He said as the door closed behind us both to reveal Raven which somehow relieved me and made me more nervous all the same.

"You did good today. I see you already know Raven from the Titans as you said."

I slowly nod.

"I am only here to let you know that Virgil is on his way back to being fine."

My back stiffens. He knows about Virgil!

"I have had some people helping to calm the other patients, and informing them that Virgil was saved by Static before his death. 'He' was on a pier near the bridge after his rescue.'

'I nodded. Mr. Wayne seemed to know everything, and that just made me even more tense. I am still not comfortable around many men and It is taking all I have not to either try to flee or attack, but I can't attack one of the few people who have tried to help me.' I think before I break out in a cold sweat.

He notices, and ask Raven to open the door. She does and bids me to stand near the door which I do without hesitation. The suffocating feeling in my chest begins to loosen and I can even feel myself able to admire the mahogany wood Virgil's desk was made of. He finally speaks again.

"You did well today and should be very proud of yourself. Also you are to be rewarded. Is there something that you would like? Anything, and if it is within reason I will try to provide a way for you to receive it within the next week or two when I am next here. You saved hundreds of lives with that one phone call to the 'police.'" and I smiled despite myself. I finally find the courage to take a step back into the room, immediately feeling the crushing pressure of fear, but my desire grew deeper in me than my fears. I ask;

"Please make sure Virgil is okay. I was about to ask to see my sister and her kids, but my real family has been right here with me. 'Rachel, and Virgil' sir. I have become stronger for knowing them. Mentally, physically, and spiritually. I am not complete yet, but I am getting there."

Mr. Wayne smiled a small smile and informed me that he would make sure that he received better than what the best money could afford.

The next thing that happened which I had not found out for many years was that Raven fought back tears from my words. Joy in her haunted heart for the first time in a long time since that fated day four months ago.

Flashback: Titan's Tower

Four months past

"Gar, will you shut up? I mean damn."

"No Rachel. We have been together too damn long for me to just let something like this go!"

"It was one mistake. I told you about it. I didn't mean for it to happen, and if you need to break up with me then break up with me, but I can't take any more of this arguing. You know I love you, but you were in space for two months, and I was lonely. I thought you were dead. Grief makes people do crazy things!"

"But with fucking Connor? Of all people, you cheat on me with Superman Jr! You're right Rachel. Maybe it is best if we just broke up. I don't know that I could ever trust you again." He finished sadly with tears threatening to fall.

Raven had turned to walk away with tears not bothering to keep from falling. The doors to the recreation center slide open, and the worst possible thing happened. A very large force, at least 200 large stood before Raven who was stunned by the startling sight, and a force invisible to the naked eye knocked Rachel back across the room into the reinforced glass overlooking the sea. Her blood spraying the glass, and small drops falling to the floor. Gar, despite everything could not help but to become enraged. He still loved her after everything that had happened, and flew into a poorly conceived frenzy. He attacked his foes before realizing in full who he/she/ or they were. He focused and became a rhinoceros and pummeled his foes valiantly, but his efforts were in vain as he turned to face the leader of these monstrous hordes. Immediately he begins transforming into an elephant, but before he could finish, two red beams shot from his opponents eyes, incinerating him as Raven's eye's opened. The last thing Gar ever said to raven as he gazed at her lovingly even through the pain was;

"I'm sorry we fought. I will always love you Ray."

And then he was dead.

No one could have imagined what happened next. Raven stood up. Slowly dusted herself off, tear stained eyes now looked at her opponent, and said;

You have slain my love. We fought as all couples do, and may have even went our separate ways, but… know this. Superman has a habit of letting you live. I am not bound by his code after what you have just done," finding the speed to leap out of the way, impossibly avoiding his eyes red Omega Beams which followed her as she dodged left, and right, jumping over and past the beams. Being only the second person in history to have avoided those beams. The first being Batman.

Darkseid stops firing, and calmly places his hands behind his back, and looks up slowly into the young woman's eyes, and can not shake a feeling that creeps over him. An emotion he is not well acquainted. Fear.

"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Chanted with such cold detached and heartless ruthlessness, her words caused the very core of her spirit to burn white as snow.

One moment later, there stood the rubble of the former Titan's Tower, soldiers spread across the small island, and Darkseid's pride not allowing him to fall before the beautifully deadly Titan and says..;

"You truly are a Titan among your peers young maiden. And perhaps one day I shall make you mine." He presses a button on his handheld device which opens a portal and leaps through before Raven could stop, or follow him as it closed immediately after he entered.

She fell to her knees crying, and even screaming out curses to every deity she could think of.

It was a few hours later before Static was the first to arrive on the scene, and he waited patiently for her to explain, and as much as he agreed with her that the devil of his world Apokolypse, Darkseid would have to pay, she needed to become grounded again, or Darkseid would tear her apart now that she was in this weakened mental state, and reminded her that the Titans loved her, and threw a bone out hoping that a civilian she seemed to have bonded with might help thus throws out Tani's name. All of those things helped her to focus just long enough to agree to try to prepare herself for what is to come. Clutching her heart, she loses consciousness. Fortunately Batman arrived as Static didn't know if he could get her to the hospital in time. He passed Raven onto Batman in his Batwing jet, who in turn had her teleported to the Hall of Justice.

It had been nearly a week, but she had survived a heart attack. She was in a medically induced coma to keep her stress from overpowering her heart again, and started sessions immediately with Virgil herself, but no one else knew. He was the only therapist she would consider trusting her problems to. Her heart broken by grief, her sanity questioned by her team leaders already, and her rage overflowing. Something had to give. Either she came to grips, or to save humanity, she would have to kill herself.

End Flashback.

It had been two weeks since Mr. Wayne had made his promise, and I was called to Dr. Hawkins' office again. Mr. Wayne was there of course, and my apprehension of him slightly wavering. He greeted by way of a wave. Then I hear Virgil's voice in the next room catching up with the attending psychiatrist who stood in. I was excused from those sessions which I was eternally grateful for, but unsure as to why. I think I may have been observed somehow, but it doesn't matter. Virgil is safe. I am content.

Mr. Wayne got off of the phone and turned to me, and spoke.

"Good evening Ms. Campbell. I hope the evening holds you well." I nod. "I promised to do what I could for Mr. No excuse me. Dr. Hawkins. He is fine as I noticed you hear him in the next room."

I blush slightly, but in the darker office I hope It did not show. So I just nod a little.

"I was also able to procure you your other request."

"My other request sir?"

"You did still want to see your sister and nieces correct?"

I was stunned silent. I nodded as the words would not come.

"They are downstairs in the new visitors lounge. I take it you can make it on your own?"

I nod.

"For their security and yours, you will be behind a bullet proof glass for the time being. That was done to alleviate any tension your sister may have as I believe she stated the worry of something happening to her daughters. I believe you are safe, as does the doctor, but you are also only barely cleared to see them. I had to call in a lot of favors for that."

I nodded in understanding, and was allowed to leave. I walk down the hall and take the stairway down. Step by step my stomach knotted, and when I finally see them, those precious angels, I knew I wanted nothing to do with them. I feel an agitation inside of me that won't leave me. I grabbed the wall beside me as the knot in my stomach grew tighter. I walk out of the room before they see me. I run. My fingers dig into the wall, cracking the cement slightly as I eventually fall to my knees.

The last thing I hear is one of the orderlies yelling out;

"Help! One of the patients has collapsed!"

To Be Continued.

I hope you all enjoyed chapter three of Changing One's Fate. Keep your heads held high. And remember- you don't have to face your fights alone.