Chapter Three

The titans headed back to Titan Tower following the incident with the attack choppers in the city. As soon as they got there, they found that they had a call waiting on the subspace transmitter – a communication device installed a week prior to Robin and Starfire's wedding. Robin answered the call, and immediately, the face of the American President could be seen.

"Mister President," Robin greeted him.

"Robin," the President answered. "I'm afraid I've got some bad news."

"We already know – those terrorists we iced six months ago are back," Robin said. "We were lucky we had a dragon-shifter with us."

"Indeed," the President stated. "We recently learned that not only are they back, but they raided a major supply depot in Northern Russia and made off with a lot of equipment."

"Does that equipment, by chance, include four attack helicopters?" Robin inquired.

"Four?" The President responded, "They made off with ten; four MI24 Hind Attack Choppers and six MI28 Havoc Gunships. Russia is still investigating how the terrorists got so deep into Russia undetected, but they've requested you deal with the terrorists... preferably once and for all."

"Well, hopefully," Robin said, "Our new dragon-shifter friend here can help us deal with that aspect of such an op."

"I'll make arrangements to get you and your team transported to Russia first thing-" The president started.

"That actually won't be necessary, mister President," Robin interrupted, "As our dragon-shifter friend here has a ship that can get us to Russia."

"What's his name?" The President queried. Robin looked over his shoulder at Viktor, who was inspecting his rifle.

"Hey, Viktor," he told him, "The President wants to talk to you."

Viktor set his rifle down and walked over to the comm station. "Yes, sir?" he greeted.

"You're the dragon-shifter?" The President asked.

"Yes, sir," Viktor answered, "Viktor Drakona, captain of the Vigilance."

"Robin says you have a ship that can get him and his team to Russia," the President said.

"That's affirmative, sir," Viktor affirmed. "And I can get them there stealthily, if need be."

"How?" The president inquired.

"My ship has a cloaking device," Viktor explained. "One that allows me to deploy all my ship's systems with it active."

"And how effective is this cloaking device?" the President asked.

"Lemme put it to you this way," Viktor responded, "That cloaking device is so effective, I could torpedo the capital of North Korea into oblivion, and no one would know anything about it until it was all over."

The president thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Very well. The mission is yours. Keep me posted."

The screen snapped to black, and Robin looked to Viktor.

"It's that good?" he asked.

"I've done it before – but not to the Capital of North Korea, though," Viktor answered. "Did it to a rogue Kemorainian base out past the Baargell Badlands."

"We're going to need some heavy-hitting equipment if we're going up against these terrorists – especially now that they've got air support," Cyborg commented.

"I've already got it," Viktor said. "Just head to my ship – and don't touch anything."

As the others headed for the ship, Viktor and Blackfire remained. "Your friends certainly are tenacious," Viktor said in Russian.

"I told you they were," Blackfire responded.

"You're certain they can handle a bloodthirsty terrorist threat?" Viktor asked.

"They'll take it out or die trying," Blackfire answered. They began to head for the Vigilance as Blackfire inquired in Russian, "Have you yet determined what felt familiar?"

"It is... something I've not sensed since the day it happened," Viktor responded.

"Are you referring to...?" Blackfire began.

"I am," Viktor affirmed. "As I said before, these terrorists are but a symptom of the true threat. I pray he does not know."

Viktor and Blackfire walked onto the Vigilance, and Viktor immediately directed a comment to his AI; "Clara, shut the boarding ramp."

"Command confirmed," a female computerized voice said. The boarding ramp raised and shut behind them, and Viktor and Blackfire headed for the bridge. Along the way, they ran into the rest of the Titans, wandering the halls of the ship.

"This is one impressive ship you've got here, Viktor," Robin commented.

"It's home," Viktor said, "For me, anyway. I made some special internal modifications."

"Like what?" Terra asked.

"While I've left the primary cargo bay for storage and cargo, I've converted the secondary cargo bay into my armory and the tertiary cargo bay has been turned into a pool," Viktor explained. "The captain's ready room has been converted into a lounge, with a table for meetings."

"Sounds like a lot of detail has gone into this ship," Cyborg stated.

"Yeah," Viktor sighed. "As I said, it's home for me." The gang stepped onto the bridge, where everyone took a seat. "I'd advise you not lean on the consoles while we're in flight," Viktor cautioned everyone. "They're touch-screen, and if you hit the wrong button, you might screw us over."

"Shall I initiate takeoff protocols?" Clara asked.

"Affirmative, Clara – ascension protocols," Viktor commanded as he took the captain's chair. The ship vibrated as it began to lift off the ground. It turned clockwise away from Titan Tower, rising higher into the air as it did so.

"I have coordinates from the president," Clara announced. "Looks like a supply depot in Northern Russia."

"Thank you, Clara," Viktor said. "Wings to cruise configuration."

"Cruise configuration, aye," the AI answered. The wings of the Vigilance lowered until they were horizontally flat, with the wingtip-mounted disruptor cannons dipping diagonally downward.

"One-quarter impulse power to Russia," Viktor ordered. "And engage the cloaking device."

"Aye, sir," Clara said, "Engaging impulse engines... activating cloaking device..."

As the Vigilance began to shoot into the sky, it shimmered and vanished like a ghost. That same electronic zinging sound, coupled with an echoing, ghostly roar, could be heard as it cloaked.

"We are now en route to Northern Russia," Clara proclaimed. "ETA thirty minutes, present speed."

"Now, I imagine you all would like a tour of the Vigilance," Viktor said. "Just follow me."

Everyone left the bridge, and they toured the halls of the Vigilance. It was explained to them that the Vigilance was run entirely by a holographic crew. Until now, Viktor and Blackfire had been the only organics on board. Viktor then went on to explain that his ship was equipped with state-of-the-art Kadgeron weaponry and Anti-Kadgeron defenses, making it highly resilient to all forms of attack and making it well-equipped to take on much larger targets. It was as Viktor was explaining to the Titans how the Trans-Dimensional Intergalactic Rift Generator worked to allow him to travel to different 'verses that Clara said over the intercom,

"Titans, we're coming up on the coordinates in Northern Russia – gear up."

"You guys bring your equipment?" Viktor asked.

"The only equipment we use are our abilities and powers," Raven pointed out. "You could say I'm a magic-user."

"And I'm assuming you know from my sister what Tamoranean powers are," Starfire added.

"I'm a shape-shifter, so I don't need equipment." Beast-Boy said.

"As much as I'd like to try out some of the gear in your armory, I came prepared," Cyborg stated.

"I, uh... think I forgot some of my equipment at the Tower," Robin commented.

"Well, I don't know if my powers will be any good in Russia, so I'll need some new equipment," Terra said.

"Well, you can all at least grab some armor from my armory," Viktor said. "If what I sensed is accurate, you'll need it. Come on."

Viktor led everyone to the armory, where he inputted a code, and the doors parted. Inside were rows upon rows of weapons. Robin let loose a whistle.

"You keep a lot of firepower for a wandering explorer," he said.

"Like I said when we met – I keep armed and equipped in case trouble manages to finds me," Viktor answered.

"I'm starting to think I'll need some gear from this place," Cyborg chuckled. "You have everything!" He immediately went to one rack, and pulled a weapon off the rack – one that looked like a cross between a Gatling gun and a grenade launcher. "What's this thing?" he asked.

"Dragon'taan Arms Dual-Purpose Rotary Assault Cannon," Viktor explained. "Primary fires a rapid-fire stream of Kadgeron Energy Pulses; secondary fires a wide variety of grenades, ranging from High-Explosive to Plasma to EMP."

"Damn," Cyborg commented. "Where'd you get this?"

"Republic Convoy I saved near Tatooine – they gave me that as a reward," Viktor answered. "Not a bad weapon."

"Where's the armor you were talking about earlier?" Robin asked.

"One-two-two-one-one-two, back there," Viktor answered, pointing to a room beyond the rows of weapons. Robin and his team headed to the aforementioned room, while Blackfire and Viktor chatted in Russian.

"One-two-two-one-one-two," Cyborg commented, still holding the assault cannon. "Now, why does that sound familiar?"

"Maybe it's significant to Viktor in some way," Terra suggested.

"That's what I think, too," Robin whispered, unsure of whether or not they were out of earshot of Viktor. "Question is, in what way?" They approached the keypad, and Beast Boy made an observation.

"Wait a sec – six-digit code, keypad splits it into groups of two... enter the code, let's see what it looks like."

Robin complied, and as the doors opened, they looked at the numerical sequence in the keypad. 12-21-12. "It is a date!" Starfire whispered, as though coming to a shocking revelation. "They key combination is a date!"

"That particular date points to... December 21, 2012," Cyborg commented.

Robin looked back at Viktor, who was still chatting with Blackfire. "He's hiding something," he surmised. "Something happened that day – something that hangs over him still."

"Could that something be the reason he left his home world?" Raven queried.

"Viktor said that if he'd stayed on his home world, he'd have died," Starfire said. "This ship was commissioned for him by the DMC, they couldn't have-"

"I'd advise you get your armor on quickly," Viktor called out to them.

Robin and his comrades all looked to each other. How much of the discussion did he hear? They all went into the storage room where they made another discovery: Each set of armor was specifically tailored to each member of the team.

"This is strange," Robin whispered.

"What's strange?" Viktor asked, now standing in the doorway. "That each of those armors were specifically tailored to each of you?"

"How did you know how to tailor them?" Robin asked.

"The knowledge came to me in a vision I had long ago – the day after I left my home world," Viktor explained. "I crafted these armor sets for the heroes I saw in my vision. I later had that same vision again, a week after I met Blackfire, and she told me of you."

"So that's how you found us," Starfire said as she started putting her armor on. "A vision you beheld long ago."

"Viktor..." Robin asked, "What happened on the day of December 21, 2012?"

Viktor's facial expression changed instantly. It became cold, angry, and severe. But he maintained his calm composure as he made his response. "Assuming we get out of this mess and return to Titan Tower alive, ask me again later." Without another word, he left, and Blackfire sighed.

"Be careful where you dig, Robin," she said. "Few who travel through the depths of Viktor's past return unchanged."

"Sister," Starfire inquired, "Do you know what happened that day?"

"I can't say," Blackfire answered, "It might make things worse. But I will say this much: We must be careful. The threat Viktor senses is one he's faced before; it was because of this threat that he was forced to leave his home world. And – if it is the same threat we face – he will not let him go a second time without blood being shed."

From that moment on, not a word was said further. Robin was convinced; Viktor was hiding something, something in his past. Something he didn't want known.

And Robin feared what complications could spawn from such knowledge...