Titans Tower
Nightstar, Changeling, Impulse, and Ed all sat miserably in a small room. Their superiors had forced them to leave the living room for the Titans to discuss their current situation. Ian and Ed listened intently to the conversation through the door, Ian quietly telling their companions what they heard.
"They're worried for Nightwing and Batgirl," the boy whispered.
"We all are," Nightstar retorted in a low voice. "Why won't they do something?"
Ian listened for a moment longer before replying, "They're afraid to leave us alone here again, in case of an attack."
"So they're thinking of us as little babies now because we had to be saved?" Mar'i snorted. "That's not what Batgirl would want."
"You're right," Ian agreed. "She'd want us to be safe, but not molly-coddled like she sometimes was—is—by Nightwing," he corrected himself. I've got to think and speak positively, he thought.
"We can't just sit here, either," the teen girl added. "If they're in trouble, they'll need help!"
"Keep it down!" Bart reminded her in a hoarse whisper. "They could still hear us."
The teenagers remained silent for a few minutes to be sure that they were not heard. "You're right, Nightstar," Bart whispered grimly. "We can't sit around when they're still out there."
"But you know the adults won't let us out of their sight after Red X attacked," Ian pointed out.
"Then we sneak out," Mar'i said with a determined smirk. "They're not paying much attention right now, anyway."
"That's right!" Bart agreed. "This is the best time to do so. Let's go!"
Changeling remained doubtful. "They'll likely yell at us for leaving without permission, though," he said quietly.
Nightstar fixed him with a glare. "So you'd rather stay here and let Batgirl die?" she snarled.
"No, not that at all!" Ian protested. "It's just..." He trailed off. After a brief moment of consideration, he sighed. "Fine, I'll go too."
"Same here!" Ed squeaked through an animal communicator he had grabbed from Coba before her capture. He immediately went behind a chair in the room, then jumped out less than a minute later wearing his own Batsuit. "I'm Batrat!" he declared, a slight growl in his voice.
The children had to bite their lips and cover their mouths to keep from laughing. "Coba made you that?" Ian asked between small giggles. "I didn't think she'd let you fight crime!"
Ed snorted and puffed out his chest in annoyance. "I made this suit!" he snapped. "I go as I please." Although Mom doesn't allow it, he mentally added. I usually just do the groundwork.
"Fine," Nightstar said, rolling her eyes at the rat. "Just don't get in the way."
"But how do we get out of here without being spotted?" Bart whispered.
"Through the vent for a bit," Ed replied quietly before the others could. "Then we can get out and leave once we're out of the adults' sight." He noticed the teens' looks of shock at his statement. "What? I work with escape artists, remember?"
"It'll work," Ian agreed with Ed. "Lead the way, little-big guy."
In spite of her annoyance at the green-skinned boy giving orders, Mar'i allowed him, Ed and Bart to go in first before taking the rear, closing the vent behind them. However, none of them were prepared for the dangers that awaited them outside the tower...
~!~
An uneasy silence engulfed the room after Mark's confession. Dick could only stare at the young man in shock. He's Deathstroke's grandson, he struggled to come to quips with. The grandson of one of my greatest enemies just saved my granddaughter. Could he just be another kid playing hero, or does he expect something in return for his good deed? Or, he thought with dread, is he just pretending to be a hero and a friend just to betray us later?
A loud clanging disrupted the silence, causing both men to look towards a particular corner of the warehouse where Velvet, a female sable ferret, was to see her slamming her food bowl against the bars. Coba groaned weakly and stirred a little at the disruption, then winced as she strained her injured body parts. "Sounds like Velvet's hungry," Mark said quietly, standing up. He quickly yet quietly hovered to Velvet's cage before opening it and taking out the food bowl. After filling the bowl with fresh food, he placed it back in the cage. Velvet made small dook-ing sounds in appreciation, then started eating her food as Mark closed the cage once more. He walked back to the duo, noticing Coba was awake. "How is she?" he asked quietly, nodding to the girl.
Nightwing grimly sat by Batgirl, gently holding her left hand in his. "She has a bit of a fever," he said sagely.
"I feel a little better than I did before, though," Coba stated in a weak voice, though it was stronger and steadier than it had been just before she fell asleep. "The medicine's working."
"Good," Mark said in a quiet, gladdened voice. "The fever will pass in a little while."
"Okay," Brooklyn responded. She tiredly glanced at Dick, sensing his distrust towards Mark. "Don't be alarmed of him, Grandfather," she said gently. "It doesn't matter if he's related to Deathstroke; I know we can trust him."
Grayson was silent for a moment, glancing slowly from Coba to Mark. "Alright, kiddo," he complied at last, feeling a little more relaxed towards the young man. Well, if Coba says we can trust him, I believe her, he thought. It won't be easy to get along with the fact that Mark's Slade's grandson, but I'll manage. Besides, Coba's grandmother used to be a thief, and that made things a little rocky at first, primarily when Coba stayed with me when she had the flu. Look at how we get along now!
Coba noticed Mark's shock as she looked back at him. "I overheard your conversation as I slept," she explained, knowing what was confusing him. "Of course, I had already found out."
"You... you did?" Mark asked, surprised.
"Well, by reading your mind," Coba confessed. "I didn't mean to, though. I'm sorry. It happens on its own."
Wilson was surprised at his new knowledge of Batgirl, but smiled harmlessly. "Don't be sorry. Not everyone can control their powers."
"I know," Brooklyn said sadly. She looked at Grayson, her face even more grim as she sat up. "Grandfather, are the others alright?"
"Yes," Dick answered. "They're a bit shaken up and worried about you, but they're okay. Can you tell me what happened?"
Coba nodded solemnly, then told him about the showdown at the tower and the moments leading to her being brought to the warehouse. She started to shake as she recalled being beaten by Cinderblock, and it got worse as she finished her tale. "I thought I wouldn't be able to tell you goodbye," she whispered.
Dick hugged her tightly, but not enough to choke her. "I'm sorry, kid," he murmured. "I should've been there."
"But the robbery that took place—" Coba started.
"—was a false alarm," Nightwing finished.
Batgirl's eyes widened at this, but she quickly regained composure. "You had no way of knowing," she said calmly. "But I doubt it was just a false alarm."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, consider the timing," she explained. "That alarm and Red X's break-in at the tower were timed too perfectly for it to be a coincidence. This was premeditated. X meant to kill the others in the tower and take me to have me killed somewhere else, and he couldn't have done that if you, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg were there." Coba looked in her grandfather's only eye sagely. "And yet, when I read his mind, I found he was somewhat hesitant to do so."
"He's tough and fights for his personal gain, but he's never been known to be a cold-blooded killer," Dick noted.
Coba was silent for a moment. "He... he said he was your creation," she said quietly, nervous about what the one-eyed man's reaction would be. "What was he talking about?"
Grayson released her from his embrace, his expression more grave than before. "Kid, I... I should've told you about this long ago," he said quietly. "Listen closely, because I don't want to repeat it again.
"Yes, I did create the Red X persona. But it wasn't because I wanted to become a criminal: it was to get in on Slade's plans. I didn't even tell my friends about it for fear they'd hold back if they knew I was X." Dick's only eye dimmed with pain and sorrow. "In the end, Slade figured it out, and my friendship with the Titans was greatly strained after that. I locked that suit away in a secret vault not because I planned to use it again, but because I had used a dangerous chemical called Xenothium to make it."
He felt Coba grip his right hand reassuringly, but she said nothing, yet he knew she did not have to. Drawing in another breath, he continued. "About a year passed before we received an alert about a robbery. When we came face to face with the thief, we were surprised to see that it was someone else wearing the Red X suit. After a short yet gruelling fight, he got away. I later checked the vault I had put the suit in; it was empty. I knew X would run out of Xenothium for the suit soon, so the Titans and I located it and X, only for my friends and the Xenothium to be taken away by an old villain named Professor Chang.
"I tracked down Chang as he was preparing to destroy the city," Dick continued. "My friends were frozen in ice blocks, unable to get free and help. At one point, I lost my footing. I couldn't get myself back up, and I was certain I was going to fall to my death."
Mark and Coba were clearly gripped by his tale. "What happened then?" Mark inquired.
"I felt a hand grab mine," Grayson replied, "then I was back on a solid platform. I was surprised to see X, but... well... relieved nonetheless," he admitted, a bit embarrassed. He shook his head, then continued. "We fought side by side, saving the Titans and the city, and stopping Chang. In the end, though, it was clear that X was still a thief. He escaped before we could detain him, but we knew we'd see him again." He looked down solemnly. "I just wish he hadn't done what he did tonight."
"So do I, Grandfather," Brooklyn murmured. "At the same time, I should've fought better."
"You did your best at the time, you always do," Dick reassured her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Coba could not get herself to grin at his remark. But did I? she wondered. Or was I holding back because of what Raven said earlier about my powers?
Grayson seemed to read her mind. "Don't blame yourself for what happened, kid," he said quietly. "It's X's fault for this mess."
"I'm not too sure," Brooklyn replied. "Not just because of my performance, but because I have a feeling he's not in this alone, not even with just Cinderblock."
"I was thinking the same thing," Mark stated. "Based on what little I already knew about Red X and what you've both said so far, it's not like him to do something like this on his own. Plus, it would explain how the Titans received the call just before his attack. He can disappear, yes, but he can't be that quick unless he's a Flash."
"Exactly what I was thinking," Coba nodded. "But who would set up something like this?" Her eyes widened in horror. "Deathstroke," she gasped.
Silverstar nodded after a few heartbeats of considering this, a glint of anger mixed with the sorrow in his eyes. "I'm afraid so."
"But Deathstroke's dead," Coba said solemnly. "I could tell Dam—the CADMUS agent who told us," she quickly corrected, "was telling the truth. Unless..." She suppressed a shiver. "Unless X, Cinderblock and a handful of others are carrying out one of his plans."
"It's a possibility," Mark sagely agreed. "Deathstroke was good at manipulating others into carrying out his tasks."
"Why would they strike after his death, though?" Coba wondered. "What would cause them to?"
Grayson placed a reassuring hand on Brooklyn's shoulder. "I'm not sure, but we'll find out," he promised her. His granddaughter relaxed at his words, but an all-too familiar look of dread appeared on her face after several moments. "What is it?" he asked concernedly.
Coba's eyes were wide with fear. "The team," she said in a tight whisper. "Something's wrong, but I can't tell what."
As if to confirm what the girl was saying, the alarm system Dick had from the tower went off. He looked at the communicator, surprised to see who it was. "Starfire?"
"Nightwing, it's the children!" Starfire said frantically.
"Calm down," he said calmly. "What happened?"
"They're gone!" came Koriand'r's reply. "They must have gone looking for you and Batgirl!"
Dick's only eye betrayed his concern for the three teens. "Alright, I'll keep an eye out for them."
"Did you find Batgirl?" Starfire inquired.
"Yeah, she's safe now."
The Tamaranean breathed out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad for that. We're heading out of the Tower to search for them."
"No, Star," Dick said urgently. "You and the others should stay in case they return."
"Have you forgotten who Mar'i's mother is?" Starfire snapped.
"No, I haven't," the one-eyed warrior replied. "I haven't forgotten who her father is, either."
Starfire was silent for a moment, though Coba and Dick could both sense her anger building up with each passing second. "I'm still going," she said firmly. "Beast Boy's son is out there too, and Cyborg's cousin. Raven already said she's staying behind to watch the monitors."
Nightwing sighed. "Fine," he gave in. "Just be careful."
"You too, Nightwing," Starfire replied in a softer voice. Without another word, she turned off the communicator speaker.
Grayson hung up as well, then stood up abruptly. "Stay here," he instructed the two teens as he turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Mark inquired.
"Into the city. They'll need help."
"But this could be a set up for your enemies to find Batgirl and kill her," the young man said urgently. "If they see you step outside or find your communicator's signal, they'll attack."
Dick stopped at Mark's statement. I hadn't thought of that, he realized. "You're right, Wilson. I don't want her to get hurt again," he said after a moment.
"Neither do I," Mark atoned.
"I'm touched by your concern for me," Batgirl said sincerely to both of them, "but the others do need help. Isn't there a way to get to the tower from underground?" she asked suddenly.
"Through the sewer, yes," Nightwing answered. His only eye widened in realization. "So our enemies won't see or find me."
"Exactly," Coba grinned.
"There's a hidden door underneath the couch," Mark suggested. "Its tunnel goes through the sewage system."
Coba got up from the couch, nodding to Mark to move it to show them. He pushed the couch aside and lifted the rug a bit, revealing a trap door hidden on the floor. "Good," Dick grinned approvingly. "This'll work."
Mark flipped over the rug to fully show the door. Coba bent down and opened it, then went down the hole. "Well, we going or not?"
Dick shook his head. "You're not going," he said firmly. "You need to stay and recover."
Brooklyn looked at him seriously. "Grandfather, this is too big for you to handle alone. Even if Silverstar goes with you and I'm left here alone, we're all still at risk of getting hurt or worse. Besides, my aunt's out there, remember?"
Nightwing held the girl's gaze for a moment, then sighed in defeat. And she would know, because she's a psychic, he thought ruefully. "Fine, but don't join fights should any break out, and let us know if you get tired."
"Okay," Coba agreed, in spite of feeling a bit irritated. I'm not totally helpless just because I got kidnapped and hurt earlier, she mentally protested. She looked at Mark. "You coming with?" she inquired.
Silverstar hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I may as well," he said. "Like you said before, Nightwing and the others will need help."
The small warrior grinned in appreciation, then climbed to the bottom of the hole and waited for the two men. She watched as Nightwing took the lead and Mark closed the door behind them, making sure the rug covered it again. Coba walked between her companions, keeping up perfectly with Nightwing's fast strides without getting tired. They entered the slimy, rancid sewer less than a minute later, and they knew it would be a while yet before they got to the tower. However, neither of the three heroes complained. All that mattered to them was that they reached the teens in time.
~!~
Three figures, two different sized males and one female, stared down at the streets from where they stood on a roof, shadowed by a large sign behind them that blocked the moonlight. "I can't believe you let that Batrunt get away, X," one of them, a woman, growled.
"It wasn't my fault Cinderblock couldn't handle her," Red X retorted.
"You should have planned for it!" the woman snapped.
"Just like you should've counted on your unruly niece not returning to you like you asked her to?" X snarled.
"Talking to Nightstar was a mistake," the woman stated, rolling her eyes. "I realize she's too much like my sister and Nightwing. I hoped we could use her to get inside info on the others."
"But she's too noble," the thief snorted.
The bigger male, Mammoth, pointed at the streets below. "Look!" he exclaimed.
Following Mammoth's gaze, Blackfire and Red X were stunned to see three teenage figures striding purposefully yet cautiously through the streets, a large rodent riding on the shoulders of one of them. Blackfire was surprised as she recognized one of them, but replaced her shock with an evil grin to hide her sudden dread. "This is perfect," she murmured. "The children and the Titans are separated again."
Red X noticed Blackfire's reluctance, but chose not to question her about it, knowing their plans would not work if she had killed him for prying into her personal feelings. "What do you say to taking two birds with one stone?"
Blackfire's smirk grew. "Why not?" As she knew Mammoth was already lost, she told him, "You stay here and wait for our word." Without waiting for him to speak, she and Red X left him on the roof. This time, my dear sister, you won't get off as easily as you have before. I wish I didn't have to go against Nightstar, but I'll do anything to take you down and get what I deserve.
Wow, so Blackfire has feelings for Nightstar... I'm not sure if she really would, but I do like the idea of villains having a soft spot for certain others. And why exactly is Red X going against his original nature by trying to kill others? This question and more will be answered later on. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know when you leave a review or send a PM to me so I can keep them in mind.
I'm so sorry it took longer to get this chapter done and posted. I just started college and have had a hard time getting motivated to write in my spare time. I don't know when I'll be able to get the next one done, but please know that I'll definitely keep working at it.
A large amount of thanks goes to everyong who has reviewed, favorited and followed this story so far. It makes me happy to know that this story is enjoyable to others aside from myself! :D
Please leave a review below and have a great day! :D
