I don't own Teen Titans, the characters from the animated show or the DC comics. I don't own Wally West aka The Flash either.
Warning: For those of you who felt cheated last chapter: more action & a plot twist.
Hope you like it. Lar
Are We Still an Us? By Lar Lindor
Chapter ten: Out of the Ashes
"He's dead, he's dead, he's dead," the young woman mourned. Carefully, her hand swept the ashes into a mason jar.
"Hey, grab that woman," yelled a large man in a black suit to another large man in a black suit.
"FBI, freeze!" The man bellowed as she sprinted away.
"Dammit," cursed the FBI agent.
"It's only one woman, Eberts, don't sweat it."
The young woman in question, however, was Miss Michelle Torbert. She was rich, powerful, and had been Brother Blood's lover. She also was related to a very old and very powerful individual.
She dialed a cell phone number that only one or two other people in the world had access to. She was desperate for aid, and she knew her second cousin's name was synonymous with miracles.
"Talia? This is your cousin Michelle. I have horrid news."
"You've already heard? Amazing! Well, I'm aware of your father's reputation."
She listened carefully. Talia was properly sympathetic, of course. However, Michelle needed more than sympathy.
"I wish my lover to be alive again," she snapped, when Talia paused. "I can pay for it."
"Yes, it is true Blood became a vampire. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen. The Lazarus Pit may not work on the undead. Are you certain? No? Good. Yes, I understand the risks. That much money? It will take you a few days to get that much money together. Yes, I'll contact you then. Goodbye, Talia, and thanks."
"That was too easy, Raven," Gar Logan observed. "I have a bad feeling about it."
"Yes," she agreed. "It was simple. They nearly defeated all five of us when we were in our primes. I expected an epic battle."
"Would they try to hurt Rich or Vic in retaliation? More likely, they'd go after Vic's kids. Why don't we warn Rich and Vic?" the green hued hero suggested.
"I'll call Rich," she muttered. "Why don't we go visit Vic at his business?"
"Fine," he said uneasily.
Therefore, Raven called Rich/Nightwing and warned him. He had several questions about the battle in general. Then he asked about Wally. "Awkward," she'd said, but he truly "saved their bacon."
Wilmington, Delaware was just a pleasant morning's drive from the battleground. Raven and Gar said little about their war with the Brotherhood.
"Way too many deaths on my conscience," Gar snarled.
"I know, and I'm sorry," Raven responded.
One hour and twenty two minutes later:
Raven drove up to a large building that served as Victor Stone's office and lab. Gar looked around appreciatively. Excusing himself, he found a men's room to clean blood off his shirt, and to brush his hair.
Raven also took a few minutes to improve her general appearance. Gar's worries were weighing heavily upon her. What if he was correct? Gar was right about one thing. It would be just like Blood (or someone close to him) to avenge his death with an innocent death. Menacing Vic's wife and children made sense in a criminal sort of mind.
Raven called Rich again.
"Yeah, this is Rich Grayson."
"Rich, it's Raven again."
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
"Do you think Blood would arrange for revenge if he were killed? Gar thinks T'Lena and the kids might be in danger."
"Gar thought of that? He's improved, and I agree. I'll call Oracle and bring in some help."
"Thanks, Rich," she breathed a sigh of relief.
Her cell rang. "Raven?" an agitated voice spoke.
"Yes, Terry, what's on your mind?" she asked. She put the call on "speaker."
"Bad news," he gulped. "Blood had a girlfriend it turns out. Miss Michelle Torbert by name. Agents spotted her at the compound, but she gave them the slip. She's a spoiled little rich girl. In addition, she's cousins to Ra's al Ghul. You might've heard of him-gives the Batman lots of trouble."
"You have a file on this Torbert?" Raven asked. "I'm familiar with Ra's," Raven groaned. "He's a whole world of trouble. We can't let him get involved."
"Yes, and yes to your questions, Raven," the FBI man agreed. "She's been trying to hire assassins. Do either you or Gar have any living relatives?"
Gar shook his head in negation. "No," Raven said, "but we're worried about Vic Stone's wife and kids. Vic was Cyborg in the Titans."
"Crap," Terry groaned. "Our informant mentioned an African American family."
"Get a freaking unit to the kid's grade school, Terry," Raven snapped. "They're at Connor Street Elementary in Wilmington, Delaware. We're making contact with Vic right now. I'll let you know T'Lena's location ASAP. Raven out."
Gar sprinted to the reception area. "I'm Garfield Logan. I need to see Vic right now. His family may be in danger!"
"Oh, my God," the woman blanched. "He's in the field today. The best I can do is paging him right now."
"Do it," Gar instructed. "I also need you to find T'Lena."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Logan," the woman said tearfully.
Raven came running up. "Rae, this lady will get you T's location. I'm going for the kids. I need a map of the town, and how to get to this elementary school." Instantly, he turned into a sparrow, and flew out the window. Then he changed to an eagle.
"Good luck, Gar," Raven called.
"You, too," he yelled in return.
At the elementary school:
"I need to see Victoria and Deron Stone," the FBI agent ordered, brandishing his ID. We believe the kids are in danger."
"Oh, my," the school secretary moaned. "The records say the kids were driven home by the school nurse twenty minutes ago."
"Check it out, Torkins," he ordered.
Less than 5 minutes later the man named Torkins rushed back to report. "I found the nurse unconscious, and locked in a closet."
"Dammit, we're too late. Mrs. Andrews, I need to see your security director now. We may get a clue from the camera tapes," the supervisor growled.
Gar was speeding in the form of a peregrine falcon now. It was his fastest form, and he was pushing for all he could. He wished Wally was still with them.
Thirty minutes later a discouraged Gar arrived at Vic's Lab. T'Lena had been located, and FBI persons brought her to Vic's job. Vic had responded to the page, and was now pulling into the parking lot.
"Hey, T'Lena," Gar said, hugging the young woman. "I'm sorry we have to meet again like this."
"This is my nightmare, Gar," the woman confessed. "Vic's past is coming back to haunt him."
"I heard my name," Vic yelled. He instantly ran to his wife, and embraced her. He was quickly surrounded by his old teammates.
"I'm so sorry about this," Raven offered.
"We'll work it out," interrupted a new voice. A man dressed in black was climbing in the window.
"Nightwing?" three voices asked at once.
"Good to see all of you," he commented. "Oracle suggested I handle this one myself. Besides, it looks like this is Titan business."
Raven and Gar quickly caught their former leader up on the situation. Vic and his wife also added to the confusion. Still, the former Robin seemed to keep up effortlessly.
"Ras al Ghul's cousin?" he groaned. "I'll let Oracle call the Batman. We may need his advice."
The man called Victor Stone removed his jacket and tie. Excusing himself, he went into his private office. When he returned he was dressed only in his armor. Vic had become Cyborg again.
"Don't worry, baby," he conformed his spouse. "We got the old gang together now. The Titans can do this."
"Even though we're hardly Teens anymore," Gar smirked.
"Even without Starfire," Raven added. Rich looked uncomfortable at the mention of his former girlfriend.
Another man dressed in a black suit walked in the room with two identically dressed men behind him.
"Terry sent us," the man explained. "I'm Givens, and these are Jakes and Johns. I have some news. Miss Torbert herself assaulted the nurse, and took the kids. Another child heard her threaten to harm the younger child if the elder didn't cooperate."
Either Jakes or Johns added, "Someone drove the kids away in a brown 2006 Mercury Cougar. A neighbor got a partial ID on the license plate. We're working on that detail, but we suspect it's either stolen or a rental."
"The perps drove off at high speed going east from the school. The local police have helicopters searching even now for the car," the other man completed.
"Will there be a ransom or it this strictly a revenge thing?" Vic asked.
"Not sure, Mr. Stone," Givens winced, "but we suspect the last."
"This is my fault," Raven sobbed.
"Look, Raven," T'lena offered, "I knew there was a risk of this kind of thing when I married a superhero. It's not your fault, girl."
"The homing devices in their shoes," Vic yelled. "I forgot all about them."
"You have homing devices on my babies?" his wife scolded. "You paranoid, wonderful man."
"Now we're talking," Gar grinned.
Ten minutes later the group had an approximate location on the children. They were headed back to the compound it seemed.
"Who's up for a quick trip to the Brotherhood's ex-playground?" Raven asked.
Rich's cell phone rang. "What, Oracle, slow down. Wait, are you certain of your sources. Yeah. Oh my god, no. We're on it. Thanks."
Nightwing quickly passed on the news. "Gas station owner on I-81 heard the APB on his police scanner. He's about an hour from the compound. Called it in, and Oracle intercepted the call. Saw five or six cars full of people in robes all driving south. Young white woman with two black children in a Mercury."
"How did so many devotees escape?" Johns asked.
"There was probably a second compound of 'culties.' I'll put some of our people on that idea," Givens theorized.
"Great, now we just need to get there…" T'lena started.
"There is more bad news," Rich interrupted. "The guy that sold some of them coffee overheard a conversation between the woman and the robed people."
"At least the kids are still alive," Vic growled. "If one hair on their heads…"
"Hold that thought, Vic. Torbert mentioned one word that caught the worker's attention. The word was 'Jonestown.'" Rich looked disgusted as he spat out the word.
"No," T'Lena whispered. [Jonestown was a cult some years ago under a man named Jim Jones. When the federal government threatened to arrest their leader, he and the whole cult committed suicide.
"I can have us a Blackhawk [very fast military helicopter here in ten minutes," Givens suggested. "It'll hold all of us, and could be on location in twenty minutes or so."
"Do it," Vic pleaded, and the others agreed. "That's faster than my experimental vehicles."
"Where are Miss Roth and Mr. Logan?" Jakes asked.
"I witnessed the two of them walking out of the room just after the phone call from Oracle," said Johns. "Should I search for them?"
"It's no use," Nightwing shared, "we know where's they've gone."
"Maybe you do, Rich," Vic growled, "but not all of us are detectives."
"They're not with us, and they feel guilty for this mess. Remember: Raven is capable of teleportation."
"So she and Gar?" T'lena started…
"They've teleported to the Brotherhood compound. They are our best hope to rescue the kids, and prevent another Jonestown," Rich concluded.
"Isn't that too far for Raven to teleport, especially with Gar? She didn't used to be that powerful," Vic queried.
"She's far more powerful than she was years ago, Vic," Rich answered.
"What do we do then?" T'lena asked nervously.
"I suggest we follow as quickly as possible," Givens debated. "Besides, it sounds like the Blackhawk is landing in the parking lot now."
The others agreed, and there was a mad dash for the parking lot.
"Saw five or six cars full of people in robes all driving south. Young white woman with two black children in a Mercury." Raven heard these words and nudged Gar.
"Come on, Gar, we're going," she ordered quietly as she pulled him aside.
"I'm game, Raven," he agreed, "but how?"
"I've been to the compound, remember? I can teleport the two of us," she reminded her boyfriend.
"Can you teleport that far, Rae? We're talking miles!" he questioned.
"I can do it." Please trust me," she pleaded. He nodded in response.
Raven chanted her mantra, and rose off the ground. Her powers formed her trademark Raven, and surrounded the two heroes. Minutes later the two were at the fence they'd encountered on their first visit. Blood was pouring from Raven's nose and ears. She swooned, and Gar barely caught her.
"We made it," she whispered, "but I can't go on." Ill, she promptly threw up.
"I can't leave you like this," he protested.
"You have to save the kids," she reminded, "and prevent a mass suicide." With those words, Raven collapsed completely. Gar checked her pulse. Evidently, she was simply exhausted from her Herculean effort.
"Whoa," he sighed. "Titan, go!"
Hello, readers. I thought I'd leave you with a nice little cliffhanger. I'll update in the next 2-3 days.
Lar