I do not own Teen Titans
Sitting before an empty chessboard a figure plots his first move, "Time to assemble the first pieces of my game."
In Siberia
Red Star, the radioactive Russian super soldier, sleeps in his lair. A siren blares while red lights flash awakening him from his slumber.
"What is this?" He wonders as he checks his readings to find what the problem was. His eyes fly open when he sees the cause, "A meltdown?! How is that possible?!"
He runs towards the chamber he had once used to siphon his own powers, which was now used as a power plant to power the nearby towns and villages; the same chamber that may soon blow those towns off the map.
"Come on, come on!" Red Star yells as he presses buttons to stop the reactor, but once everything fails he slam on the control panel in anger. He turned and entered the other chamber in the middle of the room where two rods with handles on top rose from the ground. He began to glow red as he tried to absorb the energy to contain the energy. He growled in pain as he took in all that power.
In the Savage Lands beneath the Arctic Circle
The crystal girl Kole and caveman Gnarkk are asleep peacefully in their hut. A strange rustling sound woke Kole, but Gnarkk remained peacefully unaware. Kole searched for the source of the sound and found that it was coming from a nearby bush. She went to investigate making sure not to stray too far from the hut so Gnarkk could help at any time. There by the bush she saw a little monkey who looked to be hurt. "Hey there, what happened to you?" she asked as she approached it.
In Mexico
Within a small arena where many people cheered at the luchador match they were here to see. A match that involved Pantha the super-heroine/luchador battling another challenger. With her super-enhanced abilities she handles him with ease. After taking her opponent to the ground one more time she panders to the crowd as they cheer. She turns to look outside the ring where her friend Wildebeest (who had taken a break from Titans North to come visit) is standing there cheering her on. She smiled and turned back to her opponent who stood and ran at her, but she easily side stepped his attack. He bounced off the ring ropes and was caught in Pantha's hold. With a powerful slam she took him out and pinned him for the three-count. She boasted to the crowd a little before she left to go celebrate with her friend. But when she turned she was confused to find that Wildebeest was no longer there. She left to go to her dressing room in the back thinking he had gone to wait for her there.
In the middle of the Pacific
A cruise ship is caught in the middle of a massive storm. The passengers panic as they are roughly tossed around as the ship was hit with large waves that could take the ship down at any minute. The dark skies cackled and boomed seeming to be raging harder. These sounds frightened the people onboard, but they had no need to fear for these sounds were of their rescue not destruction. A bolt of electricity struck the deck of the ship and once it was gone there stood the storm twins, Thunder and Lightning. Combining their powers they able to calm the storm, but the waves are still raging against the ship. Thunder goes and uses his powerful sound blasts to hold off the force of the waves.
Brother, while I handle this you attend to those inside,he instructed Lightning through their psychic link as he continued to fight off the seas.
Right Brother, Lightning nodded and disappeared in a flash.
After he had finished to keep the waves at bay he tried to check in on his brother, I am done out here Brother is everyone alright with you? He called. He received no answer, Brother? He called again with worry. With concern growing he entered the ship where he was welcomed by the passengers applauding him for having saved them. Thunder rubbed the back of his head in nervousness not being used to this kind of treatment.
"Um, it was no problem, have you seen my brother?" He asked still concerned for his brother's location.
"Oh you mean that yellow guy with the spiky hair? Yeah, he went down that way to check if there wasn't anyone else in trouble" a man informed him. Thunder nodded and thanked the man before heading off. As he headed down a corridor he spotted an open door of a cabin where he could check.
Back in Siberia Red Star had managed to stop the reactor from going critical. His body was glowing a solid red color overflowing with radiation. As he tried to exit the chamber door closed on him.
"What is this?!" Red Star shouted as he bangs on the door, but it does not budge.
Pantha had entered her dressing room and closed the dressing room door behind her. She turned and saw her friend unconscious on the ground, "Wildebeest!" she exclaimed as she went to see how he was.
Thunder found a similar situation as he entered the cabin with Lightning strewn on the floor, "Brother who has done this to you?"
Kole lifted up the small marmoset and checked on it closely, but suddenly a small nozzle appear from it's mouth, "What the-"
All these honorary Titans from different points of the Earth had fallen into traps. Simultaneously a blue gas began to engulf them. The gas turned a purple color as they all fell to the floor pale and exhausted.
The figure now sat before a chessboard with all its pieces in place. It looked as if all went as planned as he watched from his various monitors as the teens lay on the ground. He moves a pawn as his first move, "One by one each Titan will fall just the same."
1,2,3,4 GO!… TEEN TITANS
"FIRE WITH FIRE"
"Wildebeest's gone missing?" Robin repeted what Kid Flash had informed them over their screen.
"Yeah, he went down to Mexico to visit Pantha, but that was four days ago, he should have been back yesterday" he explained. "We've tried to get in contact but we can't get a hold on either of them."
Robin nodded as he took in the info, "Alright, we'll help in finding them anyway we can, just keep in touch."
"Right, thanks Robin" and with that the transmission shut off. Robin ran a hand through his hair and gave a sigh of exasperation.
"What is it?" Raven asked as she stood beside him.
"That's not the first call I've gotten of a missing Titan" he elaborated. "Gnarkk called and said that Kole went missing too."
Raven raised an eyebrow at this, "Gnarkk 'said' that?" she wondered, knowing the caveman's limited vocabulary.
"Well, that's what I got from his frantic yelling and the fact that he even used the communicator instead of Kole with his fear of tech and all." He explained his deduction.
"So you think their connected" she said as more of a statement than a question knowing the answer.
He nodded, "And it may not be isolated to just those two, we should check in on other Titans and investigate if there is anyone who would want these certain Titans."
"May I do some assisting?" Starfire approached him having heard the conversation.
"Um, sure I guess the three of us together can get more done." He accepted her invitation. Robin didn't notice the slight disappointment from Starfire from his saying, 'the three of us', but Raven did.
"Uh, actually I just remembered that I had already made plans" Raven informed them. "So you'll have to do it without me."
"What are you doing? Do you need any help?" Robin began to quickly question.
"No, I was… just planning on meeting a friend in the city" She told him. Robin raised an eyebrow about question what friend but Raven cut him off, "You two shouldn't have a problem with this on your own, right Star?" She directed her question at the girl knowing she'd take the chance. And she did as she nodded and grabbed Robin's arm and began pulling him away.
"Alright, but if we find anything I'll call you" he informed her as he struggled against Star, Raven nodded in response. As the two passed the doorway Robin clung to the edge and turned back, "And if you need help with anything just call" was his final desperate cry before being pulled away completely. Raven merely looked on with an unreadable expression before also taking her leave.
Cyborg and Beastboy, who had been watching from the kitchen the whole time, just looked on with concerned and confused expressions respectfully. "Hey Cy, you ever feel like you don't know something that everyone else does?" BB asked his friend confused. Cyborg didn't answer only keeping his eyes on the exit. He then also headed for the door following after Raven. "Hey Cy wait! Where are you going?!" He yelled after him only to be ignored. Beastboy grew irritated, "Why does no one tell me anything?!"
"Hey Rae!" Cy called as he caught up with her. She turned to him with a raised brow, "I don't remember having talked to anyone but our leader for a while" he started.
At hearing this Raven's eyes shot and she tried to hide her face within her hood. "What's your point?"
"When exactly did you make plans with this 'friend' of yours?" He asked clearly not believing her story.
"You have an eye on me all the time, at least I'd hope not I have enough to deal with Beastboy"
"No, I'm not watchin you all the time but I have been seein some concerning things, things that could end up hurting one if not all of the team." He pretty much explained his problem.
"Well don't be worried it's going to stop" Cyborg didn't seem convinced, but he did leave it at that and left her alone.
Once he was gone Raven took out her communicator, "Hey are you busy?... I was thinking we could meet and hang out… I know it's short notice… it's a long story… I'll explain when we meet… alright see you then."
At the Titans North Tower
Jinx enters the main room and sees her teammates; Hotspot and Argent are sitting at the kitchen table playing some sort of card game seemingly just passing the time, and their leader Kid Flash was still hard at work over the missing Wildebeest. She noticed that his fingers moved over the keys at super-speed as she approached him. She smirked as she crept up behind him and affectionately moved her hand up his back. This caused him to be startled out of his thought and stop his work immediately.
"Hey" Jinx says with a smile.
"Oh hey, what's up Jinx?" He asks returning the smile.
"I'm going over to Jump City" she informs him, Kid finds this information strange.
"Where did that decision come from?"
"Raven called said she wanted to talk, sounded desperate so of course I have to get the story." She explains.
"Always the nosy one aren't you?" He responds cheekily.
"You know me" she answers back.
"Alright, but be careful with this whole Wildebeest missing thing we may have to keep a look out." Kid cautioned.
"So sweet that you're worried but I'll be careful" she assures him as she turns to leave. She says she'll see them later as she leaves out the sliding doors. KF smiles before turning back to the computer to maybe contact the Titans East to also look out for their friend.
Not long after the sliding doors open again. Kid Flash hears it but doesn't turn thinking Jinx must've returned for something. "Did you forget something?" He asks as he takes his eyes off the screen for the door. But he is shocked that it most certainly isn't Jinx. "What the-" is all he gets out before the blast.
Robin and Starfire are in the towers crime lab having found that there were other Titans that could not be accounted for. They were busy searching for any clue, connection or witness to this dilemma with (with little results so far).
Robin turned to look at the Starfire with a question clearly on his mind, "You're usually not into this part of the job, not that I mind, but what brought this on?"
Starfire looked at him then at the ground shyly, "Actually in truth I just wished to spend time with you Robin." She admitted surprising Robin. "I thought that once we entered a relationship we would do the things that I had read couples are to do, but I do not feel that we have come any closer" Starfire explained her grievences.
Robin turned to her with a guilty expression, "I did say that our jobs would sometimes get in the way since crime doesn't rest, and we did go on that double date the once" he weakly tried to defend.
"But you spent most of the time helping Friend Raven and left me at the shop of ice cream, and you have been able to spend time with Friend Raven so why not with me?" She countered.
This only increased Robin's nerves, "Yeah I guess I should apologize… for just leaving you there… I mean… the thing is… I had to, um" Robin struggled not knowing what to say.
Outside a café within Jump City sat Raven at a table drinking tea and waiting for her friend. "Hey there, wait long?" Jinx asked as she arrived and sat across from her. Raven shook her head telling her it was fine. "So spill, what was it that finally made you decide to call me up and does it have anything to do with your wannabe Wonder Boy toy?" Jinx started teasing. Raven sighed as she regaled her with her problems.
"Sounds to me like the alien princess is starting to sweat under the competition" Jinx assessed after hearing everything.
"There is no competition I am not doing anything" she told her adamantly.
"From what you say the Birdboy is being lulled by your charms"
"There are no charms I am not trying to take Robin from Starfire" Raven argued getting frustrated.
"So he's falling for you without you even trying, you're good." Jinx teased.
"Look Starfire's as much my friend as Robin, I wouldn't hurt her by going after Robin; not that he'd ever want me in the first place" she whispered the last part with a hint of disappointment. "I'm just going to stop talking to Robin so much to show that there's nothing to worry about"
"Come now, all's fair in love and war, right? Like you said she can't blame you if Robbie's falling for you on his own" Before could respond with 'He's not falling for me' she continued. "Besides Star could still find someone with her looks, but it will probably be a hard and long while. I know I moped because of Cyborg before Kid came along"
This news seemed to gain Raven's attention, "Cyborg?"
"Yeah, I had a crush on him when he was Victor back at the Academy" She said nonchalantly as if this info weren't strange to Raven (when it was). "I thought he was cute don't you agree?"
Raven made a face at that, "I'd rather not hear about Cy in that light… ever"
"Come on don't be a prude he's so smart, muscular and-"
"Stop. Now." Raven urged.
Jinx could only laugh at how she could affect Raven so easily. Raven looked annoyed, but soon a small smile grew on her face. She was glad she had decided to call her, it certainly took her mind off.
They were suddenly pulled away by the sounds of screams and explosions. They both turned and prepared for action but were floored by what they saw.
Starfire & Robin stand in the crime lab in an uncomfortable silence, neither saying anything. Soon Starfire breaks the silence, "You have not even told me what your feelings are for me"
As she dropped this bomb Robin had a stunned expression, "What?" he asked as he hadn't understood her.
"You never expressed how you feel for me" She reiterated.
Robin opened and closed his mouth several times but no words came for awhile, "W-well, uh… I-I've never-cough-um, been one for expressing feel-hrmph-ever since my paren… I mean something made it hard… I-I" He just kept rambling unable to get anything fully coherent out. Meanwhile, Star's face grew sadder and sadder.
Back in the city
Raven was exhausted and beaten from the battle and could barely stand. A blast sounded in the distance and Jinx landed with a thud beside her unconscious. "Jinx" she barely croaks out from her tired pants. She was soon surrounded by her attackers. She tried to summon her power but she was simply drained. She knew she was about to past out. So she did the only thing she could do with her remaining energy.
'Robin'
Starfire was still looking like kicked puppy and Robin couldn't handle it anymore, "Look Star I'm not really good with feelings but" Robin was nervously rubbing the back of his head thinking of the right words. "I do have strong feelings… I mean I really like… no, I care very deeply for-"
'Robin'
"Raven!" he shouted as he received her mental message and felt her weakness.
"Y-you care deeply for Friend R-ra-ra" Star mistook what Robin had blurted out.
Robin realized what she must have thought, "No, I mean Raven's in trouble we have to-" and as if it had heard him the alarm signaled and they left at great speed.
The four Titans arrived in the city where it looked like a battle had indeed taken place. But what was missing was their empath friend or whatever culprit she was facing.
"What has happened here?" Star asked as she looked at the mess.
"And where's Rae?" Cyborg asked worried.
A crackle sound came from behind them. They turned and were shocked to see robots, who bared striking resemblance to their missing friends Pantha, Wildebeest, Kole and Red Star.
"Ah! This just like in the horror movie Take Over of the Body Takers!" BB screeched.
Suddenly with another crackle and flash robot Lightning and Thunder appeared and hit with sonic and electric blasts.
"Well whatever they are they don't just look like them they also have their powers somehow" Cyborg said as he picked himself up and rubbed his sore areas.
With that the Titans went to battle against these robot duplicates. However this group seemed to be at the advantage over the Titans.
Robo-Pantha was able to wrestle and takedown Beastboy no matter what creature he threw at her. Her strength and Panther's Claw easily subdued the shape-shifter.
Mecha-Wildebeest wielded Robot Kole in its crystal form like a club and with it could deflect Starfire's star-bolts; making her venerable to his super powerful attacks.
Thunder and Lightning's power and speed were too much for Cyborg's circuitry especially the electrical attacks causing him to nearly overload.
Robin couldn't even get to close to Robo-Red Star due to its radiation emanating from it. It was only thanks to his special polymer cspe that he wasn't dosed with deadly radiation.
Soon the Titans were on the ground by each other in pain, but still trying to lift themselves up for another round.
The robot Kole walked in front of them put its feet together and spread its arms out as it crystallized; looking like a crystal T. The robot Pantha and Wildebeest walked to each side of it, grabbed it by the arms and lifted it before them.
The Titans were perplexed by what they were doing, until they noticed the Robo-Red Star stand behind them and power up. They all had fear in their eyes knowing what they were doing having done something similar before.
A powerful red beam of energy hits the crystal is collected and amplified. A large moving wall of red energy heads for the Titans. That's all they see is red before… darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED
Reviews appreciated, only two more in the conclusion. Stay Tooned!
