Argent looked up from her robot-thrashing as the main screen in Titan Square began cutting out yet again.
"Heads up, guys," she said, putting the finishing touches on her enemy. "Looks like we're about to be serenaded in the key of A-hole Minor."
The other heroes looked up as the image of Slade appeared on the screen – along with every screen and radio station in the city.
"Attention people of Jump City," he said, his monotonous voice even more droll than usual, "The arrival of the so-called 'heroes' to our fair town has caused quite a stir among the denizens. This, however, can be rectified. Unless the 'heroes' are captured and brought before me, I promise that this city will wallow in a darkness they cannot even begin to comprehend."
"Well, that's a hell of a trump card," the Herald said. "Turning the people of the city against us."
Argent glanced around, nervously. Some of the people looking out the windows seem to get the message. Things very well could go from bad to worse in an instant.
"Do not think for a second that these 'heroes' can save you from despair," the mercenary's voice continued. "No one is coming to save you. The only thing these fools can do is bring you more misery. Do what must be done. Subdue the children and make them beg. I repeat – no one is coming to save…"
Slade's voice began to cut out. Whatever mind-altering words he was trying to convey were being garbled by something else. Some other kind of transmission…
"What the hell is going on?" Argent asked as the image on the screen continued to twist and turn. After nearly entering a spiral, the screen came back into focus. The face staring back down at the citizens of Jump City, however, was not that of the crime lord.
"Dios Mios," Pantha said, holding a hand to her mouth. "It's…him."
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages – Jump City is proud to present to you the most unstoppable son of a bitch ever to walk the goddamn face of the Earth!"
Hundreds of eyes opened in shock as the voice rang out over the streets of the city. Unlike the one that came before, this voice had energy to it – an energy that refused to be silenced by anyone, let along the Ben Stein of the villain world.
Logan's face grinned as he took in the sight before him. "Yes," he said, nodding his head, "it's me, it's me, it's the motherfuckin' BB. Betcha you guys never thought you'd ever see my ass again, eh?"
A chorus of hushed whispers went up from the streets of Jump City. Many recognized the supposedly-dead Titan, and a few in particular recognized him as the so-called 'vigilante' that had ran the streets of the city in an all-out war with villainy. In any case, the people found themselves looking at the face of the wild card in the battle for their lives.
"Well, this vigilante's still got some gas left in the tank, so I plan on bringing a whole world of pain on the motherfuckers who think they're running this city now. Personally, I'm broadcasting from the H.I.V.E. right now – and if any of you in this city got kids enrolled here, I suggest you come down here and pick up the bodies, 'cause this place's gonna get blown the fuck off the face of the planet! Feel free to come on down and watch the fireworks. Be sure to bring plenty of marshmallows and wieners for the roast. As for Slade…if you're watching this right now, know that in about fifteen minutes your balls are gonna be mine. Remember the Golden Rule, shithead – you don't start nothing, won't be NOTHING!"
Argent and the others looked around in awe as the people of the city began cheering. The team couldn't help but smile at the turn of events.
"Bloody hell," Argent said to herself. "I could kiss that boy."
Logan smiled once more as the fists pumped up into the air before him. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time we take this city back for ourselves. Time to put that fuck Slade were he belongs – in a motherfucking grave! And I'll be the one to see to that. Voice of Survival – OUT!"
As the screen cut to black, the lone mercenary leaned back in his chair.
"That was…most interesting," he muttered to himself. "Perhaps I should prepare myself for Mr. Logan's arrival after all…"
"Mallah, I think that haste is of utmost importance," the Brain spoke as the gorilla prepped the escape vessel.
"If we had controls in the H.I.V.E., I wouldn't have had to come out here to start the damn things," the henchman said, pressing in a sequence on the keypad. "Be only a few more moments…"
"Time's up, asshole."
The voice struck like a dagger deep into the heart of Monsieur Mallah. Turning his head around, he spied Raven glaring back at him. Her Slade's Youth uniform, however, had disappeared. The Girl from Azarath was back.
"Soldiers, ATTACK!" the Brain shouted. With his words, a handful of the surviving protectors surrounded the villainous mastermind and began opening fire on the young heroine.
"AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!" The spell flew from Raven's lips as she sent the mindless drones toppling over the edge of the building with a tremendous force. The shockwave bore so much energy that it rocked both Mallah and the Brain where they stood.
"Mallah, stop her before she-!" the villain's order stopped as a small crack appeared in the dome where the organ was held. "No…No…NO!"
"How about another, motherfucker?!" the girl shouted, flinging another wave of ethereal energy at the Brain. This time, the gorilla leapt from the path of the blast. He needed a weapon, and he needed it now if he were to have any chance of saving his master. By now the small crack had become compromising, as fluid began leaking from the case.
"MALLAH!" he shouted, the synthesizer doing little to convey the fear he had of his own impending death. Raven followed up with another attack that all but ruptured the case. On the edge of oblivion, the girl came face-to-face with the mastermind.
"Not so goddamn tough now, are ya?" she said, glaring down at him. Raising her fist into the air, she prepared to deal the final blow. This would be oh so sweet…
"RAVEN!"
The girl turned at the sound of her name. Suddenly, she let out a shudder as a massive force punched her square in the chest. Staggering back a few steps, she felt a strange warmth spread down her stomach and onto her thighs. Her hand went to the point of impact. The strange warmth seemed to emanate from that point. As she pulled her hand away, she realized in horror that it was covered in blood. Her eyes moved in a veritable slow motion as she looked back up. Mere feet in front of her Mallah stood, the gun still smoking in his hand.
Raven had never been shot before. It was an alien feeling the likes of which one never forgets…provided one lives long enough to remember them. Glaring back at her, Mallah had time to compose a simple response.
"To kill a mockingbird…" he growled.
The Titan's eyes rolled back into her head. Her weight took her off-balance as she slipped into the darkness, falling back and plummeting down from the roof of the H.I.V.E.
Fade to black…
Aqualad arched his head as he heard the shot. Turning back, he had just enough time to witness a nightmare – that of his friend tumbling lifelessly from the roof of the building.
"RAVEN!" he screamed. But there was nothing he could do…except watch.
My short-lived celebration in outwitting Slade at his own game came to an end as I heard a gunshot from the roof. Funny – I'm not up there. So who the hell's shooting…
It all happens in slow motion. As I look out the window of the room, I see her. She's falling. Something's wrong. Eyes are rolled up. She's not conscious! FUCK!
My feet are pounding the floor before my mind even gets a chance to ask the rest of me what the fuck it thinks it's doing. I hit the glass with the force of a rhino. SMASH - it shatters like an old dude falling down a flight of stairs. My hands reach out for her. Shit! There's blood everywhere! Still, I take her into my arms as we continue our freefall. She's not gonna survive the impact. Me – well, I'd rather not find out.
My mind begins imagining something – something I know very well. Cy, whatever the fuck you put into me, I only got one thing to say…
I hope this works…