Chapter 25
A/N: Usual disclaimers apply. Anyway, come on readers, please send in reviews. I need the feedback to improve the quality and know how things are going. What do you have to lose? Help me give you a better story.
Robin groaned, pulled back over the border of Nod by the brightness of the sunlight filtering through the shutters. He stirred, feeling a warm hand thrown over him. Starfire snuggled into Robin, eager to enjoy his warmth. This was nothing out of the ordinary so Robin accepted her, but somehow he was feeling extremely sore in the hips, groin and lower back.
His hands reached out to her and pulled her closer, moving over the smooth orange skin of her naked shoulders. She responded, her body stretching out to encompass him. Strangely, she was naked...
The memory of what had happened hit him like a meteorite crushing an ant. He sat rigid, trying to calm himself down and approach the situation rationally. He peeked under the blanket to find himself and Starfire naked, stains of their bodily fluids marking the sheets and mattress. It was then that the smell hit him, the overpowering scent of sex.
It was also then that he began to notice the bite marks all over his body, especially around his groin, as well as the fact that his penis felt sore, blistered almost, as if from overuse. He clutched it, just to confirm his suspicion. The skin around his pubic region felt raw and abraded, at the same time sticky and smelling of sweet musk.
He sat up and groaned as his muscles protested. He wasn't sure how to react. It was like the last time with Batgirl, but worse. At least he had some level of control. The memory of being thrown by Aziz at Starfire, like a peace-offering of steak to an extremely angry dog, was a highlight he wouldn't forget. Then again, Robin had to admit, he would probably have done the same. She wouldn't have hurt him, after all. She knew his limits.
Starfire reached out for him, her hair a mess of curls, before she opened her eyes. She looked at him, and Robin could see in her eyes the same momentary spasm of horror that he had experienced not seconds ago. She had desired physical communion with her lover, but never under circumstances where both were not in control of themselves.
She gathered the blanket around herself, unsure of how to proceed, looking at Robin, meeting his eyes and then looking away in embarrassment. The physical intimacy… no, that was far too mild a phrase… the carnal madness of the night before was gone, replaced with sanity, exhaustion and, as always, the consequences.
"Robin…. I'm sorry. I didn't want it to happen that way," said Starfire. She wasn't quite able to meet his eyes again. "After you told me about the things between you and Barbara, I didn't…"
"Star, it's okay," said Robin, a lot more able to cope with the situation. It was the second time, after all. "It's no one's fault. No one expected that to happen. It's just… did we use any contraceptives?"
"I don't think so. No. No, we didn't."
WWW
Garfield woke up in his own room, spread out on the floor with a splitting headache. The room was rotating around him, twisting and turning. His stomach rumbled and he ran for the toilet as bile violently rose in his gorge, trying to flush his digestive tract of foreign objects that weren't there.
Garfield had had hangovers before, but this was worse. He was suffering from a headache that was beyond anything he had ever experienced. It was like two separate headaches were fighting for dominion of his head. Thankfully, the two headaches had apparently decided they were equally matched and left. So did he, cleaning himself as best as he could and changing into something else.
He saw Terra sitting in the kitchen, her face drawn, while Impulse and Jinx sat in the corner, nursing cuppas. Cyborg simply looked stressed. He tried to explain how Batman had gone missing to the Martian Manhunter via video and telepathy. A woman he didn't recognise, a plump older woman of Gypsy descent, and the celebrity magician Zatanna slept on the cots in the living room, both deeply asleep.
Aziz walked past, glancing at and assessing Gar and Terra as he went over to Cyborg. Through the mental fog he saw Cyborg react with relief as Az took the call from the Manhunter.
He began talking in a lilting foreign tongue that didn't sound like any human language, full of clicks, glottal stops and chirps. The Manhunter was momentarily shocked. He was being spoken to in a language he had long thought dead, buried forever in the ashes of his planet.
The situation was resolved in a minute and he signed off from the Watchtower.
"Az, where the hell was Batman? He slipped out of the garage on one of Robin's bikes while I was busy dealing with Zatanna and Edna over there," he said, inclining his head toward the two sleepers. In four corners of the living room, melted candle wax and the burnt out incense sticks were testimony to the effort required to unbind the spell and dispel it.
"He's being looked after by a friend of mine."
Cy shook his head in disbelief, a single thought stirring within; I've got to meet his 'friends' sometime. The amount of shit that's been going on since he arrived is almost ridiculous. At least I can trust him.
"Can you tell me who this friend is?"
"Sophia Mendes of MDD."
WWW
Zatanna was not only a celebrity magician, but among the most powerful mystics worldwide as well, ranking in the same league as Doctor Fate and Madame Xanadu. As tribute to her late father and as a focal point she usually casted spells by speaking verbal commands backwards, though she could cast them speaking normally as well, or not at all. On rare occasions, she'd cast spells by writing them in her own blood, as in this case, when calling upon supremely powerful forces.
She had used her powers to command elemental forces, heal, transmute and transmogrify objects, manipulate minds, and attack her opponents with energy blasts. She'd even resurrected Metropolis from ruin after the attacks of Apokolips, merged Aquaman's spirit with the ocean and manipulated time and space.
Mysteriously enough, the psionic spell that bound the Titans had been dispelled, in fact broken apart by a force majeure of titanic proportions that had left enormous ripples in the astral plane by its mere presence.
The taste of it was a combination of daemonic and demonic energy, some fel and chaos, though with highly significant traces of divine energy. A hybrid being of sorts had been present, acting of its own free will.
Raven had been easy enough to cure, especially after Edna had found the strange necklace in her room. The very same thing that had caused such trauma to Edna was the same artifact that had in the end broken the spell on Raven. They'd found her handcuffed to water pipes, Aziz on the opposite end of the room, eyes glowing gold. To say that Edna and Zatanna were intrigued by the situation, the artefact and the man who presented it to Raven was and understatement of colossal proportions.
Following onto that they had tried using Raven as a filter, channelling the power of the necklace. It was strangely compliant. The sentience within the necklace had allowed its power to be channelled, devouring and digesting the spell like so much plankton to a blue whale.
The touch of the necklace had tired them more than they had realized and they'd chosen to sleep, far too tired to pursue any leads on Batman. Still, their interest was aroused. The necklace had only calmed down when Shafaq had concentrated on it. That had certainly piqued Edna's interest. Her experience with the force within the necklace had been beyond description.
WWW
Bruce stirred in the sheets, a warm body wrapped around him. It was on top of him, his penis flaccid within her vagina. He simply lay there, too tired to move and very unwilling to do so. He had been satiated and emotionally spent to the point that he simply could not feel angry or even frustrated at the situation.
An uncharacteristic buzz filled his mind and he smiled slightly. Without warning, Sophia got up, entering the shower, her hand trailing slightly over her abdomen gently, as if a precious treasure were within. He rose to follow but was rudely interrupted by the presence of her bodyguards, several of them with sharp angular face and two brutes who he knew went by the names of Eko and Tyu. Strange names at that.
"Miss Sophia is busy. She will be with you shortly," came the (rather impersonal) statement, before Bruce could even formulate a question. "Please wait outside on the balcony. Breakfast is served and the newspapers are waiting. We suggest a shower, sir."
Bruce simply nodded and proceeded to the separate toilet pointed out to him. Even in his groggy state, it did not escape him that several of her bodyguards were tense. One in particular though stood out. He seemed almost familiar….Jaras.
The infamous assassin who was wanted by Interpol, the Assassin's League and Shadow League as well as most of the crime cartels in the world. He was responsible for neutralising the La Cosa Nostra in Sicily as well as the Russian mafia throughout Eastern Europe, and most of the drug lords in Colombia.
He also happened to have bested Lady Shiva, Bronze Tiger, Deathstroke, David Cain, the O-sensei and Natas, the master of Deathstroke, in combat. Indeed, some said he was the master who had taught Natas, who was himself the master of Wilson Slade or Deathstroke, as he was more generally known.
On impulse he flew at him, only to be sidestepped and having his arm locked behind his back.
"Mr Wayne. Or should I call you the Batman? My name is Jaras. You know who I am; I know you have been searching for me. Please, you are a guest in my employer's home. Cease this behaviour. I am currently off-duty, but allow me to tell you this: Behave yourself, or I will not be as gentle."
He gently released Bruce, the only visible indicator of the lock the pain in his shoulder joint. Jaras pointed him to the shower, before moving ahead of him and guiding him to it. As far as Bruce knew, he was a possible prisoner. As far as Jaras was concerned, Bruce was simply a misbehaving guest he was supposed to look after.
WWW
Refreshed and revitalized after the shower, Bruce sat in a plain shirt and pants, enjoying the breeze from the 90th storey of the skyscraper. It overlooked Jump City Harbour, the Pacific stretching out into the horizon. This place was so unlike Gotham, further north and just south of Vancouver, located at the tip of Washington state.
Much like Wayne Enterprises was the biggest employer in Gotham, MDD and Nair Electric were the biggest companies in Jump, their only rivals in net worth being Microsoft, LexCorp and Wayne Enterprises.
Jump was a young city whose infrastructure had been carefully planned to allow for sustainable development. However, there were still signs of sprawl, the masses of humanity filling the streets. Many of the residents were from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, India, Pakistan, the Middle East and South and Central America, making its composition decidedly cosmopolitan.
The simple fact was that in this city of 8 million, the majority populations were the East Asian and Hispanic communities and only a fifth were of Anglo-Saxon descent. More than half of the people currently populating Jump had been born overseas.
He looked at the mainstream papers, the headlines blaring about a bank robbery and hostage situation that had been foiled by the local heroes, the Titans. There was nothing about the actions of the Titans, simply a mention of a biohazard that the Titans had dealt with.
He felt a presence behind him and turned, his eyes meeting with Sophia's. His expression was hard, but apprehension flickered beneath, unsure of how to proceed.
"Sophia. What happened last night?"
"Magic. Simply magic Bruce. You don't need to worry about your identity. I've already known of it for a long time."
"This business between us, Sophia… it's not finished. You have one of the most wanted assassins in the world working for you. This dalliance between us means nothing to me. It was simply the spell."
"I know that. And that's two assassins, actually. You remember in the early 90's, how the Siberian Ghost took apart the Russian mob? He worked for me too. Bruce, don't make this too hard. I enjoyed last night, but don't try to confront me or interfere with my business. It'll end badly for you."
Bruce's eyes narrowed at the statement. "Are you threatening me?"
"Quite the opposite. I'm warning you." Sophia sighed softly. "Bruce, I like you as a person. But I know that as Batman you can be a… difficult person. I know how to deal with you and your Justice League, and could have done so. I've had contracts offered to me worth billions of dollars by alliances of countries who do not wish for the Justice League to exist. I've used my resources to smooth things over, to persuade people not to oppose you. Who do you think helped in smoothing over that little Kasnia incident? Me."
Who do you think helped to silence the opponents of the League within the media? Who do you think disabled the air defence systems in Burma when your League had the balls to enter? You think it was just luck? I made your luck, Bruce.
Who do you think assassinated the generals that no one else could touch over the Rwandan genocide, or the ones responsible for the Balkan genocide? My men are the ones working in shadow, bringing justice in the shadowlands where the oppressed and weak are, crying out for help. You claim you fight the good fight, in day or night, dusk or dawn. My battleground is the twilight.
Bruce moved back, the crystal glass of champagne falling from his hand. The telepathy had been unexpected. Sophia smiled and continued; "I'm a creature of twilight Bruce. I support the Justice League because the world needs it. Yet, you could be so much more. I know about the Justice Lords timeline, of the fear the fool Clark Kent feels. You could have ended so many wars, reordered the world if only you had the willpower and vision. Instead, you suffer from the luxury of morals and conflicting ideals."
Fight in the light and the day, for all to see. Keep the glory, for you deserve it. Me? I'll live in the twilight and support you Batman… just like Talia did. Leave the grey areas to me. I don't have the luxury of morals to worry about, just the job of making this world, no matter how fucked up it is, a better place.
A hint of sadness entered his mind after her outburst, and he knew it to be hers. He reached out his hand to her, his fingertips stroking her cheek. Sophia moved into it, closed her eyes for a moment. In the silence, all they could hear was the breeze, and a hint of the intimacy they had shared.
Then it was gone, as Sophia looked at him.
"You should leave. You have a business to worry about. And how about the deal with Creed Pharma?"
Bruce looked at her. As he got up to leave, he turned back.
"Cyrus Creed is a corrupt man. He's too dangerous to imprison, and he's ruthless in his goals. Somehow he's connected to Joculare, and he's got connections in the Justice Department, ATF and Customs. He's an arms dealer of the worst kind."
Sophia finished his sentence.
"He'll walk free from jail, no matter how much evidence anyone could bring against him, due to his political connections and work with the CIA. You know that, but even then you'll try. Don't. I'll handle it my way, Bruce; way that doesn't waste taxpayers' money or allows prisoners to grow stronger or insane people to escape and harm innocents."
"You're going to have him assassinated, aren't you?"
"Bruce. You should leave."
The hard eyed stare of hers bored through his mind. He backed away, suddenly feeling like a fly in a spider's web.
With that, he walked out of Sophia's life. She turned her mind to more important things than the concerns of her heart. Jaras had a new appointment to add to his list.
As for Bruce, his investigations of her and her associates would cease when he saw it in his best interest to do so, unless he wanted the identities of his compatriots and himself compromised. It was nice that the reality shifts were thorough enough that he had no memory of OCI existing, though.
As Bruce left the building, suit in duffel, he couldn't shake the feeling that some event even in the near future was going to shake the world, and that he was part of it somehow, even if he didn't know his role. As for Sophia Mendes, she ranked up there with Talia, Ras and Bane. He knew little about her, but you don't have to know much about a tiger to tell it's a predator.
Bruce left the tower. Just as he reached the high-powered motorcycle that sat in the foyer of the skyscrapers private car park, his cellular vibrated. He picked it up, noting that it was Zatanna calling.
To run into an old lover and colleague on this day, of all days, was not something he eagerly anticipated. Knowing her, she would want an explanation for everything, and maybe a meal as well. He took the call, her husky voice full of old memories of younger days…
WWW
Rayaan. The time will soon come for you to leave this place and enter into that universe. Slowly, the weave tightens around him. The Grand Matriarch moves, as do the Imperial Ulthaj. Mogathor, Karul, Shath'Hal, Uzakiel, Khallusk and the Ulthaj Gate; they all await the reckoning. When the Jewel of Scathe is awakened once more, when Trigon rises to reclaim that which he lost at the behest of a new master, then they will strike.
Rayaan took this all in from Sorentho with an expression of resignation. He'd been watching all along, of the way things were playing out. In some universes fate and destiny were fixed in broad strokes or minute ways. Here, destiny had to be reinforced, a fixed fate leading his brother to the nexus of events where his brother saw only his own death.
Even then, something unexpected had happened that was muddying the waters of time. Like a massive comet landing in an ocean, ripples had started to occur in the future, originating from his Aziz's interactions with the Titans, with Tara, and the possibility of several other women.
There were also his friends to consider, with the actions of Damon Kazuaki in particular having great effect on the United States later on in life, in one probability stemming from the event nexus. Idimmu and Tian Wen however, diverged onto paths of tragedy that ran congruent with some of the events of Aziz's past lives, innumerable and incalculable even to him.
From Sophia had come a significant ripple, her choices affecting a weave that it was straining to affect. However, the biggest shock had been a rare display of power from the Grand Matriarch, who'd taken on the guise of a human and infiltrated the government, making her way to influence Amanda Waller, a pivotal woman in the State Department with extensive links to the Defence Department and SOCOM.
From Starfire he derived the most interest. The pending separation would be interesting to watch. What drew Rayaan to it the most was the attraction that Blackfire provided. Her past, her troubled relationship with her parents and her conflicts with her sister drew parallels to his own life.
He had no reason to contravene his brother, but his birth drew parallels with Raven as well. It was this that had made his decision to join his brother in this task, to go on a journey of discovery, to find his own self worth and make his destiny.
Similar to Raven, both his parents had been of unholy origins. In a universe long since destroyed, he was born of the mating of Cain, the Son of Adam and Lord of Murder. His mother had been Lilith, the mother of all evil and daughter of the Devil King. Rugal had destroyed them reluctantly, for both had been peers of his.
However, he had chosen to spare the life of their son and raised him as his own, despite the intent of Mogathor and Karul to destroy him. Such an event had been averted due to the direct warning of Azaluhaiz to the others, the event being their censure and sealing. That Shath'hal weighed in on the matter was not lost to them.
Urenor, as usual, was nowhere to be found. He was most likely up to his usual agendas, which neither Sorentho nor Ghanima knew anything about. As their elder sibling, he was most like their father, reserved and soft spoken, but arguably the wisest among them and a match for any Imperial Ulthaj, even Ghanima, Sorentho and Azaluhaiz, in terms of raw power, while matching his father in skill, cunning and intelligence.
He was also the only person, aside from Azaluhaiz and Shath'hal, who had inspired fear from the Janthril Matriarchs as a whole, with a capacity to awe even Uzakiel. Shath'hal was the very same blade that Aziz wielded, for it was an Imperial Ulthaj.
Shath'hal was the first Imperial Ulthaj, the being who had transcended the final barriers and met the Prime Creator, had matched it in wit, wisdom and potency, winning the right to exist. He had been the one to meet the Great Devourer and its Cha'Gukal hordes in a place beyond eternity and infinity, he who had faced them and triumphed at terrible cost.
In the aftermath, as the Omniverse was made whole, all the Creators, except one, and the Prime Creator had merged together with Shath'hal, pouring their powers and knowledge into him. As time had passed, the new entity had finally emerged, the identity solidified, its purpose unknown.
Long had it lain dormant, until finally it had deigned to be wielded by Azaluhaiz. That act alone, that this entity of transcendent power allowed itself to be wielded as such, had not escaped anyone. Shath'hal was in essence the one that had made the Omniverse.
Still, that was not the whole story, short and limited as it was, and words of mortal and immortal languages simply failed to give its true meaning, which was both utterly simple and horrendously complex.
I will make my way to that Earth, Sorentho. I have a personal interest in the matter.
I'm aware of that. My father is involved, and Blackfire seems to be the sort of mortal you pursue for romantic escapades. We'll see how my father approves.
Rayaan grinned sheepishly, memories of past liaisons with daughters of demon lords, titans and gods coming to mind. To say that his brother had been strict in disciplining him was perhaps an understatement. One did not really enjoy a session that involved escaping a berserk Carnifex while trapped on a jungle deathworld for over a century as a form of punishment.
So when do I leave?
You'll know it when it happens. Trigon the Terrible has a rather extravagant way of doing things. For an extradimensional being, he is rather limited in creativity and thinking. Such beings are always lusting after power and domination, wasting their time on destroying worlds. I shall also mention some names worth remembering; Gurenon. Ahriman. The last one you will like.
And why is that?
Jorgumander. Derman Ugorj. Your blood brother.
WWW
Raven woke up, a dull ache in her head. Getting head butted was not an experience she wished to repeat. She felt a weight around her neck, plucking at it and raising it to the light. It was the necklace she had found in his room, the one he meant to give to her. It felt light in her hands, provided a sense of security to her and allowed her to feel almost light-hearted.
She slipped on a pair of slippers, opting to wear loose trousers and a tank top for the day. The thought of wearing her leotard seemed somehow restrictive, bringing back memories of last night she did not necessarily need at the moment.
She wasn't sure how she could face Starfire and Robin if she encountered them, let alone Az. While Raven was still caught up in her thoughts, Edna entered. She sat down on the edge of the bed, looking strangely at Raven, or rather the necklace she wore.
"You have a very interesting friend out there. He knows a lot about magic, and certainly has the intelligence. He has a special aura, that one. Specifically… he has no aura that I can divine, but that necklace-"
"Has a part of my soul in it."
Edna and Raven turned to face Shafaq as he stood in the door, clad in singlet, board shorts and sandals. He'd been planning to leave the tower and pursue some of his own personal business.
After all, it was Monday and he needed to update himself on the status of his business interests and his team. He also needed to pick up the tickets that he'd bought for Starfire and Robin. He also wished to check up on Anya.
"Ms Edna, I thank you for your assistance, but I recommend that you cease all investigation into the nature of that necklace. Raven, are you well?"
Raven looked at him but turned away, unable to meet his eyes. He came to her, gently lifting her chin and looking into her eyes.
"There is nothing to be embarrassed about, Raven. Whatever happened was out of your control. Rest, eat and be well."
Uncharacteristically, he lowered his head, gave her a peck on the cheek, turned and walked off. They didn't even have a chance to question him. He simply left them alone in the room.
"Well… that was smooth," Edna commented. There was a slight blush on Raven's cheek, and both of them knew it was there. "For a young guy, he's very mature."
"He is," Raven replied. She didn't mention the age gap involved, or the truth of his nature which she had known but kept to herself. Having two mentors who imparted knowledge to her and gave her mental training in her dreams was a rather great help. Surprisingly enough, it always left her feeling refreshed.
Somehow, she seemed to get involved with guys who were far older than her. Malchior the dragon had manipulated her, using her naïve infatuation to free himself. She didn't really count him as a boyfriend, but Aziz… she was falling for him.
"Now, back to the topic at hand, my dear. What I experienced with that necklace of yours, well, if that was his soul… I'm not going to comment any further. But whatever it is, the few fractured images I saw… this Aziz, he is a being capable of terrible things."
"Iknow what he's capable of. I have my own… methods of finding out. I've been told as much. I've witnessed some of the things he has done in the past."
Somewhere within her, Rage whispered; "You fall for him, falling ever deeper into love, even if you know this man is a murderer. A murderer of children, he can kill infants with his bare hands. This one, he deserves our fear, our respect, but love…? Well, that is up to you…"
"No. You don't. After what I saw, what I experienced, I can assure you beyond doubt that anyone who is innocent, anyone who follows him and lives in his presence, anyone who is loved by him, they can trust him with their lives and secrets. He loves intensely, yet doesn't show it. But his hate, his rage… They would freeze the pits of Hell itself if one were to cross him or harm his loved ones. As for his hate… I should stop."
Edna got up, hugging Raven tightly and leaving. She had a shop to run and a granddaughter who was already anxious as to her whereabouts. Raven simply had to deal with something that was truly beyond Edna.
Once, Edna had been scared of death, of her own mortality. After her experience with the necklace, she wasn't scared of anything. She felt a mixture of fear for this man, but more of pity because of one thing.
Beautiful like a blade, he has nobility inside him that draws people to him, that makes any being which can experience some form of love respect him and follow him, something indescribable and terrifying. But someone has to save him from his hate.
Because he hates himself most of all.
He is…
…a holy and infernal monstrosity, like a Beast of God hidden in the wastes of the universe, a mistake that an insane god made and yet didn't create; an ungod.
…beyond the human capacity to understand, for all we will ever get are fragments of this… its true nature…
WWW
The Ascari A10 was a powerful sports car, produced by Ascari Cars, which also produced the Ecosse and KZ1. Able to go from 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 346 km/g (215 mph), it was also among the lightest cars in its category.
Az happened to own many cars. It was a necessity to keep up appearances. However, he used them only rarely and the A10 was not one of them. Being who he was, he allowed his friends to use them. The loss of a million dollar sports car was inconsequential to him, but that was not a fact he mentioned to anyone, and no one knew it except Eko.
This essentially left the A10 in the very capable hands of Tian Wen, a champion amateur street and drift racer. However, due to not being free, the only person able to drive it into the city and pick Az up happened to be Damon.
Derived from Greek damao, 'Damon' meant 'to tame'. According to Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who lived on Syracuse in the 4th century BC. When Pythias was sentenced to death, he was allowed to temporarily go free on the condition that Damon took his place in prison. Pythias returned just before Damon was to be executed in his place, and the king was so impressed with their loyalty to one another that he pardoned Pythias.
However, most people took it to mean something related to demons. In this sense, Damon Kazuaki was a speed demon. This was one of Aziz's thoughts as they barrelled down the coastal highway towards his warehouse, Damon taking a turn extremely sharply and almost causing them to tumble.
Many people had driven with Damon and later regretted it, many an atheist praying fervently to supposedly non-existent deities. Indeed, his own car, a BMW 7 series, was the birthplace of many born-again Christians, Muslims and Buddhists.
If Jehovah were a comedian beyond human understanding, and Az knew it to be so, Damon had the honour of being his unintentional preacher, causing many to pray to him as they suffered for Damon's need for speed.
"Kazuaki, please try to avoid running anyone over," Aziz said calmly as Damon accelerated round a turn, narrowly missing a biker on a Vespa. They came over the crest of the hill and were airborne for a few seconds before gravity rudely interrupted their levity and brought them back down to Earth.
When they finally got to the compound Damon was smiling like a manaic, sweat pouring from his brow. He'd never been to the warehouse but had heard oblique mentions of it from the others. Now was his chance to see it.
The warehouse looked normal enough, on the outskirts of town and near the coast. Az owned the land around it and used it as a paintball centre, with several warehouses dotting the place, many of them used by sports associations and clubs of one sort or another. The largest warehouse though, was the same one that had held the bunker he stored most of his equipment.
He swiped a card and entered, the normal technological security measures in place. Then he turned into the toilet, did a little tap dance of specific rhythm, teleporting himself and Damon to the bunker beneath.
What he found beneath didn't really surprise him. Most of his advanced tech had been taken away. Aside from an industrial bioforge, a nanotechnic construction system specialised for the production and maintenance of protoplasmic materials, specifically living tissue and organisms of diverse biochemistries, and the atomic replicators and nanoreplicator systems of his workshop, most of the weapons and equipment he'd possessed were gone.
He logged on to his personal database, finding it wiped clean of any materiel and blueprint. A rare spark of irritation burned in him. Sophia.
So she had taken action against him before they'd deprived her of resources as well. Someone extremely high up was orchestrating things against him, and Raven's revelation of the knowledge of his true nature was disconcerting. That he had to address.
She had called him 'warmaster'. It was not a title that he liked all that much, but one he tolerated all the same. It was a title of respect, much like Karas'thy Raksa - a title of damnation and respect.
Sophia knew of his past, of the title he shared with War Master Azaluhaiz and a few others of high standing, for a Karas'thy Raksa was a rare being.
She had yet to know that Azaluhaiz and he were one and the same.
Karas'thy Raksa could mean many things, ranging from esteemed protector, to lord of war, to the breaker of kings. It was a title of honour when understood in its entirety, for it denoted one who was willing to surrender a place in paradise to fight the war in hell. It also denoted one who made great sacrifice in the service of others. In general, the meaning changed depending on the context.
He hated the name. Names bound you to a past that he acknowledged and accepted but did not wish to remember. Names limited you, but gave you a sense of identity. Azaluhaiz was who he truly was. Aziz was what he had started out as in this life, what he was once more.
He stared at the entity complicit in the entire thing. Shath'hal stood in its place, sheathed in a scabbard of exquisite quality.
"Kiri atha reh shufath shath'hal quell BAKLOTH!"
Shath'hal simply shook in its scabbard, as if it were giving a shrug.
Damon turned to see Aziz silently pick up the blade and hold it, while storming off to the far end of the warehouse. He punched a code into a digital lock. It then opened to reveal every gun enthusiasts' heaven.
It was a room filled with each and every sort of modern weapon from wall to wall, ceiling to floor, from pistols and grenades to high-power anti-tank missiles, complete with technical details and data crystals that could be used to manufacture more of them using the nanoreplicator or atomic replicator.
However, it was a foot locker in the far corner of the room that was Aziz's intent.
"Damon, please leave. I have personal business to attend to here."
"Sure thing, dude. Just… how do I get upstairs?"
As he said the word he was automatically teleported upstairs, leaving Aziz alone in the room.
"Grace."
Immediately a trapdoor opened, revealing a hidden room beneath the armoury. On a pedestal stand stood a single suit of armour, his final piece of equipment. It was a Shadowcry Warsuit, standard-issue for the Kratos Force, but this one was customised to his specifications. He'd made a few tweaks himself. Midnight blue, it was form fitting and tight yet comfortable.
Beside it stood three pulsing green cubes, one he hoped to never have to use. Eden's Guard, Temir and Abaddon's Charity. Of all his weapons, they were the least potent in scope, but perhaps the most functional, and his preferred ones. The other named weapons he had wielded throughout his life, all his treasures, were stored within Shath'hal, leaving only Rukt, Abaddon's Charity, Temir and Eden's Guard.
He efficiently packed up what he could, drawing extra non-lethal gelatine and rubber rounds from his stores, with a healthy amount of lethal ammunition. He would introduce Raven and Cyborg to this place, and allow them to use it as a safe house, should things ever get to that.
Now to go check on his nightclub, see Sao Feng about business, pick up the air tickets, modify his investments and return home to check on Anya, before seeing to Raven. All in a day's work.
WWW
Starfire looked at Raven over the cup of coffee, their eyes meeting for a moment before flicking away. The same happened with Dick, who promptly moved off to another table. Starfire followed him, their hands intertwined. Starfire glanced back at the ugly bruise around Raven's right eye, courtesy of a head butt from a certain someone.
While they had no doubt been extremely embarrassed at first, one could not deny that such intimacy drew them closer. Raven had been polite, but couldn't help the awkwardness, as had Starfire and Robin.
Jinx and Impulse had left by then, while Terra and BB had retreated to another side of the tower to be alone. Cyborg had invited Sarah over for coffee, which they were currently sharing while playing a game of pool. From the sense of defeat that emanated from Cyborg, Raven could guess who was winning. Instantaneous equations of angles and moments meant only so much when pitted against an experienced hand.
Everyone had their way of dealing with the embarrassment, but Raven simply didn't know how to deal with hers. Her interactions with Robin, Starfire and Aziz were not something she was overjoyed at, but she still derived a sensation of carnal pleasure from the memories, a tingle that didn't really leave. She also felt rather sexually frustrated, though she chose not to admit it.
She heard the lift rise. Someone had entered via the main gallery of the tower from the viaduct that linked them to an apartment building across the street. Stone Technologies, a joint venture founded by Victor and his father, Robert Stone, happened to own the building where the tower was linked to.
It was among their source of funds due to its rental, with the city providing the utilities free of charge and the Titans Foundation responsible for administration and oversight. Certain secret benefactors had recently gifted the Titans Foundation with funds in excess of five billion euros, though they weren't secret to Raven.
The voices in her head had told her exactly who it was, and she was sleeping with the guy after all, in the sense that she shared a bed with him. Not that she actually minded sleeping with him…
He stepped out of the lift, an 'ali baba' bag slung over his shoulder.
"We have to talk, Az." Aziz nodded understandingly.
"About last night. You feel embarrassed and also wish to discuss the change in the status of the relationship that is developing between-"
"Shut up! Sit down and listen to me," she replied irritably. She hadn't considered the fact that, perhaps, dating a mature guy of his experience wasn't the best idea. But given the situation they were a compatible match, much like her and Robin. The fact that he was so much older simply meant one thing; most of the time, he was correct.
When someone says 'we have to talk', what they really mean is 'I have a load of emotional baggage I want to share with you'. The last thing they want is for the other person to instantly pinpoint and solve all their problems.
"Az, you know that I have… difficulties with my sexuality. You saw it last night. What happens is that it breaks down my barriers, lessens the degree of my control over myself and my actions. It's why I find it difficult to be emotionally intimate with anyone, or physically intimate for that matter."
He nodded, sitting down and patiently listening. She scooted closer to him, a hand resting on his knee.
Their eyes met and locked. Raven looked away, the memory of the night before vivid in her mind's eye. His nudity had been exposed for her to see, yet here he was, unashamed. She felt an arm encircle her back as he drew her closer to him, their foreheads finally meeting.
"The demon within… well, it doesn't always stay there, Az. And whatreally scares me is that I can't really just put all the blame on the demon, because it's a part of who I am, you know?" Aziz didn't even reply, verbally or physically; the look in his eyes was reassurance enough. "I'm afraid I'm going to lose control. I'm falling for you, and I can't control what's happening around me… within me."
"Raven. I understand, but please tell me, why did you call me warmaster? How did you -?"
"Sorentho. Urenor. Your sons; the sons of Azaluhaiz."
Aziz abruptly pulled back, shattering their intimacy.
"Don't call me that. Please. It's something that I left behind a long time ago, a responsibility and burden that is no longer mine. They told you about what I can do, what I have done. Didn't they?"
Raven nodded. "I saw the memorial on that world you destroyed. You made it in memory of them. You're a beautiful person inside. I don't care what anyone else says. You've bled for me. You've risked your life for me. Because you knew why I couldn't be physically intimate, you protected me, from myself, from yourself. Don't tell me that you don't feel something for me, because I can sense your emotions, whether you like it or not, and you can sense mine."
Her arms slowly took him in, but then she felt him turn rigid. He began to shake slightly within her hug.
"Raven… Why do you want to be with me? Why are you falling in love with me? I'm just your bodyguard. I'm just a close friend. That's all. Nothing more."
She whispered into his ear; "Liar. How many times have people said 'we're just friends' without meaning it? Why are you falling for me? You know, if anyone knew your real age, they'd call you a cradle snatcher."
"I do not love you. You are a valuable friend, esteemed colleague and honoured personage that I am bound and charged to protect. I am fond of you, yes, and I… value you intensely. You are my comrade and that is why I risk my life for you. I would do the same for anyone else on this team or on any other team I have been a member of or led."
"Do you share the same bed as a comrade?"
"Yes. In the past I have had to share sleeping facilities with members of the same gender."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
Aziz suddenly gulped, unable to think of anything but telling her the truth. The effect she had on him was highly disconcerting and not one he was accustomed to, something he had only ever experienced with Grace or Chayara. Even the other within him, Azaluhaiz, had acquiesced and was present within him, listening with rapt interest. He was the one in the mirror, and the mirror was him. He relaxed, the tension easing from his muscles.
"Raven, I cannot be physically intimate with you because… I have my reasons. It's not that I don't want to. I do, but I have my reasons."
Giselle. Namora. Tara. Raven. He loved them all, but he couldn't, wouldn't put them through the experience of it. It didn't matter if they were willing, for no one could follow his path. They deserved better than him, a chance at happiness and joy. Not him.
"Is that all you can think of? Is that how you're going to answer me? Don't I deserve a reason?"
"You do, and you will get it, just not right now. I promise you, on my honour."
"And why should I trust you?"
Aziz looked at her and chose not to answer. She had the evidence of the past few weeks to judge him by. He was not out to prove himself any more. If they still didn't trust him, it was their choice. He had a duty to fulfil, and fulfil it he would. What he hadn't expected was for 'love' to get in the way. It was unlike the other times, for the reason that his emotional discipline, especially after his battle with Sorentho, had worn off.
He felt the emotions and could hide the physical signs, but he felt it nonetheless, and that troubled him. He had lost the ability to simply quash it into a corner and extinguish it, which was far more irritating than he let on.
Abruptly Raven hugged him tighter, feeling annoyance bleed over the bond they shared. She could feel his emotions, had been aware of them, ever since her introduction to Sorentho. She simply hadn't addressed it, but left it unsaid. It had been resolved in its own way, both of them self-aware of it.
"I'm sorry. You've bled for me. You've shielded me. Just tell me why. That's all I want."
"Raven. I will."
Then he leaned in closer to her, as he inhaled her scent; dusk, twilight and lavender with the scent of sweet alyssum - of worth beyond beauty. She smelt edelweiss, fennel and cactus, spicy citrus and orange, spicewood.
"Raven. I desire you, your body, your mind, your heart. I desire all of them. I… want to make love to you. I am falling down a path I haven't been through in a long time. But until then, wait. We can always do other things, just… wait."
His hand began making small circles on the small of the back, slowly travelling up her spine. She closed her eyes, before feeling his lips brush against hers. She felt the pressure and opened her mouth, about to deepen the kiss when –
"Y'all give it up now! Who's your daddy? Who's the best now, Victor?
"You – um…"
The reason Victor had suddenly paused was because he'd just seen Raven and Aziz fall together on the floor in a tangle of limbs.
"Sarah. Victor. We did not expect to see you. Good day." Aziz greeted them with a straight face, stood up, dusted himself off and lifted Raven by the arm and walked her to the kitchen. Raven tried to hide her face as best as possible; if there was one thing she wanted to learn from Aziz at that moment, it was that boundless dignity of his.
Victor and Sarah looked at each other for a moment in silence. Then Sarah put her hands over her mouth and began to laugh. Victor didn't even bother with such pleasantries, his bellowing laugh audible throughout the tower.
WWW
Starfire smelt it before she saw it. Someone had set up the grill and was cooking up a storm. Of the many things Earthen things that Starfire enjoyed, barbeque was one of them. She found the taste of the meat, seared just right with that hint of rawness, appealed to her primal instincts.
"Robin, come on." Starfire flew off to the pier that jutted from the island, the smell of barbecue and the sound of music reaching her ears. Right behind her, Robin rushed out, pulling on a singlet. Honestly, it was the last thing he had expected.
He reached the pier just as Starfire landed, his mouth beginning to water at the sight of the meat and salad. BB stood to one side, enjoying a tofu steak and salad, while Terra devoured her own meal with great gusto. The grilled lamb literally melted in her mouth.
Cyborg stood in an apron, a contented smile upon his face as he flicked a piece of steak end over end, a glint of fire in his eyes as he thought of the meat, cooked to perfection, the sauces mixing together to form a melange that burst upon the tongue. What he looked forward to the most was the more exotic meats, cuts of crocodile, kangaroo, ostrich and emu lined up with the normal fare of lamb, chicken and beef. Beast Boy would probably have complained at this mass-slaughter of animals, only Cyborg had become so good at making tofu that he didn't dare.
Sarah and Raven were twirling in a circle to the beat of salsa and samba, Sarah with pandeiro in hand. Az sat on the rail with a guitar, strumming a tune and singing in Portueguese, a lilting tune filled with energy and happiness. Robin noticed that, he was uncharacteristically relaxed and looked to be smiling, lips upturned as he made quick glances at Raven. Completing it all was the beat of the surf, the ocean rhythmically beating upon the pontoons beneath.
It was quite possibly among the most restful Mondays that Robin had ever experienced, and had never quite ended the day like this. Starfire took to twirling at great speed as she spun to the beat, the bells attached to her ankle tinkling and complementing the beat. She'd chosen to wear a skirt and tube top, her orange hair flowing all over.
She looked like a queen of the dance as the trio formed a triangle, the curve of her hips and breasts shown off to good effect in the tight clothing. Raven wore flowing clothes, simple minishorts and a halterneck top in tones of orange and black. Sarah was dressed in jeans and shirt, simply enjoying the freedom to move, the beat and the rhythm. For all of them, it was the dance alone that existed.
As he looked at her dance, Robin still remembered seeing Starfire walking naked from the shower in the earliest days of the team. It was not something one easily forgot. Tamaranians were far less modest than humans. Then again, they werean entirely different species with an altogether different culture.
His remembrance of that brought her impending separation to his mind and a mood of melancholy settled over him.
"What is wrong, Robin?" asked Starfire, concerned as she saw her partner's crestfallen features.
"Oh… it's just… well, you leaving with Blackfire and all…"
Starfire smiled, but Robin could see the bittersweet quality to it. He already knew what she was going to say next.
"It worries me too. But do not worry about it, my love. Come; dance with me."
Although the sun is usually thought of as being a harsh and unforgiving thing that should be treated with respect and sometimes fear, none there could deny its incomparable beauty as it set over the mountains, the clouds above it cast in vibrant colours from deepest blood-red to electric yellow. The enchanting sight compelled the music to fade peacefully away into silence; demanded the attention of all those present.
It would have been absolutely perfect if the sun set in the east, because then they could have seen its shimmering reflection on the water. But then, sometimes the moment doesn't have to be perfect to set your soul at rest.
WWW
Settling down, Richard realised that all of them had needed that break. Sometimes, he felt that he pushed the team too hard, and Cyborg had raised the issue before. Before, there had been daily disturbances of metahuman criminals. Now, they had reduced to perhaps twice a week, which was rather good for a major North American city.
This was nothing compared to some of the Asian, African, European and South American cities which had far stricter enforcement with regards to metahuman activity. Interestingly, the US had the highest rate of metahuman crime and metahuman vigilantism, as well as the largest populations of metahumans in the world. Perhaps that was a key reason why so many countries distrusted the Justice League, for their key members were all of American extract.
He looked at Starfire, drowsy from a very good meal. Apparently, Argentine beef appealed to her taste buds, and she had drank rather heavily of the tequila provided. She disliked beer, for the simple fact that 8 stomach chambers meant that it fermented and made her bloated. Like any girl, she was vain and didn't feel the need to look fat.
He heard the knocking on his door before it opened, revealing Aziz holding a manila envelope.
"Did you know that the drinking age in South Africa is 16 years?"
"No. I didn't. Your point, Az?"
"I have a little gift for you. Take the envelope and perhaps start packing tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. Your flight has been changed so that you leave on Wednesday in the early morning." He walked out of the room, leaving the two alone.
Richard opened the envelope, his eyes taking in the details before in. His eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat. He looked up at Starfire.
Two first class tickets to Cape Town and from there to Rio de Janeiro, with an optional and highly flexible travel itinerary that perfectly suited them, a handwritten note, fake IDs, passports and two compact heavy-duty image inducers with enough power to last two weeks.
He looked at the handwritten note, scrawled with the signatures of the rest of the team and small notes of well wishing.
Take care Dick. Spend time with Starfire and go on a vacation. You both deserve it Raven
Cya little bro. Enjoy yourselves and tell us the whole story when you get back! Cy
Have a blast in Cape Town. It's a beautiful place. Oh, and you really must try the safari. It's unforgettable.
Have fun guys Terra
Dudes! Get high, get wasted and have a blast BB
Dick chuckled at BB's comments. Many times, it was his humour alone that had kept the team from quarrelling, and only now was he beginning to see it. BB had the potential to be a leader, but he just didn't want it.
The last comment came from Az; Leave your uniform behind. Live life and just be, Dick. We've got it covered here. But first thing tomorrow, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Note that he is nicknamed Heaven's Hitman. Plus most of your bags are packed. Hope you don't mind. P.S. Nice superman underwear Az
Dick smiled, before laughing. So the bastard did have a sense of humour. But he wondered, just why did Aziz want him to meet a guy nicknamed Heaven's Hitman?
WWW
Tian Wen sent a knee slamming into the heavy bag, the force of the impact sending it flying. Sao Feng and Damon braced the back of it, the force of the next strike winding them slightly. A lean, mean brown fighting machine, Tian was the Lethwei, MMA and Krav Maga instructor for Dalibor. He was also intended to be Raven's instructor as well.
He was also the only one on record who'd beat Az by points in a sport match, albeit only with the aid of Sao Feng and Damon, but in return ended up with dislocated shoulders and severe bruises as well as a bad concussion on meeting him the first time, as well as a bad knee sprain and sprained wrists. Still, it was a significant feat, as even Aziz admitted. Surprisingly enough, his main job was running a Chinese restaurant in the middle of downtown. Still, if anyone came into his restaurant looking to mix it up they wouldn't be disappointed.
It was not that he had better skill than most, though he was indubitably a more than competent fighter. He simply had a pathological determination to never surrender and had neveronce in his life admitted defeat, or even temporarily backed away just to recover. Some people said he wouldn't surrender even to the Grim Reaper himself, should that time come. He also fought with a ferocity that contrasted his easygoing manner, surprising most people and allowing him to take adversaries far larger and heavier than him by virtue of sheer ferocious speed.
With a blow that would have broken bone he sent a roundhouse kick into the bag, breaking the tough synthetic fabric. As sand poured from it, he sheepishly smiled and tried to stop the flow with his hands. Sao Feng glared at him, the phrase 'do you know how much those things cost?' practically written in his eyes.
Damon shook his head and leaned against the wall, sweat pouring from his clothes. The workout ended for the night, but he was already looking forward to the next day. He was simply glad that it wasn't him who was fighting Wen tomorrow.