Author's Note: All right I'm back with another chapter. Its the one you've all been looking forward to. Here we go!
Teen Titans All Stars, Vol. 2
Chpater 35
The Blackest Night
A few miles outside of town Black Hand looked down on the city.
"Well damn I havent had that much trouble with the other heroes. These Titans are a little more formidable than I give them credit. As formidable as they are, thier still no match for me...or for what's in store for this world. On to the next target." he said draping his cape around himself and teleported out.
Back in Los Angeles, the League investigated the murders of Infinity Inc. It was a grizzly scene to be certain. With most of its members slaughtered, the Leaguers sorted through the remains as they tried to make sense of Black Hand's motives.
"It doesnt make sense. When the hell did Black Hand turn into a mass murdering psycho?" Green Arrow asked as he stood over the bodies.
"And what possessed him to do it?" Superman asked.
"He's getting braver with each slaying." Wonder Woman said as she knelt down next to the corpse of a young girl. Her face softened as she brushed away a lock of the girl's blonde hair.
"We have to stop him." she said.
"We will." Superman told her.
The Amazon Princess looked back at her teammate wondering if they truly will. A groan rang out alerting the others as one of the bodies started to move. In an instant Superman and Wonder Woman were by his side as a boy in silver armor came to. Turning him over on his back, they removed his helmet showing an Asian teen who was very much alive. The boy looked back at them wearily as he gazed up at them. The boy also had a large hole in his armor near his heart but appeared fine otherwise.
"Are you all right?" Superman asked. The Asian only looked back at him when another voice sounded.
"He...ugh...doesnt speak English." Star Spangled Kid said rising up out of the debris.
A young man in a blue cowled tunic with white stars adorning it, along with red gloves and trousers looked back at him on his hands and knees with several tears in his costume. Wonder Woman went over to his side and lifted a wooden rafter off his back as he struggled to get up.
"Are there any other survivors?" she asked still kneeling down beside him.
"Your looking at them." he said.
"What happened?" she asked him.
"He overpowered us. We never stood a chance." he answered still trying to get up.
"Easy." she said keeping him down.
"I fought him off as best I could...we all did...but it wasnt enough. But something weird happened...when he went to attack Silver Scarab a blast of light shot out of his suit...next time I looked up Black Hand was missing an arm and retreated. The others were already gone when I passed out." Star-Spangled Kid explained.
In another part of the state along the California coastline, Black Hand stood on a beach looking out towards the ocean.
"Show me the way." he said to his ring.
The Black Lantern Ring flashed and produced a beacon pointing out towards Atlantis. The villain smirked as he gazed out towards his next target.
"And so it begins again." he said and made his way out into the ocean.
That night as they were being transported back to the Watchtower, Silver Scarab thought back on his encounter with Black Hand. He remembered when Black Hand punctured his armor and the sudden blast of energy that erupted from it obliterating his right arm. The villain flew back yelling and clutched his stump of a shoulder as blood started to drain out of it. Shocked by what happened Scarab narrowed his eyes and went on the attack opening up with a barrage of kicks to the villain's face and chest who himself was still stunned. The hero spun around and nailed him in the side with his forearm and sent Black Hand spiraling to the ground. The hero then went for his sword that laid on the ground not far from him, with a small beetle shaped device attached at the hilt.
"You all right kid?" someone asked distracting his throughts.
Silver Scarab looked up and saw a tall black man in a Green Lantern uniform standing next to him. The boy only nodded.
"Its like I told the others, he doenst really speak English." Star-Spangled Kid said off to the side.
"Chris right?" John Stewart asked. The kid nodded in response.
"Yeah and your the League's Green Lantern right?" he asked.
"That's one way of putting it. So how are you holding up?" he shrugged.
"I've been better." Chris replied.
"You guys are lucky to be alive." John told him.
"Thanks for reiterating the obvious." he said with a slight chuckle. A smile came to John's face as he continued.
"I know a few guys on Earth that'll be happy to hear that you survived." he told him.
"Oh yeah? Who's that?" he asked looking up at the Lantern.
"The Teen Titans." he replied.
"There's a name I havent heard in a while. If you can call what we did surviving...nah if anything it was a fluke." Star-Spangled Kid told him. Green Lantern raised an eyebrow.
"A fluke huh? Is that what you call it when your friend's armor suddenly backfired?" he asked. Chris merely shrugged.
"Fluke, Act of God we're here arent we?" he asked.
Deep under the ocean Black Hand began his next attack, pounding on the doors of Atlantis. The villain burst through the entrance of the domed city. As soon as he appeared its citizens fled. From inside his castle Aquaman was alerted to the situation at hand by one of his subjects. A bare chested man, with long blonde hair and a beard rose out his throne to answer the call. Gone was the once iconic orange shirt and clean cut appearance as he picked up his trident and decended the staircase infront of his throne. And was soon joined by a young man dressed in black and red, and a teenage girl in blue, black and white as he made his way out of the palace. Black Hand continued towards the castle scaring off Atlantians with his mere appearance, when suddenly the doors of the castle opened, bathing him in light. As he looked up he saw the three standing at the threshold of the royal palace, Aquaman with his trident in his right hand, and a large cresent shaped harpoon replacing his left the King of Atlantis stared down at the foe that dared enter his kingdom. On his left was a man in his early 20s with his back towards Arthur arms folded, with long dark hair tied back in a ponytail and two stripes over his right eye. And to his right was a young Latina clad in a middriff bearing white and blue scaled uniform with black and blue camoflauged hip huggers. A grin formed on Black Hand's face as he glanced up at them.
"Who are you?" the Sea King asked.
"The name is Black Hand and all I want is your destruction." Black Hand smirked. A black energy scythe formed out of his ring and appeared in his hands.
"So let's get down to business shall we?" he said in a dark voice and rushed at Aquaman twirling his weapon.
The Sea King took his stand as his two cohorts prepaired for battle. Aquaman threw himself in the air and decended on Black Hand with his trident aimed directly at him. Thier weapons clashed as the prongs snagged the Black Lantern construct.
"How did you find this place?" he demanded.
"I have my resources. If you want I can make it quick and painless." Black Hand said with a hint of insanity. Aquaman narrowed his eyes at Hand.
"I'm afriad I wont go down that easily." he told him.
"Suit yourself, its more fun for me." he said breaking off his attack.
Black Hand skidded back across the ground as he readied his next attack. Aquaman went on the offensive and lunged Posiden's Trident at his enemy. Black Hand turned his body to the side just barely missing it before kneeing Arthur in the chest and sent him flying backward into his sidekicks. The two leaped from the stairway and caught him before he could hit.
"You all right?" asked Garth.
"I'm fine. But there's something not right about this guy." Arthur said looking back at Hand who stared at him with manical glee.
"So then what do we do with him?" Lorena asked.
"He knew the risk when he came down here. If he is so bold as to challenge me then so be it." Aquaman said standing up.
Black Hand let out an insane laugh as the construct transformed into a cannon and opened fire on them. Immediatly the three scattered as the blast was closest to Tempest. The young man dove out of the way as the blast hit nearly missing him as Aquaman tackled Black Hand's midsection. The Sea King held his harpoon hand over Black Hand's face threatening to kill him. But Black Hand merely threw his legs up and tossed the Atlantean king over his shoulders. Aquagirl soon countered and fired a current of water at Black Hand nailing him. Tempest flew overhead and froze the water with his powers trapping Black Hand. The Black Lantern struggled against it, before he saw Garth come at him and drove his foot into the villain's face nearly breaking his neck. The ice shattered as he landed in a crouched position next to his head. The villain remained still for only a moment as Garth turned to face him and Lorena made her way over to them. His eyes opened and swept him off his feet before firing a blast at Lorena nearly impaling her chest. Aquagirl dropped back as it brushed over her shoulder and hit the ground. Black Hand got up as water started to pool around his ankles and firmly grasped his legs locking him in place, he looked up at Garth punched him across the face as hard as he could and delievered another blow with his opposing fist. Before a final one knocked him flat on his back. Tempest raised his arms as the pool of water erupted sending Black Hand into the air and slamming him into the dome. The pressure increased as he was pressed against the translucent shell threatening to crush him.
Garth continued to force him against it as Aquaman rode a current of water generated by Aquagirl up to the villain. When the gyser finally subsided the villain fell as Aquaman slashed him with his harpoon, striking the final blow as Black Hand crashed face first into the pavement. The three heroes stood over him as he laid there. Black Hand's eyes flew open as he grabbed Aquagirl's ankle and threw her Tempest and Aquaman.
Back in New Coast City, Terra had returned to the city's memorial wall and had been there for awhile. She stood there solumly as a breeze blew softly through her hair.
"Your still here?" Beast Boy asked. She looked over and saw him standing behind her.
"Yeah." she said turning back to the momument.
"You all right?" he asked inching towards her.
"Not really." she said looking down at the ground. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and placed her hand over his.
"I let em down Gar." she said.
"There's no way you could have known they were out here Tara." he told her.
"I know its just...I was thier leader for a time. I just...I just feel responsible somehow." she said. He slipped his fingers underneath her chin and forced her gently to look back at him.
"Hawk and Dove were some of the best fighters out there. And they went out fighting like heroes, so dont beat yourself up. Because that's not what they'd want. Your alot stronger than you let on Tara, I know you are. Dont prove any of us wrong." he said as he gently stroked her cheek. A small smile formed as she looked back at him and put her arms around his neck.
"Thanks Gar." she said softly.
"That's what I'm here for." he smiled.
"Am I interrupting?" Dick asked.
The two looked back at the Titan leader as he stood there in the breeze.
"No." they replied softly.
"We need to get back to the others. There's no telling where he is now." he told them.
"Nightwing I just heard from John, two members of Infinity Inc. suvived the attack." Arsenal told him.
"Who are they?" he asked.
"Silver Scarab and Star-Spangled Kid." he replied. Gar and Tara looked back at each other in relief.
"All right we better get up there. No telling where Black Hand could strike next." Dick said.
Back in Atlantis the battle raged on as Black Hand's fingers turned into blades and shot out at Aquaman and Temepst. The two heroes jumped back as the elongated razors flew at them pinning to the wall behind them. Each piece narrowly missing them leaving Aquagirl to fend for herself. Lorena launched herself at Hand and fired a spiral tide of water dousing him. The villain remained firm as Aquagirl threw herself high in the air and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick to his face, prying his blades loose of the walls. Lorena continued to pummel him with a series of hits to the face and chest, before belting out another kick to the face. The Black Lantern skidded backwards on his feet freeing the others. Aquagirl got in his face again and punched him as hard as she could sending him into a wall. The smoke cleared to find him slumped down against the wall. Black Hand groaned as he struggled to get up with blood coming from his nose and mouth. Aquaman and Tempest soon rejoined her as he started to move once more.
"Damn...why cant I beat you?" he growled.
"I must be losing power." he said finally getting up.
"Surely none of you are that powerful. I must collect my strength. We'll meet again." he said weakly before teleporting out.
Without warning he reappeared behind Aquaman and grabbed him.
"Just kidding." he said and vanished with him.
"Where'd they go?!" Garth yelled.
"Up there!" pointed Lorena. Garth looked up and saw the two of them standing on top the dome.
"Come on!" he yelled as they raced out.
On top the dome Black Hand released him and had already deployed his energy scythe as Aquaman stared him down.
"No friends to hide behind up here." Black Hand said twirling his scythe.
"You've just made a grave mistake." Aquaman told him.
"Then why dont we put an end to this? I do after all have other places to be." Black Hand replied.
The King of Atlantis narrowed his eyes at Black Hand made the first move and lunged at him with his scythe. The Black Lantern cried out as he swung his weapon at his chest, Aquaman reared back barely missing the weapon and blocked it with his spear hand. Black Hand growled as he struggled to break free of the hooked weapon while Aquaman quietly stared him down. Aquaman pulled on the scythe forcing his opponet into the path of his fist and made it's mark. His head jerked back as the thunderous crack of his fist resonated. The Atlantian King reeled back and delivered a second punch to his stomach and a third yet again to his face. Black Hand staggered backward, as Aquaman charged at him with his harpoon drawn back and sliced across his chest, just grazing the logo. And took another swipe at Hand, and a third. Black Hand grabbed his opponet's wrist as the weapon came at him again. Aquaman grabbed his throat with his remaining hand trying to choke him out. But Black Hand only smirked and chuckled as his opponet glared back at him and fired a blast near his midsection. The Atlantian whinced as the searing pain raced across his left side and doubled over. Black Hand grinned as he stood over him.
"Your making this way too easy." he said.
Aquaman glared at him and struck Black Hand as hard as he could in the jaw. His head snapped back as the sound of cold steel pierced his flesh. His eyes roved to the bottom and saw his spear embedded in the hollowed out triangle on his chest. A smile formed on Aquaman's face thinking it was over, the villain grabbed the spear and pried it out of his stomach crushing it in his hand. His eyes widened as he then plunged his hand into Aquaman's chest and ripped out his heart. Garth and Lorena looked on in horror as Tempest yelled with Lorena holding him back. The King of the Seas fell back in slow motion as Black Hand smiled sinisterly. The villain then raised the severed heart above his head as a black energy surrounded and became a Black Power Lantern and started his oath.
"The Blackest Night falls from the skies. The Darkness grows as all light dies. We crave your hearts and your demise. By my Black Hand, the dead shall arise!"
The Black Power Battery charged up and fired a beacon into the sky. Garth and Lorena could only look on as the pillar of darkness sliced through the water and into the open air. Black Hand smiled as the beacon carved out his symbol in the sky.
"Let there be darkness." he said looking skyward.
Rays of light then shown out of the center of the battery producing a Black Lantern Ring and flew down to the lifeless corpse and hovered above it.
"Go ahead." Black Hand told it.
"Arthur Curry of Earth...rise." the ring said and slid itself onto his finger.
His eyes flew open as he awakened in death, and were nothing but a screen of blue as the ring started the transformation. Converting his body over to their side as his skin turned gray, and his dark green pants became completely black with white bands around the thighs, and an 'A' shaped frame came midway up his torso. While his iconic symbol became inverted into a triangle forming the Black Lantern Corps symbol. A pair of white armbands formed over his biceps as the hole in his chest closed up and his body rose up as a member of the undead. The zombie moaned as he came to life once more horrifying his former sidekicks as they looked on. The spear Black Hand destroyed was once more made whole as the Black Lantern Aquaman stood on top the dome looking down at his potential prey.
"The Blackest Night...has begun." smiled Black Hand.
AN: All right, I've been planning this for at least a year. And I know that I've taken a very long, almost rediciliously long time but I've finally thought the time was right to bring about the Blackest Night storyline. I apologse for the long wait, but I certainly hope it was worth it...so? Was it? Also of note, this marks the first appearance of two characters I thought about using for the longest time. Aquagirl (Lorena Marquez) and Tempest (Garth) formerly Aqualad. I'm sure most of my readers have probably figured out which was which during the story. I decided to go with Aquaman's JLU incarnation since that seemed to work best. Well that's enough out of me, let me know what you think of it.
Please review.
Green Gallant