445

Back in Manhattan, the Teen Titans had been divided into two groups by Deathstroke's Titans team. One Teen Titans team was still struggling against their foes. The other team had met Deathstroke himself and his ace partners and had been decimated.

Bleeding and with a crossbow bolt protruding from her abdomen, Red Arrow made her way across two interconnected rooftops to reach Protector. He hadn't moved since Deathstroke had put two bullets into him and Mia was getting worried.

When she reached him, she finally saw the massive pool of blood that had spilled out of his neck. Deathstroke had recognized the fact Protector wore body armor and had circumvented its protection. One round had been placed under the armor into Jason Hart's belly and the second had gone through his Adam's apple. Protector had bled out within minutes of receiving the wound.

Mia screamed her frustration and clutched his body to her own. Despite having the bolt imbedded in her side irritated by her rocking motion, she cradled her fallen lover as her world came crashing down around her. She'd thought herself beyond pain after her years as a teen prostitute and learning she was HIV positive. But now she was engulfed in an anguish that no one could prepare themselves for.

"I can help you," a voice called from Mia's side.

Red Arrow turned and saw Poison Ivy cautiously approaching. Working around Protector's body, she drew an arrow from her quiver and took aim at Ivy's heart. Assuming she had one.

"You need to relax," Ivy advised, "If I wanted any of you dead, I would have arranged it already."

Red Arrow suddenly realized Bunker and Kid Flash were also down. And there was no sign of Skitter. Green Arrow had described Ivy as a cool customer, totally confident and driven.

Yet Ivy looked strangely vulnerable. It was obvious this was a ploy but it was a desperate one. Red Arrow knocked off the tension on her bowstring and laid her bow and arrow down.

"How can you help?" Red Arrow decided to at least hear out Ivy's pitch.

"Well, I just saved your friend Kid Flash from being poisoned to death. With his metabolism he should be up and literally running in a few minutes," Ivy explained, "I want to take care of your wound, if you let me."

"I don't know what's in that bag of yours but I doubt it's hazmat gear," Red Arrow said sardonically, "I'm HIV positive so feel free to abandon me."

"That's not going to happen," Ivy promised, "Take off that quiver and lie down so I can take a look at the bolt."

"Didn't you just hear me?" Red Arrow asked.

"My dear, I'm immune to every poison and viral agent known to man," Ivy explained, "I can't contract HIV or AIDS. And I might even be able to cure you."

"You're kidding," Red Arrow didn't believe her ears.

"I have an obscure sense of humor but you'll recognize it when you hear it," Ivy promised, "Now are you going to let me help you or not?"

Mia gently laid Protector down and stripped off her gear before lying down next to him, "I don't understand how Speedy missed."

"He doesn't," Ivy knelt and began her examination, "At least not unintentionally."

"You're saying he spared me?" Red Arrow tested the theory out.

"You're alive ergo he spared you," Ivy said simply, "This is going to hurt."

"I'm ready for anything," Red Arrow boasted before screaming as Ivy pulled the bolt out of her side.

"Now it gets messy," Ivy chuckled as she began disinfecting the wound and preparing to dress it.

"Jesus!" Red Arrow yelped, "What is that stuff?"

"A botanical disinfectant of my own invention," Ivy bragged, "Twice as potent and you don't have the toxic chemical wastes."

Red Arrow hissed in pain as Ivy pressed a bandage to her wound, "Lift up your top so I can wrap this in place."

Mia complied and Ivy remarked, "For someone called 'Red Arrow' there isn't a single trace of red in your uniform. What's with all the black and gold?"

"When I wore a red costume it was harder to see where I'd bled," Red Arrow told her through gritted teeth.

"Ah, practicality. The death of fashion sense," Ivy observed as she sat back on her haunches, "And you are ready to face the world again."

"All I want is Deathstroke's head," Red Arrow proclaimed.

"It just so happens so do I," Ivy informed her at last.

"Why?" Red Arrow was dubious.

"Because there is only one person on this planet I give a damn about and she's about to go head to head with Deathstroke," Ivy said succinctly, "And I don't want her to end up like your friend."

"We have a deal," Red Arrow decided.

"I'll check up on your fleet footed friend and you can rouse the gentle sleeper over there," Ivy rose to her feet.

Red Arrow slapped Bunker and his eyes snapped open, "Mia? What the hell?"

"Deathstroke shot you," Red Arrow explained, "Are you all right?"

"I shielded myself but the impact must've knocked me out. He must've thought I was dead," Bunker realized.

"He killed Jason," Red Arrow said in eerily calm voice.

"God, I'm so sorry, Mia," Bunker honestly expressed his regret.

"We're going after Deathstroke and his gang," Red Arrow told him.

"We?" Bunker wondered where this was leading.

"The others as soon as we gather them and Poison Ivy," Red Arrow announced.

"Are you nuts?" Bunker tried not to shout, "I know you're upset but she's a killer."

"Exactly what we need against Deathstroke," Red Arrow coldly proclaimed, "And she saved Bart's life."

"Oh man," Bunker rubbed the back his head, "Un-frikkin-believable."

"Head's up," Red Arrow spotted more people on the roof, "We've got even more company."

"Great, who's gonna be shooting at us now?" Bunker saw Mia's expression and immediately regretted his comment.

"Ivy, I didn't actually expect to see you here," Red Hood admitted.

"I see you brought help, just like I asked," Ivy noted.

"Why are you hanging with the Legion of Super Pets?" Red Hood remarked.

"Considering you're offering to join this legion I'd save the cracks for later," Ivy advised.

"Just who the hell are you people?" Red Arrow wanted to know as she approached.

"We found one of yours," Red Hood told her, "Want her back?"

A dark haired youth flew in and delivered a slightly wounded Skitter. Fortunately, Gunslinger's round had only grazed her side. Ivy checked her out anyway.

"That dude has Superman's symbol on his shirt," Bunker observed.

"They call me Superboy," he answered.

"Why?" Kid Flash suddenly blurted as he got to his feet.

"It's a long story. Maybe I'll tell it to you one day," Superboy said snarkily.

"Play the wise ass and you don't get to join the party," Red Arrow warned him.

"Who died and put you in charge?" Red Hood asked scornfully.

Red Arrow pulled an arrow from her quiver, nocked, drew the bowstring, and had it aimed at his chest within seconds. Red Hood put his hands up, "Whoa! Hostile."

"Their leader was killed by Deathstroke;" Ivy said drolly, "Red Arrow was very close to him."

"Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said that," Red Hood offered.

Mia kept aiming at his chest. Red Hood shook his head, "Look that arrow isn't going to penetrate my armor."

"Care to test that theory?" Red Arrow asked with utter calm.

"Red Arrow, we actually need him," Ivy informed her, "He was trained by the League of Assassins. He'll give us an edge against Deathstroke that Slade Wilson won't be expecting."

Red Arrow eased off her bowstring, "You live for now."

Bunker, Skitter, and Kid Flash all exchanged nervous glances. Skitter broke the uncomfortable silence, "Just who are you people?"

"I'm Red Hood," he announced, "And of course no one has heard of me."

"Why would we?" Red Arrow asked scornfully.

"I'm Caitlin Fairchild," she stated, "But you can just call me Fairchild."

"What can you do, Fairchild?" Red Arrow asked as though interviewing her for a job.

"I have enhanced strength and reflexes," Fairchild admitted, "I also have a genius level IQ."

"And you?" Red Arrow asked the final member of the group.

"Red Robin," he said, "Trust me, I'm useful."

"They're all escapees from ARGUS' Ravager program," Red Hood put in.

"And that is?" Bunker asked with some suspicion.

"ARGUS is the US government's meta-human and costume division," Red Hood answered.

"I thought that was CADMUS," Kid Flash admitted.

"CADMUS was originally intended solely to deal with a rogue Superman and then later their mandate was expanded to include the Justice League," Fairchild revealed before Red Hood could speak, "ARGUS is seeking to harness the meta-genome itself. Therefore Ravager was put in place to test and recruit teenage subjects that could later be recruited and trained by the government in order to create their own meta-human covert forces."

"And how do you know all of this?" Red Arrow was skeptical.

"I was a lead geneticist on the project," Fairchild confessed, "I hid my own meta-human status but they finally learned of it and threw me in the candidate pool."

"You make it sound like a bad thing," Skitter realized.

"Let's just say it was Darwinian 'survival of the fittest' taken to its logical conclusion," Fairchild ruefully remarked, "The members of Team 7 were ARGUS' first attempt at forming a 'super' team. After the team disbanded they went to the children. That's how I was initially recruited as well as Slade Wilson's children, Grant, Joseph, and Rose."

"Waitaminute!" Bunker exclaimed, "Deathstroke was a government spook?"

"As was my father, Black Canary, and the terrorists known as Majestic and Regulus," Fairchild pointed out, "Grant was the first Ravager subject. When HIVE broke him out of the ARGUS compound he was housed in, he adopted the program's name as his own. HIVE boosted Ravager's potential beyond what his body could endure and he died."

Fairchild let that sink in before continuing, "Joseph was brought in by a man named Lynch. Lynch was the ultimate architect of the Ravager program. Joseph was code-named 'Jericho'. And Jericho had the singular ability to break down mental walls and control people. His attempt to manipulate Majestic into conquering the world for him brought Deathstroke back into the picture and Lynch hired him to stop Jericho. And therefore Slade killed Joseph."

Red Arrow emanated cold fury, "What about Rose?"

"Rose Wilson Worth is Slade's illegitimate daughter. He didn't even know about her until recently," Fairchild explained, "She was recruited into Ravager at the same time I was. Only she excelled in the program and eventually became Superboy's handler when he was sent on test missions."

"And how much 'handling' did she do?" Red Arrow asked.

"I kept it purely professional," Superboy asserted.

"You mentioned that the Ravager program is shut down," Red Arrow said, "Where's Rose now?"

"Rose was recruited by Slade and she now goes by the code-name 'Ravager' just as her brother had," Red Hood put in, "And she's here in Manhattan, fighting your friends."

"Then we need to pay her a visit," Red Arrow said as though it were simplicity itself. Yet the electric undercurrent was enough to kill someone.

"First we need to discuss our terms for involvement," Red Hood put forth, "We want in."

"Into what?" Bunker had to ask.

"Into your organization," Red Hood nonchalantly replied.

"Done," Red Arrow suddenly spoke.

"Excellent," Red Hood nodded while the Teen Titans were still in shock, "Superboy, you and Kid Flash go ahead and begin assisting the others."

"Gotcha," Superboy nodded.

"Who made you boss?" Kid Flash wanted to know.

"Bart, just do it," Red Arrow ordered.

"Geez Mia, you'd think..." Kid Flash wheedled.

"Go," Red Arrow growled, "Now."

"Gawd," Kid Flash groaned, "Your panties are in such a twist."

"I won't bother warning you, Bart," Red Arrow's cold, focused anger kept her strangely calm. Like a killing machine.

Kid Flash wisely raced off as Superboy flew away. Red Hood turned to Red Robin, "With your glider cape you can follow them and assess the situation and take over if you need to."

"Right," Red Robin offered everyone a jaunty salute. He stretched out his cape and it did form a pair of glider wings. He dove off the roof and then lifted as an updraft caught him. He soared out across the embattled streets.

A device within Ivy's bag began to ping. She retrieved it and studied its display, "The World Army has surrounded the building and is dispatching a squad to the roof."

"Caitlin," was all Red Hood said.

Fairchild went to the roof access and brought down the entire construct with her bare hands. Bunker whistled, "I guess she really does have enhanced strength."

"That won't hold them forever," Red Arrow pointed out.

"Oh, ye of little faith," Red Hood chuckled. He pressed a button on his wrist comm band and an ORB-14 floated up to the roof, "Courtesy of the JLU and they don't even know it yet."

Bunker and Skitter exchanged a nervous glance. "Just get in," Red Arrow insisted.

With an air of resignation they complied.

Cassie Sandsmark was wondering just when her life had gone down the toilet. She'd finally gotten that Donna Troy doppelganger to stop calling herself 'Wonder Girl', which left Cassie as the only one on Earth Prime, and then she'd met this Ravager nitwit. Wonder Girl usually wasn't used to being challenged. Other than Deathstroke, the Teen Titans weren't overly threatened by quality opponents now that everyone was joining the Legion of Doom. And Ravager had all of Deathstroke's moves plus a few new ones.

Wonder Girl was a demigoddess daughter of Zeus but she had little actual training in how to use her god given abilities. Ravager's sword seemed to fly about on its own volition and Wonder Girl was barely staying alive. Suddenly a black and red blur snatched Ravager away.

Wonder Girl watched in transfixed fascination as Superboy pinned Ravager to the ground. "Give up, Rose. I'm not letting you loose this time," he warned her.

"Oh honey, did you miss me that badly? Are you finally going to have your way with me?" Rose cooed. Then she kneed him in the balls.

Superboy didn't even grunt, "I'm half-Kryptonian, remember?"

Rose grinned, "Can't blame me for trying."

"Pick her up and I'll tie her up," Wonder Girl requested.

He did so and Cassie accomplished her set task. Then Wonder Girl had to ask, "Who are you?"

"They call me 'Superboy' for obvious reasons," he replied, "Hold that thought."

Tattooed Man's dragon came into view as it pursued Raven. Wonder Girl griped, "Sure, I'll just stand here and guard your girlfriend."

"Hah! He seriously wishes," Rose boasted.

"Is that perspective through one eye or two?" Wonder Girl sniped at her. Ravager just wore a triumphant smile.

Superboy's heat vision burned away the dragon avatar. Next he landed between Raven and the beast avatars and literally tore them to shreds. Tattooed Man's tattoos reappeared all across his body just seconds before Kid Flash delivered a punch at two hundred miles an hour. Tattooed Man was thrown across the street and didn't even twitch.

The trio returned to Wonder Girl's side. Kid Flash was getting very agitated as he confronted Ravager, "Where's Flamebird."

"Well, where there's smoke there's burning little birdies," Ravager replied manically.

Kid Flash streaked off.

And on a neighboring street he found Flamebird tending to Beast Boy's wounds. Further up the street, Cinder had the police and fire department on the run. Kid Flash almost collapsed from relief upon seeing Flamebird was alive.

"Bette! You're okay!" Kid Flash blurted.

"I need more water," she emptied another water bottle on the bandage strips she'd made out of her cape.

"I'm on it," Kid Flash assured her.

"You really should be nicer to him," Beast Boy coughed.

"Gar! You're okay," Flamebird enthused.

"Okay is a relative term," Beast Boy complained, "And seriously, Bart worships at your feet."

"I know," Flamebird sadly admitted, "But Jason..."

"Worships at Mia's feet," Beast Boy reminded her, "That isn't changing any time soon."

Flamebird shook her head, "Maybe. Maybe not."

Kid Flash returned with a case of water, "Here's some water."

"How did your team do?" Flamebird idly asked as she ripped plastic to get to the water bottles.

"Um...we got our asses handed to us," Kid Flash glumly added.

"By who?" Beast Boy wondered.

"By Deathstroke and some of his pals," Kid Flash admitted, "Deathstroke killed Protector and shot Bunker a couple of times. And then..."

"Waitaminute!" Flamebird nearly screamed, "He killed Protector?"

"Uh...yeah," Kid Flash deflated, "I'm sorry."

"What's happening now?" Beast Boy wanted to know.

"A bunch of people showed up asking for membership," Kid Flash shared, "And Mia cut a deal to help Poison Ivy attack Deathstroke."

"Mia cut a deal with Poison Ivy?" Flamebird growled.

"Ivy saved my life and treated Mia's wounds," Kid Flash told her, "Speedy almost killed her."

"He should have!" Flamebird snapped.

"Look, Ivy wants Deathstroke's head and she wants our help in getting it," Kid Flash reiterated, "Does it really matter how we bring Deathstroke in?"

"I suppose little Miss Mia just let Deathstroke kill Jason," Flamebird sneered.

"Did I mention Speedy almost killed her?" Kid Flash wondered, "No one can figure out how he missed her heart."

"It's because she doesn't have one," Flamebird scoffed.

"Whoa!" Beast Boy intervened, "You need to back the hell off Mia."

"What's wrong with all of you?" Flamebird asked, "She tells a little sob story and suddenly you're all lining up to screw her. Well, everyone has screwed her. Maybe you all just want to catch AIDS, is that it?"

Flamebird stormed off at that point. Kid Flash was torn. He gave Beast Boy an imploring look.

"Go," Beast Boy waved him off, "I'll be fine. But if you see Raven, send her my way."

Kid Flash went after Flamebird, who seemed to have vanished. Beast Boy realized no one had ever realized what a cancer had grown in Bette Kane's heart over Mia Deardon and Jason Hart.

Red Robin joined Wonder Girl's vigil as Superboy and Raven went out to find the other Teen Titans and Cinder. Superboy's task was the simpler one. He followed the flames back to Cinder.

Plunging underground, he ruptured water mains and blew hydrants over. Cinder was doused. Superboy applied his lightest punch and it still nearly broke her jaw.

Raven sensed Beast Boy's pain and sought him out. Healing his wounds, she directed him back to where Wonder Girl guarded Ravager. Meanwhile she went on to monitor Kid Flash's search for Flamebird.

Wonder Girl pointed out to Red Robin that Solstice still hadn't reported in. She pointed him in the direction Solstice had last been seen. Red Robin set out on foot.

And he nearly got his head sliced off by Sword-in-Waiting. Vo Giap got a side kick to the ribs for his efforts. Red Robin extended his collapsible quarterstaff and engaged Sword-in-Waiting. The battle was melee fashion with each combatant mixing in martial arts blows with weapons strikes.

But Red Robin quickly disarmed Sword-in-Waiting. Giap lunged at Red Robin. Red Robin pole axed Sword-in-Waiting by planting one end of his staff in the ground and thrusting out the other end so that Giap ran into it, throat first. The Vietnamese mercenary gagged and choked as he passed out.

Red Robin quickly found Solstice. He was saddened to discover she was already dead. Picking her up, he carried her back to her friends.

Red Robin rejoined Wonder Girl in time to find Red Hood and the others had joined up with her. Beast Boy had made it back as had Superboy and Raven. Kid Flash and Flamebird were still MIA.

Cassie saw Solstice's corpse and she slammed Rose up against a wrecked car, "You bitch! I'm going to kill you."

Ravager smirked, "No, you won't. If you had it in you, you would have already done it after torturing the information you wanted out of me. I could easily do it. But you? You're a pushover."

"I can," Red Hood declared. Wonder Girl backed off as Red Hood pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Ravager's temple, "Say goodbye."

He pulled the trigger but Bunker blocked the bullet. Red Hood aimed at him, "What the hell?"

"This ain't our way, man," Bunker told him sternly.

"You're going to have to change that," Red Hood warned him, "You're not going to be able to stay being 'Teen Titans'. You're going to have to become outlaws because the threats are getting bigger every day and every day demands a harsher and harsher response. Outlaws can provide that response and that deterrent. And what's a bigger deterrent than the death penalty guaranteed for every crime?"

Ravager sighed, "Can I have your children?"

Red Hood rocked her with a left cross to the jaw.

Ravager worked her jaw before smirking, "Not bad. My offer stands if you're ever interested."

"We still need her," Ivy reminded Red Hood as he prepared to risk another shot.

"Why?" Red Hood demanded to know.

Ivy pitied his blindness. She approached Ravager and pulled off the girl's mask, "This is Ravager. Also known as Rose Wilson, as in Slade Wilson's daughter."

Red Hood studied Rose. She blew him a kiss, "I have a patch in my belt pocket if the eye is freaking you out."

Red Hood reached into Ravager's belt and Rose moaned, "Oh, you rub me the right way."

Red Hood adjusted the patch over Ravager's eye and she grinned, "Not bad. Maybe daddy will let me keep you as a pet."

"Remind me of why Ravager is so precious to Deathstroke when he offed his son?" Red Arrow interrupted before Red Hood could backhand Rose.

"Jericho was a threat of Biblical proportions," Ivy restated the situation, "Grant Wilson, the original Ravager, died trying to emulate his father. Rose here was a daughter that Slade never knew about. Now that Deathstroke knows about Ravager, he will risk anything to keep her alive. Which is what we're counting on."

"How can you be so certain your plan will work?" Red Arrow had to ask.

"I just need Slade slowed down long enough to implement my plan. My weapon of choice would have killed Supergirl if it hadn't been for Batgirl," Ivy explained, "Rose will provide the distraction that will kill Deathstroke."

"You'll never kill him! Never!" Ravager was truly rattled for the first time since being captured.

"You'd best hope so," Ivy coldly smiled at Ravager, "Because you're going to share Daddy's fate."

Red Hood pulled Ivy aside while Ravager digested what she'd been told, "How did you know she'd be here?"

"Our friend with the floppy ears told me," Ivy said smoothly.

"What's her interest in Deathstroke?" Red Hood wanted to know.

"He's proven impervious to her usual methods of persuasion," Ivy recalled, "So she wants to get his attention."

"By killing him?" Red Hood questioned White Rabbit's methodology.

"She wants to send a message," Ivy shrugged, "And so do I. Only he won't survive mine."

Kid Flash found Flamebird in an upscale boutique. She'd shed her costume in order to dress as a civilian. Kid Flash couldn't believe it.

"Bette?" he questioned her intentions.

"I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore," Bette told him, "I know it isn't fair to you or the others but I can't stay on this team. Not after losing Jason. I can't stay without killing Mia on sight."

"It wasn't her fault," Kid Flash insisted.

"Do. Not. Go. There," Bette thrust a finger in his face.

"Where will you go?" Kid Flash tried changing topics.

"Back home to Gotham," Bette sighed, "My parents will be glad to see me finally go to college."

"Maybe I'll see you sometime," Kid Flash said glumly.

"Raven knows where I live. Look me up. Just not right away, okay?" Bette requested.

"All right," Kid Flash consented, "I'd better get back to the others and you should disappear before you're arrested for looting."

Bette offered a weak smile, "I'm about to add grand theft auto to my list of crimes."

"Like I said, I'm outta here. Stay lucky," Kid Flash streaked off at that point.

"Yeah, I'm so lucky," Bette Kane commented with a broken heart.