I'm trying to work on this slow-to-update rut I've seemed to have slipped into. School projects really soak up your free time. Anyway, I will now update…..For You! XD And by you I mean all those loyal reviewers; Realfanficts, Teen Freak, Tsukikage1213, Toonman24, Guardian of Azarath, A rose by any other name715, DuskEcho, Valda, "Awesome", Jadare
Chapter Thirty-Five
The Holy City
Starfire pelted at Isard and grabbed her by the wrists forcing the barrel of each pistol to point skyward. Two scattered shots rocketed toward the heavens while below the Tamaranian and vampire struggled and pushed against one another. Both bearers of super strength, the two appeared to have entered a stalemate. Painfully, Robin managed to pull himself up to a sitting position. Isard grew massively aggravated with Starfire's perseverance and knocked her forehead against Starfire's. Isard took advantage of her temporary seeing of stars and forced her arms to her sides. She then took a firm hold of the alien's shoulders and began to bring her fangs down upon her delicate neck.
"This I have so longed to sample," she whispered. She brushed her fangs and lips over the skin. It sent shivers up and down Starfire's spine. "If you can't beat em'….join em'." The alien's eyes brightened anew. She grabbed Isard's mouth with an iron grip and began holding her at bay. Robin's hand clutched at his bleeding chest. A low and mad hiss erupted from Isard as Starfire pushed her further and further away. When it Isard began to be regaining the upper hand Starfire raggedly shook her head.
"You shall…long for it further!" With a great heave Starfire pushed Isard away by the head sending her flying back into the ground. She skidded against the earth making a pile of rock and soil behind her. She put their arch enemy out of her mind and flew down beside Robin. She regrettably slipped a finger inside one of his wounds producing an earsplitting scream from him.
"Your heart remains undamaged."
"That's a shame!" quipped a slightly angered Robin. Taking a leaf from Raven's book, Starfire rolled her eyes and took Robin in her arms.
"We must leave; I will tend to your wounds on the way." She took flight leaving the battleground in her wake. Isard stood to her feet brushing some loose dirt off her shoulder.
"Further still…."
JOINING THE OTHER TITANS……………
The Kitsune Valley was growing smaller and smaller as the small band walked onward to the nearest pocket of civilization from which they could get a transport for the Middle East. A small number of refuges accompanied them also. Raven looked back at someone walking alone and fell back to walk beside her.
"You should stay within the group."
"I am fine, thank you." Raven closed her eyes with rue of events to come.
"Do you have any idea what will happen when she finds out you're still alive?" The Chinese woman covered her face further with her shawl.
"I do, and that is why you are not to say a single word about it to anyone."
"A-Are-Are you kidding? You're-Her-Mother!"
"Control your voice please." Raven was quite beside herself.
"She's felt completely alone for most of her life, the least you can do is assure her she still has someone." Shandrey's mother hung her head sadly.
"I want more than anything to see my Jun-Qing. But…she has that boy over there." Raven looked ahead of them at Lee who along with Cyborg led the pack.
"Well of course she has Lee but-"
"As the Americans put it 'just drop it'." Her voice held such insistence that Raven was unable to argue. She had but one last word to say.
"If you think you can just avoid this……you're wrong." Raven didn't bother to emphasize her point with a glare, being that also the woman wouldn't see it anyway. A bit hastily Raven returned to her spot beside Beast Boy.
REJOINING ROBIN AND STARFIRE…………….
The area near and far around Solomon's house did not allow for many places to hide. Starfire searched hurriedly for a place to set down where they would be out of sight, knowing that while Robin did his best to contain his own blood he still needed help. Her eyes roamed over the countryside below until they landed on old barn. She remembered passing it on the way up, and that Robin mentioned that there were usually several in areas like this. Most of them belonged to farmers who years ago abandoned or retreated off the land.
"Hold on Robin," she said quietly. Carefully she decreased altitude, aiming for the barn that at the moment looked as though it might fall over to pieces from the slightest pretense. She flew in through a skylight in the roof and carefully set Robin down on some hay in the loft.
"Where are we?" croaked Robin.
"One of the many derelict barns, I believe we are safe for now." She pulled away his coat and shirt to get a better look at his wounds. "You shoulder wound will heal fairly quickly. However…"
"Yeah…the bad news, lay it on me."
"The bullet is still in your chest, but as I said earlier it hit no vital areas or organs. I have to remove it. And then I must cauterize the wound." He cocked his head somewhat in mild surprise.
"Well…that's not so bad I guess." She smiled down at him and played with his hair.
"No it is not, wait here." She flew down to the ground floor. She was disappointed to find that what tools were left were so corroded and rusted that if she were to use them in any way towards Robin she would only infect his wound. Starfire blew out a small huff and walked on, she stopped however. The sound of something under her foot caught her attention. She tapped her foot on the floor again to be sure it was indeed made by her. Curious abounding she took her foot away, knelt down, and began sweeping away the old hay and grass. It was a square door held firmly shut with an old padlock. With an effortless yank she pulled the lock off and tossed it away. She pulled open the door filling the room with a low squeak. What Starfire was met with were steps, steps that led down to a storm cellar. A low yield starbolt held aloft in her hand provided some light. The cellar was filled with anything and everything anyone would need to wait out a violent storm; including a first aid kit.
"Yes!" She exclaimed quietly. The Tamaranian grabbed the metal box of the shelf and hurried back to Robin. He lay fidgeting with his a cloth that he'd been dabbing his wound.
"What'd you find?"
"I have found this!" She said proudly showing him her fortunate find. He nodded with a smirk.
"Good work, I found something too." He pulled a bottle of whiskey from under the hay. "Looks like the last guy who was didn't have time to look for this." Starfire opened the kit and from it removed forceps. Her next step involved taking them out of the vacuum sealed packaging and holding preparing to extract the foreign object. "Wait-wait-wait!" Said Robin making Starfire jump back. He took a long swig of the whiskey. "Sorry, anesthetic." Sending a nod back and forth Starfire took one more gulp and stuck the slender instrument into his wound. Robin immediately reached out and grasped a wooden support very tightly. Sweat rolled off both of their heads like water from a faucet. "Grrrr-AH!" He gasped suddenly when Starfire pulled back the grabbed with the bullet in tow. In the same three seconds Robin took another large gulp of amber liquid and Starfire pressed her charged fist against his bare skin. "AAHHHHH! AHHH!!" Starfire her hand away and in an effort to block out the pain Robin beat his head against the floor boards. Starfire parted the matting hair in her face. His cries were dying down to quick gasps and sighs. The timid alien brushed her fingers over the spot, now sealed shut.
"Robin…"
"I'm-okay." He choked out. "Thanks to you." She reclined down beside him, propping her head on her arm. "We covered a lot of ground before we got here didn't we?" She nodded. "Isard's alone, unless she calls for reinforcements it'll be a while before she can find us here. We can stay here for a while but not too long."
"But you must rest."
"I will, but it can't be for more than a few hours."
She said, "And when we continue on, where shall we go?" Robin cleared his throat.
"Well, we told them to accept Markus' proposal so they'll probably be heading to his territory."
"Where is that?"
"Jerusalem, that's where we'll go. Hopefully we'll meet them there. We only have a few hours so get some sleep." Starfire settled closer to him and they took their soon to be short lived nap.
JERUSALEM………………..
Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Lee stopped at the sight of the city. It was surrounded by the coming and goings of travelers, traders, and soldiers alike. The four Titans all looked at each other with readiness then continued on. As they drew nearer Raven felt the urge to spout out historical facts irrespirable.
"It's amazing, for a full century during the eleven hundreds this city belonged to the Christians. King Richard the Lion Heart then spent a good amount of money and soldiers trying to take it back from Saladin."
"Wait," said Beast Boy. "…Saladin the king of the Saracens or Saladin the dead vampire sovereign?"
"Who said they were two different people?" Beast Boy held an incredulous look.
"No way." She shrugged.
"Well there's no real way to prove that, but it's possible isn't it?" He nodded agreeably. Raven smirked with a quirked an eyebrow. "You know your history."
"I was in a death camp for eight months; the only things you do are march and read, if they let you…" The main gate was wide open and allowed for a number of caravans to come and go. The lingo most commonly heard among the people around them was Arabic, not that they could understand a word of it but the language was still recognizable. As soon as the entire group was within the city walls the refugees following scattered like flies. Raven turned swiftly to look for Shandrey's mother; unfortunately it would seem Shandrey inherited her ability to disappear from her mother. She ground her teeth in apprehension. This was one secret she was going to have a hard time keeping. Cyborg stopped walking without warning thus everyone bumped into each other one after the other.
"Cyborg? What is the matter?" asked Lee. He received no response so he simply followed Cyborg's gaze to two men ahead of them. They were completely covered from head to toe and their heads covered in heavy shrouds.
"Vampires?" asked Beast Boy.
"That or victims of severe sickle cell." Raven walked up behind Lee.
"Do you think they're Markus' men?" Her question was answered by one of the two meeting them. A passing crowd blocked their view of them then suddenly one of them was not a few feet away.
"Good morning," he said quietly.
"Back at you," replied Cyborg. The man's partner joined them with the same unearthly speed.
"Markus wishes to see you immediately."
Beast Boy of course let no response go without cheek. "You mean we don't get to freshen up first." They looked at him with silent loathing and led the way out of the crowds. "Guess not." It took them quite awhile to move to the center of the city, where undoubtedly Markus himself resided. Along the way they head those who were speaking English muttering stories or urban legends about some vigilante do-gooder who would prowl the streets and roof tops at night.
"Remind you of someone you knew?" asked Raven to the whole of the group. They didn't answer but it wasn't necessary. Whoever this 'do-gooder' was he or she had quite a city to take care of.
Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Lee allowed themselves to be led into a large room which bore mostly stone furniture. Once they were inside their escorts stepped back out and closed the doors as they went. At once they spotted Moira greeting them with a lewd smile. Beside her was none other than Markus, he stood showing them his back and examined the large tapestry.
"At long last we finally face to face." He turned in place and beckoned them to enter further. "Moira has told me all about the immeasurable hospitality that you showed her while being my envoy." His eyes settled on Lee. "But I must admit that what she said was quite vague." Lee glanced at Moira where upon she sent him a clear wink.
"I refer to it only as an ordeal. Moira was just as vague during her time with us as I'm sure she was with you," said Lee flashing a defiant tongue. "We've all been under the impression that you summoned us here to help rescue our friends. Now is that true or should we prepare ourselves for battle?"
"I have always thought of such a venture to be a bonus, our true and primary aim should be to deal Isard a mortal blow. Should your companions be rescued in the process than you would be the richer for it." Lee stepped closer with a dangerous frown.
"My sister! Shandrey, and Starfire are not meager inconveniences that can be simply pushed aside."
"You point?" asked Moira.
"What he means is we all fully cooperate or the deal's off!" Barked Cyborg.
"Of course," said Markus raising his voice above the rest. Their eyes focused on him as he sat down in his large stone chair. "You have come here seeking assistance as I have also asked it of you. Here you will not be confined within a veil bureaucratic red tape."
"Nice words, but they are just words until you actually deliver something," said Beast Boy.
"Isard must be stopped, if you will all bear with me for just a moment we have a plan that I think you will find most interesting." He and Moira exchanged smug looks. These gestures of course did nothing to improve the poor feelings of the four heroes.
REJOINING SHANDREY………………..
Shandrey was good about being able to keep a low profile if she needed to. At the moment she felt content to move about in empty rooms and alcoves in order to stay hidden. Many times she had allowed many guards to pass her way without laying a mortal finger upon them, though the urge was great and frighteningly hard to resist. Shandrey also found it strange that Isard wasn't combing the station or sending out search parties for her. She wasn't going to complain, a reprieve such as this should be taken advantage of. Before she could escape though, she had to find a friend/sister. Isard seemed to have underestimated the capacity of Shandrey's memory. Without directions or the guide of some kind of map Shandrey skillfully made her way through the halls toward the room where Nayia was being kept. She reached a set of secured doors, noted by a surveillance camera keeping watch over the corridor. Shandrey carefully reached up and twisted the casing around the lens to place it out of focus. She looked both ways to a make sure she wouldn't be seen by anyone passing by and with her stolen key card hacked her way into Nayia's room.
At first sight before her Nayia sat with her back to the door. Shandrey noticed with narrowed eyes that Nayia appeared to writing something and quietly whispering to herself. She crumpled up the papers he was writing on and threw it to the floor. Shandrey followed it down and saw that it was actually latest edition to a growing pile. The waterbender moved around to Nayia's side, her eyelids were shut delicately though it was easy enough to tell her eyes were moving rapidly beneath them.
"Nayia?" She stopped writing and drawing abruptly. Her eyes opened followed by a sigh.
"I can't do it anymore Shandrey." She held Nayia's shoulder. "I don't have enough practice, Isard thinks I know where it is….but I don't."
"It doesn't matter because we're getting out of here." Nayia's eyelids fell back down in despair.
"Get out of here? How do you intend to do that?"
"Well….so far I'm making this up as I go." Nayia didn't want to be negative, especially not now, but it was so difficult to simply disregard their plight. "Nayia please don't say you've given up."
"I haven't given up Shandrey," reassured Nayia looking at her. "But how did you escape, last time I saw you you were hopped up on some kind of drug only Isard and God probably not what it was for sure."
"I'm not really sure how, Isard just took me off it. Who knows, maybe I fought it off and she gave up or she just made a mistake." Nayia shoo her head somewhat.
"Isard never gives up, nor does she make mistakes." Shandrey held up a hand.
"I understand what you're telling me, but trust me we do have a chance. I've spoken with Lee…" She was pleased to see that at this Nayia's face brightened at least somewhat.
"Y-You've spoken to him? How?"
"Telepathically but it doesn't matter now, from what he said I believe they're trying to rescue us. We'll have to find Starfire too though."
"She's already gone," said Nayia. Shandrey's brows raised in surprise.
"She has?"
"Starfire's able to control her temper up to a certain point I think. She broke out days ago."
"Then our chances just got a little better."
"With the info she could've brought with her," agreed Nayia.
"We need to be ready," said Shandrey. "The only thing is the hallways are crawling with guards, I had difficult time getting up here as it is." Nayia nodded and stood up from her seat.
"Let me handle them."
"Are you sure?" Nayia smiled a bit sadly.
"Shandrey I've been taught, trained, and conditioned by Isard to kill as though it were second nature."
"But you're not Kaede anymore." Insisted Shandrey.
"True, but there are still some things left over. It's sad but it's also a part of who I am." Shandrey looked reluctant to accept it. "Let's go." They stopped just before the door and quickly dashed out into the hallway. Not a moment afterward they heard footsteps approaching. Shandrey's eyes darted up at the camera. Obviously someone was coming to see why it was no longer showing a proper view of that corridor. With nowhere to go they ran down the hall for second then darted into crevice which held a window. Nayia glanced at the stars behind them then peeked around the corner. Sure enough an armed guard rounded the corner and began to inspect the camera. Nayia ducked back behind their cover. She spoke in a hushed whisper. "He's found something."
"We'll be surrounded in minuets," said Shandrey.
"Not if we get to him first." Nayia's eyes moved down to a pouch of kunai slung around Shandrey's waist. "Where'd you get those?"
"Oh I picked them up in a small armory." Nayia cocked her head at the slender throwing weapons.
"May I?" Shandrey nodded and handed one to her. Nayia looked back around at the guard and saw with relief that he was still at work trying to find what was done to the camera. "Wait here."
"Wait? For what? What're you going to do?" Nayia held her index finger over her lips to emphasize silence. Shandrey held her tongue but more out of suspense. Nayia tucked the kunai up her sleeve and stepped out from the crevice. "Nayia!..." Called Shandrey hoarsely. Nayia bent herself over like someone in need of a cane and let out an audible cough. The guard's head snapped to her.
"What are you doing out here?" Nayia coughed again and walked toward him, using the wall for support.
"Please….I'm ill…I-I-I need help." Another set of harsh cough escaped her. She steadily moved closer and closer to him. Shandrey watched from around the crevice. The guard, more suspicious than sympathetic, moved to tap his earpiece.
"You stay put; Lady Isard will want to know about this." She quickly knocked his hand away from his ear then with her leg tripped down flat on his back. The kunai slipped out from her sleeve and she plunged it into his throat. While she held the sharp point in place her other hand clamped over his mouth to stifle any last loud gasps. Shandrey slowly walked towards them. Nayia shook slightly as his body twitched for a moment. Finally Nayia took her hands away and brushed some steady tears from her eyes.
"You see?" Shandrey didn't want to judge, who was she to anyway. "Help me get his body out of sight." Without saying another word the two girls pulled the dead guard into Nayia's room and promptly left the area.
JERUSALEM, late evening……………………
Moira walked coolly down hallway toward Markus' main chamber. One of her hands played with her hair. She glanced back and smiled hungrily. "That's it…follow me…" The unfortunate man of whom he and she happened to cross paths followed behind, deep under her spell. They entered Markus' room where he was already waiting. She moved aside as though presenting him with a gift.
"Your meal my lord." Markus tilted his head at they droopy eyed and slack jawed individual.
"Well, as last looks go I suppose he could do worse."
"Shall I fetch another?" He was about to reply in the affirmative when he noticed something about Moira's catch.
"No, I recognize this one." He narrowed his eyes and moved closer. "Yes…this one has glimpsed him before I am certain of it. Wake him."
"As you wish." With a snap of her fingers he gasped and blinked out of his trance. It was a tragedy that the first sight he should beheld after waking from such a nightmare was the Lord of all vampires. His body shook from head to toe and he steadily began backing away.
"Oh God…."
"Good evening," said Markus quietly. "I have questions for you subject, and how honestly you answer will greatly affect your fate." Scared out of his mind the young man spun around to run but ran right into Moira's mad hungry grin.
"Don't leave, but please struggle and fight I find it…arousing." Her eyes flashed dangerously of fire. She then took an almost painful hold of his shoulders and turned him back around to face the master of the house.
"Now, I know you've seen him. So tell me everything you know about the vigilante within my city." There appeared to be a fleeting spring of defiance within their captive but it was replaced by the desire to live.
"I-I know nothing." Markus smiled and narrowed his eyes at him. "I swear I know nothing about him!"
"Ah, so it is a 'he'. Well now we're getting somewhere. Tell me more."
"I told you already I know nothing." Markus, not convinced in the slightest, trained his eyes past him and up to Moira behind the man. She smiled wickedly and discreetly moved away from him. In no time flat one of the two talons on Markus' wings sprung from his back and skewered the man through the stomach. Blood erupted from his mouth as well as his wound.
"You have not long to live now, you might as well make these last few moments of your life meaningful."
"He-He moves the earth!" Shouted the squirming man. He screeched in pain. "He commands fire-AH-water…and the wind." Markus' smug look had slowly progressed to one of wonder. Without another concerning thought for their victim, Markus drew his talon back in concealment. The man fell to the floor dead from shock and increasing loss of blood.
"Do you believe they will lead us to him?" asked Moira.
"It is possible, we will consider that a bonus. For now we will continue our charade and strike when necessary." Moira nodded and Markus was sure he heard her mutter something about Lee. "Your desire for that samurai is bordering on obsession my queen." He drew her attention. "Tell me why." She paused before answering.
"If you'd have grown up with me and my sister than you would understand. I was control, my transgressions I could skillfully blame Shandrey with. My powers far exceed hers and yet……she dares to defy me with-with-with!..." Her voice broke as she became too agitated to continue.
He finished for her. "…Something you cannot have." She held a guilty-as-charged look. "It is frustrating, but you should consider yourself and ask the question…" He stepped up to her and took a lock of her hair in hand. "Is one mortal worth all of this?" She reached up and held his hand in her own.
"This one is, yes I want him but I also hate him. I hate him and Shandrey, but Shandrey for abandoning me when we as sisters should have remained together. When the time comes I will turn them both, and the both of them will serve me." Markus arched a brow. He took to elegantly designed wine glasses and picked up the man close by. His heart still beat out of residual nerve commands only, but it made his blood safe to drink. He held one glass under his mouth and began to fill it.
"Well then I was mistaken, that is not obsession in the slightest." He filled the other and handed it off to Moira. He took up his own and he raised it up to hers in preparation for a toast. "That…is what I call ambition." They lightly clanged their glasses together and savored the crimson liquid.
The sun was setting. The four Titans walked through the streets once more, already having heard Markus' proposed plan they asked for one night to think it over. That however was merely a blind so they could try to form a better plan, so far no such luck. It was therefore up to Lee to suggest that they take s walk and see where they end up. Because it was late in the day many of the crowded streets were now mostly deserted. They walked two by two; Cyborg and Lee took the lead with Raven and Beast Boy bringing up the rear.
"Shandrey would have loved this," said Lee looking around. Cyborg glanced down at him. "She loves to travel, and under Markus' control or not, she's always wanted to come visit Jerusalem." Cyborg smirked and looked ahead.
"You hate traveling."
"I despise it," admitted the samurai. "I much prefer to find one place and settle down. But unfortunately that has not been possible as of late." After a short pause Cyborg spoke again.
"You'd go all around the world with her wouldn't you?" A modest smile painted its way on Lee's face.
"Twice."
"Don't touch that!" They heard Raven reprimand Beast Boy as he fidgeted with a fragile piece of pottery. As they progressed further a host of hooded vampires stepped out into the street and blocked their path. They reflexively looked behind them only to see that way was shut also. Lee's hand found the hilt of his sword.
"Can we help you?"
"Your valuables, your weapons, and your woman. Hand them over mon, and we let you go."
"It's been a long time since we've had anything of value, our weapons we need to stay alive, and as for our…" He glanced back at Raven who sent him a narrowed stare as though saying 'just you try calling me "woman".' "Well we can't part with her either."
"Iss not really up to you mon! If we like…we kill you all and take what is left over." Lee's thumb pushed his sword partly out of its scabbard.
Cyborg readied his cannon. "You're picking on the wrong band of amigos. You might as well get lost." Beast Boy could see negotiations had a high probability of going south. He twisted his neck about trying to work out some stiffness. A few of the vampires began to move about. Cyborg raised his cannon somewhat. "Be cool," he warned. Cyborg then heard Lee's voice in his head
I think a diversionary tactic would be prudent
Cyborg pointed his cannon forward as though taking aim; the vampires ahead of them took it as such and readied themselves. At once Cyborg's shoulders opened and several rockets shot out at the surprised hunters. Raven swiveled around, threw her hands forward, and streams of dark energy poured from her hands to knock away the vampires behind them. A short ringing signified that Lee had drawn his sword. Beast Boy took the form of a hawk to gain some height. Down below Cyborg, Raven, and Lee fought against their attackers with vigor. The green bird found one on the roof of a nearby building and dove like a bomb. His talons dug into his head forcing pained and insane screams from him. Two vampires jumped upon Cyborg and latched themselves to his metal frame. He wrenched his head forward and connected his forehead with the one in front of him. As for the one hanging onto his back, Cyborg merely ran backwards until he collided with a wall. The vampire, his back totally crushed, lay stuck on the wall within a crude imprint of himself. That did not deter the others however, for three more came upon Cyborg with bloodthirsty hisses.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" The three vampires never made it Cyborg; their crumbling remains piled close by. Raven allowed three razor thin plates of energy die down. Up on the roof Beast Boy and another vampire clashed in combat. The vampire tripped Beast Boy onto his back and held him down by the throat. He noted without much worry that the anger was beginning to rise within the changeling. Beast Boy sputtered a laugh.
"You!-Won't…ack-like me…when I'm angry." The vampire was about to mock him when he felt the throat he was holding beginning to expand. It then became difficult to mock Beast Boy when it was clear that he was a Lycan and was growling quite ominously. With his empowered strength he grasped the vampire by the throat and easily threw him away. The vampire landed with a hard thumb upon the ground below and as he got up was met with the point of Lee's sword in his face.
"Who sent you?" Rather than answer the vampire scrambled to his feet and turned to run. He turned but ran smack right into Beast Boy, at the moment it was the same as running with all effort into a brick wall. Lee sheathed his sword. "Well will not ask again." Then quite inexplicably the vampire began to chuckle. His hand was shaking and unsteady, he pointed behind them.
"Why not ask them?" The Titans turned and there standing were dozens more nightwalkers. Soon they found themselves completely surrounded. Beast Boy, in a bout of primal frustration, picked him and threw him against the very building he fell off of.
"Well this is disappointing," muttered Raven. The circle that was made around them began to close. The Titans grouped themselves close together back to back.
"Excuse me…" All heads turned to see someone hobbling up the road. He balanced himself on a stick. "Could all please stop, there others around trying to sleep." One vampire stepped out of the ring and gruffly approached him.
"Bloody old fool! Keep your nose out of it!" he didn't move. "Fine!" No sooner had had moved to take hold of him than a pillar of rock shot out of the ground and threw him a great distance away. The figure straightened and his stick extended into a full length staff. The vampires recognized the maneuver immediately and abandoned the Titans for this new foe. From all directions they charged at him. He hit the end of his staff on the ground making a wave of earth rise up and spread out to intercept them all. Beast Boy reverted back to his human form. The stranger's manipulation of his staff was fluent and graceful. In the same motion to trip a foe he swung his weapon about and knocked away another coming up behind him.
"I thought only Rob had moves like that," said Cyborg. Lee studied him carefully, he seemed so familiar. The last to make any sort of move against this staff wielding warrior was met with a tremendous gust of wind from his hand. He flew backward and became impaled upon a flag pole. The figure held his staff behind his back. He and the Titans were left staring at each other. Lee stepped forward to speak.
"We thank you for-"
BANG
"ARGH!" Lee fell to the floor from a shot that came out of nowhere.
"Sniper!" yelled Cyborg. Beast Boy and Raven grabbed Lee and all of them dove into the nearest spaces out of the open. From his hiding place the shooter emptied the spent bullet casing and loaded another. Through the reticle of his scope he surveyed the area. Currently he had them pinned. Raven applied her restorative hands over Lee's injury.
"Are you alright?" they jumped when somehow their rescuer was right beside them.
"I am," replied Lee. "Did anyone see where he was?" Beast Boy shrank to the minuscule size of an insect and crawled out to take a look. Because of his lessened eyesight he wasn't likely to spot him but that wasn't why he left their cover. He counted on this sniper to be as careful and meticulous as he knew he would be and just as he thought he was forced to dodge and avoid another shot by a hair. He dove back into their hiding spot.
"Beast Boy could you try not doing something stupid!" Snapped Raven. Beast Boy sent her a slightly aggravated glance then after getting Cyborg's attention pointed off to the right.
"He's somewhere over there." Cyborg lent his head against the wood of the shed he was hiding behind.
"We can't just step out there."
Still the sniper moved his sight from left to right searching for any target that might show itself.
The stranger looked about and then an idea came to him. "I can help, but I'll need some assistance." They were hardly in a position to argue. Cyborg ducked away from another shot taken close by his head.
"What do you need?" He considered his options for a moment.
"Okay, this is what I need you to do."
From his hide the sniper reloaded his rifle yet again; a series of clicks followed the bolt being worked.
"Ready?" Cyborg nodded. "Okay on three; one….two…..three!" Cyborg quickly looked around from his cover then ducked back away from the shot being sent his way. The stranger managed to glimpse from where the shot originated and to their gaping surprised vanished into thin air. He reappeared directly behind the shooter and pulled his weapon away. "I'll take that." The sniper whirled around but a metal staff connected with his jaw and he was out cold.
Back at the road Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Lee all moved back out into the open where Raven was able to finalize the process of treating the last of Lee's bullet wound.
"You're lucky it went straight through."
"Indeed." Soft crunches in the gravel told them someone was approaching and it was of course the stranger. "I was saying before I was so curtly interrupted, we're indebted to you."
"It was the least I could do for some old friends." They all exchanged looks of mal-comprehension. He finally lowered his hood and they recognized him immediately. A friend they met years ago while they were still the Teen Titans.
"Elm!" Cried Cyborg. He ran up and slapped him hard off the back. "Elm you mild mannered son of a bitch!" He exclaimed with through a chuckle. Elm rolled his eyes with a wry grin.
"It's good to see you too Cyborg; Raven, Beast Boy, Lee…" Lee walked up to him and bowed.
"It is good to see you again Carl-San." Elm winced slightly at his birth name.
"Back at you but remember…'Elm' will be fine."
"Of course." Elm looked them over and with a chortle stowed his staff away.
"You all look like you could do with a short meal."
"Couldn't hurt," deadpanned Raven. Elm smiled at with an its-good-that-some-things-never-change look.
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Elm led the way to a tavern that stayed open late into the night and paid for five glasses of hot tea. Upon getting hers Raven added in her own personal ingredients and drank with much satisfaction.
"Its becoming a smaller and smaller world isn't it," said Elm sitting down with his drink and plate of food in hand. They noted the plate and remembered his need for frequent meals.
"Y'can say that again," agreed Beast Boy.
"Where's Robin and Starfire?"
"Robin's on a fact finding mission at the moment," said Raven. "And Starfire…." She paused. "Well that's a whole other story." He was sure by the tone in her voice that it was probably a bad one so for now he opted to change the subject.
"So, what brings you guys to our crime filled and not so humble city?" They were hesitant to answer. For they knew the vampires who attacked them did so under orders from Markus. Perhaps the less he knew the safer he would be. But it was silently decided among them that he deserved more than that. Cyborg set his glass down and cleared his throat."
"Okay….this is gonna sound a little crazy-"
"We're here to negotiate with Markus," said Lee beating Cyborg to the point. Elm Frowned somewhat in bewilderment.
"Negotiate? For what?"
"We're trying to form an alliance." At this Elm appeared almost insulted. He opened his mouth to speak but fell short of getting the actual words out. He shoved his glass away and walked outside. Lee sighed and followed after him.
----
Outside Elm leant against a wooden support for an awning. Lee walked up behind him, of which Elm only became aware when the door closed behind the samurai.
"Elm I can see where it would seem unorthodox." Elm sniggered sarcastically.
"Yes becoming partners with the apex of unearthly evil would strike anyone as odd wouldn't it?"
"This has not been easy for us; we do this out of necessity." Elm turned to him with a frown.
"Why? What makes something like this necessary?"
Lee then asked, "Do you know Isard?"
"Not personally."
"Star-San, Shandrey, and my sister are currently being held captive by her." Elm's mouth hung ajar.
"Lee I'm-I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"The only way we can see right now to rescue them is to ally ourselves with Markus and take advantage of his resources. As repugnant as the situation is we have no other choice."
"And if Markus is just biding his time? What then?"
"The mere fact that we suspect such a betrayal means we have a better chance of being ready for it," said Lee with determination. "Elm we are soon to be in for the fight of our lives and our list of allies has been growing thinner and thinner as of late." Elm trained his eyes to the ground. "I know this is sudden to ask, considering the quick pace at which we crossed paths again, but we would be honored if you would join us." He shook his head.
"To do what?"
"To perhaps one day take back what is rightfully ours." Elm searched further for a rationale. "This world is ours." Elm craned his backwards so that he was looking up at the awning. He then uttered the same ironic chuckle.
"One of these days….you've gotta right down all of these speeches you make, because sometimes it's just the way you say things Lee. That's all." Lee kept a straight face. "Where do I sign up?"
----
Back inside the others speculated on Elm's abrupt change in attitude. Cyborg played with his empty glass, rolling it about along its bottom edge.
"You think I insulted him or something?" Beast Boy shrugged.
"Dunno, maybe it was something you said."
"Or didn't say," added Raven. Cyborg stopped his glass and shrugged dubiously.
"All I said was: 'this is gonna sound a little crazy'." At that moment Lee walked back inside with Elm following close behind. The other three Titans rose at the sight of them. Lee affirmed Elm's decision with a smiling bow.
"Elm has agreed to join us."
"Trust me, that's great," said Beast Boy with a broad smile. "Say Elm you wouldn't have a sofa or a lazy chair we could bunk on for the night or….dozen would you?" Elm twisted his face into a smile.
"You mean Markus hasn't accommodated you?"
"Yeah he left that part out, rude huh?" Elm nodded once more and beckoned them to follow.
That's it for now I'm afraid, if you spotted more mistakes than I thought there were I apologize. It's what happens when you try to finish this late at night.
Also, important: The character Elm belongs to good buddy of mine, Realfanficts. More history and info on this character will follow. It just wouldn't have worked if I told everything there was to know about him right now. Trust me. Laters!