Epilogue
The East was darkening, while the sunset painted a glorious landscape across the West. But the usual audience for that sunset was not on the roof of Titans Tower. The cloak, and the woman who wore it, was somewhere in the rocky valley of Twilight Canyon. She watched the same sunset reflected in the warm green eyes of her beloved, with her cloak wrapped around them. The sun flared brightly in the distance, just caressing the empty rooftop, with rays that were, then pink, then simply dark blue sky. The stars popped out, first one, then three, then a whole handful, winking down across the wide land, from the empty roof to the rocky desert.
Many stories below that empty roof, in a warm and busy kitchen, a young man enjoyed a cup of coffee as he listened to the sounds of the tower about him and read a letter from the wearer of the cloak.
My dearest Victor -
Garfield and I send our love. We hope everyone is well and happy. I hope that cousin Matthew is also enjoying his holiday at the tower and getting along well with Bart and Sian. I appreciate Bart's entertaining her until we return next week. Please reassure her that I still hope to make plans to visit her city soon. Hopefully they will find something fun to do together until we return.
"A-Ten-SHUN!"
Bart's distant voice, broadcast on a hand-held radio somewhere close by, startled Vic.
"Okay, team, get ready for some serious fun. We're ready to begin the official induction of your favorite Azar and mine into the Titans' Tower chapter of the Stair Luge Samurai."
"Not again," Vic muttered aloud to no one in particular as he shook his head.
"We're going to have a great jump today," the speedster continued. "I, Stair Luge Shogun Bart, will be steering in the bow. Matt Logan, Stair Luge Samurai, will be anchoring us in the stern. Sian here will be safely ensconced in the middle." A pause, then: "Houston, is the airspace clear?"
"Clear," replied Superboy's voice, much closer, probably at the bottom of the massive staircase.
Vic shifted in his seat and softly counted to ten before resuming his letter
We just wanted to update you on events here in Twilight Canyon. After everything that happened with -
"What about our theme music?" This time it was Matt shattering the peace. "We can't go without our theme music!"
The Tower vibrated from the sounds of Elvis crooning about "Burning Love", with Gar's cousin providing the backup vocals.
Vic sighed and kept reading.
- after everything that happened with my grandfather, and with (for lack of a better term) my other half, I truly needed the rest. Charles had mixed emotions about Thunder Horse's choice, but yesterday he told me that the thought that he is out there exploring the universe makes him happy. As for how I feel… well, my friend, I am still trying to figure that out. Suffice it to say, the past week at the ranch has kept me too busy to dwell on it much.
The population here at the ranch keeps growing. Two days ago, my young friend Jimmy Red Cloud arrived. He has left his school for good. Apparently he was miserable there. After a family conference, Charles and Karen decided to adopt him and home-school him here. They have wanted children for some time, it seems, and this decision has given all of them some peace. Yesterday, Jimmy's grandmother arrived, as they have decided to adopt her as well. Old Bill is a very happy dog with so many people here to give him pets and treats.
The breakfast table is quite crowded now. Slade Wilson is still here, staying in the bunkhouse with Joseph. Slade's daughter Rose is her, too, along with an unusual pet butterfly that is remarkably long-lived. With Charles' help, and Karen's rather insistent supervision, they are reconciling. In fact, Charles is working with them to revive Joseph's mother's investigative agency, Searchers, Inc. The first task they have set for themselves is to track down the errant Book of Blood. Apparently, Twilight Child left it behind after our encounter in the canyon, but no one is quite sure where. We've been searching for it in the area during the daytime, but so far we have found nothing. Even Slade is anxious to return it to the archives that housed it before she took it. He finds its potential for mischief disturbing, as do I.
Somewhere in the sky above the Tower, unseen by Victor Stone as he read the letter, soared a secret satellite belonging to a secret society of those that prefer the darker side of the law. In the bar on that satellite sat two men knocking back some well-deserved libations and celebrating their secret victory.
"Still looking for the Book of Blood?" asked the Calculator.
"Yes," replied Slade Wilson. "When we find it - and I'm sure we will - we're going to lock it back in that archive."
"Slade-"
"I know, I know, there are markets for it. But we're going to have to let this one go, Noah. This is some next-level, celestial, soul-rending stuff. It's bigger than we are."
"Then why'd you want to see me?"
"I wanted to thank you for your help, Noah. I never would have tracked them down in time without you. That means you had a hand in saving the world, believe it or not." He nudged the Calculator with his elbow. "So, how does it feel being the good guy for once?"
"C'mon, Slade," Noah said as he rattled the ice in his glass and waved at Bob the Bartender to request another round. "I'm always the good guy."
With all the people here now, Charles is also planning on constructing a second house, with plenty of guest rooms for the Titans whenever they need some time away. I hope you will be able to have some vacation time here soon, as well, Victor. He said that you are welcome whenever you like.
"A vacation with Deathstroke," Vic mused. "Not high on my bucket list."
Vic looked up as he heard clattering in the hallway just outside the kitchen. The luge crew swept past the door back towards the elevator. Sian sported a blue bandanna around her forehead, which matched the lettering on her PROPERTY OF TITANS TOWER t-shirt, a gift from Bart.
"Can I have your number?" Matt asked as they passed.
"Oh Lord," Vic muttered.
"Which number?" Sian replied.
"Never mind that," Bart said. "Did you have fun, young Samurai?"
"Yes," replied Sian's voice, laden with excitement. "We have no such sports in Azar Noush! Can we do it again?"
Vic moaned, sipped his coffee, and resumed reading.
Garfield and I have taken this opportunity to do some exploring and camping in various parts of the canyon. We do enjoy all the company here, but we also enjoy our time alone. It truly is beautiful here, and so full of… the unexpected.
Speaking of the unexpected, if anyone contacts you about strange atmospheric phenom in our area, please tell them not to panic. We have everything under control, so to speak.
Our adventure continues. We will see you soon. I love you, my very dear friend.
"Love you, too, witch," Vic said softly, then smiled.
His attention wandered to the news graphic on the kitchen television set, and he turned it up to listen.
"… and in other news, an unusual aurora has been spotted in the desert areas of the southwest for the past couple of nights. Scientists have been unable to track it back to any sunspot activity so far, but they believe there is no reason for alarm…"
Vic glanced down at the letter again and reread the last few paragraphs. Then he read the letter's postscript.
P.S. Hey, Tin Man, pass on my thanks to Matt for the subscription, wouldja? He'll know what I mean. Love, Gar.
"Oh," Vic said softly. Then, as the cybernetic half of his brain read between the lines and presented him with a probable meaning, he said again, "Oh!"
Vic smiled into his coffee cup. "You always said you were good, Gar. But damn, brother. Never knew you were that good."
Finis.
Author's Notes It's hard to believe it, but it's done. It's been over a decade and a half in the making, but the Twilight Child series is finally complete.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sticking with me for so long. All the views, faves, and reviews have been so supportive and encouraging. They mean a lot to me, far more than words can express. It's been a long, wild ride, and I hope you enjoyed the ending. It was a very long time coming. I was 35 when I started, and as I flip the story status to "Finished", I am at the half-century mark. I'm sorry I took so long to finish it, but now it is done. I am grateful to be able to finish such a large project.
A very heartfelt and grateful acknowledgement to the members of the RBSU forum, who all played a part in supporting this series, especially DeTroyes, who beta-read so much of it for me in the early days. I miss you, my friends, and I hope you are well, whatever part of the world you are in now.
As Raven said, our adventure continues, even if this particular series is finished. I have no plans for a sequel at this time, as I have several other large writing projects in the air now, including finishing the last novel in my trilogy and my other big fanfic, The House of Loki. But, one never knows what the future holds! Gar and Raven and the rest will always have a special place in my heart. Take care of yourselves, keep your wits about you, and I'll see you on the flip side. May your adventures continue, and may all your dreams come true. Much Love, KTHunter