Here's another chapter for the Sixth Titan Omni everyone, hope you like this one. Because it's also a game changer for Shane in the end.
Chapter 16
How Long is Forever
It's now been roughly well over two full weeks since the incident with Slade, where he made Robin his apprentice by force. If he didn't listen to him, he'd destroy his teammates, his friends. But luckily, Shane who was cut off from the group because of a predatory alien encounter wasn't affected by his micro probes. After two days of personal feelings, debates, and fights with their leader, they finally figured out what was going on.
Finally they're efforts paid off, and they defeated the terminator, who in turn destroyed his own lair. A while after that, the titans scoured through the city, looking for possible hints on where he could be, they came up short, and found no trace of him at all. If anyone's guess was right, then Slade was keeping low, licking his wounds, restoring a bit of his pride before making his next move.
Aside from looking into leads about Slade, the team was looking for info that could lead them to find out where the predatory aliens specifically targeting Shane originate from. Unfortunately, just like Slade, they weren't able to find anything either about where or how these aliens got to Earth in the first place. The only clue they had was the collar around each of their necks, bearing the same red jaw like symbol.
But right now, things were okay. No one's been really popping out of the woodworks, criminal, extraterrestrial, or paranormal incidents. The pass few days have been peaceful and the Titans were able to get a break from their hero work.
As of the moment we see Shane exiting out of his room wearing different clothing, an unzipped white hoodie with black outlines and a green shirt with a little grey alien on the front of it. Normally he wouldn't wear this often but he has been wearing his 'comfy' clothes for the past few days since it has been quiet.
While making his day down he spotted Starfire scooting up against the walls and
" Hmm?
" Starfire? " This startled the female tamaranian causing her to drop her things and almost blast her teammate who quickly held up his hands in defense. " Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Easy! C'mon cool it! "
" Oh! Friend Omni I'm so sorry! Forgive me. I was how you say 'caught in the moment'. "
" Yeah, you must've been. " Shane commented and glanced at the odd assortment of stuff that was now on the floor. " So, what's all this for? "
Hearing this question, she got excited as she started picking up them up. " I am so glad you asked! Today is a most wonderous day! "
" Is it someones birthday? "
She giggled at his question. " No, today if Blorthog. "
" Blor-thog? " Shane did his best to pronounce what she said. " Is that sort of like a holiday? "
" Indeed. On my planet Tamaran, Blorthog is the day of Friendship. A celebration of renewal and maintaining close friendships. "
" Huh, okay. That sounds nice. For a minute there, I thought we were going to have a Marti Gras party. "
She titled her head in confusion. " What is Marti Gras? "
" Eh, I'll tell you later. Want me to carry some of that? "
" I don't mind at all. " she said passing him what she was carrying and both of them made their way to the Operations Center. When they did enter the room Starfire called out to her teammates.
" HAPPY BLORTHOG! " Instead of anybody trying to question her she didn't get a response and Shane lowered down the stuff in his hands to see what was going on. " Huh? "
Off to the right side they saw Raven sitting down reading a book while, Robin was on the left side standing Infront of a boom box in the kitchen.
Meanwhile Beast Boy and Cyborg are playing GameStation, having a tug-of-war over the game controller.
"Come on, Beast Boy, gimme that thing! " " Dude! I'm in the middle of a game, Cyborg! " " Yeah, my game, cause it's my turn! "
" Give me the controller! " " No! Let go! " It is my turn! "
" Looks like it's one of those days... " Shane commented as they walked inside where the female alien tried to grab their attention
" Friends! We must frolic and leap in glorious celebration, for today is Blorthog, the Tamaranean festival of friendship! "
Sight gag: Roses bloom all around her head as she says this. When she finishes, she grins broadly for several seconds, and then the flowers fall away, to the sound of a mental car wreck, as she realizes that no one is paying the least attention. Disgruntled, she looks around the place and reaches into the stuff Shane had and took a few strands of jingling bells that hang from her wrists. Cyborg leans into view, still struggling with Beast Boy fighting over the controller and she turns cheerfully to him.
" Joyous greeting, friend! " She said not noticing a green tentacle snaking its way into view. " I, Starfire, give you this tinnabula as a symbol of- " It wraps around his neck; she gasps.
The metal teen yelled as he was yanked over. " You're gonna pay for that, you little grass stain! "
After a crash is heard Beast Boy hops into view as a frog, with the GameStation controller in his mouth. Reverting to human form, he laughs and starts playing again. Starfire holds a string of bells out to him.
" Many blessings, friend. May your ears be filled with sugar candies and- "
" BEAST BOY! "
The green changeling yelled over his shoulder " Look! I'll give you back the controller as soon as Raven gives back my nail clippers! " Then a loud, furious growl is heard, and Cyborg reaches into view to yank him away. Cut to Raven, still buried in her book, with the aforementioned pair of clippers floating nearby under her influence.
" Not gonna happen. How else am I supposed to keep your toenails off the coffee table? "
" Ewe, please do so. That's just nasty. " Shane requested because Beast Boy did that a lot and he hated to eat when especially his teammate didn't pick up after himself.
Starfire goes over to Raven holding out the bells out to her. " Happiness and delight, friend. On this wondrous day, I wish you sunshine and bunny- "
Raven's eyebrow twitches as a skull pops up by her head. Starfire takes the hint and backs off with a nervous little laugh. Now a vein starts to throb on Raven's forehead on her next words.
" Robin, could the music be a little louder? I can still hear myself think. "
Over at the Boy wonder Starfire makes as if to offer him the bells. As the free-for-all continues from the vicinity of the couch, Robin glares off toward it and one vein after another stands out below his hairline. Finally, he has had enough.
" I only turned the music up to DROWN OUT ALL THE YELLING! " His face goes red on the end of this line, his head swells, and he shouts with enough force to blow Starfire's hair back.
Shane noticed that Starfire was starting to get rather tired of this whole idiocy, and nearby Beast Boy was running Cyborg who was still trying to get the game controller. Afterwards he got him and put the green changeling in a headlock and seized the device with the other while dragging him off to the side.
" Whose turn is it now, tough guy? Whose turn is it now? "
Robin called after them in annoyance. " Knock it off! I can't work with you two acting like idiots! "
" Great, Robin. " Raven said sarcastically. " More yelling will definitely stop all the yelling. " Robin in turn glanced over to her and growled.
" Oh, boy this is getting out of hand. " Shane said as he turned to the sound of screaming coming from Cyborg getting chased by Beast Boy as a bear. A while later the latter comes back in human form and tries to catch his breath while Cyborg was laughing victoriously waving the controller around.
" Friends, please! " Starfire was now getting to the breaking point. You must not, if we could simply, happy Blor- " She was unaware that her anger building up caused the strand of bells to break
The bells fall loose and hit the floor in slow motion, bouncing all over the place.
" Uh-oh... " Shane proceeds to put the stuff down on the counter and covered his ears for what was going to happen. Starfire's disbelieving gaze turns down at the bells as Robin and Raven grimace at each other and Beast Boy stays half slumped over. The Tamaranean's shock gives way to fist-clenching anger, and she does her best to keep from blowing her top, but eventually, she loses the struggle.
" STTTTTOOOOOPPPPP! "
Hear voice finally grabbed her teammates attention and did just that. " Friends must never behave this way, and especially not on Blorthog! Do you wish to invite the Rekmas? "
" Gesundheit? " Beast Boy was obviously confused.
Starfire turned away for a brief moment. " On my world, "Rekmas" means "the Drifting." The point at which close friends begin to drift apart, and their friendship begins to die. "
Hearing this got to Cy. " Aw, come on, Starfire. "
" We are so not Rek-whatever-ing. " Beast Boy said.
" We're getting on each other's nerves a little. Big deal. " Raven added
" Yeah. " Robin chimed in. " This is just typical roommate stuff. We're not going to drift apart, Star. I promise. We'll all be friends forever. "
" Forever? " A beeping starts up and cuts off her pondering. The source is Robin's communicator, which he pulls out of his belt. As its show-theme ringtone goes off, the T on its outer casing flashes red.
" Titans! Trouble! "
All but Starfire follow him out of the operations center. Shane stops and notices her hesitation and walks over to her. placing a hand on her shoulder the omnitrix wielder smiled as a way of telling her it was gonna be okay'. After that he ran out with his alien teammate flying behind him.
We now cut to see the exterior of Jump City's Mueseum of Metro Art & Technologies.
The sun has just barely begun to rise here. Inside, we see a gallery filled with ticking clocks from many historical periods, and it stops on a particular display case by the far wall to zoom in a bit. Next to this, a portal of white light opens up and turns black after a moment as if a second hand had just swept across it.
Out steps a goateed man in black armor, with gold reinforcements at wrists and ankles; he also wears a gold breastplate to have a large blue lens, his helmet had a smaller blue lens on the forehead that leaves his face exposed. This is Warp.
Close-up of the item in the case: a small clock in a cylindrical gold housing, with a glass hemisphere on top. Inside is an assembly of parts that could be a model of a galaxy. Warp's footsteps approach as his shadow falls over the case; pull back to frame him in front of it.
" Hey, stop! " The sound of a weapon being cocked is heard with this. The intruder turns towards the sound of the voice. The speaker is one of two-armed guards who have moved in and are ready to fire.
" Stop yourselves! " He waves a hand carelessly at them; an instant later both men are frozen in ice. Cut from them to him on the next line. He turns back to the case.
" I didn't journey back in time one hundred years to squabble; I came to steal. " He turns to his prize. " The Clock of Eternity. Valuable in the past, priceless in the future. "
He reaches for it, only to have his hand deflected by one of Robin's discs. Pull back to frame the Titans at the balcony railiing.
" But for the present...you'll keep your filthy hands off it. "
" The Teen Titans. This is a treat. " He said as a laser pops out of each shoulder. " I read all about you in the historical archives. And now, you're all history! " He opens fire.
" Titans! Go! "
They are over the railing in a heartbeat to avoid the blasts and while doing so Shane slams down on the Omnitrix turning into Buzzshock darting through the air.
Warp pivots off to one side and fires again with a shout, aiming at Robin; the latter has his fighting staff out and extended to full length, and he parries the barrage with ease. The last shot, however, breaks the weapon in half and forces him to retreat. A starbolt blasts from behind him and Starfire flies in to take his place, followed by Beast Boy as a lion. Her beams carve a long double groove in the floor, closing in on Warp, but he effortlessly deflects when they reach him. One ricochet comes back at her and knocks her out of the air.
He looks incuriously off to one side as Beast Boy's growl is heard. The big green jungle cat is charging, but up comes one gold glove, out pops a blaster from the back of it, and off goes a crackling blast. Pull back to show that he has immobilized Beast Boy in mid-leap. Up in midair Raven is levitating two grandfather clocks.
" Azarath Metrion Zinthos! "
The fixtures are hurled at him, only to go flying off to the side when he waves his arms. Now he fires a beam from his helmet that drives her to the ground. He is in the clear for only a moment, though; Cyborg's sonic cannon blast flashes in, connecting dead on and throwing up a cloud of dust.
" Boo-yah! Huh? " As the dust clears, we see that Warp has put up a force field to absorb the energy and is quite unharmed. Taking it down, he throws something at the camera; cut to Cyborg as it lands on his chest and sticks there. It is circular, resembling a kitchen timer, and the pointer turns a notch to send up sparks from every part of the bionic teen's body.
Cyborg: (groans in pain) Draining my power cell!
" You cannot defeat Warp. " He said bringing out a disc. " I am from the future. "
He scales it across the gallery toward the charging Robin, who throws a handful of his own discs. Warp's projectile, however, smashes cleanly through them, then doubles back and homes in again. Robin and Starfire dive aside as it sails the full length of the room and explodes at the other end.
" And your relics are one hundred years out of date. " As Warp said this, he got hit in the back by an electrical shock sending him rolling across the ground.
" Big talk coming from walking gold bar. " Buzzshock said as he charged up for another attack and went for it. However, Warp raised up his left arm and a device came out redirecting the aliens attack right back at him.
" Ah, the Omnitrix. I've heard countless stories about it, but never was able to steal it. " Warp commented as his shoulder blasters fired and Buzzshock kept dodging them with ease. " A pity to, it would've been worth more than this clock I'm stealing. "
" Too bad for you then! " Buzzshock said as he blasted Warp with a full charged attack only for Warp to intercept it with an attack of his own that eventually overpowered the aliens attack sending Buzzshock crashing into a a nearby wall.
He turns away and goes back to his prize, the Clock of Eternity. Warp reaches out, his hand passing through the glass, and removes it. With his target taken Warp takes a few steps across the gallery, stops, and presses the blue lens on his breastplate. It glows blinding white and emits a beam that forms into a portal identical to the one that brought him here. A little adjustment turns the passage black as before.
" Ta-ta, Titans. I have enjoyed our time together, but I've got a very bright future ahead of me. "He turns to make his exit, but before he can clear out, Starfire lets out a roar of fury and flies straight at him. Surprised, he turns to look back with one foot out the door. " What? "
She plows into him; her momentum carries both of them through the portal, which winks out behind them-an instant before Robin hurls himself across the screen in attempt to follow. He ends up sprawled on the floor. Long overhead shot of the gallery, pulling back slowly; there are five Titans, spread out and looking at the now-empty case, and the fifth nowhere in sight. Both Shane and Beast Boy had returned to human form.
" Starfire! "
The view resolves into the center of a clock face, the point where the hands are attached, as the camera pulls back. It is advancing very quickly, and as the camera movement continues, other timepieces are seen in the background, all working at high speed. Starfire and Warp grapple in midair; pan to keep them in view. We are within the portal he opened.
Both of them were in a struggle. " Let go! "
" You have endangered my friends and ruined Blorthog! "
" Stop! If you damage the suit before we reach my future- " She gets hold of the chest lens. " No! "
She rips it away; there is a great flash of white, which clears to leave her floating alone. She gasps and covers her eyes as he drops screaming o.c. Cut to just above her; he falls away from view, the background blacking out as he goes. When he has receded from view entirely, a second white flash emanates from the immeasurable depths and washes out the screen. This clears to leave a black field and Starfire falling toward the camera from above. Fade to black, then immediately snap to a deep snowdrift, where she lands very hard and stands up after a moment. It is nighttime, and a bitter winter wind whistles over the landscape.
" Huh? " She was confused by what was happening and shivers do to the amount of clothing she was wearing. " What has happened? Why is it cold? And where are my... "
She turns her eyes upward on the end of this line and gaspssoftly in shock looking straight at the base of the Tower, whose windows are all dark and drifted deep with snow at the sills and the main window had a large hole in it. The entire impression is one this impressive building has fallen into advanced disrepair.
" ...friends? "
Dissolve to inside, near the ceiling of the top floor. A hole has been smashed here, allowing the snowflakes to enter. Tilt down to the unlit stairs as she mounts them slowly. The device she tore from Warp's armor is clipped to her belt.
" Friends? Hello? Friends? Hello!
Finding a set of closed doors in her path, she strains to push them open. Cut to the other side; one door is forced away, then the other, revealing her silhouette in the meager light from outside. She gasps in shock and advances slowly; pull back to reveal that she has entered the remains of the operations center. Walking through the kitchen, she looks left and right, not believing a bit of what she sees, and the camera cuts to floor level. Her boots pass the GameStation controller that sparked such a furor between Cyborg and Beast Boy, and nudge one of the bells she dropped, now badly rusted.
The jingling causes her to stop and recoil in fear for a moment, and she stops and picks up a loose bell. She fixes it with a wide-eyed look of stunned sadness for a long second and watches it crumble on her palm. In the darkness off to one side, a spot of red light begins to glow as some machinery is heard; she gasps and looks toward this. " Cyborg! " The red dot does not move, so she holds up one glowing hand to shed some light.
" Oh, Cyborg, thank goodness you are- "
The illumination reaches the dark niche and exposes something that has Cyborg's approximate body shape but is built entirely of mechanical parts. The source of the red spot is an electronic brain sitting in one side of the head. Starfire cries out in fear and throws a starbolt that blows the collection of circuitries away, only to be confronted by several spider-like robots that jump up from behind the shoulders.
Each looks like the part she just destroyed. Now she tosses one shot after another to knock them out but is interrupted by the arrival of a new figure at the entrance.
" Yo! " She stops and turns to see the silhouette of a figure.
The figure walks into view of himself. to reveal Cyborg, only a much older metal teen. His face was lined, the armored panels that cover most of his body are damaged or missing, and the blue lights that used to glow in his circuitry have gone out. Thick cables are connected to his back, snaking out of view, and he has armed himself with a piece of pipe.
" Who's up here blasting my... " He stops, lowers the pipe, and stares dumbfounded. " Star? "The bludgeon slides from his fingers and clatters to the floor, and he comes closer to look her over from head to toe. We now see that he has had to replace parts. One of his arms and legs with some random components wrapped up in bandages. " Starfire. I don't believe it. You...you haven't aged a day! "
Star reaches forward gently placing her hands on his face. " Cyborg, what has happened? Why are...you...? "
" Old? " He finishes her question and gives her a gentle smile showing how happy he was to see her again before crossing into what remained of their operations center. " Well, that's what happens to folks when you go away for twenty years. "
Starfire couldn't believe what she was hearing. " Twenty years?! "
" You disappeared, Star. " Cy explained as he slides some junk aside. " That battle with Warp, that was a long time ago. You fell through a wormhole, and... "
He looks out the cracked window; cut to the view from it. Across the frozen bay, the skyline of Jump City huddles under its blanket of snow and the cruel dark sky. It looks no different than Gotham City. " Welcome to the future. "
" The future? But... " She removes the lens from her belt and holds it up. " ...I damaged his technology. " Cyborg takes the thing and looks at it.
" Warp was planning to jump ahead one hundred years, right? Looks like you stopped him at twenty. " He guessed while passing it back to her.
" Still, I am confused. Please, why are you in disrepair? "
He looks down at himself, then turns away. " Let's just say things haven't gone so well since you left. " He approaches the windows; she follows.
" But what of the other Titans? " The red head questioned. " Where are our friends? "
" The Titans are history, Star. " Cyborg answered sadly. " Your friends aren't friends anymore. "
" No. You are wrong. This...everything is wrong! How could such terrible things... " She looks at the lens in her hand. " Warp! His interference in the past must have changed our future. "
" Star, I don't think- " He tried to explain it but she continued to speak.
" He caused all this badness to happen. He made this technology, and he is the one who can make things right! (She flies over and lands by him.) We must find Warp. You will help me? "
" I wish I could. " Cyborg looks off toward one corner; cut to a piece of equipment there. It resembles a gasoline-powered electric generator, and his cables are hooked up to it. " My last power cell burned out years ago. I've tried adapting this new stuff to my old circuits, but...I can't leave the Tower, Star. I'm obsolete. " He said in a very sad tone. " Maybe one of the others can help. I can tell you how to find BB and Raven. "
" And Robin? "
" We lost touch a long time ago. If you're looking for him, you're on your own. "
" Cyborg What about Omni? " Hearing Shane's hero name made the older metal man flinch a bit.
" I don't know...But after you were gone, Shane managed to keep the team together for a little while, but then one day, he went off the grid a few years ago. " The metal teen sighed. " We haven't seen him since. And that was the last straw to the team breaking up. "
Starfire couldn't believe what she was hearing and was now on the verge of tears. " No... you can't mean... "
" I don't know what else to else to say...Star...But as far I know he's gone. "
" Thank you, Cyborg... "
" Star... " She pauses for a moment glancing over her shoulder. " I'm really sorry for not being able to be much help. "
" No... I'm going to repair what has happened to us. " She said before leaving and doing her best to hold back tears after learning what happened to Omni:
We now see the interior of a stable or similar enclosure. As a circus calliope plays outside, a green seal pops up into view and barks; it can only be Beast Boy.
He jumps onto a nearby crate and balances a ball on his nose. It bounces up and he becomes a frog to balances the ball again.
Cut to two young boys outside, watching the exhibition; they are mostly bald except for small spikes of hair, and they wear pink visor/sunglasses that hide their eyes completely. One holds an ice cream cone, and neither is too impressed by the whole spectacle.
Beast Boy's enclosure is now revealed as a large cage. He has assumed panda form to keep that ball poised just so. He then changed into a pig, but a snowball flung in knocks him over and sends the ball flying.
" You stink, pig! "
Laughing and jeering, both of the brats started throwing more snowballs. Beast Boy pokes his head out from behind the crate but is quickly driven to the floor. Pulling back a bit it was, revealed the cage was actually a circus wagon. After one last salvo, the ice cream cone is thrown in and the two kids leave. The green porker sits dejectedly as the cone melts on his head; it slides off, and he looks down and sighs.
Starfire lands on the other side of the bars to peer in. Beast Boy returns to human form, bald on top, having gained a great deal of weight, and not wearing his belt. Defeat permeates every syllable of his voice.
" No way! " He moves to the bars making sure he wasn't losing it. " It's you. But how? "
" I require your help. "
" What kinda help? "
" The future is not as it should be. We must find Warp. " Her eyes glowed, and she began to warmup her starbolts. " I will free you from this- "
The green changeling started to panic waving out his hands telling her to stop. " This cage isn't to keep me in! It's to keep those maniacs out! " Starfire winds down and leans in closer. " Look. After the Titans broke up, I tried the whole solo-hero thing. Got my butt kicked, a lot. So now, well... " He turns briefly into a squawking chicken to make the point.
He changed back, smiles weakly and chuckled. " Besides, I'm in the showbiz now. "
Her eyes tell just how false this excuse rings with her. Nearby not too far away from the wagon we see a banner on a lighted pole nearby: "The Amazing One-Man Zoo-Freakish Wonder," showing a creature with the heads and body parts of many different animals. This is what passes for Beast Boy's life now.
Meanwhile back at the Island where Starfire landed a heavily cloaked figure was seen making their way through the snow. Each step that was took made a loud crunch. In the figures hand was a large briefcase. Each breath the figure could was seen through the cold air.
Before long the figure stopped for a moment to gaze up at the tower taking in the sight that was there. After what seemed to be for an eternity the figure sighed before entering the former symbol of protection for Jump City
The last twenty years had been hard on everyone, both psychically and mentally. Each member of the Titans dealt with the loss of Starfire very hard especially for Robin, but he always knew how to mask his emotions just as his mentor taught him. But his friends knew better and what was bothering him. Then it happened, when Omni said he knew a way to help bring her back, he meant it. However, that was years ago, ten to be exact.
They ended up getting into a fight with an alien warlord and in the midst of battle that was the last time Shane had been seen. And it was after his departure that ended the team for good.
Cyborg could only sigh as he sat up against the generator, the very same piece of old machinery that was keeping him alive. For the first time in years, he felt happy, happy to see Starfire after so long, when she asked for help it hurt him to his very core saying he wasn't able to. Deep down he wanted to help her, in his prime he'd be more than willing to as did the other titans.
Now, he was just a piece of machinery barely able to run and someday, he would be joining in the scrap yard. Slowly rusting and aging away, all while he was trapped in the remnants of the same place, he called home.
As he sighed sadly, the sounds of footsteps caught his attention. The older half metal man turns over to the cloaked figure who stopped at the doorway
" Who are you? "
" Just the person you wanted to see right now. " The figure replied back as he walked inside towards the nearby countertop.
" Look, whatever you got or whatever you have to say forget. I'm not interested. " Cyborg said but the figure put the case down and glanced back at him.
" Not even if it's to make things, right? Even if this is your chance to stop tearing yourself for things you couldn't control, things you wished could've gone differently? I don't care if that's what you're feeling. Because right now, one of our own needs help. " The figure turns back to the case and much to Cyborg's shock and surprise, his vision wasn't tricking him.
Inside the case were new parts, arms, legs and a brand-new power cell. It was almost as if, a miracle had happened, and his prayers were finally heard.
" You'll also be needing these. "
Snapping out of his trance of awe Cyborg turned his gaze to the stranger before him. " Who are you? "
The figure chuckled a bit. " Just someone helping out a friend in need. "
...
Dissolve to Starfire's perspective, walking along a balcony in a broken-down building. At the far end, a single fluorescent tube flickers and throws its inadequate light onto a steel door. She gets a hand to the knob and turns it to open the door.
Which in turn revealed a room inside that was pure white, with no features of any kind visible. In the far corner, wearing a white cloak with the hood up, a short figure stands with its back to the camera and its head bowed. This is still Starfire's point of view.
" Raven? Raven, it is Starfire, your friend. "
She moves into the room. The white-cloaked figure does not turn from the corner; the voice is Raven's, but sounding as if the past twenty years have broken her mind and body entirely.
" No such thing. "
" Please, Raven, I- "
" Just another figment. Don't even look. "
" You must listen! I am here because- "
" I'm never coming back! Go away! "She half-walks and then half-floats to another corner of the room.
" It has to go away. Just like before. Just like all the others...Just like him... "
Starfire paused now understanding what was going on. " Your mind. Without friends, you must have- "
As she approached about to touch her former teammate's back, a shield pops up to block her and she gasps. Dropping her head, resignedly, she exits and closes the door behind her. Raven keeps her face to the wall and that black barrier up.
Plodding through the thick snow covering the streets of Jump City, Starfire was making her way through. A lot of thoughts were going through her mind. Both sad and angry. Her team was gone, her freinds were gone, everything she knew on Earth was gone. Seeing the state her friends were in was just hard, Cyborg was no longer the strong hearted metal teen who'd cared deeply for his teammates. Beastboy, the clown of the group was no longer the fun loving and easy-going changeling that she remembered, he was now pratically scarred of the world itself because of the hardships he went through after the team broke up.
Then there was Raven, seeing her mind broken like that was heart breaking. Sure, she was always moody and gloomy but deep down the mage was a very good person who was always willing to help out her friends whenever it was needed, be it for guidance or in the frontlines of battle. She was there to help.
And lastly, Omni. Starfire couldn't believe that Shane was dead, the one member of the team who helped her adjust to the cultures of Earth and also the one who understood what sort of life lied beyond the stars themselves. Not only was he a good hero, but also a true friend. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind and knew when to take charge. Knowing that he was gone, Starfire knew that the only person who could possibly help her out now when she needed the most was Robin, her last and final hope.
Suddenly her line of thought was broken when a laser blast from out of nowhere knocked her backward. From a nearby ledge, Warp stood with his shoulder, mounted weapons deployed. Circuitry is visible through the hole where she pulled that lens away, and his voice reveals that he too has aged.
" What's the matter, dear? Have I come at a bad time? " His face was lined and drawn from the past two decades. He cuts loose with a fusillade that peppers the snow all around her; she stands for a moment, pinned down, and then gets clear of the ground.
Flying past him and over the buildings, she dodges his shots and returns fire, but as in the museum, he puts up a force field to stop her starbolts. Now she floats down to his level and gets ready to lay a big one on him-but he merely waves a hand and encases her in ice, just as he did to those two guards.
She drops to the street; the frozen layer shatters, and she is left twitching and groaning in a crater of snow. Warp steps close to her and soon finds himself on the receiving end of her angry glare. However, it gives way to bewilderment once she gets a good close look at him.
" You have also become old. "
" That's what happens when someone steals my vortex regulator. " He holds out his hand. " The regulator, if you please. I really must get back to my future. " She stands and pulls it off her belt giving him in a menacing glare charging up a starbolt.
" If you ever wish to see your future...you will repair the damage you have done to my past!
" Damage? Silly girl. There's nothing wrong with your past. One cannot damage history, because history cannot be changed. " He said holding up the Clock of Eternity. " I went back in time to steal this because history says it disappeared. And history says it disappeared because I went back to steal it. Past, present, future. It's all written in stone, my dear. "
The minute hand advances, showing the time at 12:00. Starfire winds down the blast she was about to throw; he takes the lens, or regulator, from her hand.
" And nothing you do can ever change it. "
He raises one arm and extends a blaster from his wrist, ready to fire, but something hurtles into view and knocks him into an alley. Standing up, it is a black silhouette with long hair, and it throws Warp even farther down the way to bounce off a dead-end wall.
The figure produces a couple of discs between its fingers and throws, revealing a gray utility belt and wrist guards; they explode in a fireball that engulfs the time traveler, and the thrower runs straight toward the blast zone for a jump. Flame and smoke clear to show that Warp has once again shielded himself with a force field. He lets it down and looks skyward to see this new figure dropping straight toward him.
" Another time, perhaps. "
He drops into the ground an instant before the leaping shadow lands there. Starfire moves cautiously into the alley as this person straightens up. No features can be seen, but the voice is unmistakable. " It's good to see you again. "
Starfire's eyes widened in realization. " Robin?
In the shadows he advanced forward stepping into the light. " I haven't used that name in a long time. " He was revealed to be wearing a skintight black uniform, with a large angular design of a blue hawk on the chest; black gloves and matching eye mask that angles down to cover his nose as well; the aforementioned long hair.
" Call me... Nightwing. "
We now cut to see Beast Boy's cage at the circus. As a prairie dog, he is up on his hind legs and bouncing his ball on his snout. As he continued doing this the sound of footsteps were heard and the green changeling caught a whiff of something, a very familiar scent. Changing back to human form he glanced over to see it was the same cloaked figure who was the tower stopping just in front of the bars of the cage.
" No...way...You? " He couldn't believe it, first Starfire and now this person standing before him.
" Honestly, I always thought of you to be the clown of the group. A good trait to have when the mood needs to brighten up. " The figure said crossing his arms. " Never thought I come to find out you actually being one now. "
" Oh yeah? Who are you to judge me? " The green changeling challenged back. " You don't know how hard it's been. And besides it's all cool now. I got my own place and free meals all the time now. "
" By free meals you mean the leftovers from little brats and the other rude people here constantly mocking you? Or you not knowing the difference between a home and becoming a caged animal? "
" What did you- "
" We don't have time for this. " The figure said firmly cutting him off reaching into his cloak to pull out some kind of small device in the form of a laser pointer " Right now, there's someone who needs our help. And I get the feeling you already know who I'm talking about. "
" Look, dude I'd love to help. But I can't. "
" You mean you can't or you're afraid? " The figure asked.
" Both. "
" Well, that's too bad to hear. " The figure said before raising up his gadget up and started to cut through the bars
" No...no...no! Stop! " However, Beast Boy's panicking pleads were ignored as all the bars were cut clean off. With that job done the figure put the laser pointer away.
" Are you coming? "
" No. Dude I can't! No, I'm not going through this again! I'm done being the good guy! " The scarred green changeling said as he scurried behind his crate in a last effort to hide.
The figure let out a sigh having seen enough of this. " You know what. I tried to be nice, but clearly that isn't working. " He said before climbing inside.
" Hey! What are you- " He didn't get a chance to finish because the figure threw the crate aside and grabbed him the collar slamming into the wood of the cage.
" Garfield Logan, you listen to me right now and you listen good! " The figure said jabbing a finger into his chest not even giving the green changeling a chance to speak. " This isn't who you are. This isn't where those you worked with wanted to see you end up! Either you snap out of it, or I'm going to drag you out of this cage myself! The choice is yours. "
" But... "
" BB... " The changeling gasped in surprise and turned to see it was Cyborg was now was now fully repaired and everything. He was now walking around without his life support.
" Cy... "
Beast Boys friend gave him a gentle smiled and nodded. " C'mon little dude. It's time. I know it's been hard for you...it's been hard for all of us. "
" W-What will happen when this is over? " Beasy Boy asked as the figure let him go.
" We won't know till we find out. Now, with that being said, Beast Boy...will you help us? " Thinking for a brief moment before smiling for the first time in years he gave his answer.
" Count me in. " The figure nodded and exited out of the cage and started walking. " Where are you going? "
Hearing this question, the figure paused for a brief moment but only continued on. " You guys go on ahead. There's one last thing that must be done. "
Slow pan across the Jump City skyline. Machinery makes itself heard, and the view dissolves to a group of turning gears in a machine room. These part to reveal blackness beyond; zoom in through them, then fade in to an overhead shot of a large room. A bank of computers and control panels is on one side, with a chair in front, and two cylindrical storage containers are across from them. A walkway bisects the area.
Just behind one of the containers. It is glass, and a part of Robin's old outfit is visible. Starfire walks into view and stops to look, wrapping her arms around her body for warmth; cut to a head-on shot. The costume, mask and all, has been placed on a faceless store-window dummy for display purposes. She sighs quietly and gets a blanket wrapped around her shoulders by Nightwing; this is his new base of operations.
" I heard you've been looking for help. "
" There is nothing you can do. There is nothing anyone can do. " Starfire said sadly the words Warp said to her were still fresh in the alien girls head. " The past cannot be repaired, the future cannot be altered, no matter how wrong it seems. "
" So, it's impossible. " Nightwing said as he walked to the computers. " Good. If memory serves, we've done the impossible before. "
She cannot find any words for a moment, but her eyes tell enough about the hope that has sprung up in her mind.
" I held on to this... " He presses a button that was on the Pannel. "...just in case. "
The panel slides open, and up pops his old communicator. Starfire moves closer to make sure her eyes are not deceiving her. He picks it up and presses a button; instantly, its T starts to flash red, just as in the prologue.
She is delighted to find that the black stones in her neck piece and wrist guards are coming to life in the same manner: an emergency signal built into them.
Inside of the white room where Starfire was earlier the barrier was down and the silence had returned or so it seemed. The sound of the door opening was heard much to the mages anoyance.
" Go away. "
" Not this time. " The figure said firmly and even though she wouldn't show it Raven was confused because she thought it was Starfire. But instead, it was someone else, but who?
" I'm not coming back...No one's coming back... "
The figure gave off a sad sigh. " If I'd known I hurt you this bad, I wouldn't have left. "
" It's all gone...Nothing's left...Everything...everyone leaves...
" And that's why I'm not going anywhere again. Not without you " The figure tries to approach Raven but only got sent flying into a wall by a shadow. Despite groaning in pain, the figure stood back up and walked back towards her.
" Stay away! " Suddenly dozens of smaller shadows lashed out at the figure. But despite the blows he was getting the figure continued to push forward braving through the pain but his legs were starting to give out real slowly.
" It's going to be alright...I promise... " Just before he went down, he managed to get behind her and using the last of his remaining strength he gentle wrapped his arms around the mage who gasped in shock with a look that was wondering if this was truly real. " I...will...be...right here... "
Upon hearing those words, she cried. For the first time in what seemed to be eternity she finally cried. Another part of her always thought her tears had dried out completely. However, she was proved wrong and slowly her hand reached up to intertwine with the one hugging her. As this happened, the brooch of her necklace began to blink red as did the belt of the stranger.
Now see the Metro Art Technologies Muesum. The very same place that started the whole fiasco twenty years ago leading to today. Ironically enough Warp was inside. welding the device beack to his chest. Nearby were the same two-armed guards frozen in ice over twenty years ago.
" Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Just a few more seconds, and I shall finally- "
The sentence is cut off when a short staff flies into view and strikes the tool from his hand. Close-up of it in flight, returning nextly to Nightwing's hand. He and Starfire are at the balcony railing, and she has starbolts ready to go in both hands.
" The future will have to wait. " He said extending his staff. "You just ran out of time. "
With a frustrated growl, Warp brings up his shoulder lasers and fires off a few rounds that send the two heroes diving away. Nightwing scales a handful of explosive discs at him, Starfire unloads a blast, and he uses a force field to stop their onslaught. The two come down to ground level as he drops the barrier and the smoke clears. Now he gives them both barrels; they rush in closer, and Starfire fires off a shot that he deflects just as he did twenty years earlier. This time, though, she gets out of the way of the ricochet.
Nightwing, meanwhile, is charging ahead through Warp's laser blasts. Silhouette view, slow motion: he is in mid-leap, bearing down on the time-jumping thief, and the end of his staff shatters one of the two lasers. Normal view, normal speed: the former Titan lands behind him, and Warp turns around only to get a starbolt in the back that bowls him over. He fires his remaining laser at Starfire, who leaps away, and then turns his attention back to Nightwing. The latter is jumping in again, staff at the ready, and he brings it down in a mighty overhead swing that just misses Warp. One laser blast after another is batted away without breaking the shaft this time; next, the black-clad fighter starts swinging for the fences, forcing Warp to back up as he blocks each strike.
Nightwing fights like a bojutsu master on speed, his staff flashing everywhere almost at once. One final roundhouse finds its mark and sends Warp to the ground; Nightwing and Starfire step up to him as she winds down her starbolts. The villain, however, just grins and adjusts the aim of his working laser. A shot goes straight up to the roof and blows a hole through it, dumping in a pile of snow and rubble that buries Starfire.
" Star! "
He is blasted away; cut to Warp, who has used his wrist weapon to do this job. He retracts it and runs across the place to pick up the welding torch that was knocked out of his hand. Before he can do any more repair work, though, a mighty blast from Cyborg's cannon connects squarely with his chest and launches him over the length of the place to slam down behind a cabinet. Starfire, having been dug out of the rubble, and Nightwing look confusedly back toward the source, smiles upon seeing that it was Cyborg.
" Boo-yah! "
" Cyborg! " Wanting to see if it was real Starfire flew over to him. You are repaired! " Not to far behind Nightwing caught up to her
" Glad you could make it. " He said happy to see his old friend.
" Wouldn't have missed it. Now who said y'all could start without me?
From close by Warp stpes into view. " So sorry. " He brings out the same timer device like the one he used to drain Cyborg's power cell back in the day. " Perhaps I should finish you first! "
A roar is heard surprising the thief who didn't have enough time to react to a green lion charing at him slashing at him with it's claws leaving marks on his armor causing a few sparks.
Warp raises his arm and brings the blaster up from his wrist, but before he can use it, Raven's powers exert themselves over the hand, then the whole body, and he is flung back to the far wall. The four heroes look that way, completely at a loss, and see her "soul-self" materialize from the floor. It rises high into the air, and the black bird outline swirls to become the telekinetic former Titan. Under the cloak, her outfit is still black.
" Nobody hurts my friends. " She said joining up with the others. Beast Boy, back in human form, looks up at Nightwing's full head of hair and rubs his own bald scalp enviously.
" Dude, that is so unfair. " Warp activates the regulator, now back on his chest, to open a wormhole and turn it black.
" It seems my time has come. " As he was about to do something he suddenly started floating in the air. " W-What? What's happening!?
" Unfortunately for you. It ain't. " A voice said drawing the attention of the other titans. Walking into view was a large, bulky, reddish-brown alien with rocky skin, a giant mouth with teeth that are also made of rocks[DJW 2] and a molten lava planet core at the center of his body. His feet are tan with three toes, and he has three fingers and one thumb on each hand. He wears black shorts with green stripes, a green belt with white stripes and on it's forehead was a very familar symbol.
All except Starfire and Nightwing were shocked to see this and watched as the alien brought Warp closer to him. " That's impossible...You were dead...You were supposed to be dead! "
" Yeah, well technically not yet I ain't. " The alien replied back and gave Warp a hard bonk on the head knocking him out which also causing the wormhole to close. As Warp fell the alien became coated in light for a brief moment. Soon enough the light died down and standing there in its place was none other than the cloaked figure who removed it's hood to reveal Shane Lee himself.
Only compared to his past self he was much taller and more had a bit of light scuff underneath his chin.
" Omni! " Starfire happily flew over and gave him a bone crushing hug that he happily returned. " You are without harm! "
" This doesn't make any sense. " Nightwing said as he and the other titans approached him. " We were there, we saw you die. "
" And I did...But only for a while. " Shane said as Starfire let him go. " That last battle actually got me into a coma that lasted for five years. When I woke up, I wasn't able to do anything, so luckily it only took me three and half years to recover. And here I am. "
" Yeah, and with hair! " Beast Boy said in annoyance because Shane still had his head full while he didn't.
" Oh I'm sorry did you die though? " Shane asked sarcastically before leaning over to take Warps chest piece looking over to Starfire. " But enough of that. Let's get home. "
Nightwing glanced over to Cyborg. " Cyborg, can your reopen the wormhole back to her time? "
" Yeah, I should be able to still link to this thing. "
" You won't have to. " Shane spoke up earning a confused glance from his friends. The omnitrix wielder looked down onto a watch on his other arm. " I have someone coming to help out with that. He should be coming right about...now. "
As he said this a glowing blue energy portal appeared in front of them.
" Who is it? " Nightwing asked.
" Don't worry, he's a friend. " Shane replied and walked back to Starfire. " He'll take you back to your time line. Also, one more thing. " He reaches into his pocket grabbing her hand and placed an envelope in her hand. " Give this to my younger self. He'll or rather I'll be needing it for the hard times ahead. "
" I will. " She takes the envelope and gives him one last hug. " Be well. "
" I'll try. " Shane replied letting go just as Nightwing came up to her passing over the Clock of Eternity. " Starfire..Good luck. " The alien girl nodded and tucked the envelope into her belt and turned around to walk to the portal only to pause giving her team a tearful smile.
" I wish good luck to you all as well...And Happy Blorthog. " She said in a very tearful smile before stepping through.
All around her were a series of clocks, some were turning the right way and some were going in reverse. Compared to time jumping with Warp, this place was much more different compared to that.
" Where...Where am I? "
" In the flow of time. " She turned around to face an older man. His hair was grey on the sides and had a few wrinkles on his face. His white lab coat now has brown and black pouches and gold trim, and underneath, he wears a black turtleneck with a white scarf, and his brown vest has gold buttons and pouches. He also had black pants with brown kneepads, and a pair of brown boots with gold straps. A pair of goggles around his neck, and lastly he had a metal gauntlet on his right hand and a fingerless glove on his left.
" Who are you? "
" I do so apologize but my name has been long forgotten. I go by Professor Paradox. "
" Are you like Warp? "
" No. Unlike Warp, I can travel anywhere in space and time its self. And if you're worried about your friends in that time line don't worry. They'll be alright. "
" Professor, may I ask is that really what our future must be? Is there nothing I can do to change it? "
" You already are. "
" But Warp said that time cannot be changed. "
" Ah, but that is where is wrong. You see, time itself is vast, very fragile if were not to careful. There are at least dozens of alternative universes. Some end the same and others end differently. "
" How do you know so much? "
" Because I have spent centuries in this separate reality. Because of this, I never age, I never need to sleep nor eat. And despite all of that, I do assure you my sanity is still clear intact. " He approaches Starfire and placed a hand on her shoulder giving her a reassuring smile. " I've seen this play out over at least dozens of different times. You have my word. "
As he said this a portal opened up. " Ah, there we are. We've arrived. Oh and do tell Shane Paradox said hello. "
Starfire gave him a bow showing her appreciation. " Thank you very much. "
" Think nothing of it. I'm just helping out a good friend. " Paradox said as he watched her go through the portal. " Now then, where should I go to next? "
Were now right back to the present where the whole ordeal began at the museum gallery puts us back in the museum gallery at the present time. Warp was about to escape through the wormhole with the Clock.
" Ta-ta, Titans. I have enjoyed our time together, but I've got a very bright future ahead of me. " Just like before Starfire gives off a war cry to fly right at the time thief taking him by surprise. " What?
She plows into him; both go through the wormhole; Robin jumps after them but misses as it closes up bringing us right to where time jump started at that moment.
" Starfire! "
" Um, where did she-? " Beast Boy was cut off as A flash fills the gallery, followed by a blue portal opening up behind him and Cyborg. Starfire is dumped out to land in a huddled kneeling position, cradling the Clock, and the rest of the team leans in.
" Dude! "
" Whoa! "
" Star! What happened? " Robin asked the portal closed.
" Paradox was right... "She straightens up, showing the Clock intact. " History has changed. "
" Uh, who's Paradox? " Raven questioned in confusion only for Shane to smirk chuckling a bit knowing full well of who his teammate was speaking of.
They can only stare thunderstruck at this instant reversal of fortune and recorded evens. Dissolve to the exterior of the Tower. It is later in the day, that is, the modern day when this chapter began. They were all huddled around Starfire in the communications center where she was explaining the events that transpired.
" Then Nightwing handed me the Clock, and I entered the portal. Afterwards this Professor Paradox brought me back to this time line. "
Cut to behind her; she is addressing the other four Titans. Beast Boy's cheeks are streaked with tears. Long silence as they turn over the whole out-there account of future events in their minds
" Whoa. " Raven was the one to break the silence followed by Beast Boy only in a more dramatic fashion.
" Bald?! " The tears really start coming out as he contemplates his own future and tears out most of his hair. " You're telling me I'm going to be bald?! " He whines a bit while bawling profusely, his nose running due to his horror at his future.
Nearby Shane gave him the stink eye. " At least you weren't into a coma...And everyone thought you were dead... " The omnitrix wielder growled in annoyance a tick mark seen on his head.
" Guess you were right about all that Rekmas stuff. " Cyborg commented.
" I don't want us to drift apart. " Robin spoke up. " Does it all have to happen? Isn't there anything we can-? "
" Our friendship has already changed Warp's past. " Starfire cut him off with a smile. " I believe it can also change our future. "
One by one, the loose bells from the string that broke under earlier float up in Raven's influence.
" So...is it too late to do this festival-of-friendship thing? "
Starfire grew extremely excited to hear this. " Oh, it's never too late! "
Raven levitates strings down around Beast Boy's and Cyborg's necks; she is already wearing one of her own, and the shape-shifter's hairline has fixed itself.
Cyborg leaned into Raven's ear; making the bells jingle. " HAPPY BLORTHOG! "
" I thought it was "Blort-hog." Beast Boy questioned.
" Okay, I feel like a wind chime. " Raven commented and looked over to Shane who was tinkering with the omnitrix with the opened envelope right next to him. " What are you doing? "
" Apparently the future me gave me some directions on unlocking some more aliens. Let's see, do this, do that and then this. " After further tinkering the Omnitrix suddenly beeped multiple times and afterwards a series of different holograms appeared showing aliens he had never seen before. Within a few minutes it stopped and the device spoke.
" Update: 11 new transformations unlocked. Update: Scan Mode has now been unlocked. " This drew everyone's attention over to Omni walking over to him.
" Scan Mode? " Beast Boy was confused by what it meant and looked to it's wielder. " What's does it mean by that? "
Shane only shrugged his shoulders. " I don't know. But now I got some aliens to try out. " He activated the device and scrolled through some of the new holograms browsing to see the new options until he found one that caught his eye. " Let's see this one. " Pressing down he got coated in green light.
When the light died down, he was now an alien that neither he nor the team had seen before. Shane was now a red, mollusk-like alien with green eyes, and a grey Behind his legs and on the top of his arms are small spikes that are grey, there are black spots on his shoulders and legs, and on his hands, there are portholes, which he uses to shoot water. It also had four fingers with claws on them and on each of his feet, there is a grey spike. His lower torso is grey, with two spikes on the side of it.
" Oh cool, a new water alien. " Shane commented but his mouth did not move.
" Yeah I'll say. Dude you look like a like a crab. " Beast Boy commented.
" So what can this one do? " Cyborrg questioned.
The alien hummed and if it had a mouth, he'd be seen smirking upon seeing the holes in claws. " Let's find out. " Holding out both his hands water blasted out hosing Beast Boy sending him flying into the and splashing him into the wall. " I think I'll call this one, Water Hazard. "
With a challenging smirk of his own Beast Boy stood back on his feet. " Okay, two can play at that game! " He said before turning into and elephant that in turn started a water fight with Cyborg joining in while Raven seemed a bit annoyed by this, she kind of smiled instead admitting to herself this looked kind of fun so, using her powers she joined in on Water Hazards team.
While the alien and mage were totally dominating the other guys in the background Robin glances over to Starfire ignoring the chaos that was going on by his own teammates and cocked an eyebrow. " So...Nightwing, huh? "
To be continued
Preview
The Rookie
Camp Fear
Geo Trouble
Well, its official we're now in season 2 which means two things, new faces, new aliens and along the way new enemies so you can all count on the next chapters to come later on will be good trust me, they will be.
Also for the next story to be updated not so sure yet, but you I assure you all that there will be more than one update this month. I'll do my best , but whatever happens like life gotta deal with it. So peace out guys.
Transformation List
1. Blitzwolfer
2. Xenophobe
3. Buzzshock
4. Heatblast
5. Mindwipe
6. Chowdown
7. Reptillian
8. Big Chill
9. Humungosaur
10. Jury Rig
11. Sandbox
12. Toepick
* Eleven New Transformations added to the Omnitrix*
13. ?
14. ?
15. *New* Water Hazard
16. ?
17. ?
18. ?
19. *New* Gravittack
20. ?
21. ?
22. ?
23. ?
Now replying back to reviewers
dragon rose 11. Well I hope you enjoyed reading his one either way.
Tenma Kirin. Just did.
Specter11Dragon. Honestly I'm still dwelling on the thought if I should or should not.
DJ Zombie. Well your gonna have to wait a bit longer for that one to be updated since I haven't even started on it yet. So for now you'll have to make do with whatever I update. Hope you enjoyed this chapter by the way.
ROCuevas.
Happy to hear I please ya as always.
Guest#1. Whoa now, let's slow down a moment turbo.
Guest#2. Hmm, tempting as some of that maybe I'm gonna have to say no.
Guest#3. I actually got something planned on ahead, but I won't say much more.
Star Vader Chaos Breakerx2
1. No I'm not.
2. Nope a good plot twist that would've been though.