Trauma. That's what Dick said she had. Over the last few months, Mary had decided one very important thing. Trauma sucks. Besides the usual Talia, Slade, Cain business. She didn't think she had it that bad; but even she had to admit, her brain had pretty pathetic timing to have a traumatic flashback.
"Mary?!"
Luckily she was only being almost shot at by idiots with terrible aim. At least she could control this outcome, which in some way was slightly comforting.
Ducking behind the wall, pulling out a Batarang, Mary pressed herself against the wall. Footsteps edged closer to her; two of them. Heavily loaded. Confident. The radio was humming, but they hadn't called for backup. Maybe too confident.
That was good. For her. Them? Not so much.
"Mary?! Mary, can you hear me?"
She had to be careful, she had to be gentle. She was so used to fighting to kill, that keeping people alive was the real struggle. How to immobilise without quickly killing them? Killing them, would realistically be easier and clearly more efficient.
But the Bat's didn't kill people. Dick didn't kill people. So she, wouldn't kill them. Even if it did make her job harder.
She swung the Batarang, the metal bouncing off the opposite wall. Slicing into her first attackers arm. He made a noise, stumbling back. Jumping out, she tackled the second taking his gun from him, rolling onto the floor.
Mary shot the first one in the leg, kicking the second one on the head. Dropping the gun, Mary grabbed the first one by the collar of his uniform, slamming him hard into the wall, knocking him out too.
She didn't kill anyone. Majorly injured? Yes. But no one dead. That was good.
Grabbing a radio from her first attacker, Mary tucked it into her utility belt looking down at her beaten assailants.
"Mary? Mary? Are you there? Hello?! Son of a-Alfred!"
They were younger than she expected. Around about their twenties to early thirties. Strange…from what she observed, people in their twenties fit in one of two categories. Either:
A) Incredibly busy with the world around them exploring, '#living life to the fullest'
OR
B) Sleep deprived loonies, drowning in a mixture of worry and college loans.
The rest of them, fitted in-between that spectrum as far as she knew. Maybe they were low on cash and trying to pay of the college loans. Whatever those where.
Money was still a confusing concept. She never really grasped what everyone seemed to like about some thin green paper that smelled. No matter…Their uniforms were a rather ugly blood red colour that looked like something straight out of a costume store, with no masks and green gloves. Because why not.
"Mary? Mary? Mary, you okay?" Barbara asked frantically. Mary blinked, suddenly remembering where she was and what she was doing. It was strange to have a voice in her ear. Even stranger that is seemed worried about her.
"Um, yes. Yes, I'm okay." Mary said quickly, tapping the earpiece. "Sorry."
Barbara let out a sigh. "Oh my god—Okay, okay. Mary, one the Fist should have some sort of map or guidance system on them. See if you can find it."
Mary bent down, rummaging the pockets of the first man. "You're really quiet, aren't you?" Barbara said to herself. Mary said nothing, moving again to the next man, looking his pockets.
"I mean, you're really quiet. Like Batman quiet."
Mary fished out a thin device, far too small to be a tablet, but far too wide to be considered a phone. "Found something." she said, tapping on it. The device buzzed.
"It's locked. Password." Mary said, holding it up a little higher, so Barbara could see it with the body cam in her shoulder on her makeshift suit.
"On it." Barbara said, typing a few keys on her side. "Try: P23752M. That should-"
The device unlocked, Mary flipping through the files; closing a Pac-Man Game. "Oh my god, you're not Damian's sister are you?"
"What!" Mary half-shouted, covering her mouth, looking up and down the passage.
"No!" Mary hissed quietly, turning walking down the corridor. "That's...Ugh! Yuck! Gross, Barbara."
"Okay, think I found them." Mary mumbled, shifting uncomfortably in the small vent. "Large amounts of power coming from underneath me." she said, crawling a little bit more towards the crate of the vent.
Peering down into it, Mary's eyes widened, tapping her earpiece. "Okay, I didn't find them, but there's something else. I don't know what-"
"I see it. I tapped into your direct mask cams 10 minutes ago."
"That's a little creepy." Mary mumbled, there were a few people in the same ugly uniform, loading something into a van that said 'Jump City Postal' with a yellow arrow pointing up.
"Well considering I thought I almost killed a baby bat that has barely been field tested. You're gonna have to work with a little creepy." Barbara said sternly. "Looks like a-" Barbara fizzed out, static traveling into her ear.
"Barbara?" Mary said, tapping her own com.
"What the hell Gordon!" Jason's voice yelled though her com, making Mary wince. Guess he finally turned up.
"Jason! Don't be an asshole! Get off this channel-" Barbara's muffled voice scolded in the background. Loud bumps and the sound of key's being assaulted echoed into her ears.
"Mary, kid, what the hell are you doing?" Jason said hurriedly, the static vanishing. He didn't sound angry. More stressed if anything. She wondered if his mission went sour or something.
"Damian and some of the Titans weren't responding. I came over to check. Found them captured by a splinter group called the Fist of Blood. Looks like they were drugged and collared in the under, under basement level. Now, I'm looking at what I think is a very big, very nasty bomb or like a…you know what: unknown very bad deadly object of that will cause mass panic and destruction…UVBDOWCMPD, for short. But I can only properly identify and get a better acronym for it if I'm closer. I'm at the Titians Tower too, if you were wondering." Mary reported.
"Great, that's great." Jason said sighing to himself. "Fricken fantastic."
Mary licked her lips. "Was that sarcasm?"
"Yes! Damn it! Sorry, sorry. I'm just..." Jason said lowering his voice, taking a deep breath. "I didn't mean to yell at you, just…I really don't want to die again by a pompous ass, sticking a staff up my ass so…just…Just, stay there."
"Their moving the weapon." Mary said instantly, sitting up straighter, already removing the screws from the vent.
"Okay, don't move. I'm putting Barbara on to keep you company, just don't-"
Lifting the vent crate, Mary rested it against the vent. "Stop doing that. Stop doing that. Mary. Mary. Mary, you have to stay put." Jason whined.
"No."
"What, no? Mary. Baby, sweetheart. I love a good rebellious breakout. Really I do, but this is not time for one of them-"
Mary pulled the com out of her ear, sticking it on the side of the vent. Pulling off her mask, feeling along the fabric, prying the cam off with the edge of a Batarang.
"Mary! You better put this com on right now! You do not want your father to hear about this!" Jason shouted from the Batcave, his voice coming out muffled and distorted.
"Wait, she's not your kid?" Barbara asked in the background. Jason letting of a hiss on the other end, tapping a few more keys again. He must have muted her again or something.
Mary pulled the final cam from the suit on her shoulder setting them down next to the earpiece. A lined together, resting neatly on the edge of the vent.
Mary put the mask back on. "Sorry, but…if…whatever that is gets out, we won't get another chance to take care of it." she mumbled to herself; crawling to the edge of the vent, before jumping out of it.
"Shit!" Jason shouted, throwing the earphones across the Batcomputer, glaring at the muted Barbara on the screen. "Dick's going to kill me." he mumbled. "He's gonna shove his stupid batons up my ass and slowly burn me alive. Bury me, revive me and kill me again."
Landing softly on the floor in a crouched position, Mary ducked behind one of the large crates. The low humming of the trucks and the footsteps to her left. She swayed right, climbing and ducking around the boxes.
Sliding on the device Barbara hacked, she pulled up a map. The map indicated she was in the loading dock, the gate that allowed them to go out, was controlled by a room, (a control room) to the right.
The Titans were in the same direction, though it was further away. To disrupt the plan of the Fist, she logically needed to make it to the control room.
But, the vents wouldn't lead there. And by what she could see, the control room was not going to be easy to access without dropping bodies, but without knowing how many they were or how well trained they were, it was risky. Too risky.
Killing would make it easier, but she didn't do that anymore, so that wasn't an option.
She didn't like those odds. Meaning she had to rescue the Titans first, for the plan to be totally foolproof (in theory). Which meant the added risk of being spotted. And the risk of them detonated the bomb (or the VBDOWCMPD) and the risk of-
Mary shook logic out of her brain. It wasn't helping her. This 'making a plan' thing was hard. Usually she was told what to do and she did it. Anything else achieved was just instinct and adrenaline.
'First time for everything.' she told herself, sliding out three smoke bombs from her belt. Crawling along the floor, she rolled the two towards the truck and one to her end of the room. One under, and one on the side of the truck. She ducked back underneath a crate.
The smoke bombs went off, a flurry of voices reaching her ears.
"Hey! What the hell?"
"Shit!"
"Damn it!"
"Hey?! What the f-"
Mary slipped down the hall, running though the passages, sliding into shadowed doorways, when someone ran past. The smoke bombs had drawn nearly all of them to the room.
Reaching the end of the passage, standing in front of a large bolted door with a keypad lock. Mary scowled, tucking the device into her back pocket.
Overriding a keypad lock was not something she had learnt, guessing wouldn't work and she didn't have Barbara to help her out.
Mary growled under her breath, staring at the lock. "Screw it." she snapped, grabbing a Batarang and slamming it into the keypad hard. The keypad choked, wires spluttering and hissing, but by some miracle, she heard a small click.
Pushing the door open, she slowly walked into the dark room, shutting it, lightly behind her. She virtually made no noise.
Her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, sweeping over the room for a light switch.
She was surrounded by what looked like boxes, possibly what was holding the Titans. Outlines of cages.
The room was silent, the only noise was the harsh breathing of someone on her right.
One of them was hurt, badly. Someone was on her left, another next to them and someone in front of her at the end of the room.
Finding the light switch, she flicked it on.
White florescent light flooded the room. Glass cages similar to the kind she had at the Batcave, but smaller and squarer.
A girl in purple, one she had watched so many times on a screen was on her left. Cross-legged, hood off, eyes closed, revealing her grey skin and red gem on her forehead with a collar around her neck.
Next to her, was a boy, she guessed Latino, in a grey hoodie and dark blue jeans, the black collar with red flashing light on his neck. He was asleep.
At the end of the room, directly in front of her, was Damian still in his Robin suit, seeming to be asleep. They probably knocked him out. She could tell from his weird uncomfortable position.
On her right, a boy with green hair and skin, was curled in a corner, blood pooling from his side. He'd been shot, badly. He was woozy, losing too much blood to be good.
Mary swallowed, the blood making her squirm a little.
"Who are you?"
The voice made her jump.
Mary turning around the Raven, the girl opening her eyes. They were a deep purple. They were pretty. Her voice was soft, incredibly calm considering the situation.
"Ummm…" Mary paused, cursing her complete lack of social skills. In comparison to Raven's calm tone, she really did sound like she was a little kid.
"Hello. No, hi…Yes…Hi, I'm….Me…." Mary tried, shutting her eyes, instantly regretting every word she ever spoke. "I'm sorry, this conversation probably would turned out better in my head." she mumbled quietly. "Not like that would help, but…may be…easier."
Raven blinked, getting up, stepping towards the glass. Mary instinctively stepping backwards. Mary mentally slapped herself.
Raven paused. "It's okay," she said. "I'll go slow."
Mary nodded, she wasn't afraid of Raven, but Talia had given her a healthy fear of people, especially ones far older than her. The quite added fact that Raven was a woman, couldn't help but put her slightly more on guard.
While she had suffered greatly at Slade, Cain's and even at times Natas's expenses. Talia had been the first. With her fake kindness, that could come and go and her volatile nature that she could never predict. Talia had been her first abuser. Her template of a person. Of a mother. Of a parent.
"It's okay, Mary." Raven said quietly. Mary blinked, snapping herself out of her thoughts. "Okay?"
"It's okay to be afraid." Raven said, reaching the glass, placing her hand on it. Now that she was closer, she looked a far less intimidating than she had seemed before. "Gar, Beast Boy, he needs my help. Can you open the door?"
Mary nodded. "Yes, but the collar-"
"Cut it or break it. Once I've got it off, I can help the others." Raven answered. Mary nodded, smashing the Batarang that she had been holding into the keypad on the glass cage.
The cage unlocked, but a red light lit up the room. An alarm blaring out.
"That's not good."
"Nope."
Damian and Blue Beetle jolted up, the latter rubbing his eyes tiredly. Damian blinking his brain trying to catch up with what was happening.
Raven bent down slightly. Mary tucking the end of the Batarang in the collar, ripping the device. A small jolt shot up Raven, but she said nothing, just shutting her eyes, before reaching out half-ripping it off with her own hands.
Footsteps ran to the door like a mini army approaching the battle field. "Get them out of here, I'll hold them off." Mary said, running to the door.
Raven opened her mouth to say, something, before stopping. Nodding. Blasting the locks and collar, running to Beast Boy.
Mary slammed the door behind her, staring at some of the Fist's soldiers that were approaching.
"Alright. Let's go." she mumbled, cracking her knuckles. Running to the first one, punching him in the gut, kicking him in the calf, sending him to the floor.
The second one whipped out his gun. Mary grabbing it, dropping the magazine out, giving him a sharp hit to the chest, kicking him from behind.
Picking up the magazine, she reloaded it. Firing at three more soldiers that were coming, hitting two in the ankle and one in her thigh.
Pulling out the magazine, she threw it at other soldier, the magazine hitting him in the nose, making him crash into the other two.
Pulling out two Batarang's she threw them, the two sending a sharp electric jolt to the three soldiers.
Another two came. Mary slid down, hitting one of them in the crotch wrapping a wire around their ankle. Springing up, she wrapped the others one's neck, tucking it into their belt, pressing the button. The wire began to pulled, sending them both to the ground.
A woman came up behind her, Mary catching her punch, pulling her down, kicking her in the leg sending her on her knees, before turning in, like a ballerina would to her partner and elbowing her in the shoulder blade. Spinning back around, Mary kicked her in the head, knocking her out.
Looking up, two more stood at the end of the passage, wiping out their guns, firing. Mary ducked, expecting the searing pain of a bullet.
A large purple shadow came out of nowhere, slamming the two into the wall behind them. Mary stumbled back in surprise, glancing behind her.
Raven standing there hand out, the purple shadow retreating into her. Behind her, Blue Beetle (in his blue armour) and Robin (a seething Robin) were supporting a dazed looked Beast Boy.
"Damn." Beast Boy said, looking around the room. Blue Beetle nodding in agreement. "Guess you handled it." Raven said, sounded a little less surprised, more intrigued if anything. "You idiot." Robin snapped. Earing disapproving looks, which he pointedly ignored.
Mary almost threw a Batarang at his head. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me, you idiot." Robin said, dropping Beast Boy onto Blue Beetle. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Saving your sorry arse apparently." Mary snapped, scowling. "You're not meant to be here." Robin hissed, gently taking her arm. His cape half covering her from site.
"Believe me, I know that." Mary breathed out. Robin paused, his eyes sweeping over her face. "Are you alright?"
Mary swallowed. "I think so."
Damian nodded, suddenly pulling her into a tight hug.
Mary instantly melted into it, her head resting on his chest. She didn't know if Damian had gotten taller, but it seemed like he did. She reached to his shoulder, almost able to be hidden away completely (especially because of the cape) He could rest his chin almost perfectly on her head. Which he was doing right now.
"BB, you seeing this?"
"Yep."
"You sure?"
"Pretty sure."
"Maybe I'm hallucinating."
Raven lightly hit them on the shoulder.
Mary heard the sound before any of them. The gun went off, Mary instantly breaking the hug, pushing Damian out of the way. She hit the wall, Damian the floor.
Blue Beetle blasted the man across the hall, making him slam into the wall with the other too. "We gotta get out of here!" he cried.
"We're under the tower." Mary said, helping Robin up. "They were planning this for weeks, they have a bomb or a device or something. We can't let it leave."
"We can't let it leave." Robin said, glancing at the Titans. "You stay here with Beast Boy."
"D-Robin," Mary said, grabbing his arm. "I can help, you know I can."
"You're not meant to be here." Robin said sternly.
"I saved your life."
"I know, and," Robin glanced at them, before back at her. "Mary, I thank you for it." he whispered. "But, you're probably in enough trouble as it is." Damian said, his words making a hole in Mary's heart. "Let us handle this. Stay here with Beast Boy."
Mary bit her lip, almost in contemplation, before looking up at him. "If you know me at all, you know what my answer is going to be."
Robin sighed, glancing at Raven. "We go fast, we hit hard. Raven, you and Beetle go high. Beast Boy-?"
"Ready to kick some ass." the boy grunted, smiling dizzily.
Robin nodded. "Good, you're with me and her." Robin said gesturing to Mary. Mary smirked.
"Time to shut them down."
The Titans were crazy.
Literally crazy. Crazy weird, and just crazy in general. Thinking about it, this the craziest day of her life. And it was her.
She was fighting alongside a giant green tiger (technically a green shapeshifter) Robin (a mini ball of psycho on his own), an ancient space bug and a demon-girl, who was basically an amazingly cool witch.
Raven and Blue Beetle were raining havoc on the Fist's machines and taking out the long distance targets.
She, Robin and Beast Boy were taking out anyone in site, trying to get to the truck that had the device.
Slamming another solider into the wall, whipping out a Batarang she swung it. The Batarang hitting two soldiers making them drop their guns.
Beast Boy pounced on them, knocking them out. Robin swooping in from above, knocking another with the heel of his boot.
Robin jumped onto another soldiers back, propelling into the air to get to the truck, just as he was about to reach it. Blue Beetle who had been covering them, was blasted out of the air, slamming into Robin.
Soldiers surrounded them. Mary quickly losing site of Robin, Raven and Blue Beetle. She and Beast Boy were pinned against the wall. But he was getting tired, the injured and power dampening collars were getting to him.
Mary pulled out two more Batarang's. They flew through the air, slicing into three soldier's arms, three more seeming to instantly take their place.
Beast Boy slumped against the wall, turning back into his human form. Panic started to flood into her, deeply regretting ditching her coms.
She had been in over her head.
They were too many, to fight close quarters. She didn't have any helpful ninjas to make up numbers.
She spotted the truck, watching it start. Mary made to grab another Batarang.
There was nothing there.
She ran out.
Panic.
She just killed the Titans, and herself.
Mary stood in front of Beast Boy, raising her fists. She didn't have any weapons, so what? Fight until she could no more. Seemed like a good plan. How else was someone like her meant to go?
At the very least, it would be a cool way to die.
Mary launched herself at the first one, delivering sharp blows to his chest and throat, before half throwing him at the other like a bowling ball.
Kicking another, wrapping her legs around he's neck, using her gravity to push them to the floor. Kicking another, making them fall hard.
Getting up, Mary almost didn't notice the one that had crept up behind her. She ducked the first swing, but was slow on the second. Stumbling back, Mary screaming at herself to get back up.
An explosion rocked her ears.
The truck flying backwards.
A woman with fiery red hair flying in.
A rush of air hit her ears, as something slammed hard into the solider, that had swung at her.
Mary pulled her gaze from the explosion, looking up at him.
Mary gulped, trying to relax her shaking form. It just seemed to get worse under his gaze.
"I…I had him." Mary spluttered out.
Nightwing staring down at her, dropping the guy to the floor. There was no witty cheesy comeback.
Thoughts?
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