Titans: Elemental

Chapter 11: Forces of Nature, Part 1

We open with a night sky filled with dark thunderhead clouds. Flashes of lightning illuminate their contours. A bulky silhouette stands up among them and begins to swing a pair of sticks against the clouds; every time it brings them down, there is another strike and accompanying thunderclap. In another patch of the sky, where even more lightning crackles back and forth, a second silhouette, this one much thinner and with spiky upswept hair, stands up and directs its hands here and there. There is a new flare-up every time it does so.

When the last one clears, there is a huge strike!

….

We once again visit Titans Tower.

Inside, in the hall, BB has become a buffalo and is straining mightily at a rubber band looped over his horns, trying to catch it on a nearby hook. He succeeds and ducks away, coming up in human form with a mischievous smile on his face. Now he produces a large, filled water balloon that sloshes a bit in his hands, and he lets off a wicked little chuckle.

BB, "this is gonna be so sweet!"

Raven, "what are you doing?"

Surprised by her words, the balloon slips out of his hands and he completely freaks out as he tries desperately to make a safe catch. Finally, he gets hold of it and turns around to see Raven and Blackfire behind him.

Raven, "please tell me this isn't another ridiculous prank."

Blackfire, "and that it'll backfire on you?"

BB, "okay. It's not a ridiculous prank. It's a brilliant one!"

He laughs. Raven rolls her eyes as Blackfire says, "and here we go…."

BB, "all right, check it out. 'Member how Vic put red dye in my shampoo and I turned brown for two days? Well, sisters, it's payback time! I give you…. the BB Insta-Lube 9000!"

Blackfire snickers at the name.

As BB says this, he reveals his device.

The rubber band, which is part of a floor-mounted slingshot, held back by the hook and with the balloon loaded in. A tripwire in front of the rig runs through overhead pulleys and is tied to a lever that is in turn connected to the hook.

BB, "see, when Chrome-Dome steps around the corner, his foot tugs the string. The string trips the lever…. The lever releases the mother of all rubber bands…. Which sends a balloon, load of motor oil flying right at him, and BOOSH! Pretty clever, huh?"

Raven, "you're a genius."

Blackfire, "obvious sarcasm is obvious."

BB, "it's just a little good clean dirty fun."

A door opens, and BB perks up his ears to listen.

BB, "here he comes."

He ducks away, then back to whisk the girls off.

Raven, "whoa!"

They hide around a corner.

Blackfire, "I don't think-"

BB, "shhh!

Raven, "but what if-?

BB, "shhh!"

A long silence follows.

Vic, "why are we hiding?"

BB, "Shhh!"

His eyes instantly go as wide as saucers upon realizing that his target is nowhere near ground zero, and he flips out for a moment. Vic is hunched down behind the three of them.

BB, "Victor?! You can't be Victor!"

Vic, "I can't?"

BB starts pointing at him, then into hall, "if you're you, then who's...?"

Footsteps echo out there as all four look out. A violet boot steps into view and catches the string, it is pulled taut, the lever moves, and the hook starts to pull away from the rubber band. The balloon is released as BB jumps out in a frantic attempt to stop it.

BB, "NOOOOOOOO!"

The balloon was headed towards Starfire!

She is so taken by surprise that she literally cannot see straight.

Starfire, "Eek!"

The balloon collides with her face, splattering her with the viscous contents, and knocks her onto her back. BB runs up, Blackfire quickly going to her sister's side to help her up.

BB, "Starfire!"

She has propped herself up on her hands, but cannot see him due to all the oil covering her eyes. Vic, Blackfire and Raven come over.

Vic, "you okay?"

Starfire gets her eyes open.

Starfire, "this is punishment? I did something wrong?"

Raven, "you didn't. He did."

Blackfire growls at BB.

BB gives a sheepish grin-accompanied by a sheep's bleating.

BB, "Star! It was…. You weren't supposed to…."

He starts to say something else, Vic and Raven's disapproving stares stop him in his tracks for a moment.

Blackfire is glaring at BB.

BB, "I didn't…. Heh…. Just remember to change that oil every three thousand miles."

He tries to laugh again, but it dies on his lips. Starfire stands up and leans over him.

Starfire, "on my planet, we have a name for those who do such terrible things. You are a…. A…. CLORBAG VARBLERNELK!"

Blackfire actually gasps at Starfires words.

Starfire yelled so hard the oil flew off of her face.

BB, "I'm a what-bag?"

Vic, "you heard the lady."

Raven, "you are such a clorbag."

Blackfire, "do you even know what it means?"

Raven, "nope, but he is a clorbag."

Blackfire, "that he is."

BB, "come on, you guys. Can't anybody take a joke?"

A flash of lightning interrupts the standoff.

Dick, "Titans! Trouble!"

Jack, "big trouble!"

The next strike illuminates them fully.

….

We go to the bridge across Jump City Bay. Lighting flashes among the storm clouds and finally strikes the roadway. The driver of a big rig yells in surprise and cuts his wheels sharply to the right, braking as he does so; the truck stops just short of the smoking, flaming strike point. Many cars slam on their brakes to avoid a collision, creating an instant traffic jam.

As the smoke starts to clear, the two silhouettes seen among the clouds become visible within it. The last wisps evaporate to give a fully detailed view of both; they wear outfits that look like something like samurai armor, but without the upper body protection. The bulky one has blue skin and black clothing trimmed with blue, and he also wears a samurai-style helmet. A thundercloud is emblazoned on his chest, and he has long black sideburns. His thin cohort, on the other hand, has light yellow skin and hair, and his outfit is red and yellow, with a lightning bolt on the chest. A headband keeps his hair out of the way and has a guard plate stretching down on either side to cover his cheeks. Both wear armbands and wrist/shin guards.

These are the brothers; Thunder and Lightning.

The two new arrivals look at each other and smile.

Thunder, "may we have fun here, brother?"

Lightning, "of course", he creates a bolt between his hands, "we are Thunder and Lightning. We may do whatever we please!"

He throws the bolt upward past the bridge's columns, where the suspension cables are connected, seen from roadway level. It is struck, and sparks fly everywhere!

Lightning, "look, brother! I command the sparks to dance!"

He laughs as the strike dies out; the flickering remains fall all around in a shower.

Thunder, "amusing. Now listen as I make music!"

He claps his hands, creating an intense shock wave that radiates outwards. The bridge cables are jarred loose and begin to whipsaw back and forth. The semi gets a smoking lightning bolt traced into its side.

Lightning, "let all who pass this way know Lightning was here!"

Thunder, "and Thunder, too!"

He bangs his fists together, knuckle to knuckle, and creates an earthquake that sets the stopped cars and their drivers trembling; all the alarm systems are set off in the process. The brothers laugh, and Thunder pats Lightning's shoulder.

Lightning, "most amusing."

"Hate to break it to you…"

Surprised, they look toward the traffic snarl, where the Titans are standing on the trailer of the truck.

Dick, "... but you guys have a lousy sense of humor! This ends now!"

Lightning, "no one gives orders to Thunder and Lightning! Taste my power!"

He throws a bolt at the truck and just misses the Titans, who scramble in several different directions. The trailer gets a big hole blown through it, wiping out his graffiti.

Lightning tries blasting at Jack, who creates a wall of ice, allowing him to run to the others.

Starfire does a U-turn and swoops down on Lightning with starbolts blazing; he jumps onto a line of stopped cars, she does likewise, and they run on these parallel tracks and trade shots. The firefight continues for several dozen yards until he gets in a lucky hit that knocks her down.

Blackfire sees this and growls in rage, blasting at Lightning before dashing to her sister.

His brother, meanwhile, is mixing it up with Vic. They block or dodge a few of each other's punches and start to grapple. Thunder pulls back his left fist and readies for a powerful strike, then Vic reconfigures his right into the sonic cannon. The fists swing and connect with each other, and the resulting shock wave throws them far down the bridge in opposite directions. Vic lands on his back, but Thunder brings a small cloud to himself and hops onto it to float upward.

Dick finds the big blue hooligan bearing down on him and has to dodge a thunderclap. He leaps onto a guardrail, but another blast destroys that section and he has to move down a bit. The next attack breaks a support cable; he grabs the swinging free end and is carried away an instant before Thunder obliterates that section of the rail. Dick is carried high into the air before the cable starts to descend. He times his next move carefully and hurls himself over Thunder, avoiding a punch and grabbing the foe's shoulders to throw him across the pavement.

Lightning is seen throwing a bolt.

Lightning, "Ha!"

Raven dodges the shot in midair and launches herself downward for a flying kick. The yellow brother throws up his arms to block and is driven backward by her flurry of attacks. Finally, he gets clear and shocks her with a bolt that sends her flying.

Jack sees this and is filled with anger, shooting balls of fire and ice at Lightning.

He laughs and says, "you can make amusing magic as well!"

Jack, "yeah, but I ain't using it for fun!"

No sooner as he finishes saying this though, then BB, as a giant panda, lumbers up behind and catches Lightning in a bear hug. Lightning struggles for a moment, then electrifies his entire body and gives the shape-shifting Titan a few hundred thousand volts. The shock forces him back into human form and causes him to let go.

Lightning, "hahaha! Your powers are strong, but mine are stronger!"

BB, lying against a chunk of debris, groans and rubs his head for several seconds. He then gasps as Thunder's shadow falls over him; a flash of lightning, strikes behind him.

Thunder, "your power of the animals is impressive, green one. Rise, so we may do battle."

BB stands up and says, "why are you doing this?"

Thunder, "because it is not sporting to attack an unready opponent."

BB, "no. Why are you wrecking everything?"

Thunder, "uh…. Because it is amusing?"

BB, "do they look amused?"

BB gestures to the scared motorists huddling behind their damaged and overturned cars. The answer to that question is obvious.

Thunder, "I-"

BB, "this isn't funny! It's wrong!"

Jack sees the exchange as he sneaks closer, and smiles. He admires BB's words about what was going on.

An attack of conscience makes Thunder relax his power. Before BB can say anything more, though, a lightning bolt blasts him away and its shooter jumps down next to his brother.

Lightning, "ah, the thrill of victory", he puts his arm around Thunder's shoulders, "come, Thunder. We shall seek more amusement."

They take to the air.

Among the rubble, BB sits up, dazed, smoking, disheveled, drooling a bit. He shakes his head to clear it and finds Starfire floating into view behind him. She is clutching her forearm.

BB, "well, that was a shock."

She turns up her nose and floats on.

Starfire, "hmph!"

BB, "so…. I'm guessing you're still mad?"

Blackfire floated by and said, "gosh, I wonder why?"

Vic and Jack help Raven to her feet.

Dick, "okay, team. We have to find those guys before they do any more damage. Vic and Jack, search the west side. Raven and Blackfire, the east. I'll take downtown. Beast Boy, you and Star scan from the skies."

BB looks uneasily up at the partner who has just been assigned to him. She has turned her back and crossed her arms.

BB, "um…. Maybe Vic should come with me instead?"

Dick, "Victor can't fly."

Vic, "although I am trying to develop the tech for that."

BB, "oh. Yeah."

Vic pinches BB's cheek and says, "have a nice flight, my little clorbag."

Jack snickers as he and Vic race off.

Raven and Blackfire fly off for their own search.

….

We see the open courtyard in front of the museum. On either side of a central open area is a row of vertical concrete slabs; a large metal globe is mounted at the end nearest the building. A couple of fellows make their way across on foot and bicycle before there is a mighty blast of lightning. The troublemaking brothers appear, scaring the men away.

Lightning, "magnificent! We can make much mischief here!"

He strikes the globe, which rolls away from its post toward one row of slabs. It bangs into the end one, which topples over into the next, and so on like a row of falling dominoes. Thunder's expression changes to one of trepidation as the last slab comes down.

Lightning, "Brother! Did you see what I…. Something troubles you?"

Thunder, "the green one's words. He says our fun is…. Wrong."

Lightning, "wrong", he puts his arm across Thunder's shoulders, "he speaks nonsense, brother! How could such amusement be wrong? The fun is only beginning."

He leads his brother away.

….

Meanwhile, with Blackfire and Raven.

Blackfire, "so, about Jack?"

Raven, "what about him?"

Blackfire, "do you think he has a crush on anyone?"

Raven blushes, "I…. I wouldn't know."

Blackfire notices the blush, "wait, do you…?"

Raven, "no!"

Blackfire, "you do! You totally like him!"

Raven, "w-why would I like such a sarcastic, troublesome, funny, cute, strong- er, I mean-!"

Blackfire, "Raven, you should just tell him how you feel."

Raven, "he…. He wouldn't like what I truly am."

Blackfire, "and what's that?"

Raven goes further, ending the conversation as she whispers, "a monster."

….

We see Jack and Vic walking along, searching for the brothers.

Jack got off of his phone saying, "okay, thanks Jinx."

Vic, "well?"

Jack, "Jinx says they haven't shown up near H.I.V.E. Hopefully they're still in the city."

As the two walked, Vic asked, "so you and Rae…."

Jack, "what about me and Raven?"

Vic, "I've been noticing the looks you've given one another."

Jack, "it's that obvious, huh?"

Vic, "dude, she's been blushing ever since you arrived. The same goes for you too. You gotta tell her."

Jack, "I know I should. I'm just waiting for the right moment."

Vic, "when's that gonna be?"

Jack shrugged and said, "hopefully soon."

Vic simply shrugged, and the two continued their search.

….

We sew Starfire in flight, looking intently down towards Jump City. BB, as a falcon, glides next to her. They pass the damaged courtyard of the museum, and then they land. BB returns to human form, and they begin to inspect the smashed slabs.

BB, "well, either they were just here, or this is the ugliest modern art I've ever seen."

Starfire, "you are not funny. You are a clorbag varblernelk."

BB follows after her as she walks away.

BB, "cime on, Star. You can't stay mad forever. What? Do I have to do the face? You know you can't resist the face."

Except for a glance out of the corner of her eye, she has not looked his way throughout all his talking. In no time flat, he has transformed into a small kitten with huge, shining eyes. He meows as endearingly as he can; she looks down at him for a long moment.

Starfire, "hmph!"

She turns her nose and walks away and he returns to human form with a surprised meow.

BB, "she resisted the face!"

She has now reached the point where the globe was anchored. Smoke rises from the stump. BB runs up again.

BB, "just talk to me, Star", he kneels, "come on, this is no fun!"

Lightning, "wrong again, green one!"

In the stormy sky, laughing is heard. Thunder floats into view on his cloud and throws a beam downward. He is joined by an equally jubilant Lightning, also firing away. The two Titans are caught off-guard as the brothers' onslaught connects in several places. Starfire runs down one side and manages to keep just ahead of Thunder, also on foot; when she reaches the end, she goes straight up the wall and does a long, high backflip to come down behind him. She throws a starbolt, but misses him.

Lightning gets a bolt ready.

Lightning, "ha!"

He flings it at BB, who changes into a rabbit and hops away. Lightning chases him toward the ruins of those slabs and fires again. The startled green bunny runs and quickly becomes a crane. More lightning comes his way and is just barely dodged; now he drops to the ground as a mouse and runs toward Lightning. The projectiles are very easy for him to evade now.

Lightning, "your animal forms cannot protect you forever!"

BB, as a bighorn sheep, barrels into him and sends him flying. Starfire flips and leaps her way to the end of the courtyard as Thunder closes in. He then projects a beam toward her, she counters with a mighty starbolt, and the two attacks meet between them and cancel out. Her energy starts to overwhelm his!

Thunder, "huh?"

The starbolt reaches him and knocks him across the open expanse to land squarely on the spot where the globe had stood. BB, now a giant bear, moves in on him, and Lightning takes his fallen brother's place against Starfire. The green Titan gets to his hind legs and plows into Thunder, driving him to the courtyard wall, then runs up in human form and grabs his collar.

BB, "I don't want to hurt you. And I don't think you want to hurt me."

Thunder, "pain does not amuse us."

BB, "could've fooled me. Keep playing rough, and innocent people will get hurt."

This makes Thunder think a bit. A fence then separates the concrete of the courtyard from the museum lawn. There is a sudden puff of smoke, which solidifies into a tall figure wearing long red traveling robes and a broad, flat-crowned hat. An arm is lowered from the face, revealing long white hair blowing about an old but strong male face. The overall impression is vaguely Oriental, and is reinforced by the thin mustache and beard. Only one eye, the left, can be seen. Under the red robes, the man wears black ones and has hidden an old wooden box on a tripod. This has a hand crank in its side, much like an old-style movie camera.

The sorcerer smiles evilly and begins to turn the crank. The front cover falls away to expose a camera lens, which glows red and then white. BB and Thunder are caught off guard as the ground trembles.

BB and Thunder, "huh?"

A broad energy beam shoots past them from the camera and smashes cleanly through the intact row of concrete slabs. It just misses Starfire and Lightning, who have broken off their duel; he sidesteps, but she gasps as a shower of ruined stonework comes straight down toward her!

BB, "Star!"

….

Reviews:

DaV1nc13: Yeah, I'm still trying to think of a civilian name. If you have any ideas, I'm all ears. And yep, this weekend's chapters were about Thunder and Lightning. I made sure to give them one or two moment s going for to toe with Jack. And yes, Rose will be introduced in the next chapter.

raven 2012: well, I'm glad you liked the chapters and the changes I made.

Guest: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, Blackfire joining the team, etc.

….

Most of the episodes play out the same, just with Jack and Blackfire in them. The episodes that will have the most changes will usually be the ones where Raven or Starfire are the focus, since I added Jack and Blackfire to the team.

I hope you guys liked the moments with Jack and Raven talking about their feelings. The two will soon become a real couple, but you guys will have to wait and see!