Teen Titans; The Fighting Life – Epilogue Story; Chapter 11: Head in the Clouds
/
A flutter of eyes. Butterfly touches at the cheek. He was…
AquaLad awoke to the sound of a second groaning voice beside him.
"Wh…. what happened….?" He lifted himself up and tried to see the bigger picture. His eyes had missed everything; like a dream you'd be glad to wake from, Raven was also touching her temples from the pang and shocking development.
"He got you guys, big time." B bounded over and was standing with a special suit on outside a large…
"What – Wa –
"You…put us in the quarantine facility…ow…You had better find a cure, and fast...This, won't… -
"Save it, Rave. We got you covered." Cy tapped a few keys and the glass became clearer to see through for the two infected Titans.
"Slade made that earlier mad – science experiment of his, into a plain horror style science fiction device, an' for his own benefit. He's nuts, end of story. Humph, an' that's why we are goanna get to the bottom of this mess. We're sending Star to look for the signal you put in your notes." Cy told the second in command as he waited for her to retaliate.
Aqualad jumped in, anxiously. "No! You could get her –
"I can't just sit on my butt and have him attack us. I know; Star was the same as me." He sighed and tried to calm down. "Look, I'm lookin' for the guys who made those Nano – whatevs' an' I'm gonna use all my brain – power ta' put a stop to Slade's plans once an' for all. B is already picked up a trail by the docks where we fought. I just have to analyze the cues he collected an' then we can –
"Robin was reckless, like you are being." Raven pointed out. "He was dragged down into Slade's lair and made a deal; when Slade suddenly decided to use that device to infect our entire team, he couldn't fight back against him. Aqua lad has a case of those "probes" now that still makes less sense than it all should to me…. I think this is more than Super – Science than we are dealing with, maybe magic or ESP..."
"Even if it is or isn't, I don't want to leave the heroes in Steel City that I've currently gathered, down." Aqualad mentioned. "Tram is going to need an explanation as to why I'm not back in Atlantis before curfew."
"WE can always get in touch with em', but you two can't leave this room until I've gotten a cure an 'injected us all with a temporary antidote or found a better solution…But…"
"There is no way that makes sense, you're not forgetting what the message was?" Aqualad hinted.
"Slade said not to come to Gotham. He wants to get even with Batman." Cyborg said.
Raven bit her lip. "That cannot be a normal coincidence." Cy nodded, and Aqualad did as well.
"Are we gonna have to give them food, sometime? Should I go into animal mode to avoid –
"Doesn't even matter. It's like this thing can eat through solid steel. It's deadly." Aqualad said in all seriousness with a grim expression painted on his face. He hugged his knees and tried to remember the events. All a blur. Just, the message. All BUT the message. And the screams…
"Slade found a way to bypass the laws of freaking life an' death. He's gonna go dawn, whether we have ta drag Robin outta' there ourselves!" Cy grunted and nearly pounded the controls in his state.
"We can't give up, but we also cannot rush in blindly. Slade knows how desperate we are right now. Robin went after that man, too early and ended up paying the ultimate price." Raven was right. Robin had wanted to put Slade behind bars so much, that his sight had became warped. His hunger for justice, had transformed his rage into an untamed beast he'd let loose from its chain.
"He gave Slade us." She spoke monotonously, and full of her own form of fear that was hardest to read.
"Then, we even the playing field." B snickered. "We just won't let Robin or any of us down without a fight."
"Good to know you're still pretty naïve, for a kid." Smirked Aqualad to his old rival.
"Hey! I'm trying to keep you guys from losing your minds – you could have put teeth marks in my uniform –
"Or in his skull." Raven grimly joked, earning a chuckle from her temporary cell – mate.
"Yeah, but first thing's first. What's for dinner? Can we do tofu pizza –
"And be forced to watch you consume legumes like it's the only thing edible in the entire solar system? I'll pass. Thanks." Aqualad turned his head to the side. He was a bit standoffish. He'd been an excellent warrior in his world, so being this tough on himself was a tad strange to our heroes.
The computer did blink on their units as Star's face showed up right away and without further delay.
"Star? What's up? Did you find anything –
~From the air, I did in fact locate a vessel, but it was a false ruse to throw us off of Slade's trail I believe. ~
"You have got to be kidding me!" Aqualad exclaimed.
~ I do not partake in the "manner of much laughter," I'm afraid. ~ Star frowned put up her device to show them the results of her search.
Decimated Slade – Bots were everywhere. She'd destroyed them all. As if they'd been watching over the cargo on a ship OUTSIDE of Jump City.
~ Where is that? ~ Cy was on the other side of the call, and just as shocked by the aftermath.
"It is in Steel City. I believed that being at "the crime scene" where Aqualad came into contact with Robin, was in itself the best place to look for clues regarding his whereabouts."
~Good thinking, Star! ~ B smiled and gave a thumbs up. ~You go, mama~
"I believe that I also…" She sighed and was unable to contain her concern any longer.
"Robin was here, but he is no longer. I cannot trace a signal or a "signature" as Cyborg's machines might. I am, very sorry…We were too late…"
~Slade's quick to cover his trail, sneaky –
~And, what about the bots? Did you only see them by the port in Steel? What else did you get to check out? Is Tram –
~Babaloota! Tram is worried sick! Get better soon! Keeping fish cozy! Babbiooo! Gaahgaah! ~
"That's him, alright. Did he see anything strange after the fight?" Aqualad asked. "Anything, out of the blue that may have just, sent a wrong message?"
~The fish! ~ Kori recalled. ~You do speak to them, yes? ~
"I'm on my way! –
~No! Tram helps you! Titans saved friend Aqualad! You need Tram, so he helps out! Ballaa! ~
"Oh! Thank you very much, tiny thing! We are forever in your debt!" Starfire hugged the fish - being as he tried to squirm away. "Strong! Too strong for me! We go to fishes in cove. They are trying to hear all of noises humans make – they know about fight – fight! Go, bye – bye now!" Tram made sure to wave as B's ears drooped at the last end of the transmission.
"Aww! I could have been tons a' help!"
"But we need you here, to feed us." Raven said this to sarcastically joke about feeding the "animals" earlier.
/
Sticking like glue to the seat, Robin couldn't help but just stay as close to Slade in the most impossible of crisis. His crisis being that Slade was not letting him off his leash.
If the man tried to play one, extra dirty trick against his team –
"We'll be landing soon. This place has a few loose ends I'll be needing to tie up; before your precious friends decide to break their promises and come to rescue their leader. I'll have you stand guard beside me. No more playing the fool, Robin."
Of course. Being called "Apprentice" meant the man was fawning over the kid. While saying Robin, was a way to show how absolutely irritated his "Master" had become. Robin believed Slade was nothing but a spoiled adult who'd do anything rotten or even illegal if he didn't get his way.
"I'm not going to answer you back, then you obviously made the wrong choice for an apprentice –
"IF that's the case…. They will simply perish." Robin froze but did not try to keep his fear ridden face out for the man to ponder, he masked his pain and waited for a moment to strike back.
"That "line in ink" on your oath was far from clear as day, Richard. I'd hoped someone as noble of those same intentions would continue to fight for their lives…So, if you say you are done, they can simply die –
"Fine!" Frustrated, Richard stood and stomped his foot. "I'll continue, to go along with our plans, but my friends stay out of this –
"YOU don't give the orders!" Slade menacingly glared at Robin, and made the hero stand taller out of that same withdrawn emotion non as fear. His stance weakened by the "dare me" look in the man's one wide eye.
"I'm letting you tag along as my shield, nothing more. If you end up shot, I'M the one who's willing to patch you up. Take that in thanks instead of tossing that gratitude back into your master's face…!" The man hissed, and Robin stood, mask - less to the man. He had been given his answer. Slade wouldn't…. care….? He was….not there to fight?...
"I…."
"Your next assignment; We are to ambush a Dr. Carl Walton of Ingenico Industries. His department specializes in –
"In pharmaceuticals; nanotechnology – based healing in hospital settings…" Robin gulped. "You're…. you aren't going to –
"It was where this ingenious plan came to be." Slade put his hands behind his back and looked out the window at the front of their armored boat. His glorified ego seemed to keep his temper in check, but Robin was here to listen and to have his ego polished to shine like a good little assassin's apprentice.
"It was where the nanobots were nearly perfected, and where I intend to further my research before, we're to reach Gotham City."
"Star city is mid - way between our destination, to Central. You know that Arrow wouldn't hesitate." Robin warned. "He knows my identity." Robin said this to call Slade's bluff, and the man took the bait. He'd believed…
"And you don't think that I'm not unfamiliar with that other renowned billionaire and HIS priceless ward? You are far superior to him, by the way. I'd like to see old Ollie, again try to best his luck in a fight with me. It's been ages, it seems since our last encounter."
Robin's eyes grew. Just his luck. He was a living super computer that housed the identities of every JLA member on Earth…
~What have I done…~ Robin's confidence faltered, but his brain came up with a little scheme of its own.
"What, if I give him to you –
"Lure out the infamous Green Arrow and side kick, as if an offering to a hungry lion…Hmm, you are risking your own safety." Slade walked up to the boy and turned to his apprentice with threats to spare.
"Get ready. Only bring what is necessary for this mission. The Nanobots can be tracked via my system, and the "bots" you enjoy ripping apart won't hesitate to do the same to those that disobey their master while aboard this ship." He concluded with a dripping warning on the tip of the mad man's tongue. Robin bobbed his head in agreement and went to get dressed in his "den" on the lowest level of the ship.
"Of course, Master Slade." Robin said, with his heart lost and his emotions withdrawn to protect them all. The Titans had to hurry. They'd be docking by the next wharf within the given hour…
"Oh! Hum, we are going first to Central City, and that you know; but I'm sure you'd forgotten - to include one more adversary on our round – trip experience. You may have to call him out to play, first."
Slade coked his head to the side and Dick saw that he wasn't just joking around to scare Robin. He WAS trying to terrify him.
"That is, if you can catch him." The man finished.
Robin nodded, knowing full well who resided in Central city as its main superhero. Guessing that Barry would be trying to keep the world safe already, this new threat wasn't anything to laugh over. Flash. He'd have to never lose his target. Just like this hunter – extraordinaire.
"Yes, Master Slade." Robin left and tried to keep his emotions back; he tried to breathe as soon as he'd left the upper floor to retreat to his lower bunk on the last floor of the ship. He found the bed and fell directly onto it.
His body shook; he'd mentally been unprepared to sell out the heroes….to put them in harm's way when Slade could harm or control them all with the push of a button….!...Damn! He was….
~I haven't done anything to steal that control…. I'll do it tonight. When his back is turned. Fix this route before we end up on the run again…~
Robin sighed and curled into a ball against the clean sheets.
~Come on… find me already…He's going to destroy the league next...If we don't stop Slade from his plan...Raven…. Please, find me…Please…!~
/
Not knowing the world was ending with one turn of events, a young and spry speedster was coming down the track as his unit soon flashed on.
~Wallace! What have I told you about using your powers with people around? Do you WANT to alert the authorities?~
The male in the picture wore a red outfit with a yellow lightening bolt insignia on the front of his uniform. The other junior hero was not the least bit interested, so he rolled his eyes and frowned at the sky above him.
~Wally West! This is serious! We can't let down our guard….And not my guard with you acting like a –
"Um, I'm staying out of the way just fine, Bar –
~Not for long. ~ Frowned the red suited hero. The boy wore a similar outfit with yellow and red. He was Wally West, and training to be the new Flash in the future. Should the current Flash ( Barry Allen) pass away or be smite by the hands of fate,) he had learn from the book what was acceptable and what was just plain…-
~But, if you insist on playing the boss here, I'm going to have to suspend you. ~
"Dude! I'm not doing shit out here! That patrol went off smooth sailing! Are you saying I'm not responsible to have powers, now? I'm freaking your clone!" Wally shouted into the unit's face.
"I deserve to get out of your shadow once in a while too. Look at Speedy back in Star City! He's a living legend while I have to be a damn face in the crowd –
The male stopped. The real red- faced Flash was right in front of him…wasn't he?
"Look here." The man tried to be firm with his protégé.
"We are all on high alert. There have been reports of abductions from state to state and an attack that is likely to come here if we don't –
"Stay forever vigilant, I KNOW." Wally drolly repeated as a parrot to this taller, more relaxed version of himself.
"And I'm not always careful to bail us out of trouble? Or careless, myself at times? These actions of ours do have consequences." Barry lectured. "Your actions are up – turned cars and citizens who thought they saw the wind blow up their –
"One type! It's an out - dated trope! I get that…Sheesh –
"Women don't like you harassing them. Anyone would take that as a crime here. You aren't a god among men. You can't just have your way –
"Ugh! It was not going to….You know what?" Wally lashed out and threw out his arms in defeat. "Fine! Take away my TV privileges back at the hall! Let them see you as a damn hypocrite for once! I don't give a –
"Home, we aren't discussing this –
A biting panic soon flashed before the heroes' eyes. They turned around to find that a television broadcast had shown an escaped convict on the run outside the local courthouse. It was not even five in the evening and Wally's mad dash for freedom had roped him right back into the hero mode he'd been searching for.
Or trying to bail out of.
"I can handle that crook. You need to go home and stay out of sight until I speak to the mayor about your –
"I'm not a criminal!"
Barry turned as Flash and frowned from view as he got ready to sprint to the scene of the crime.
Wally was fussing over freedom and all, but the city still needed to know that he wasn't the least accountable to wear the Flash's mantle in this time and place. At all times, he was just a lousy kid.
But…He was this world's hope.
"Don't blow your chances. Go home, and wait until I call."
"No…T.V then?"
"No, homework and training in the gym if you get the urge to blow off that ego of yours right. Now, go. That's not up for debate until I get back."
He was off. Not a word as Wally grumbled and waited for his urge to punch a wall to die, but the TV across the street had other plans.
It was showing the JLA; Batman, and then… a local missing person's report.
"In….Wait…Here?"
~Dr. Stone of S.T.A.R Labs; do you have any comments about the kidnapping of your college –
~Under the surveillance footage that was taken, we had a clear scope, but the guy got by us like he couldn't be caught on tape… ~ The man was Black African American and looked to be very serious about this issue. He job was not just on the line. His white lab coat had been replaced by a black blazer and tie. As if he'd been off that day.
~He's good. We are currently working within the company and with the law enforcement officials in Central City to find Dr. Carl Walton before things get extra hairy. ~
~Mr. Stone, we have found evidence that your side - team within the company; a sister group called….Ingenico Industries from Europe, was working on a project that would revolutionize the concept of modern medical treatment. To be used exclusively after many major surgeries in order to speed up and stabilize the healing time post – op, which you called "playing god" earlier.~
~Yes, Nano – tech in still not a perfected subject, not all science is so forgiving. It's life in your hands, but Ingenico labs was already ahead its time with its research and development stages of said program; a way to treat serious illnesses. Even cancers that have left modern scientists in over their heads for decades. ~
"Wow. This is better than "Coastal Riptides In Malibu." Wally grabbed a jumbo popcorn and a soda as he sat and waited for the interview to come to its final conclusion. His last chug made him feel like he wanted a second Mega -Gulp jug from Eight and Eleven. He sighed and tried to see the logic behind the big reveal.
"Usually they'll say, 'But won't that mean for all of human kind that the perpetrator might USE this technology to take over the world?' Or something like that." Wally chugged an even larger iced tea. When the soda had vanished, finding the time to eat and run a real drag, he was craving starch like no tomorrow. Darn growing pains...
~Good thing I have a hyper – metabolism to put me on the right number on Barry's bathroom scale. I was hoping he'd try to force me to eat right, but three popcorns are like air. Poof. ~He snickered and watched the Dr. say his last "way of warning" to those watching the boob tube.
~As for this new technology, aren't you worried if it's still in good hands, Mr. Stone?~
~I wish. If news gets out that the ability to cure and create illness in this city is close to being completed, then we can all kiss our butts goodbye. I'm hoping' my family is ok, but that's not gonna let me sleep at night if nobody gets to the bottom of this case. I hope that y'all know how S.T.A.R labs is; strict on letting our tech go missing, but this Ingenico branch just lost their latest weapon. That's not gonna fly by anyone who cares about the people here. I'm begging all of the citizens of Central to keep a close eye out for anything suspicious an' to report it as soon as you can to the city's local law enforcement. This is Samantha Adams, signing off. ~
~You heard it right, Sammy. The race is on to find a device snatched from under the sister company, Ingenico Industries nose as of late last night. We can only hope that our patron hero; The Flash and his newly made Side – kick Kid Flash –
"HRy!" West shouted at the reporter as he stuffed a hot pretzel into his mouth. "Noyot…rrrsnnnddkiiicc!" He exclaimed, his cheeks puffed up as a chipmunk's.
~Will find the culprit before we're put on immediate lockdown. Will we be saved from this menace and their plans to overtake the city, or the world by storm? Is there a chance that more restrictions need to be placed on projects allowed within these professions, that help or harm human life in the near future? This is Andy DeBlasio. We'll see you again at nine to discuss our second event – the court ruling of a nefarious CEO in need of a retrial. Thanks for watching, and as always, this is Central City's Evening news reporter. Signing off –
"Who says that anymore?" Wally turned his head to the side and saw a speck out of his eye.
~Report anything suspicious, huh?~
"If I'd been a devil, I would have been reborn as a speed demon!" Grinned the teen hero. He swept off towards the one he'd believed the shadows could not hide from him.
"Hey! Whoa! –
The fling of a sharp item that resembled Batman's own was not a fun prospect.
The kid was about five foot, while Wally topped him only a few inches. "Heyyy! Wait up!" He decided to goad the dummy into a wall, but ended up hitting the pavement as the kid slipped through a wall with ease like a snake.
"Shoot! What the heck…?"
Wally scratched his head. He'd lost the trail. The kid had either a magic wand to make himself partly invisible to the naked eye, or it was all about the super – science.
"I'm gonna go lie down now…This blows." Wally took to the road home and hoped that the battle at the courthouse was going to be all night. If Barry caught him slacking off, he could tell the man that he'd been going after a kid with similar tech as the Batman.
Wait….tech….shit! Was that –
Little had he realized it, a tracking chip had been placed onto his suit where the speedster could not shake it off.
Up above the city on a perch looking down from a nine foot drop, Robin's eyes watered. He'd been fast…But….
Slade had not even let him stick around. He'd left him in the haunt. Because it was not the ship, Robin had somehow managed to find the duo in the middle of town. The chip was actually encrypted with an audio file. Robin had been very busy while Slade's mission had been a great success.
His MASTER had tied up and gagged the poor man at the haunt. He'd had him in holding to talk before having his precious data swiped…And then….
Robin left the scene to crawl over to a dark place to vomit. He saw the head pop clean off, like a spraying fountain of –
Robin retched and felt his stomach go to ice again once he'd relieved every bit of pained tension he could hope to expel.
Like poison…
Slade….Slade wanted an Apprentice….A killer…..A monster like him!
"Make it stop…..please…." Robin tried to keep back the bile, but it wasn't done with him.
Even so, he felt an arm drape over him, his forehead…
Oh…he'd been the one not far…from the base….it was still too early…
"You'd rather be found like this?..." The voice questioned. Robin shook his head weakly. A bit of the mess he'd chucked was lazily smeared or off or spat out.
"No…" He hoarsely answered back.
"Good. We may as well extend this trip to the next location. You'll need more training to keep your stomach in line."
"Yes…Master…" Robin choked back a sob. "He, has been marked….So….You can do what you want….but leave my –
"Your friends won't be fighting the Flash, Apprentice." Slade smirked behind the mask and lifted Richard in his apprentice outfit from the rooftop by the back of his neck. He was made to stand, though in a wobble at first.
"You will." Robin resisted the urge to continue purging, which he was forced to accomplish with plenty of fluids and later, he'd spar to keep himself in top condition.
The dead man had told Robin a small bit of info though, that's what really had him running scared before the scientist's neck had met the metal of Slade's blade.
~He gave me a code. To shut down the Nano – bot's program. He…knew who I was…And trusted me…~
/
A bit rushed, yet knowing the caped crusader and faction, the teams would be swarming around that reporter's words like flies to cattle.
Or a carcass; freshly strewn across the battlefield in miniscule chucks.
~I'm hoping that none of this gets out to the other League members. ~ A shaking sound reverberated like a jet in the air above Titans Tower. Cy dropped his belongings and rushed to the roof.
He slammed back the doors and in a darkest night, he saw a familiar face looking down on him. Arms crossed, he'd only been a few miles out of California to be on their tails this late at night.
He had flown a great deal, but not too far to call his mission off.
"Oh! Friend Cyborg!" Starfire gasped and realized the man was a legendary hero that spanned across her galaxy's telling as well. He was not the first, yet the current Green Lantern.
Bb bounded up right behind in the form of a falcon. He landed effortlessly to the ground and turned whiter than green.
"Dude….did you call in the special ops for this mission? –
"Hush up, Bb. The grown ups are gonna talk. You too Star, I need you to see about the others back on lockdown." Cy snorted. Raven was down for the count in quarantine. That made him top dog right about now, until they found their missing leader.
The two men were left to chat it up, but Cy had not hated the current GL. He just wanted to keep this mission private. But B had him blabbing out a stinking code word. Hell, this was gonna be a pain to cool down from later.
"Lockdown? You didn't have your leader come to see me?" The man; John Stewart, an Ex – military man, was not one to push a person's buttons. He was sly, but wise with his words. In more ways than Cy wished were possible to count off. He also had a temper when provoked. Without his ring, he held little power over a soul.
"He's out of commission. Star had a back case of the flu so he's in quarantine so it won't get to anyone else. Same as Rae."
"Why haven't you reported back to the Justice League, Cyborg?" The man crossed his arms and floated down to land face to face with the younger Titan ally.
"It's been a month since, and we needed a briefing from you, yesterday."
"I couldn't do much with only three of my team –
"How long have they been sick for? Hum? Fourteen days. They can't be ill for a whole month an' a half. Tell me what's going on now or we're taking the remaining Titans up to the Watchtower for questioning."
"You've gotta be joking! We aren't the cause a' this mess! Look around!" Cy had finally had enough. Batman was worried, they'd been unable to topple Slade's pans by force. They needed another person to guide them, if only until Robin was found. And Slade…
Taken off the grid. Permanently.
"Finally had the guts to come here instead a' the bat. Robin is like a freaking copy of that dog! I don't know where to start –
"Then start at the beginning." GL didn't look cross, he looked concerned. Sadly, Cy had to break his own vows. Slade was going to have a field day once the Bat got a whiff of his ego – tripping expedition.
"It started a month ago; we got a call from a man who goes by the name of Slade."
/
