Chapter 9: Deviance
"Robin!" Starfire said fearfully.
"Relax Star, the backup lights should be kicking in soon…" Robin said, and then the dark room was faintly lit by a reddish glow.
"What happened?" Beast Boy asked.
"Lightning must have hit a line or something…no one's here Raven, it's just…" Cyborg was saying.
"Guys." Robin said. Everyone turned to him.
"You know our security system, the one specially prepared to keep working in the event of a power outage? It's down."
"What? Impossible? We've got special ground wires, the only switches are in here and outside protected by…"
"A lock box. Which appears to have been compromised." Robin said.
"Guys…" Beast Boy said, as he flew up to Robin in a bat form.
"What?"
"Raven's gone."
Dreams are rarely wholly accurate. In this case, not only had Killjoy taken care of the security system, he decided to turn off the power as well. He expected them to blame it on the still strangely-rainless storm, and wouldn't pay any attention to it.
Until it was too late.
Killjoy turned and headed for the door of the darkened tower, grabbing his right thumb and adjusting it with a strange cracking sound.
"No."
Killjoy stopped at the voice, and then turned around.
Raven stood there, her hands clenched.
"I won't let you anywhere near my friends. Leave this place now or suffer my wrath." Raven said, trying to hide her fear.
It was happening. Killjoy was real. He was standing there. Everything fit. Same face, dark and menacing, heavy bones giving him a true predator's visage. The hair, one long braided ponytail from the back of his otherwise bald head. His jacket, hiding his chest and legs, dark hands sticking from the sleeves. And his eyes.
They were like a shark's, totally and utterly blank, betraying nothing. The blankness echoed in Killjoy's heart and mind, nothing in him as he looked at Raven. He felt no fear, no anticipation, no interest, nothing. It was if he were a druggie staring into space, except no druggie ever had the aura of alertness Killjoy had.
He said nothing. He didn't move. He just looked at Raven, noting her presence and nothing else.
Raven swallowed. She shouldn't be scared. It was just a man. She was half-demon, a powerful sorceress. She could match any mortal man's tools and surpass them…
But yet…Raven knew of emotions. She knew how she had to keep her carefully in check, lest disaster happen. But this wasn't a case of repression with Killjoy. It was a case of…nothing. Nothing there. Now or ever.
Humans motivated by anger or hate or fear or greed were understandable.
But this man was going into the tower, her HOME, to kill her and her friends, just because…
Killjoy snapped his arm up.
"Azarathmetrionzinthos!" Raven yelled, waving her arm. Killjoy's arm was twisted to the side as she yanked the gun he had drawn sideways, spinning it away from him and pulling it from his hands….
As Killjoy spun with her even as he drew another gun with his other hand and completed his 360, aiming at her, locking her in his sights…
FLA/CRASH! A giant bolt of lightning followed almost immediately by a tremendous blast of thunder saved Raven, as it and her swirling cloak messed up his aim. The bullet blew a hole in the top of Raven's cloak, knocking off her hood as she reeled back in surprise. Killjoy squeezed the trigger a second time…
And then a Birdarang disarmed him, the second shot going into the ground.
"Looks like…" Robin started to say.
Then everything went wrong. Robin had run out of the tower and found Killjoy just as he was about to shoot Raven. His Birdarang disarmed the man, and Robin expected to be able to tell the hitman exactly what he and his fellow Titans were going to do to him while he regrouped.
But Killjoy didn't. The Birdarang had knocked the gun out of his hand and made him stumble a bit. But no sooner did Robin start to speak when Killjoy turned the stumble into a twirl as twin guns snapped from beneath his sleeves which he brought up at the Titans.
"MOVE!" Robin yelled, as Killjoy opened fire. Cyborg stepped in front of the group to take the first few shots and gasped when the bullets bit through his armour. They didn't get all the way through to hit vitals organs or parts, but the fact they got through his special defenses was…
Beast Boy had turned into a mouse to avoid the shots, while Robin tried to get another Birdarang out. Damn, he's not just firing, HE'S AIMING! If we don't get those guns he'll go for a head shot on Victor next…
"HAH!" Starfire yelled as she fired a Starbolt at Killjoy. The ground exploded at Killjoy's feet, Starfire's aim a bit off due to having to dodge the bullets, but it worked well anyway as Killjoy stumbled. Yelling, Cyborg charged into him, knocking the guns out of his hands.
"Take this you-WAH!" Cyborg yelled as Killjoy threw himself down and used Cyborg's own momentum to hurl him over him. He quickly flipped back to his feet and reached for another gun…
And then Raven swung the lamppost she had ripped out of the ground like a bat, smashing Killjoy through the air. She hit him so hard he flew upward thirty feet before he smashed through one of the T-Tower's windows.
Starfire flew up.
"Be careful Starfire! Let me check!" Beast Boy said as he flew up as a hummingbird, hoping he was a small enough target. He floated in front of the broken window and looked around. "Clear!"
Starfire floated up, hands glowing green, her eyes darting around the room as she flew in. Beast Boy flew in, watching her back, as she looked around the dimly lit room Raven had smashed Killjoy into.
"Hey!" Beast Boy said, as Raven floated up carrying Robin and Cyborg on floating debris. "Look!" he said, indicating a broken window on the opposite side of the original.
"No glass on the floor. He must have gone all the way through!" Robin said, as he indicated for the others to sneak over to the window in case Killjoy was planning to shoot at them from outside it.
Beast Boy flew out again as a hummingbird, looking at the ground.
No Killjoy. Beast Boy looked around. There wasn't much in the way of cover around the T-Tower, and he couldn't see anything.
"Nothing! He's not out here!" Beast Boy said.
"He went through though." Robin said, pointing to a shard of glass still in the window frame on which fresh blood was present.
"Man, I can't see him anywhere! Geez, nice shot Raven." Cyborg said, looking around with his enhanced eyes.
"It was my pleasure." Raven said coldly.
"Man! Maybe he set some sort of distance record!" Beast Boy said as he zipped around.
"We have to find him…" Robin said. He was torn what to do. If they stayed together, they might have the advantage, but Killjoy might also be able to get them all in one fell swoop. If they split up, he might pick them off one by one, but they might also find him quicker…
Robin compromised.
"Victor, get down to that box and fix our lights and system. Quickly." Robin said. "As soon as you do, come back here."
"Got you." Cyborg said as he leapt out the window.
"Starfire, Beast Boy, you two search the grounds. Beast Boy, keep that form and look on land. Starfire, fly high and check the water. And please, be careful. That bastard can aim." Robin said.
"Will do boss."
"I will do my best, Robin!" Starfire said as she flew out. Watching her go was one of the hardest things Robin ever saw.
"Raven, you and I will head up to the main systems and use them to scan for Killjoy. If Star or Gar doesn't find him first."
"Or if he finds them." Raven added. Robin gave her a dirty look.
A loud clank nearly made Robin jump out of his skin, but it was just Cyborg shooting a grappling hook to pull himself back up through the broken window.
"Fixed."
"That was quick."
"I still need to reactivate the systems properly. Let's head to the main computer room."
The three-minute trip had Robin jumping at every crack of thunder, his ears pricked for possible gunshots erupting at any time. He relaxed a bit when he and the other two had made it back without incident. A light rain had finally started to fall outside, a strange counterpoint to the vicious lightning and thunder.
"Will this take long?" Robin asked. He could see Starfire in the distance, scanning the choppy water.
"Shouldn't." Cyborg said as he leaned over and started typing.
"You were right Raven. I'm sorry we doubted you. I saw his eyes. There WAS nothing." Robin said.
"It's ok. Let's just deal with this problem."
"I'd apologize except I don't really have the time Raven…" Cyborg said as he typed.
The lightning flickered and then went out.
"Victor…!"
"Relax, that's supposed to happen. I've got the security systems back on, now just a few more clicks for the lights…!"
The lights clicked back on.
Revealing Killjoy standing behind Cyborg.
"VIC LOOK OUT!" Robin yelled. Victor twisted away from the computer as Killjoy aimed a gun at Cyborg's face.
BLAM! Cyborg's hand grabbed Killjoy's arm just before the gun fired, the bullet splintering the computer glass.
Raven's eyes suddenly focused on Killjoy's other arm, his ability to turn a failed attack into another offense immediately fresh in her mind…
And she was right, as she saw Killjoy's other hand swing up with something in it.
The EMP pulse generator grenade.
Cyborg felt something being pressed on his neck…
And then being torn away as black energy encased the lethal machine-killing device and threw it away.
"Amazing what you can do when you get your news in advance, eh?" Cyborg said, and swung at Killjoy.
Killjoy ducked, grabbed Victor's body, and hurled him headfirst into another monitor. He stepped back and aimed with his gun…
Robin knocked it out of his hand with his staff and then spun and rammed the pole into Killjoy's gut. Killjoy grunted a bit and stumbled back, and then Raven broke a chair over his back via telekinesis. Robin punched the assassin in the face, and then Killjoy countered with a backhand. Robin spun and smashed his leg across Killjoy's face with a heel roundhouse, and then twirled up with his staff and rammed Killjoy across the face.
"Save some for me!" Cyborg yelled as he barreled in, ramming both his fists into Killjoy's gut. Killjoy doubled over, and then he came back up with a shotgun.
Cyborg grabbed it and twisted it apart, ruining the gun.
"Hard to find good equipment these days, isn't it?" Cyborg said as he pulled the gun away from Killjoy. He faintly heard a weird snapping noise as he followed it up with a punch that leveled the hitman and sent him flying across the room before he hit the ground.
"What the…" Cyborg said as he looked at the shotgun. Something was hanging from it. Killjoy's right thumb. Cyborg winced as he removed it and looked at it. Some kind of prosthetic…ewwwwwww. Cyborg thought as he threw the artificial digit away.
Killjoy was getting back up.
"Care for a Sonic Boom?" Robin asked Cyborg. Cyborg grinned and began prepping his sonic cannon.
"I got the sonic if you got the…"
And then Killjoy twisted, as he pulled something from within the folds of his jacket. He must have been hiding it on his back somehow, the coat keeping it hidden.
A grenade launcher.
"LOOK OUT!" Robin yelled.
Too late, as Killjoy fired a grenade into Cyborg's chest. The explosion was small but intense, rocking Cyborg back.
Killjoy fired again, and again, the rotating barrel on his grenade launcher allowing him to fire the explosives quickly. Cyborg was blown backwards by the repeated explosions.
Robin tried to Birdarang the grenade launcher out of Killjoy's hands, but the hitman amazingly spun away from the bladed projectile and fired his last two grenades into Cyborg, the last one blowing him out the window.
"CYBORG!" Robin yelled.
"I'll help him!" Raven said as she disappeared into the shadows again.
Killjoy dropped his empty grenade launcher and looked at Robin. Robin glared back.
"If you have anything human in that abyss you call a soul, why don't we settle this like men?" Robin said, twirling his staff.
Killjoy didn't answer, instead reaching into his jacket and pulling out…a combat knife.
Robin's eyes narrowed, and he leapt.
Raven was too late to prevent Cyborg from hitting the ground, and she found him in a small crater.
"Cyborg?"
"Gonna kill that motherfucker…" Cyborg muttered. The front of his armour was severely dented and burned, but Raven could detect no serious injuries. He was merely stunned by the explosives and the fall. Raven had to give him credit.
"You know what's weird?" Cyborg babbled, still not completely with it. "His right thumb isn't real! I broke it off! He has a fake thumb! How strange…"
"Yes…" Raven said, and then looked up. Her eyes widened.
"OH NO!"
Robin ducked under the knife slash and rammed his fists into Killjoy's gut. He spun away from a follow-up downward thrust but couldn't get away from a roundhouse kick from Killjoy. He landed flat on the ground, and Killjoy flipped over and tried to ram his heel into Robin's sternum and drive his ribs into his heart. But Robin rolled away and smashed Killjoy across the face with his staff.
Killjoy got back up. Blood started dripping from his nose. He looked at it and then resumed slashing at Robin. Robin dodged three and then flipped backwards, smashing his feet into Killjoy's chin. Killjoy stumbled back.
"Come on, you sick freak!" Robin said, dancing like Muhammad Ali.
And then what Raven had seen came into play, as Starfire flew in close to one of the windows to see what was going on.
Unfortunately Killjoy saw her before she saw him.
Robin's eyes widened as Killjoy suddenly turned away from him and began charging at the window. He turned and looked.
"Robin what's going on in there…" Starfire was saying, not knowing Robin couldn't hear the through the window. The light rain had already stopped, but it had made the windows wet, distorting her view, and while she could see Robin's bright outfit she couldn't quite make out Killjoy's dark jacket…
Starfire screamed as the window exploded outward as Killjoy leapt out through it at her, grabbing her just before he fell. Starfire freaked and flew upward, trying to dislodge her attacker, but he had a firm grip on her clothing and held out as he slashed at her throat with his knife.
"Starfire!" Robin screamed as he watched the two fly up.
"Ah bloody hell." Raven cursed as she watched the oblivious Starfire fly up to the window and become a great target for Killjoy. She knew Victor would be ok, so she vanished into the shadows.
"Why are you doing this?!? Why do you want to hurt me!?!" Starfire shrieked as she flew up next to one of the "T-Points" of the tower, Killjoy still slashing at her. She couldn't use her Starbolts at this range, and she couldn't get a good enough grip to use her strength…
"AHHHHHHHH!" Starfire shrieked in pain as Killjoy finally managed to get a hit in, slashing open her shoulder. He reared back for a follow-up stab into her neck…
"GO TO HELL!" Beast Boy yelled as he flew in as a bald eagle, using his talons to claw at Killjoy's eyes. Killjoy recoiled, his grip loosening on Starfire, and Beast Boy pressed his attack.
Too hard, as Killjoy twisted and rammed his knife into one of Beast Boy's wings. Beast Boy shrieked in pain and fell, twirling down to Earth as his damaged wing could no longer support him.
"Beast Boy! ENOUGH!" Starfire screamed, and finally got her arm up as she blasted Killjoy with a point-blank Starbolt. Killjoy was blasted away, falling towards the top of the tower…
But he still had enough sense to throw his knife. A few seconds later he slammed into the top of the tower, hard.
Starfire was lucky, somewhat. The blade didn't hit her. Instead, the twirling knife's hilt did, slamming into her forehead and knocking her woozy. Flight suddenly made a lot harder, Starfire lurched downward and then fell towards the tower.
She landed and skidded a little, stopping after a few bumps. She lay there for a few seconds, gathering herself, and then started getting up.
CLICK.
Starfire looked up to see Killjoy up and in front of her, sticking a gun in her face. Point blank range, nowhere to dodge, and no fellow Titans to save her.
Her heart jack hammering and her mouth dry, she looked into Killjoy's emotionless eyes.
"Why…why are you doing this?"
Killjoy looked back at her, cocked the hammer, and spoke for the first time.
"It's something to do."
And he squeezed the trigger.
Raven appeared out of the shadows as Killjoy stuck the gun in Starfire's face. Oh no! Raven's eyes darted around, trying to find something to throw or…
Her eyes fell on Killjoy's hand. His gun hand. Cyborg had been right: he had no thumb. But he was holding the gun away, gripping it firm. He must have trained himself to be able to hold a gun even without the proper amount of digits to use as a grip…
And Raven had an idea.
Killjoy was looking at Starfire when she walked out in front of him, chanting quietly.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"
"It's something to do." Killjoy said, and squeezed the trigger.
"Draglor Reversiti!" Raven finished.
BLAM!
For a moment, all was still.
Starfire opened her tightly clenched eyes to look.
Killjoy was standing still, as he looked down at his gun, glowing black.
And facing the wrong way.
And then he finally saw Raven, as he took a step back.
He had pulled the trigger, the gun momentarily balancing totally on that finger as the bullet began to fire. And at the same time, Raven had cast a spell that had caused his gun to spin 180 degrees around. Had Killjoy had a thumb, it would have blocked such a move, but he didn't, and the gun had turned around and shot it's master instead.
Killjoy took another step back, dropping the gun. He put his hand to his chest, his fingers coming away wet with his own blood.
And then he looked at Raven again, as she pulled back her bullet-shot hood to cover her face as her rage at this monster exploded and she focused it all as she floated up, black energy engulfing her.
"You feel no emotions, Killjoy?" Raven snarled. "LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT FEAR TASTES LIKE!"
And she fired out a black telekinetic bolt that slammed into the assassin and carried him away, without a sound, a whimper rather then a bang, far out and away as he flew into the distance and fell into the storm-tossed oceans.
"Starfire! Oh thank god!" Robin said as he ran past Raven and hugged Starfire. She clung to him, weeping, awash in the fear of one who had stared death in the eye.
"Killjoy?" Cyborg said as he walked up next to Raven, supporting a limping Beast Boy.
"It's over. I got him." Raven said.
Prophecy failed.
"I suppose I can be wrong at times." Batman said on Robin's comlink. "Are you all alright?"
"Nothing that Raven can't fix." Robin said, a bit more curtly then he planned to. But he couldn't help it. After Batman had said there was no monster in the closet, it had come out anyway, and hungry. His mentor was only human, and not infallible, but the reality of that didn't change his anger any.
"What about a body?"
"We'll take a look but with that current I doubt we'll find it." Robin said. The undertone was clear to both of them.
"Well then, I'll let you go. And once again Tim, I apologize." Batman said, and then he was gone.
Tim put his communicator away and looked at his team. Raven had already healed the simple flesh wounds Beast Boy and Starfire had suffered. He walked over to where she was standing, looking out onto the ocean.
"You ok?"
"Yes. I feel…good." Raven said.
"Yes well, I believe Vic and Gar have something they want to say to you." Robin said, pointing. Raven turned to look at the sheepish-looking Beast Boy and Cyborg.
"If you do that dance Noel did, I'll hurt you worse then Killjoy ever did." Raven said, but she smiled slightly when she said it.
Robin walked over to Starfire, who was sitting, her knees drawn up to her chest.
"Hey, are you ok?"
"Yes. I am no longer injured and our foe has been vanquished, but…" Starfire said, and then went silent.
Robin knew why. Dealing with criminals was hard, with so much sickness and flaws amongst the human race. But insanity…rage…greed…hate…looked at in a certain light…all minor things…
But to do something for no other reason then doing it, for no reward other then getting it done…
That was true deviance.
Starfire was looking at him again, her eyes fearful.
"It WAS the boogeyman." She said.
In the end, Robin could only agree with her.
Next: Lover's Walk!