PART 3: MADE IN HEAVEN
Listen! What people do to other souls
They take their lives, destroy their goals
Their basic pride and dignity
They strip and tear and show no pity!
Chapter 14: Heaven for Everyone
"Are we there yet?" Changeling asked, irritably. Slade had taken a vehicle in the next city as he planned and so far it had held up. A half-tank of gas was enough to get them a few States, and when that gave up, Slade planned to find another vehicle and take it as far as it would go. Thus became the norm as they approached Rhode Island at a crawling pace. It had to have been ten hours since they started. "Are we?"
"We'll be there when we'll be there," Slade answered.
"I don't know why you're helping us Slade," Changeling continued, "But keep from being snarky while you're doing it."
Slade laughed cruelly, "'Snarky'? Is that even a word?"
"Does it matter?"
"No, I get your point," Slade said, with dangerous staccato. He kept his eye on the road. "How about you? Students of the Hive, what do you think of my plan now?"
"Do we gotta like it?" Harley asked. She seemed hopeful and ready to open her mouth to issue a long complaint that she, personally, believed would go down in history as a rant to end all rants.
"Yes."
She shut up.
"No offense, but there must be an easier way to get there," Scarecrow said, "A plane or a helicopter or something."
"The planes are in shambles," Slade answered, "And this has been the only way for me to get where I'm going since I arrived in the United States. We don't have much time. You'd be amazed how often people will leave the key in the ignition when you hear an earthquake coming out of nowhere."
"Right," Scarecrow retorted, incredulously. He didn't believe all that Slade was telling him. He knew that the continents had shifted in bizarre ways, but that the planes were destroyed, unbelievable.
"The sky demons prevent anything from taking off." Changeling paled when Slade said this. He feared the worst had happened to the residents of Brighton in their attempted evacuation. "Nothing flying will do. Earth Demons only come out where there's no civilization. That's why we're keeping to the cities. Every minute in the middle of nowhere is another minute where we could be attacked."
"Sounds lovely," The Scarecrow responded. "How much longer?"
"You'll know when we get there," Slade answered. He swore to whatever God remained that he would turn this car around if he heard that question one more time. Children, he was dealing with children!
"Where oh where did my little staff go?" Arsenal sang as he rifled through the stuff that Khashoggi had stashed away in his office. Every little knick-knack someone could ever find was in there. "It's like the 80s and 70s collided and created a whole new genre of junk!"
"That may be so," Tempest said, "But regardless, he certainly does show some degree of taste." He was looking through his record collection. "I never did understand why you surface dwellers stopped using the superior sound quality of vinyl. Your loss."
"It's a veritable museum!" Flash said, looking through, "Hey, guys! H.R. Puffinstuff! Isn't that just awesome? I mean, seriously, you cannot say that this junk wouldn't go for at least a billion on eBay! Ooh! My Little Pony!" he dropped the H.R. Puffinstuff poster and ran over to the collection of ponies and trolls.
Nightwing was looking through an antique section when he finally came across it. "This is it, guys!" he said, taking it out of its case. "The key to beating this thing. Now we just have to find Slade." He seemed a bit nauseous at saying that. "He's the only one who can actually do this."
"You're joking, right?" Troia asked, looking up from a Cabbage Patch Kids section from which she was looting quite liberally. "Slade?"
"I'm not kidding."
"What happened to you, anyway?" Flash asked. "You're acting all cryptic and oracle...y."
"I don't know," Nightwing answered, "But that's what I've been told. You see, the way all this adds up is that the Prophet is the only one who can stop this. The only one who can use this weapon." He sighed, "And the Prophet's dead. Slade was given this Staff to prevent it, but then Mad the Swine took it from him."
"What is this Mad?" Arsenal asked. "He said he was the Son of God. That's a blasphemy and a half right there."
"It's confusing, okay?" Nightwing said. "Just forget I tried to explain anything. We don't need to know about the details."
"Uh," Troia said, crossing her arms. "We kinda do. Especially if we're going to need Slade helping us. We want to know why. Isn't that right, boys?" There was a chorus of approval. Nightwing shook his head. "If we didn't question, we'd be no better than brainwashed."
"The way I figure it, it started back before time began."
Raven was tossed to the side by a horse-like demon and into the waiting claws of a lobster like monstrosity. Her hands began to emit energy as she arrived, moving to strike. Her fists came at shocking force and there was a crack as the shellfish creature felt its shell crack. Raven then took a stance, her hands crossed and glowing. With a thought, she blew away an entire circle of demons and left them helpless against a wall.
Cyborg fired his sonic blast as one of them passed him. The target was sent flying into another and it landed in a crevice above the ground. "Not bad, Raven. You've gotten better." He punched one of the more humanoid monsters with his sonic cannon, letting it go off as it connected with the skin. The beam went through and hit another.
"And you've learned a few new tricks," Raven said approvingly as she plowed through the near endless legion. "But let's not get cocky. There's still a lot to do."
"Understood!" Cyborg said. He rammed into one that was simultaneously swept up by the powers Raven possessed. The end result was a demon that was squashed between an irresistible force and an immovable object. "You think maybe we can't win?"
"Oh, probably," Raven answered nonchalantly. "Even in the unlikely event that we actually defeat every demon he has at his bidding, we can't even hope to touch him unless we get the Prophet on our side."
"Will that be hard?" Cyborg asked.
"He's dead."
"Oh," Cyborg looked a bit deflated. "But no worries, hm?"
"No worries," Raven answered in kind. Wave after wave came after her, but they found themselves to be no match for the control Raven had over her powers. "Lilith, are you doing okay?" A whole force was bowled over.
"No!" she said, cowering behind a rock. "I don't even know what to do?"
"Keep safe, for now," Raven answered. Eyes glowing white, she brought a hand over to the wall, chunks of it being torn out and thrown at the monsters beneath. A rockslide to slow them down. "Cyborg, you okay?"
"Just fine," Cyborg answered. "We should be a bit more careful shouldn't we?"
"Probably," Raven answered. "Lilith, when I give the signal, send a message to everyone in the area."
"How?" Lilith asked.
"Any way you can!" Raven yelled. A thought struck Lilith and she ran. "That's really helpful."
"What can you do?" Cyborg asked nonchalantly. He made a guttural sound as he tossed a demon away from him. "This is getting old!"
"We can't give up yet," Raven answered. She shot a concentrated blast through the air, tearing apart the force. "The world's counting on us."
"And you expect us to believe that you went to Limbo?" Arsenal asked, checking his arsenal. "I still find this story highly suspect. Are you sure you're really Robin?"
"I don't expect you to believe my story," Nightwing answered, "I just need to get this done. With or without you." The others just looked from one to the other.
"I think we can trust you," Flash said.
"We can't trust Slade," Arsenal answered. "He's a maniac."
"So is BC," Troia answered, "But BC's so big a maniac that we just may need another maniac to take him down. You can count on us, Nightwing."
"Right, Wingy!"
"Agreed!" Tempest said.
Arsenal seemed less trusting, but eventually threw his hat into the ring. "Well, let's do this."
Nightwing smiled. "Flash, can you run up ahead of us and see if you can find any clues on where Slade is?" he asked. The crimson streak nodded and blurred away. "Arsenal, Troia, you two keep a look out for him. Tempest? I think you're our best bet at distracting BC when the time comes. Do you think you can manage?"
"I can try," he responded. "I'm not sure how much effect my magic will have, though. Last time he just shrugged it off."
"There's no telling what will happen. We have to prepared," Nightwing answered. "We don't know what effect -- if any -- this staff will have. We just have to trust that there's a reason it exists."
"All right, Nightwing," Tempest said.
"Thanks," said Nightwing with a smile. "We've got the whole world on our shoulders, Tempest. I'm glad to have you all on my side."
Slade looked at a pocket transmitter as the Hive students located another vehicle to use. "This is getting tiresome," he said. There had been no reports on the Titans Hunt for a while. And with that in mind, he could only pace and wait for them to find a vehicle that would hopefully have enough gas to get them to Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
"What's that?" Changeling asked.
"A radio," Slade answered. "I've been able to locate you because of it. I hope that I can locate Robin with it too. BC had made this all too easy out of sheer vanity."
"Yeah," Changeling said. "I know he loves attention, but isn't he overcompensating for something?" He looked from side to side, "If you know what I mean."
"Teenagers think all adult problems are related to their groins, don't they?" Slade asked, calmly.
"Well, yeah, kinda," Changeling answered.
"Close, only a quarter aren't," Slade answered, "And this falls into that minority. It's more like he's catching up for years and years of being ignored. That may be our best option."
"Really?"
"Really," Slade answered. "You're good at not paying attention, I recall. You may be a great asset to our effort."
"Er, that's not very nice of you to say," Changeling said, "But why?"
"Because to beat him we're going to have to ignore him," he answered. "Have you found something?"
"Yes, no key in the ignition, but Livewire thinks she can hotwire it," Scarecrow answered.
"I'll get Haze," Changeling said.
"Do that," Deathstroke muttered. "I'm going to make sure this thing will work." He walked over to where the other Hive students were looking over a vehicle. It seemed to be in a working condition, but still it wasn't very likely they were going to get to Rhode Island in it. "Okay, let's take a look."
Leslie was working on hot-wiring it, while Harley was giving bad advice all the while. "No, cut the green wire, the green one. Which one's the gree -- oh! There's the green wire!"
"Harley, do you have any idea how to hot-wire a car?" she asked, looking over at her.
"No, but I watch a lot of movies!"
"Go help Changeling," Scarecrow said, rolling his eyes. "How's it coming?"
"It's not as easy as the movies make it."
"Let me," Slade said. Leslie moved aside and soon found the car started. "It's easier."
"Oh, sure, show the radio host up," Livewire muttered, "That's real gentlemanly, you know."
"Shut up," Slade said. Harley was running towards them.
"Flash! There's Flash!" she warned. The others began to panic. Slade, however, didn't even find cause for concern. "We gotta hide! If he sees us helping Changeling we're doomed! Doomed I say!"
"No, we're not," Slade said. "And I'll prove it to you." He ran over to where they saw the Flash fast approaching. He waved his hand and the Flash paused, coming to a screeching halt. "So, you're finally here, huh?" he asked.
"I've been looking everywhere for you!" Flash said. "Got news from Robin, but he's calling himself Nightwing now just a head's up, he needs your assistance in defeating BC."
"Obviously," Slade said. "What do we have to do?"
"Wait right here," Flash said. "I'm going to go get the others. I'll be back in about twenty minutes."
"And I just hotwired a car," Slade muttered.
"Sorry," Flash said. "But this way's faster!" He waved as he took off down the road. Slade just closed his eye and sat down, waiting for him to return.
It took some time, but finally, Nightwing -- the last of the Titans that Flash picked up -- finally arrived. He looked at the assembled team in front of him, three criminals, a mercenary genius, a Changeling who he knew he could trust, a sea magician, a wise-cracking archer, a pretty and sensible wonder girl, and The Fastest Man Alive.
If the odds were ever better, he didn't want to hear about it. "Well," he said, "Hello everyone."
"Hi," Harley responded.
"I guess we're all together at last. We've seen the end of the world and survived, and now we're going to restart the world. We've done things people never even imagined before," Nightwing told them, "I know we can win. Now that we have this." He revealed the staff, letting everyone examine it.
"The staff that the prophet owned," Slade said. "Where did you find it?"
"Khashoggi had hidden it among his useless junk," Nightwing answered.
"So," Scarecrow said, "This is the answer to all our problems?"
"No," Nightwing answered. "We still need a plan of attack to get in there without him destroying the staff -- or us -- first. I've been trying to think of one, but I just can't figure one out."
"Ah," Scarecrow had a smirk underneath that pumpkin head, "That's where we come in, I think. Khashoggi had already instrumented a plan of attack. We were to bring in the Changeling as a prisoner and then when he didn't expect it use some of my fear toxin to leave us with the advantage."
"Not a bad plan," Slade said, "But risky. If anyone else is affected by that toxin, there's no telling what problems and complications could arise."
"Couldn't just one of them bring Changeling in?" Arsenal asked.
"Definitely could work," Scarecrow said. "These two are likely enough to have been beaten off by Changeling or myself, conceivably, if I didn't wish to share the bounty. But we've been out of contact for a while. How will that be explained?"
"There haven't been any new updates to the Titans Hunt, and they're showing best-of reels on the television sets," Slade answered, "Something's wrong in the Tower, and I suspect Lilith has a hand in it."
"Lilith is okay?" Changeling asked, his interest piqued. "That's great news!"
"For now," Slade responded.
Tempest raised his hand, "What guarantee do we have that BC will inhale this gas?"
"None," Scarecrow answered, "However, Khashoggi feels that anything is better than nothing, and I agree." The others muttered amongst themselves for sometime until Troia spoke up.
"Maybe we should have a contingency plan in case this fails," she said.
"I think we should," Nightwing said. "Do you have any other tricks that may be able to distract him, Scarecrow?"
"None so much," he said.
"But I do!" Harley said, "I got distractions up the wazoo. No, really, I just have to have a private pla--"
"--shut up--" Scarecrow and Livewire yelled.
"Okay, okay! Don't have to be so touchy. What crawled up your butts and died?" This caused the entire group to fall quiet out of discomfort. "Maybe I could have a fear toxin bomb Icky could make me and I go in instead of him."
"I think that could be arranged," Scarecrow answered.
"So, we got that plan," Flash said, "Then what?"
"Then we get him," Nightwing said. "This staff is the only thing that can set it right and only one person can use it." He looked at Slade and with an angry look handed it to him. "You, Slade.
"Me?" Slade said. "Is that why I was given this thing?" He took it, looking it over. "I have no idea what to do with it."
"You should," Nightwing said, his voice nearly catching in his throat. Slade just looked at him.
"You look stronger," Slade said. "That's good. Good to see you've improved. After all this is over, you are mine, you realize." Nightwing nearly choked, but, almost as if he predicted that blow, Nightwing only nodded wordlessly.
"What?" Changeling asked, "What do you mean?"
"In exchange for his aid," Nightwing said, "I'll become his apprentice -- willingly."
"You lying snake!" Changeling said, pointing an accusing finger. "I oughtta --"
"What?" Slade said, "Kill me?" Changeling growled angrily at Slade, who merely looked at him, a smirk playing beneath that mask. Troia put a hand on Changeling's shoulder to comfort him, but it did little to settle his anger.
"Hello, anyone? Can anyone hear me?" the transmitter in Slade's satchel suddenly said, as it sparked to life, "I need help, immediately. Nightwing, Changeling, anyone! It's sheer calamity in here, and, oh my God! Hurry!"
"Lilith!" Changeling said. "She's okay."
"Not for long by the sound of it," Nightwing said. "I just wish we could get there faster."
The Justice League had been dealing with these demons for a long time, their endless number preventing them from getting out of the tower at all. The Batman had vanished for a while, but the rest had been fighting for at least an hour straight. "It's hopeless," Green Lantern said, "Every time we get rid of 'em more just keep appearing."
Hawkgirl tore through a bunch, "Then just keep beating them. Maybe they'll get a clue."
"It's almost frightening," Wonder Woman murmured, pensively. She punched one between its frog-like eyes, "I can't believe this world can hold such otherworldly things."
"Seems more up Dr. Fate's department? I have a feeling he's dealing with his own demons," Hawkgirl said. "Can't help wondering how this all slipped under his notice."
"Unless he's not supposed to interfere," Superman said. A wave of demons were forced back behind them. While Superman battered away at the demons who swarmed him, little toad-like creatures, Raven emerged behind him. With a wave more were incapacitated.
"I was wondering where you had vanished to. I have sent a signal in hopes of receiving some help."
"That's good news," the Green Lantern said.
"Mr. J'Onzz," Raven said, "See if you can pick up the thoughts of a Richard Grayson, also known as Robin." The Martian looked at her, perplexed. "Just, trust me on this."
"All right, Raven," J'onn said. "However, there is no guarantee that I can reach him at this distance." He seemed to concentrate. The demons took this as a chance to strike, but a green shield and a black shield emerged around him.
"Nice timing, little lady," Green Lantern said.
"It's what I do," Raven answered.
"What happened to you?" Superman asked, "Before you freed us you were, er, not looking to be in too good of a shape."
"I was incomplete," Raven answered, "But now I'm better."
"I have something. They are in Maryland," J'Onn said. "He is looking for a way to help Lilith. However there is no faster way to get here."
"I know a way," Raven said. "Everyone, be careful. I'll be back soon enough." Shadows emerged from her cloak and, in the form of a giant bird, she was sucked up in it and vanished into the floor.
"I didn't know she could do that," J'Onn remarked. "Her powers have apparently improved as part of this completion. I remember her coming before us with warnings about her father."
"There was little we could do," Batman said, appearing from the shadows, "You said it herself, there was a great evil in her."
"That may be so," J'Onn said, "But it is no longer the case. She is pure, now."
"It seems," BC's smiling face said as it showed up on the screen. The beautiful damsel in distress moaned quietly as a sharp catlike claw moved at her throat, "That my enemies have finally come together into one place. All I can say is it took you long enough! I've been waiting for this moment for so long that I can't believe it's here. I may not be able to believe it enough to save this poor girl's life. So hurry along!"
The screens around town shot to life and repeated this message, the Titans and the Hive looked around, shocked by the sudden change of mood. "So much for our plan," Scarecrow said, "He knows where we are."
"There must be television cameras hidden everywhere," Livewire answered. She looked around, "But I don't see any."
"Never mind that now," Scarecrow yelled. "What do we do?"
"We move," Nightwing said. "We can't waste a second. An innocent life is on the line."
"So, is this how they react?" Harley asked, "It's funny."
"Shut up!" Changeling said, "Lilith's in trouble!" They began to squabble, and among the bickering, Slade's ears picked up the sound of silence. There was a sweeping sound as a black raven emerged form the ground, and from the dark image a figure of pure white light stood, appearing before the group like a silent angel born of Hell.
"Wait!" Slade said. "You. You're Raven. And you're still alive?"
"I am more alive than ever," she murmured. "Robin -- Nightwing -- Changeling, my friends, I need your help." She looked at the assembled mass that stared at her coldly. Nightwing moved towards her first. His eyes hidden behind his mask, but his mouth bore a distinguishing snarl. The very sight of her caused vile to rise in his throat.
"How dare you?" he said. He stood in front of her, and she saw beyond the mask to his eyes, glowing with a sort of rage. Every single bit of hatred that he held back since the day she corrupted him with a simple kiss, every little ounce of rage that he harbored behind smiles began to surge forth as he stood before her. Raven was certain that he would strike her. "How dare you ask me to help you after all you did. I should kill you." He didn't move.
"Maybe you should," she said, her voice betraying the careful facade of her calm face, "But would you be able to live with yourself if you did?"
"No," he said. "I can't help you."
"Quiet, boy," Slade said, moving towards Raven, "Why do you need our assistance?"
"I need your help to destroy BC, I need the Prophet's Song," she said. Slade looked at the staff, and put it on his back, "You have it, then?"
"Yes," Slade answered. "Let's go." He eyed Nightwing, "Even you. This is the prelude to the final battle."
"I'm not your apprentice yet," Nightwing answered, angrily.
"You've been holding back a lot of anger," Slade responded, "Good. We can use this." That omnipresent smirk was playing in the glimmer of his eye. The old man, confidently, led the others towards Raven. "Take us to the battle."
"Thank you," she whispered. Nightwing was the last to take his place among the group, after receiving pleading looks from Troia. Raven frowned, regret evident on her lips.
Slade's voice took an uncharacteristic tone as he whispered, "Don't cry. Heroes don't cry."
She wouldn't cry. The soul image carried the team away, far away, to the Tower.
They arrived not a minute too soon. The heroes were becoming overwhelmed with the demonic beasts that bore down upon them. They began to feel fatigue. Even the robotic Cyborg felt it wearing on his power cells. "This is nuts," he said, forcing back another swarm with a fatigued swat. The sight of Raven's white cloak brought a bit of relief to the robot.
"What a mess," Scarecrow said. He let a wave of fear toxins waft onto the demons. Much to everyone's surprise, the demons began to panic and attack one another, as if they were seeing angelic hosts descending with swords cleft high. Their movements the desperate, final attack of a wounded animal. "That was most satisfying. It's been too long since I ruled over men with the power of fear!"
Nightwing leapt out and with a swift movement, he brought out his staff, turning them into twin blades. They cut through demon and demon, one by one, and leaving them wounded on the ground, what passed as blood leaking from them. Nightwing didn't flinch. Changeling, however, was not having as easy a time of matters. He just jumped over the blood.
"What is this stuff?"
"Don't worry about it," Raven muttered.
Cyborg looked over at the rest of the group, joining them as fast as he could. "Just in the nick of time."
"Good to see you're still in one piece," Nightwing said with a smirk.
"Yo, man! You're looking great for a dead guy!" Cyborg said with a smile. "Where you been at?"
"Hell and back," Nightwing answered. The Titans were reunited again, and they seemed to gain some strength from this. The demons were mown down swiftly. Arrows flew and torrents rose, and the flash of red joined the Justice League in their battle. But Slade was nowhere in sight, and neither was BC. "Where are they?"
"I am wondering that myself," Raven murmured. She waved her hand and the demons were thrown to the wall, clearing the floor for the heroes to reform. They looked around, each quiet except for questions of "Have you seen him?" or other harsh whispers fearing the appearance of the Black Cat.
"Are you looking for me?" said a large smile that hovered in the air.
"You!" Raven yelled. She took her hands and wrapped them in a dark aura. Their waves fired pulsing forward through towards his disembodied grin. And with the snicker-snack of a monstrous vorpal blade, the attack phased right through the twisted smile and it leered at her, taunting her.
"All your best attacks just fall right through me!" Black Cat laughed with his twisted Jaberwock smile. "All your hopes, all your dreams, all your precious planning they're mine to take as I please and twist and shape and change! Realize you are nothing! Your existence is tantamount to mine! You're on my show, I'm the star, you're just Tito!"
"You just didn't!" Cyborg said, firing his blast. "You jerk!"
His form surfaced as the attack passed through, his massive claws tearing the stone, and his eyes glowing with vicious anger. "Now that my ultimate foe has arrived, it's time for me to step in the ring." His glance shifted to Nightwing. "Finally." He threw the heroes to the wall with his own dark aura, twisting mockery of Raven's power, and force them to the floor.
"Why me?"
"You think I haven't noticed how fate just twists your way?" BC demanded. "You're the final obstacle. If I defeat you, there'll be nothing more to stand before me and total conquest. I will be forever, and your children and your children's children will worship me!"
"Never," Nightwing said. He reformed the staff, swung it around, and threw waved his hand. "I'll play your game."
"I knew you would!"
They threw their attacks at each other, attacks bouncing off the Black Cat as if he had at once become a lion of Namaea and only by strangling it could he hope to win. But the Herculean feat just ignored itself as the claws came down and slashed the chest. Blood began to flow, and Nightwing's eyes narrowed. "First blood?" he asked, disarmingly.
"First blood," BC responded, grin on his face.
Their second exchange turned with blade and claw, the weapon becoming twin sabers in his hand and they moved from side to side, Nightwing playing the expert fencer, lunging from parry and blocking and weaving. There were waves of dark energy pulsing from his footstep, and Nightwing took to the sky, leaping high into the air with the muscles trained from years of walking a tightrope, both with and without a mask.
The birdarangs hit BC with careful precision, and with each precision of hope there was dashed hope. They merely bounced off.
"Oh, boo hoo," BC laughed.
They pulsing waves grew into a tidal wave. And Nightwing's leaps could barely support him over the waves of darkness that came flowing towards him. BC's form began to grow, hundred fold stronger and more vicious, the roof seemed to come closer to his catlike brow. It loomed over his prey, his giant claws striking down. And Nightwing saw his opportunity. He ran up the claw and on the strange arm towards the eye. And with his staff he stabbed at the eye.
And BC howled in pain. Nightwing was thrown from the shoulder of the beast, landing on the floor with a horrible crack. The dark aura fell from their companions, and they moved to attack. Like a scene from Gulliver's Travels, these mighty warriors assaulted the giant with what could have merely been string, barely enough to ensnare a monster.
Lilith was laying against him as the strange struggle passed on. His dark expression glowered at the futility, and he looked at the staff in his hand. He looked at its carved surface and all its mysteries. But there just wasn't a solution. "Rest," he said, and he lay Lilith down on the floor. "I may be some time." She looked up, and with a strange smile she said to him.
"That's what they always say," she murmured weakly, the blood having dried. "But that's not a real answer."
"It doesn't matter," he responded. "This staff contains the riddle of the Sphinx. It's everything that we've been seeking from the moment that we came to this planet. There's a God in Heaven, and a Devil in Hell, but no man strives for either," he looked quiet as he moved to the rail around the balcony. "But that's not important now. I have been the Devil, and I've been an Angel."
He closed his eye.
"The way I've seen it, there's only one option left." And he said, once more, "I may be some time."
Slade appeared almost like a devil, shifting shadows into reality, and leaping out of them. The term those who had been watching him as he climbed up to BC's face, moving his hand with powerful movements to ready the staff, was like a bat out of Hell. He knew now what had to do, and with that staff raised up high he struck at BC. The staff cracked, the maw of the Black Cat howled in pain.
And the body of the Black Cat began to crack like the staff, lines running through the body like seismic turns. "This is impossible!" the beast seemed to howl, "I am invincible! I can't be defeated like this!"
Slade grasped hold of BC's body, trying to steady himself. The earthquakes began as BC's body crumbled to dust. Around the world, the sound of destruction could be heard like a distant sound of thunder. And the Titans, the Justice League, and all their allies, turned to run, except one, who stared as the form of BC disappeared into dust, and the evil man who struck the Heavenly stroke did not appear.
"Nightwing!" Donna called, "Hurry!"
"Help!" another voice called. There was a sound of coughing as the dust from the tower began to catch up with her. "Somebody! I, I can't find a way down!"
Changeling's head reared, "Lilith!" He took to the air in the form of a pterodactyl, and flew to where he heard her voice. He landed and unfurled his wings, transforming back into the form of a young boy. He took her in his arms, and she hugged back tight, refusing to let go. The ceiling began to cave in as the tower's hold on the moon slipped and it toppled into the ocean, sending a tidal wave that washed away the filth from the land. And yet, in what many would call a miracle, not a single soul was drowned.
But the Earth crumbled and shook, and the Titans couldn't hold off any longer. Donna grabbed Nightwing and forced him to his feet, "What are you doing?" she demanded to know, looking him straight in the eye. From behind the mask, at this distance, he could see her look back.
"He's gone," Nightwing answered.
"And we've got to go!" Donna yelled.
"No," Nightwing repeated, "Slade's gone." Donna glanced at the pile of dust that faded into the wind that had once been BC.
"We can't worry about him, then," Troia responded. The Changeling and the psychic Lilith appeared from the rafters. "Help me carry him, Changeling."
Changeling beamed with pride that someone remembered his new alias and grinned, "Okay, I can do that – Robin?" he paused. "What's wrong?"
"He's in shock," Troia muttered, "Or, at least, I think he is." A cold hand wrapped around Troia's shoulder. She turned to see who it was, and saw the white flash of a long flowing robe. It was a simple dress underneath, only flowing in white, simple and beautiful. Raven.
"I will take him."
"No!" Nightwing suddenly roared to life. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you now?" He turned, eying Raven. Raven was unperturbed, and answered slowly, carefully, knowing exactly the reason why.
"You could. If you think it would bring Starfire back."
Pieces of the ceiling landed between Raven and Nightwing. Troia was urged to leave by Arsenal, and Changeling backed up. The two just stared at one another. The sounds of the tower falling apart didn't seem to perturb them. Raven only generated a card from her person and threw it at Nightwing, who caught it. It caught his eye and he looked at the face side.
"The Tower," she answered. "The Card represents a separation of great distance. I don't predict the future, Nightwing, and I can't change the past, but I think it fitting that you understand what we are all going through right now. Heavy-handed symbolism? Maybe." She closed her eyes, "We've all grown up, except for her. She'll remain young forever in our minds. And that's what will hurt most. I'll leave you here to die, but if you just trust me for an instant, we could both survive."
"Just one last time," Nightwing said.
"One last time."
He took her hand, and they were enveloped by the shadow of a raven as the ceiling finally collapsed and the building imploded inward, leaving nothing but a swirling cloud of dust that the new day's winds would blow away like a distant memory.
The Justice League was the first to part ways. Flash gave a small little wave as he ran off after his companions. Batman, in his way, shot an approving glance towards Nightwing before fading away into the night. The natural stars shone bright over the Titans. Things were for the moment back to normal. The hundreds of thousands of televisions that BC had installed seemed to regain their lost connections and show nothing but the "Technical Difficulty" and test patterns that a station not in work would show.
Raven left second, followed by Cyborg. He didn't know why he was following her, but he knew she would lead him home.
The Hive was after them. They went their separate ways. Khashoggi at front, leading them in a goose-step march towards their home.
Changeling, however, grabbed Nightwing's hand and tugged it slightly, trying to illicit some kind of actual response. Nightwing glanced at him, vaguely, still looking too shocked to speak. Still seeming too distant to care.
"We won," Changeling said. "We saved the world from ending!"
"Yeah, you did," Nightwing said in his way. He was the next to leave. But Arsenal grabbed him and dragged him over. "What?"
"Okay, I heard that attempt at subtlety," Arsenal said.
"So did I."
"Yes, yes, so did Tempest. But I think what everyone's thinking is how a guy who's probably the closest we'll ever get to an actual, honest to goodness Hero with a Capital H, thinks that somehow he didn't save the world. You're our leader," Arsenal said. "As much as I dislike the thought of following you."
"Be nice, Roy."
"Sorry honey," Arsenal said, sugary-sweet, "But anyway, you saved the world just as much as Changeling did. Probably more so."
"Hey!"
"Why do you think you're not part of the team?" Arsenal answered.
"I killed Starfire," Nightwing said. "And that's enough damage for a hundred lifetimes."
"That wasn't you!" Changeling said. "That was Trigon or something."
"Changeling's right," Lilith said. "Raven was used too. You both shouldn't be beating yourself up so much."
Nightwing was silent. He shook his head and continued walking. "At least," Changeling said, "Come back to Jump City. We've got to rebuild, and it wouldn't be right to rebuild the Tower without you, Robin."
"It's Nightwing now," Nightwing answered. He vanished with that dramatic statement, and the remaining heroes just sighed and shrugged.
"So, what do we do now?" Changeling asked. Lilith rolled his eyes, and Arsenal chuckled a bit while Donna stood forward and said.
"We keep following him until we wear him down, of course! Let's go people, hup-two!"
"My fellow Americans," the President said, "We have been under siege this past week by forces of evil that go far beyond any force we have ever seen. Never before has our land faced such destruction on such a wide scale. But we will rebuild. In a testament to American spirit, we will stand taller, stronger than ever before. And with the help of the Justice League, we will help the rest of the world recover, from our allies in Europe, to the Middle East and to Asia, no one will be denied our assistance."
The same could be said around the world, as their leaders, their Kings and Queens and their dictators each said the same thing, shook so to the soul that no man would dare speak ill of another for many a year.
"At least some good came of this," Raven muttered. The Titans Tower was in shambles. "We'll rebuild too," she said. "Won't we, Cyborg?"
"Yeah, Raven, we will," he said. "And it'll be better than before! The Tower'll be state of the art, no more gate-crashers. And the city, we could put up a security system in every building, and then, yeah, this could really work! It'll be better than before."
"Yes," Raven said, "Everything will be for the better in the end."
"Rave," he said, "Look, Robin's gone through a lot. He doesn't mean what he says."
"He hates me," Raven said, "Like everyone should. I was responsible for this. If I had been stronger, I would not have fallen to BC's deceptions. I wouldn't have fallen to my Father's influence."
"Ifs don't mean a thing, Dark Girl," he said. "Guess I really can't call you that anymore. Guess we can't even really call ourselves the Teen Titans, either."
"We'll think of something."
"You think," Cyborg asked, "That this really could be a Heaven for everyone?"
"I don't see why not? If we take it one step at a time," Raven answered. "And the first step is ours."
The night had passed.
Nightwing removed his mask and threw his tights to the floor, looking at them with such disdain as to burn a hole right into them. He got changed into normal civilian clothes and set himself a makeshift sling for his arm, and walked out, the costume hidden in a bag he had purchased. Already, it seemed, they'd recovered. There was evidence of an earthquake and a flash flood in the area, but the recovery was swift. He thanked them swiftly, "Graci," and walked out of the building into a street filled with people scrambling to repair their world.
And he saw a familiar company logo, and a familiar business suit.
"Bruce!" Dick yelled as he ran up. "What are you doing here?"
"Dick! I should ask you that," he said. "What brings you all the way to Florence?"
"A wing and a prayer," he answered, smiling. "Think we could talk someplace private?" The look the two exchanged was darker. And they walked off to a small room aside for them. "I need to go far away."
"Dick –" Bruce's dark voice said. "Why?"
"I need to get away from everything. From the Titans, even you. Just for a little while." Dick didn't want to say anymore, but Bruce's eyes pierced right through the half-truths and deception, and he said angrily.
"I won't help you run away from your problems."
"What?" Dick asked.
"It won't help you, and it won't help them."
Dick paused, and then said, "You may be right, but—"
"No buts, Dick," Bruce said. "I think you should go back and face those problems of yours."
"I almost killed you, Bruce! And I killed Starfire, and sixty-five other people! And I saw them, saw them while I was hanging between life and death," Dick said. "And Raven, she, she killed more."
"You didn't kill them, Dick," Bruce said. "I hope you can understand that in time."
"Bruce."
"I won't help you do that, but I will help you get back to Gotham, or Jump, or wherever you want to go so you can start facing the demons of this tragedy." Dick grimaced. "Trust me." The way he said that, the way he looked at him. "Remember that, uh, Holiday movie you forced me to watch?"
"It's a Wonderful Life?"
"Yes," Bruce said, "That one."
"What about it?"
"Don't wish you hadn't existed," Bruce said.
Dick didn't say anything, but hugged Bruce, much to the man's surprise. But as the surprise faded, Bruce returned the embrace, awkwardly, unsure of himself. He could feel Dick's body shake and tremble.
It was a start.
It's a beautiful day
The sun is shining
I feel good
And nothing's gonna stop me now
A helicopter descended in front of Troia and her small troop. "What?" The air was pushed back as its descended and she felt its cool breeze push her back. "Who's there?"
"Wingy?" Arsenal asked, looking at the dark form that approached the daylight. "Is that you?"
The others moved to the helicopter and he helped each of them on. He smiled, the first real smile since he had appeared with that mask on, and said, "Yeah, it's me. C'mon, we've got a city to help."
"We're going home?" Changeling asked.
"We're going home."
x
x
x
But still I fear...
And still I dare...
end chapter 14