Chapter 13: Sacrificial Love
Mammoth, as opposed to his teammates, loved night patrols. He could hide in the shadows, making him a bit more omniscient of what was going on around him without being seen. Occasionally, when time permitted, Mammoth made a trip to the cemetery and sat at the foot of little Toby Logan's grave. It had been fully a year since this little one was ripped from his life, and part of his heart had not quite yet healed, if it ever would. Sometimes he would talk to Toby; tell him things going on with the team, or tell him fun things his twin sister Olivia was learning in school. This talk seemed to make Mammoth feel a bit better, and he was able to finish his rounds a little more at peace.
Tonight though, as he knelt to the ground, something wasn't right. Something smelled different. Graveyard's don't change like that—something was wrong. Mammoth lifted his head and sniffed the air. The wind blew a stiff gust across the low-lying gravestones and howled softly. Mammoth pulled a scanner out of his belt and monitored the area. He gasped in shock, but his reaction was short-lived. Seconds later, a heavy metal object was swung through the air and Mammoth hit the ground, unconscious.
When Mammoth's eyes opened, his vision was a little fuzzy, but he knew he wasn't anyplace familiar. When his sight focused, he could see machinery and supercomputers covering the walls of a giant laboratory. Mammoth himself was strapped to a large metal slab in the center of the room. As he turned his head this way and that, he noted also that there was another metal slab beside him but the lights were down on that side and Mammoth couldn't see what was there.
"You've awakened!" cried a voice. Mammoth struggled as he heard footsteps approaching and then entering the room. "You probably don't remember me…I was an adversary of the Titans long before you were a member of their team…however you and your friends—Jinx and Gizmo if I remember correctly—did a job for me once. You recall it don't you?"
"Who are you?" roared Mammoth.
"Now, now," replied the villain known as Genesis. "With a tone like that you'll wake the dead."
"What do you want?" Mammoth growled, forcing himself to lower his voice. "What have you done?"
"Need you ask such silly questions? I have spent the better part of my life trying to perfect my powers of animation. By this I don't mean cartoons, but the animation of life. I believe I have finally found a way, but I need your help," Genesis replied.
"This is unethical—illegal!" shouted Mammoth.
"Shut your bear trap, you monster!" Genesis shouted. "I have found a way to safely reanimate the dead!" Mammoth lost the ability to speak. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. Genesis smiled wickedly as he pressed a button on the control panel and turned up the lights on the platform beside him. Mammoth looked frantically from Genesis to the body lying beside him.
"With my powers, I can transfer life force between living things! Mammoth, you have the life force of ten men! You cannot tell me that you cannot give what it takes to bring an innocent child back from the hands of death!" Genesis cried.
"But the chemical breakdown…the cellular degeneration…all of the neurons in the brain that will have been lost…" Mammoth mused out loud.
"Wrong again!" Genesis interrupted. "Contrary to popular belief, I have held this child in preservative cryogenic suspension since the day he was buried."
"That's impossible! I would have known! I would have been able to smell…"
"Smell a difference?" Genesis interrupted again. Mammoth was beginning to get irritated. "Simply clever work on my part. The grave itself was never touched. I merely teleported the body right out of his precious little white coffin." Mammoth clenched his fists and growled. This wasn't right. It couldn't possibly be true. No one could bring the dead back to life. It was against every ethical and scientific law there was. Mammoth was torn between conflicting emotions. On one hand, he wanted to rip free and take Genesis down once and for all. He wanted to make sure that this child was returned to his grave to rest. But on the other hand, if it was true—how could he resist? The child lying beside him was Toby Gar Logan.
"Look inside you, Mammoth," Genesis said gently. "You helped his mother bring him into this world. How can you pass up the chance to deliver him safely back into her arms, cured of the fever that took him from her?" Mammoth felt his heart flip-flop in his chest. He looked back at the mad villain, looked him in the eyes and said, "If you fail—if you're lying to me—I will escape from this thing and tear you limb from limb. Literally."
The villain nodded gravely and Mammoth watched as he pressed several more buttons, typed at a keyboard, slid a few levers and then assumed his position on a raised platform above them. Mammoth flinched as the machine whirred to life and electric charges shorted across the towering receptors, creating bright blue arcs of energy. Genesis jammed his hands into two glove-like spaces parallel to his platform and the monstrosity of metal and wires powered up. Genesis squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth under the strain of channeling his powers into the contraption.
Mammoth screamed as the machine literally drained his life force a drop at a time. Genesis focused the energy flowing through him down to the child below. He commanded Toby's bones, organs and muscles to grow and mature, he commanded the information programmed into the computer interface to implant the knowledge that a five year old should have and finally he uttered the word that would—if everything continued to go correctly—finish the process and bring about the greatest medical miracle in human evolutionary history:
"…LIVE!"
The power transformers that supplied the laboratory finally tripped the circuit breakers and the power went out. Mammoth lost consciousness, Genesis passed out, and everything went black.
"Where is Mammoth? He does not usually take so long for his patrols!" cried Starfire.
"I don't know, Star. He's never been this late before," Robin replied.
"Want us to go look for him?" asked Speedy, entering the room with Torque.
"Yeah, I've been itchin' for a little more action," replied Torque, raising her eyebrows hopefully.
"No. Let him go. Mammoth can handle himself," Robin said, readjusting his hold on Jason. Beast Boy was sitting on the couch with the rest of the Titans around him as he played his guitar. The kids were drifting off to sleep, and Jason was no exception. Robin smiled and rubbed Jason's back a little as Starfire wrapped her hands around his waist. Robin in turn wrapped his free arm around her and kissed her temple. For the time being, the Titans' world was at peace.
Mammoth moaned and rolled over onto one side. When the power went out, his restraints had been disabled and he found himself sliding off the slab onto the floor. There was a whimpering and sniffling sound in the room, but Mammoth couldn't track it.
"Toby?" Mammoth called. The whimpering stopped.
"Who's there?" came a very small, nearly inaudible whisper.
"It's okay, Toby, I'm here…I'm a friend…" Mammoth replied. The lights suddenly came back on, blinding them for a minute, but when Mammoth's eyes adjusted, he saw the shaking, terrified, nude form of Toby before him, very much alive. Mammoth's heart skipped a beat. They had done it.
"Genesis!" Mammoth called. "Genesis! You've done it!" Genesis looked down from the raised platform with tears in his eyes. Mammoth looked over and saw that when the machinery short-circuited, Genesis' hands had been badly burned. Several pieces of large equipment had fallen from the ceiling and trapped him there, and Mammoth knew from the amount of blood already present that Genesis didn't have much hope.
"Genesis…" Mammoth called.
"Go, Mammoth…" Genesis managed. "I've cleared my conscience…take him home…"
"But, what about you?" Mammoth asked. Genesis smiled.
"My life's work…is in him…I'm through…" Genesis replied, his voice becoming strained. More of the ceiling mounted circuitry popped and exploded and Toby screamed. Mammoth covered him until the sparks had fallen and then looked back up at Genesis. He was dead. Mammoth looked down at his little charge. Toby's hair had grown a bit darker blue but his eyes were still the same shimmering dark green of his father.
"It really is you…" Mammoth murmured. Toby bit his bottom lip and trembled.
"Where's my mamma?" he whimpered softly. Mammoth looked around the room for a moment. He spotted a large, heavy towel on a shelf and wrapped Toby in it.
"Don't you worry," Mammoth said as he gently picked Toby up. "We're going to your mamma right now."
Mammoth clutched Toby tightly as he ran and jumped rooftop to rooftop, hurrying toward the massive T shaped building in the near distance. When he reached Titans Tower, Mammoth paused to catch his breath. With his free hand, he leaned against the wall of the Tower and Toby opened his eyes.
"You're weak…" Toby murmured. He reached a little hand out of the wrapping and touched Mammoth's face. In seconds, Mammoth felt a rush of renewing energy. He looked at Toby in surprise.
"Did you do that?" he asked. Toby nodded. Mammoth was speechless except for two words, "Thank you." Mammoth spoke his password into the receiver and the front door of Titans Tower slid open. Upstairs, Cyborg noticed.
"Mammoth's back," Cyborg said as Robin looked at him.
"See, Star? I told you it would be okay," Robin said, easing Jason out of his arms and giving him to Starfire. Star in turn joined the other girls in the procession to put the children to bed. Beast Boy yawned and followed his family so that he could put away his guitar, leaving Robin, Speedy, Cyborg, Aqualad and Terra in the living room.
The others heard Mammoth's steps trudging up the stairs and it drew their attention. Mammoth walked in the door and five present Titans shared a collective gasp as their hulking friend dropped to his knees. He looked at them with eyes that at the same time looked overwhelmed and exhausted.
"Where are Beast Boy and Raven?" Mammoth asked.
"What's going on? Mammoth, what is that?" Robin asked.
"Get Beast Boy and Raven! Hurry!" Mammoth cried, his voice gaining an edge of urgency.
"Mammoth, what happened?" Terra cried. Mammoth struggled to his feet and took a few steps closer. His fellow Titans took a collective step back in shared fear and then stopped when Mammoth grimaced and slid to his knees again.
"I'll ask you again—what's going on?" Robin growled. Then the mysterious bundle spoke for itself.
"Uncle Robin?" came a small, muffled voice. Robin's jaw dropped. The others froze. Robin took a few timid steps forward and then pulled back the blanket. He came face to face with eyes that had not seen for over a year and he stumbled backwards, landing hard on the floor.
"Robin!" cried Speedy, kneeling behind him. Robin was shaking.
"It's not possible…" Robin muttered. Terra hadn't moved since the little voice made itself known. Aqualad looked at her with concern.
"Terra? Terra, what's wrong?" Aqualad cried. "Say something!"
"It can't be…" Terra whispered hoarsely, tears gathering in her bright blue eyes. Mammoth's expression was pleading.
"Where are Beast Boy and Raven? Please…He's been asking for them…" Mammoth begged.
"Did I hear Mammoth? When did he get home?" Beast Boy remarked as he and Raven returned with Torque and Jinx in tow. Raven stopped on the steps. Beast Boy winced as she clutched his arm. Then he looked at Mammoth.
"No…" Beast Boy whispered.
"Stop it!" Raven shouted. "Whatever manner of black magic this is, stop it!"
"How dare you…" Beast Boy growled.
"Please…" Mammoth pleaded. "It's not a trick…it's a long story but it's true…please…he's asking for you!" Raven collapsed to the floor, sobs wracking her body. Beast Boy stumbled a few steps closer and the child turned his head toward the sound.
"Daddy?"
Beast Boy released a sob. He was on his knees and crept forward until he was face to face with Mammoth.
"This isn't possible," Beast Boy growled, looking into Mammoth's eyes. "What sort of trickery is this?"
"I'd be happy to relay the whole story, but right now your son needs you. If it wasn't Toby, would he recognize your voice?" Mammoth replied. Beast Boy couldn't control the tears pouring from his eyes. He lifted his head and shook with emotion as he spoke.
"Toby?"
"Daddy!" the voice cried, squirming out of Mammoth's arms and into the waiting arms of his father. Beast Boy sobbed as he clutched the child close, feeling the warmth of his skin, hearing his heart beat and the breath in his lungs. It was all real.
"My son…Toby…my boy…Oh God, Raven, look! Toby!" Beast Boy wept. Raven wouldn't come out from beneath her cloak. She was sobbing so hard she was shaking violently. Even with Torque's and Jinx's arms around her she couldn't stop shaking. She couldn't—wouldn't believe that such a thing was possible. Who would be so cruel as to inspire such a hope? Wasn't it torment enough to lose him in the first place? How long could this doppelganger last? A day? A week? Was he a clone that would contract some congenital disease and die again, leaving his family to mourn his passing for a second time?
"Raven! Come, please!" Beast Boy begged. "If you don't believe it, call for him! Call to your son, Raven! It's him! It's really Toby!"
"I can't!" Raven screeched. "I can't!" The lights in Titans Tower flickered for several seconds.
"Calm down!" Robin ordered in fear. "You'll short out the whole Tower!"
"Raven…" Beast Boy whimpered. "Call him! Mammoth's right…he wouldn't recognize us if it wasn't him…"
"Where's Mamma?" Toby murmured to his father. "I hear her crying. Is she hurt, Daddy?" Raven's gaze snapped up in the direction of the voice. Raven wept again but finally mustered the courage to speak.
"Toby?" she managed. "Baby? Toby…is that you?"
The bundle that Beast Boy pressed to his chest struggled to roll over and look at her.
"Mamma! Mamma, hold me!" Toby cried, reaching a hand toward her.
Half a second later, Raven pulled her son out of his father's arms and into her own. She sobbed again as she realized the tremendous gravity of what she held in her embrace: the embodiment of her wildest fantasy.
"Mommy? What's going on? The lights were all flickery!" said Olivia, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she wandered into the room in her pj's and fuzzy slippers. She saw her parents on the floor and ran to them.
"Mommy! Daddy! What's wrong!" she cried. Beast Boy swept Olivia into his lap and pulled back a side of the blanket. Olivia's gasp was audible all the way across the room.
"TOBY! I knew it! I knew it! I knew you couldn't die! I knew it!" Olivia shouted, throwing her arms around her twin brother.
"Olivia!" Toby replied, maneuvering around his parents' arms to return her embrace. The other Titans slowly came closer, gingerly helping Raven and Beast Boy up off the floor. Each parent carried one of the twins as the entire team escorted them to bed. Jinx and Torque brought up the rear, helping Mammoth along.
"I don't know how you did it, Mammoth, but I am so proud of you!" Jinx murmured, squeezing his arm. Mammoth managed a weak smile. He could only imagine the emotions that were raging through Beast Boy and Raven's veins that night. All he knew was that for tonight, his job was done. Starfire tiptoed into Olivia's room and returned with Emily, whom she promptly placed in Beast Boy's arms. Tonight, the Logan family was finally complete again. Beast Boy and Raven refused to relinquish the hold on their children, so their teammates, without question, helped them into bed and tucked them in.
Profoundly humbled and shaken, the other Titans paired off and went to bed in silence. On the way, each mother retrieved her child and as a family, the Titans retired to bed. There were no words on Earth language, or even in Tamaranian to express what they were thinking, so they simply smiled, wept happy, grateful tears, and prayed. Whatever it was that Genesis had invented, its only gift had provided enough happiness to cover generations. Genesis had died a hero.
But like all heroes, they never really leave us. They live on in the hearts and minds and prayers of the people whose lives they've affected and changed. And that is the true and lasting measure of a hero's sacrificial love.
This chapter dedicated to the memory of those in our lives who have selflessly given of themselves or given their lives that others might live.
This chapter is also dedicated to Genesis and The Master of Games, villains who, though it was outside of their characters,gave their lives for a child.
This is thefinal chapterof Under the Weight of the World. Look for the next episode of the story soon!