Chapter Eight: Secret
Storm clouds once again blotted out the sun as the Teen Titans sat about the Tower, busying themselves with the Dr. Death investigation. Raven was looking in newspapers and magazines to see if she could find anything on Dr. Death while Cyborg researched the Internet for information.
Robin was busy sorting the information and putting it in chronological order according to time and figuring out what types of victims that Dr. Death was targeting. He already knew that the wealthy, high-powered CEOs and businessmen. They had all worked with Logan Estate.
Beast Boy was assigned to researching the remaining living now retired workers of Logan Estate. He didn't like doing it but he forced himself to do it. He made himself face himself and his past that he didn't want to go back to. Beast Boy stared at the screen looking at his list of names. Comparing the list he had to the list of victims that Robin and Raven had compiled, he saw that the list had dwindled down from 35 to about 15 current or retired members of Logan Estate Genetic Research Facilities.
He noticed that only two names on the list lived in Jump City: Nicholas Galtry and Jacob Finlay. "Hey guys, I found something!" Robin came over.
"What is it?" he asked. "What did you find?"
"I know who Dr. Death's next target is."
Raven looked at the list. "It's Dr. Finlay."
" Why Dr. Finlay?" Starfire asked. She was busy helping Robin, and this new information was startling. "He is not a bad man. He is the one who called us to help him."
"Maybe that's why he wants to kill Dr. Finlay," Robin said. We have to stakeout Logan Estate tonight."
"I see," Cyborg said. "Should we tell Dr. Finlay?"
"Yes, that way he'd let us into the building. Hey Beast Boy can you—Hey Beast Boy, are you okay?" Robin asked. He looked at his friend's face and it was a lurid pale color, making his skin a light lime green.
"I'm fine, I'm just not feeling well right now," he said, and that was the truth. He didn't feel like going back to Logan Estate. The place reeked of death and it gave him the creeps. He didn't want to face the haunting memories of the past. But he couldn't let them know about what connection he had with Logan Estate.
'It's just a fluke, I'll get better soon," he answered Robin and at the same time, tried to reassure himself too. "So, when'll we go?"
"Tonight at eight, I'm going to give Dr. Finlay," Robin said, walking over to the phone. He grabbed a phonebook and started thumbing through the numbers. Finding the correct number, he dialed it and waited as the phone rang.
"Hello," Finlay's voice came over the receiver.
"Dr. Finlay, we've figured out who Dr. Death's next target is," Robin informed him.
"Who is it?" he asked, concerned. "What can I do to help?"
"It's you Dr. Finlay. He wants to kill you." Robin stated simply. "If we're gonna take him down, we need you to do something for us."
"What is that?" Dr. Finlay asked; his voice was filled with dread.
"Stay late tonight. I've discovered he strikes his victims when they stay late at work. He likes it when his victims are alone. But we'll be there, and this time he won't get away."
"Thank you for the information Robin. I will let you in when you come. What time will you be there?"
"Eight o' Clock," Robin replied.
"I hope this works."
"Me too," Robin said and hung up the phone. The thunder rumbled and the lightning flashed.
"Looks like a storm's brewing," Cyborg said, looking out the window.
"Do you think it means something, friend Cyborg?" Starfire asked.
"Who knows Star?" Cyborg replied. "I have no idea, but it's looking bad. Hopefully, the storm will die down by the time we have to go to Logan Estate.
"Well when I lived in Africa, storms always meant something bad was going to happen," Beast Boy observed.
"What kinda talk is that, B.B.? You're always optimistic." Cyborg frowned. The observation seemed out of place and odd in the situation that it was said. He continued staring out at the rain wondering what he meant.
Hello," Finlay's voice came over the receiver. He waited. The bug he had used to tap the phones of Logan Estate picked up a signal. The signal came from Titans Tower. Good. He thought. Now he could see what they were up to.
"Dr. Finlay, we've figured out who Dr. Death's next target is," Robin informed him. The boy Robin was clever. He had heard a long time ago that he had been the accomplice of Gotham's Dark Knight. He was a worthy opponent. Dr. Death smiled to himself. His plans might have to change.
"Who is it?" he asked, concerned. "What can I do to help?"
"It's you Dr. Finlay. He wants to kill you." Robin stated simply. "If we're gonna take him down, we need you to do something for us." So he figured it out. He knew not to underestimate Robin if he was to put him out of commission so that he could accomplish his true goal: Exact the last of his revenge and reunite with his son Gar. Yes, his target was Dr. Finlay. He was an associate of Galtry's, and he hated Galtry. Finlay was the one who had brought the Titans into the conflict in the first place.
"What is that?" Dr. Finlay asked; his voice was filled with dread.
"Stay late tonight. I've discovered he strikes his victims when they stay late at work. He likes it when his victims are alone. But we'll be there, and this time he won't get away."
Robin was overconfident. That was a flaw, a weakness. And with all flaws and weaknesses, they must be exploited. He began to formulate a new plan. He would play along with their scheme to get him and go to Logan Estate. There, they would be taught a lesson concerning Death.
"Thank you for the information Robin. I will let you in when you come. What time will you be there?"
"Eight o' Clock," Robin replied.
"I hope this works."
"Me too," Robin said and hung up the phone.
Eight O' Clock; that was good, he would show up too. And then the game would begin. He began loading up his weapons. Many of them were his own inventions, some, modified weapons from Africa. Walking over to a table, he picked up a spear. It was made of titanium, instead of wood. He sighed; it was his son's fifth birthday present, his son...Garfield Logan. He hadn't seen him in 10 years, except last night when he first encountered the Titans. He knew he lived here, in Jump City; he knew that from a girl, a blond headed girl he'd met outside of Gotham at an amusement park.
He put on his coat and finished concealing his weapons; he prepared to go out to Logan Estate. Just then, Marie came downstairs. "Daddy, what's up?"
"Daddy's gotta go to work now, sweetheart, I'll be back later, you look a little hungry. Want something to eat?"
"Yes, please," Marie replied politely. She walked over to the small table and sat down.
"So…have you made any friends?" he asked.
"The Teen Titans," she replied.
"Have you seen them lately?"
"No, they're busy saving the city from someone named Dr. Death," she looked at him happily. "I may go see them later, though."
"You go do that sweetheart," he smiled. You go do that…
"Here's your dinner, sweetheart. Eat up." He handed her the plate salad and chips with a peanut butter sandwich. She was like her brother, he loved peanut butter sandwiches. It had been a luxury in Africa, now it was commonplace, normal; quaint. He watched her down her milk thirstily. He smiled slightly. The sedative would take effect, in a few hours she would feel drowsy and go to sleep. That way she never would find out what he really did for work.
She finished and he put the dishes away in the makeshift sink. He then left, shutting the door behind him. He would go to "work" now. And he knew who would be waiting for him.
There was Robin, the Boy Wonder. Batman's protégé, expert martial artists, and expert detective; wasn't one to underestimate. He would make a note of it and keep that in mind as he encountered him tonight.
There was Starfire, the mysterious girl from the planet of Tamaran. He had done some research and knew that she could absorb energy, and convert it to Starbolts which she launched at her opponents. She had super strength despite her stature. She was an opponent worthy of his skills.
There was Cyborg, the cybernetic half-man, half-robot. He had had an accident at S.T.A.R. Labs; he knew that Silas his father had outfitted him with the parts. He had known about the accident and that he was outfitted with various weapons including a Sonic Cannon. He was equipped with super strength and speed. He was a force unto himself, one to watch out for.
There was the mysterious Raven. He couldn't find out much about her, despite his extensive research on the others, results on her had turned up sketchy and vague. She was a telekinetic and could moved objects with her mind. No one knew where she was born, or where she was from, although there were plenty of theories. She would summon her powers with the words, "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos," but that was all he knew.
He walked towards the Logan Estate Genetic Research Facilities building. Climbing up onto the roof, he used a glasscutter to open one of the skylight windows and slip into the building. If memory served him right, Dr. Finlay's office was down the hall. Pulling the hood up over his face he stepped into the office.
"W-who are you?" Dr. Finlay asked in a terrified voice. "What do you want with me?"
"You know who I am," Dr. Death said simply. "I am what you fear most. I am Death. And I have come for you."
"What have I done to deserve this?" Dr. Finlay asked.
"You should know," Dr. Death sneered. "You always hated me. You thought I was a madman; that nothing I did worked. You scoffed at my research and said that I was crazy. You only worked for me because of the considerable pay you received. You didn't believe in my cause, you just wanted money."
"What do you mean? I've never seen you before!" Dr. Finlay protested. "If this is about Nicholas Galtry, I have nothing to do with him!"
"You are no better than Galtry, Dr. Finlay. You let him take what was not his, and you let him ruin my son's life, letting him live in a miserable Hell while Galtry squandered what rightfully belonged to Gar. You stood back and did nothing even though you had evidence to convict him. You are no better than he is, and yet you think yourself so righteous!"
"You won't be able to kill me, Dr. Death," Dr. Finlay said confidently.
"Oh, really, who's gonna stop me?" Dr. Death sneered, lifting him off his feet by his shirt collar. "You honestly think I don't know everything about you?" He shifted slightly as the lightning flashed outside the windows. The power suddenly went out and the lightning's glare revealed a glimpse of his face. Dr. Finlay gasped as his face registered recognition.
"You!" he said in horror. "You're supposed to be dead! You've been dead for 10 years! It was in the papers!"
"Yes, I have been dead for 10 years, but now I live for one reason: revenge." Dr. Death removed the syringe from the inside his lab coat. "You will die, Dr. Finlay. You're going to get what you deserve!"
"And you'll get what you deserve, Dr. Death," Robin's voice interrupted him. A very long prison sentence, maybe the death sentence." Lighting flared again and his smile was evident. Dr. Death smirked.
"I knew you'd be waiting for me. So what took you all so long?" he asked, knocking Dr. Finlay unconscious. The man's body slumped to the ground. He turned to face the Titans. He once again removed his titanium spear.
"You knew! Somehow you knew we'd be here," Robin said in disbelief.
"Yes," he snickered, "I knew you'd be here by eight, so I decided to stop by."
"Titans, go!" Robin ordered. They charged into the office and attacked. Cyborg activated his Sonic Cannon, firing off a barrage of lasers; Dr. Death dodged the laser fire, and smashed his fist into Death's face. He blocked and kicked him hard. Skidding back on the carpet, he leapt high and brought his full weight down on the mysterious villain.
Dr. Death took the blow and whirled away from Cyborg, he turned to face Starfrire who was blasting Starbolts at him. She began to grapple with him, using her incredible strength throw him across the office room away from the unconscious Dr. Finlay.
Raven used her powers to pick up the desk and hurl it at him. The table smashed, splintered, and broke upon impact with the wall, leaving a gigantic hole in the wall. "Unfortunately for you, you won't be able to walk away from this one," Raven said as she used her powers to lift him into the air.
Raven saw Dr. Death smirk. He, with an almost superhuman strength, raised his spear up and hurled it at Raven. She was concentrating so hard at keeping him captive in her aura that she barely registered the flying spear until Beast Boy, who saw it, diving, knocking her off her feet to safety.
Robin leapt at Dr. Death with fury, spin kicking him hard. Dr. Death blocked the blow but felt the impact of a viscous punch to the face. He struck back hard, Robin jerked back with surprise as he continued blocking and punching. Twisting his arm backwards, Dr. Death sneered as he saw Robin wince with pain.
Starfire jumped to her feet, smashing a chair into Dr. Death waist, causing him to stagger back. Grunting, he glanced at the weapon lying on the ground, Beast Boy saw it too, so did Robin. "Beast Boy, get the spear!"
Beast Boy dove for the spear, so did Dr. Death. Dr. Death grabbed it first and the lightning flashed again, revealing for a moment, his face. Beast Boy gasped, he thought he saw, no, it couldn't be him. He was dead. Distracted, Death yanked the spear from his grasp. Scrambling to his feet, he morphed into a rhino he charged into the villain furiously.
Dr. Death dodged as Beast Boy's horn grazed him. Grimacing in pain, he twirled the spear as Robin charged him, Bo Staff ready to take the offensive. Titan and Villain collided with a force so strong it could be felt in the room. "You won't take me, boy. I will finish what I came to do."
"We're going to take you down!" Robin said through gritted teeth. Trading blow for blow, neither would give up. Raven and Starfire rose up into the air, flying fast at him; they bombarded him with Starbolts and lose items around the office. Now Dr. Death went into a final flurry, he kicked Robin in the stomach, whirling around to face Raven he smashed the shaft of the spear into her skull, dazed; she lost her concentration, and fell to the ground. Starfire quickly rushed to her side.
"Friend Raven, are you injured?" she asked, concerned.
"I have a headache," she replied. "Oh."
Rising to her feet, she unleashed a hail of Starbolts on him, Robin turned away from Dr. Death and gripped Starfire's hands, and she began spinning him around. Using the momentum from the spin, Robin kicked out at Dr. Death, staggering back, he realized he wouldn't last much longer and decided it was time for him to leave.
"I see I've worn out my welcome," he quipped as Cyborg and Beast Boy charged him, Cyborg's Sonic Cannon blasted him with a powerful laser as he tried to ward off Beast Boy as a tiger. Beast Boy clamped down on his arm with his teeth. A cry of pain escaped his lips as Dr. Death, with incredible strength threw Beast Boy off of him. Raven caught him as he landed with a thud on the floor. His friends rushed to his side, making sure he was unharmed.
"We will meet again… Garfield…Mark my words, we will meet again…" he ran out into the hall and began running.
"Titans, after him, don't let him escape!" Robin ordered them as they ran down the hallway as fast as they could. He was fast, he admitted. The man quickly scrambled into the Men's bathroom, the Titans all ran in, except for Starfire who stood outside the door.
"I thought that women were not allowed in those lavatories," she said as Raven yanked her inside.
"Don't worry, this is an emergency," the door slammed and Beast Boy, Cyborg and Robin saw Dr. Death scramble up onto one of the toilet seats and squeezed into an air duct. Robin turned and ran out of the bathroom, following the sound of the pounding feet as it echoed through the empty building.
"He's heading for the roof. They bounded outside and using his grappling hook, he launched it onto the rooftop, hoisting himself up, followed quickly by Cyborg, Beast Boy and Starfire, Beast Boy carried him up to the roof. They saw Dr. Death climbed up out of the air duct. "Surprised to see us?" Robin asked.
"Hardly," the man replied and backing up, he leaped out onto thin air and plummeted downward.
"Dude, he won't survive the fall!" Beast Boy exclaimed in shock.
"He did, we'll see him again, he said so," Robin said quietly. Starfire, Raven, are you two alright?"
"We are uninjured for the most part," Starfire said. Raven had a welt on her head, but for the most part she was fine.
Robin stared out into the night, wondering when Dr. Death would strike again and Beast Boy wondered just who this man was and how he knew his name, and if he knew the secret that had haunted him all his life…