Chapter Ten: Revealed
Screaming, Beast Boy shot out of bed, sweat pouring down his face. It was that dream, the dream that had haunted his darkest nightmares. The dream that was a reminder of reality, the dream he hated. The death of his parents and how powerless he was to stop it; he climbed out of bed, wiping his eyes; he went out to the kitchen. He needed something to drink.
Walking into the kitchen, he was surprised to see Raven there, sitting at the table drinking herbal tea. She didn't look up. "Can't sleep, Beast Boy?"
"How did you know?" Beast Boy asked.
"I can see inside your mind, remember?" she didn't look at him. "Who are they? These people I've seen in your dreams?"
"Why do you want to know?" Beast Boy asked. "What does it matter?"
"You wake up screaming, it matters to you. So who are they?" She looked at him with sympathy. "Sit down and tell me." Walking over to the refrigerator, he opened it and poured himself a glass of tofu milk. He moved to sit across from her on the table.
"T-they were my parents," Beast Boy stammered. "The storm came, it washed the camp away. We tried to escape in the boat. The current came, and it swept us into the river. My dad tried so hard to row us to safety…but it was useless. The current just kept getting stronger and…"
"And what?" Raven prompted gently. What happened to your parents?" Beast Boy didn't answer for a long moment. She didn't want to force an answer out of him. She sensed his pain and emotional turmoil as he tried to answer.
"As the waterfall got closer and closer, my Dad realized that they wouldn't be able to stop themselves from going over. My Dad told me to—" he halted, unable to continue.
"What Beast Boy, what did he tell you to do?" Raven moved from where she was to sit beside him.
"Please Raven, I—I can't tell you. It's too painful. Please, just read my mind and you'll find out. It's still too hard for me to talk about it." Raven gently raised her hands and positioned them a few inches away from his head. She concentrated, and images began to flash through her mind.
"Listen to me, son. I'm going to ask you to do the hardest thing you've ever done in your life. I want you to use your powers, transform into an eagle, and fly away from here."
Gar looked stricken. "Mommy, Daddy, I don't want to leave you!" he protested. Marie took him in her arms in a firm hug. She gently kissed his cheek.
"Don't worry about us, son. We'll always be with you," she reassured him. "We won't ever leave you. Go now, Gar," she released him as he morphed into a bird. "And don't look back son. Don't look back. "
Raven saw Beast Boy transform into an eagle and rise into the air, tears streaming down his cheeks, mixing with the rain. A man's voice, clearly his father's echoed off the rocks.
"Go to King Tawaba. Gar, go now! I love you. Now go!"
Raven saw the last look Beast Boy's father gave him as the boat tipped, toppled, and plunged over the edge. She could hear the screaming, his voice intermingled with theirs in cries of pain and fear, though his voice was filled with grief. The screaming, the screaming…
She snapped out of the vision, gasping. "Beast Boy, I'm so sorry…why…why didn't you tell me?"
"Raven…it's too painful…every time I think about it, my guilt comes back. I could have saved them…I could have…I could have…" all the emotion he had broke lose as he dissolved into a fit of tearful sobs that shook his entire body. Raven didn't know what to say. She gently wrapped her arms around him in firm hug.
"Shh; Beast Boy…its okay…its okay." She held him quietly. "Why are these memories resurfacing? What's going on, Beast Boy?"
"The investigation…Nicholas Galtry…he was my guardian." Raven looked shocked. "He hated me so much he paid assassins to try and murder me…when that didn't work, he took a villain identity and called himself Arsenal. He didn't know I was Beast Boy, because I disguised myself so he didn't know it was me."
He pulled away and gave a slight smile. "I did manage to kick his butt though, disarmed him, and everything. I had just been placed in the custody of Steven and Rita Dayton. They were a part of the Doom Patrol. Galtry was ticked that he lost me because I was the source of all his money.
"My Dad, Mark Logan was a scientist and he had more degrees than a Fahrenheit thermometer. His science experiments made him wealthy; and he had money to burn. When he died, most of it went to me in an inheritance. But he stole it all, or at least most of it, anyway, until the cops busted him hacking into the files of Logan Estate. Heard that it was an anonymous tip or something. The court let him off the hook, some measly little sentence, I've forgotten now, but it didn't hurt him much."
"He is the only person I hate in the entire world. He made my life a living Hell and I was miserable. The miser wouldn't lift a finger to help me, not that he wanted to, anyway. This investigation into his death is bringing it all back to me. Remembering him makes me remember my parents, and it's taking its toll on me." He sighed, resting in Raven's embrace, silence filled the room. She felt her cape on her shoulder growing wet from his tears.
"Shh, now; Beast Boy, I'm here. Don't cry," Raven pulled him into a hug, kissing his forehead, stroking his shoulder. Who'll try to make me laugh with their corny jokes?"
"Raven, I—" Beast Boy began, pulling out of her hug slightly. "I—I can't make you laugh, I never could. I just can't make you laugh; I'm just not that funny…"
"I've always thought you were funny, Beast Boy, but looks aren't always everything. I know sometimes I've been hard on you, I…I didn't know, If I had, I wouldn't have treated you the way I did." She embraced him, gently. "Beast Boy, I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry for anything," Beast Boy. "You didn't know about me. You didn't know anything about me. There's no need to be sorry."
"Raven," Beast Boy looked into her deep, violet eyes. She returned his gaze, firmly. What she saw in them startled her. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him. He gently moved closer to her. "Thank you." He gently pressed his lips to hers. Raven didn't resist him; she stroked his face tenderly as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
The kiss continued affectionately, but as the osculation continued, it became increasingly more passionate and fiery. His warm lips melded with hers as she cradled him as his fingers entangled with her hair. He felt her trembling gently, he clasped her as he unexpectedly pulled away, gasping for air. "I'm sorry, Raven, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let it go that far."
"There's no need to be sorry," Raven whispered softly. She gently pulled away and stood up. "Are you better now, Beast Boy?"
"Yes, I'm fine," he replied. "And Raven." Beast Boy paused.
"What, Beast Boy?" Raven looked at him.
"Call me Gar," he gave her a small smile.
"Good night Gar," Raven said as he turned and walked back down the hallway.
He went back to his room, climbing into his bed, he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. Nightmares didn't haunt his dreams that night. As Raven went back to bed she didn't hear whimpering and sobbing coming from his room. She hoped he would better, that his dreams would be peaceful.
The next day, Beast Boy was back to his normal self as if nothing had occurred the previous night. He was smiling and laughing like he always did. Raven kept quiet about their conversation in the kitchen and said nothing to the others about it. She had a feeling that he didn't want the others to know about his connection with Nicholas Galtry.
They were hanging out at Titans Tower playing videogames when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Beast Boy said. He didn't know why he decided to, but he felt like he should get it. Answering the door, he looked somewhat surprised. It was Marie, the little girl he'd met at the pizza place. The one the patrons had called a freak, the smart kid who'd kicked Gizmo's butt.
"Marie? Uh, hey, what are you doing here?" Beast Boy asked. He wondered why she came to visit so soon considering the fact that she had just met them.
"Oh, thought I'd stop by," she gave him a smile. "Can I come in?"
"Sure, why not? I don't think Robin'll mind much," he opened the door and let her inside. "Come on, I'll take you upstairs." They walked to the elevator. "So Marie, where are you from?"
"Well, that's kinda hard to say," Marie began. "My Dad and I move around a lot. He says it's because of his job, and stuff. He's one of those traveling doctors, I guess. We lived in New York, Gotham City, Metropolis, just about everywhere you could say."
"Do you like traveling?" Beast Boy asked. Marie reminded him, in a way, of Terra. She said she'd been a lot of places. But then again, Terra could have been lying to him about that. He wasn't sure about Marie, but his gut feeling told him that she wasn't lying about it.
They arrived on the top floor and walked into the living room. "Hey guys, we have a visitor." The Titans looked up from what they were doing.
"Hey, Marie," Robin gave her a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I came to visit and say thanks for your help in the pizza place. They…they just don't understand me."
"Hey, don't worry. That's the natural part about being unnatural. Not everyone's going to understand it," Cyborg reassured her.
"There is nothing wrong with you, Marie. Do not let anyone tell you different," Starfire said. "You are special and that's the truth."
"Thanks, my dad tells me that," Marie gave him a smile. "So this is where you live, huh?" she looked around Titan's Tower. "Nice place."
"Thanks," Robin replied. "Beast Boy, can you show her around. You know, give her the tour, since she's your guest, I think you should do it."
"Sure Dude, that'll be fine," Beast Boy. "Come on Marie, I'll show you around." Beat Boy took her hand and led her off towards the kitchen.
"Don't eat any of Beast Boy's tofu," Raven warned. "It's nasty."
"Hey, Raven, that's not that funny," Beast Boy snapped.
"Everyone else thinks it is," Raven said, returning to her book.
Making their way into the kitchen, he looked at Marie intently. "You want something to eat?"
"Is that okay?" she asked. "I don't wanna rude or anything."
"Ah, don't worry, it'll be fine," Beast Boy said. "So what do you want? You want some tofu? Everybody loves tofu."
"You're kidding right?" she stared at the tofu. "You eat that!"
"Hey, I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat meat," Beast Boy protested vehemently.
"Okay just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean that I can't eat it."
"Well, you're no fun," Beast Boy muttered.
"Hey, I like what I like," Marie smiled. "I'd like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if you don't mind."
"You like peanut butter sandwiches, huh?" Beast Boy said, pulling peanut butter from one of the shelves. He pulled out some bread from on top of the refrigerator, making themselves sandwiches, they sat down to eat.
"So how's your little investigation going?" Marie asked.
"What investigation?" Beast Boy asked.
"The Dr., Dr. Death. You Titans are after him, right?"
"Yeah," Beast Boy said. "We're gonna get him too. We always get 'em. No one's ever escaped us. We're a team, and we've always taken down the bad guys."
"So you're gonna get him, huh?" Marie asked. "Good luck to you."
"Thanks Marie," Beast Boy said. "So, you talk about your dad, but where's your mom?"
"My mom…" Marie's voice trailed off, "She died when I was born."
"Oh," Beast Boy said sympathetically, "I'm sorry."
"Thanks, my Dad gave me this when I turned five. He said it belonged to my older brother." She quietly removed from her coat a small hand carved flute.
Beast Boy stared at it in shock. That's mine! That's the flute my mom gave me! "H-how did you get that flute?" he tried to hide his shock.
"My dad gave it to me," Marie replied. "Why?"
"I was just wondering," Beast Boy said. "Enjoying your sandwich?"
"It's great, best I've ever eaten," Marie said, finishing the sandwich. Beast Boy put the plates in the dishwasher and smiled. "Come on, Marie; let's go into the living room." Marie got up and went with him into the living room.
"What have you guys been doing?" Cyborg asked. They'd been away for awhile.
"Oh, I gave her something to eat. I didn't think anybody would mind." Beast Boy explained.
Robin smiled. "So, was it good? Beast Boy didn't make you eat his tofu, did he?"
"No, just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich," Marie smiled. "So did that Dr. Death guy show up yet?"
"You know about him?" Cyborg asked. "Who told you?"
"I'm sorry, I overheard it in the pizza place," Marie looked sheepish."
"Oh, well, don't worry about it," Robin said, no harm done."
"What are you going to do now, friend Marie," Starfire asked.
"Well, I'd better be going," Marie said. "My dad doesn't want me to be away from home too long. It was nice seeing all of you."
"It's nice to see you again," Robin smiled. "Come around again sometime. You'll always be welcome here." Marie and Beast Boy went down the elevator and stood at the Tower entrance.
"Thanks for dropping by," Beast Boy said. "I hope you had a good time."
"I did, thanks…Beast Boy," Marie shook his hand. "I hope I can come back soon."
"You do that, okay?" Beast Boy smiled. "See you around."
"See you around," Marie repeated. She began walking down the island to one of the many ferries that carried people to and from Titans Tower. Beast Boy watched her go. I wonder how she got that flute. I wonder who her dad is. I'm going to find out. I don't think she'd mind if I followed her home.
Beast Boy waited until she was almost out of sight before morphing into a bird. He followed the ten-year-old to her home. Little did he know what he would find there…
"So how's your little investigation going?" Marie asked. Dr. Death smiled. His little daughter was so innocent and naïve. She didn't even know what he could do with her; she was his daughter as well as his tool to destroy the Titans. After all, what harm can a little girl do?
"What investigation?" Beast Boy asked.
"The Dr., Dr. Death. You Titans are after him, right?"
This will prove interesting," he said to himself, "Most interesting, indeed."
"Yeah," Beast Boy said. "We're gonna get him too. We always get 'em. No one's ever escaped us. We're a team, and we've always taken down the bad guys."
"So you're gonna get him, huh?" Marie asked. "Good luck to you."
"You may have taken the 'bad guys' down before Gar, but how will you react when one of them is your own father?" Dr. Death smiled. There was no way he would be able to turn him in, not after he revealed the truth to him about his relationship to him.
"Thanks Marie," Beast Boy said. "So, you talk about your dad, but where's your mom?"
"My mom…" Marie's voice trailed off, "She died when I was born."
"Oh," Beast Boy said sympathetically, "I'm sorry."
"Thanks, my Dad gave me this when I turned five. He said it belonged to my older brother." She quietly removed from her coat a small hand carved flute.
So she told him, silly child. I told her not to tell him anything about her mother. Dr. Death frowned. How am I going to handle this? Should I punish her? No, that will just make her suspicious. She already knows that we travel a lot, but she must never know the reason why.
"My dad gave it to me," Marie replied. "Why?"
He pressed a button, fast forwarding through bits and pieces of the conversation. He stopped the transmission when he came to a certain point in the exchange.
"It's nice to see you again," Robin smiled. "Come around again sometime. You'll always be welcome here."
"That will be very useful to me," Dr. Death chuckled. "Soon, you'll all be out of my way." He shut off the recorded conversation. He began to tinker with some of his experiments absentmindedly.
He was working on his latest project, a way to reverse Gar's skin color so it could revert back to its original color. He had worked on it for over five years and he almost had a breakthrough. He was so close to achieving it, he would be rich again once he published his findings, after he exacted his revenge on his enemies. Then he could start over and begin again.
"Daddy, I'm home!" Marie's voice echoed through the empty warehouse. His sweet ten-year-old came bounding in happily and smiled at her. "So how was your day?"
"It was fine," Marie replied. "I went to see the Teen Titans."
"Oh; and how did that go?" he smiled a strange smile, one that showed he knew something, but he wouldn't say what it was.
"It was fine," Marie said. "Daddy, what's with the smile?"
"Oh, I'm just happy you've found some friends."
"Oh," Marie smiled. "I'll be in my room," she left and climbed upstairs to her room. Little did she know that it was soundproof and if anything was happening downstairs she would never know about it.
"I left you some water in case you get thirsty!" he called up to her.
"Thanks, dad!" she called back. Then there was once again, silence.
Good girl. A smile played across his lips as he watched his daughter leave. He looked up suddenly, sensing something or someone was in the room with him. He scanned the room thoroughly, checking for any sign of the intruder. He didn't see anyone at the moment. Shrugging his shoulders, he walked over to a dark corner; he removed his dark lab coat from its hiding place. Putting it on, he grabbed his tranquilizers and his spear and prepared to leave. He stopped, hearing the scuffling of feet. He pulled his hood up to conceal his face. Fading into the darkness, he waited to see where its source lay.
He saw a young teenager, no more than 15 years of age walk into the room. "Hmm, that's funny; I thought I saw someone in here." He looked around. "So why's Marie in Slade's old hideout? I wonder if she knows Slade used to live here."
"I saw her come through the door," his eyes drifted to the stairs. "She must be up there," he said to himself. Cupping his hands, he projected his voice loudly. "Hey Marie, you up there?" his voice echoed off the rafters. "It's me, Beast Boy; I decided to follow you home." There was no answer. His sensitive ears twitched, he turned slightly and got the shock of his life.
"Hello kid, surprised to see me?" Dr. Death asked, slipping into the light, spear held loosely at his side. Beast Boy could see the smirk beneath his hood.
"Where's Marie?" Beast Boy demanded. "What have you done to her?"
"Why, I've done absolutely nothing to her, she's in her room, sleeping. And she can't hear you anyways because it's a soundproof room."
"Sleeping? You drugged her? Why?"
"Come now, Beast Boy, she wouldn't be too happy to discover that her Father is the evil Dr. Death, now would she? Well, what she doesn't know won't hurt her. And besides, she's the perfect mole to use to get rid of all of you."
"Why you evil—" Beast Boy's cry was drowned out as he was struck hard with the shaft of the titanium spear. Shaking his head, he transformed himself into a T-Rex, roaring loudly, he advanced on Dr. Death, wide jaws furiously snapping at him.
"Didn't know you could do that," Death commented, a small smile played at his lips. "Most impressive!" he slashed out at him with the spear. Using his large tail, Beast Boy whirled around to smash it into Dr. Death sending him flying back across the room.
Changing back into his human form, Beast Boy's green eyes flared with anger. "You think that's all I can do, Dude you haven't seen anything yet!"
Morphing into a cheetah, he rushed him, Dr. Death jumped to his feet, dodging a viscous swipe of the changeling's claws he slashed at him, ripping a non life-threatening wound into his side. Falling on his knees, he kept his eyes to the ground.
"You would use your own daughter as a spy!" Beast Boy screamed at Dr. Death.
"She's a means to an end, boy," Dr. Death smirked.
"What would that be?" Beast Boy asked, unwilling to look up at him.
"Getting to you," Dr. Death said. He raised his spear to bring down the final blow.
"All too easy," he heard Death murmured under his breath. "Now it's time to pay Dr. Finlay another visit." Shaking with fury, Beast Boy concentrated with all his might, changing into a bear.
Beast Boy felt satisfaction as he saw Death's eyes go wide beneath his hood. Leaping back, he began to slash and hack at him with controlled panic. He wouldn't lose to this green changeling. He was too good at what he did to be caught now. Kicking out, he stunned Beast Boy, causing him to shake his head, trying to regain his focus.
Before Beast Boy could even react, he felt himself being lifted off his feet and being hurled into the wall. Groggy, he tried to get up and fight when he suddenly felt the sharp edge of a blade brush lightly against his throat. He stared up into the eyes of his opponent, he glared at him with vehement hatred.
"Go on, Dr. Death, do it. You want to kill me, so just do it." He stared confidently into the man's eyes. "You won, so get it over with."
"Oho, foolish Gar, what makes you think I'd kill you?" Dr. Death's voice purred tauntingly.
"How do you know my name?" Beast Boy demanded. He stared in shock. What was he talking about? "Who are you?"
"Garfield, Homer once said that a wise child knows its Father," Dr. Death said as he pulled the spear away slightly from Beast Boy's neck all the while he removed the hood concealing his face. "Don't you know me, Garfield Mark Logan?" Beast Boy could only stare at him with an expression that could only be described as shocked horror…