Chapter Fourteen: Standoff
Behind him the alarm clock blared loudly, Beast Boy groaned and switched it off. Opening his eyes, he stared around Titans Tower. "Am I dead?" he asked.
No" came Raven's reply. "You're very much alive."
"Raven," he whispered, "is that you?"
"Yes, it's me," she replied. "How do you feel?"
I feel like I've been run over by a train."
"Well, don't you worry, you're going to be fine," Raven said encouragingly. "You had us pretty worried for awhile."
"I think I'm alive," Beast Boy laughed. "But Dr. Death…He got away."
"Where did he go?" Robin asked. "Do you know where he is?"
"I think he's in Slade's old hideout…" he paused for a moment. "When was his Apprentice."
Why did you go there Beast Boy?" Robin asked puzzled by Beast Boy's behavior. It wasn't like him to sneak off without telling his friends where he was. What was going on with him?
"It's a long story," Beast Boy replied. "I followed her home to see where she lived."
"And what did you find there?"
"Dr. Death…is her father," Beast Boy said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What, he's her father! He can't be!" Robin couldn't believe it.
"It's true," Beast Boy whispered his reply, "Dr. Death is her father."
"So he sent her to spy on us?" Robin asked in disbelief and anger.
"She's clueless about what her dad really does," Beast boy said. "She told me she travels a lot. She's an unwilling accomplice. It's not her fault!"
How do we know she's not like Terra?" Robin demanded.
"She's not like Terra because she's completely ignorant about Dr. Death. Don't you trust me on this?"
"Yes, I trust you Beast Boy, but now what are we going to do? I said she would always be welcome here."
"We should definitely watch what we say, that's for sure," Cyborg said. "But how could he use her to spy on us?"
"He must have some way to record conversations," Robin was thoughtful. "Cyborg, I told Dr. Finlay our plan over the phone. Dr. Death must have tapped it."
"That doesn't help anything, it just makes it worse!"
"No, it doesn't. Not if we use it to our advantage." Robin smiled. "We're going to take him down!"
"How?" Raven asked. "We know Dr. Death's tapped our phones. We'll call Dr. Finlay and tell him to state out Logan Estate again, but this time he won't be there, it'll be just us.." "W well we tell Dr. Finlay he won't really be there?" Cyborg asked.
"We'll e-mail him the real plan and tell him to call us at two-o'-clock," Robin smiled.
"But Robin what about Marire?" Starfire asked. "She does not know that her father is evil. Shall we tell her?"
"If we told her she wouldn't believe us," Robin said. "She doesn't see him as an evil person. She sees him as her father."
"Shall I e-mail Dr. Finlay." Raven asked as she sat down at the computer terminal.
She began the message:
Dr. Finlay,
Dr. Death has tapped the Tower's phone lines. We want you to call us so we can stage a trap for Dr. Death. We will say that we need you to state out Logan Estate again but this time you won't actually be there. If this can be done we should be able to take him down. Please call us at two-o'-clock in the afternoon. We hope to end this madman's rampage once and for all.
Sincerely,
The Teen Titans
She clicked the send button and waited for a reply. She hoped it would work.
Dr. Jacob Finlay sat down to his computer to check his e-mail. He was surprised to see one from the Teen Titans. He clicked on the message and began to read. Dr. Finlay frowned, usually they called him by phone or talked to him onscreen. This was an odd move for them. Something must be going on. He stared at the message before him.
Dr. Finlay,
Dr. Death has tapped the Tower's phone lines. We want you to call us so we can stage a trap for Dr. Death. We will say that we need you to state out Logan Estate again but this time you won't actually be there. If this can be done we should be able to take him down. Please call us at two-o'-clock in the afternoon. We hope to end this madman's rampage once and for all.
Sincerely,
The Teen Titans
So Dr. Death had gotten away then, he frowned. The Titans were still trying to catch him. Dr. Finlay decided he had had enough of hiding. He was going to confront this Dr. Death himself. He wouldn't go unarmed. He wasn't stupid. He would go…As Dr. Light.
Yes, as strange as it seemed, he would go as Dr. Light. Dr. Light was a thief who had periodically fought the Titans every so often. But Dr. Light was not originally meant to be a villainous identity, he was meant to be a superhero. Then Arthur Light had stolen the suit and became Dr. Light. Unfortunately, for Dr. Light, the imbecile had left Jacob Finlay's blueprints to the Dr. Light suit behind. Now he would reconstruct another suit and face this murderer who wanted him dead.
Jacob Finlay smiled. It was time to call the Titans. He looked at the clock on his computer screen. It was 2:00, perfect timing. He walked over to the phone in his office. He turned it on and punched in the number for Titans Tower.
The Titans and Robin soon appeared on the screen. "So did you get Dr. Death?" he asked.
"Not yet," Robin replied. "But we're close."
"I'm glad you called, Dr. Finlay. I have another plan."
"You do?" he feigned surprise. They both knew they would have to keep this charade as real as possible in order to convince the man eavesdropping on another line would fall for it.
"We need you to stakeout Logan Estate again."
"Again?" he pretended shock. He knew that he wouldn't even be in the building but he had to act like he would. "Are you sure?"
"This is urgent Dr. Finlay, we have to take him down!" Robin exclaimed. The boy was a good actor, Finlay admitted. Very good, he was actually convincing.
"Okay, okay, I'll come." In truth, he would come, as Dr. Light. "I'll be there at seven. Let's hope this will work this time."
"I hope so too," Robin replied. He didn't know that Dr. Finlay would actually come. He thought he would stay away according to plan, but Finlay was sick of being stalked by a madman. He was going to deal wit this himself.
He hung up the phone and went into the laboratory. He had actually been working on the suit for few days. It was almost ready. He began assembling the parts for the suit. In a few hours, the suit was nearly ready. He smiled. He had plenty of gadgets, light bombs and pyrotechnics and light oriented weaponry to handle Dr. Death. It was 5:00 in two hours, he would let the Titans in the building, but how was he going to hide the suit?
He didn't want them to see him wearing it, they might become suspicious. And if they mistook him for the other Dr. Light that would make it worse so he decided to hide the suit in his office. He would let the Titans in the hurry and change; then he could sneak out the back door and wait for Dr. Death.
He drove to a nearby café and ordered a light dinner. It was 6:30 when he was finished so he headed back to Logan Estate Genetic Research Facilities. He waited behind the glass doors until he spotted the Titans coming towards him. He smiled and opened the door.
"How was work, Dr. Finlay?" Robin asked.
"It was fine; I hope you guys can catch him this time. I haven't slept well these past few days." That was the truth too. In fact, not many of the living CEOs of Logan Estate had slept well either. The thought of a man who called himself Death and wanted them dead did not sit well with any of them. The sooner the Titans got him, the sooner they could be at ease.
"Don't worry, we'll get him this time," Robin reassured him.
"This madman will not escape us," Starfire assured Dr. Finlay. She thought he was a kind, good man who did not deserve to die. "You can rest well tonight."
"Thank you little lady," Dr. Finlay smiled broadly, "I very much appreciate it. Say son, why do you look so uncomfortable?" He turned his attention to Beast Boy, who was once again that pale, lurid green color he had been the last time he had been in the building. "Is something bothering you?"
"I just don't want to be here, that's all," Beast Boy answered. Robin looked startled. What was wrong with him? What did he mean he didn't want to be here? All Robin could think of as a response was an icy glare.
"Is it because of your father?" Beast Boy jumped out of his skin at the mention of his father. The Titans were startled too. What did Beast Boy have to do with this place?
"Your father was Dr. Mark Logan correct, young friend?" he asked Beast Boy. Beast Boy reluctantly nodded. "I see, so coming back here brings back bad memories. I heard about the accident in Africa all those years ago."
Robin looked at Dr. Finlay with surprise. "You knew Beast Boy's parents?"
"I had the privilege of meeting them a long time ago; Mark and Marie were visiting the states on furlough. If I remember correctly, they was just a baby then. Let me see if I can remember your name now….It started with a G….Gar…Gar…Oh yes! Garfield Mark Logan, that's your name isn't it?"
"Dude, you know way too much about me!" Beast Boy looked even more uncomfortable. "Can we please get off this subject?"
"I only know what I remember," Dr. Finlay looked at him kindly. "And if I remember correctly, you legally own this place."
"Yeah, but they won't officially let me until I'm 18," Beast Boy said.
"Dr. Finlay, it would be best if you left now. We don't want you to get hurt," Robin said. Dr. Finlay nodded, turned and left the Titans. Once he was out of sight he made his way towards the back door. Sneaking into his office, he quickly changed into his Dr. Light suit.
Robin turned back to his green friend, "Beast Boy, why didn't you tell me you had connections to this place?" Robin demanded. He wanted an explanation for his friend's odd behavior. Some of it was accounted for, such as his squeamishness when it came to going into the place, but it didn't account for Beast Boy's unwillingness to talk about his past.
"Robin, I didn't want to tell you because I thought you wouldn't let me help you if I did."
"What made you think that?" Robin asked. "Of course I would let you help us! What I don't get is why you won't talk about your past and your family!"
"I don't want to talk about it, alright! It's too painful. It's bad enough that my father is—"
"Dead?" Dr. Death's voice rang out from under the awning. "I told you not to tell them about me," his voice was low and dangerous. "I can see that no one in my family is very good at keeping secrets." He walked at a slow deliberate pace, steadily making his way towards the Teen Titans with ease.
"Well, look who finally showed up?" Cyborg said, preparing his Sonic Cannon. "Well Dr., I think this the end of the line for you."
"I hardly think so. As I was saying, I can see that no one in my family is very good at keeping secrets." He looked at Beast Boy steadily. "Isn't that right," he slowly removed the hood from his face. The Titans stared at him in shocked horror; Beast Boy could only cower inwardly in numb as he said his name. "…Garfield Mark Logan?"
"Titans, go!" Robin proclaimed loudly.
Robin was the first to reach him; Robin smashed his fist into Dr. Death's midsection. The man quickly dodged and brought the handle of his spear down, smashing towards Robin's face. The leader of the Titans blocked it with his Bo Staff, parrying easily with trained precision.
Dr. Death and Robin began to exchange heavy blows at one another. Dr. Death smashed Robin's face with the spear, sending him flying away from him. Starfire caught Robin in midair and set him gently on the ground. She fired Starbolts at him, letting him feel her fury.
"Leave him alone!" she roared, rushing at Dr. Death with incredible speed. She smashed her fists into him, knocking him off his feet. He managed to retain a hold on his spear as he hit the ground. He blocked many of her blows but took a few punches and kicks to his midsection. She picked him up and threw him against the wall.
Scrambling to his feet, he barely managed to block a viscous attack from Cyborg as the half robot's fist slammed into his palm. The vibration of the impact sent fiery pain up his arm. Cyborg heard the man gasp as he took the blow. He saw out of the corner of his eye a green shape charging toward him. He cried out in pain as he felt a rhino horn pierce his skin. He was suddenly hurled to the floor by Cyborg. His arm quickly transformed into his Sonic Cannon.
"Surrender now Dr. Death."
"Never! You'll have to kill me first!" He smashed the butt of his weapon into Cyborg's face. Cyborg leapt out of the way of the blow and that gave him enough time to jump to his feet. He charged Beast Boy who had changed into a cheetah. He leapt out of the way and grabbed Beast Boy by the nape of his neck and threw him into the wall. He leaned in so only Beast Boy could hear.
"I swore if you ever revealed me, I would destroy your friends and you would be last to die!" Dr. Death hissed in Beast Boy's face. He shoved the spear's blade into the green changeling's throat.
"I didn't say anything about you!" he managed to gag out. Dr. Death threw him through the glass doorway, shattering them to a million pieces.
"Like I should believe you?" Dr. Death snarled as he jumped through the doorway. Raven sped after her team mate, hoping she could reach him in time.
"Beast Boy! Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" she used her dark aura to stop the glass from entering Beast Boy's body as he hit the floor inside the building with a loud thud.
"She cares for you," Dr. Death sneered. "How touching." He hurled the spear at him full force.
To the surprise of the Titans and Dr. Death, the spear was suddenly obliterated by a bright beam of light. "So sorry, Dr. I hope I haven't come at a bad time."
"Dr. Finlay, is that you?" Dr. Death began to laugh. "You look like an advertisement for the Electric Company."
"You can call me…Dr. Light," Dr. Finlay snarled in reply, letting loose a powerful beam of energy.
"Dr. Light?" Starfire stared at Dr. Finlay with a puzzled expression on her face. "But Dr. Light is a thief."
"Not this Dr. Light," Dr. Finlay explained. "The Dr. Light suit was originally supposed to be a superhero identity."
"Oho, so you aren't so righteous are you?" Dr. Death purred as he dodged the beam. "You stole information from S.T.A.R. Labs to come up with that suit. Oh yes, I heard about it in the papers. They would have fired you but you paid for the damages. I'm surprised they actually let you keep your job."
"Please," Dr. Finlay rolled his eyes, "save it."
"Come now. Dr. Finlay. We are both men of science, let's not fight."
"No, let's." Dr. Finlay unleashed another powerful beam of energy.
Robin rejoined the battle, as he spun kicked Dr. Death hard. Flipping back, he hurled a Bird-a-Rang at him. Dr. Death easily blocked it with his spear as he, to the Titans astonishment, deflected Dr. Finlay's beam of light back at them.
"Titans, move!" Robin ordered as they dove out of the way. Raven took the opportunity to attack.
"Enough of this!" Raven said in a harsh voice. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" She used her powers to grab Dr. Death and throw him away from Beast Boy and Dr. Finlay. She then used her powers to grab nearby chairs and hurl them at the madman with amazing speed.
"Not bad little girl, but I've got other things to attend to," he dodged the chairs and made his way towards Beast Boy.
Dr. Finly hurled a disc like object at him. Landing near Dr. Death, it became a force field that surrounded him completely. "Let's see you try to get out of that."
"This is too easy," Dr. Death smirked. He simply smashed the spear right through the disc. Dr. Finlay stared in shock.
"How did you—"
"My adamantium spear can cut through any type of metal. So you see; your weapons are useless." He charged Cyborg, dodging a punch and a blast from his Sonic Cannon, Dr. Death suddenly smashed his fist into Cyborg's face. Then he brought his spear down on him.
"Aah!" Cyborg roared in pain. "My arm! He cut off my arm!" He had severed the mechanical arm that held the Sonic Cannon, just below where the human arm ended. Cyborg, although part robot could still feel the sensation of it being cut off. He fell to his knees, clutching his left arm painfully.
Robin charged the deranged madman in fury. He smashed his staff down on Dr. Death as hard as he could. Dr. Death dodged and used his spear to cut Robin's Bo Staff in half. Robin pushed a button, extending the Bo Staff again. He brought it down as hard as he could but he didn't get a chance to land his blow as he received a viscous kick that sent him flying into the wall in an unconscious heap.
"Robin!" Starfire screamed. She rushed Dr. Death in fury. He sidestepped her attack and hurled himself at Dr. Finlay, tackling him to the floor, they struggled hard. Beast Boy joined in, transforming into a snake he wrapped himself around Dr. Death's ankles. Grabbing a disc off Dr. Finlay's utility belt, he hurled it at Starfire; it surrounded her making her completely immobile. He grabbed Beast Boy in snake form and pried him off his body and threw him across the room. Beast Boy quickly changed into human form and landed on his feet.
One down, two to go," he muttered, turning his attention to Raven and Dr. Finlay. Raven was puzzled by the comment because there were three people left in the room, her, Dr. Finlay and Beast Boy. Why he didn't include Beast Boy puzzled her greatly.
He charged Dr.Finlay smashing his fists into his target; Dr. Finlay fell to the floor. He quickly used some of his gadgets to form a cement block around Dr. Death. The man smiled and once again used his spear to slash his way out of the cement. Dodging light blasts, he smashed his fists into Dr. Finlay's face knocking him to the ground. He smashed the butt of his spear into the man's skull. With a loud thump Dr. Finlay hit the floor. Raven flew over to stop him. Beast Boy was close behind her.
Pulling out a gun, he suddenly raised it and fired before Raven could react. "NO!" Beast Boy wailed out as she hit the floor, she had been shot in the stomach and blood was pouring out of her. Beast Boy ran over to her. "How could you do this?" he demanded. "Why are you doing this?"
Dr. Death hauled Beast Boy to his feet and slammed him into a wall. Grabbing him by his collar, he snarled with rage. "I told you not to say anything about me. You told them my secret. You betrayed me! Now you shall pay, with your life!" He raised the spear to strike the deathblow.
Unbeknownst to Dr. Death, the rest of the Titans had regained consciousness and were preparing to attack him from behind, in exception to Dr. Finlay who had rushed over to Raven and was attempting to stop the bleeding. Suddenly, a voice rang out from the doorway of the building. The entire group turned to see where it had come from. They were all shocked by what they saw.
"Daddy! Don't hurt him!" Marie's voice rang through the room, the Titans turned to see her in an offensive stance, claws extended, ready to take on Dr. Death in combat. "He's family…"