The Epic of Gauntlet

Part 5

"I see by your outfit that you are a demi-god." 

By BobCat

Disclaimer: That which is not Gauntlet or other original characters is not mine.  Using that framework, it should be pretty simple to figure out who should be suing me and for what.

Notes: Since the TV show has never shown what Thunder and Lightning's origins were, I'm going to take many, many liberties with their back story, with a minor basis in the original DC comics continuity. 

******************

            "Back down, Pigs!  You take one step closer and I'll blow his freakin' head off!"

            It was a familiar scene in Jump City.  A costume clad nut with superpowers had decided to commit a daring daylight robbery, only to find that his own abilities were not developed enough to evade Jump City's finest.  Pinned in a corner, he had grabbed a hostage, resulting in a high tension standoff between nut and police that would probably end in pain. 

            This time, the nut was a janitor named Joshua Kurgal who had been subjected to a one in a billion chance combining gamma radiation, toxic waste and thirty fluid ounces of Pepsi Vanilla.  These had combined to give him the strength of two men and the power to split into two identical copies of himself, although he lost the extra strength.  Armed with his new power, a poorly made costume with a duct tape yin yang on the front of it and the inspired name of Gemini, his crime spree had begun.

            Unfortunately, the bank he had opted to rob had three guards. 

            One of the duplicates had managed to get itself shot, causing him to merge back into one man with a small but painful gun would in his arm.  Going to standard criminal Plan B, he had grabbed a pretty young bank teller and held a gun to her head.  Unfortunately, she had taken enough self defense courses to force him to let her go.  Going to Plan C, he had managed to find an infant and was now holding the gun to his head.  He had been forced to exit the bank to find said youngster and was now huddling in an alleyway behind a dumpster.

            And it was to this scene that Robert had arrived.  From the roof of a nearby building, he observed the goings on below.  "Hm.  He called them pigs.  I was going to guess coppers.  What do you think, Robin?"

            The Teen Wonder swooped down next to his teammate.  "I would have said just cops, but that goes to show what I know.  I'm surprised you heard me."

            Robert shrugged.  "I heard your cape flapping.  That thing isn't very stealth oriented, if you catch my drift."

            Robin surveyed the scene.  "So, a 114?"

            Robert nodded.  "Yup.  Lame first time villain botching a bank robbery.  He has a baby, and if he fires he won't miss.  So, the question is, now what?"

            Robin stroked his chin.  "The others are on the way, but they won't get here in time to help out.  We're going to have to be tricky about this."  Robin whipped out a set of binoculars.  "He doesn't look very confident about this… follow my lead."  He whipped out a grappling hook and swung across the gap between them and Gemini.  Robert followed suit.

            Gemini nearly had a heart attack when he heard the voices come from nowhere.  "Pull the trigger."

            Gemini glanced around.  "What the hell!?"

            "This is your subconscious.  I say, pull the trigger.  I mean, you promised to blow the kid's brains out.  Those people out there are expecting bloodshed, and you have a responsibility to deliver."

            A second voice piped in.  "I'm your inner child, and I agree!  Won't it be fun to shoot the kid?"

            Gemini blinked.  "Who are you really!?"

            The inner child spoke again.  "Look, buddy, we're you, OK?  Just pull the trigger and get it over with."

            Gemini was horrified.  "You can't be me!  I don't wanna hurt the kid!  I'm just in a bad spot…"

            Subconscious laughed.  "Look, you're going up the river either way, right?  Might as well take the little snot with you.  You're hurt.  You can't keep this up forever.  Just pull the trigger, OK?"

            The two voices started chanting, "Pull it!  Pull it!  Pull it!  Pull it!" 

            Gemini cried out, "SHADDAP!  OK, I'LL DO IT!  Sorry, kid…"  He pulled the trigger…

            And the gun clicked, bereft of ammunition.  "What in the…"  He finally noticed the yellow strands of energy that suspended all six of his shots in mid air.  "This… this isn't possible!"  He hardly noticed as the baby was lifted from his hands and shot straight upward. 

            Robin leapt down, planting his foot in Gemini's face.  The wounded man went down hard.

            Robert slowly slid down the side of the building, taking great care not to harm the child in his care.  "Hey, that went smoothly."

            Robin called out to the officers.  "Robin here!  We got him!"  He turned to his teammate.  "And for the record, I was the bad cop and you were the good cop.  Two bad cops just don't work."

            Gantlet shrugged.  "Hey, my energy field managed to disarm him from our hiding spot above and get the kid out of harm.  I'd say it worked pretty well." 

            The pair walked out of the alleyway, and were instantly mobbed by a swarm of frenzied members of the press.  Thousands of still shots were taken, and almost as many questions were lobbed at them.

            Robert shuddered.  "Argh!  I feel the press!  I feel the public's adoration!  AND IT BURNS!"

            Robin shielded his own eyes as Robert handed the baby to a crying woman, presumably his mother.  "Don't worry, I have a plan.  See how those guys are mostly FOX news and NBC?"  Robert cleared his throat and pointed.  "Why look!  Over there!  A minority man wearing a turban holding an anti Bush picket sign!"  While the press agents looked away, the pair ran off.

            Robert chuckled.  "Liberal or conservative, ya just gotta love how easy it is to manipulate with the media."        

            ***************

            Slade also chuckled as he watched the scene on a portable television.  That new one is often good for a quick laugh.  Perhaps I shall keep him alive… perhaps.  Satisfied that the Titans were otherwise occupied, he was ready to begin his operation.  He was in the mountains west of the city.  A forest of evergreen trees filled the landscape as far as the eye could see, except for one large swath cut from the forest.  This section had been destroyed during the fight between the demon Fire and the Titans.  "Knowing those fools, they thought that raising Fire was my true objective that day.  I have no use for a demon that can be defeated by a little rain."

            "Do you often talk to yourself, or am I fortunate to hear your ruminations?"  Slade's companion was a short Japanese boy of sixteen.  His black hair was short, but spiky, and he was dressed in a brown trench coat.  His hands were wrapped in bandages in a manner similar to a mummy, and a red head band, the only brightly colored item on him, flapped in the breeze. 

            Slade glared at the young man with his good eye.  "Young Kurai, it is not wise to anger your benefactor.  Unless, of course, you don't WANT my help with your… condition." 

The young man bristled at the mention of his infirmity, but let it drop.  He bowed slightly.  "Excuse my outburst, Deathstroke-sama.  I was… excited at the prospect of this new discovery."

Slade nodded.  No need to alienate him.  He will be quite useful.  "Forgiven.  Now let's go.  Be on your guard." 

            The pair walked through a field of waist deep grass.  Since the wooden structures that had housed Fire had been destroyed by Thunder and Lightning, whatever force had kept the grass neatly trimmed was gone.  Even after several months, though, the outline of Fire was still visible, as nothing grew there. 

            Finally, they reached their destination.  Slade brought out the tablet stolen from the museum during Mortimer's attack.  He handed it to Kurai.  "Exactly as we practiced.  Keep the power low."

            The young man nodded.  He closed his eyes as he concentrated, his hands glowing a bright red.  Quickly, the artifact matched his color, the marks glowing brightest of all. 

            For a few moments, nothing happened.  Then, a bright blue glow emanated from the ground, and over an area a meter in diameter the grass withered.  Finally, a manhole shaped structure became visible and pushed up from the ground.  The pair was forced to look away as the light intensified.  When it was bearable to look again, the hole had opened up. 

            Kurai was dumbstruck.  "I cannot believe that worked…"

            Slade said, "The technology of these Old Ones is mostly related to life energy, and that tablet translates it into a usable form.  Just like the other."  He scowled for a moment.  When Robin had betrayed him, the only other such tablet in existence had been destroyed.  An all purpose key to Old One structures was the most valuable tool in his goals, and he had lost it.  For that, the Titans would suffer doubly.  "Now, go down.  I shall follow." 

            Kurai tucked the tablet into a pocket in his coat and began the climb down, finding a handily located ladder.  "I do not see why they would live underground this way.  And if they did, I find it surprising that they would not have invented the elevator, considering their technology."

            Slade followed shortly after.  As Kurai waited for him at the bottom, he explained.  I would not indulge my other minions so.  But, this boy is special and at least for the moment I need him.  "These were not living quarters.  They were either emergency shelters or military stockpiles.  I have found three others like this, but none have had what I am looking for.  And before you ask, yes, I do know what it would look like.  No more questions."  My patience only goes so far… wait, what is that noise?

            They found themselves in a gigantic room, metal as far as they could see.  Devices that defied definition were neatly stacked across the bay, gleaming, cold and lifeless. 

            Except that one group of devices began to shine a bright green.  These were shaped like insects and were roughly the size of a basketball.  Despite any evident source of propulsion, they quickly lifted into the air.  In moments, they were surrounded.  Kurai stepped towards one swarm of the defenders.  "I shall try the tablet!"  He pulled out the ancient device and his energy flowed through it again.  The blue light came forth.

            For a moment, a high pitched buzzing filled the air.  The pair realized that they were analyzing the energy pattern, verifying the identity of the user.  Evidently, they did not like the feel of Kurai's energy, as they sprouted a pair of nasty looking claws from their undercarriages.  These began spitting bolts of energy. 

            Kurai responded quickly.  He ducked down, laser bolts blasting past his head.  He tossed the tablet to Slade, as he needed his hands free to use his power.  Kurai's hands glowed a bright red, the bandages burning off in seconds. He returned fire with bolts of raw ki energy, blasting drone after drone.  The drones immediately decided that Kurai presented the greater threat and began pelting him with blast after blast.  Kurai's bright red energy field absorbed or reflected the full barrage.

            Slade's response was slower as he put the tablet in its carrying case.  He then whipped out a pair of pistols.  Although his shots lacked Kurai's power, they more than made up for it with their precision and accuracy.  One drone after another fell, but more sprang up to replace them.  "There are too many!" 

            Kurai's eyes burned with power.  "For the small blasts that I have been using, yes.  Perhaps more raw power is needed!"  He cried out, sending a ball of energy easily as large as he was.  It quickly split into dozens of smaller blast, smashing the insectoid drones instantly.  More bursts missed their targets altogether, blowing holes in the walls and floor.

            Slade snapped, "Fall back!  Another burst like that one and you could destroy everything, fool!"  Kurai nodded his ascent, covering Slade's escape from the bunker.  When he knew that his employer was clear, he leapt up and out of the hole, nearly twenty feet.  As the two left, the manhole closed itself again. 

            Kurai looked no worse from wear, despite his mighty exertions.  "You said you have encountered bunkers like these before.  So explain; WHY did you not warn me about these drones?"

            Slade glared at his assistant again.  "Do not take that tone with me.  You may think yourself my superior, but your life is in MY hands.  And to answer your question, none have been this intact.  This is actually a good thing."

            Kurai's eyes widened.  "Please explain." 

            "If the security is this well preserved, it stands to reason that the other items have survived.  The trick is getting at it.  And I have the inklings of a plan…"

            Kurai ventured, "Involving Thunder and Lightning?"

            Slade blinked.  "How did you know?"

            "This episode has been billed as the return of Thunder and Lightning."

            Slade grimaced.  "Leave the poor fourth wall alone, Kurai.  Now, here's what we'll do…"

            ********************

            One week later…

            "King me!"  Robert cackled evilly as he hopped over Gar's last checker piece, claiming the ninety-third victory of the afternoon.

            Gar wailed, "How is this possible?  I went first!"

            Victor, who was watching the biography channel, glanced over.  "What does THAT have to do with anything?"

            Gar replied, "I looked it up.  If you go first in checkers, it's almost impossible to lose.  Obviously HE cheated."

            Robert stood up and stretched.  "Or else you're just that bad at checkers."

            Victor chuckled.  "Yeah, games of wit aren't his forte.  Remember that time he played chess with Noel?"

            Robert smirked.  "Oh yeah.  The only chess game ever with checkmate in one move." 

            Gar muttered and stomped out of the room.

            Robert, fully stretched out and ready to go, plopped down on the couch next to Victor.  "So, who's this one about?"

            "Pamela Anderson.  And they got pictures!"

            "Oh yeah!"  Robert started fiddling with the VCR.  "Tell me we have a blank tape!" 

            And then the words that a superhero dreads were uttered…

            "We interrupt this program to bring you a special report."

            "ARGH!  ALWAYS when something good's on.  No, Raven's art channel and Starfire's cartoons NEVER get interrupted for this.  It's always when Cyborg gets to see a little skin."  Victor nudged up the volume.  "Five gets you ten this involves us."

            Robert snorted.  "Yeah right.  Those are sucker's odds.  Let me just get ready to rumble…"  He suddenly posed oddly, standing on one foot while holding both arms parallel and to his right.  "Gauntlet… Armor… Up!"  A flash of yellow, and the golden metal of his ring turned a grey, spreading the length of his arm, while the red ruby turned a light blue and became an inset orb on the back of his hand."

            Cyborg ran past.  "I've set the signal, but the others are spread throughout town.  We're the closest, so we have to hold them off for a bit.  Gar's already in the T-Car.  Let's go!"

            Robert stood there, slightly stunned.  "Eh?"

            "Move it, sentai pose boy!"  Gauntlet yelped as Cyborg grabbed his arm, hauling him out the door.

            *************

            "Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah Ti-Tans!" 

            Cyborg glared at his passenger.  "For the last time, no theme song while we're drivin' the T-Car.  It's an insult to my baby."  He patted the dashboard of his newly finished custom job.  "Ain't that right, baby?  Yes it is, oh, yes it is!"

            Robert sighed.  Man, he loves this thing just a little too much.  "OK, fine.  So, who are we fighting?  Injustice League?  Legion of Doom?  Society of General Not Niceness?"  They had just reached downtown, and the sounds of combat were now audible. 

            Gar sulked.  "We never get that lucky.  And how come HE gets shotgun?"

            Cyborg shook his head.  "Well, Gar, it's 'cause you always shed in the front.  The back ain't leather, so she's easier to get the hair out of.  And Rob, to answer your question, it's a couple of self proclaimed demi-gods named Thunder and Lightning."

            "You… ARE making those names up, right?"

            Cyborg scanned his rear view mirror as he changed lanes.  "Wish I was.  But watch it.  They're a lot more powerful than they are creative."

            Robert pointed.  "I'm going to guess that that's them that we're about to run into, right?"  Indeed, directly ahead of them were the brothers.

            Lightning struck what he thought was an intimidating pose and laughed.  "Ah, you have finally arrived!  Very good!  We grew weary with the sport that these mortals… YIPE!"  Cyborg hit the brakes too late, and Lightning barely managed to dodge out of the way in time.

            Thunder was not so lucky.  The impact catapulted him away and into the side of a building.

            Cyborg wailed, "Oh no!  My car!"  He quickly shut off the engine and ran out and was dismayed to see the gigantic dent in the hood of the T-Car.  "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" 

            Thunder was made of sterner stuff than the T-Car, though, and he stumbled out of the cloud of dust that the crumbling wall had left in its place.  "Ugh, brother, did you get the license plate of that truck?"

            Robert and Gar quickly exited the car through the windows, Gar shifting into a wolf as he went. 

            Lightning charged up an attack.  "What, only three of you stand before the might of the elements themselves?  You have severely underestimated us!"

            Gar quipped, "And you severely underestimate the powers of teenage hormones.  We were on duty because WE don't have girlfriends." 

            Thunder sighed.  "A pain we know all too well."

            Lightning flexed his arm.  "And it makes no sense!  Who could resist THIS?"

            Robert stroked his chin.  "Maybe it's the hair."

            Lightning snapped, "What's wrong with my hair!?"

            Robert shrugged.  "Nothing.  It's just that it kinda screams 'I watched too much Dragon Ball and decided to do up my hair that way.'  And the Japanese style armor makes you look a little weird."           

            Gar shook his head.  "Nah, Savior's got the hair thing going too, and he got Raven.  It's probably the armor."

            "My armor is cool!  Tremble before my might, mortal!"  Lightning fired off an energy bolt at Gauntlet.  His energy shield flashed a bright yellow as it tried to hold back the electrical blast.  His scream of pain as he fell on his rump showed that it was only somewhat successful. 

            Gauntlet smirked.  "I underestimated you guys.  What with the dorky names and all."

            Thunder fired his own energy burst at Gauntlet, who barely managed to dodge that particular shot.  "Our names aren't dorky!  They match us to a T!"

            Gauntlet leapt forward, launching a kick that caught Thunder across the face.  "Yeah, but they aren't very original.  I mean, maybe you could do something along the same theme?  Maybe you could call yourself Thor or Zeus or something." 

            Gar took advantage of Gauntlet's banter, rushing in and biting Lightning on the rear.  "ARGH!"  He spun about, but Beast Boy was already out of the way, turning into a monkey in mid flight and tackling Lightning.  He scrambled across his face, keeping him from getting off a good shot.

            And Cyborg kept trying to fix his car.

            Robert caught a blow across the face from Thunder and fell to his knees.  He recovered quickly and swept his foot into the back of Thunder's right knee.  He cried out in pain.  Robert followed up with a punch to the face which snapped his head back.  Thunder stumbled back and summoned a burst of bright blue energy that blasted Robert through one side of the T-Car and out the other. 

            "NOOOOOOOOOOO!  My baby!"  His arm shifted to its sonic cannon configuration, while his chest opened up, revealing a pair of missile launchers.  "You're goin' down, bitch!" 

            Before Thunder could respond a wave of pure sonic energy, followed by a volley of missiles, flew out from Cyborg's launchers.  He cried out in pain as his inner ear was thrown into turmoil, and the explosions from the missiles threw him back.  He bounced across the street three times before skidding to a halt.  Thunder muttered, "Ugh.  I don't think this is worth the effort…" 

            Beast Boy was thrown back by a lucky shot from Lightning.  Gar moaned as the yellow warrior laughed.  "Hah!  You fight well, but you are no match for me!"

            Robert picked himself up.  He did not notice that his force field had bent the lamp post he had flown into, nor did he notice that the bent section was shaped like the top of his head.  "Ugh…" 

            Cyborg switched his right arm to autocannon mode and fired a few rounds, forcing the pair to duck behind into a supermarket for cover.  "Hey, you two good to go?  'Cause I haven't been able to reload for a while and I can't keep 'em pinned forever!"

            Robert shook his head, attempting to clear the cobwebs from his mind.  "OK… ow.  That REALLY hurt."

            A crispy Beast Boy landed next to the pair.  "No kidding!  Where are the others!?"  

            "It doesn't matter."  Robert clutched his left arm.  "Think I pulled something, have a borderline concussion and I know I broke something, but we can take 'em."

            The steady clatter of Victor's autocannon finally halted after nearly a minute of continuous fire.  An ammunition casing flew from Cyborg's arm as it shifted back to its normal mode.  "Well, I'm empty.  Any ideas?" 

            Robert peered into the store.  "Noone in there… looks like everyone had the sense to get out of the area.  So, we don't have to worry about any civilians.  I vote we charge them head on.  They took it about as bad as we did."

            Beast Boy said, "Well, I'm wondering why they're here at all.  Last time, they learned responsibility and promised not to do this kind of thing again!"

            Gauntlet replied, "Obviously they lied."

            Cyborg frowned.  "Nah, they seemed pretty sincere.  So someone must be forcing 'em to do this.  I say we find out." 

            Thunder and Lightning seemed to be thinking much the same thing.  They had procured a white sheet of butcher paper as a truce flag and waved it through a hole in the storefront's window.  "Truce?"

            Robert sighed in relief.  "Thank God.  I was just blowing smoke; I couldn't move another inch!" 

            Cyborg called out, "Truce!" 

            Thunder and Lightning exited the store, looking crestfallen.  Thunder limped a bit from Robert's kick, and Lightning's right eye was swelling shut from a blow from Beast Boy. 

            Robert began.  "All right, we've agreed to your parlay, why did you feel the need to BREAK MY FRIGGIN' ARM!?"  He got strange looks from everyone.  "OK, fine, it isn't broken.  But it sure doesn't feel good!  What's the deal!?" 

            Lightning continued the tale.  "We are the offspring of a member of the United States military, Lieutenant Walter Williams.  Or so we are told by our mother, whom he had relations with while he served in Okinawa.  He left before we were born, and probably does not know of us.  We had never sought him out, believing that anyone so callous as to abandon our mother would not be worth knowing.  And then a little under a week ago we had the misfortune of meeting Slade once again."

            And thusly was the following tale related…

            *******************

            Five days before…

            In an uninhabited corner of the Rocky Mountains, the brothers Thunder and Lightning sat by a campfire.  A newly caught trout roasted on a spit as the two relaxed.

            Thunder sighed contentedly.  "Is this not the life, brother?  Fresh air, beautiful scenery, and a return to simplicity.  All is well."

            Lightning poked at the fire with a stick, prompting a few sparks.  "Perhaps.  I do miss a few things about civilization, but this is a nice respite." 

            "Then I suppose you shall not be happy to see me at all, considering the news I bring."  The pair turned to face the source of the familiar voice.  Slade, dressed in his Deathstroke armor, stepped from the underbrush.  "I have need of your services again."

            Electricity leapt along Lightning's arms.  "What?  You dare show yourself again after last time!?"

            Thunder stood up as well.  He brought his fists together, creating a small booming noise.  "I suggest you leave, Slade." 

            Although his two colored mask obscured all but his left eye, the pair of demi gods got the impression of a haughty smirk.  "I'm wounded.  After I provided you with such fine sport; fighting Fire was your own decision."

            Each prepared a bolt of energy.  Slade, despite his seemingly dangerous position, did not seem to notice his peril.  "I would not suggest that you make any move against me."

            Lightning laughed.  "You bluff to cover your folly!  What did you expect to happen when you enter our camp without weaponry?"

            "I expect you to beg for mercy in about three seconds.  Sic 'em." 

            Before either Thunder or Lightning could respond, Kurai leapt down from the trees, interposing himself between Slade and the pair of elemental warriors.  He crossed his hands in front of his chest.  "As you wish, Slade.  I shall offer you both the courtesy of an opening shot." 

            Thunder blinked.  "What folly is this?  Do you not know our abilities!?"

            Kurai's arrogant smirk grated Lightning's nerves.  "I can sense out your energy.  Believe me, you lack the skill and power to defeat me.  In fact, I do not know exactly why Slade-sensei has need of you."

            Lightning fired a bolt of electrical energy at Kurai.  "You shall pay for your arrogance!"  Lightning gasped in surprise as the attack halted a foot from the boy. 

            Kurai's smirk somehow managed to become even more arrogant.  "And now that you have fired your free shot, you shall not make another."  Kurai leapt forward and planted his fist in Lightning's gut.  The armor shattered at the blow, and the demi-god went flying back.  He bounced across the ground, coming to a stop.

            "Brother!"  Thunder launched a blue energy wave at Kurai.  Kurai had not anticipated the size of the attack, and it washed over him, vaporizing his coat.

            Kurai's eyes blazed.  "That was my favorite coat.  Now you shall…"

            Slade laid a hand on his shoulder, oblivious to the heat radiating from his body.  "Down, boy.  You do not wish to overexert yourself this early in the game."

            Lightning rose shakily to his feet.  "I do not take kindly to sucker punches!"  Lightning was surrounded by an aura of pure electricity.  "Let us see how you fare when we know what to expect!"

            Slade stepped between the two.  "Stand down, youngsters, or else your father suffers." 

            Lightning stopped in an instant.  "Father?!  What do you know of him!?"

            Slade again gave the impression of smirking.  "I have my sources.  To make a long story short, I have him hostage, and he will die unless you do as I say."

            ********************

Thunder's forlorn expression never changed.  "Beast Boy, I promise you that we would not have returned to our irresponsible ways if given another choice.  But, the he has forced us to do this."

            Robert interrupted.  "Question: wouldn't calling a truce with us constitute not doing exactly as he said?"

            Cyborg glared.  "Let the man talk, Rob.  Go on, Thunder."

            Lightning continued instead.  "That is the bulk of our story.  Now the question is, what next?  He gave us no instructions after drawing you into combat, so I believe we are free to act as we will from here on out."

            Rob looked thoughtful.  "Well, I guess we find the others, and then try to figure out what this Slade fellow is up to.  Not that I know who he is.  Why should anyone tell me who my enemies are?  I'm just a bloody Titan!"

            Gar suddenly stiffened.  He shifted to the form of a wolf and sniffed the air.  "What?  I can smell Robin and Star, but I don't see them…" 

            Suddenly, a shockwave sent everything not bolted to the street flying back.  All five metahumans flew with the cloud of debris, landing roughly on the concrete.  A cloud of smoke cut visible range to less than ten feet.

            Lightning was the first on his feet, electricity blazing about him.  "Who dares!?"

            Kurai stepped from the smoke, holding an unconscious and bloody Robin by the scruff of his cape.  "Ah, Lightning, good to meet you again.  I see that you have a nice, what is the word… shiner developing.  What, did a little girl beat you up again?"

            A thunderbolt crackled into place in Lightning's hands, but Kurai lifted Robin, interposing the Teen Wonder between the two.  Lightning snarled, "What, you are afraid to face me now that you do not have surprise on your side!?" 

            Kurai's ever present smirk intensified.  "No, I simply do not wish you to waste your energy before the main event."  Kurai glanced out of the corner of his eye.  "Pardon me a moment."  He dropped Robin to the ground and leapt up.

            The smoke was briefly parted by a Starbolt that flew out, going beneath the airborne Kurai and slamming into Lightning.  Kurai turned around in mid air and landed, ready to face an enraged Starfire.  It was unclear whether it was coincidence or design that he landed on Robin's back.  The Teen Wonder moaned in pain as something cracked. 

            Starfire followed a moment later.  "You shall pay for hurting him!!!"  Moving at full speed, she caught Kurai off guard, slamming him in the gut.  He flew backwards for nearly twenty feet, but finally managed to halt his flight. 

            Kurai glanced about, seeing nothing in the smoke.  The sheer amount of energy, Ki or otherwise, that had been bandied about the place over the last twenty minutes or so was making it hard for him to figure out where anything was with his Ki senses.

            Another Starbolt flew out.  This time, he did not see it coming in time and took the blast head on.  He managed to keep on his feet this time.  Starfire attacked from above, flying in next to him and hitting him on the side of the head with a spin kick. 

            Kurai lashed out and caught Starfire's ankle.  "You are a worthy opponent, Starfire of Tamaran.  However…"  He slammed her into the ground mercilessly.  "There is no mortal alive who could match my power."  He did not release her foot, not wanting her to get a chance at another sneak attack. 

            "We shall see about that!"  Starfire twisted around and fired a Starbolt.  This one was far weaker than the previous attacks, and Kurai batted it aside with no effort. 

            Kurai laughed aloud before he kicked her in the face.  He did not release her, so the titanic blow nearly dislocated her leg.  "Is this the best you can do?  If I wished to fight retarded kittens, I would find some!" 

            A voice spoke up.  "Is that was passes for banter these days?"

            A second voice piped up.  "To be fair, it doesn't sound like English is his first language."

            "But still.  The overall quality of villains has gone downhill." 

            Kurai dropped a wounded Starfire and whirled around.  "Show yourselves!"

            The first voice, now identifiable as a man, laughed.  "Hah!  Like we're that stupid.  You gave us this great cover, we're using it." 

            Kurai was suddenly pelted by a barrage of stone and brick debris, some of it surrounded by an aura of black energy, others traveling thanks to good old fashioned kinetic energy.  Kurai covered his face, taking the attack in silence. 

            Finally, he managed to divine the life energy of one of his attackers.  "Aha…"  He charged a bolt of red energy and threw at his tormentor.  He heard a feminine cry and an explosion, and then nothing. 

            Kurai stood, waiting for a counterattack.  After nearly a minute, the Shimmer lashed out from the dust cloud, biting into Kurai's back. 

"You made a biiiig mistake hurting her!"  Savior's voice echoed about the deserted street, making it difficult to guess the source of the attack.

"You fight without honor, striking from the shadows!"  The Shimmer swung out again, hoping to pull the same trick twice.  He succeeded, gouging another gash in Kurai's back.  He hissed at the slap and reached out, grabbing the white rope.  He yanked it as hard as he could, bringing him out of the gloom.  "A shame you do not have the stealth of the shinobi."  Before Savior could respond one way or the other, a right hook knocked him senseless.

            Kurai crossed his arms in front of his chest again.  "Once again, I find that I am lacking suitable challenge." 

            "I wouldn't be so sure about that."  Robert stepped from the gloom.  Although his clothes were shredded, the skin beneath looked to have healed.  "That Raven is a good healer.  Too bad she only got to me before you knocked her out.  She had to cover Savior, he's the jerk you just KO'd, when he launched that attack.  Now, I…"  As Robert finally saw his enemy, he stopped.

            Both warriors sized each other up for several moments, speechless.  After what seemed like an eternity, they spoke in unison.

            "What the hell are YOU doing here!?"

            End Part 5

            How do Robert and Kurai know each other?  Tune in, some time, same website for the exiting continuation of…

            THE EPIC OF GAUNTLET.

            Annoying Singers: E-P-I-C!  G-A-U!  N-T.  LET!

            We're sorry.  The people responsible for that segment have been sacked.