A LONG TIME AGO…
IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR OUT… somewhere…
"I am going to kill those idiots!" whinges Kitten with a blaster pike pointing at her back. Dressed in a black Jedi outfit, she looked into the sarlac pit (Return of the Jedi) and gulps at the many rows of teeth.
"How are we meant to get out of this one?" whines Mumbo the very tall, hairy wookie with blue fur. Four aliens with weapons keep close tabs on them. Not in his usual form, Mumbo can't do his usual bag of tricks.
"Shut up! I'm trying to think of an escape!" snaps Kitten and she doesn't see the light sabre flying from R2-D2 as it hits her on the head and falls into the hole. "Ow! What the heck was that? Some sort of berserk flashlight?"
"Our escape I think!" whinges Mumbo.
"Hey! You're not Luke and Chewy!" remarks Lando Calrissian in disguise.
"I know I can't quite see yet, but it sounds like some old man and a girl!" remarks Han Solo. "What's going on?"
"They're onto us! O heck! Let's improvise!" says Kitten and she knocks two figures into the pit.
"Um… those were the good guys you know!" says Mumbo.
"Sorry! I don't watch Star-bores okay!"
The skiff guards rush at Kitten who uses her athletic ability to jump over and behind them to kick them into the hole. She picks up a fallen blaster.
"You just killed six people… um… aliens!" exclaims Mumbo in shock as she releases him with a blaster shot. "You're a murderer now!"
"Oh come on! They're make believe! We can revive them on the re-runs!"
"Oh right! Smart girl! I wonder where the others are?"
"Let's worry about ourselves first!" says Kitten, looking at the rather unfriendly crew of the other skiff as well as the imposing cannon of Jabba's sail barge. "This is your last chance Jabba! Free us, or die! ... Oh good grief! Did I actually say that?"
Apparently there is a lot of commotion in the ship…
"The illustrious Jabba bids that… oh!" shouts C3PO as he is pushed aside.
"Move off you stupid preliminary character! I don't need subtitles!" says the large slug. "Guys! It's me! It's me!"
"I can't believe it!" remarks Mumbo, looking at disbelief.
Kitten raises an eyebrow and smiles meanly. "Well I knew he was fat… but…"
"Oh shut up you two! I have the remote!" says Control Freak the Hutt (CtrlH). He's not as big as Jabba as he retains his normal size, yet in the shape and form of a hutt save the head. He continues on in stress. "But it's out of power! We need to formulate a plan to get some energy, or else we are stuck in Star wars FOREVER!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" wails Kitten (Scene is like Luke when Vader reveals his identity).
…
"Send my regards to all my dear victims in the next realm." smiles the Joker as Robin lay strapped onto the candle. Thousands of horrified faces watch the scene. The Penguin manages to pull a look of horror over his grinning.
"Be a good candle and burn!" says TwoFace, and he presses the button.
Robin had not been idle. He knew very well that attacking the Joker or the thugs could lead to hundreds being massacred. He busily went around planting his booby traps and also hotwired the candle.
Instead of lighting up, the candle released Robin and he dashed over to deal TwoFace with a flying kick, sending the gun from his hand. One flick of a birdarang smacks the Joker down as well. Catwoman uses her claws to tear the bonds from Bruce.
"Thanks." smiles Wayne, feeling his wrists. He knocks out a henchman running at him.
"Don't stick around Wayne. Just get going!" she snaps, pushing him away. "I'll handle the goons." and she flings her whip to stop four men in their tracks.
"KILL THEM ALL!" screams TwoFace to the piemen gunners, but they have a problem.
Five of the piemen are paralysed by quick blown darts by Robin before the show started, not lethal, but very effective. Three had run away in fear and the remaining forty or so, met Robin's booby traps.
If Robin himself was to plan such a trap, he would have positioned the men in those exact spots, so he put up the traps early. Electrical tazers come up with fast working sleeping gas and most of them fall. The small few that evaded the traps were easily spotted by Robin who uses the traditional homing Batarang to sweep the guns right out of their hands in an arc throw. Police rush in.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" laughs the Joker as he flings himself at Robin. He was going to use his acid flower when Catwoman's whip snapped his ankles, sending him down again into the stage pit.
"Thanks!" says Robin, not too ungrateful.
"No worries kid." she smiles. She deals TwoFace a massive boot to the chin before he can get up. The other men are groaning on the floor.
"Where's Wayne?"
"Ungh…!" calls the voice of Bruce from backstage
Catwoman and Robin run off to the voice like lightning, but Robin's ankles are caught by the Joker, pulling him down to under the dark floor of stage.
"Well looky here! I thought you were on our side little cat?" smiles the Riddler, still electrifying Bruce with his cane.
"If you…" begins Catwoman, but she notices the shadow above her head and moves out of the way before the large cage can drop on her. "Nice try Riddler!" she says, jumping over the cage.
"Predictable!" smiles the Riddler, and another cage comes down on top of the other, trapping Catwoman. "Now if you'll excuse me!" he bows and exits.
"Get back here Enigma! You can't do this to me!" she yells, trying to get out, but the bars are way too strong.
"I already have!"
…
Robin is flung into the wooden frames by the strength of the Maniacal Joker. His body crippled by the blows of his kicks.
"You know, I haven't quite recovered from our last encounter, so please go easy on my back!" smiles the ace of knaves, fixing up his suit. Robin charges him with pole arm extended.
The Joker pulls out a great blob of some sort of play dough that gets stuck to the pole which jams it onto the frameworks of the stage. It doesn't stop Robin from swinging in a kick at the clown prince of crime who crashes into some support beams.
"You'll have plenty of time to rest up in jail Joker." says Robin trying to pry his weapon from the goo. To his horror, the goo suddenly expands so it engulfs his arm. Before he can reach his utility belt for a way out, another glob is flung at his other arm and legs. He is trapped!
"What the?" exclaims Robin, and a large wooden beam is hurled at his head, knocking him out.
"Jolly good!" smiles the Joker wickedly, and he pulls a syringe from his pocket. "Time for my little joke!" and his eyes flare like embers.
…
"Well I'm going shopping." says Vain Raven, doing up her hair again. "Anyone else coming along?"
"Sorry Rae, but duty first." says Cyborg, watching the live news update on the parade in Gotham from his in built television. He doesn't think it would be a good thing for Starfire to see. "I really think you should stay home as well though Rae. You're still not quite yourself!"
"You can say that again!" remarks Beastboy. "It's like you replaced your brains with a deflated basket ball!"
"Any more remarks from you little green pipsqueak and your face will be like a deflated basket ball!" says Vain, pointing her metal comb at Beastboy. "Well I'm going whether you nerds like it or not!" and she struts out of the house.
"Nerds? Us?" says Beastboy confused, watching Star-trod on TV. "Do you think its okay to let her roam around with Kitten, Mumbo, Mod and CtrlF still loose?"
"Chances are they won't recognise her BB." says Cyborg. "And I'm not crossing in her way again! Not after that slap she gave me when I said she looked great! Figure that out!"
"Actually you only said yes, and you weren't paying attention either." says Beastboy. "She actually asked if her but looked big in those pants."
"Well that explains a few things... But I was right anyway."
"Please re-un-seal the food cooler friend Cyborg." cries Starfire, still under the influence of Seitooc's disease. "I am feeling much better now." she fibs with eyes dilute, skin pale and covering her face with a paper bag.
"I don't think so Star." sighs Cyborg. "Just go get some rest. Everything's fine in Gotham. Robin's okay!" and he watches TwoFace, Joker and the Riddler escape with Bruce Wayne still hostage, blowing up the stage where Robin was. "I'm sure he's fine!" he pulls a smile over his horrified gawking.
Starfire just sobs a bit, then nods solemnly and heads back up stairs.
"Things are that bad huh?" says Beastboy when Starfire is out of hearing range.
"Oh yeah!" says Cyborg, watching the smoke clearing from the explosion. "No civilians hurt though. Only Robin was still in there… man! I hope he's okay! I'll be surprised if he can smile after this one!"
…
As Vain walked down the street, she enjoyed the attention she was arousing from the boys in the vicinity. She had always wanted to do that. However, her joy was somehow overshadowed by some threat disguised. Something somewhere was going terribly wrong. She ignored the sensation and strutted onward to the mall. This was her day…
…
"STAY NEAR THE FIRE!" shouts Fight. The shape of shadows swirls around them. The blue flames flickered and almost blew out as the form seems to move around them.
"What's the point of fighting…?" sighs Grumpy.
"It's fun!" giggles Happy.
"It's scary!" cries Sad.
"It's mine!" laughs Evil, appearing before them. Her eyes gleamed with malicious intentions, her long cape curving like tentacles. Eight round insect eyes appear above her. "Hello sisters!"
"Evil! You're okay!" says Happy. The others don't quite share her enthusiasm.
"Of course I am infidels!" scorns Evil, patting her pet. "I can handle myself you know!"
"What do you want?" groan Grumpy.
"A fight I'll bet!" says Fight with energy blasts ready.
"But of course!" smiles Evil. "Watching the whole bunch of you getting marred by Echelon here is such a great pass time!" and she raises from the floor and into a chair of energy. "He's my own little dark creation. I think you will find him amusing!"
"Hey! Get down here!" yells fight, flying up. She is Slashed down by two giant pray mantis like claws of Echelon. A large claw mark scared her from the shoulder to the thigh. Another has caused a gash on her forehead. Grumpy quickly pulled her towards the fire before the lightning striking claws could pin her mauled body to the ground. She bled…
"No!" shouts Shy in grief, but a large stinger gathers her attention. It comes in for a jab but Sad quickly pulls Shy out of the way. Echelon shrieks as its tail flies into the fire, disintegrating in flame and light.
"I don't think your monsters up to scratch Evil!" teases Mean.
"This is going to be bad…" grumbles Grumpy.
"Deliciously so!" laughs Evil, drinking a cup of fear. They watch in horror as Echelon's tale sucks in the shadows around it and morphs back into two spikes. "Have fun!"
Suddenly, six clawed, hairy and gorilla like arms appear from the shadow, each one at one of the Ravens. They put up barriers around themselves that barely hold to the shadow beast's might, and the battle begins…
…
"What did I do to deserve this? Why?" says Kitten as the trio shuffle through the dense forest of Endor.
"Do you REALLY want me to answer that?" says CtrlH in the lead with his remote guiding them.
"Hey! How come we can't shift to another channel like before?" says Mumbo, scratching some fleas.
"The remote seemed to overload when old man Mod messed with it!" mutters the slug form CtrlH. He accidentally squishes a small furry creature.
"That was cruel! You squished a Ewok! I wanted to do that!" exclaims Kitten.
"Are you sure we really need Mod for us to get back? I'd really like to get rid of the old coot!" says Mumbo. He spots a frog and eats it.
"Ugh! Do you have idea what you ate?" says Kitten disgusted. Mumbo just shrugs.
"Just playing the part! And I was hungry!"
"We need Mod because he still has the activation device." says CtrlH and he gets out a large soda from his backpack. "It is absolutely essential!"
"Why couldn't we fly the ship closer to him then? Instead of walking our feet off?" grumbles Kitten, not being too fond of nature.
"For your information, my juvenile Star wars rookie, this is Endor, and somewhere up there is the Death star as well as most of the Imperial fleet!" he says dramatically. "I landed as close to the signal as I dared!"
"How far are we now?" says Mumbo, picking his teeth of the purple frog.
"That's the weird thing!" says the Hutt. "It should be right here! Maybe this thing is broken!"
"Great! Lost in space!" groans Kitten, and she slumps on the ferns.
"Or else it… gulp… could be right…above…us..." says CtrlH slowly. They all look to the sky… the Death star!
…
"I'm glad to see you are alright Robin… more or less." says Commissioner Gordon.
Robin wipes the blood from his face and rubs his sore arm where the Joker had injected some venom into him. Luckily, the Starfire vaccine (See 'The Joker' chapter 7, 'a good heart') seemed combat the effects.
"Now just surrender Catwoman. We have you surrounded!" says an officer as a whole bunch surround the cage with pistols drawn.
"Hey! I helped out here today! So let's just call it even!" says Catwoman.
"Not likely thief." says Gordon. "You're going safely behind bars. We'll consider your aid in the sentencing…"
"Let her go…" says Robin lowly.
"What?" says Gordon, quite surprised. "I know she may help out sometimes, but that doesn't change the fact that she is still a notorious criminal!"
"She has information to give." says Robin and Catwoman smiles. "She's going to give it to us… when she's free to leave…"
"Spot on junior." says catwoman and she waits Gordon's decision.
"I'd rather hear from Batman myself…" says Gordon, still not liking the idea.
"He would have wanted you to… you probably know that." says Robin, who didn't like the idea much either, but Bruce was in danger.
"You heroes are really giving the Penguin a good shot at you. I hope that you know what you are doing." and he signals the officers to free her. They nervously use a laser cutter to open the bars, and no sooner is there a way out, Catwoman flees like a panther and into the alleys. Some police begin chase instinctively, but Gordon stops them.
"I hope so too." says Robin. For some odd reason… he feels like laughing…
…
Cybord didn't like doing it, but he had little choice… he took the pink crayon and started colouring in the pony…
With Raven out, Beastboy immobilised and Starfire still sick, he was forced to become nurse. Feeding and cleaning after Silkie, watering and checking bugs on Beastboy (He insisted leaf by leaf) and now humouring Starfire by joining her in her creative 'recreation'.
"Thank you for being so patient with me friend Cyborg." says Starfire, colouring with blue crayons. "I have certainly caused a strong rift parting between you and Robin… Robin…" and she cries again.
"Salt isn't good for plants Star!" says Beastboy warily as the tears splash.
"Brace yourself BB!" says Cyborg, activating emergency procedures.
"Oh! Not again!" whine Beastboy.
"You don't really have to…" says Starfire, still moping.
"Sorry Star! It has to be done…" says Cyborg grimly, and he presses the button.
"Now let's save the world fellow furry friends!" says Henry the happy Hamster. "Hey, hey, hey!"
Starfire pulls a smile at the happy fluffy cartoon characters and allows herself to get distracted. Beastboy starts to wail silently and Cyborg shakes his head as Henry begins the 'Happy, happy, happy' song.
Cyborg sits down and resists going insane. "Lord give me strength!" he says, turning off his ears and eyes, but the overwhelming aura of horror of the hypnotic and dastardly bad program makes him shiver as he is not quite able to forget the dreaded tune of the fuzzy rodent.
The door suddenly opens…
…
"RAAAAGH!" yells Grumpy, flashing out arm blades of energy. She counters the slashing of Echelon's mantis arms like a samurai. Leaping now and again to avoid the scimitar blades. The dust glistened from the fire.
Echelon was The Shadow Beast, able to use the shadows to morph its already impressive form. One moment the head could be like a giant toothed lizard, and at a glance, it will change to spider fangs. The only thing that remained the same were the eyes, eight round yellow insect eyes that seemed to bury into your heart with icy fear.
Shy held up her barrier, not daring to move, with Sad also helping to stop the erratic clawing of Echelon's spindly yet strong arms against the energy wall. Happy was grinning as she moved for her life. Echelon's stinger punching through the ground like a sword, leaving the ground smoking. Rocks cut at her as they flew around from the impacts.
It was impossible to see the monster's shape for the darkness, but one would suppose a giant insect, about the size of a double bus, as it had many limbs, segmented and clawed. Even it's hands seemed to change in the shadows to fit its needs; pincer, deformed hand, a crusher or even poison barbs. Evil had made it well…
"YAAAARGH!" shouts Fight in battle cry, her face still dripping blood. Like Grumpy, she had her arms like blades as she charged for Echelon's head and it's unchanging eyes.
Two great hairy arms, like a snake striking, come out to grab her, but she slices them off with amazing strength. The limbs quiver before disappearing in the dark. The arms reform into tentacles with mouths of many jagged teeth.
Grumpy takes on a bunch of arms, each one different from the other, and mixing their forms like an oil painting in a swirl of black. Some were giant sized blades while others were vice like pincers of terrible design. Mean goes to help her and they drive the limbs off, but not daring to move away from the flame save they be engulfed in the shadow.
Fight jumps and flies for the head, slapping the tentacles away she sees her enemy. Like a giant car sized horse skull it was, with horns, stag beetle like pincers and spider fangs. Long hair like antennae spurted from either side, yet the description changed with each flicker of light. Echelon drools with red. Its eyes turned lizard like pupils as it stared at the challenger.
Fight is taken by surprise by the resounding noise that comes from the beast… nothing… yet something. Like a dead silence, like a heart shattering curse, like wind on clouds, like a shriek in the cold caverns of time being squeezed out of its very existence. That was what she heard. Her heart fell.
Echelon lunges it's gruesome head at her, its mighty neck muscles flexed, to maim and mutilate, but Fight just manages to gather her whits to bring her blades up to hold off the vice pincers from squeezing her bones to pieces. Mean shoots out fire at Echelon which hit's its large, bulbous, armoured and hairy thorax. A green splash of blood is seen, but no more. The hulking form of the shadow lord swings to crush her, but she is saved by Grumpy who stabs at the creature's centre. The blade disintegrates in the green ooze that spills and she quickly backs off. The wounds seal.
Still wriggling its mandibles at Fight, the beast tries to reach her with its arms, but static bolts fly off Fight to knock them back. She decides to press on to try and cut at the beast's eyes. The mouth suddenly contorts, and in an instant, instead of two pincers, there are six chomping at her. She backs off with a swift side roll and the head hits the ground in an earth shaking crush.
"Enough playing Echelon! Finish them off!" says Evil from her high seat.
Echelon rears up on its hind limbs like a horse so that the Ravens watch in terror at the creatures might. Standing well over three stories, it struck down at the fire to vanquish the light. Boulders fly and there is much screaming… Things go dark.
"Where is it?"
"Where are you?"
"Help! Somebody! Over here!"
"WHERE?"
"WHERE IS IT?"
"Keep shouting! I'll follow your voice!"
"I can feel it! Run!"
"HELP!"
"NO!"
"Stay together! Argh!"
"HELP! PLEASE HELP!"
The first thing Grumpy felt was the cold blade of Echelon piercing her chest. Her body went as cold as death as the jagged form twisted and twirled her insides. She is pinned to the floor with the blade still in her.
Sad along with Shy were being crushed by the weight of Echelon, their shield no longer activated. The two sinks into the very belly of the foul creature and into a place of screams and eyeless faces. Shy covers her head as the voices echoed and her own body begins to feel like in a burning abyss. Sad wept and the lost souls bit at her mind.
Mean didn't see it coming. The blade went straight through her neck like a guillotine… yet her head remained on. For Echelon was not quite like a physical monster. He was fear and shadow. Though he could use real blades as it had on Fight, it thought it more beneficial to use its more destructive weapons, in order to make the souls of its victims more to its tastes… broken. The blade felt like agony and Mean fell to her knees as more swipes went through her body in ruthless succession. Doubt, hate and screams went through her weak form.
Happy just sat and squirmed in insane laughter. She was already broken, very broken, by the instilling fear of Echelon. She cried… The light that shined in her eyes were of pale fear…
Fight fared the worst as the mouth engulfed her. The red saliva, dripping upon her, reeked and felt alive like worms. Never was such fear felt by Raven, nor loss, loneliness, doubt or deep inner pain. Deep like the 40 inch fangs of Echelon, the Dark Beast, as it sucked out her courage and strength like a vampire. The jaws crushing her spirit…
Evil smiled as the fear, anger and pain fuelled her lost mind with pleasure. Inside, there was something fighting the evil, something crying out to make it stop… but evil had its will…
"STOP!"
…
"Couldn't you think of a better way to get in?" says Mumbo to CtrlH as they are transported up the elevator shaft. Their hands are bound and Stormtroopers with blasters stand either side.
"Well if you hadn't squished that Ewok, we wouldn't have had to run the troopers when the whole tribe was on our tail!" says Kitten to the downcast CtrlH.
"Quiet you." says one of them in its demanding military voice.
Kitten didn't like to admit it, but these guys really had some guts. Mumbo was willing to follow CtrlH's bogus plan, and CtrlH was bogus enough to concoct it. Then again, they had little other choice. She tried to remember the significance of the scene in Star wars, but it didn't come… until she saw Darth Vader…
"Oh darn! Now I remember!" she groans.
"Gaurds. Leave us." says the Emperor in his seat, turned away from them and staring to space. The red gaurds walk away and the trio are left in the room with the Sith lords. CtrlH begins quivering, either in fear or excitement. "You no longer need those." says the emperor, lifting his hand and their cuffs fall off.
Kitten seeks to set things straight. "Now look here Darth Later, I'm not your son!"
"You do not know the full power of the dark side!" says Vader. "You must join me Luke."
"I'M NOT LUKE!" screams Kitten. "I'M NOT EVEN A BOY YOU BUCKET FACE! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK ANYONE WITH A RIGHT MIND WOULD JOIN A WIERDO LIKE YOU?"
"It is pointless to resist my son." says Vader, seeing 'Luke' being drawn to the dark side quicker than anticipated.
"Look! Maybe you're a nice father, maybe. But MY father isn't some lunatic with psychotic issues who wears a stupid costume… well maybe he does… but HE'S NOT YOU!"
"You are unwise to lower your defences!" says Vader (Not quite knowing how to respond to those words) and he charges at her with his red lightsabre.
"Oh great jumping jelly babies!" gulps Mumbo as the Sith approaches.
"Here!" says CtrlH, tossing a lightsabre to Kitten.
"What am I meant to do with this?" says Kitten trembling.
"It's my very own hand made lightsabre!" says the Hutt, moving away along with Mumbo. "It's going to be fine! You're a Jedi knight!"
"Isn't a Jedi some weird guy who gets trained by a green puppet?"
"You shall meet your destiny!" says Vader, and he slices down.
Kitten moves aside and rolls away from the back slash. She turns on the lightsabre (orange) and amazingly holds off the Sith.
"Hey! I'm doing it!" she smiles, parrying and blocking against Vader.
"Of course you are! The program gives out any powers that your character is supposed to have!" explains CtrlH. "Now keep him busy while we find Mod!" and he grabs out his remote.
"Maybe you're holding it upside down." says Mumbo as he sees where the indicator is bleeping.
"No… It's the right way up!" says CtrlH in disbelief. "That must mean…!" and they both stare up to the Emperor's seat.
The emperor cackles as he swivels around. the crooked teeth, wrinkles, mottled skin, sick grin and half rim spectacles. MAD MOD! Mod laughs loud and crackly at his fellow criminals.
"This is way too weird!" says Kitten, kicking Vader into a wall. "Should I cut off his head or something?"
"Press the blue button." says CtrlH.
"Blue button? Oh! I see!"
"Impressive." says Vader, rushing up. They switch blows in great clashes of light, when all of a sudden; Kitten shoots him with the lightsabre. "What? NOOOOO!" yells Vader, as the blast sends him over the railing.
"If that happened in the movie, you'd be on the dark side now." says CtrlH shaking his head.
"Can we get on with this? I'm getting a rash!" grumbles Mumbo, scratching his furry behind.
"What took you lot so long eh?" says Mod, bent and wobbly. "I planned a whole trap for the rebels afore you came around!"
"We were on a different planet!" defends CtrlH defiantly. "Now hand me the device." Mod grumbles as he lifts the contraption from his seat with the force and into the Hutt's hand. CtrlH quickly puts it together and smiles. "Great!"
"But we still need power!" says Mumbo. Suddenly the space centre lurches.
"Great! More rebels!" mumbles Mod. "If I was out there; I'd show them a thing or two!"
"The elevator isn't working!" shouts Kitten. "This place is going to blow!"
"I'll give them this and a little that!" says Mod, poking his stick around.
CtrlH smiles brightly. "That's it!" he snaps in a brilliant flash. He grabs Mod's finger and jams it in the remote.
"Hang on a sec there guvnor! What are you doing?" says Mod confused. The electricity from the Sith lord charges up the remote to all five bars.
"Aha! We're ready to go!" smiles CtrlH, jumping for joy.
"HURRY!" shouts Mod, as the tremors get large and larger.
The four of them quickly jump into the portal just as the space station is blasted to bits. Falling down the stairs of Mod's house they land in a heap in their original forms.
"I'm glad that's over!" groans Mumbo. "I'm taking the shower!"
"Could I keep your lightsabre thingy?" says Kitten hopefully.
"NO WAY! It's a collector's item!" says CtrlF, hugging the weapon closely.
"Pity. Just imagine what I could have saved on the electricity bill!" sighs Mod, and he goes back to work in his room.
…
"So these papers are from the Penguin?" says Robin, receiving the papers from Catwoman.
"Sure are. But where's Batman?" she says, disappointed.
"That's none of your concern. He's busy on the case if you must know."
"Undercover behind enemy lines?"
"You could say that…"
"Well?"
"Nothing we can pin the Penguin with, but it does give us a head start on their next plans." says Robin, admitting she had done a good job. "Thanks."
"No problem kid. Always delighted to shove a pie into the Penguin's face."
Robin smiled at the imagery, and for some strange reason, he just broke out laughing. He muffled his grin behind his hands.
"Hey? It wasn't that funny!" says Catwoman, just as surprised. "So there is still a kid behind the costume!"
Robin quickly controls himself and frowns again. "Anyway, I'll see you…?"
"I'll pop the message off somewhere; just keep your eyes open."
"Right. See you whenever." says Robin and he prepares to leave.
"Just a second." says the burglar. "I have a message for Batman. Do you think you can handle it?"
"Try me!"
"I can't write it down, because it's quite confidential. I want it relayed perfectly. Understand?"
"Go ahead." says Robin, clearing his mind to memorize the message.
He wasn't expecting this. Catwoman gives him a great big smooch and he almost falls off the tower.
"Do you think you can remember that? I'm not doing it again." smiles Catwoman, watching the red Robin.
"If you hadn't saved Wayne this morning…!" says Robin, annoyed as much as he is embarrassed.
"I know! I would be in the lock up by now! See ya!" she winks, and she disappears into the shadows.
Robin shook his head. She was a crafty one. If he and Batman didn't keep their footing, she could easily trip them over. He steadied his mind. She was too old for him anyhow; but he smiled none the less.
To his eye, it was only a pigeon. For the Penguin, it was a spy pigeon with a miniature video camera and microphone. It kept filming as Robin departed by rope… laughing aloud over the night skies of Gotham.
…
"You!" exclaims Evil at the intruder. "No matter!" she smiles. "You will not stand a chance! Eat her mind Echelon! HAHAHA!"
The large creature suddenly opens up mighty wings, spanning like a 747, and as tall as a house; its bat like form only discernable by the light from Vain's barrier.
Vain couldn't disregard her friends no longer; she fought her selfishness and had won. Her love for the others spurning her to face the terror of darkness. Echelon beat its wings on the earth to gather a cloud of smoke like dust, leaving the others shivering in the cold wake. It sent out its chilling noise and jumped at Vain.
"What made you think you could face my monster by yourself you fool!" laughs Evil.
"Maybe this will enlighten you?" smiles vain, and she pulls out some hand devices.
"NO!" shouts Evil in rage.
When Dr. Light was defeated, Raven had picked up a few 'trophy' mementos of the occasion. They came in handy this time. The great beams hit Echelon and ripped through its dark sinews and blinding its eyes. Screaming, it fled into the shadows before it vaporised. Vain followed it until the monster was far from reach, flying faster than sound away from the light.
"YOU IDIOT!" screams Evil, flying down at top speed. She hits Vain with full force of her energy punches. She flings a dislodged boulder at her to send her broken to the ground. The light weapons are destroyed and everything goes dark, except the eyes of Evil. "Now die!"
Grumpy, Fight, Mean, Sad and Happy blast her with what strength left and she flies across the ground shrieking. They hold stance with determined eyes and Evil is afraid.
"IT IS FAR FROM OVER EMOTIONS!" she yells. She flies off in the direction of Echelon. The emotions slump exhausted to the ground. Happy, Sad and Fight are crying.
The stars begin to light again as Echelon releases its grip so it may nurse its wounds…
…
Beastboy felt inside him that Raven was in danger, but Starfire assured him that she was merely sleeping. But he still felt she was in trouble; her moods had told him something was wrong. But he could do little this time. Whenever Raven was sad, lonely or grumpy (Or when he was just plain bored) he would go find her and 'cheer her up'. This time he couldn't move; if she wanted his help, she would have to go to him. Good luck! He sighed and watched his leaves grow.
…
Starfire felt inside her that Robin was in danger, but Cyborg assured her that she was merely being over reactive. But she felt he was in trouble; something stronger told her something was wrong. She hoped he was alright…
…
The Wayne manor is dimly lit by the outside garden lights. the wind blows strong on the pine trees. Outside Dick Grayson's room, a pale hand in the darkness raises a knife… It hacks viciously at the wooden door… thunder strikes overhead and a chilling laughter fills the mansion. Some evil bane roams undetected in the very heart of the Batman's lair…
Alfred Pennyworth awakes with a cold sweat… he could sense it… something wasn't right. He grabbed his double barrel shotgun and went to the hall with his night cap on. No one… only the shadows. He walked carefully upstairs, knowing full well that one step may be his last.
"Master Dick?" he calls out. No one answers, but the lightning does. Rain pelts hard outside.
He approaches the door and his face flinches in horror at what is transcribed…
'Joke's on you!'
Alfred zips in with gun loaded and sees the sleeping form of Richard Grayson peacefully resting… with a knife dug into the foot of the bed. Alfred doesn't rouse him, save he get startled and the culprit still in the vicinity. He scans the room with the gun… no one.
"Master Dick!" he calls again, and this time Dick hears him.
"What is it Alfred?" he says drowsily. "What's with the gun?" and he looks at the foot of the bed… the knife… he goes pale "Who?"
"I think we may have a visitor with us tonight master Dick." says Alfred warily, checking the closet and under the bed. "I do believe that he, she or they are quite uninvited."
To sum up the events of that night; Robin didn't sleep well…
…