By Scarredbyshallowness
Disclaimer : All of the rights of the things I use aren't mine . Period . End of story .
Over 4500 hits . Sweet . Now, I know that the last chapters have ticked quite a few of you off . However, this is a tragedy .
Oh, and Raven is a bit out of character due to her freedom from Trigon . She can finally act upon her emotions without blowing up a semi . You'd be different too .
But I promise you all, the end will justify the mean (or meanness in this case ) . So thank you all for the reviews once again !
Chapter 9
Preparation
5 pm, Main room, Watch Tower
The pitch black room was packed as shock reigned in the League with a brooding, painful silence . For they all knew the truth … They had failed . Even though the two super powered aliens were on the job, it still wasn't enough . One singular thought lingered through out the group as wonderment of what went on outside piqued their concern .
What do we do now ?
But before anything else could be concluded, Superman sorrowfully entered the crowded room with heart wrenching look of regretful failure just as the power booted back online from the draining cannon fire .
" Superman ! What happened out there ? And where is Supergirl ? " Wonder Woman bombarded the man of steel with acidic questions, making him mentally relive what had just happened .
" Supergirl…Kara… is dead . She used her own body to block the brunt of the blast … " Superman choked as tears began to form under his eyes .
" Oh no … Batman ! Is he … ? " the Amazon gasped as the rest of the crowd began to talk amongst themselves in horror .
" Alive . I'm fine . " The Bat spoke from the giant screen behind the group, instantly lifting spirits . From the transmissions angle, it was obviously from the Batmobile .
" Is everyone else ok ? " Superman hurried asked the Bat, praying that no one else was lost .
"…"
" No… Who else went with you ? " Wonder Woman asked worriedly, but inwardly felt relieved afterseeing Batman's face again .
" Starfire and Bumble Bee . " Robin yelled from behind, covered in bandages around his chest, as he and Raven walked into the filled room . Despite the demoness telling him not to …
" Everyone, this is Robin. My apprentice . He has recently left my side to form the, ahem, Teen Titans. Beside him is his teammate, Raven. " Batman explained to everyone as they all gave the remaining Titans different looks, but overall acceptance. This WAS The Batman telling them this after all. Acceptance from him was like getting accepted into Harvard.
" Enough with the introductions! What happened? " Robin fearlessly demanded from the Bat as the rest of the League stared in awe . No one talked to the Dark Knight that way.But after all that Dick and Bruce had been through, Robin had earned that right.
" You aren't going to like this. " The Bat squinted as Robin's frustration elevated .
" Has that ever stopped you before ? Tell me! "
One hour ago, Cadmus Headquarters (Batman's POV)
Having only 3 minutes to empty an entire building, plus locate your teammates from the basement, was no simple task. I had to grapple myself through every level . I eventually ran into Mrs. Waller on the third floor of the building and warned her of the danger heading their way .
She actually listened for once and began a full evacuation of all the levels with the exception of the experimentation floor … Where your friends were .
I used multiple bombs on the ceilings to gain access quickly, but I came across a rather disturbing site . Bumble Bee… She was shot point blank in the forehead . Recently . The smell of burning flesh still lingered in the room .She was also wearing the same power blocking collar just as before . But I had no time to investigate any further .
Then I found your two friends . Yes, we had actually found Beast Boy . However, after that, things began to fall out of place …
J'onn had just informed me that the cannon had fired, leaving only 7. 8 seconds until impact . That only left me with one option for survival; concealment under my cape . With it's ability to become anigh-indestrutable materialthat the blast couldn't destroy, and that it activated in less than a second, we had a slim chance. But that soon bit the dust…
Slade. He was there in hiding, just waiting for me to leave an opening . And I gave it to him … He blew me out of the building by attaching a bomb to my cape .My body reacted faster than my mind, so I saved myself, but foresaken them…
But as I freefell from theupper floor, and unraveled myself, I saw that monster again . He prevented those two kids from escaping from the hole I had made . That murderer … he practically held them in place!
Then it hit.
The blast was much less powerful than I had anticipated . But never the less, the pure force of the beam sent me flying even further . I had to call the Batmobile via remote and grapple off of mulitple falling buildings to reach it's cockpit . I'm actually surprised I survived in all honesty …
However, in all the carnage, I was able to spy on the Cadmus clean up crew begin to clear the debris . They found two bodies, a tameranian and a jade mutant . I don't know how, but somehow Slade survived .
Robin ... I'm sorry …
End Flashback
" Wha..What about Cyborg? Can you fix him? " Jinx sudden asked as her cold face began to warmly soften with each and every passing second .
" … Luthor . He used a part of Victor, his blue prints, for some sick project of his . But before I could get them, Luthor crushed the disc withholding his information . There is nothing I can do now … "
Devastation struck Robin deeper than any injury ever could. Thoughts of the past filled his mind with happiness that he and his team spent together. Now that seemed like nothing but a dream. Beast Boy, Cyborg, Starfire. They were all nothing but a memory.
" No…" Raven spoke softly, hurtfully, as she felt tears forcing themselves upon her eyes.
" Robin, I have a new uniform for you in my room . You can stay their for the time being . Just take it easy right now . We are going to need you, EVERYONE, very soon . I fear that Luthor has something in store for all of us . Batman out . " The Dark Knight spoke as caringly as he possibly could before shutting off his communicator . No one understood the pain of loss better than him .
Chokingly nodding, Superman guided Robin and Raven walked gloomily toward the Batman's normally vacant room . None of them wanted to be publicly seen right now .
Unfornuatly for Jinx, that left her all alone . To most people, being surrounded superheroes would bring the feeling of security . Too bad she wasn't like most people ...
" Do not fret, Miss . Allow me to help you . I have quite a habit of giving the lost a place to go . " the pink sorceress heard caringly behind her as a foreign hand was lightly placed on her shoulder .
" Who are you? "
"I am the onethose callDr. Fate. Now come, I know that you have many questions that I can answer for you . "
7 pm, Elite members (the original 7 ) room, Watch Tower
" Do you really think we should be so cautious, Supes? " Flash raised a brow as the others gave him a stern look.
" It is Luthor who we are dealing with. " Superman clenched, Kara's death still too recent to be real.
"And it is Batman who said it, Wally . And when is he wrong? " Wonder Woman defended the Bat, even in his absence.
" But we are the Justice League! We have like, what, 40 something members ? What could Lex possibly come up with that egg-shaped head of his to take us all down? " the speedster grinned as he received nothing but scorn from the group once again.
" Don't be so juvenile , Flash . " Lantern spat as he folded his arm in disgust.
" Need I remind you of Amazo, Dr. Ivo's android ? " J'onn, the Martian Man hunter , squinted as memories of the practically invincible being flashed in their minds . Not even the League could stop him .
" All things aside, What are we going to do ? " Shayera, formerly known as Hawkgirl, raised a brow as she stared toward the stressed man of steel .
" Huff. There is nothing we can do. We aren't the ones to strike first. We're going to have to wait. For better or worse… "
9 pm, Batman's room, Watch Tower
Silence filled the room as there were no words to truly express the hurt that was dealt to the last two remaining Titans . The teens thoughtlessly sat together at the edge of the nearly untouched bed . Neither wanted nor could sum up the strength to break the silence as tears flowed from both of their sore eyes .
" What … what kind of a leader am I ? I…I just lost over half of my team, my friends, in one mission . And there was nothing I could do about it … just like with my parents … GRR! SLAM! WHY ? WHY COULDN'T I FIND A WAY TO SAVE THEM! WHY DID I HAVE TO FAIL AGAIN! " Robin screamed with all of his might as he slammed his fist against the nearby wall .
" Robin …" Raven cooed as she lightly pulled him into a hug, clutching her leader with all her might . She wasn't exactly feeling the best herself . " You know anger won't solve anything . Just let it all out . "
" Why Raven ? Why … ? " Robin cried as he buried his face into her shoulder, allowing wild tears to flow openly as he began to sob heavily .
Seeing this hurtful openness, Raven too began to cry as the ones known as Titans tried to desperately comfort one another from their crumbling world . And there they stayed . Completely indulged in one another. Comforted. Loved .
" Raven, I can not waste anymore time. " the Boy Wonder spoke breathlessly as he suddenly moved his lips to hers, making them dually blush .
Never had the two faced such a twist of emotions . On one hand, they had finally discovered their love for one another materialized into action . But on the other, they had practically lost their entire family .
But despite the latter fact, they gave into to each other completely as they allowed their passion to help ease the pain . To be their sedative .
" I love you … " Robin whispered almost inaudioably as the smile that she returned melted his very soul .
" I love you too … " Raven whispered back happily as she pulled him into another sweet embrace .
" Wait . I have something I want to show you . " the Titan leader painfully pushed the hooded teen away, taking in a deep breath .
" What ? "
" I believe you have more than earned the right to know who I really am . " he tearfully smiled as he ripped off his concealing mask. His identity.
What was revealed left Raven in complete shock. Swimming in a sea of tears was a pair of ocean blue eyes with a touch of green enveloping them .
" My real name is Richard Grayson . The failure … " the teen lowered his head, still feeling the guilt of broken responsibility . But asoft finger lifted him into a perfect pair of ameythest orbs .
" Not to me. We'll get through this. " She brimmed in a way that brought hope to the Boy Wonder .
" Raven … "
" Yes ? "
" I … I can't lose you too. Please, don't leave me alone … " Robin, or rather, Dick pleaded as closed his sore, redden eyes and lowered himself down to the bed . But before he could do, think, anything else, he suddenly felt the same warmth that had brought him happiness so long ago in the beginning of this disaster .
" Don't look too much into this, but I was actually going to ask you the same thing . " Raven happily smiled with her eyes as they rearranged themselves into perfect comfort, lulling them to the much needed escape of sleep .
For the first time in what seemed like forever, the demoness felt hope fill the emptiness inside of her . But no amount of hope can bring the dead backto life .
White House, Washington DC
" Well Mr. Luthor, I wasn't expecting a visit from you again so soon . " the President rose a brow as he rotated his mighty chair toward the unimpressed business man .
" Urgency has brought me back . Have a look at this … " Lex slightly smirked as he slid multiple pictures toward the President .
" What is it this time Mr. Luthor ? This looks like an … "
" Impact zone? It is. The League fired that deadly cannon of theirs right into Cadmus Headquarters . So far our clean up crew has only uncovered two bodies . I'm sorry, Mr. President, but action must be taken ! " Lex slyly clenched his fist as his lies inspired the man in control .
" Yes, as much as I hate to say it, them must be stopped for the sake of humanity ! " the President immediately snatched up his phone, knowing what he must do … " Launch Project Hubris . "
" Your actions are the correct ones, Mr. President . I must take my leave now, but I promise . You will see me again very, very soon . "
Batcave
" Where are you hiding, Luthor ? " Bruce sternly questioned himself as he stared into the massive screen of his computer . Countless ideas flowed from Wayne's mind as he suddenly remembered the automatic camera mounted in his Batmobile .
Luckily enough, one image of Luthor had been caught from the night before on the rooftops . Moving the image to the main computer, he magnified the view onto Luthor's attire . Instantly noticing something very odd …
" Ink … Why would Lex have some on the front of his suit ? And not just any ink. It seems to be the kind used in newspapers . " Bruce pondered to himself as he reached for his earpiece .
Superman's room, Watch Tower
BEEP ! BEEP ! " Wha… What ? " Clark Kent groggily awoke as he picked up his vibrating earpiece .
" Kent . I might know where Lex is hiding, but I need your help on something . "
" Bruce ? Don't you ever sleep ? "
" I just came back from a mission that killed everyone who went with me . Including the pilot of a javelin . How would you sleep ? "
" Good point . So what did you want to know ? " Clark sighed, knowing that there was no arguing with the man .
" What type of ink do you use at the Daily Planet ? "
" BCI-3rBK cartridges . We use them in bulk on the printing presses in the basement . Why do you ask ? "
" No time to explain . I'll call back if I discover something . Batman out . "
" Your welcome . " Kent spoke sleepily to the static that filled the comlink .
Letting a long yawn out, the entire station blared alive as every one of it's alarms went off in a red frenzy . Wasting no time, Clark zipped over to his renown uniform, officially becoming the man of steel once again, as he abruptly flew out of his room .
" J'onn ! What's going on ? " Superman yelled as he saw a torrent of people rush to the docking stations .
" I… I don't believe it . The U.S. military has just launched seven nuclear missiles directly at us . " the martian spoke in shock, never expecting to see such betrayal from the very people they risked everything to protect .
" Can we use our laser thingy to take them out ? " Flash suddenly questioned as quickly as he instantly appeared .
" Not without destroying the target directly below them …the white house . " The Green Lantern added grimly from one of the computer monitors, not wanting to believe that the day could get any worse .
" They're nuclear. My specialty. I'll do my best to slow them down, sir. " Captain Atom saluted in attention to J'onn as he proceeded to the outside .
" Hurry, Captain ! We have no other option . We have to evacuate ! " J'onn yelled as he flew up toward the control center panel of the Watch Tower .
Batman's room
" EVERYONE LISTEN UP ! THIS IS NOT A DRILL ! EVACUATE ALL LEVELS ! I REPEAT, EVACUATE ALL LEVELS ! HEAD TOWARD THE NEAREST TELEPORTERS AND DOCKING STATION ! "
" …huh ? " Raven awoke slowly, feeling the frigidness of being alone . She quickly snapped awake and immediately began to search for the Boy Wonder, but he wasn't very far at all …
" Relax, Raven . I had to get rid of these stupid bandages . By the way, can you teleport us to Earth from here ? " Dick smiled earnestly as the cut away the last of the medical tape with his bird a rang .
" No, we're too far away .But …Oh my… "
" What, Rae ? "
" Those scars. I couldn't see them from afar, but your practically covered in them . " She stared in slight awe as she moved closer to him, caressing her hand over them . But was soon stopped by an intercepting hand .
" The price of being a hero . Hurry now, get ready! We don't have long. " Robin shrugged as he softly commanded Raven, receiving silent compliance .
Finding a bathroom, she quickly splashed water onto her face from the sink. Waking her even further as she combed her slightly messy hair with an unused brush.
" I guess The Batman has hair under that cowl . " Raven dryly thought to herself, desperately trying to not think of her departed friends .
" I guess the Bat wanted me to try something a little newer . " Robin smirked as he looked to the demoness for her opinion .
The changes were slight, but evident . His mask was basically untouched with the exception of two curved, blade-like shapes along the edges of it .And his uniform was much thicker thanks to added armour padding built into it . But the biggest, and preferably best, difference was his cape . Instead of being only hip length, it now reached all the way to his calves . Allowing him to be practically drapped by the material, just like Batman .
" Let me see… We match cape wise and it makes you look more … mysterious . I like it . " Raven slyly smirked with a hand on her hip .
" No time . Let's move ! " Robin squinted as he grabbed Raven's hand and raced out the door .
Space, Watch Tower
The seven nuclear missiles blasted forward, undaunted by the occupied station, as an unexpected affect began to take place . Just as Captain Atom reached the deadly weapons of mass destruction, unexpected silos suddenly detached in a fiery burst of ignition; knocking the Captain out of the way .
" J'onn ! Atom here ! They weren't missiles ! They're rockets ! I can't do anything to stop them now ! "
Main Room, Watch Tower
" Thank you, Captain . Get to Earth ! We'll meet you shortly . " the martian ended his transmission as he moved over to a nearby computer . " Oh God … "
" What's the matter ? " Superman raised a brow as he directed row after endless row of workers toward the docking station .
" We impact in 40 seconds … "
" NO ! -click ! - FLASH ! Move everyone you see to the teleporter NOW ! -click ! - LANTERN ! Do everything in your power to stop those missiles ! " the man of steel yelled in his comlink, refusing to let anyone else die today . No one needed that …
Without any other thought, Green Lantern busted through a vacant, nearby wall to reach his target of mass destruction . Flying past the rocketing weapons, he created a jade net around them, straining every muscle in his body to halt their approach .
" I can't hold this forever ! Would someone mind lightening the load ? " Lantern gritted as Steel and Red Tornado ( I can't believe I know who that guy is…) each pushed the weapons upward with all of their might . Hoping, praying, that they could change it's directory .
" They won't BUDGE ! " Steel winched as he nor Tornado had much luck moving the massive weapons .
" Allow ME ! " Superman yelled as he slowly, but surely, moved both of the structures with one arm helping each of the other heroes . They moved on to all of the other stopped missiles, aiming them all toward the sun .
" Alright ! Lantern ! Let 'em fly ! " the man of steel smiled as he wiped sweat from his brow .
" Whew ! About time ! " GL sighed with relief as all seven silos continued their travel… toward the sun .
" Hey ! We did it ! " Steel gleamed as he raised his massive hammer over his head in victory .
Unfortunatly, he had spoken too soon . The back of all of the weapons blew open to reveal an arsenal of scud missiles aiming directly for the Watch Tower . But before any of the heroes had a chance to react, they launched . All 756 of them .
A burrage of projectiles took out Red Tornado and Steel in a silent explosion of death the moment before Jon was able to put a barrier around them .
" The WATCH TOWER ! " Superman roared as there was absolutely nothing he could do but watch .
Hallway, Watch Tower
" C'mon ! The teleporter is right over here ! " Robin yelled gleefully as he pulled Raven by her hand, almost jerking her in his pick up in speed .
" Great ! Then you finally give me my arm back . " Rae commented dryly as they made their way to the massive line using the device .
Without any warning, a barrage of scuds destroyed the teleporter, and multiple workers, in an explosion of fire .
" NO ! I refuse to die this way ! " Robin roared as he suddenly picking up Raven and grappled away from the gapping hole in space .
" Not that I don't appreciate it, but what are you doing ? " Raven questioned his actions, slightly blushing in his arms .
" It's faster this way . " He snapped back, running at full speed .
" No . " She snapped as well, suddenly making them both airborne . " It's much faster this way . "
Raven saw her victory written all over Robin's face as the two zoomed toward the docking station .
But before the two could reach the chaotic space port, another batch of scuds hit . Destorying the remaining javelins along with countless innocents . Leaving the two Titans stranded to awaiting their destiny .
" I can't believe it … this is it . The end . " Robin commented emptily as he moved his hand over to Raven's, clutching it hopefully . " But since I'm with you, I wouldn't have it any other way . " He smiled, making her blush wildly .
" I...I guess this is where fate has destined us . " the demoness tried to pull herself together as a blinding light appeared from behind her .
" No . Fate desires you to live today . " the harmonic voice spoke behind the helpless teens was none other than the powerful pacifist, Dr. Fate . Place a hand on both of their shoulders, he instantly teleported them to sanctuary as the image of Isis emerered in their dissaperance .
The rest of the Watch Tower was not as fortunate as explosions and devestation swept the tower until it eventually became too much . In a demonstration of pure power, the entire station became engulfed in a pulse of energy; destroying everything, and everyone, in it's path .
A sphere of light shined as bright as the sun itself until it's eventual fall . Leaving pieces of fried metal and corpses to float endless, aimless in space for all eternity .
Elsewhere
" Now, thanks to that one countered flaw from Victor Stone's prints, this body is perfect in every way . Stronger than Superman, faster than Flash, telekinetic power that over powers that pesky martian . Immortality … And that's just the tip of the iceberg . Heh . I'll be even stronger than that naïve fool, Amazo . " Luthor beamed as he placed a device over his skull and the head of a lifeless, metal giant .
With the flip of a switch, electricity soared into the air as Luthor screamed in the pain of the experiment . Lightning flew from the metallic project as it slowly seemed to come to life . Luthor's human body violently jerked it's last as he felt his final breathe escape him .
But before his death could be assured, the eyes of the metallic giant flared open . And with that move, the beginning of the end was set in place . Lex Luthor was no longer a man, he was a self-made, self-proclaimed god .
That …was very hard to do . I actually wanted to go on further, but then I wouldn't have anything for the next chapter .
But I wanted to make it worth the wait . But before you guys say anything, please remember that this is a TRADGEDY, a.k.a. SAD STUFF !
Now all that is left is the finale . So I must ask for the unthinkable . I'll only post the last chapter once I get 100 reviews . That's only 14 as of right now . You guys can do it . Later .
-Scar
