Pieces of the Puzzle
Alexnandru Van Gordon (Co-written by, Victor Van Heiring)
Victor: Hello, ladies and gentlemen, I have news that may either force you to laugh or just roll your eyes or…well; I don't know quite what you would do, but just wait and listen. If you want to know why I'm sending this chapter in and not Alex (well, I'm really typing what he has written in his book), then read this next paragraph. If not—then skip it.
Alexnandru—well, I—blew the hard-drive on his laptop, so we were forced to use the one in the basement. The stairs are really slipping and narrow, and the cement floor doesn't have a carpet or anything like that covering it up. Well, he was walking down ahead of me and must have been on the fifth last step when the dog ran up in between is legs. Well, you can pretty much guess what happened then. He didn't hit any of the steps on the way down, but he somehow landed on his left knee and there was an agonizing "crunch/crack" followed by Alex's cussing and cursing in Latin. Anyway, after he was no longer red in the face from holding back his screams, he somehow convinced his mom that it wasn't broken. He's not allowed into the basement until he can walk on his leg again, but you can bet I'll sneak him down here soon to talk to you. Oh—and I'm just going to see if he wants to say anything before I start the chapter.
Alex: (Heard faintly in the background.)
Victor: He says to enjoy the chapter and he promises to get back to work as soon as possible. He'll chat more later, but I think my aunt (his mom) is taking him to the medic-centre now. I can hear him complaining that he's fine. Actually, I think he just doesn't want to have his leg casted up again. I think he'd die if he couldn't go to taekwondo.
DISLAIMER: Alex only owns the plot and HW. I own neither, but I can take credit from my cousin for helping him out like this. If he wasn't in so much pain, I would have changed his chapter in a few areas. It might be abrupt or boring too because he just wrote the second half of it after his mom went to find the ice. Boy can he write fast…
CHAPTER TWO: Escape…
Robin sighed, grabbing his hair in frustration. "What are you going to do with HW?"
Speedy shrugged on the screen, shaking his head sadly. "Someone fried the cameras, but Aqualad saw her in the act. She denies it, but Aqualad has nothing against her. We've contacted the JL and Batman's coming down to pick her up."
Beast Boy was wide eye. "Why? Where would they hold her?"
"She'll be held in Arkham."
"But that's for nut jobs." Robin pointed out, tried from all the stress weighing down on him. "Besides—doesn't she get a trial?"
"Yeah, but things don't look too good for her. Besides, Arkham is the only place in the world right now that can probably hold young criminals with powers."
"And is Bats coming soon?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Don't do anything until I get there." Then he turned to Beast Boy sharply. "Get Starfire. Tell her she's coming with me."
-Sp-
What! Robin had no power in this situation. All that was his concern was Slade—HW was a member of the Titans East and they only had to follow orders from the JL.
But he was a good friend and the reason for the Titans East worming their way into existence. Without him, Speedy would still be wandering around America taking on the odd hero jobs. At least now he had a real, concrete duty.
"Fine—but you'd better get here before Bats does." Then he grinned, remembering how Batman flew. "And you should hurry. That guy is crazy fast. He may be further away, but he can sure as hell get here sooner if he uses all those knickknacks on his jets."
Robin smiled. "Thanks, Speedy. I owe you."
"Yeah. Yeah…just don't do anything you'd regret."
And he shut off the screen.
Turning around, he saw Aqualad standing in the doorway. The young hero didn't look at all pleased; his eyes pinned on the blank screen. It was obvious he wasn't very happy with the idea of Robin coming down. Aqualad was a friend his too, but they both knew Robin would try something to help HW after all she did for him. That kid could think up a plan so fast, it was scary. Very scary…
"Are you sure you saw what you saw?"
Aqualad nodded, lips tight. "I'm telling the truth, Speedy—you have to believe me! I ran right into her when she fled the room and she wouldn't answer me when I asked what was wrong. She looked so worried and sad, and when I walked inside…I thought maybe she was going to report it, but her communicator was on the ground, and the case was busted opened from an overload of electricity to the system. She could have opened it as easy as a matchbox if she did that. And that's exactly what she did…"
"But—"
"Has she told you yet that she didn't do it!" He barked. "Did she say anything in her defense when I showed you her communicator? No!"
"Shock?"
"Don't be stupid."
"Shut up already!" He snapped, slamming his fist down on the consol to the main screen. Their's was much more complicated than the one at T-tower. "I've got her locked up and I've sent for someone to pick her up. She's going to Arkham to rest with the insane. What more do you want me to do?"
Aqualad was silent for a moment, but did not hesitate to say what he meant to say. "Watch Robin—don't let him anywhere near HW, because you know he's going to try something."
Speedy raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding why he was acting so rash. What had gotten into his companion?
"What do you want me to do?" Speedy asked as he crossed his arms. "Lock him up too?"
"Robin's a good guy and all, but when he makes mistakes—they're big! He is well intentioned, but if HW gets away…I don't know…He's going to do something he'll regret. Slade is coming back and you know what that means…"
Slade would go after Robin in a heartbeat. No doubt about it. Those two would go at each other like a pack of wolves, and one could only bet Robin would lose. Not only did he lack the ultimate strength to defeat Slade alone, he couldn't come back from the dead. It was apparent the last time Speedy saw the bastard that he wanted Robin as an apprentice, but were his intentions still the same? He would be mighty angry with Robin for cutting him up, but it would be sweet revenge to see Robin suffer as something he was not.
Why did he keep thinking of Slade as though he were still alive? Right now he was dead, and it was their job to keep him that way. As long as the last body part was kept under guard, Slade could not return. They should focus on that. Maybe if they questioned HW again, she would let something slip.
But she was in something of a state of shock.
"Just watch him, okay?"
Speedy nodded reluctantly. "Fine—but don't do anything stupid. He's an ally—not a criminal."
"Fair enough…and, Speedy?"
"Yeah?"
"Why is he bringing Starfire?"
……Good question…
-
Okay…this wasn't supposed to happen. Why the hell was Robin leaving the tower with that alien girl? Well…on a motorbike, headed in the direction of Titans East…Damn! He was going to mess everything up!
He knew exactly what the Boy Wonder was up to and it was nothing like what he had expected. Despite the stress, somehow he could still form up a plan quick enough to ruin everything.
Hidden in the shadows, he started off after Robin and the odd girl. He would have to steal the last piece later, but he was supposed to kidnap that brat as well.
The piece wasn't going anywhere—the kid was.
-R-
It was a long ride and it was nearing noon when they arrived at the tower. They were greeted by Bumblebee and Hot Spot (forgive me if I forgot the actual name), both looking as happy as a sack of potatoes. It was evident that things weren't going to well with them either. No one really believed HW would do such a thing—and Starfire was devastated when she heard they locked HW up. They had become something of friends in their little time spent together.
Wearing a knapsack, Starfire soared ahead of him to the small holding area they made in the basement. They came in to see Speedy first who stood outside the iron bolted door. Their prison was designed for the most dangerous of their criminals until someone took them away to prison, but none had expected to use it on one of their own.
Speedy nodded to him and slid past the speaking slit on the door to speak to HW. "Robin and Starfire are here to see you."
There was no reply, but they were allowed in anyway. Starfire just about knocked the door down when she entered and slammed it shut behind her. They needed to speak with her in private.
A small smile played on HW's face as she stood in the corner, still dressed in her 'halloween' costume. Her short hair was slightly longer and actually beginning to look like Raven's, and she continued to use one of Robin's old masks as her own. She looked like she could be his sister.
Then HW was suddenly gasping for air as Starfire hugged her with enough strength to crush a vehicle. It wasn't until she choked the word "Hi" that Starfire released her to breathe.
"It's nice to see a couple of old friends." HW said, leaning against the wall with a weary look. "Too bad you can't help me."
"They're sending you to Arkham." Robin said softly. That was one of the worst places to go. HW wasn't insane, and she wasn't the type to go rouge all of a sudden.
"I know…" There was a moment of silence, then she smiled again. "But thanks for coming. You should go before your dad gets here. You're not supposed to get wrapped up in our business."
Starfire starting jumping up and down, clapping her hands together in glee before she paused to take off her knapsack. Opening it, she showed HW what they had brought along.
"OH GLRIOUS! LOOK! SEE! We are going to take you away from here!"
HW's eyes widened as she took the bag from Starfire. "You've got to be kidding me! They won't fall for this—especially Speedy! Maybe the others—but not Speedy!"
"That is why I am to keep him busy."
HW raised an eyebrow. "You're going to keep him distracted? How's does Boy Wonder feel about all this?"
Robin blushed and cleared his throat, Starfire standing right beside him while giggling. "Ummm…we both went over the plan and we're positive it'll work. She goes out there to talk with him while I stay in here to supposedly question you."
"Sounds like a plan…" She reached inside the bag and pulled out the fist object—a jar of mustard which Starfire snatched from her in the blink of an eye. "Sometimes I wonder how I ever got myself into all this…"
-Sp-
Starfire burst out of the prison cell with a jar of mustard in her hands and the world's happiest look on her face. In the jar was a straw from which she sucked out the thick, yellowy substance without making a face, and that caused Speedy to look twice. Was she seriously drinking mustard!
"Ummm…that can't be good for your stomach, Star." He said, rubbing the back of his head in an awkward manner. She looked kind of cute even when drinking mustard.
She laughed, eyes squeezed tight together as she continued to beam. "OH! But it is so tasty! Would you not like some?"
He pushed it away gently with his hand as Starfire shoved it in his face. He was crazy when it came to fighting, but drinking mustard? Where on earth did she pick up that habit? Maybe she didn't pick it up on earth, but rather whatever planet she came from. But did other planets really have mustard? Perhaps something related…
"Do you want a soda instead? I'm sure it would taste better."
She paused, looking thoughtful for a second. Her eyebrows knotted in confusion and she discontinued slurping up the yellow substance. "So…da…I can not remember if I have tried one already. Perhaps it would be nice to have something to wash down my thick drink. Please—show me this soda."
He laughed, somewhat sick at the idea of drinking mustard, but she took his hand and he forgot about it instantly, showing her to the kitchen. He passed Hot Spot on the way up from the basement and asked him to stand guard outside the prison cell. He trusted Robin as a friend, but it was obvious he wouldn't leave without trying to help HW in some way. Too bad for Robin—he wasn't going to let that happen.
-HS-
It was cold in the basement but he was able to keep warm enough to keep his fire burning. It seemed forever that those two were talking and he had no idea about what. The door was soundproof and they could be planning to murder someone—he would never know. Whatever they were doing, it was creepy. A young criminal and a slightly insane Gung-ho martial-artist were together in the same room.
It was scary to think of what they could be plotting…
Starfire came down the stairs alone after a while later, holding a closed jar of mustard in one hand and a can of soda pop in the other. She was humming the Disney "My, oh my, what a wonderful day" song (Alex: I don't know the actual name—sorry guys) and beaming in her usual innocent way. Sometimes he wondered if she ever frowned, but he was sure nobody would want to be around someone as strong as her in a bad mood.
She walked up to the door, gave Hot Spot a smile, and opened the slit. "It is I, Robin. Should we not be heading back to our home? It will be dark by time we return."
It was dark already. But hey—this was the basement. Not to mention the electricity had been working weird ever since HW supposedly fried the security system in the evidence room with her powers. All the lights were dimmer and that was partially why he was a tad bit scared of standing watch alone in the basement. He could barely make out HW's face when she turned it at an angle.
Se stuck her ear to the slit and listened. Then smiled again. "Please open it." She asked Hot Spot politely and he pulled out the keys.
The door swung open and Robin came out with a sigh. He was rubbing his temples, short spiky hair looking rather ruffled as though he had grabbed it a couple of times out of frustration. Starfire patted him on the shoulder gently before taking her knapsack from him and closing the door to the prison. Obviously, whatever he had been planning wasn't going to work.
Thank God for that.
-St-
Sitting down properly behind the driver on the motorcycle, they revved up the engine and started off toward Jump City. It wasn't until they were a long distance away that she finally decided to ask about their plan.
"You are upset?"
"Yeah…"
"But why? It worked, did it not?"
"I guess…but old Bats is going to throw a fit when he finds Robin in there instead of me."
Starfire laughed, tightening her hold around HW's waist as the turned a hard corner on the highway. "But Robin was grinning the whole time he thought up of the plan. He does not mind getting into a little trouble for a friend."
"I suppose…"
Starfire paused. "I suppose you are also upset that your hair has been cut."
"Yeah…that too."
Starfire couldn't help but laugh again. There plan had been so exciting, and she remembered seeing HW dressed up as Robin one before when they had saved each other in Slade's lair. Stuffing a spare costume and jar of mustard into Starfire's knapsack, Robin went over everything to be done and she couldn't help but giggle a couple of times. It had worked! It actually worked!
She felt somewhat sad for Speedy. He really was a nice guy, but her heart was in for Robin—and only him. Boy was Speedy going to "hit the roof" when he discovered HW was gone. She couldn't even imagine what the look on his face would be. Probably a mix of fury and embarrassment.
"What now?" HW asked.
Starfire thought for a moment. "We wait until Robin contacts us. He knows the rest of the plan."
"After Batman arrives there, I doubt we'll him from him for a while. Does he know what to do about your piece of Slade?"
"Robin made a call to the JL before we left the tower. They are going to come and move it to a more secure place."
"Fine, but—"
They were interrupted by the explosion on the empty highway road ahead of them. HW swerved around the fire, taking them both through a cloud of smoke, but they both started coughing and HW lost control of the bike after the next two explosions that followed. Starfire was able to fly up and take HW with her just as the bike skidded of the road and collided with a tree, rushed upon impact, but they had no idea where there attacker was hiding.
"What the hell is going on?" HW cursed, lightning dancing around her hands as she prepared to attack. "Who is doing that?"
Thy slowly landed on the road and stood back-to-back as they gazed into the woods lining both sides of the road. Then Starfire spotted something in the shadows of a tree. It was getting pretty dark outside, but two glowing white eyes were hard to miss. She grabbed HW's arm and spun her around, her companion noticing the eyes as well. HW shot electricity in that direction, but the figure was gone before it as struck.
Then they waited in silence. Where was it going to be next…?
"A friend of yours, HW?" Starfire asked.
"Heck no!" The girl shouted. "Maybe he's a pal of Robin's…"
"But—"
She was hit from behind by something that felt like a rock and fell forward into HW's arms. It hurt badly, but she stood up and spun around on her heel. Wherever he was, their attacker was gone again. They had to get somewhere else where they could see him…
"Let's fly." Starfire suggested and grabbed HW's hands as they took flight. She only hoped their opponent didn't have too good of aim.
-
HW? Okay, now the boy's plan was revealed. He was obviously still with the Titans East, and that meant he wouldn't have to waste his breath on these too. It would be murder to get struck by lightning, ad he didn't want to know what the strange girl was capable of. Besides, he had work to get done.
Focusing, he closed his eyes and a picture of the Titans East came to mind. After concentrating hard enough, he was gone in the blink of an eye. It was the easiest way to get anywhere, but also the most tiring.
Would this day ever end?
-B-
"Well?"
Robin stood with his arms crossed, not looking at all like he was upset or in trouble. And yet there he stood in HW's prison without an HW there to be properly arrested. Sometimes he couldn't understand why Robin did the things he did but this took the cake, a real eye opener. Why would he release a criminal?
Because he believed she was innocent…
"I told you to watch him." Aqualad muttered behind Batman to Speedy.
"Shut up." Speedy retorted.
Batman simply rolled his eyes behind his mask. Honest to God, he had no idea what he was going to do. HW could possibly be on her way to T-tower, and that meant she would be met up with Flash and the Green Lantern who be there to pick up Slade's final piece—but what about Robin. He did something both good and bad, and he knew Robin was probably right in doing it. He himself didn't quite believe HW would go rouge.
"What am I going to do with you?" Batman sighed, rubbing his temples. Tonight would be a long night.
"Either arrest me or let me go—it's that simple."
"Or take you back to Gotham for good."
Aqualad and Speedy might not have noticed it, but Batman say Robin cringe ever so slightly for a brief moment then at the threat. Robin still wanted to remain with his close friends in Jump City. Taking that one thing away from him would be just like killing him.
"Leave us for a moment." Batman asked and the two heroes left the room, closing the heavy door behind them.
-R-
Now he was in for it. At least HW was safe now—until she reached T-tower. But the others would protect her there. Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven would stand up for her even if it meant getting into trouble with the JL for doing so. She would be safer there than here.
"You look sick."
He should have known he would be the first to notice.
Batman leaned against a wall with his own arms crossed. "Have you been eating lately? You look like a three year old could toss you around without any trouble."
"I eat."
A lie. He did eat but that was only when his friends began to notice and worry. He found he couldn't eat with the pain in his stomach and with all the stress weighing down on him.
"No you don't…Do you sleep?"
"I do."
He did when he found he could, but he was always met with nightmares. He tried taking medicine before night, but it only helped him to doze off faster. Who would want to sleep anyway if all they dreamt of was their worst fears come to life.
"No you don't…Do you tell the truth anymore?"
"I do occasionally."
"Then explain to me why you want to die."
"I don't."
"Oh really?"
"Quite beating on me like this." He frowned, sick and tried of Batman's parenting. "Honestly—how can you believe that someone who just murdered another man could sleep well every night and eat without feeling nauseous? You saw me do it. I didn't hear you stopping me."
Batman was silent. It was the truth—and the truth was rarely found to be beautiful. It was always twisted and distorted to be hideous in one way or another. No one liked it and that was why it was always avoided at any cost.
"You—"
The alarms went off and Batman was silent again. Something was wrong and that meant their discussion could wait until later.
Batman grabbed the door and pushed—nothing happened. He tired to open it again and again but it wouldn't budge.
They had been locked in.
"What's this supposed to mean?" Robin asked. "They have Slade's body part—what more could they want here?"
Batman pulled out his laser pen and started on the lock. But he glanced over his shoulder at Robin to provide an explanation.
"You're here, aren't you?"
-A and V (HMV- hahahahaha! Alex: (Slaps the back of Victor's head.) Smarten up.))-
Alex: Hi, guys—I just came back from the center and Victor carried me down into the basement. They said I need crutches, but they aren't going to cast up my leg—YEAH! Now, I just need to get crutches…my little sister is using the only pair we have.
Victor: (Still rubbing the back of his head.) I swear to God—how on earth did you get away with that accident without a couple of broken bones?
Alex: (Smiling) God loves us all—but you… (Pointing an accusing finger at Victor) You put profanity it my work and rewrote a few parts.
Victor: Some of your sentences didn't make any sense—and I only put in "bastard." How harsh is that?
Alex: I guess…
Starfire: (Sitting on the basement stairs behind them. In her hand is a half-empty jar of mustard) Mustard!
Alex and Victor: (Turning around in surprise.) Huh?
Alex: Well…I guess she was bound to come sooner or later. All the others have been here already…save for Raven…I'll have to make a list…
Victor: Everyone? Villains and Heroes? Slade...? (Eyeing room cautiously)
Alex: Yeah—even him. But some of the characters come more than once, and I've been tied up a couple of times. Red-X did a number on my head and Mad Mob came to me with a chainsaw. (Shivers). I don't care what he says—LIVE LONG HEROES AND HEROINES!
Starfire: Hazzah!
Alex: Eh?
Victor: So how many times has Slade come before? Did he attack you?
Alex: He came only once, and the most he did was scare me. We just talked…
Victor: Watch your back, cousin…
-Sorry for the delay
-Alexnandru Van Gordon
and,
my cousin,
Victor Van Heiring