Jess NightAngel

A Teen Titans Fan-Fiction

By: Eternal Heart

Pt. Three

Who she really is

Robin looked worriedly down the empty street, checking for any sign of Jess. Him and the other Titans had gathered in one spot after not finding any thing from their search, but Jess had not shown. Robin checked his transmitter, it showed no sign of Jess's location, she was completely cut out. Robin sighed, "Well, we'll just have to go and look for her." The Titans nodded in agreement and the team split up for the second time that night.

Starfire floated silently over the rooftops of the city, her eyes scanning the ground for any sign of Jess, there was nothing. With a depleted sigh, Starfire landed on the roof of a tall building, it was as if Jess had vanished, "Where are you, Jess?" Starfire whispered to herself, as if expecting the darkness to answer…it did.

"I'm right here," said a soft haunting voice from behind Starfire. Starfire whirled around and came face to face with Jess, she wore a look of calmness on her face, but her eyes held a fire that danced with rage. "Jess?" Starfire asked tensely, "You knew all along, didn't you," Jess hissed, "You knew I was NightAngel, and you didn't tell me?" Starfire's eyes widened, "You…you remember?" she stammered.

"I remember everything!" Jess yelled, a shadow crossed in front of the moon, Starfire tried to lift off, tried to fly away from Jess, tried to fly away from NightAngel. Jess grabbed Starfire's ankle and pulled her back down to the ground, Jess's eyes flashed, "You can't get away!" she said softly. Starfire cried out…

Raven turned around quickly as Starfire's cry cut through the night, then she ran toward it, but the cry faded on the wind like a lost spirit. Raven stopped and listened for an sound, any sound…street was too quiet. Suddenly NightAngel dropped down in front of her from out of what seemed to be nowhere, Raven stumbled back and then breathed a sigh of relief, "Jess, it's only you." Jess stared back at her with a scowl.

"Where were you? We looked everywhere…" the question died on Raven's lips, Jess looked different, she looked sinister. Reality hit Raven like a bullet…Jess remembered who she was, Raven could tell by the look on her face, "Are you afraid, Raven?" Jess asked quietly, Raven didn't answer, she just stared mutely back at the person she had once trusted.

"No…" Raven finally managed to choke out, Jess glared at her, unmoving, "We'll you should be…" Raven cut her sentence off and tried to lift a nearby fire hydrant in an attempt to knock Jess over. But just as soon as Raven made the slightest movement, Jess leaped forward and dug her heel into Raven's jaw. Raven feel to the street, her jaw throbbing with pain, Jess loomed over her, "You should be very afraid," she whispered.

Beast Boy looked silently around at the buildings that towered over him, he morphed into a hawk and skimmed over the street, but there was no sign of any kind of life. Beast Boy looked absent-mindedly at the sky, there was no moon, he shivered and frowned. "Jess is probably back at the Tower," he mumbled to himself and continued his search. Something caught the corner of his eye, Beast Boy looked up sharply.

A dark figure disappeared around the corner of an alleyway, "Jess?" Beast Boy said and walked slowly toward the alley. He hesitated slightly and stared uncertainly down the passageway, then he took a deep breath and proceeded into the darkness, where Jess waited silently.

Cyborg's light illuminated the darkest corners of the street he walked down, nothing escaped his gaze as it swept across every detail of the avenue. Jess was waiting up the street, just beyond the reach of his light, she picked up a small stone and threw it as hard as she could in Cyborg's direction. Cyborg shouted out in surprise as the stone hit his light, the beam went out, casting the world in darkness.

Cyborg looked around in confusion, "Not much fun being left in the dark, is it?" asked a voice from somewhere on his left, Cyborg blindly turned in the direction of the voice, "Who are you?" he demanded, "You know who I am, Cyborg!" the darkness shouted back at him. Cyborg stumbled over the curb, if only things weren't so dark! Suddenly a rumble could be heard in the distance, "Thunder," Cyborg whispered to himself.

"And when there's thunder," he thought out loud, "there's lightning…" his sentence was cut short as the sky was illuminated with yellow light, there, only feet in front of him, Cyborg caught a fleeting glimpse of Jess, then every thing went dark again, "Jess!" Cyborg shouted, "What are you doing?" A fist came out of the dark, slamming into Cyborg's face…hard.

Cyborg fell back onto the cement and lashed out blindly at the darkness, "Come out and show yourself!" he shouted, the sky lit up, giving light to the battle for a split second. Cyborg would later curse the light that let him see what happened next, Jess seemed to come out of nowhere, her metal rod raised high above her head, then she brought it down.

The but of the rod buried itself deep in Cyborg's mechanical chest, sparks flew, and then the sky went dark.

Beyond Help

Robin stared miserable up at the sky, the moon was no longer visible and rain was falling in sheets. With a sigh, Robin continued walking down the rain soaked street. He had tried calling all the Titans more than once, but it seemed that all communication was lost, it made Robin uncomfortable, not knowing where his team was at. Feeling rather cross for letting them out of his sight for a second time, Robin was now searching for all the Titans, not just Jess.

Lightning would light up the sky every now and again, but apart from that, Robin was almost blind, just when he was about to try and call the Titans again, Robin heard a far off call, "Robin…." Robin looked around in confusion, and the voice continued to call to him, "Starfire?" Robin called into the darkness, the calls stopped and the night once again became silent.

Quickening his pace, Robin walked in the direction of the voice, "Where am I?" Robin asked himself and stopped to look at his surroundings. Lightning once again lighted up the sky, and Robin instantly knew where he was. There was a large gap in the street and the rubble of a large black building was not far away, this was where they had found Jess.

"Doesn't look so bad from this far away," Robin spun around and saw Jess standing a few yards away from him, "Jess," Robin said, startled, he hadn't even heard her come up, "Have you seen any of the others?" Robin asked. Jess stayed silent, "Jess! Have you seen any of the other Titans?" Robin asked a little louder, but Jess just stared at the wreckage with a far away look in her eyes.

Robin walked up to her, "Jess, is there something wrong?" Robin put his hand on Jess's shoulder, she jerked away and glared at Robin, Robin looked at her with confusion, "I remember," Jess said through gritted teeth, Robin's heart missed a beat and he stumbled back a few steps as if Jess had delivered a physical blow.

"I remember everything," Jess continued, "I was Slade's creation, my name was NightAngel." Jess turned away from Robin and gazed at the rubble of her former mission, "He created me to destroy the Teen Titans you know, that is, after we destroyed the city." Jess paused, "The first mission failed, but I won't let Slade down again." Jess looked Robin in the eyes, "You're the last Titan." She hissed.

"You're lying!" Robin shouted, Jess looked at him with false pity, "Am I?" she asked and pulled out something behind her back and tossed on the ground in front of Robin's feet, it was Starfire's transmitter, completely smashed. Robin's breath caught in his throat, "They're all gone, you're the last." Jess repeated. Tears gathered in Robin's eyes, but sadness was almost immediately replaced with rage, "I'll kill you!" Robin screamed and lunged at Jess.

Jess dodged aside and slammed her fist down on Robin's back as he charged past, Robin fell to the ground, but was back on his feet in an instant. Jess counter attacked, kicking Robin hard in the stomach, Robin doubled over and was throw down to the ground again. Ripping his metal rod out, Robin charged for the second time, Jess grabbed the end of Robin's rod and yanked it out of his hand. Then just as quickly, she slammed it down on the side of Robin's head.

Stars danced before Robin's eyes and he was momentarily left defenseless, Jess took advantage of that split second and punched Robin in the jaw, sending him flying backwards into a brick wall. The rain fell harder as Robin struggled to get back on his feet, but the second he regained his balance Jess threw Robin to the ground and kicked him repeatedly. A blow to the ribs, the face, his back, Robin quickly lost the upper hand of the fight.

Now on his hands and knees, Robin panted with exhaustion, his entire body throbbing with pain, "Why do you follow him?" Robin grunted, "Slade created me, I am forever in his debt." Jess replied and kicked Robin in the ribs, Robin landed face down in the mud, Jess planted her foot on Robin's head and pushed in deep into the mud. Robin struggled desperately for a breath of air, the mud filled his mouth, his eyes, is nose, he needed air, now.

Suddenly Jess took her foot off and left Robin gasping for air, after he had regained his breath Jess grabbed the neck of Robin's cape and threw him up in the air. Picking him back up, Jess pinned Robin to a nearby wall, "I thought…I could…trust you," Robin gasped, "Well you thought wrong!" Jess hissed and tossed Robin aside, he hit the ground with a resounding thud and tried to get back up. His arms shuddered under the weight of his body, and then collapsed beneath him, Robin stayed on the ground, breathing shallowly.

Jess towered over him with a grim look on her face, "We took you in," Robin whispered, "We helped you. You could have been one of us, you could have been a Titan." Jess blinked, and stared at Robin, her eyes softened and she dropped Robin's rod in the mud, "There's nothing there for me," she said, Jess paused, then her eyes grew dark, "I'm beyond help."

Jess bent down and picked up the rod, she raised it high above her head, "You can change," Robin said desperately, "Change is impossible," Jess said, "I found that out a long time ago." Lightning flashed and the sky poured as Jess brought the rod down, gathering speed as it fell until it was a blur, down, down, down it fell, the lightning stopped and the sky fell dark.

Can't take it back

Slade waited patiently in his cave, this was the happiest he had been for a long time, Jess had remembered who she was and carried out her mission. In the center of the room that Jess first woke up from was now five thick steel cages, each one of them held a Titan. One by one, Jess had delivered them, Robin was the only one missing, but he was expected soon.

As if on cue, the iron doors that were the entrance to the cave slide open, standing there like a lonely shadow, was Jess, she had Robin slung over her back. She effortlessly carried Robin across the room and placed him in the empty cage with startling care, then she slammed the cage door shut with such force that the bars shook. Jess stepped back as if to observe her handiwork, none of the Titans were moving, they were all out cold.

"Good work, NightAngel," Slade said with a hint of triumph, "I couldn't have done it without you." Jess stood as still as a statue, not taking her eyes off the Titans, a frown tugged at the corners of her lips, "Now what," she asked quietly, "Now we destroy them." Slade said simply. Jess turned around quickly and faced Slade, "Why did you let me fall?" she asked acidly, Slade's eyes blazed with anger but he remained quiet.

Jess turned her back on him and folded her arms across her chest, "The Titans wouldn't have let me fall," she muttered, Slade stood up calmly and circled the cages that the Titans were being kept in, "You don't regret bringing them to me do you?" he asked. Jess pressed her lips together, "No," she whispered, "I'm sorry," Slade said mockingly, "I can't hear you, might you repeat that?" Jess trembled with rage, "No!" she screamed.

Slade stared at Jess, a smile playing at his lips, "Then you'll do the honors of destroying these four," he said and waved a hand at Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy, "And I'll take care of Robin." Jess watched as if in a trance as Slade dragged the cage that held Robin into another room and shut the door behind him. Right when the door closed Jess ran to the cage that was closest to her and kneeled down beside Starfire.

Tears streamed down Jess's face, "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I didn't know what I was thinking." Jess sat down hard and buried her face in her hands, "What will I do?" she asked herself. "Stop…Slade," Jess heard a voice say beside her, Jess yelled in surprise and jumped to her feet. Two cages away, Beast Boy was staring at her through half-closed eyes.

"Beast Boy!" Jess shouted half in joy and half in surprise, then as if remembering what she had done, Jess turned away from him and sank into the shadows of a nearby corner, "I'm…so sorry," she sobbed, Beast Boy propped himself up on his elbow, "When I first met you," he said quietly, "I never thought that I would trust you. But after you saved me from Cinderblock, it was impossible not to."

Beast Boy paused to let his words sink in, and then continued, "You saved me Jess, and for that I trust you…even now." "I don't deserve to be trusted," Jess said acidly, "And yet I still do," Beast Boy said, his voice growing stronger, "I trust that you will save Robin from Slade." Jess shot Beast Boy a look of alarm, "Save Robin?" Beast Boy nodded and collapsed back to the floor of the cage, drained of all energy, "Save Robin…" he whispered and then fell still.

Jess sat in the dark corner of the room and thought harder than she ever had before. Robin was her friend, but Slade was her master. Robin would have done the same for her, but Jess knew she could not defeat Slade. Slade's voice rang in her head, it was one of the first lessons he had taught her, "I created you to defeat every thing you fought against…every thing except me."

Jess took a deep breath and leapt to her feet, "I hope it's not too late." She whispered to herself and ran toward the room that Slade was in. Jess was going to save Robin…or die trying.

Upon opening the door, Jess was surprised to find that Slade was nowhere to be seen, almost all the lights were off apart from a solitary bulb that burned above the center of the room. The light pooled on the floor in a small circle, in the center of the circle was Robin. He was on his hands and knees but appeared to be conscious, Jess rushed forward into the room, the door slammed shut behind her and the light turned off, the room was cast in darkness.

Jess stopped in her tracks and waited for her eyes to adjust, without her sight her other senses sharpened, she could here Robin breathing and her own heart thumping in her chest. Jess's eyes adjusted and she could see the dark figure of Robin silhouetted against the gray background, Robin grunted something that sounded like words. Jess strained her ears, nothing, and then Robin's voice floated back to her, she heard him clear as day, he said, "Trap," Jess's heart missed a beat.

"I knew you wouldn't have the guts to do it," Slade's voice cut through the dark, Jess spun around blindly, "But that's just fine with me," Slade continued, "I'll just have to destroy you first!" Slade's boot caught Jess in her back, sending her stumbling to the floor. Jess leaped back up and swung blindly at the dark, her fist cracked into a metal surface, sending spasm of pain lancing up her arm.

Jess ran her other hand over the surface, "Wall," she murmured and pressed her back against it, once again facing the dark void of the room. Suddenly Slade was in front of her, his armor gleaming in the dark, Jess lunged at him without thinking, and then he was gone. Only to reappear beside her, then behind her, the shadow of Slade danced around the room with Jess swinging close at his heels.

Slade was once again in front of her, he brought his fist down violently on the side of her ribs, Jess gasped in pain and doubled over. Slade pushed Jess to the floor and held her down with his foot, "Did you know that I actually thought at one time that you would have the nerve to destroy the Teen Titans for me?" Slade hissed in Jess's ear, "Well, I guess this wasn't a total waste of time, I did learn one lesson…if you want something done, do it yourself!" Slade pressed his boot down on Jess's throat, "Goodbye…NightAngel." Slade said quietly.

Something inside Jess snapped, she twisted her body around and kicked Slade in the face before he had a chance to react, Slade stumbled back and Jess leaped to her feet. Jess delivered blow after blow to Slade with absolute skill, the scales quickly tipped in Jess's favor.

Slade stumbled back once more, without hesitation Jess kicked him square in the chest with such force that Slade flew back into the wall. Then something happened that neither Jess nor Slade expected, as Slade crashed into the wall, it gave way and collapsed all around the floor.

The sky was clear and the earth smelled strongly of rain, moonlight spilled around the collapsed wall, filling the room with light. Where the wall had fallen, it had been replace with open sky…and a long drop into the sea. Slade teetered on the edge of oblivion, his eyes darted between his former servant and the water far below him. Jess's face was illuminated with the moons soft glow, she stepped forward and placed her hand on Slade's chest, "My name is Jess!" she hissed and pushed ever so slightly.

But that was all it took, with a loud shout Slade plunged over the side of the cliff and disappeared into the dark ocean below. Jess stood on the edge of the crag, staring down at the spot that Slade had vanished into the water, coming back to earth, she walked deliberately across the floor that was littered with rubble and found Robin. Jess lifted the now unconscious Robin across her back and proceeded into the other room where the cages were located. It would probably take her all night, but Jess was content on getting the Titans back to the tower, and that's exactly what she did.

Final departure

Two weeks later, Jess sat on a stone bench at a park not far from the shoreline, it was night and the stars twinkled brightly. Robin emerged from the darkness and sat beside her, the two heroes stayed quiet for a while and enjoyed the peacefulness of the night, "What are you going to do now?" Robin asked, breaking the silence, Jess sighed, "There's plenty of cities out there that could use a hero." She said thoughtfully.

Robin stiffened, "Your leaving?" he asked quickly, "The Titans are on the heal," Jess said, "They'll be as good as new in no time. I have no reason to stay." Jess stood up from the bench and stretched, "Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Robin asked, Jess smiled and shook her head, "I'm not very good at those sort of things, you will tell them for me, right?" Robin nodded and Jess took a deep breath. Just as Jess began to walk off Robin hurried to catch up with her.

"Wait, " Robin said and Jess turned around to face him, Robin pressed something into her hands. Jess looked down at it and found that she was holding a Titan transmitter, "Just in case we need your help." Robin smiled, Jess looked up at him, her eyes twinkling, "Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of me." Robin chuckled lightly, "And by the way," Jess added, "If you ever come across Slade again, punch him for me."

Robin watched with a twinge of regret as Jess walked away, "Good luck!" Robin called after her, Jess waved her hand to show that she had heard but didn't turn back, and with that, the night swallowed her up and Robin was left alone.

Four weeks later-

Robin slammed the morning's paper down on the table in front of the other Titans, "Read the front headline!" he said excitedly, Cyborg dropped his food and picked up the paper, "Hero saves five in fire," he read, Cyborg looked up at Robin with confusion and Robin smiled, "Last night a fire broke out at a General Store in Amber City," Cyborg continued, "Amber City? Isn't that the city up the coast a ways?" Beast Boy commented from nearby, Cyborg nodded.

"Five were trapped in the fire but were luckily save by a new local hero know as…Jess!" Cyborg smiled widely, "So she finally made it exactly where she wanted, huh?" Robin nodded, "Jess is starting a new team up there, she's already got two new recruits and has her eye on another." Starfire nodded and smiled, "So our friend Jess has gotten new friends?" "Don't worry, she hasn't forgotten us." Robin assured her and waved and envelope in the air.

Inside was a letter that read,

Dear Titans,

I am happy to inform you that I have successfully started my own team down here in Amber City. I have two new team members that I hope you can meet one day. For starters there's Storm, a funny little girl that quite resembles Terra, apart from her crimson eyes. Storm has the power to control the weather, but prefers to fight with lightning. Then there's Zan, a quick-witted boy with the ability to turn invisible, you have to keep an eye on that one. I am very happy with them but can't help a little lonely sometimes, I hope you can come and visit us one day.

Forever a Titan at heart,

Jess NightAngel