Disclaimer: Do I own the Teen Titans? NO! I also don't own the 'Garland' location. I'm just borrowing it from Namco.
Author's note: FINALLY someone gave me a review! A positive one too. Many thanks to that person who took the time to give me an opinion! Well, on with this fic. Sorry for the late update. I had a lot of schoolwork getting in the way.
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Morning the next day.
The dawn breaks as the sun rises over Titans Tower. The glass west face of the structure glistens in the morning light while the east face is shaded as it looks over the city as it comes to life with its citizens congregating in the early morning rush hour. Meanwhile, inside the tower things are going a slower pace.
Raven is seated in her usual place at the lounge area of the main room, meditating. Seated in a lotus position, eyes closed, her body floating just a few feet off the ground, humming slowly her infamous chant.
"Azerath…Metrion…Zinthos…"
Her calm exterior completely contrasted her state of mind. If one were to look inside her head, they would only see ensuing chaos. But for Raven this is normal. Normal to her and her teammates for the girl to hide her emotionally tortured soul.
But their recent victory over her father, Trigon, has given Raven an increased freedom of emotion without having to worry about thing blowing-up all the time. Less pain and struggle within her mind. Slowly but surely, Raven is becoming more… human.
After a moment or so the doors open and a yawning Beast Boy enters the room. He groggily rubs his eyes and makes a beeline for the kitchen area. On his way there he catches a glimpse of Raven in the corner of his eye and stops in his tracks. He looks curiously at her and she offers no response. Breaking all logic he decides to try and address her.
"W-wow… your up pretty early Rae…" He nervously mumbles.
The dark girl in question stops her chanting and turns her head slightly to acknowledge the green animorph. A drop of sweat form on the back of Beast Boy's head. All this time he spent with Raven and he still hasn't learned to keep his green mouth shut at these kind of moments. He cursed himself mentally
"…I just wanted to be up early in-case I… detect something." Raven finally responds.
Beast Boy looks blankly at Raven for a few moments until he figures out what she is saying.
"Oh yeah!" he exclaims, "You did say you get a weird vibe when those two characters are around."
"Yes I did."
"…sooo…any luck so far?"
"…unfortunately, no." she says with a deep sigh. She lowers her feet to the ground and stands up straight. She turns to face Beast Boy directly.
"And at this point it's hopeless…" she says gloomily.
"You couldn't get anything at all?"
"It seems I can only feel them when they're active. At the moment they're probably still in hiding, wherever that is…"
"Bummer, what can we do now?"
"Like Robin said last night: we wait for the next opportunity. But as for the moment… breakfast."
Raven makes her way towards the kitchen past a dumbfounded Beast Boy. He stares at her all the way until she disappears past the cupboards. After an exasperated sigh he follows her lead.
"Yeah, she's right," he mumbles to himself, "Besides, how often can they show up?" Beast Boy throws his worries behind him like always. If anything, it's his optimism that is his best quality. Always looking at the bright side of things, his own personal way of balancing the universe. The Titans couldn't live without it.
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In a dark underground lair.
An infamous Dr. Volkov sits in front of his giant computer screen typing away. Hundreds of windows pop in and out of the screen show random files and text.
"The experiment is almost complete," He mumbles to himself. He continues to type away, not tiring a bit. The popping windows seem to increase pace a bit.
"I just need a few more pieces to the puzzle," his eyes narrow as he seems to search his screen for something particular. "…but where to look?"
He types, and types, and types some more, and types a lot more, and suddenly stops. He stares into the computer screen. He grins widely flashing his rotten yellow teeth. He reaches into his pocket to retrieve a cellphone and places a call.
"Riya, Sakura," said the doctor, "good news, I've found our next target location."
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"OK, just so I'm clear, this case will be our top priority for the moment."
At this point all the Titans are now awake and have finished their breakfast. Robin stands in front of his four teammates who were all comfortably seated on the couch equidistant from one another.
"Let's start with what we can work with, Cyborg," he points to his metallic comrade, "we got anything on that highway robbery?"
"If you're askin' if we know what was stolen," Cyborg holds up a digital clipboard of sorts, "then no we got squat on that. STAR Labs is still not telling anybody what that stuff is. Says its highly classified."
"Dude, EVERYTHING these days is 'highly classified'" Beast Boy interjects
"And the bank robbery?" Robin inquires, evident frustration in his voice.
"That don't seem strange at all dawg. Evidence says it's just a typical smash and grab for the crooks."
"Can't be. There's something we're missing."
"Well, uh…" Cyborg rechecks his notes a bit "There was one thing other than cash and jewels that was stolen. Problem is nobody knows what it is dawg, or if them crooks were really gunnin' for it or just grabbed it like everything else."
"Right… um Raven---"
"Sorry, Robin," the sorceress answers immediately "I don't have anything either."
"How unfortunate we are." Starfire comments, reflecting the general mood.
Robin sighs in exasperation, This really isn't his lucky day at all. "Well we'll just go with that object from the bank since we've got nothing else at the moment."
"On it dawg." Cyborg affirms.
"OK then now if there is no more business at hand---"
"Uh, wait a minute dawg," Cyborg interrupts, "you do remember that thing we gotta do down Garland Compound right?"
"Huh?… oh right, that," said Robin. He knew what Cyborg was talking about. He always knew about it up until recent events have distracted him lately.
The Garland Compound would be hosting the International Grand Auto Show, an annual event that takes a tour around the world. Jump City has always been one of the stops since most of the manufacturers have major branches here. Every year the tour would feature the best and latest performance vehicles and concept cars to date. This year was special since the Titans were formally invited to be exhibitors, Cyborg with his T-car and Robin with his R-cycle. For the sake of public demand the Titans agreed of coarse.
"Well we always boast about giving the people what they want," Robin says in a slightly more cheerful mood, "Let's make sure we don't disappoint."
"Alright, dude!" cheers Beast Boy.
"Glorious," said Starfire, "I have been anticipating this event ever so much."
"I'll second that, dawg." concurs Cyborg.
"This is pointless" drones Raven.
"Awww, don't be such a party pooper Rae," said Beast Boy, "besides, a little sunlight this year might be healthy for you…hehehe."
A vein pops on Raven's head. "I mean Robin and Cyborg are the only ones who drive. Why do I have to tag along?"
"Sorry, Raven," Robin answers her "it's 'all for one and one for all' and all that jazz."
The third exasperating sigh of the morning from Raven.
"…sure, fine, whatever."
"Alright then. Cyborg, get the T-car ready and I'll take care of my bike. Everyone else can take some time off."
Robin makes for the door as Cyborg gets up from his seat to follow his lead. Starfire, Beast Boy and Raven also stand up and make for the exit.
"Are you not exited, friend Raven?" inquires Starfire "this shall surely be a most festive event."
"It's just another event I'm forced to cavort with people I don't want to be with."
"Oh do not be so gloomy, Raven. Think of this event as a most inviting moment for relaxation on our part."
"The only time I'll get to relax is when my body is destroyed by a catastrophic event insinuated by my father trying to take over the world and I will be forced to wander around as my soul-self, as if that is even a remote possibility."
"…eh?"
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The Garland Compound. Near the center of the metropolitan area of the city. It's a place of commerce, science, and retreat all rolled up into one location. The wide compound is composed of three major areas the specializes in the aforementioned categories.
To the south was the Garland Technology Center (GTC), ten-stories tall. Here many advanced laboratories are used by some of the brightest minds of today to create the most advanced technologies for the widest variety of applications but all for the sake of research and development.
In the center was Garland Park. A wide open area filled with the usual stuff you'd expect to find in a park like grass fields, stone walkways, fountains, statues, and a big gazebo. This area is often used for many major events like exhibitions, variety shows, and concerts. Today it's the prime location for the International Grand Auto Show which was now being arranged.
To the north was the Drycreek Plaza. A large four-story shopping center. A credit card holder's dream it has everything from toiletries to super high-speed supercomputers. Not to mention a whole variety of restaurants, cafés, buffets, and all that good stuff. Inside people wander about looking at the different shops like everything was normal.
But recent events would dictate a very low chance of normality today.
On the roof of the plaza.
"So that's our target location." Sakura looks to the southern structure.
"You know the plan right?" Riya, still in his coat, inquires his sister while also looking onwards.
"You'll take care of the security details on the top floor while I get what we need from the fifth."
"Alright, then."
"Do we have to wait for the auto show to start?" she stares down at the park where workers are busy setting-up booths and placing the assorted cars in their proper places.
"Yes, we want as little interruptions as possible. With the auto show distracting everyone it would give us the best opportunity then."
"Ok, I'll wait."
Riya looks at her. That wasn't the response he was expecting.
"…I'm glad your learning to compromise."
"I guess I was a little whiny lately."
"I won't hold it against you. That's what little sisters are suppose to do anyway."
Sakura smiles slightly and looks to her brother.
"So, what do we do in the meantime, bro?"
"Let's eat. I brought lunch."
And the two wander off.
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Later that day.
The noon sun holds high above the partly cloudy sky. A perfect sunny day. The Auto Show was now at it's peak level of excitement. The exhibits composed of high performance sports cars all arranged in their respective categories. To one side was an exhibit of high performance off-road vehicles. On another end were super-charged muscle cars. On another end were luxury sedans of the finest quality. Another end, sports bikes from Japan.
But the star attractions were the super-high performance road cars that occupied the center of the exhibition. And the even bigger were the two special guest vehicles, The T-car and The R-cycle. Robin and Cyborg could be seen standing by their respective machines with pride, waving to the crowd.
Meanwhile the other Titans were simply mingling. Starfire was out and about with Beast Boy looking at the many exhibits and eventually checking out the small snack bar set up at one corner of the area. Raven on the other hand, being who she is, found a nice quiet spot near a small hill covered in foliage, sitting, quietly meditating. Alone in tranquil silence…that is eventually, like all things, ruined.
"There you are!" exclaims Beast Boy.
Raven's eyes pop open. "Good afternoon Beast Boy."
"Am I interrupting anything?"
Raven stares blankly at him.
"…r-r-right…well cheer-up, I brought ya something!"
"Dare I asked what it is?"
"It's a new drink they're sellin'," Beast Boy holds a canned beverage in his hand and is showing it to her. "Starfire wanted you to try it."
"If it's Starfire's recommendation, I'm really disinclined to take it."
"How come?"
"Beast Boy, she drinks mustard…"
"…oh, right," he simpers "But don't worry it's just a new chilled herbal tea drink. We all know how you like your tea Rae so Star thought she get one of these for you to try out." He holds the canned drink for Raven to take.
"…I really don't feel like ---"
"C'mon Rae, it's not gonna kill ya!"
"…"
Raven stares blankly for a few moments and eventually takes the can from a smiling Beast Boy. She looks it over. Everything is in Japanese so she couldn't read what it was. She opens it and takes a sip.
"…"
"…weeeeell…?"
"…not bad." She says simply.
Suddenly, her eyes grow bigger in a shocked expression of sorts, her entire body visibly tenses up. Beast Boy seas this and is taken aback.
"Woah! Rae what's wrong! Was it somthin in the drink?"
"No, Beast Boy," Her eyes narrow in apprehension, "They're here."
"Who's here?"
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Top floor of the GTC where the central security monitoring room lies. Inside is a room with monitors on every inch of the front wall. Here, two watchmen entertain themselves with conversation while seated behind a control panel.
"Ok," said the first "The more you take, the more you leave behind. What are they?"
"Umm…I dunno," responded the second
"Alright, how about this. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?"
"Uhh…no, nothing."
"One more. What is it the more you take away the larger it becomes?
"…Sorry, got nothing."
"Try this then. What is it that you can keep after giving it to someone else?"
"…next."
"Ok, this ones easy. What is that you will break even when you name it?"
"ummm…---"
"Silence."
A voice neither of the two recognized answered the riddle for them.
The two wide-eyed watchmen bolt off their seats and look behind them where a hooded figure stands stoically. They reach for their sidearm but are sooner met with a fist and a heel to their noggin. Both fell to the floor unconscious.
The figure walks toward the control panel and sit down on one of the chairs. He types something and results pop on the screen. He grins under his hood. He reaches into his pocket and gets a cellphone to place call.
"I'm in," he says into the phone, "your up."
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"Got it," she responds. She hangs-up and pockets away her phone. She then makes a beeline across the hallway completely ignoring the security cameras. She didn't have to worry. She knew who was watching her.
She reached a set of double doors labeled 'Advanced Mechanical Development (AMD)' and walks in. Inside, the room was large, filled with all sorts of machines. Computer terminals lined the middle of the room, divided by a center aisle, at least in the area closest to the door. The other half of the room was a large space where miscellaneous machinery was strewn about.
She browsed the random equipment. She spots what she's looking for. She walks up to it and looks it over.
It looked to be a long metallic cylinder resting, bolted, onto a metal block covered in buttons, dials, and knobs. To be abstract, it look liked a big, metallic, hotdog on a bun.
She really didn't know what to make of it. Her brother was the mechanical expert, not her. But she knew it was little consequence, she found enough trust in the doctor and her brother to not question her missions.
She looks around more and finds a metal cart. She walks to it, takes it, and goes back to the device. She lifts the device effortlessly and placed it on the cart. She makes for the door, cart in tow but just as she reaches end of the room perpendicular to the exit.
The doors blows open and from it enter five familiar teens.
"Lithium!" Robin points dramatically at the girl, "I don't know what your up to but it ends here!"
Lithium narrows her multi-colored eyes. She moves the cart, with device, to rest on the corner of the room, out of the way. She then proceeds to face the teens completely.
"You just won't quit won't you, hero boy?" she says coldly. She stands her ready.
"We won't underestimate you this time!"
Robin makes the first move charging at Lithium with fist and feet flying in martial arts style. Lithium blocked and parried every attempted strike to her by the Boy Wonder. Though Robin's moves were smooth and of perfect form, Lithium easily matched this by compensating with her inhuman speed and strength, though she still struggled some. She finds an opening for her counter attack and takes it. She hits Robin in the chest effectively shoving him backwards like before.
"Ugh!"
Robin flies backwards while Starfire flies over his form and forward at Lithium, fist first. Lithium evades by jumping to her right, flipping in midair, and landing on a computer terminal. Starfire halts her charge and redirects herself, and throws a large starbolt at the girl in black.
"Dahh!"
Lithium crosses both arms in front of her form to block. She takes the hit and her body is flung all the way to the back wall. She manages to compose herself in mid-flight, and plants herself in a 'crouching' position on the vertical wall. She looks up (forward from a normal vantage point), she sees Raven and Starfire charging at her closely followed by Cyborg and Beast Boy.
She bolts of the wall and tackles Raven and Starfire sending them both to the ground. Upon impact Lithium bolts off the tamaranian and sorceress and towards Cyborg with a fist at ready. Cyborg takes it in the chin and is knocked back. Lithium land in his place, crouching.
"Oof!" "Ack!"
Next to her, Beast Boy has transformed into a gorilla, and swings down two mighty arms. Lithium brings both arms over her head to block. The impact causes the floor to crack as lithium remains unaffected. She sweep-kicks Beast Boy, tripping him and tumbling him over on his back. Relieved of the pressure. Lithium stands up…in time to see Robin charge at her, bo staff extended.
"Rrrrgh…!"
Lithium takes out her combat knives and blocks Robin's downswing. Robin swings to the side, Lithium blocks with parallel knives. Robin swing to the other side, Lithium blocks again only this time with just her right knife. Her left blade is swung at Robin who ducks backwards to avoid. Lithium swings her free right blade down, Robin blocks with a horizontal staff. Lithium thrusts her left blade to Robin's chest, he volts over her to avoid, lands behind her. Both fighters swing a hundred and eighty degrees. Bo staff and blades collide heavily, forcing the two to back away from each other.
"Uhh!" "Ahh!"
Lithium recovers and stands straight to face Robin, but instead find random machinery, lifted by black telekinesis, heading for her, behind which was a floating Raven with glowing eyes. Lithium quickly holsters her combat knives. She flips backwards, continuously, as machinery drop and crash were she would have been standing.
She stops in a kneeling position and looks forward. Beast Boy in Ram form charges at her, horns bearing. As the animorph closes in she grabs his horns in her hands, swings around completely, and flings him at the floating Raven. The two Titans impact with each other and are knocked backwards.
"Aaahh!" "Duhh!"
Cyborg goes for the girl. Lithium takes her knives again. Cyborg attacks with a fury of punches and jabs. Lithium simply parries away with her knives or altogether avoids the mechanical teen's attacks. Cyborg makes a last jab to her stomach. Lithium crosses her blades over his wrist locking it in place before it could make contact with he flesh.
Cyborg merely grins. The arm transforms into a sonic cannon and fires. Lithium goes flying back to the wall near the exit.
"Aaagahh---Ooof!"
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Meanwhile in the security monitoring room on the top floor.
Security monitors show the action taking place in the AMD room between the Titans and the mysterious Lithium girl.
The hooded figure stands and watches the events unravel from the monitors. He frowns in anger and annoyance. Another unexpected and unwanted interruption from the five heroes.
He decided then and there he would resolve this problem first hand. He turns and swiftly walks out the room and proceeds to go and help his sister.
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She hits the floor on her knees. She looks up weakly. The Titans were all recovered and standing in the center aisle.
"Surrender now, villain," exclaimed Starfire, "This scenario shall not fall on your favor!"
"Yeah, what she said!" concurs Beast Boy.
"Give up, you're defeated." Robin orders to Lithium.
"This is far from done!" Lithium groggily gets up and into a fighting stance, "I can't, I won't let you stop me from bringing her back!"
"What?" Robin's eyes grow a little wider. "Bring who back?"
"She is all that matters, nothing else!"
"Who the heck are you talking about? Tell me!"
Just then. The double doors burst open. All turn to look in shock as a hooded figure promptly walks in…aiming a P90 submachine gun in the Titans' direction. The Titans notice and wastes no time, taking cover immediately as the figure opens fire.
The rattling sound of rapid fire was almost deafening. Bullets fly every which way as the five teens duck under the safety of computer terminals. Sparks from machinery taking hits from the gunner light up the room in blinding flashes. The gunner stops firing he looks to his side and yells: "Go now!" to Lithium, who nods in response.
Lithium bolts for the cart, with her targeted device still resting on top, from the corner of the room and swiftly exits through the wide open door. At the same time, the gunner removes the now empty clip from his weapon and reloads a new one. He resumes his aim and continues firing in the direction of the Titans.
Bullets and sparks fly as the Titans are forced to stay low for cover. Unseen by anyone else, Lithium runs down the hall and to an open elevator courtesy of a certain mysterious figure.
Back in the AMD room the gunner runs out of bullets again. He drops his gun to the floor, at the sound of which the Titans spring up from their respective covers.
"You!" a very angry Robin points at the gunner, "Who are you?"
The Titans assemble in the middle aisle. The strange figure grabs something from his pocket.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" he said. He throws whatever he was grabbing at the Titans. It looked like a small tin can at a glance but a combat expert would know better.
"Grenade!" exclaims Cyborg. Raven didn't hesitate and formed a black energy shield to cover her and the rest of the Titans. There was no great explosion but it caused blinding flash and smoke bellowed from the thing enveloping the entire room.
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From outside, in the hallway.
A hooded figure bolts from the smoke-filled room. And runs down the hall and to the elevator where a familiar girl in black waits with a cart.
"What are you still doing here?" He in asks her "Get down to the basement, now!"
"But what about you?"
"I'll be fine. Get this thing back to the hideout. Mother needs it."
"Are you sure you're gonna be ---?"
"Sakura. I promise you, I'll come back. Ok?" He smiles reassuringly.
"…Ok." she responds with a slight smile of her own.
She boards the elevator with device-on-cart in tow. The doors closes with both sparing a parting glance at each other.
As the elevator goes down the hooded figure moves to the call button panel on the wall. He slams an open hand in a claw shape into the wall digging his fingers in the metal. He grabs and yanks the call button panel from the wall effortlessly, rendering the elevator in accessible from that particular floor. He drops the useless debris to the floor.
Just at that moment the Titans came out from the smoke laden room and out into the hallway. To face the hooded stranger.
"Hey where is she? Talk!" Robin commands the stranger.
"She's long gone," the said culprit responds.
"How do you know Lithium?"
"Oh… is that the name she gave you?"
"We don't have time for games. Who the hell are you?"
"Who, me?" the stranger sheds his overcoat and reveals himself underneath.
His athletic build stands at about five foot nine inches tall. His generically handsome face, with its smooth, yet similarly hard, features was topped of with long platinum hair tied in a ponytail. The kinda guy who would more likely bee seen in an beach ad rather than terrorizing a tech facility.
His attire similarly contrasted his features like it did his sister. He wore dark gray, metal laced combat boots that reached to his knees, over a set of thick, black combat trousers. For his top he wore a thick, tight-fitting, dark gray combat vest, sewn with pockets, over a black, long sleeve, turtleneck shirt. He wore thick, fingerless, biker style gloves. In terms of accessories, he had a thick utility belt around his waist attached to a combat harness going over his shoulders. Hanging from his belt, over his right thigh was a holster with a custom .45 pistol. Hanging of the other side were a dozen or so belt pockets containing pistol clips. Attached to his left boot was a holster with a combat knife.
The Titans took note of all this as well as the difference in color of each of his eyes similar to you-know-who.
"You can call me…Arsenic…"
Robin's eyes narrow under his mask. "Whoever you are, your not getting away with what you're planning!"
"That's funny coming from you, since I doubt you have even the slightest clues regarding exactly what we're planning."
"Who's 'we' exactly?" suddenly inquires Raven.
"Wouldn't you like to know…?"
"Enough talk!" Robin exclaims and charges Arsenic with a myriad of martial art techniques. Robin mostly attacks while Arsenic just blocks. At one point Arsenic grabs Robin's punch in his hand. Robin punches again with his free hand only to be grabbed by Arsenic again. With both of Robin's fists in his hand, the gun slinging villain knees the boy wonder in the stomach.
"Kaff!"
Arsenic backhands Robin sending him to the floor. Cyborg and Starfire were the next to charge down the hallway. Arsenic sees the two coming and readies himself.
Starfire, with her flight, was the fist of the two heroes to reach the culprit. She attempts to pile drive Arsenic but misses when he ducks just as she was about to hit him. Arsenic, with Starfire over him, grabs her feet from underneath. Starfire is taken by surprise.
"Ack!"
Arsenic swings the tamaranian princess around like a baseball bat…right into the charging Cyborg. Both teens are knocked to the wall and stunned slightly.
"Dah!" "Agh!"
Beast boy and Raven made the last attempted charge together. Beast boy transformed into a lion and tried to bite off the mysterious teen. Arsenic hops back to avoid the changeling's feline jaws. Beast Boy makes another bite attempt but instead receives a counter from Arsenic in the form of a fist to the nose. Beast Boy transforms back to his elfin self and stumbles back, clutching his nose and slightly tearing in pain.
"…mmmm!"
Raven makes her attack. She chants her famous word with her arms outstretched.
"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos!"
Black energy blasts out of Raven's arms towards Arsenic. He simply holds out his palm and 'catches' the bolt of dark matter. Raven's eyes grow wide with shock.
Arsenic, seemingly with some degree of difficulty, throws the bolt of black energy back at Raven, amplified. Raven tries to block but is hopelessly struck down hard to the floor by her own power.
"Aaaaggghhh!"
Raven goes unconscious.
Arsenic turns to leave.
"I got better things to do," he says, "and it doesn't involve any of you…"
Arsenic Bolts down the hallway. The rest of the Titans recover and get up.
"Titans, after him!" Robin blurts out.
"Dude, what about Rae?" Beast Boy asked with much concern. "She's been hit bad!"
"Yes, I concur," said Starfire. "We simply can not leave an injured comrade behind!"
Robin looks down to see Raven, completely knocked out. She is in no condition to be moved, let alone fight. He had no choice.
"Alright, Starfire, Beast Boy, you two stay with Raven. Cyborg your with me."
The team collectively nods in affirmation.
"Ok, Let's go!"
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Author's note: I'm glad I finally got a good review. It's nice to be appreciated, I'm hoping I get more, So pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssss read & review this story!
Oh and incase your wondering, the answers to the riddles in order of appearance are: footprints, the letter 'm', a hole in the ground, and a promise. Riya/Arsenic already answered the last one.
I'll be back with a new update in a few (more likely a lot of) days.