Disclaimer: I still don't own the Teen Titans, but one day…one day…
------------------------------------------------
Morning the next day.
The city is just waking up. People flock out of their respective dwellings to greet the morning sun as it rises over the horizon painting the sky in a beautiful golden light. Another day where the sun shines on the thriving metropolis that is Jump City. But not everywhere in this city does the light shine upon, for in an underground lair somewhere in the southern docks…
"We're agreed then," Dr. Volkov said while pointing to his giant computer screen. "This will be our next target location."
Standing behind him were Riya and Sakura. Both were staring up into the screen. The display on the screen showed a digital city map with one particular area glowing red and labeled appropriately.
"Powers Chemical Factory?" Riya read out loud from the screen
"Yes, I've done all the digging I can on this and this is the only place in the city which holds what we need."
"The catalyst…" said Sakura out of the blue.
"Yes child, the catalyst." Responded the doctor.
"When do we go for it?"
"I recommend we wait until nightfall. There is still too much activity going on that could complicate things for us, for you, if you try and retrieve a sample now…"
"tsk! Figures…"
"I hope you are not too disheartened, Sakura?"
"…no, I can wait if I need to. But that doesn't mean I have to like it…! "
"We'll all have to learn to adapt, my child."
"…"
A short moment of silence passes by.
Riya decides to break the uncomfortable silence by speaking up.
"Soooo, what are we gonna do till then, Doctor?"
"I still have to look for one more item, and I am still also in the process of adjusting the core emitter to the proper settings. But I won't be needing you two for anything. I suggest you take this time off to relax."
"…Relax? You sure about that, Doctor?"
"Doesn't really fit our profile." Said Sakura.
"These past few days have been understandably stressful on both of you. It only for the best you two take some time-out." Replied the doctor.
"…I guess your right Doctor. C'mon sis."
"Huh?…oh, yeah…sure." Said Sakura and the two wander off together out of the room.
Vokov turns to his screen and begins typing away at the keyboard. He starts up a new search program and looks for something else. Something all too vital to his plans.
"The puzzle is almost complete." He said in the solitary darkness of the huge room. "Soon, very soon."
Things are taking their time, but he could wait. He could always wait. It's what he's been doing for the past seven years. Ever since that incident in the research lab he's been nearly stripped of everything he has ever had. His pride, honor, and reputation all gone. But seven, long, hard years has allowed him to build the set-up he has now. He had somehow reclaimed everything he had lost and is about to gain even more. It was not easy but he managed. It took a lot of waiting for him to get to this point. Now with his goal only a few short days away, he could always wait.
In the darkness of the huge room, he softly chuckles
"hehehehehehe…"
------------------------------------------------
Morning at Titan's Tower
Here there is an even busier state than that of the outside environment. Following the events of last night, Robin and Raven have fully briefed the rest of the team over breakfast about the visit with Dr. Cannes. The basic topics was on the two antagonist teens, the mastermind, Dr. Volkov, and the master plan which was to resurrect a still unknown entity known only as: 'Maria'.
After that was over they all dispersed to do their respective task to try and prepare for the eventuality of another heist to be perpetrated by the two super teens calling themselves: Arsenic and Lithium.
Cyborg has retreated to the garage along with Beast Boy. There they try to repair the damage made to the T-car sustained during the pursuit across the city.
Raven had retreated to the roof to meditate. She said she was gonna try to reach out and try to locate the two. She was having some trouble though
Robin had confined himself to the main room. He was typing away at the computer running searches for whatever he could use to crack this case. He is not getting any luckier though as failure massages continue to pop-up on the big screen of the main computer. He almost wanted to slam his fist on the keyboard. Behind him, watching, was a concerned Starfire.
If anything has been proven about her through-out all the Titan's escapades, it is the fact that she could not bear to see her friends bear such heavy burdens. Burdens that she would gladly carry in their place, even if those burdens were impossible to carry. Unfortunately, this could also be the source of her weakness as it allows her to be easily played by her enemies. Which is why she needs the Titans as much as they need her. Through the Titan's, she has a family and a safe haven, and through her, the Titan's have reason to hope for a better tomorrow.
She calmly floats over to the couch area and stand beside where Robin is seated.
"Robin?"
Robin is somewhat startled as he was completely focused at his work that he didn't notice the tamaranian princess enter the room just a few moments ago. Her eyes reflect concern.
"Huh?… Oh, hi Starfire. What's up?" he casually greets her.
"I would hope that it is not you stress levels that are 'up', friend Robin." She replies.
"…What do you mean by that, Star?"
"Robin, you have not taken rest since this particular case has started. I feel concern for your condition."
"That's fine, Star, but I'm cool. I just need to finish these searches, run through the evidence, then process all that data, re-research it, search again---"
"Robin, please. You should not strain your self so."
"Don't worry, Star. I told you I'm fine, really." He turns back to his computing but is stopped by Starfire's hand to his shoulder.
"No, Robin!" Starfire responds with a little more authority in her voice this time. "I can not condone such conduct from you any further than this point in time."
"But, S-Star---!"
"Robin, I believe it is time for you to take a 'pill of the chill'"
"…um, that's 'take a chill pill', Star."
"Forgive my vocabulary, Robin, but I believe you still understand my meaning."
Robin falls silent for a while but eventually answers her. "Star, it's not that simple. Those guys, Arsenic and Lithium, got away from us twice already. I simply don't want it to happen again."
"Neither do I, nor the rest of the Titans, Robin. But that is not my point here. You cannot strain yourself so much Robin, surely you see that. Not everything can be done within a course of a day. Not by any of us."
By now, Robin has stood up to face Starfire directly. A look of authority in his face. One usually reserved for the heat of battle and not casual conversations.
"Alright, I know what your saying Star."
"Do you, truly?"
"Yes. You're saying I can't do everything by myself. It's a pretty old tune that I've been hearing all my life Star. I'm kinda getting tired of it."
"If you tire of it so, then why do you not attempt to stop doing it, Robin."
"Because I can't. This is my team and my responsibility. If something goes wrong in the field, I only have myself to blame. I can't afford any more screw-ups like the last few days. I have to make sure all of us are in top shape. If you guys get hurt or do something I'll regret---"
"Robin, I must stop you there!" Starfire suddenly exclaims. Her look of concern now replaced by slight anger. Robin probably said something he shouldn't have and Starfire made it clear.
"Robin, each and everyone on this team recognize your authority as the leader of the Titans. But, please, do not mistake that fact with assuming that you have any responsibility as to how the each of us acts during battle.
"But, Starfire, I---"
"Let me finish, Robin. We recognize you're leadership, please recognize our individuality, Robin.
"…"
"We are all heroes. What we do, we do in the name of peace, justice, and all that is held sacred by the people. We dedicate ourselves fully to these duties, with neither pause nor regret. As such, we accept the risks, dangers, and consequences entailed by these said duties. Though we may accept them with fear and anxiety, we do so with pride and courage at heart."
"…Starfire…"
"I guess what I am trying to convey, Robin ,is that all the Titans are capable of dictating our own action. We are all entitled to act according to the manner we personally see fitting our situation, Robin. You, of all people, should not feel responsible for our conduct."
"Star, I just…want to be able to trust in my own team…and in myself… to do the right thing."
"We do trust in you, Robin." Starfire brings both her hands to rest on the Boy Wonder's shoulder blades in console. "As for the team, maybe you should give less trust to the Titans and give more to each and everyone of the Titans. Do you understand?"
Robin doesn't respond for a while. But slowly a smile forms on his face. "Yeah, Starfire I understand you." He said sincerely. Starfire's anger gives way to a look of joy and relief as Robin continues.
"I almost lost sight of what was important. I almost forgot why I started the Titans in the first place. I almost forgot about all of you. I guess I've been trying to carry the world on my shoulders again."
"Yes you were, Robin. But now, you must learn to stop trying to do so. We are not godly, Robin. We must all accept our limits"
"Maybe…I still have a lot to learn, huh, Star?"
"We all have plenty more needed to be learned, Robin. But that is why we are all here. Is it not the duty of friends to give knowledge to one another?"
"That it is, Star."
"Wonderful!" Starfire has returned to her usual jubilant self once again. "I am glad we have reached this agreement."
"Me too, Star. To be honest."
"Then please excuse me as I wish to see our other friends in their respective endeavors and see if I can be of assistance."
"Sure thing, Starfire, I won't stop you."
Starfire floats up on makes her way to the door. Halfway there she in interrupted by Robin.
"Oh! and Starfire."
She looks behind her to acknowledge the Boy Wonder.
"…Thank you…very much…" Robin said with a smile
"…You need not mention it, friend Robin." Starfire said, returning his smile with one of her own. She then continues onward and exits the room leaving Robin behind.
Robin stands there lingering for a while. He turns to look at the computer screen, thinks about it for a moment, and shrugs.
"Well, it's not like I was making any progress." He said. "I think I'll go work-out in the gym till' lunch."
------------------------------------------------
In some anonymous location. In some unknown timeline.
A much younger boy holds a 9mm pistol forward with two hands. He walks cautiously down a dimly lit hallway of sorts. Gone were his usual combat fatigues and he is simply dressed in a plain shirt and slacks with some slip-on shoes. He holds the gun at ready as if in the hunt for some thing.
He turns a corner. Something pops out of the wall. It took him only a fraction of a second to recognize the object as a flat wooden target depicting an enemy soldier supposedly aiming at him. And it took him that same fraction of time to act accordingly. He fires the gun twice hitting the target in the chest and head.
He then ignores it and continues down the hallway. He turns another corner. This time, two targets pop out. It takes him less than a second to eliminate both 'threats' with two shots. He continues onward.
He reaches a door. He moves to the side and opens it with one hand while keeping his pistol aimed with the other. As soon as the door fully opens, a target pops up from the floor in front of him. He gives it three rushed shots to the chest. He moves around it and forward.
He stands in what would be city streets if it were real. But the surroundings looked akin to something from an old Hollywood movie set. A bad one at that.
Suddenly, from the window of a 'store front', two more targets appear. He expertly eliminates them breaking the glass window they were behind of as well. Then suddenly to his side three more targets appear behind three respective 'windows' of varying height. He takes careful aim at each and pops everyone of them in the head and chest.
He ejects the bullet clip from his pistol and replaces it with a new one. He moves forward across the 'street' and in front of a building with a door on it. Cautiously, while ever keeping his weapon prone, He opens the door and proceeds inside. A short hallway leads to a dimly lit room that would pass for an office space complete with a desk and chairs.
The moment he sets foot in the space. Five targets pop-up nearly at once. He wastes no time and takes rushed shots in the general direction of each target turning them all into Swiss cheese.
A moment later, a final target appears from behind the desk. He doesn't even try to look at it before he unloads a final round to the targets head.
A few seconds later. A loud buzzing sound was heard coupled with blinding red light. The boy is somewhat startled at this and hopelessly looks upward. Then the lights turn bright white lighting up the room and a voice booms out of a hidden P.A. system.
"Nice work, lad, you did it again…"
The boy inspects his work. Most of the targets that depicted enemy soldiers have been properly executed. But the target behind the desk depicted a small girl holding a bunny rabbit…now with a bullet hole in her forehead.
"I'm sorry." Said the boy, as if the voice from the P.A. could hear him. And, apparently, it can.
"Sorry is not gonna cut it, my boy. You have great potential. But there is a differences between recognizing that potential and utilizing it."
"I promise I'll do better."
"No promises made dear lad. Just give us the results we want. Don't you want your mother to be proud of you. Riya…?"
------------------------------------------------
Riya opens his eyes. He blinks once or twice to get that misty sight you get after just waking up from a dream. He takes a few moments to catch up with the present and remember where he is.
It was late in the afternoon already. The sun was low to the west behind him. The city is in it's usual bustling afternoon pace. The sound of traffic was everywhere but not to loud from his perspective. He was after all about forty stories up on the roof of one of the many skyscrapers littering the downtown area.
Ah yes, he remembers it clearly now.
He was seated on the gravel of the roof with his back resting on an air-conditioning unit. He looks downward. He finds his sister, Sakura, lying down on her side on the gravel and resting her head on his thighs like it was a pillow. Peacefully slumbering away. He can't help but smile at her.
They were up there simply relaxing. The past few days have been quite stressful, and though they don't show it, any form of rest, they welcome. Even if they keep insisting that all they want is to be done with the experiment as quickly as possible. They cannot deny that they are still mortal.
So here they lie. Simply taking a time out. Riya ponders about what he should do next. He doesn't ponder for very long until he decides to simply go back to sleep. After all, if he gets lucky, he'll dream about a few more memories of the old days before the sun sets.
------------------------------------------------
The sun has set and nighttime has arrived. The Powers Chemical Factory.
The central lobby. A sole security desk stands in the center, empty of occupants. The silence is eerie to say the least. It was after hours so the staff has now been sent home and there was no particular nightshift in the building this night. Except for security personnel. So where are they exactly?
A distance away down a hall a pitter-patter of footsteps can be heard. A guard appears from around the corner and into the lobby. He sees it empty. Curiosity paints his face.
"Niles?" he calls out but receives no response.
He moves towards the desk in the center of the room.
"Niles, where are you, man!" He calls out another time as he is moving. "You can't leave the desk empty like that, man, The supervisor's gonna kill us."
He reaches the desk and looks over. His eyes grow wide in shock. On the floor was another guard, unconscious and drooling.
"Niles!"
The guard goes around the desk to his comrade. He checks him out. Thankfully, the downed guard is still alive, just completely out of it. The guard feels around Niles' head. A bump becomes apparent. And also he notices one very disturbing thing. The security personnel ID card that allows for all access to the facility, which is always pinned to the breast pocket, is missing. The guard comes to one conclusion: Intruders.
He wastes no time and presses the hidden alarm button under the desk. It blinks red.
------------------------------------------------
In the chemical storage building. Two familiar figures casually pace through the moderately lit hallways. The lights were supposed to be for security on patrol. But tonight it serves to aid someone else.
They reach a large pair of double doors at the end of the hall. It is locked, but they knew that already. A card reader on the wall indicates with a blinking light that it needs some kind of authorized access to open the doors. Arsenic holds out a security ID card and swipes it at the corresponding slot on the reader. It buzzes and a small LCD screen displays in red: "ACCESS DENIED." Arsenic looks suspiciously at the device. He tries the ID card again. But receives the same response.
"What's wrong?" Asked Lithium, standing beside him.
"Funny." He said "This thing worked all the way up to this point." He looks over the card and finds nothing wrong with it. Then a notion enters his head. He turns around looking up the wall. He finds a small red object that would be the alarm indicator. It was blinking red.
"Damn! The silent alarm's been tripped." He said and looks to his sister. "All the doors are locked now and can't be opened using security cards."
"Plus, you know who's probably on their way here right now. What should we do, bro?"
"It doesn't matter. We can take them out if we need to."
"Alright then." Lithium rears up and fan kicks the doors which fly off their hinges to the room beyond.
"…well that solves the 'no access' problem."
They both enter the room this time in a faster pace.
------------------------------------------------
"Titans, this is Robin. It's confirmed that the alarm comes from the Powers Chem Factory."
Robin rides his R-cycle down the road heading into the downtown industrial district. He speaks into the built-in communicator in his helmet.
"Everybody get there as soon as you can!"
"Were on it, Rob!" Cyborg's voice.
"Hey, anybody wanna take a guess on who our home wreckers are?" Beast Boy's voice.
"I think that's what's on all our minds, Beast Boy…" Raven's voice.
"Well if it is those two then we all have to be extra careful." Robin speaks up again. "We can't underestimate them again or they'll wipe the floor with us. Again."
"Robin, this is Starfire. I would just like to inquire---"
"It's okay, Star…I trust you."
"…Affirmative then. Starfire out."
"Say what, dawg?" Cyborg's voice, again.
"Never mind about that, Cy, just make sure you guys get there."
He terminates the transmission and accelerates the R-cycle even more. He thunders past traffic towards his desired destination just a few miles ahead.
------------------------------------------------
The room they enter is a large chemical warehouse that could fit over a hundred cars. But in this case fits over a hundred shelves of chemical samples sealed behind sliding glass windows. All of which are contained in sealed glass cylinders with labeled stickers stuck to them on the bottom. Like a library for veils of unknown liquids as it would seem, with shelves just as high and the spaces between them a lot wider. Lithium speaks up to address an obvious problem of theirs.
"So, exactly which one of these things in the one we want, anyway?"
"Doc says it should be labeled this:" He pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket. "CATALYST 719"
"…fitting label."
"Lets look for it fast. Before you-know-who shows up."
They get to work by splitting up and searching their own respective sides of the room. The both travel upon row after row of chemical veils scanning the different labels stuck on each one. But they are taking a considerably long time. Understandable though given that they have to search through almost a thousand veils. The search, and search, and search, and search, and keeps on searching until Arsenic calls out.
"Yo, sis!"
Lithium turns her head to look.
"I got it!" Arsenic holds up a glass cylinder containing a semi-clear pinkish flued. It was labled in clear black and white: CATALYST 719. Lithium smiles. She moves to the middle aisle to where her brother waits.
"Good." She says "Now let's get out of here befor---"
Bang!Another pair of double doors from the other end of the room bursts open. Five very familiar superheroes appear from behind it.
"Arsenic! Lithium! You two have a choice to surrender now or make this a lot harder than it's suppose to be!" exclaims the Titan's leader.
Arsenic and Lithium both narrow their eyes to signify their annoyance. Arsenic pockets away the small glass cylinder to his tactical vest. Robin notices and immediately reacts in his own personal way.
"You! What do you have there!"
"Do you really think I'll just tell you what this is if you ask like that?" Arsenic responds ever so neutrally
"You will pay us proper respects, villain!" A heated Starfire exclaims.
"Make me…"
The Titans were now getting into their respective fighting poses. The two robbers follow suite. Both parties have a staring contest in the middle aisle.
"You won't escape this time!" said Robin.
"You never learn do you, hero boy?" responded Lithium.
At that precise moment, Arsenic throws something to the ground. Then both he and his sister automatically turn their heads away. The Titans were caught off-guard and found themselves blinded by a sudden flash of light.
After the Titans regain their sights, the first thing they see is the villainous duo charging at them. Arsenic grabs hold of Robin and Starfire's arms and tosses them to his left into some chemical shelves, knocking the shelves over. Lithium fan kicks Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven in one go sending them to the opposite direction of Robin and Starfire, knocking over a few shelves sending them to the floor. Non of the veils broke yet due to the specialized glass material of the containers. The Titans try to get up but are immediately met by offensive attacks from the duo.
On one side.
Robin and Arsenic duke it out with a blur of martial arts moves and maneuvers. They do their best to hit the other but go nowhere fast. Robin tries a different tactic. Robin manages to lock arms with Arsenic effectively holding him in place. Giving Starfire an opportunity.
The Tamaranian attempted to throw an energized punch. Arsenic jumps off the ground and kicks off of Robin putting him on the ground while Arsenic, in turn jumps backwards and flips to evade Starfire's punch. He lands on his feet and takes a fighting stance. Starfire prepares a starbolt.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Said Arsenic. "Where in a chemical warehouse, remember."
Starfire's eyes grow wide as if just remembering that fact. They were inside a chemical warehouse filled with hundreds of veils of unknown chemistry. What are the chances that some of those chemicals are flammable?"
She immediately represses the starbolt. Arsenic takes this moment to charge her and elbows her stomach, tackle her to the floor, and flip off of her grounded body. He lands on his feet. Behind him Robin has recovered and has now armed himself with his bo-staff.
Robin charges at Arsenic's prone form. Arsenic barely had enough time to see the incoming swing from the bo-staff and block accordingly with his arms. Robin swings about and hits Arsenic on the square of his back forcing him to his knees.
"Argh!"
Robin twirls his staff about and makes a downward swing at Arsenic's grounded figure. He counters by blocking upward. Then in one quick move, Arsenic grabs the bo staff, pulls Robin towards him, places his foot on the boy wonder's chest and flips him in a somersault. Arsenic gets up and prepares himself in a fighting stance. Robin and Starfire groggily recover.
Robin charges again with his bo staff at ready. He swings horizontally, Arsenic ducks. He swings vertially, Arsenic sways to the side. He thrusts forward, Arsenic parries with his arm and attempt a punch at Robin's temple. Robin sees it coming and drops low to avoid. From this position he sweeps kick Arsenic's legs from under him sending the teen to the floor on his back.
"Dah!"
Arsenic tries to recover but as he looks upward towards the ceiling, he sees Starfire bearing down on him with her fists at ready. Arsenic rolls out of the way and Starfire's fist meet bare floor. Arsenic flips back to a standing position and promptly delivers a kick to Starfire's figure, The girl is sent crashing into robin and both teens sprawl over the ground.
"Oof!" "Aagh!"
Arsenic pants in place to catch his breathe while the two heroes get up once again in fighting stances. Arsenic prepares his mitts. He is now the one who goes on the offensive. He charges the two heroes, who prepare themselves. But arsenic pulls a fast one on them.
Just as he is about to reach the two heroes, Arsenic drops to the floor and slides down feet first in between Robin and Starfire. He ends up behind them. Arsenic quickly gets up and shoves the two from behind. Robin and Starfire are sent face first to the floor.
"Oof! "Oof!"
Arsenic moves to the sied and sweeps kick one of the still standing chemical shelves. It topples over the prone figure of Starfire. The tamaranian girl manages to turn over just in time to stop the fall of the shelf with her hands. But even with her alien super strength, she still struggles somewhat at pushing the very heavy shelf off of her, effectively pinning her to the floor.
"Starfire!" Robin cries out.
He was about to get up and help his teammate but sees Arsenic bearing down on him from the air. Robin flips backward just as Arsenics knee puts a hole in the floor. Robin continues to flip backwards like a gymnastics athlete giving him some distance between himself and his foe. He lands about a dozen yards away from Arsenic. The boy wonder then unloads four birdarangs at his enemy. Arsenic quickly draws his knife and deflects all but one on the projectiles which nicked him on the cheek.
"Ugh!"
A cut forms on his cheek that draws a little blood. Arsenic does not show any signs of acknowledgeing it though. Robin reaches into his utility belt again and pulls out a handful of flash bomb pellets which he throws to the floor in front of Arsenic. The pellets explode on impact, Arsenic is temporarily blinded.
"Dah!"
Robin then grabs a grappling hook, launches it to the ceiling where the thing hooks to. He reels himself upward but not totally all the way. He uses the slack rope to swing himself a great momentum feet first to his dazed opponent. Arsenic sees Robin coming, but too late. The boy wonder plows into Arsenic with all his weight and the added momentum of the swing. Arsenic in sent sprawling into the ground.
"Aargh!"
Robin lands a few feet away. At this same point, Starfire has finally managed to lift the chemical shelf off of her. She gets up, fixes her messed up hair, and joins Robin by his side.
"Had enough?" asked Robin.
Arsenic groggily recovers, wipes the blood from his lip, and stands at ready with his knife. He doesn't show any hint of being tired or worried at all. In fact, he grins slightly.
"Far from it…" Arsenic charges at them again. Robin and Starfire follow suite.
Meanwhile.
Lithium jumps over a charging green mountain goat as it tried to barrel her down. She lands in a crouch and looks upward. Raven is chanting.
"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos!"
The dark girl shoots bolts of black energy at Lithium's prone figure. Lithium evades by flipping backwards as the dark bolts impact at the spots where she would have been standing. Lithium lands solidly as Raven stops blasting away. Lithium is then grabbed from behind by Beast Boy in Grizzly Bear mode. He locks his claws around her in a tight bear hug.
Lithium tries to struggle against Beast Boy's embrace but finds that she can only separate his paws just a few inches apart. But she found out that that was enough. She slips under Beast Boy's grasp who soon finds he is gripping empty space. Litium kneels down, turns about, hops up, and kicks the green Grizzly in the nose. Beast Boy is thrown back on his butt transforming back into his elfin form, holding his nostrils in pain.
"Oww, man!" he said "Why always the nose!"
Lithium turns to see raven chanting again in preparation to make another attack.
"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos…"
A chemical shelf is telekinetically lifted into the air about twenty feet, above Lithium. It falls earthward. Lithium dodges to the side. Raven lifts another shelf and does the same procedure. Lithium narrowly dodges again to the side. Raven lifts up one two shelves at once and prepares to sandwich the female assailant with them. Cyborg, from the sidelines, suddenly shouted out.
"Raven, no!" Cyborg gets Ravens attention. "Those chemicals are dangerous, watch it!"
Raven suddenly realized what she was doing. Though the containers are made of a specially toughened glass, if even just one of these veils pop open, who knows what will happen. She gently places the shelves back down on the floor. Lithium sees this as an opportunity. She jumps up to Raven's height and delivers a downward kick to the shoulder.
"Aargh!"
Raven falls to the ground. Lithium lands a few feet from her. Raven gets up while cluthing her left shoulder in pain. Lithium charges at her again, but was interrupted mid-way by Cyborg's fist coming at her. Lithium barely dodges the attack by ducking downwards. She hops bak giving her some distance between her and the metallic hero. Cyborg gets into a fighting pose, Lithium does the same.
Lithium charges at Cyborg throwing a flurry of kicks, jabs, and hooks. Her figure allowed for greats speed and agility. Cyborg on the other hand had little choice other than to block with his arms forward. Lithium pulls a fast one. She slides in between the Titan's legs and sweep kicks him from behind. Cyborg is caught off guard and falls face first into the floor.
"Yaagh---doh!"
Beast Boy gets up once again. He charges at Lithium who readies herself. Mid way there, he jumps into the air and transforms into a huge Boa Constrictor. Lithium is caught off guard by this and the huge green Boa coils around the girl's torso, robbing her of air and arm movement. Beast Boy figured that he could probably knock her out if he could squeeze the breath out of her. Lithium struggles against the Boa's death grip but finds it futile. She tries another tactic. While her legs are still free she runs to the side and rams her body to a still standing chemical shelf. The impact affects Beast Boy most of all as he is forced to let go of her from the shock.
Beast Boy drops to the floor and Lithium catches her lost breath. Raven, back in the air attacks with another bolt of black energy. Lithium ducks just in time to avoid the attack which hits bear floor. Lithium grabs Beast Boy's grounded snake figure and tosses it across the room into Raven's floating figure. Beast Boy returns to elfin form in mid-air and flails his arms madly. Raven saw him coming but couldn't evade in time. They impact each other and land on the floor.
"Yaa-a-a-a--- argh!" "Oof!"
Cyborg, now recovered, is again charging to attack Lithium. He rears up a fist and throws it at the girl. Lithium saw it in time enough to defend herself. Amazingly, she grabs Cyborg's fist and stops it in its tracks. The two have the exact opposite of a tug-of-war. Lithium jumps up and lands behind Cyborg, presumably to trip the hero yet again. But Cyborg was expecting this and counters with an elbow to the rear of his form. It nails Lithium in the gut. She is sent crashing into a chemical shelf, shaking the contents into rattles of glass.
"Kaff!"
Cyborg faces her and prepares another fighting stance. Lithium regains her composure and readies her self. They have a face off for a few moments.
"You know, it's really against my policy to beat up ladies." Said Cyborg. "But, you are really pushin' my buttons, girl!"
"You have yet to see exactly how hard I can push!" Lithium responds in a challenging voice.
She draws her dual knives. She charges at Cyborg. Cyborg defends himself. Lithium throws slash after slash at the cybernetic hero. Cyborg is again left with little other choices than to block her attacks. Sparks fly as Lithium continues to slash away. She jumps into the air and performs a downward stab with both her knives. Cyborg hops back to avoid the attack. The knives hit concrete.
Cyborg quickly transforms his arm to a sonic cannon. He sets it into stun mode so as not to do too much damage if he hits the girl, or do something he'll regret at the off chance he hits one oh these chemical shelves. He aims at Lithium's kneeling figure and let's out a small blast. Lithium gets hit in the gut.
"Argh!"
She slides back but is not completely stunned. She looks back up with anger at Cyborg who prepares another shot. Lithium knew enough about Cyborg from the briefings given to her and Arsenic by Dr. Volkov. She knew his weakness lies in the construct of his limbs.
Cyborg lets off another shot. Lithium evades to the side and rushes at Cyborg. The metal hero tries another shot. Lithium, this time, jumps forward and over the shot and lands on Cyborg's extended cannon limb. She Stabs down both her knives at the space where the cybernetic forearm is connected to the elbow. Cyborg is caught by surprise. Like mini-crowbars, she twists and pulls on her embedded knives effectively ditaching the limb from its owner.
"Aaarrgh!"
The detached sonic cannon limb bounces on the floor a few times. It rolls to a stop. Then suddenly, due to some kind of malfunction, It lets off a shot in full blast which hits a chemical shelf. The following results were predictably not good.
BOOOOOM!The chemical shelf violently explodes, spraying flaming liquid all over the place. The explosion rocks the whole room and knocks down a few shelves open, sprawling veils of chemicals to the floor. This in turn causes a chain reaction as veil after veil explodes from the sheer heat of the flames.
The Titans and the two thieves are shaken to the ground. Lithium in particular is caught off guard as the fire trail ignites to collective contents of the shelf a few feet to her side. This causes another violent explosion. The sheer force of the explosion sends Lithium airborne and crashing into the far wall.
"Aargh---dahh!"
Lithium falls to the ground, completely knocked out.
On the other side of the room, another violent explosion causes another chemical shelf to come crashing down on Arsenic. He his caught of guard and does the only thing he can do which was drop to ground. The shelf does not crush him but instead lies at angle since the other end is supported by an already toppled shelf. This effectively traps Arsenic in a small space under the newly fallen shelf.
More and more exploding veils sets the whole room on fire. Robin recovers just enough to issue orders to evacuate.
"Titans, This place is coming down!" he exclaims over the fire. "Everyone out of here now!"
"I verily agree!" shouted Starfire.
Starfire, Raven, and Cyborg bolt out from the doors they used as an entrance. Robin follows suite but is interrupted.
"Dude, wait!" Beast Boy exclaims from the side. Robin looks to see. Beast Boy is kneeling over the unconscious figure of Lithium. The changeling is checking out her vital signs and finds a pulse.
"We can't leave her." Said Robin "Take her in, Beast Boy!"
The animorph gives him a quick nod and transforms into a Gorilla. He picks up the unconscious body in one meaty arm and exits the room. Robin lingers a few moments, looking back, apparently searching for the male assailant. He scans the burning room as best he can.
Another explosion knocks forward a shelf in front of the double doors where Robin was standing. Robin dives back to avoid the thing. He lands on the floor of the hallway at the same time as a crash is heard. The Boy Wonder looks back behind him and sees the door barred by burning debris. No way of entry whatsoever.
"Damn the luck." He said. There's no way he can apprehend Arsenic now. He turns back and runs after his Teammates down the hall.
------------------------------------------------
Back inside the chemical storage.
"Rrraargh!"
Riya manages to finally lift the heavy shelf off his figures. He stands up groggily. He frantically scans the room. It would seem that he was the only one left in the room. There was no sign of the Titans, or…
"Sis?" he calls out. No response.
"Sakura?" he calls out again. Nothing gives its presence to him.
"Sakura?" he screams out, knowing fully no one will answer him. He looks towards the entrance that the Titans took to escape. A burning chemical shelf completely blocks the passage. He knew in his mind that his sister was probably knocked out and taken away by the Titans.
He is silent. He has lost her to the Titans. He couldn't fulfill his promise to her. He absolutely hated himself at that moment. He clenched his fists in anger, more towards himself and the Titans. He swore to himself he would redeem his mistake. One way or another, he would prove himself once again.
"Hang in there sis, I'm comin' for ya." Said Riya in a barely audible voice. "I swear it."
He turns around and leaves through the exit on the other side.
------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Boy this took a while to write. I wanted to put in lot's of action. Hope you liked it. Comments, suggestions, violent reactions, send them all. I want them. Please Read and Review. Next chapter will go up soon enough.