Keep Your Friends Close by Cabel
Chapter 6
The finally rose over Jump City, bringing an end to what could only be described as 'one of those nights.' The Titans and their guests were in the process of assembling for 9:00 meeting to plan their next move. Ron then walked in, announcing his presence with a yawn.
"Morning fellow adolescent defenders of truth and justice." Now fully awake, Ron noticed something that seemed a little…out of place about the Titans.
"Do you guys dress like that all the time?"
Caught a little off guard by the unusual question, the five Titans looked at Ron, looked at each other, looked at their own uniforms, and back to Ron, answering with a unanimous "yeah."
Feeling awkward all of sudden, Ron quickly responded, "Cool. The look works. Definitive fashion statement." He then made a somewhat desperate sounding chuckle before heading toward the kitchen where Cyborg and Beast Boy were preparing breakfast.
"So what's on the menu BB?" Ron asked as he took a whiff of the aroma.
"Tofu eggs, tofu sausages, tofu…"
"Yuck, tofu." Rufus said as he climbed onto the counter.
"I'm a vegetarian, so sue me."
"Which is why I have to make sure everyone gets real food around here." Cyborg said as he went back to work on a skillet of bacon.
"You know what gentlemen?" Ron said as he grabbed a nearby apron. "I think this meal needs a little bit of…'the Ron factor.'"
"He's even weirder than Beast Boy." Raven said from behind her book.
"You've never met my cousin Larry." Kim said as she came through the doors, dressed in her heart t-shirt and jeans.
"Never be normal!" Ron said defiantly.
"Wouldn't want you any other way 'chez Ron.'" Kim said, playfully tugging at the goofy chef hat Ron was wearing. "Sunny side up please."
"Coming right up."
"Now that everyone's here perhaps we can figure out what Slade and Shego are up too." Robin said.
"Anything new come up?" Kim said as she sat down.
"First I asked Wade to check out the files at Telecon, the place Shego robbed, to find out what was stolen and what it could be used for."
"And?"
"Nothing." Wade's image came up on the screen. "There's no record of the alarms going off, no missing items, not even a police report. It's as if it never happened."
"Well something sure did happen and I have the lumps to prove it." Beast Boy commented.
"Does Telecon not want what was stolen to be returned to them?" Starfire asked.
"Unless Telecon had something they weren't supposed to have in the first place." Raven said.
"What exactly is Telecon known for?" Kim asked.
"One moment." Wade answered. "According to all the official stuff, Telecon develops advanced software and high-speed processors to be used in various fields. Particularly in medical technology."
"Now let's pretend I don't know what that means?" Ron and Beast Boy said in unison.
Wade sighed. "Really smart and fast computers for doctors. Impressive to the average Joe, but pretty standard on a 'world domination' perspective."
It took a moment to sink in. "Ooooooooh." The pair responded with a slight nod.
"Now that we know what they're not doing…" Kim said.
"We just have to figure out what they're really up too." Robin added.
"Wade, we need a full list of Telecon employees…"
"…financial records, where do they get money from and what do they do with it.."
"guys" Ron said.
"Affiliations, who has Telecon been in contact with…"
"dudes" Beast Boy said.
"And a full background check on the Telecon execs.."
"Guys!"
"What!" The leaders said in unison.
"Dude, you're finishing each other's sentences. It's creeping me out." Beast Boy said.
"No kidding, a few more lines and you'd be in 'hicka-bicka-boo' territory." Ron added.
"Done." Wade interrupted as lists of countless names, addresses, and numbers started flooding the screen.
"That might complicate things a bit." Raven commented.
"Interesting." Cyborg said.
"What do make of it?" Robin asked.
"We're trying to track the money but it isn't there. At least, not anymore." Cyborg pointed the addresses. "It's being split up sent through multiple networks, amounts ranging from half a cent to a couple thousand. The funds are constantly being transferred from one database to another, making it difficult to track the cash flow. Or if anyone were able to track it, they'd be going around in circles for a long time."
"You guys think you can sort it out?" Kim asked.
"Can a silicone phase disrupter be portable?" Wade responded.
"No." Cyborg answered.
"Yes."
"Say What?"
"Story for another time, it make take us a couple hours to find anything useful." Wade said before signing off. Cyborg got up and headed toward his room, muttering under his breath.
"Little pre-pubescent know it all...wait until that first growth spurt hits."
"So." Ron said from his seat. "Looks like we got a couple hours to kill. You up for a little site seeing KP?"
"Sure." Kim smiled before she started rummaging through her pack. "Darn it. I think I left my makeup kit at home."
"No need to worry new friend!" Starfire said as she grabbed hold of Kim's arm. "Come and we can exchange the girl talk, and cover our faces with produce!" She said as she half-dragged, half-carried Kim out of the room, leaving the rest of the group in silence.
Shego sat quietly as a single light bulb swung freely over her head. The dimly lit atmosphere caused the room to almost appear gray, as if Bela Lugosi would emerge from the shadows any minute. Understandably, most people would've probably preferred Dracula in comparison to the person who was in the room with Shego.
Slade stood behind his new apprentice, a tray of instruments positioned to his right. Shego's hair was moved over her left shoulder, giving Slade clear access to the neural circuitry of her uniform as he performed a few 'modifications.'
The actual procedure didn't cause any physical harm to Shego. There wasn't any need for scalpels or needles thankfully. She hated needles. However, the electrical input from the suit would cause some of her muscles to spasm every few moments. She especially found it annoying when it made her teeth clench.
"Did you move this much when your mother brushed your hair as a child?" Slade asked mockingly.
"My mother died a long time ago." Shego responded coldly.
"How unfortunate." Slade said as he reached for another instrument. It was a tool about the size of an ordinary pencil, designed for the careful handling of fragile equipment. On the end of this tool was a red microchip, barely the size of dime.
"I wonder, what she'd think of her little girl now that she's all grown up." Slade inserted the chip, bringing with it a jolt that went through Shego's entire body.
"Finished. How do you feel apprentice?"
Shego stood up from her seat and stretched out her arms. She closed her eyes and concentrated as her hands flamed up beautifully with green energy. She turned to face Slade, revealing soulless eyes of jade.
"groovy."
Starfire and Kim were seated in front of a mirror in Starfire's room. Kim was applying the makeup Star had loaned her while the Tamaranean princess was brushing her hair. Kim couldn't help but notice the eerie silence between the two redheads. Starfire, who to this point had been the most outspoken and social of the Titans now seemed distracted, as if she had an alternate motive for inviting Kim to her room.
"So." Starfire reluctantly began. "You and Ron are…together?"
Surprised, Kim's face took on a hint of pink. "Yeah, we are."
"My apologies, I saw the two of you in the hallway last night." Starfire added, feeling a little embarrassed herself.
Now glowing red enough to match her hair, Kim responded. "Oh, it's no big."
"For how long?" Starfire asked, starting to act like her normal self.
"About a month."
"You two look very happy together?"
A big smile crept across Kim's face. "The happiest I've ever been. But you must know what that's like."
"Unfortunately not." Starfire responded, turning her attention back to her hair. "I was engaged once."
"Really?"
"I was young, he was a slug. It was not meant to be."
A little weirded out, Kim started applying eyeliner to her face, but curiosity kept the conversation going.
"So is there anyone you like?"
Now Starfire was blushing. "Well um, there is…someone, for whom I care for but…"
"You're crushing on Robin, aren't you?"
Starfire started waving her arms defensively. "Oh no! I have not brought physical harm upon Robin!"
"No, I mean you like him."
Embarrassed further, Starfire replied. "Oh. My apologies again, I am not so good with 'the slang.' Interesting that I have lived on this planet for several years, yet many of your customs still confuse me."
"Trust me, you're not alone."
"On my home world, we Tameraneans draw our strength from our emotions. In joy we celebrate, in sadness we cry, and in anger we fight. Yet on Earth, everyone seems to hide their emotions in fear of how others will react, even if it means to be dishonest with oneself."
"I know what you mean." Kim said. "I've known Ron all my life, yet I was always worried about how others thought of us. Sometimes I wonder what could've been if I hadn't kept myself fooled all those years. I could've locked braces with Ron, if he had them."
The pair broke out in laughter. Starfire needed a moment to regain composure.
"So how did you know it was Robin who I liked?"
"Women's intuition. I noticed the way you helped Robin with his bandage after the fight. It wasn't just friends helping friends, it was genuine concern for someone you care for deeply."
Starfire contemplated her words. 'Did I really look like that?'
"Not that I'd blame you." Kim continued. "For a guy in a mask, he is kind of cute."
The two shared another laugh. "Yes, but he is also…" Starfire tried to find the right word. "…Reclusive. He is a strong leader, and a good friend, but at times he feels the need to carry the burdens he does alone. Especially in matters concerning Slade."
"Obsessive?"
"Which is why I am concerned for him. I do not wish to see him or anymore of my friends endure Terra's fate."
"Who's Terra?"
"Slade's former apprentice, as Robin was before her."
This revelation literally stole the air from Kim's lungs. For the first time she was starting to see what kind of person Slade was. She hoped Cyborg and Wade found their next lead soon, cause it seemed not only were they in danger of Slade, but it seemed Robin was in danger of himself.
Until then…
"Perhaps if there was something to keep Robin's mind off Slade for a while."
Finally I'm back! I plan to start chp 7 as soon as possible. Till then, you can also enjoy this picture I did for this fic at:
cabelstudios(dot)deviantart(dot)com
Concerning "groovy," You have to be an 'Evil Dead' fan to get it