Ack! I've been caught! I had actually been hoping to avoid that issue, Suuki-Aldrea. It's just soo much more convenient to pretend they have a universal language! But alas, I must now address the matter at hand. -.- If it seems a little too convenient, it's because I hadn't really planned to focus on the small obstacle. But I have your answer in this chapter. Also, your comment gave me the idea for its title, so I have you to thank for that as well. ;)
I've gone back and made a few very minor adjustments to some of the previous chapters. Nothing you have to worry about if you remember what's been going on though.
Disclaimer: I shouldn't have to remind any conglomerates that this is FANfiction.
Chapter Four: Enlightenment
Silence reigned, for once, in the stronghold of Jump City's protectors. They had just heard the most extraordinary narrative from the impressive newcomers: a 'brief' summary of their history, and their present mission. Not a single one of the conscious Teen Titans could find anything to say after this, faces frozen in a look of extreme contemplation.
Deciding that the atmosphere was way too serious, and not really thinking he understood everything that he should have, Beast Boy chose to focus on a more basic concept. "Whoa, wait. Does this mean I can speak Japanese?"
The others on his team blinked confusedly, not really knowing what that had to do with anything. Finally grasping the meaning of his question, they too wondered why they could understand these very foreign girls.
"I mean, I've heard that Japan has awesome schools and all that," the Changeling went on, not wanting to offend them, "but I don't even hear an accent or anything."
Mercury smiled proudly. "Very observant Beast Boy. No, you can't speak Japanese. The reason you can understand us are these," she said, tapping her choker. "Not all of the items we have on are just for show; most of them serve a very important purpose."
"Yeah, you wouldn't catch me wearing all this stuff in a fight if it wasn't necessary," Jupiter put in. She'd gotten used to the fact that she had to wear a skirt and bows in battle by now, but it was still kind of a sore subject when brought up.
"Our tiaras work a bit like Raven's chakra, helping us to focus our powers, and our chokers take the reverberations of our speech and convert the sonic wave output into something more identifiable to the listener. I was able to tweak the magical properties with a computer program that works much like an expert translator. I've already made it compatible with the dictionary of every documented language on Earth. I'm trying to work on another code that will work for those that are not recognizable; hopefully, I'll have it 'learn' the language as we hear it spoken, complete with proper grammatical structure. It's getting a bit complicated though," Mercury detailed, frowning a bit.
The pointy-eared creature was getting used to ignoring difficult-to-grasp concepts, and was just satisfied knowing that it was the thing they wore on their neck that helped them to be understood. Instead of trying to follow along, or at least pretend like he was, he went over to where Raven seemed to be in a trance, much like the one she was in after she was attacked by the werewolf version of Adonis. It made him a bit uncomfortable seeing her like that again, but he knew that it also meant she was well enough to heal herself, which was a good sign. Sighing, he started to turn back to start his well-practiced 'nod and smile' routine in response to Cyborg's overly-enthusiastic questions on the device, when he thought he saw her stir.
"Man, I've been working on a program that just translates Star's language for these guys, but I'm already stuck on how to change the sentence order for questions! This is incredible! Mind if I have a look?" Cyborg asked eagerly, practically drooling.
Mercury nodded while unlatching the blue strip of cloth and handing it to him. Hearing a slight moan from where Raven had been floating, she turned to see the half-demon slowly sit up, holding her head. "Daijabou?"
"Are you alright?" Saturn reiterated.
Raven was about to answer with dry humor, as was her way, when she remembered the people that had attacked her. The same people, she guessed, that were all lounging about in the main room as if they were guests. Not being able to even guess what had happened, she instead cast a questioning glance at her leader.
"Raven!" Beast Boy shouted, relieved his friend was awake and seemed to be well. He quickly tackled her with a very literal bear hug, his transformation drawing a few shocked expressions from the Senshi. After fixing him with one of her death glares, as she wasn't exactly in any position to yell at him, he blushed and transformed back. "Heh, glad you're alright," he offered meekly.
"Welcome back. They're friends. They are the ones who attacked you, but they've explained that it was a misunderstanding. It's quite an unusual story they've got, and Saturn has something to say that really might interest you," Robin informed her with concern in his eyes, answering her unspoken questions while the rest of his team expressed their relief as well. Although he didn't know exactly what she was thinking, their link allowed him enough to guess.
"Saturn?"
"Hotaru, please. We've met before. Sort of."
Raven stared at the small girl with the similar haircut, bits of memory coming forth haphazardly from the depths of her mind. "You're my…sister? No…half-sister, right? I've seen you in some of my meditation sessions. Are you telling me they were more than just imaginings?"
Saturn gave a small smile. "Yes. I'm sorry that we haven't been able to meet in person before now, under these grave circumstances. Pluto wouldn't allow it. Even if things didn't turn out perfectly, they might have been worse had we known each other prior to Trigon's appearance."
Saturn proceeded to give her an even more concise version of what they had disclosed to the rest of the Titans. She would explain more once they had a more private 'reunion.' She guessed that her half-sister would have many questions, and could feel the doubts the dark fighter had about herself, even after her victory over their malevolent father. Saturn was sure Raven was the secretive type, much like herself, and wasn't one to voice these types of uncertainties to others.
"So…let me get this straight. You attacked me because you thought someone had already attacked me?"
A shamed Mars gave a curt nod.
"The place was trashed. It was the most obvious explanation," input Jupiter, a bit sorry herself that she had given Mars such a hard time earlier.
The comment called to attention the very real devastation in the main room and kitchen. Some looked around in wonder, some with a bit of embarrassment. Pride was the only word that could describe Beast Boy's expression though.
"Yeah, well. What can I say? When the Teen Titans throw a party, we go all out," he said with a smirk, emphasizing his statement with what he thought were some cool moves.
"We're going to have to clean this up," Robin stated, a bit uncomfortable with the fact that their 'guests' had seen the Tower in such a state.
Jupiter jumped up, fist held high. "Hey, no prob! We'll help you get this place spick and span in no time."
"No, you don't have to…" Robin started, but trailed off as he watched her get to work with as much speed as Cyborg on the MAX-7.
"I shall lend a hand to our new-found friend with the spick-ing and span-ing of our living areas!" Starfire announced happily, and flew off to assist. Beast Boy and Cyborg shook themselves out of their surprised state when they noticed the other Senshi going to help out too. Robin started to join them as well, when he turned to Raven, who was sitting calmly and seemed to be deep in thought.
"Do you have any doubts about their story?" Robin asked quietly.
Raven frowned and shook her head. "No, not at all. Do you?"
"No, but you're better at that than I am. I'm not sure if I understood everything, but they seem to be telling the truth, and there's no reason why they had to tell us anything. They were putting up a pretty good fight back there, and I think they were holding back. Besides, if what they say is true, then we're in for some tough fights ahead, and we'll need all the help we can get." He watched her expression for any changes, and cautiously went on. "If you don't want to talk to Saturn, I'll find a way to make sure she doesn't bother you. They may be on our side, but that doesn't mean that they have the right to pry."
Raven quickly looked up at him, surprised at his offer. "No, I don't want to avoid her. I'd actually very much like to speak with her."
Robin nodded, satisfied. He too knew that Raven had questions. For all their time together on the team, there was still much that she kept to herself. He respected her privacy, but often wished that she would trust him enough to talk about things that bothered her, especially after the incident with Malchior, an entity that had been trapped in one of her books and had tricked her into confiding in him.
He placed a gloved hand on her shoulder, giving her a small smile before he went to join in the restoration. Picking up some soda cans which had founded a colony on the counter, he glanced at Saturn, who was holding up a trash bag and giggling as Beast Boy instituted an impromptu game of trash-basketball, or trashketball, as they had previously dubbed it. Grinning, he wondered if maybe now Raven would have someone she felt she could talk to and really trust. He supposed only time would tell.
x-x-x-x-x-x
On the outskirts of the city, in an old rundown, seemingly abandoned warehouse, a solemn individual leered behind his two-toned mask. "Ah, the joys of being alive," he mused aloud, his tone disturbing. He slowly gazed around his new base of operations, frowning a bit. Though the antagonist had not wasted any time in assuming his prior standing, he was still nowhere near as organized as before his little…hiatus.
While he always had several contingency plans, it still felt like he was starting from scratch. As it was, only surveillance was fully operational. Many of his droids needed repairs and/or upgrades, and gathering supplies from his hidden stockpiles was proving more difficult than he had anticipated. After all, he was not supposed to be among the living anymore. The living weren't even supposed to be alive.
The restored adversary narrowed his eyes at the memories of the previous twenty-four hours. Doing 'good' had left an unpleasant taste in his mouth, regardless of the fact that it was a means to an end. He had had to fight alongside his former apprentice and present arch-rival, Robin. He was a man of his word, and he had promised Robin to help him find his precious Raven; the elusive man would not and did not go back on his promises. And so he was forced to pass up the many opportunities to rid himself of his worthy opponent while they fought their way through Hell. Add to that the fact that the incredible power that had been promised him by his former 'master' turned out to be a ruse.
Still, he was grateful for his good fortune in the way things played out. He was, of course, alive, and as for the guaranteed powers, they had not all been false assurances. He had retained a bit of Trigon's energy after that final battle, and had garnered a new weapon as well. Hefting the recently acquired possession, he reveled in the power with which it pulsated. He would make sure the Teen Titans were defeated this time around. He no longer needed an apprentice to help him; surely, the power of Ultimate Evil would be enough to end them?
All this he thought, though the world saw not a one of his emotions, hidden as they were behind their master's mask. He could be a very patient man indeed, and was not about to ruin his chances of achieving his goals by being impetuous. Grinning secretly, he set to work once more.
x-x-x-x-x-x
The dilapidated library had been slated for demolition for quite some time, but due to certain city officials being unwilling to pay or be responsible for bringing down the community symbol, the forsaken building had been left to fall in on itself. Most recently, it had been the launching pad for the worst attack upon mankind, though hardly a soul knew this.
Amongst such rubble and ruin, nothing could be expected to live, except maybe those creatures that were known to survive worse. To wander around the structure meant that one was either very brave—or very stupid—for it was not just the dangerous conditions that served as a natural deterrent, but the very atmosphere that was menacing.
Except that in the midst of this 'dead' building, there was a stirring which could not have been caused by any sort of resilient vermin. A few of them scattered at the implication of an intruder, and out of the wreckage a clawed hand broke through. It wavered a bit, seeming to breathe in the grimy air, and then all at once it was followed by the disquieting shape of what could only be described as a demon. The black enshrouded imp slowly took in its surroundings, mystified as to what great fortune could have befallen it in the depths of Hell. Hearing another disturbance of rock and gravel behind it, its gleaming grin turned feral as the outline of a similar being surfaced. Additional shifting building material disturbed the still night as more of its comrades broke through the makeshift catacomb. Whatever or whoever had brought them back, they were not going to disappoint. Not this time.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Slade paused in his work, sensing something…peculiar. He frowned at this new talent, not really knowing what it could mean. While he'd always had an uncanny ability to sense what others were going to do, he'd never been able to actually feel them. Although this was definitely not human. An aspect of his new gifts he hadn't been aware of, to be sure.
'Well now, we mustn't let it go to waste,' he mused, heading towards the functional surveillance console. Quickly he scanned the many screens, trying to pinpoint what could be causing the disturbance. Not satisfied with their displays, he entered a few coordinates on a hunch.
"There," he announced to no one in particular, and his cool tone took on a slight edge. "Of course, the old library." He watched on as a handful of creatures emerged from the decimated area, looking very much lost and bewildered, but eager as well. An amorphous idea congealed in his mind, and his scimitar-like blade flashed in anticipation. Perhaps he could have more fun with the Titans than originally thought. That is, if these...things…were agreeable. He eyed the glinting edge of his weapon. "We'll just persuade them, if we find we must," he decided, and the two vindictive beings vanished in a blaze of flame.
------
They reappeared seconds later, just as the bulking forms were clambering away from their birthplace. Immediately assuming his familiar defensive stance, which to the untrained eye looked as if he was merely waiting for a cocktail, he addressed the startled beings.
"It has come to pass then," more a statement than a question.
The eldest creature held up his fist to stop the advancement of his battle-ready companions, and stared at the mere human who dared face them. And yet, his aura was not like others they had encountered. It was stronger. He did not give off the disgustingly pure sense of justice those damned Senshi and their masked male did though. In fact, the demon could feel that this daring man was very similar to them. But how could this be?
And that was when he noticed the long staff strapped across the mortal's back. It was an object he knew all too well, for it was what kept them imprisoned and admitted new entities cursed to eternal damnation. This only served to bring about more questions, for last he had known, the wretched artifact had been in the hands of another, the Guardian of the Gates, an invincible entity who was never to be seen without it. How had it ended up with this man?
"I assure you, I am not here to challenge you. Though even if you were all to attack me, I doubt very much that you accomplish very much," Slade cautioned as he brought forth his weapon. Many of the wicked creatures cringed and drew back, hissing at the unwelcome sight of the razor-sharp blade.
'What is it that you want, Human?' the Highest questioned, not aloud, but in the armored man's mind.
If Slade was surprised at this form of communication, he did not show it. Not in a way that the creatures could see, at any rate. His unconcerned tone resounded once more. "It is because of me that you have all been freed. I believe thanks are in order."
The Highest would have laughed spitefully had it been said by someone without the Dreaded Blade in his possession. As it was, the object was proof of the validity of his statement. Though the youma was unsure as to how exactly this had come to pass, he had been well trained not to question those with and in power. He turned his head slightly to relay the assertion to those who did not understand the human's language.
Immediate uproar was the reaction of those less learned. "We serve none but The Queen!" "This pitiful human is playing a trick!" and other such comments were roared in their language. These were followed by retorts of "But he has the Weapon. The Guardian of the Gates is not easily defeated," and "It was his victory that freed us!"
While the others in his company argued amongst themselves, he addressed the masked man once more. 'We already serve One, if that is what you are suggesting, Human.'
Slade tilted his head almost imperceptibly, a sign of puzzlement few were allowed to see. "Where is this master of yours then?" At the beast's hesitation, he went on. "If you were freed he must be around somewhere. Or perhaps he has forsaken you. Did you by chance fail him before?" A rumbling growl assured him he was on the right path, and he continued.
"Or perhaps he is ashamed. He is ashamed because it was not he who was able to free you from your fate. I was. My duties for you would not be very difficult; just some enjoyable entertainment. Of course, if you feel that you are not up the task, I could always send you back to your hellhole," and he emphasized the statement by raising his bladed staff.
'A shrewd human, is this one. He seems to be holding all of the cards…But perhaps we can benefit from this arrangement as well. At least until we find a better one,' and the beast's lips curled into a gruesome grin. He quickly barked out his assessment, the gruff tenor of his voice effectively ending all debate in the warrior band.
Not caring whether all of them had understood or agreed, the Highest turned back to the waiting fighter. He would explain it to them all later, if need be.
'Very well, Human. We shall serve and carry out your will. You have our loyalty,' he conveyed as he bowed. 'For now,' he added to himself.
Slade sneered maliciously behind his mask. "Excellent."
x-x-x-x-x-x
Back at the T-shaped tower, the warrior teens were oblivious to the fast approaching battles. Exhausted both physically and mentally, the issue of sleeping arrangements was given a temporary solution. While the Tower had dozens of 'free' rooms, most were being used as storage or were otherwise unfit to be living quarters in their current state. Two were cleaned up enough to be adequate for the night, however, and it was decided that Mars and Saturn would room in the one on Raven's level and Mercury and Jupiter in the one a floor below. Cots and blankets were dispersed, and they soon found themselves in dreamland, dreaming of whatever it was superheroes dreamt of.
Not all were able to find peace though, and instead struggled with disturbing visions and incessant worries. In the end, Saturn decided she would benefit more from a much needed conversation with her unfamiliar family member. She reached out along their almost non-existent link, and was surprised to find the person on the other end searching as well. She sent out a hesitant question, and received a quiet affirmation. Getting up silently so as not to awaken the sleeping priestess in the adjacent cot, the Soldier of Death exited the makeshift room and padded softly down the hall. The door marked 'Raven' slowly slid open upon her soft rapping, and the lone occupant moved aside to let the other in.
"Sorry if it's a little…dark," offered Raven as she noticed Saturn take in her surroundings.
"No, not at all. I quite like it." Saturn was surprised at what she could see in the dim candlelight and the similarities to her own room back home. The only thing really different was the lack of an overabundance of stuffed animals. Otherwise it was almost identical.
Sensing the truthfulness in the statement, Raven replied with a muted smile. "So, wanna sit down?" she asked as she indicated an overstuffed floor cushion by the fireplace.
Saturn accepted, and Raven took a place across from her. Taking the silence as an opportunity, Saturn began, "I know you have a lot of questions. I do too. We really have nothing to go on but our brief encounters, but I want you to know that I'll tell you anything you want to know about me, even if you don't tell me anything about yourself."
Raven felt a bit uneasy at the skirted sailor's sincerity. She didn't really want this to be a question and answer session, though she wasn't about to start in on her life story. Instead she chose a more neutral topic.
"Um, I appreciate that. And…thanks for helping them clean-up in there."
Saturn grinned. "Don't worry, we've cleaned up worse than that. You get really good at it when you hang around Usagi."
Raven couldn't help but smile with the frail-looking girl, even though she had no idea who this Usagi person was. "Who—"
"The Moon Princess, believe it or not. You'd think she'd be the embodiment of refinement, but you wouldn't be farther from the truth. Let me tell you about the time her boyfriend had to stay at Mars' temple…"(1)
And she went on to tell her the many tales of her beloved princess' more human side, along with a few of the more choice accounts of particular embarrassment to some of her teammates. Raven in turn told her some of Beast Boy's antics, Cyborg's infatuation with all things technical, and Starfire's unfamiliarity with some of Earth's customs, which couldn't be helped of course, but which were amusing nevertheless. She also warned her half-sister of the Tamaranian's culinary skills and her fondness of food from her home planet. The two sat and laughed and joked until the inky blackness of night sky diluted slowly into a more distinguishable color.
It was nowhere near the deep and insightful conversation they had hoped to have, but the exchange allowed both to feel a little more comfortable with the unusual situation which they had found themselves in, and that was a start.
------
Unbeknownst to the two, they were not the only ones who had not been able to sleep. Mars had awoken from a rather disturbing dream of Blood Fire and Resurrected Evil, with the very tangible weight of Fear bearing down upon her. She forced her breathing to steady, and looked around her unfamiliar surroundings. When she didn't see Saturn, she guessed that she was either exploring or speaking with her half-sister.
Now back in the safety of the realm of the living (though her feelings of security were to be tested soon) she allowed herself to think back to the nightmare which had pried her from much-needed sleep. It had been only the preliminary stages of a vision; merely feelings and emotions had been discernible. She would need to meditate if she wanted any explanations.
Sighing resignedly, she gazed around the space once more. Even a small blaze of her magical flames would be dangerous in this room full of fire hazards. Thinking that their hosts would not appreciate a fire in the middle of their living room either, she decided to forgo the scrying for the time being.
'Maybe if we clear out one of the other rooms, I could use that,' she thought to herself. Knowing that sleep was no longer an option either, she slowly rose from the cot and stretched, wondering about her next course of action.
She decided to just wing it, and explore a bit. Perhaps they had a meditation room of some sort. After about half an hour of searching though, she abandoned that theory. There were way too many unmarked rooms, and she wouldn't feel right if she were to just check all of them. Walking a bit aimlessly, Mars eventually found herself in front of the roof-access stairs. Figuring it was as good a place as any, she typed in the code Cyborg had given them and emerged onto the top of the stronghold.
The stunning sight was breathtaking, in a very literal sense. Distant sounds of waves crashing on the rocks far below provided a natural symphony to accompany the sunrise which greeted her, and she felt herself drawn to the edge of the rooftop to look upon the glory. Utterly lost in the moment, she was completely startled when a voice spoke from behind her.
"It's really something, isn't it?"
Shaking herself from her daze, she turned to the masked teen, "Yeah. You guys are really lucky to live in a place like this. Although, it'd be nicer if there was more plant life." She hesitated, not knowing if she was interrupting a morning ritual of his or not.
Robin didn't seem to notice her apprehension, and instead leaned against the edge as well. He thought a bit, and then turned to face her. "I'm not in the way, am I?"
"No, of course not. I was actually just wondering the same thing."
"Nope. Just couldn't sleep. Besides, I like early mornings. How about you? Do you usually get up about now?"
Mars nodded. "Back in Tokyo, I lived at my grandfather's shrine. I'd have chores to do before lecture, so I had to get up this early. I've gotten used to it though." She paused, curious. "What do you do?"
Robin looked at her, confused for a bit. After a moment, he turned back to stare over the bay. "I'm a Titan. It's kind of a twenty-four-seven job."
Now it was Mars' turn to look confused. "But…what about classes and everything? Family?" She cut herself short. "Wait, sorry. That was really nosy of me."
Robin's face remained impassive, but it took him a minute to reply. "It's okay. They're good questions. I don't really have any good answers though." Coming to a decision, he elaborated. "I've tried that whole double-life thing…tried to live both as Robin and his civilian counterpart." He turned to face her once again.
"It's not for me." And he left it at that.
Mars nodded, understanding. She'd often been privy to the very similar concerns of some of her teammates. They all wanted to be able to live normal lives, but it was getting harder and harder as the enemies they faced got stronger and stronger. They all knew what Fate had in store for them; though Pluto had explained to them enough times that Destiny was a fickle thing. Even the slightest alteration of the timeline could make, very literally, a world of difference.
Mars didn't put much stock in Fate in Destiny though. She didn't like the idea that she didn't have a say in how to live her own life. She had to believe that she had choices. She didn't have to be a Senshi, she didn't have to live a recluse life. But she did, because she preferred things that way.
And so, when some of her closest friends voiced their doubts in their ability to overcome such Forces, she stubbornly dismissed their fears and encouraged them to pursue their dreams; advice which they seemed to be following. Minako had just recently been signed to a prestigious record label, Makoto was giving cooking classes to try out some of the dishes she planned to use in her future restaurant and to train what she hoped would be the kitchen staff, and Ami was doing internship after internship while taking whatever classes she was allowed to at Tokyo University. The ice-wielder was fast becoming a legend in the medical community, and would achieve her goal of becoming one of Tokyo's finest doctors much sooner than expected, it seemed. Usagi, for her part, couldn't seem to find a job or course of study she really liked, though her grades, which had improved significantly in the last few years, gave her lots of options. Of course, it didn't hurt that she and Mamoru were two of Tokyo's most sought after models.
All of this came to mind as the sun climbed steadily higher in the painted morning sky. Never one to censor her opinions, she didn't figure that now was the time to break with tradition. "You know, you shouldn't have to feel as if you need to be 'Robin' all of the time. Even with all of the monsters that attack our city, we still find time to do the things we like; most of the time we're not even transformed. It's hard, but it's also necessary to keep our sanity. We've all got things we're good at, and we don't let our duties smother them. You've probably already noticed that Mercury is the brains of the group. Jupiter is incredibly strong, and you'll never find a better chef. Saturn's the sweetest kid, and is much more powerful than she looks."
"What about you?"
Mars grimaced. "I've…been blessed—or cursed, depending on how you look at it—with the ability to receive visions. And I'm an empath, of sorts."
"Only when you're Mars?"
"No," she answered, shaking her head. "All of the time," she added more quietly.
"So, in a way, you're always on the job too. Even when you're not transformed, you've got abilities to fight the bad guys. Me wearing my uniform all the time is just my version of having my abilities all the time. You're always Mars, whether or not you're in civilian attire."
Mars didn't quite like his logic. "Maybe I'm not a very good example," she flushed. "But," she relented, "I do see your point. I guess the one I was trying to make was that you're allowed to be normal. Em…as normal as people like us can be. You're allowed to try to live your life the way you want it, not just the way others want or expect you to."
It was Robin's turn to color a bit as he picked a spot past her shoulder to stare at. "I do. I do have fun sometimes," he defended distractedly. Then, looking at her intently, he went on, sounding more determined than he felt. "This is normal for me. I am Robin. I've got too many people depending on me to be anyone or anything else. I've got a city and a team, friends, to protect. I might not have any special powers, but I make sure that my shortcomings don't become a problem. I train and study anything that I can use against the bad guys. If I make a mistake, it may cost someone their life. That's why I don't allow myself to make one. Or if I do, I take the steps necessary to ensure that it doesn't happen again.
"Being completely human isn't a weakness you should try to overcome. It's thinking that way that's your Achilles' heel," the Fire Senshi replied gently.
Robin spun away, jaw set. He knew there was truth in her words. But he also knew that he had every reason to think that way. Who was she to question his principles? He turned towards her again to say just that. "You know, you don't even know me, and already—" He paused, one of his senses on alert.
Mars, too, was still, and she slowly twisted towards the source of the interruption, eyes wide. She slowly broke into a smile, the first he'd seen.
"C'mon, let me prove to you that a 'normal' life has its advantages." And with that, she grabbed him by the wrist before he knew what was happening and dragged him to the stairs.
------
When they reached the kitchen area, they found every other Tower occupant already assembled around the table. Even Saturn and Raven, who had fallen asleep merely an hour before, had been drawn to one of the most incredible aromas known to mankind: Jupiter had made breakfast.
The culinary master hadn't cut any corners for the extravagant feast, even with the very limited amount of edible food she was able to scrounge up from the depths of the refrigerator and cabinets. Giving the last of her secret-recipe pancakes a final flip, she added a bit of garnish to the very last setting.
"Hope you guys don't mind I did this. I kinda used up the last of the food that was safe to eat," she chuckled a bit sheepishly, hand behind her head. Seeing that the others continued to stare, she added nervously, "I'm used to feeding a group with Usagi in it, so I might have made a little too mu—"
But the rest of her sentence was drowned out by the scarfing noises of eight hungry teens. She quickly rescued her own plate off the table. "I didn't know what some of that stuff was, but I tasted it, and it seemed alright. The berry-things made a really good sauce."
"Yu haf 'asdered thu ard o' brebaring dorka burrees," an overjoyed Starfire tried to say through a mouthful of her home planet's addicting berries.
"Mmmm-MMMMMM. This is fan-tabulous! What IS this stuff!" Cyborg exclaimed, holding up a forkful of the main entrée.
Jupiter smiled proudly. "It's tofu! My own secret recipe. Well, as close to it as I could get with the stuff you guys had."
"To…fu?" swallowed the human hybrid incredulously, staring at his plate. He thought a bit, and then shrugged. "It's awesome!"
"I TOLD you tofu rocked!" the triumphant vegetarian informed. Luckily his much larger teammate was too involved with his food to retaliate.
The only thing left after the forks and spoons stopped flying were nine satiated crime fighters, and some very clean plates. All and all, it was turning out to be a pretty good day. Robin had even decided to put off the morning training session to "allow the food to settle," as he had put it. They rolled themselves into the living room, putting off the rest of their To Do list to watch Cyborg and Beast Boy battle it out on the GameStation 2. They all took turns playing winners, laughing at Cyborg's shocked expression when Mercury not only beat him eight times in a row (best out of three had turned into best out of fifteen), but had knocked him out of first place on the high scores table. The two powerful teams may not yet have been the best of friends, but they were finding it very easy to get along.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Silvery moonlight spilled gently onto a pair of silent figures. The smaller of the two dozed softly, curled up at the foot of the rabbit covered bed. The other stared without really seeing, expression pensive. She knew she shouldn't be worried about her absent friends, but she couldn't help it. Jupiter had reported a few hours earlier, and thankfully there really weren't any disturbances yet. Other then getting off to a somewhat rocky start, they seemed to be doing rather well. Jupiter had signed off rather hastily, explaining that it was her turn to "kick some major GameStation butt."
Apprehension found its way into cerulean orbs, and not for the first time that day Usagi found herself thinking about 'what ifs.' She let out a soft sigh, all too aware that it was not a good train of thought she found herself on.
Sensing something amiss, her mentor awoke and glanced concernedly at her princess. "Hime?"
Another sigh escaped the pink lips of the addressed girl. "Luna," she began. Hesitating, she sat up.
Understanding that this wasn't going to be another rant session about how annoying her little brother Shingo was sometimes, the seemingly normal cat padded softly closer to her liege and waited for her to continue.
"Is what I do really right? I mean," she quickly went on to clarify, "I know that Sailor Moon protects the innocent and all. But is…killing the enemy…the right thing to do?"
Luna tilted her head, still not really comprehending what the golden-haired heroine was asking.
"Isn't there another way to deal with them? Didn't Mother have a prison? I'm sure there was a justice system of some kind. I don't think that criminals were just killed on the spot. What if they're not completely evil? What if I've been condemning innocent beings…to eternal suffering? Unnecessarily? What if—just given the chance—youmas could be good?"
The feline nodded, aware now of what had been troubling the youth. "Hime…Usagi. What you do is very noble. There is no need for you to second guess your duty, though I can understand why you have doubts." She paused, thinking of how best to address the girl's concerns. "You remember the Four Sisters, right?"
Two tendrils of silken hair fell forward as Usagi nodded. "Of course. We went to their cosmetic store not a week ago. I'm thinking about promoting their products. But," she went on, thinking she knew the point Luna was trying to make, "I healed them. I didn't destroy them. I gave them a chance, unlike the others. Who is to say they wouldn't have been healed as well?"
"Usagi, you must remember that youma are not the same as you and I. You have healed everyone that had a chance to be healed. A lot of the enemies we have faced were ordinary humans before, though I suppose you would stretch the definition of 'ordinary' with some of them. The important aspect of that is that they were humans. Youma have always been youma. They were only meant to serve whatever evil being created them. Most of them were experiments of Beryl's when she first began to study the forsaken Black Arts. They know nothing but the wickedness which brought them into being. It courses through their blood, black as the Arts which begot them."
Luna went on, seeing that her answer hadn't fully satisfied the pink-pajamaed girl. "The Ginzuishou does not possess powers of Destruction, in its most basic sense. Instead, you wield the powers of Life and Rebirth. Whatever and whomever you use it on is not 'killed,' as you might think. They are 'cleansed,' so to speak. You eradicate only the evil. And that means the entire youma is eliminated, because there is no good to be found within them.
"There is no chance for them to 'turn good,' for they are incapable of such a thing. Indeed, if you were to introduce even a small amount of virtue into their bodies, it would probably eat away at them." Luna smiled as only cats can as she looked upon the human's face, acceptance faintly discernable.
"Ah, Hime. You are truly worthy of your title. Your benevolence towards all beings is one of your greatest strengths. But do you understand why it cannot be so with those creatures?"
Usagi stared back once more on the full moon holding steadfast in its velvety display. She was relieved that there was logic behind her actions, though she still was not completely comfortable with the reasoning. She smiled gently at the small adviser and then leaned over to place a small kiss upon the glimmering crescent upon her forehead.
"Thank you, Luna," was her reply. "I feel…more comfortable with it."
Luna purred softly. "Try not to think too much more on it tonight. You need your rest. There's no telling when an attack will come."
A yawn kept the leader from replying, so instead she nodded, and fell back upon her fluffy pillow. Luna stayed curled against the girl's stomach until she felt the familiar rhythm that indicated she had entered her sleep cycle. Now it was the neko's turn to stare at the moon. She eventually allowed sleep to claim her, but not before asking her own 'what ifs.' In contrast to her liege, however, hers were about the future, and about whether the girl had actually acknowledged her explanation. She could only hope that any lingering doubts did not interfere when the time came when she would once again be called upon to 'kill,' as she had so delicately put it, those beings which threatened their very existence.
x-x-x-x-x-x
On the other side of the world, there was an individual who was having no such moral dilemmas. He had been working with a few of his new cohorts, and was pleasantly surprised that they had been trained rather well. Their prior ruler must not have utilized all of their servant's abilities if they had been defeated. Well, this master was not going to make the same mistake.
"Zelquor," he called out over the sounds of fury emitting from the sparring fighters.
The largest among them stepped away from the horde, right fist across his chest as he bowed his acknowledgement. 'Yes, Master Slade?'
The answering grin was unseen. 'This is certainly something I can get used to,' the addressed man reflected. "You and your…men…are doing exceptionally well. I must say that I'm impressed."
The Highest gave no indication he accepted the compliment. He would have had every right to, however. If Slade had known anything about the prior hierarchy of which the beasts had been a part of, he would have known that Zelquor was among Queen Beryl's elite, ranked only behind the Generals themselves. It was he who had trained those who were chosen for the energy-gathering missions. Although to be fair, the Generals had always opted to select his weaker constituents. Not only was there a limited amount of power which could be used to sustain them at the time, the Generals, among other things, did not wish to run the risk of having their power usurped. They knew that anybody else's success was their failure. Beryl had relied on her High Generals almost exclusively, but never scorned the proven skills of her Highest and the Special Forces he trained. (2) Not only was he an extremely capable leader, Zelquor was also extremely loyal. Had things gone as planned, he would not have been so underappreciated by the Generals. But as it was, the trainer remained motionless, waiting for his temporary master to continue.
"I think we can initiate the first phase of my plan within a few hours. I want you to choose your most inexperienced fighters for this mission. I don't want to end the Titans mercifully. I want them to see what they're up against. Make them feel hopeless, ineffective, while their beloved city is torn apart piece by piece. Meet me in an hour with your chosen, and I shall introduce you to your targets and inform you of the details of my plan.
Zelquor gave a sickly sneer and nodded, turning back to his fighters to carry out his order. 'Perhaps we shall have some fun after all.'
x-x-x-x-x-x
Music blared from the oversized speakers in the living room. After a few hours of fun and games, the teams had decided that it was time to get to work. It was no training session, but cleaning was still not considered an easy task. It was amazing how much junk five unsupervised teens could accumulate.
The kitchen, having been cleaned up the night before, only had the breakfast dishes to deal with. Mars, Saturn, and Raven had set to work on a corner room to make it into a sort of meditation chamber. Mercury was helping Robin upgrade the obstacle course, and Beast Boy and Starfire were 'cleaning up' the rooms where the Senshi were, hopefully, going to sleep that night. The comical Changeling was getting distracted with finding way too many of his old toys and games, including his "Count With Me" monkey that he was supposed to have gotten rid of. Starfire was wheezing with laughter at his antics, and the gifted boy was only too happy to oblige. Jupiter and Cyborg had gotten back from grocery shopping a little earlier. He'd gotten a crash course in exotic foods, and was eager to show her a few recipes of his own: "I bet you'll love my finger-lickin' ribs marinated in my special CY-BQ sauce, and my homemade spaghetti with my patented triple-meat sauce!"
They were just about finished putting away the last of their wares when Jupiter yelled out in surprise. Within seconds the scattered T-Tower inhabitants reached the sight of the disturbance, although there was some confusion in getting through the too-small hallway frame.
"What happened?" asked Robin, who had several bird-a-rangs ready to launch, shutting off the music.
"I was…it was…I saw a—thing," Jupiter spluttered out. She was not easily shaken, but what she had encountered was way beyond what one would expect to find in a cupboard. And it had licked her!
Cyborg went over to the cabinet which stood ajar in front of her, sonic blaster held at the ready. Not seeing anything right away, he scanned it for any signs of life.
"Whatever it was, it's not there any more," he informed seriously. "My scanners aren't picking anything up."
"Um…what exactly did you see?" Beast Boy asked, nervously tapping the tips of his index fingers together.
"It looked like a...maggot," Jupiter thought aloud. "It was about as long as my arm though! Even with all the mess you guys had, I don't think it's possible for them to get that big. It could have been a pet!"
At this remark, the Titans burst out with laughter.
Jupiter frowned, not knowing what exactly was going on, but understanding that they weren't exactly laughing with her. "Am I missing something!" she asked, getting a bit annoyed.
"This thing of which you speak," Starfire choked out between fits of giggles. "It is closer to your comments than you might think. Do not fear, Friend Jupiter, for it is—"
But she was cut off by cry at the back of the hallway crowd, which still hadn't gotten completely through the doorway.
"—nothing that would cause you danger," the alien rushed on. "For it is merely Silkie, who is indeed our pet."
But there was another yelp, this time of pain, and those who could, looked towards the source. Mars was doubled over, eyes unfocused.
"Mars?" Raven asked uncertainly.
"It's them," was all Mars could ground out between clenched teeth.
As if to emphasize her point, a familiar shrill ringing filled the space, and red lights flashed.
"Titans, trouble!" Robin barked out, drawing the attention back on him. He turned towards Mercury, who had already located the cause on her mini-computer.
"The disturbance is coming from High St. and Fifth. The readout doesn't seem to match any of the criminals in your database. And there seems to be a lot of civilians around; we need to hurry."
Robin nodded, already heading towards the garage. "That's not too far away. Mars, are you okay?" he called out over his shoulder.
A muffled "Yes" was his reply.
"Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire…you guys are going to have to fly there. The rest of you are with Cyborg. I'll use my usual method."
The teens rushed to follow his orders, apprehensive for the upcoming encounter. As they sped away towards the city, they all worried about the kinds of monsters that Hell had spat back out. Robin was fast-working on a plan, as per usual. Sensing his fellow fighter's uneasiness, he resolved to give out extra encouragement during the approaching battle. Though he could only hope it would be enough.
Ah hah hah! The power of the cliffies… :)
As for the little numbers in the chapter:
(1) I absolutely LOVE this episode. I first saw it in Spanish. "Pero tu lo vistes!" Tee hee. Priceless. Not nearly as effective in English, though. If you don't know which one I'm talking about, e-mail me and I'll give you a brief synopsis.
(2) Every time the series shows a span of Beryl's throne room, we see thousands and thousands of monsters in the shadows. There's no way they all had a round with the Senshi! Shoot, we didn't even know about the Doom and Gloom Girls until the final showdown, really. And they were able to actually kill the scouts! So obviously, Beryl had some kick-ass baddies she didn't use when she could have.
Oh yes, and on a side- side note, I did try to put in the time difference. Usagi's scene is going on at pretty much the same time as Slade's training session. ;)
I'm really proud of this chapter, but I don't know how many of you are going to like it. I suppose it's because it has a bit more background and insight than plot. I tried (and probably failed) to delve into the unexplored psyches of some of our favorite characters. I drew some of it (especially the stuff on Mars) from the PGSM Live Action series. I also tried really hard to explain why things are the way they are in the shows. I'll be posting the next chapter pretty soon to make up for that and my, um…short…hiatus. Hey, I only had two weeks of summer vacation! But I got 22 hours under my belt, so woot! Hope you guys are still interested in this, especially with the new season of Teen Titans coming out on the 24th! Post it on your calendar, people. And don't forget to let me know what you think!
I'm thrilled with the fact that some of you have already reviewed. A thousand bows to Tenshi-of-Saturn, leogirl45, i laugh at you, Kristin398, moon-bunny735, and Gundum M! I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Thanks again for the input Suuki-Aldrea. And to Serenity-hime and elefly, special cookies for you for understanding where I'm coming from on the whole Mamoru thing! I read each and every review, and as you can tell, I definitely use some of the ideas you guys bring up. Keep 'em coming!
Ja!
-flarescence
Edited 9/26/05