Hello boys and girls and welcome to chapter fourteen of The New Teen Titans. This chapter begins a story arch that puts a new spin on one of the old team's villains but I'm not saying who because the answer is just a few sentences away. Well alright on to reviews, Valda, I cant answer that question yet but I must respect your knowledge of the Titan's from the comics I mean you even spelt Psions right. Mr. D 91, yes there's still a lot to go but I cant do 'Fear Itself' because no matter how dangerous it is Black Bird shows her emotion more then her mom ever did. But aren't a few broken light bulbs better then monsters attacking? Oh and finally Neko Saphira, thanks for clearing that up and once again I cant answer that question yet. Alright well that's done so now without further ado here's chapter fourteen of The New Teen Titans
Chapter 14: Sparks: Part 1
Jump City if known for nothing else is known for its technology and for the Titans. Some would say that it's known for the countless tech companies it holds more so then even the Titans. None of these companies matter right now though except for one of the larger ones as right now a man is heading towards a destination in the basement of the companies main building. He waves and nods at people he knows as he walks by them but the further he gets the less people there are to wave to. He looked like he was a lab technician but almost too young to be wearing a lab coat at all. Underneath the lab coat he wore a black shirt and a pair of black jeans and he had blond hair that looked like it hadn't been combed. He wore a security pass clipped to his coat pocket that had a picture of him, what appeared to be a barcode and his name, Robert Layfield, on it. He was in pretty good shape and had a smug smile on his face and a strut in his walk even when the halls narrowed and stopped being wallpapered or carpeted. He reached the end of the barren grey hallway and came to a thick door with a panel next to it. He typed in a five digit code and held his security pass up to a light that then scanned it. The door made unlocking sounds for a few seconds and then opened letting the young technician in.
The room was very basic with plain white walls and no windows due to the fact that it was a few floors below ground level. The only things in the room where some computer parts that littered the room along with a desk that had lots of papers piled on top of it. The room could be mistaken for a back room if it wasn't for the lock on the door and one other important thing. In the centre of the room, next to a chair, sat a cone shaped object that was about three feet tall and had wires and lights going up the side. The opening at the top of the cone had electricity shooting from it that met electricity from a similar cone on the ceiling. Where the electricity met, held in place so that it was floating in the air was a computer chip. A computer chip that almost looked like it had a face.
"Hello Mister Load," Robert said as he grabbed a clipboard from the desk and began ticking things off as he went around the cone, "or lets be frank shall we, Overload." He laughed at his own joke and flipped the paper up on the clipboard before sitting down in the chair. "Alright so lets talk," he said as he leaned forward and stared at the blank chip saying, "come on, don't make me look crazy," which only made him look more crazy when the chip didn't respond. "I know that you have the ability to talk so why don't you make that electricity around you crackle and sound like a voice? Please?" he asked nicely but only got the sound of the electronic hum from the cone as a reward. Robert sighed before saying in desperation, "your technology can help thousands of people, save millions of life's but we need your help to understand it so come on, please?" once again humming was all he got.
"Fine!" Robert yelled as he stood in a huff and picked up his clipboard, "let's go over the old score chart." Flipping the page on his clipboard violently he began, "sixteen years ago: the Titans make their finally stand against Slade in a fight which you, Cinderblock and Plasmus participated. By the end of the day Cinderblock was destroyed, Slade was allegedly killed, Plasmus was knocked into a coma and you were shorted out. Fourteen years ago: Plasmus was transferred to a special meta-human hospital where to this day they are trying to make it so he is no longer Plasmus. Meanwhile you were still in a specially designed cell in a state prison. Oh but here's where it gets interesting," Robert said as he paused to raise his eyebrows at Overload. "Thirteen years ago: our humble little computer company takes you from prison with the promise that you will be no danger to us. Four years and two covered up deaths later and your in the state you're in now. Alright then there's about eight years of nothing and then the person who had been working with you died and I took over. So after all those years don't you want to help us so that we can release you?" Robert asked but once again got nothing at all from the emotionless computer chip.
"Fine!" Robert shouted again as he turned around, "you can spend the rest of your miserable existence in this room." He then threw his clipboard to one side and maybe it hit something electronic but Robert could swear he heard the sound of electricity sparking. "Was that you?" he asked as he turned around and approached the machine, Overload didn't need to respond with words but instead made the electricity buzz around him again. "So you're the crazy one," Robert laughed as the electricity kept sparking, "that is a containment field, if you try to absorb the electricity you'll only short-circuit yourself." Overload didn't listen as he just kept on making the electricity spark as Robert began to laugh and came right up to the chip. Not a good idea as just then there was a backlash of electricity that sent him to the floor in pain as the containment field turned off.
The alarm went off and the lights flashed red in tune with the ringing of the alarm, dyeing the room blood red every so often. Robert rolled around on the ground with his hands over his face before taking them away and looking in a steel panel to see his face. There were burns that covered the sides of his face on both sides and then climbed back the side of his head like weeds. Separating into different lines that got thinner as they went before stopping at the back of his head making the appearance of dancing flames on the side of his head. His eyebrow and the hair on ether side of his head was burned off and his blue eyes were brought out by the burns around his eyes which were full of rage. He looked over to see Overload on the ground with electricity still sparking through him. "We may not know much about you," Robert hissed out through gnawed teeth and lots of pain, "but we removed your ability to make a body out of electricity long ago." He crawled over till he was right on top of the chip and said, "so what are you going to do now?"
That's when he got his first every response from the computer chip, but it wasn't something he wanted to hear, "second body option, activated." Electricity shot from Overload and hit Robert in the forehead making him yell out in pain as Overload floated up the stream of electricity and then shot into his forehead making his hands go back to his face.
Just then two heavily armoured guards burst through the doors, one of them asking, "are you ok Mister Layfield?"
"Better then I've every been," Robert said but his voice now crackled with electricity and so did his body as it visible moved through him. He floated up into the air slightly and extended his arms sending bolts of electrify through his finger tips and hitting the guards. They were electrified and went stiff before falling to the ground in a heap. Robert's coat and the bottom of his pants were torn and his shoes were burned off, electricity moving from his down pointed toes into the ground. "Overload has returned!" Overload shouted as more guard ran into the room and surrounded him, weapons raised.
Overload's eyes began to glow and spark with electricity as it charged through him even more and moved down his body, picking up strength and shooting out of his feet sending sparks along the ground and shocking all but the youngest, skinniest guard. "Please don't hurt me," the leftover guard said as he dropped his gun once the other guards had all fallen.
Overload extended his arm and electricity shot from it, wrapping around the guards neck and yanked him closer so he was inches away from Overloads new face. He then asked the quivering man the only question he wanted an answer to, "where are the Titan?"
"Oh come on that's impossible," Android said as she sat in the kitchen talking to Beast Lad. The day for the Titans was going like any other day. Rave was off in his room trying to decode messages and old news headlines for any possible leads on Slade. Black Bird and Mystic were both in their rooms. Reading in Black Bird's case and god knows what in Mystics and Beast Lad and Android were talking as Alakazam sat on the couch glancing over at them when nether were looking. "There is no way that Ninja Fury Ten is better then Ninja Fury Seven."
"But the graphics are so much better in Ten," Beast Lad said as he continued the conversation about video games, "and Seven's storyline is overrated."
"Trust me, I know more about this then you. I am a robot after all," Android said with a giggle as she put her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. To Beast Lad this was a normal little argument to have with a friend but with Android there was a hidden agenda. One that Beast Lad had no idea of but Alakazam could see from the couch, and she didn't like it.
"Just because you can play DVD's does not make you the worlds greatest video game expert," Beast Lad said as he leaned back in his chair.
Android was about to respond but was cut off by Alakazam as she moved behind Beast Lad and placed her hand on the back of his chair as she asked, "hey Beast Lad want to watch TV?"
"I'm kind of talking to Android," Beast Lad said as she looked up at Alakazam and as soon as he looked away from her Android glanced up angrily at Alakazam.
"Yeah but that new show you've been talking about is on," Alakazam said as she yanked Beast Lad out of his chair and began to lead him towards the TV.
"Yes, but he was talking to me," Android said as she grabbed Beast Lad's other arm. Both the girls glanced at each other with a mix on confusion and angry as Beast Lad looked between the two completely oblivious to what was going on. The tug of war game that would have ripped Beast Lad's arm's off was interrupted by the sound of the alarm going off. Both girls glanced at each other for a second longer before letting go and running over to the monitor as everyone else came running into the room.
"What's going on?" Rave asked as he looked to the other team members for the answer.
"Some kind of energy stealer," Android said as she went over the information begin pumped from the computer into her through the wire coming from her wrist, "he's already caused two blackouts across town."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Rave asked before yelling out just what they were all waiting to hear, "Titans Go!"
Meanwhile downtown Overload's only concern was to cause as much havoc as possible to attract the Titans. He floated through town as people ran from him as soon as he got near, he wasn't trying to scar people so he didn't attack any. Instead he gathered energy, going by hardware and electronic stores making the electricity break through the glass windows to get to him. "Where are the Titans!" Overload yelled when the Titans did not appear as soon as they used to.
"Right here," Rave said from behind Overload making him whip his head around violently to find the location of the voice. The Titans all stood in their attack stances, ready for anything that Overload would throw at them.
"You are not the Titans," Overload growled as he examined the teens, "you are cheep imitations." He didn't even bother to turn around after that he just turned his head and continued on his way.
"I got your imitation right here," Android yelled as she raised her cannon and fired off two balls of sonic energy. As the balls raced towards the villain he stopped and stood absolutely still until the last moment when he quickly moved to one side and the balls struck a wall behind him causing two small explosions.
"You try to attack me!" Overload shouted as he turned around and raised his arms into the air. Android lowered her cannon a bit in fear as electricity once again rushed through Overloads body. It moved down from his hands held in the air gaining strength as it went and then shot from his feet and into the ground. It surged along the ground and hit Android causing her to go stiff from shock and then she fell to the ground, the pipes in her body going grey as she did.
Beast Lad saw this and ran over to Android, catching her in the air but not quite prepared for the fact that the skinny girl was made of heavy metal. He was pulled down a little as well but stopped her before she could hit the ground. He raised an arm in defence as a spark shot from Android's shoulder. "All her systems are shutting down," Beast Lad yelled as sparks continued to spring from Android's joints, the electricity trying to find a way out of her body, "some one needs to get her back to the Tower."
"I'll do it," Alakazam said as all the anger she had had for Android earlier was completely forgotten. As she ran a card shot from her sleeve and extended under Android so she lied on it like a gurney. As that happened another card shot from her front pocket and extended under her feet as she ran. She then flew over to Android and the two cards connected by their ends, Alakazam towing Android behind her as they flew towards the Tower. And just like that, two Titan were already gone.
Beast Lad looked up as they went for a moment longer before zeroing in on Overload. He ran towards Overload who shot electricity from his finger tips but it was too late as Beast Lad had already changed into an elephant and the electricity bounced off his hardened skin. He rammed into Overload and pushed him up against the brick wall. He flopped like a rag doll against Beast Lad's tusk but then began laughing as he wiped away the blood from his lip. "You only cause damage to this body," it was only then that Beast Lad's eyes dragged up to the chip stuck in the mans head. He recognised it from the old pictures of their parents enemies but the chip was never in anyone's head back then. Now the chip was even indenting more into the technicians head as small wires extended out from the chip and ended in small circles. Beast Lad had examined the chip for a bit too long as he noticed what appeared to be the chips mouth lift into a smile. Beast Lad's eyes went wide but it was too late and thousands of bolts of electricity moved through his elephant skin and was able to electrocute him.
Beast Lad fell to the ground as he shifted back to normal, smoke rising from him as he hit the ground. Overload fell as well though as almost all the electricity had left his body. He panted slightly as the other Titans began to run towards him. He moved quickly and smashed the window beside the wall he had been slammed into. He examined the blood on his hand which came from the broken glass sticking out of it but ignored it as instead he made the televisions that were in the display window shoot all their electricity into his bleeding hand. He then whipped the hand around to face the Titans and shot a stream of electrify at the Titans forcing them to all dive in different detractions to get out of the way of the attack.
"We've got to get rid of all his energy," Rave called out, powering up his hands and eyes with energy as he and Black Bird took to the air. He then fired two rave-bolts at Overload but they were just absorbed into his body instead of knocking him back.
"You only power me," Overload shouted as he raised his arms and sent electricity from the finger tips on both hands towards Rave. Right when it was about to hit him though a manhole cover engulfed in black magic deflected the attack.
"Azarath Arella Azar!" Black Bird yelled, using other items that littered the street to deflect the blots of electricity now being aimed at her.
"Mystic!" Rave yelled, sending orders without having to even fully saw them. As Black Bird distracted Overload Mystic ran under the electricity as it went through the air towards Black Bird and he sent two hexes at two separated fire hydrants. Water shot from them and hit Overload in the back sending him flying through the air before he was stopped when he banged into a lamppost. Rave swooped down to deliver the knockout blow once all the energy was completely out of Overload and was about to when Overload looked up at him.
"Help me," Robert said his voice finding its way through the weakened Overload's hold on him. Rave paused as he looked into the pain filled eyes of the man but he paused too long as electricity broke the streetlight above Overload's head and surged into him, being amplified by the puddle he sat in. The eyes that had been full of pain quickly charged with energy and two streams of electricity shot from them connecting with Rave's eyes and sending him flying backwards as Overload picked himself up into the air.
Black Bird growled as she flew up higher then Overload and saw that Rave was out like a light from the energy being pumped into him from the recharged villain. "Take this!" she yelled as two snakes shot from ether one of her hands and headed towards Overload. Overload looked up and saw the hissing snakes and he simple sent out two more electric blasts from his eyes. they hit the two black magic snakes and they were disintegrated but the blasts didn't stop there as they instead connected with Black Bird. She went flying backwards and hit the top of a building. She slide down and Mystic quickly moved to catch her in the air. He sat her down gently and then realized it was just him and Overload.
"Who are you?" Mystic asked as he did not recognize the chip in the mans forehead and he had never been told stories of the energy monster.
"I am Overload!" he shouted as he raised himself higher into the air and extended his arms, "and if you will not tell me where the Titans are then I shall free Plasmus from his prison and together we will find them ourselves."
Deciding that the fight was over he zoomed off towards an unknown location and with no way to follow Mystic had to let him go causing the fight to truly be over. Mystic looked around to see that Beast Lad and Rave were now gaining consciousness again after their electrification. "what happened?" Beast Lad asked as he sat up with a hand on his head.
"He won," Rave said simple and cynically as he took to the air and picked up Black Bird as he turned to his other two team-mates, "come on lets get back to the Tower." With that Beast Lad turned into a pterodactyl and allowed Mystic to jump onto his back before following after his leader.
None of them saw the figure who had watched the entire fight from the shadows of an ally. He emerged from the darkness like he had been one with it and smiled under his mask. His blood red eye glowing with glee as Slade said simple "interesting" before fading back into the darkness and laughing maniacally. The Titans retreating and Overload victorious.