I'm sorry it took so long to update. I was being really lazy when I shouldn't have. I just hope you like this chapter and that there are still people reading. We're approaching the climax so enjoy it while it lasts.
Disclaimer: Titans and Red X don't belong to me. The Raptors and Mutants do. Thats it I'm copying and pastin g from now on. (Told you I was gonna be doing this)
Chapter 14: Blackout
Titans Tower, along with the rest of the city was no longer a glow. Everything was pitch black, covered in shadows. It was only after the emergency power lights came on that things seemed to return to normal.
"I have a bad feeling..." Robin's train of thought was cut off when he heard a loud crashing sound behind him.
"SHUT HIM OFF!" Someone shouted
"He's not a stereo, theres no plug to pull!"
Flying through the door way and landing on the otherside of the room was Rack. The Raptor had lost his helmet in the fall and it was now lying on the floor beside him. He quickly got up off the floor and snatched the helmet back-up.
"What going on?" Robin demanded
"Cyborg went ballistic." Rack explained
Sure enough racing through the door came Cyborg, bursting at the seams with electricity. Reige around his neck, holding on for dear life.
"Shut him off!" Reige shouted "Shut him off before he kills us all!"
"Cyborg what's happening?" Robin asked
Cyborg didn't answer he was too busy running around like a mad man with Reige stuck on his back. He stumpled over the couch then in a fit of rage threw it of the way and into the opposing wall. He then began to slam down on the floor, creating crack in Tower's structure.
"Shut him off! Shut him off!" Reige continued to scream as continued in his foolish attempt to hold onto Cyborg's back. Finally Rack took action.
"Sorry Cy." Rack apologized, then he swung his tail straight at the cyber teen's face and knocked him to the ground on his back. Cyborg was out like a light and unfortunately for Reige, he was under him.
"Get him off me!" Reige cried
"Would you quit your whinning." Rack ordered as he lifted the unconcious Titan off his brother.
"Can you now tell me what is going on?" Robin asked impatiently
"Your friend burst out of his room and started pounding everything in sight." Reige explained "We tried to stop him but...well he's a really strong super robot thing."
"We don't really know what got into him." Rack added
Robin thought for awhile and reme,bered a similar situation like this. One where Cyborg began eating anything and everything for no feasible reason. It was back when he had got a virus. Obviously it had happened again and Robin had a good idea of how.
"Cockroach found a way into a com system." Robin explained "He told me he was at the city's mainframe, then he stuck something into the system and everything just blacked out."
"You think it was a virus?" Rack asked
"The last time this happened to Cyborg he had a virus. If he was on his charge table the system might of gotten corrupted and infected him."
"Great," Riege said holding up his arms in dismay "were down a superteen and we have a virus in the tower's system."
"It was the city mainframe Reige," Rack explained "the virus has probably infected every computer that it has access to."
"I would bet it would have to pretty powerful to make it past Cyborg's security against something like this from happening." said Robin
"We better get the Captain." Rack told them.
Several minutes later Recon was in the main room along with the other Titans looking at the now crashed computer screen.
"We've been had people." Recon explained "The virus Cockroach uploaded into the mainframe practically erased the virus protection protocols the moment it camme in contact with it. I've managed to reboot the system but I haven't stopped the virus."
"So," said Beastboy "we got it out of the computer."
"With a lot of luck." Recon added "Thanks to Cybernetic friends back-up protocols. However, Jump City is still in the dark as we can see."
The Titans saw what was once the vibrant and beloved city now bathed in shadow of darkness. There wasn't a single light on at all. Jump City looked dead.
"We need to move," Robin told the others "with every light in the city off who knows what Karvisko could do."
"It isn't just Jump City its the entire continent." Recon explained gaining the attention of everyone in the room "If this virus is as fast as I think it is, with the way it penetrated all of Jump City so quickly, its already working its way throughout the country. In 24 hours the entire United States will be without power and the next day it will start working its way down to Mexico and up to Canada. All of North America will be completely blacked out."
"Dude, so not cool." said Beastboy with his ear dropped down.
"What do we do?" Robin asked
"I say we give up now and become an Agarian society." Regie answered
Everyone looked at Reige with a rather annoyed face at his shallow suggestion. The tension was finally broken by Recon.
"I can stop the virus but not with the computer running on back-up mode and certainly not without a real good anti-virus program."
"How can you stop it?" Robin asked
"I need to get this computer to full operating capacity once again. That means recovering everything lost when the virus came in from scratch." Recon explained "Which would be easy, if it weren't for Cyborg's custom computer design. I don't know how these systems work, he does."
Cyborg was still out like a light, lying on couch motionless and still powered down.
"We need to get Cyborg back online then." Robin deduced
"Pretty much." Recon nodded
Rack and Roger lifted the offline Cyborg and began carrying him back to his room.
"Don't worry, we'll set him up in the recharger," Said Rack "We can get him back to full power from there."
"Boy is he heavy." Grunted Roger "Why did he have to be made out of mostly Robot parts?"
"Just make sure he get rebooted up to full power," Recon ordered "and fast we don't have much time."
"Thats it," Reige complained "we're all farmers." Reige now recieved even more angry looks this time.
"We need to head out into the city." Robin told Recon "who knows what's going on in there."
An sudden explosion went off in the far distance of the city sending up a plume of smoke. This answered Robin's question.
"Looks like some one isn't too happy about the lighting problems." Beastboy half heartly chuckled
"Great, just our luck." Recon sighed, knowing that the problem had just gotten worse.
"Cockroach said that if he took away our toys we'd turn on each other." Robin thought "This is probably what he meant."
"I'll stay here and look after Cyborg." Recon told the Titans "The Turagut brothers will go with you as soon as they have him set up."
"What about me?" Came a familar voice from behind. It was Ryan holding his shotgun in one arm and his machine gun in the other "You can't possibly think of leaving me out of this."
"We don't need your help." Robin told him
"And I don't need your yours either." Ryan shot back "You take care of your fellow humans and I'll handle the larger problem."
"Why should I just let you plow through the city however you please?" Robin asked
"Because you can't really tell me what to do Bird Brain." Ryan turned for the door "Besides I know how to handle riot situations."
The door closed behind Ryan as Robin turned back to Recon
"What does he mean by riot?" Asked Starfire "We have a word for this on my planet, it means mindless destruction correct?"
"Thats a good sum up of it all." Robin answered "And now I have a lunatic out there in it."
"I'll send someone with him." Recon assured
"I need everyone for this and we're already down a man." Robin explained "I can't send them to babysit him while the city tears itself apart."
"Then I'll send soem soldiers with him." Recon told him
This wasn't satisfactory
"He shouldn't be out there at all." Robin answered
"I can't order him to stay behind while you go off and save the day." Recon returned "I'm sending every available man to help keep the city under control. Everything will be fine you have my word."
Robin was still angry, but he soon calmed when Starfire put her hand to his shoulder.
"We have no reason to doubt his word Robin, I am sure he will make sure that Ryan does not commit harm to anyone innocent."
"If he does then I won't be responsible for what happens." Robin retorted turning to the door "Come on Titans, we have work to do."
In the short time that the blackout had occured the vibrant city had gone to the dogs. Since the Blackout there had been several hit and run attack across the streets. Residents stayed indoors as the Mutants continued their attacks. Robin decided that the best course of action was to split the team up and cover a wider area. It was hard to keep a track on everything that was going on. Buildings will being set up in flames, cars were exploding, shots were ringing out from everywhere. It was pure chaos. Robin, Starfire and Rack were busy dealing with the explosion they had saw from their Tower's window. A truck filled with gasoline had just went off. It appeared to have been shot with a missile of some kind. Fire and US military support wer eon the scene as the two Titans and the Raptor began to lead people out in an orderly fashion.
"I don't get it," Rack said helped Starfire push over a car blocking the way (Not that she needed help mind you) "Why all these attacks? There's nothing to get from it, nothing to gain."
"Perhaps the Mutants have become desperate." Starfire suggested
"Or maybe they just want to lead us away from their main target." Robin said suddenly
Starfire finally pushed over the car and the stranded people began to flood out to safety.
"Do they really need all this just to lead us away from the Xinothium?" Racka asked waving people over to safe zone with his claws
"It doesn't matter, we have no leads on where they could find some." Robin sighed "I don't even know where to start looking."
A small X shuriken suddenly swung out of nowhere and stuck itself onto an nearby car. Robin turned in the direction of where it had came landed and pulled it out of the vehicle. After quickly examining it he turned to the direction it had fallen. He saw a black cape dissapear into the alleyway. Robin took off after it without saying a word.
"Robin!" Starfire shouted
"Where is he going?" Rack asked
The two followed Robin in pursuit.
Robin grappled up to a nearby building and climbed up to the roof. There he found who he was looking for.
"Red X." Robin sneered as he looked up the Thief and his dark cape, his skull mask with the red x in the forehead, the suit. All of which he, Robin, had made himself. Robin pulled out his bo-staff "What are you doing here?"
"This may surprise you kid," Red X muttered "but I need your help."
"Why should I help you?" Robin questioned
"You see anything missing from my costume?"
Robin looked over Red X again. Everything seemed to be there. Cape, mask, suit, gloves belt...wait there was no belt.
"Wheres your belt?" Robin asked
"Some Mutant General came by and ordered me to hand it to him." Red X answered "I refused and he sent his bug friend to grab it from me"
Robin stood there in shock. Karvisko had a Xinothium core now. This was bad, really bad.
"You just let him take it?" Robin shouted in anger
"I didn't have a choice." X told him "You know how the suit works. Without it I can't do squat! I can't get the belt back on my own, not without my gadgets and the suit's power source and most certainly not alone.
"So you need my help," Robin said putting the bo-staff away and crossing his arms "otherwise your out of a job."
"Exactly I need it back and you're going to help me."
Robin just perched an eyebrow
"And again why?" he asked
X grew arritated
"Because you and I know how unstable that stuff is and how big a disater it would be if it went off!" Red X shouted back
"And I'm just going to give it back to you why?" Robin asked
X sighed and rubbed his forehead
"I'll make you a deal." Red X answered "If I can help you find it I get to keep my belt."
"You can keep the belt if you can grab it faster then me." Robin stated "And a reminder, it isn't your belt."
"Fine, fair enough." Red X muttered
"Good," Robin said finally getting somewhere "now do you have any idea where they could be headed with it?" Robin asked
"All I know is that the General was talking about making a bomb with it." Red X told him
"Anywhere they could get the high explosives used to trigger the bomb?" Robin questioned
"I figure if they want to level a city they'll need a huge explosive like a nuke." X answered "Big enough bang and more then enough to incinerate everything for miles on end. It would probably leave nothing left. The only difference then it being a nuke is that nothing could stop the blast, its basically nuclear overkill."
"I don't think Jump City has a nuke." Robin shot back
"No," X admited "but someone else who came here does."
"The US military?" Robin asked
X nodded and began to explain
"Theres an naval base not too far outside the city limits. And according to my few remaining crinimal contacts that like me it has a recently rerouted nuclear powered submarine docked there for the night."
"A nuclear core of a submarine is too big for what I think Karvisko wants to do." Robin told him
"The sub's nuclear core is just one thing thats nuclear about it. The sub also has a small nuclear warhead on board."
"Do your contacts know everything?" Robin asked
"They keep me updated." X continued "Now, the warhead is rather small, but if it were to trip the xinothium core...well...I don't really want to think about that."
"I'll head over to the sub at the dock and stop Karvisko's men." Robin said pounding his fist "So you won't have to think about it at all."
"I'll meet you there." X told him preparing to leave
"Why should I trust that you'll be there?" Robin asked before the thief took off.
Red X paused for a second and thought of what he could say to convince Robin he would be there. Then he just decided he was wasting time.
"You don't." And Red X jumped down from the building and took off.
Moments later Starfire and Rack finally caught up to Robin. Rack was flown up to the rooftop by Starfire and the two landed on the ground safely. Rack dropped down and walked over to Robin.
"Geez, you run fast." Rack told him "We had to go through six city blocks before we found you."
"Tell us friend," Starfire began "what were you chasing?"
"I'll explain on the way," He said motioning his hand "we have a sub to find."
"A what?" Rack asked confused
Robin looked over to the two
"It has something Karvisko wants."
Roger was behind the store counter trying to scrounge up anything that was left. The store had gotten a car plown right through it. Lucky it was closed at the time.While reige and Snip were off at another sight, Roger had gone with Beastboy to take care of the situation. Beastboy was anxiously tapping his foot at the entrance.
"How many Ding Dongs can you possibly eat?" Beastboy asked
"I have a rather large appetite my friend." Roger explained
"And here I thought Raptors only ate meat." Beastboy grumbled
"I need my sugar too you know." Roger retorted before he stuffed another Twinkie in his mouth. It left Beastboy to wonder if he really did have messy table manners. Well at least he knew he was a cleaner eater then either Cyborg or Roger, so at least that was comforting. Raven returned to the shop after scoutin ahead.
"I sensed nothing in the immediate area." She told them "The Mutants have probably moved on."
"Sweet, more snack time." Roger continued his sugar crazed raid on the store Hie preoccupation gave Beastboy a chance to talk to Raven about other things
"So where's Ryan anyway?" Beastboy asked
Raven
"I'm not risking scanning for his mind. But chances are he's on the hunt."
"When isn't he?" Beastboy asked not expecting an answer before changing the subject. "Anything else?"
"Not really." Raven responded
Beastboy felt something differently
"You seem a little, nervous about something."
Raven sighed and shook her head
"Its that stupid Colonel," Beastboy knew who she was talking about "I know its just my imagination but...I feel like he's out there somewhere. Waiting to pounce on me."
"Please," Beastboy said trying to lighten to mood "he's probably found someone else to torment by now. With any luck we won't see him for the rest of all this."
"I'd like to believe that." Raven said shaking "But for now I'm going to be cautious."
Beastboy was worried that Raven was getting to worried about this whole situation. He knew she was right about being cautious in general, but he needed to get her mind off this Aleksander thing
"Well if it makes you feel better I'll keep an extra eye out for him." He exclaimed "You saw how I suckered punched him twice. Just because he's strong doesn't mean he knows the moves."
This appeared to ease Raven's mind.
"You hit him around pretty hard." Raven considered "I suppose the two of us can handle him if we run into him again."
"Please, we'll mop the floor with his wings." Beastboy boasted
Raven seemed to smile a little at this
"Thanks for that Beastboy." Raven said "I guess I needed the reassurance."
"Your welcome." Beastboy told her
"I'll keep watch on the roof." She told him "I'll call you if I need you."
Raven levitated up to the roof and Beastboy turned to go back in the store. He met the face of rather smug looking Roger Turagut holding a Jelly Log in his claw.
"What?" Beastboy asked
"You like her don't you?" Roger asked
"Well yeah she's my friend." Beastboy told him
"I mean the like like type of like boy." Roger explained as he began munching on his Jelly Log.
"Dude, don't go there." Beastboy said frantically "Shes just a really good friend, really good. I like her as a person. She's smart, she's funny, she's really nice when you get past the sarcasm, she's a real good friend-"
"She's hot." Roger added nonchalantly
"Yeah that too." Beastboy suddenly realized what he said and clapped his mouth shut, he then tried to explain himself "I mean uh, well yeah of course. I mean she's a girl, most girls are attractive you know."
"Oh come on," Roger pleaded still munching on his Jelly Roll "admit you like-like her."
Beastboy struggled with the question, if he answered Roger then someone may finally know his secret and it could ruin everything he had established with Raven so far. But if he didn't he could say something horrible that he could never really live with or stand to say. There was only one way out.
"Fine," Beastboy admited quietly "I sorta always kinda had a little crush on her that I've always been hiding. Even now."
It was surprising how long he had kept from admiting that to anyone. He had a small crush on Raven that steadily growing ever since this mind bridge came into existance. The only way he made sure he didn't let Raven know was that Raven never invaded his privacy, ever. So he could still think about her when she wasn't around. It wa shard but it was worth it to imagine him and Raven having some kind of formal relationship. He wasn't sure how long he could hold this in though. Especially now that he had told Roger his secret. But Roger wasn't doing anything at this point. He wasn't laughing or chuckling or anything. He was just standing there with a satisfied smile.
"I won't tell a soul." Roger said as he stuffed the rest of his snack inside his mouth and swallowed. Needless to say Beastboy was relived
"Thanks." Beastboy sighed "You don't know how embarrassed she would be if she knew i had a crush on her. It would totally ruin our relationship."
"You never know," Roger told him as he reached for a cupcake on the display nearby "she might actually like you back."
Beastboy shook his head
"Nah, she doesn't see me that way." Beastboy explained "I'm just the funny guy who is also her best friend. Not romantic material you know."
"Your giving yourself a little bit of a hard time there." Roger told him "I mean what is exactly wrong with you?"
"Well I'm green for one." Beastboy said pointing to his face
"I'm a walking talking lizard and I have a girlfriend." Roger said with a large smile.
"Yeah another Raptor," Beastboy shot back "how many green girls are there anyway?"
Roger seemed on the verge of giggiling.
"I have a human girlfriend for your information sir." Roger said confidently with a smile across his face.
Beastboy stood there wide eyed.
"Oh come on." He said crossing his arms "You don't need to lie about yopur love life to get me to admit my feelings to a certain girl."
Roger stoically pulled a small piece of paper from his shirt and handed it to Beastboy, it was photo of Roger and a human girl smiling for the camera that was sticking so close to their faces. The girl was brown haired girl, who was very pretty. He hair was in a ponytail and she had her arm wrapped tightly around Roger's neck.
"Her name is Melody." Roger said taking the picture back
"Dude, you have a cross-species relationship?" Beastboy asked with surprise
"There are a few Raptors who feel attracted to humans." Roger explained "Like certain men feel attracted to fat people. Melody like me for my down to earth country sensibilities. That and shes a real good kisser."
"But Raptors don't have lips," Beastboy observed "how can you tell?"
"Its mostly tongue to tell you the truth." Roger explained
Even with this information it wasn't enough to fully convince Beastboy.
"Raven isn't attracted to guys like me." Beastboy explained looking down at the ground "She probably goes for moody guys with eyeliner and super dark poetic talents."
"Well have you ever asked her about which guys she goes for?" Roger asked
"Not really. "Beastboy admited
"Well how are you sure?" Roger asked once again
Beastboy was getting tired of this subject.
"Listen I'm just sure okay, can you just drop it."
"Fine," Roger said clearing his throat "I'm sorry."
Suddenly Raven came fluttering back in.
"I just got a call from Recon." She began "First, Cyborg's still not up. Second, The Turagut brothers are suppose to be heading off with Starfire and Robin to some military base."
"I better get moving then, wheres the rally point?" Roger asked packing up his stuff
"Its a few miles down the road." Raven said pointing "Third corner to the left."
"Thanks." Roger commented as he headed for the exit
"What about us?" Beastboy asked Raven
Raven looked at him sadly
"Robin wants us to find Ryan. He hasn't checked in and his escort says they lost him."
"Just like the LT." Roger said as he continued on his way "He's always going off on his crazy adventures."
"We better find him fast." said Beastboy "He could be in trouble."
"Thats highly doubtful." Raven responded
"Well where do we start looking?" Beastboy asked
Raven thought it over a moment. she couldn't risk sensing for him again and she didn't know where his last known position was. After several minutes of quiet thinking she heard a distant chainsaw over the usual gun fire that arupted here and there.
"Beastboy did you hear that?" Raven asked
"I think so, sounded like a chainsaw." It hit Beastboy like a ton of brick "I just may be able to hone in on his rampaging then. As long as his chainsaw is going." another distinct chainsaw noise was heard in Beastboy's ears "This way!" He pointed ahead and marched off with Raven following.
Inside a submarine at the docks several crew members lay on the deck unconcious. A few more in the weapon's storage were tied up as a small team of Mutant soldiers carefully removed a warhead from one of the ship's ballistic missiles. Careful they placed it inside a foam laced suitcase and began to walk out of the sub and out the hatch door. It was all too easy. Cockroach smiled as his men returned from the weapons storage room with what they had came for. All the pieces were in place. Soon they would be out of this horrible country and back in Mutentica, safe in the knowledge that by the time they got there the United States would be in permanent blackout and they would all begin to turn on each other as their precious technology refused to work. He was so glad that all had worked according to plan. However when he exited the sub he soon found not all of that was true. The Titan Robin, his other team mate and four raptors were there to greet him.
"Step out of the sub with your hands above your head." Robin ordered
"All four of them bug boy." Rack added
The Mutants piled out of the sub, relinquished their weapons and were lined up before the Raptors and the the two Titans.
"Nice try but it looks like your little plan won't be taking off anytime soon." Robin informed him
"Don't get too smug yet." Cockroach warned "I have a back up plan."
Suddenly a small helicopter rose out of the mix of hanger behind them and barreled towards them. It was a small minature gunship. The Raptors fired at the helicopter but it was no good. Robin knew they only had one option as he saw the pilot flick the chopper's triggers.
"Scatter!" He screamed
He grabbed Starfire by the waist and sent himself overboard with her. The Turaguts jumped ship as the gunship fired on them. The ship landed rather closely nearby Cockroach and he climbed in the apssengers seat. His men retrieved their weapons and looked to him for their orders.
"Kill them." He ordered as he closed the passenger door and took off into the night.
The soldier stood behind and looked over the side of the sub. Suddenly a glowing green orb smacked one of them in the chest and sent him flying off the sub. The same happened to next three mutants and soon they were all in the water from being hit with the green orbs shot from Starfire's hands. She pulled Robin and the others onto the dock. The Turaguts shook th water off them while Robin stared at the dissapearing chopper. It was already out of sight.
"Things just got more serious." Robin said to himself "We need to tell Captain Recon about this."
Suddenly a jeep roared out of a nearby hanger and barreled straight towards them. Riding in it were three other mutants. One of them manning a machine gun. Robin pulled out his explosive disks and was ready to fire when a sudden blur of black swung down and knocked the gunner out of the vehicle. He then knocked out the pasenger with his foot and took control of the wheel of the jeep from behind forcing it into the water. The blur jumped out at the last second as the jeep made a splash. The blur landed in front of Robin and revealed itself to be none other then Red X
"Looks like you can trust me." He smirked
I won't bother you today with a long winded speech in my Authors note. If you have any question just leave them in the review and I will happily answer them. Then again if its even just one word like "Cool" or "Awesome" I'll be just as happy to recieve that. So please ReadxReview, for the children