AUTHORS NOTE: I don't own the Titans, or any Nintendo games I may mention. Or Axel F (Frog song) or any other forms of entertainment or money. That's out of my particular range of income… Sigh. And to all those wondering why I called Speedy Arthur.. At the time I started this, I didn't know the Char.'s names. Likewise, I've got Mas y Menos named, even though I don't know their names.
Just so you know, this is AU - It's not the same as either the show or the comic book seiries (Which I've never read.)
Newscaster: Wayne Enterprises today came forth with a most astounding offer, donating a very large amount of both cash and assets to numerous police stations across the country. Bruce Wayne paid the largest section of the bill, using money from unknown accounts to pay for upgrades to forensic equipment, weaponry, and the mobile units used to engage super powered villains. Steel City is among the lucky cities, receiving almost five million dollars worth of equipment in all of its many precincts…
MORE OR LESS, IF WE CAN
Bumblebee had to admit that it was far nicer in Speedy's house than it was in any hotel she had ever been in. The rooms were comfortable and well designed, built for comfort and relaxation. The room itself wasn't anything special, but it was hers, and the boys knew that it was off limits. It was her one place to relax and escape the dull drudgery of normal everyday life. It had been about a week since the Cinderblock incident, and things had been quiet around Steel city. The criminal populace had apparently decided to lay low for a bit, and the police seemed to be in control of the situation. Although they hadn't been able to find a single lead, a little bit of good news had come in on the location of Brother Blood. For once, it seemed that she and Aqualad had managed to catch up to their elusive quarry. He was in the city – or so some source had told Officer Holly Sampson. It wasn't much, and she had been unable to pinpoint where, but it was a good start. It was enough, for now.
The room she was in was now 'officially' her room, and it held all of the things she had brought with her – which, truthfully, wasn't all that much. A couple of pairs of clothing, a small makeup kit, a few odds and ends, a picture of Cyborg, and her repair case for her stinger weapons, which she cleaned daily. Other than that, the room seemed bare as compared to the lush extravagance that filled the rest of the home. However, Karen preferred it that way, the aesthetic, Spartan surroundings more to her liking than the lush opulence that lay in the other rooms. Garth too had a room, though his had a little more stuff – Arthur had bought him a few things, at his request. It seemed a little odd to her, but she wasn't one to judge. I wonder what Holly would think of it…
Speaking of the Detective, who was starting to become one of her few non-super friends, Holly had called only once, and it had been to provide that little bit of information. That hadn't stopped them from getting into a two-hour conversation that was going to make Victor Stone, AKA Cyborg, throw a fit when he saw the bill next month. But it had been a step down the road of trust, one of many small steps. As for now, it was simply a friendly business associate. Other than that, life had been normal.
Well, somewhat normal, anyways.
Arthur had proven to be the oddest member of the new group that had formed in Steel City. He was almost obsessed with perfection, and with both looking and being perfect at every moment of the day. He used his bows and arrows to do chores occasionally, which explained the holes in most of his clothing, and in any pancakes that Aqualad ever managed to flip out of the frying pan, much to both teens annoyance. He didn't expect it from his friends, or though he professed, but while he was around, she often felt that he was judging her, something that would usually send her into a fit. Yet, at the same time, he was so chivalrous that she couldn't help but be somewhat charmed by his daily actions. Taking her chair out with one of his feet while he was cooking, making sure she was served first when dinner was served, it was the little things like that which made her feel welcome, despite his faults and quirks.
Garth wasn't any better, though. Since coming into Arthur's home, he had become more laid back, more willing to take a break. While she had to admit that after two months of searching without a break, that even a week was great, she had to worry about the fact that through this whole week, they hadn't done any searching themselves. They had spent the week in relaxation, sleeping, eating, and being normal teenagers. Garth, in fact, had spent most of the time in the swimming pool, doing laps over and over and over again, and it seemed like the only time he came out was when he was eating or joining them for a quick game of some kind, usually Super Smash Brothers Melee. Which, of course, she rocked at as Samus.
Karen herself hadn't been too active either. After wrapping her bruises up from the fight with Cinderblock, she had found herself talking a lot with Arthur. He was defiantly one of the quirkiest people she had ever met – and that was saying a lot. He was complex beyond what most people thought of him, which, sadly enough, had included her in the beginning. She should have known better than judging a book by its cover, yet she had immediately connected his strawberry blonde hair with a lack of intelligence. He had quickly disabused that particular notion, showing himself to be one of the best chess players she had ever seen. He had proved to be near Robin when it came to pure playing style, grace, and finesse, but she had found herself just barely able to stop him. Robin had been playing against his mentor, Batman, for ages, and had an ability at the game that was as fluid and natural as his fighting style, which even Brother Blood envied. No one, except possibly Batman, had the level of training that Robin did when it came to his particular brand of fighting – well, besides Slade. But he wasn't pulling any jobs at this time anyways, and was the Titans concern. Arthur was nearly as good, but he wasn't quite up to Robin's level – and probably never would be. Which was just as well, considering how good he was. When she played against him she had found herself struggling to come out even. She had, of course, but that didn't stop her from finding him to be a fun opponent.
In fact, she had come to be almost as close to him as she was to Garth in the time she had known him. Both he and Arthur had shared an experience prior to this moment, but she was unaware of both when and where it had occurred, and asking them would be considered prying too deeply into their personal affairs, so she had been limited to only a few minor inquiries, all of which had turned up empty handed. Garth had never been all that talkative to begin with, and sometimes could clam up better than any known mollusk, but she had spent almost eight months with him, and that time had opened up a few smaller chinks in his personal armor. But to be perfectly fair, when she compared the two, there were so many differences between them that it left her amazed that they got along as well.
Arthur was very self conscience, and spent a lot of time preening himself in a manner that would have made her laugh at herself in the mirror in thought of her vanity. He also spent an inordinate amount of time both practicing with his arrows, and with building different types of them, though quite a few seemed beyond any use at all to her. A boxing glove for a tip? What's up with that? Her thoughts were both amused and confused, so she never commented on that particular quirk. He also tended to be self centered at times, focused on himself or his work more than on life itself, a habit that sometimes reminded her of her one time friend Gizmo. He was almost too perfect most of the time, but the few slip ups she had seen had been spectacular ones, and they tended to stand out fully in her mind. Thoughts of catching him singing in his skivvies during her first morning here ran through her mind, and she found herself blushing ever so slightly. Yes, when he fell, it was from the heights.
Garth on the other hand seemed withdrawn and hesitant most of the times, admitting faults when he had none, and often seeming to be too cautious for his own good. He almost never stepped out onto a limb, tending to be methodical and ponderous in his movements. It was one reason she never played him in chess often – he was just as likely to move as he was to put her asleep. He liked to plan eighteen moves ahead of his opponent, but for the life of him couldn't understand the purpose of sacrificing any of his pieces. He wouldn't put a single one of his pieces in jeopardy without at least one other backing it up. Of course, it made him a tough opponent, but getting around someone's defense had always been something she had specialized at. He also didn't tend to make mistakes – or, at least, if he did, they were so minor that they were barely worth mentioning. He made himself a hard target to make fun of, and she knew it – he was protected by an oblivious attitude, and also by the fact that his upbringing had been devoid of any forms of insult or scorn. She never really understood how, though. Even she had been taunted some as a child, even if it hadn't lasted all that long. She had always made sure the taunts ended quickly – or else.
The place was slowly becoming more of a home for her, one of the few she had been in besides the barracks in the Hive headquarters she had once occupied. It had started out only as a simple dwelling, but the few memories she had gained over this week had changed that. She wondered why for a minute, then simply shrugged her shoulders and thought about calling one of the boys out to play another game of Super Smash Brothers Melee. They would probably accept – there really wasn't anything else to do right now.
The sound of Axel F filled her ears, calling her back to her surroundings, and she quickly grabbed her cell phone. That particular tone told her that it was Officer Sampson who was calling, and she frowned as she contemplated the new charges and bills she would be putting on her phone. A moment later, she grinned, and she picked up her phone. "Bumblebee here." Karen said with a grin. "What'cha need?" She wondered what she was thinking. They had planned to wait until tomorrow before they had continued their previous conversations on the foibles of the weaker sex (Men).
"Bumblebee," Holly's voice was serious, almost grim sounding, and it pulled the smile off of her face like water. "Do you think you would mind coming down to the station? I could use your help on an interesting case that's got the rest of us stumped."
Bumblebee flew down to the station steps, landing without missing a beat, and walked up the steps, knowing that Officer Sampson would meet her in the front of the building. She ignored the many pointed stares in her direction and focused instead on what little information she had been given. Three bank robberies, one of which had police standing inside the vault itself, and there isn't even a suspect! And none of the cameras have caught hair or head of the crook either. Her mind whizzed into gear as she walked into the station, and the buzz of life their was enough to drown out her thoughts. One noise in particular, however, caught her attention, and she found herself turning face to face with Officer Sampson, who had just finished clearing her throat. After half a second, she directed her to follow, and led the way to a small, shabby office. It was cramped, but it had enough space for a few chairs, and she beckoned for her to sit down in one of the chairs as she sat in one that was behind large piles of paperwork. She did sit, and after a moment of silence, which to her seemed intolerable, she spoke. "So, what makes you think that I can help you?" Their was a little doubt in her voice, and it was, in her opinion, well deserved. She wasn't quite sure what she could do not without knowing what she was up against, at least.
Holly grimaced slightly, but it was obvious that she had a plan, and that she was fairly certain of it. "Well, first off, we can check out what the cameras picked up, if they got anything, and go over the other clues. Our CSI unit picked up a couple of little things that might be useful, and the reports from the other banks have been compiled. I know." She said with a small, bitter smile on her face, sticking her hand on the pile of papers before her, "Because I have all of it here. Took me long enough to get it together too." She added wryly at the end.
Bumblebee kept her mouth from twitching upwards in a smile, but it was a hard thing to do. Holly had that effect on her, however, and she couldn't say it was unexpected. "So what do we know, if anything?" Bumblebee said while leaning back in her chair, focusing her mind on the puzzle at hand, not closing her eyes, but letting them droop in concentration. "Or did you just get a wild hair and decide to see if I could come up with something?" She kept the humor rolling right back at her.
"Well," She was quiet for a minute as she grabbed some of her files and rifled through them, then stopped and smiled as she came up with one she was searching for. She popped it open and started again. "One of the few things that all of the banks had in common was this fellow right here." She pulled out a picture of a tall, large, well dressed, and Caucasian person, who would have seemed perfectly normal if he didn't have a greasy smile plastered across his brown haired face. "He's deposited money prior to every burglary, though it's only been his money stolen once. Though, if you notice, he had different identities in each." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, and Bumblebee repressed a desire to roll her eyes. "The fact that all three banks were robbed only a month after he had deposited his cash speaks volumes, though it's defiantly not him. He was in the bank checking to see if he could open another account when one of the robberies occurred. But… I think he knew it was going to happen. Anyways…" She frowned and flipped to another page, grimacing as she spoke again. "The only thing we've got that all three incidents have is that a stiff wind seemed to blow through the area just before the robberies are reported. That's the only identifying factor that all three have in common, but I think that there's more. I just can't figure out what for the life of me."
Bumblebee frowned, unsure of how to reply. This obviously was being done by someone or something, but she was far from certain about who or what was doing it. She tried to think about all of the super villains she had ever read up on – or fought for that matter – but none came to mind. None of them had either the know how or the powers to pull such a feat off – and most of them would have flaunted their new trick at least once. These robberies were cut and dry, both in planning, and in execution, and with as little evidence as was available, she had no leads to try and follow up on. "Well, I can't think of anything we could do to help you. The Titan's aren't going to be able to track a non-existent phantom, even one who's stolen so much money. If you had a little more to go on maybe, but with what you've given me…" She trailed off, shrugging her shoulders helplessly.
Holly nodded, looking somewhat depressed at the thought, unable to simply admit that the case was beyond both her and Bumblebee's skills. "If we could just get one more piece of information, we could arrest this guy, and I know I could crack him! Not as if I can get Commissioner Rayson to agree to any special treatment of the cases. If only he would let me install a camera into the vault!" She looked put out, and bumblebee found herself staring at her with an agreeing expression. "Or if he'd just let me put a bug in the money…" She trailed off as she saw Bumblebee's face go through a series of changes, from surprise to a feral grin. Holly's eyebrows went up, and she gave her a speculative look. "What?"
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Holly muttered as she moved into the vault, Bumblebee standing beside her. She wondered about how the girl had come up with such an insane plan on the fly, and wondered if she always acted this irresponsibly. Not as if I'm any better. I'm an accomplice to the act either way… She thought to herself, knowing better than to attempt to dissuade the headstrong teen from her adventuresome idea. It was crazy – but it might just work, she had to admit. "You know, we could try electronically bugging it first. I'm sure I could get Rayson to agree to it…" She heard Bumblebee snort beside her and found her frown growing in its depth. It was legitimate advice, and she might be able to talk the Commissioner into it… well, probably not, but still…
Bumblebee looked up and down the rows of boxes and grinned at her consternation, not bothering to hide her amusement. She spoke quietly, but firmly. "It's not the first time I've done something like this. Shrinking down to a tiny, nearly microscopic figure is a piece of cake for me, and it's perfectly safe. I do it all the time when I need to get away for a while. I've hidden in my computer almost more often than I can count." She tapped the box she would be hiding in, not worried in the slightest about everything that could go wrong, the scenarios that flowed through her head seeming to fly right past hers. Holly wanted to cry, and it wasn't for the first time tonight. The idea had been crazy when she had brought it up in the first place, and her opinion of it hadn't changed since then.
When Bumblebee had first brought her idea forward, her crazy plan to shrink down and hide among the suspect cash, Holly had been adamant in her refusal to go through with it. Even after a rather surprising demonstration in which she had hidden underneath a pile of papers on her desk, all while continuing to try and win her over to her side of the discussion. She had finally found herself coming to a grudging acceptance of the plan after she realized that the girl would likely fold on the idea after a few days of pointless stakeout, unwilling to stick to an idea quite that long. After a few days, it would all be moot point anyways, since she wouldn't be able to get any more evidence on the cases, and they would be closed. It was a depressing, but often realistic way that the Steel City cops handled most cases that weren't solved within a few days. Even if they had information, often they were closed in a week anyways. It was rather depressing, but since the commissioner didn't care, it was, once again, moot point. However, when she though about Bumblebee being trapped in a vault for so long by herself, or the possibility that something might happen to her.
Once again, Bumblebee took point, shrinking into the size smaller than a bee and flying into the small key hole, sliding into the stack of cash that had been left there by the man. She shook her head, unable to figure out the young superhero's drive to stay so confined. Holly, though she would never admit it, was not fond of enclosed spaces, and wouldn't be caught dead in the position that Bumblebee had just put herself into. She sighed and walked out of the vault, barely noticing the buzzing voices around her until a teller planted herself in her path. She sighed, but didn't bother trying to step around her, even if that was what she wished she could do. "What can I do for you ma'am?" She asked, trying to remain civil in both tone and expression.
"Just what do you think you're doing here anyways, officer?" Her voice spoke of authority, even though she had none. She stood looking down her nose at her, and Holly had to stop herself from slapping the superior expression off of her pinched face. "Who gave you permission to come here at this ungodly hour anyways?" She seemed annoyed that she had waited until four thirty to come into the bank, apparently wanting to leave just on time, and afraid that she would delay that exit.
"For your information, Ma'am, your bank president gave me permission to be here." The annoyance she felt before had turned into a smoldering irritation, and since she did have the authority to be here, she didn't bother even trying to remain civil at this point. "And if you get in my way again, I'll make sure he knows about your interference, and I'll haul you down to the precinct. So DON'T get in my way." Her voice was utterly serious, and she almost smiled as the woman took a fearful step backwards, afraid of the ferocious cop in front of her. With a sigh, she walked around the lady – an obstruction on her way to the door – and began to walk out. The scene seemed almost surrealistic as she walked out into the setting sun, having just faced down a rather unpleasant woman just a moment before. Which what was made the gust of wind that seemed to whip around her all the more surprising. For a moment, a blur of movement seemed to appear nearby, but it seemed only to be a trick of the eye, and a moment later, the wind whipped back in the other direction. It sent her staggering to one side, and the shock that she felt was only compounded as she heard the guard at the vault cry out in alarm. In one moment she knew what had happened, though she almost wished it wouldn't have. The box that Bumblebee had flow into was now empty of both her and the money, and she now was the only link between the crime and the others that had occurred.
Even as she moved to secure the scene and call for backup, she had only one thought really in her mind. I hope that Bumblebee is okay… or I'm in trouble.
Bumblebee had been expecting to wait in relative peace for at least a couple of hours before someone had bit the hook and taken the bait. But she had only had a few moments to settle down before she had felt a hand grab the wad of bills she had hidden herself within and found herself swept into a brown burlap bag before she could even blink an eye. It was a disorienting experience, and it left her stunned for a minute. During that minute, she felt like she was being dragged around, and fast enough to keep her bouncing among the many dollar bills, disorienting her further. However, she found coming to a halt even more disorienting, and after a sharp impact, she found herself taking a moment to try and get her bearings. A moment before she tried to get out of the bag, however, the bag was once again lifted, and she grabbed a handful of threads and held on as the bag was tipped around, pouring out all of it's contents – except for Bumblebee. A couple of seconds later the empty bag was thrown away carelessly, and Bumblebee landed on the floor once again, this time without the cushioning to support her. A grunt escaped her mouth, but it was drown out as others near her began to speak. The voices were harsh and cold, but even as they spoke, another noise reached her ears – a whimpering of fear.
"Well? Is it all there?" The first voice, rough and masculine, called out sounding quite impatient. She quickly began to move towards the front of the bag, her thoughts of simply bursting out and trying to suppress the ensuing panic put aside. From what was being said, and from the tone of the voices, she knew that something strange was brewing here. "If not, I want to have a little fun…" His voice sounded almost suggestive, and Bumblebee found her stomach churning in anger. Not so much at the man's comments as when she heard the whimper at the end of the statement. The sound was both female, and young, and she immediately felt that fire in her gut grow as her mind wandered over the possibilities that the man had been suggesting.
"Hey!" Another voice called out, causing Bumblebee to freeze in panic. Had they spotted her movement in the bag? A cold sweat popped out on her head for a moment before the voice spoke in an angry tone once again. "What do you two think you're doing?" A moment later the sound of flesh being hit resounded through to her, almost immediately followed by a second blow that sent the recipient to the floor. She wriggled towards the front of the bag, trying desperately to get a view of what was really happening outside the bag. She popped her head out a moment later, and found herself with a front row seat to the event.
Two young, red-headed boys were on the floor, their blue eyes filled with fear, and their small, thin frames quaking. Neither of them wore more than rags, and they were both covered in dirt and filth that seemed layered upon their bodies. From the looks of things, both had been separated rather forcefully by two adult men, both of whom were now raining more blows on the children. Another man sat at a table, looking up from counting stacks of hundred dollar bills, which she figured was the money that had been stolen earlier from the vault. Another man stood with a knife pointed at the neck of the aforementioned girl, who stood stock still, her eyes wide with horror at the scene that was unfolding before her. One last man was standing just off of the wall, his eyes blazing with a fire that made her wonder about his sanity. His brown hair was familiar to her, and it only took a moment to realize why – he was the man from the many pictures that Officer Holly had shown her. He was the next to speak, and Bumblebee heard him clearly as he spoke. "Who do you think you brats are?" He moved forwards at a speed that was almost frightening, and his right boot lashed out, catching one of the boys in his ribs, making the boy double over in agony. He turned his attention to the other boy as he spoke again, changing course slightly so he could hit him too. "Did you think you could try something?" He was almost screaming as he walked towards the other boy, and his right boot lanced out into the boy as he tried to struggle upright, sending his head flying back, a little trail of red coming out of the boy's mouth. A moment later the boy turned to his side, spitting out both a little blood, and one of his front teeth. Bumblebee had felt angry before, but as she watched the abuse before her now, she felt a furnace of hatred in her heart. These men had, in her eyes, placed themselves below almost every super villain she had ever fought before, and she almost shot out into them to teach them a lesson. Only her training kept her in place, and she found herself gritting her teeth. Soon. She promised herself, knowing full and well that she needed to make sure that the children in the room stayed safe first and foremost.
The man turned away, looking disgusted, and made a motion to the other men. They moved in a slow, methodical fashion, grabbing each boy and bringing them each to their own separate cage, then unceremoniously throwing them into it. "Next week we'll have you rob the last bank. Then, if you're good, we'll let her go." He motioned to the girl as she was dragged out of the room, and turned to face them once again. His face was covered in an unpleasant sneer, and an aura of malevolent hatred could be felt radiating from his presence. Both boys cringed back, a palpable fear felt in the air around them, even as defiance tried to remain on their faces, and his sneer seemed to deepen at the sight. "If you keep trying to pull stunts like this one…" He growled and, after spitting at the boy who hadn't lost any of his teeth yet, he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Bumblebee heard a lively conversation start up behind the door, but it was inaudible, and she instead found herself focusing her attention on the boys in front of her, both of whom were now allowing the façade of toughness to fade and were breaking into pain filled sobs. They're responsible for the robberies? The thought seemed ludicrous even as it flew through her head, but at the same time, it also was almost surely completely true. But how is that possible? They can't be more than ten or eleven. They were both extremely rough looking, and both had an odor that she was beginning to smell even from her current location. Their clothes were little more than rags that were held together only by a few mere threads, and they looked haggard and thin even from where she sat. How they could have done anything was beyond her.
After listening to the boys sob for a few minutes, she finally decided to move, and started over to one of the cages. It took her almost a minute since she was trying to remain both quiet, and invisible. It seemed to take forever, but it gave her more time to take in the surroundings. The cages themselves were nothing more than glorified dog kennels, without even room for the boys to stand upright in. The room itself was rough and rugged, filled with trash and refuse from a machine shop that had once operated within the building. Only one table was in the room, and the man who had been sitting at it was now out with his 'friends', if that was what they could be called, joined in this infamous activity, and the table now stood bare and empty. The only other thing in the room was the boys, who now sat nursing injuries both old and new. Without disturbing the boy, she flew over to the first boy's shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Hey."
It was not the best thing she could have done she realized a moment later as the boy cried out in fear, shocked into twisting around in his cage. "Who's there? What do you want?" His alarmed cry immediately got his brother's attention, and the brother called out something, but it was too soft for her ears to hear. She quickly realized that she had to silence him, and quickly.
"Shhhh! Quiet! Someone's going to hear you!" She whispered harshly, and the boy seemed to stiffen at the thought. A moment later she realized that she was too late, as footsteps began to echo through the hallway leading towards the door. The room seemed frozen in a taboo moment as the noise came closer, and a couple of seconds later one of the men burst into the room.
He looked annoyed, but didn't speak immediately. Instead his eyes scanned the room, looking for another disturbance. Then his eyes settled on the boy she sat hovering beside, and he growled out his next words in a harsh tone. "What's going on in here?" He sounded angry at having been disturbed, and was glaring at him with distaste.
The boy in front of her seemed frozen, unsure of what to say, and for a moment she thought that he was going to soil himself or something. However, his brother, who looked almost identical to him, answered the question for him. "I bumped my mouth, sir. It hurt, so I cried out." He shrugged his shoulders as the man turned to glare at him, and he shrank back slightly, smiling a little at the man in an attempt to curry favor. It was that little thing that revealed his missing tooth once more, and Bumblebee thought that it was that more than the excuse that made the man believe the lie.
"Don't let it happen again." He hissed at him, then turned and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. For a few moments there was silence as the footsteps moved out of range, and then both boys sighed, sounding relived.
"Thanks, Jose." The first boy said to his brother, sounding truly grateful to have escaped without having to come up with a cover for the noise. "Now," He said, turning back to his cage, his face turning speculative for a few moments, "Who spoke to me?" He looked confused, his voice low as he spoke, the sound of his words having only just carried over to his brother, who's face also screwed up in consternation. Both looked towards his cage.
Bumblebee decided to take a chance once again and spoke out, having come up to hover next to his right ear. "I'm right here." She watched his head whip around, and as his eyes finally caught sight of her, his eyes grew wider. She decided to speak a little more loudly so that the boys could both hear her, and started to talk again. "Who are you?" She asked quietly, hoping the boys were cooperative.
The first boy spoke quietly as he extended his hand for her to stand in, and she listened even as she stood on his palm. "I'm Juan." He seemed a little shy, and as he moved her, she saw his brother's eyes grow wide as well, having finally caught sight of her. "And my brother's name is Jose. What are you doing here?" There were a lot of feelings that could be heard in his voice, but she could only identify one – confusion.
"I came here looking for a thief." She said in a somewhat dry manner, rolling her eyes. A moment later she regretted her taking light of the situation, as both Juan and Jose seemed to shrink at her words, and a look of shame passed over their faces. "Why are you two involved?" She decided to get right to the point with them, rather than to try and slowly work them up to the truth. It looked to her like the two of them would probably spill their guts anyways.
The two looked at each other, and then Jose spoke out, deciding to start. "We don't want to be…" He said, looking downwards, unable to face her.
"But we don't have a choice." Juan said, continuing the sentence without too much hesitation.
"Devon found us on the street one day…" Once again Jose spoke, both of the children still talking softly and watching the floor.
"…Hungry, starving, without even a cardboard box to keep us warm." Juan sounded bitter as he spoke, and Bumblebee couldn't blame him for that fact. To be alone at their age would never be considered easy.
"He offered us some food if we'd help him, he said." Jose once again spoke, this time staring away from the floor. Bumblebee wished, just for a moment, that the narrative would stay put – the switching back and forth as if they were reading each others mind was giving her a headache.
"We got in his car… and he brought us here. He gave us a little food, a little water, and then he ordered us to…" Juan trailed off, and immediately Bumblebee felt fear creep up in her heart.
"We said no, and when he tried to grab us, we ran around him and tried to get away." Jose sounded a little proud of their attempt to escape, as if it had been a high moment at that point in time. Bumblebee quietly sighed within, grateful that the two boys hadn't continued down the line of thought she had previously followed.
"But when we got into the kitchen, almost to the door…" Jose spoke once again, tossing the narrative back to his brother with a pointed stare.
"Henry was standing their, pointing a knife at Alice's neck." Juan shuddered at the memory, and Bumblebee couldn't blame him. Something like that was scary, no matter what age you were at.
However, there was something that bumblebee couldn't understand. "Why don't you guys escape now, then?" She couldn't understand why they hadn't managed a break prior to this point, unless they were working with the men. If that was the case, though, then the rough treatment wouldn't have made any sense.
The twins looked at each other for a moment, and then Juan spoke again. "Well, we can't right now." He sounded discouraged, but Bumblebee simply looked on, confused at the odd statement.
The other brother quickly clarified. "You see, we can move super super fast, but…" Jose hesitated for a moment, as if unsure weather he should press on.
Juan finished the statement for him. "…But we have to be touching to do it." Bumblebee blinked for a moment, startled by the revelation. She had never heard of a case like this one, and never before had she met anyone who was co-dependant on somebody else for their powers. It was an unexpected moment, but in the current situation, it made a kind of twisted sense.
"It's like a battery. Just stick in one side or the other, and something won't work." Jose spoke out again, starting a new statement.
"But if both sides are together, they give power. That's kind of like how we work." Juan shrugged and looked at Bumblebee, almost expectantly.
"Can I see you?" Jose asked, sounding unsure. He extended his hand, and from his face he was hoping she would come over so he could get a better look at him.
Bumblebee nodded and flew up a little, taking off from Juan's hand. "Sure. No sweat, kid." She smiled as she flew over, trying to hearten the kids up. This was heavy stuff for a kid to be going through, and she knew she had to keep them occupied until she felt safe enough to enlarge and call for backup. With a quick flash of movement, she alighted upon his outstretched hand, trying her best to smile at his worn face.
His next comment made that smile all of the more genuine. "Are you the tooth fairy?" Jose's weak, meek voice said.
Garth was pacing by the window, unable to stop his worrying. He had expected Bumblebee to have spent a little while out after she left, but his calls had been unanswered for almost three hours. It was enough to drive even the calmest man insane – and he by far wasn't the calmest man in the world. He was in full uniform, worried that the long absence was a good cause for concern. She – they were also wanted by Brother Blood, and he wouldn't find kidnapping beneath his station. In fact, with the number of people he had working for him, having someone else working for him was within his means as well. It was a frightening thought, one that inspired fear in even something as simple as her being gone, or not answering her phone, for a few hours. "Where is she?" He growled to himself, unable to stop the anger he felt from creeping into his voice.
Arthur, who was sitting down and playing video games right at this moment, simply shrugged his shoulders, not taking his eyes off of his game. "She still isn't answering?" He asked tiredly, sounding unimpressed. He was also dressed in his costume, though only because of Garth's instance and he was so laid back about her disappearance that Garth personally wanted to rip him a new one. "You're just over reacting. It's probably nothing. She's probably out shopping for new clothes or something. Besides," He said looking up at the clock on the wall, "she hasn't been gone all that long." He turned his attention back to the game he was playing, and missed the spectacular shade of red that crept onto his face. There were only a few people who had ever pushed him that far, and he hadn't been expecting him to be one of them.
"How can you be so relaxed?" He sounded angry in his own ears, but at this moment, he really didn't care. "Karen could be in trouble, or hurt, and you're just sitting their playing your video games, ignoring everything that I've been warning you about! Are you daft?" His voice had grown steadily louder, until he was almost screaming.
Arthur paused his game and carefully set his controller down, then turned to look at Garth with steady, even eyes. "I heard every word you said." He was cold in his tone, and his face was expressionless, but Garth could tell that he had lost patients with him. "What do you want me to do? Mount an expedition to find her? Where do I look? You may not know this, Garth, but Steel City is big enough that I could spend weeks searching the whole thing and I could still not have searched half the city. I could walk right over or under her head and I wouldn't even know about it." He glared at him with a ferocity that was strengthened by his suppressed anger. "In fact, the only way to know where she is would be for her to call…"
Garth immediately put aside all hostilities as his communicator began to ring, and before the first tone finished, he had pulled it out and flipped it on. Worry replaced all of the expression on his face, and he spoke quickly. "Bumblebee?" He asked, hoping it was her.
He wasn't disappointed. "Aqualad." Her voice was in a no nonsense tone, but he still grinned as he thumbed it over to speakerphone. It was good to hear her voice. It wasn't, however, enough to get her out of a lecture, unless she had a really good excuse.
"Where have you been?" He almost yelled at her, feeling both relieved at her sudden appearance, and furious at having been left waiting for so long. "I've been looking for you for almost four hours!" He hoped that she would at least feel slightly guilty at having left him high and dry for that long.
This time, though, disappointment was waiting for him. She didn't look even the slightest bit guilty, and in fact, looked angry enough to chew on rock. "Aqualad, I don't have much time to explain. I've kind of gotten in over my head right now, and I need you to call Officer Holly Sampson in the twelfth precinct." There were some noises off screen, and then after a moment spent in inattention, she looked back at the screen. "Tell her I need her to get down here ASAP. The same goes for you two." She seemed a little harried at this point, and Aqualad wondered what she was thinking.
"What's going on Bumblebee?" Speedy, who had flipped open his personal communicator and tuned it in to her channel. "You look like death on toast." He sounded almost amused as he spoke, and his tone said that he really didn't take the situation seriously.
"I've managed to find some bank thieves that Officer Sampson was looking for, but there are hostages here." Speedy's look of amusement disappeared as the statement flowed from her mouth, and his eyes lit up with a cold fire. One thing that he never joked around with was a person's life – and hostages were always a delicate situation. Bumblebee's face was grim as she continued. "I've got two of the three with me, but there's at least one girl, about eight I'd guess, who's not here." Her face twisted in disgust for a moment, though Aqualad was unsure why, before settling into a grimace once again. "Get here as soon as you can. I think I'm going to need you. Bumblebee out."
Speedy was off of the couch as soon as she had finished, a fire in his step that moved him faster than any thing that Aqualad had ever said to him. It annoyed him, but he brushed aside that feeling. It wasn't anything personal, so he tried not to let it get to him, yet, in some odd way, it pushed his buttons. It was odd how such a minor thing could annoy him when his nerves were frayed. Even after all of these months, he still had problems with his temper when he was worried about his friends. Speedy, however, was focused on things that were more important. "Let's take my bike. It'll be faster than running." His offer made him want to cringe, but he knew he would accept it. It would be faster, and right now, that was what counted.
"Just a second." He said, grabbing his cell phone. After a moment he dialed a number that he had been given only a few days ago. As he walked to where the bike was kept, he heard a voice pick up on the other line. "Officer Sampson? This is Aqualad. I just got a call form Bumblebee, and she has some rather pointed instructions for us…" His voice had only a trace of humor in it, and he was all business from their on. There was too much at stake to play around.
In his short life, Juan had never before felt this way. At nine years old, he had come to the lowest point in his life, and had felt that all hope was lost. He had stolen money to save the life of a girl, had been beaten for no better reason than to keep him weak, had been fed only off of the scraps of food that had been dragged in to him, and had been demeaned and insulted in ways and forms that still confused him and his brother at times. He had been caged, right next to his brother, without being able to even give him a hug, and had been forced to watch him getting 'punished' as well, which had seemed even more painful to him than any of the beatings that he had ever received. Both boys had been put through the ringer, sustained by their twin only most of the time. Now, however, they had hope once again. The teenaged superhero, Bumblebee, had flown into their cells and had offered them that single glimpse of hope. It was more than anybody had offered them in so long that, even as he felt his chest tighten in anticipation, he found himself afraid once more. Afraid that somehow, she would fail, and he would be left, with his brother, stuck in this inferno that raged around him, that threatened to destroy not only their bodies, but their souls. A shiver raced up his spine as he pulled his arms around himself, too tired to sob, and too nervous to close his eyes. Bumblebee, now at her full size and standing outside their cages, noticed it and spoke to him as she put a cylindrical communicator into her pocket. "It's going to be alright, Juan. I won't let anything happen to you." He was startled by the statement, unable to believe that anybody would go out of their way to protect somebody like him or his brother. It obviously showed, and Bumblebee smiled at his expression and bent down to look him in the eyes. "I promise." The words, so easily said, did more to push away the doubt that had surrounded him than anything else had. Only one person had ever promised him anything, and she had never broken it. He felt, oddly enough, that the very same trust could be placed in her words, and he smiled just a little at her, feeling a warmth in his heart.
"Me too?" Jose's small voice called out softly from behind her, filled with a hope that could be heard from where Juan sat. Bumblebee turned to him, the same love filled smile on her face.
"Yeah, Jose. I promise I'll keep you – both of you – safe. I won't let them hurt you." She grinned at both of the boys, an almost cocky look plastered across her face. "Trust me." Her voice was full of confidence.
A noise, that of a gun being cocked, however, caught everybody's attention, and as Juan and Jose turned, both could see the barrel of a gun placed against the back of Bumblebee's head. A smile was on the blonde man's head that made the hairs on his head stick up in fear. "I don't think that's going to happen." He said, sounding cocky. Bumblebee froze, and for a moment, Juan wondered what was going to happen to them, the little spark of hope he had felt fading into oblivion. It was then that Bumblebee shocked everybody in the room – especially the man with the gun pointed at her head. Faster than Juan would have expected her to move, she kicked backwards, delivering a crushing blow that sent him into – no, through the wall, and into somebody on the other side, getting everybody's attention. Cries of shock and pain called out, screams and yells of anger intermixed into them, ones that made Juan and his twin's blood freeze, but Bumblebee was already moving, bringing up a pair of yellow objects, oddly shaped like the capital letter B, and a moment later she fired beams of yellow energy out through the newly created door, causing screams of shock and pain to come out. A moment later there was the chatter of gunfire, and both Juan and Jose hit the deck, knowing better than to make large targets of themselves. Bumblebee moved quickly as the gunfire blazed, flying up and over the doorway to avoid as much of the firefight as possible. A few moments later the gunfire lulled, and she dropped back down, scything the floor with beams of energy, then flying to the right to avoid the renewed firefight – though there were fewer shots now.
Juan and Jose exchanged looks at this point, both shocked and amazed at the action going on around them. As his eyes looked out again, he noticed the right hand door opening, one of Devon's crew coming in with his gun raised. "Look out!" The words burst from his lips without thought, his fingers pointing out towards the man, even though she couldn't see his hand. The words proved enough to make her move, however, and she flew up into the rafters as the man fired bullets off in rapid succession, driving her away from the door. He grinned as he continued to pump lead into the wood, knowing that there was no way for her to avoid the bullets he was spraying at her. His scream of victory sounded assured, and chilled both boys' blood – but was short lived, as Bumblebee appeared behind him, returning to her original size, and then, as the man began to turn, she drove her elbow into the side of his head, knocking him out with a brutal efficiency. "Oh, wow." Juan murmured, feeling amazed that she could pull off such a powerful blow in with such ease. His eyes were on Bumblebee for a little longer, and he was engrossed in her movements as she tossed the man aside, trying to get back towards the hole in the wall to stop anybody from coming through, but a moment later his attention shifted as the man fell beside him. More appropriately, his attention shifted to the keys that were attached to his belt – the very ones which fit the lock on both of their cages. He froze for a minute, and then crawled closer to the fallen body, almost afraid that the man would wake up when he reached for the keys.
After a moment, he reached out for the keys, moving as fast as he dared while more bolts of energy were rained down by the teenaged superhero. He grabbed the things, but getting them off of his belt loop was out of the question – his arm was as far out as he could get it to go. Instead, he pulled backwards with all of his might, hoping to pull it loose somehow. He yanked the thing back and forth, pulling with all of the strength his small arms could muster, grunting and almost crying. "Come on… Please… You stupid…" He muttered as he pulled – and with one sudden jerk, he found himself propelled to the back of the cage, keys in his hands as his head hit the metal with a thwack. One hand traveled up to his head as he scrambled towards the lock, checking out the new lump that was going to form there, but he was far too eager to escape to notice much of the pain. Instead he focused on his escape, trying out the keys one at a time, trying to remain calm while almost crying with frustration. Juan's eyes shot up, even as he tried his fourth key, and he saw an arrow fly into somebody's head, an arrow that oddly looked like a cross between a lead weight and a nerf arrow. A moment later a deluge of water blew in, followed by a teenage boy in a black leotard and a blue shirt who took two men down in a smooth movement kicking out both legs and catching them both in the jaw. He was so occupied with watching the scene that it took him a moment to realize that the fifth key had slipped into the keyhole, ready to be turned. With a sharp jerk of his head, he turned back to the lock and began to twist with all of his might. He grunted quietly for a minute, hoping that nobody had noticed him yet, and prayed with all of his heart that he could get out of his hellish prison.
The lock popped open after another moment of pressure, slipping off of the cage with ease. He took a moment to get it off, and then with a practiced movement, he pushed the latches to the open position and opened the door, stumbling out into the room without hesitation. He couldn't stop the whimper that escaped his lips, and cursed himself, looking up at where Bumblebee had been only a moment ago, only to watch her fly into the fray, shooting more bolts of energy as she entered the action once more. At least she didn't hear me. He thought to himself as he forced his way onto his feet. He felt unstable, but it didn't matter to him. Only one thing did. He looked over to where Jose was held, looking at his weathered face. Ignoring all danger, he ran at his cage, knowing in his heart that everything would be alright if they could reach each other. A moment was all it took, but that moment was one of the longest he had ever been through in his entire life. Finally their hands came together, and an odd, faint, familiar rush of power flowed through his veins, just like his brother. Their eyes met, and for the first time in almost two and a half months, the pair felt safe. With a movement that would be blurred to the human eye, Juan's hand grabbed the other lock and began to vibrate his hand at a speed that should have been impossible. After half a second the metal broke, from both wear and tear, and from sheer friction, tearing away in a burst. Their hands came apart and Juan opened the cage effortlessly, throwing the door wide just in time for Jose to jump at him, throwing his arms around him in as strong a hug as the boy could pull off. Juan's arms went around his brother too, and soon both found themselves laughing in each others arms.
Both pulled apart after a moment, keeping one hand together and turned out to where Bumblebee and her friends had been. They ran through the living room, or what had stood for one, looking at the mess of both people and what could once have been called furniture, and looked for somebody. A moment later they came to a stop on the steps of the house, looking out into the night air at a scene that looked horribly familiar. Devon held the small girl, Alice they had heard her named, with his left arm, his right hand holding the point of a long, sharp knife right next to her heart. He looked grim, as did the two other teenagers beside Bumblebee. One held a bow, string taunt and loaded with an arrow pointed right at the guy's head, while the other stood in a fighting stance, and a hovering Bumblebee had her B shaped weapons pointed at his body. It was a standoff, one that would most likely end badly for Alice, and the twins knew it. Each felt his hand tightening, and felt the added pressure of his brother's tighter grip. Devon's voice rang out to the heroes, and Juan and Jose found themselves outside looking in on a conversation that they must have missed at least a part of. "Forget it, brats. I'm not letting the girl out of my grasp until I'm safe." His scowl was pronounced, a thing of hideous anger that he couldn't control.
The boy with the bow spoke up, and Juan could tell there was a lot of tension in his voice. "Just drop the girl. You hurt her…" He trailed off, his eyes ready to burn him out of existence. His red-blonde hair seemed alive in the night, and he stood at attention, even with his bow at the ready. His suit was red and yellow, with a single crosshair on his right chest. "Just back off." The words came out a vicious snarl, and the twins found themselves cringing back from it. That wasn't the right tone to take with Devon, not if you wanted him to do something.
The thought proved correct as he pushed the blade in just deep enough to draw both blood and a whimper from the girl. The teens seemed to draw in a collective breath, and then froze once more, held in place, yet afraid to move. "Forget it. Drop your weapons." He demanded with a superior arrogance in his tone, staring at each on of them in turn. He pulled the girl tighter against him and screamed as moment went by without complying. "I said drop them!" He looked enraged that he wasn't instantly obeyed.
"Forget it. It'll never happen." The other boy, the one dressed in the blue and black getup, said with derision. His scorn was obvious enough for Juan and Jose to see, and both knew that they were pressing their luck. Devon wasn't known, even by the other gang members, as someone who could control his temper.
"Fine then." Devon's voice became quiet and harsh for a moment, and he stared at them with a hatred in his eyes that seemed unquenchable. "Then watch her die!" He screamed at them, not bothering to hide his contempt as he pulled his knife up, preparing to ram it into the girl's chest. The heroes gasped in unison, but were unable to say anything, frozen and unable to move for the moment.
Juan and Jose then made a decision that would start them on a path that would change their lives forever. They didn't let shock cloud their judgment, and didn't stop to try and figure out what to do. They, with their hands locked together, ran down towards Alice and, with a blurring burst of speed, threw themselves into her, ripping her free from Devon's grasp. They rushed away with her even as he brought his knife down on empty air, and he cried out in shock as he realized she had been stolen from his very grasp. Both the teens and Devon looked over to where Juan and Jose set her down, amazed and shocked at the speed they had shown. The boys, however, now had another desire – revenge. For everything he had done to them – the pain, both physical and mental – they now could give him a taste of his own medicine. Once again they darted into range of his knife, but at a speed that, even in his wildest dreams, he could never hope to match. This time Juan used a move that they had once discussed, and, using momentum built up from their burst of sudden movement, swung his brother upwards, allowing his feet to reach Devon's head, where they collided at nearly eighty miles an hour.
The action was one that no one had expected, and it worked beautifully. Devon literally flew back into a nearby car, his knife flying away from his grasp as he was knocked unconscious by the single blow. They were about to move in to strike once again, but a voice stopped them. "Juan, Jose, STOP!" The tone of command that came from her voice was obeyed instantly, and a moment later she rushed in between them, separating them. Neither brother liked that, but she glared at them with such force that they quailed. Neither wanted to be on the receiving end of such a stare – once again, it reminded them of something from their past.
"Who – Huh?" The archer person said, looking back at the two of them as he moved to secure Devon. Lights flashing in the distance soon became cop lights, and even as the Aqualad secured Alice in his arms, his eyes too were focused on the speedsters. "Who are these two?" His voice was full of confusion, and he spoke with a startled look on his face.
Bumblebee looked at them, smiling this time, even as the cop cars moved in and spoke. "This is Juan." She put her hand on his shoulder, and he felt a burst of pride enter his body as she smiled at her. "And this is Jose." She placed her other hand on his shoulder and he watched his brother's face light up, just as he had. "They've been trapped here for a while, and I think they're hungry." One of the cops, a lady, was close by this time, and she looked startled as Bumblebee gave her a meaningful glance. With a nod she walked over to the boys and knelt down to look them in the eye.
"So, you boys want some McDonalds?" She said, smiling at them. The very mention of the place brought an insatiable appetite to the forefront of Juan's thoughts, and both he had his brother nodded quickly, each having visions of cheeseburgers and fries floating through their heads. "Well then, why don't we get you some?" She gestured for them to take a seat, not in the back, but in the front of her squad car. Both boys rushed in, ignoring all else but the call of food. Still, Juan and Jose looked back as the lady cop got in the car, looking at Bumblebee. Something inside of them made them feel safe around her…
Bumblebee sighed as Officer Holly drove off with the boys. She would give a report to the police on them later – though it might be missing a few pieces of information that was unnecessary. The cops didn't have the right to know everything, and those boys needed protection from anybody else who was sick enough to try and use them like that. Other cops were moving in, securing the crime scene with an unusual efficiency. "Anyways," She said to Aqualad and Speedy as the car drove off, "Those boy's were being forced to do the robberies." After a moment, she realized that neither boy knew what she was talking about, and she started to prepare a quick update. She started to speak, ready to take them up to speed, but found herself distracted by a rather large, bald, fat officer. It took only a moment to place him as Officer Ramoan, a brown nosing, yellow bellied pen pusher, who had a thing against Officer Sampson. Just great. This is all that I need. She nearly groaned, but remained tactful. "How are you this evening Off…" She had only started to speak when the man came up just short of her and spat at her feet. For a moment, she almost decked him, but managed to keep her temper in check. Speedy and Aqualad both drew in hissing breaths, but she stopped any reprisals that they might have been preparing by lifting one hand, signaling that she could handle herself.
"Got your dogs on a leash, I see?" He said with an arrogant demeanor, looking disdainfully at her, especially at certain aspects of her body. This time she felt herself stiffen at the remark, and only training in how to control her temper kept her from doing more than seeing red. The other officers nearby seemed nervous and afraid, but Ramoan simply smirked, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was about to be creamed. "You still need them collared, though." He grinned at his own pun, looking down at her.
"Officer Ramoan," She was amazed just how cold her voice was, and how serene she sounded on the outside. She personally wanted to leave him a smear on the wall, but she did have morals, and restrictions. "If you insult either me or my friends again," She pulled one of her stingers up to her face, looking down at it to check its sharpness, "I will remove your ability to create offspring." Those restrictions were very near to being put aside, however. She looked back up at his suddenly uncomfortable face and smiled slightly at him. "Now, is there anything that you need?" She had remained perfectly Civil throughout the whole conversation with him, though it was only through an act of sheer willpower. He was sweating now, and she could tell that he was really wondering if she would carry through with her threat. Of the people around, only Aqualad knew it wasn't a threat – it was a promise.
"Umm… I need a report of what was going on here." He sounded a little more flustered here, for which Bumblebee couldn't blame him. "I mean, what really happened in this mess." He sounded almost afraid now. Had it taken this long to get it through his thick skull?
"I'll send it to the precinct tomorrow. Okay?" She was too tired to submit anything this evening, and she knew that he couldn't refuse, so she turned away from him even as he murmured his consent. "Guys? Let's go home." She began to walk towards the cycle that Speedy had rode out here, and found herself trying to figure out how to explain this whole hair brain scheme to them. She knew it was going to turn into one of those nights even as she started to fly once more, beginning to follow the two of them as they rode home.
"…And that, master, is what happened tonight." His voice was strong as he spoke, even as his body portrayed its weakness by quivering in fear. He was covered almost from head to foot in a dark red robe, not considered worthy to be seen by the man to whom he shared his information. He would put up with it, however, for the amount that the man paid for the information – among other things. In truth, for what he paid, this was only a small portion of what he would do. For what he was paid, he would sell his own mother to his master.
"Most interesting… The bee has come into my web." A voice, as smooth as silk, yet filled with the hatred of a thousand men rippled across the room, hissing into the ears of all present with an almost sublime tone, masking the true evil underneath. The man that was underneath was tall, muscular, and beautiful. He was about six feet six inches tall, with a weight that was undetermined, and had a high profile, one that only added charm and grace to his complexion. He was without a doubt the most perfect looking person that he had ever met, but behind his looks lay an intelligence powerful enough to know everything the world had to offer, from psychology to Robotics and biology, as well as combat training, being a master in at least three different arts. He was one of the most dangerous people in existence, and could be considered an equal, at the least, to the man known as Slade. "This does make things a little more complicated. I will have to distract her for a little bit, before I let her near my honey pot once more…" His voice was filled with anger as he spoke, and it frightened the man. He knew that his master hated her almost as much as he hated the robotic teen, and that spoke volumes.
"Yes master." He spoke again, not daring to look up into his blood red eyes, quietly he wondered if that was how he had gotten his name. Brother Blood. A name meant to inspire fear and anger throughout the Earth. A man who had sworn his revenge, though no one knew why, upon the whole earth, ready to purge the world in a new Armageddon, to bring forth his perfect world anew.
"Go, back to your 'job' now. I will call for you soon. Send in Mendoza and Armando…" He spoke, listing off others he wished to see. Since he was no longer one of them, he left with all possible haste, taking off his robe and passing it to another as he left the room. He sighed, glad to have left alive once more. He did not notice the glowing eyes behind him as he left, and focused only on returning to his job. Soon he would be back in the police desk that was his 'job'.
As the man left, Blood watched him with a slow, patient eye. He wasn't sure about him, but he had served without question, and was but a simple peon. No one had yet to earn his trust in this place, but the man had come fairly close. However, he put that thought aside. It was a thought for later. Within the throne room, five people lay prostrate beneath a small, plain chair. It was not the chair, or the money that they worshiped, but the power that lay within it, and within the man. They feared and adored him, and would willingly do his bidding. Perfect… He thought to himself. "Welcome my brethren. I have a task for you of the utmost importance…" He would have to move, and change many people, but that was to be expected. Besides, in his mind, only one life mattered – his own. And on the chess board of life, he was the king of kings, the undefeated champion of his own domain.
NEXT CHAPTER: The team begins to form, but it's not going to be easy – or safe, for that matter…