The emergence from the shell
The sea – it was comprised of a seemingly endless body of water that stretched off in every direction away from land. Its waves lapped the shore gently as the sun rose, warming the cold sky with a deep orange that was creeping up from the horizon. Another day was starting – most of Jump City's residents would soon wake up and head to work, to school, or do whatever else they had planned for the day.
Most people.
Again, Robin sat in the corner of the Titans Tower main room, holding the silence at bay with the sound of keystrokes and mouse clicks. After hours of searching and hacking, Robin finally found what he was looking for. He stared at the profile in near disbelief, and read it over in his head.
Mariemeia Barton. Born in 1932. Fast tracked through school and was given free admission to a local university. Graduated with outstanding achievement in Biology. Was employed at several scientific institutes where she earned money to go back to university. Got a PhD in Biotechnology. Released world renowned thesis's on cloning, telepathic communication and genetic engineering. Work history ended 1998. Married in 1954, husband Trowa Barton died in 1996.
Robin's eyes shifted downwards to a note in the medical section.
Voluntarily submitted for a fertility test. Results indicated that she was infertile.
"Sounds like the kind of person to try their hand at creating life," said Robin aloud.
Maybe she knew her time was coming, and she set up her lab someplace underground that would be out of reach so no one would interfere with the process. She just didn't foresee power being cut to whatever fringe section her lab was at.
He promptly closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, realizing how far fetched and ridiculous this all seemed.
A noise in the distance started getting louder. Someone was stampeding through the hallways, and it sounded like five hundred pounds of metal were grating against the floor...
"This is it! C'mon Cyborg!" screamed Beast Boy, who was dragging Cyborg single-handedly towards the egg. "It's gonna hatch soon! I know it!"
Cyborg was obviously tired but seemed somewhat excited himself. Nonetheless, he asked, "What makes you so sure it's gonna be now, at six thirty in the morning?"
"I know, man. I'm an animal, remember?" Cyborg shook his head at that last comment, but nonetheless allowed himself to be placed near the egg with Beast Boy himself. Starfire and Raven both entered the room shortly thereafter, intrigued at what could be causing such commotion. Beast Boy excitedly told them about the imminent hatching, and both Starfire and Raven stood about the egg, watching closely.
"Beast Boy, are you sure…" said Raven. She was silenced by the sight of the egg jittering slightly. The four Titans stared on with renewed intensely.
In a less excited part of the room, Robin got up from his chair and yawned loudly. I've got to go lie down for a while, he thought.
And lie down he did, though it was sooner than he expected. His eyes went blank as he stumbled back over something. It would be the last time he was contacted by the being.
First, he heard a sucking sound. He then saw it with his own eyes; the green liquid was being drained from the tube. Then the front half of the tube slid down into the ground, causing a wave of steam emanating from the tube to cloud Robin's vision.
As it started to dissipate, Robin made out the form once again. Its body shape was humanoid, like the last time he saw it. But something was happening. A gross splitting sound filled Robin's ears as he saw something emerge from the form's head.
After what seemed like forever, the steam cleared, and the form stood in front of Robin. It was complete. Where a mouth should have been, there were cold grey, razor sharp mandibles. It opened its large, black eyes for the first time, and seemingly directed them towards Robin himself. The creature was indescribable – it had a kind of grotesque beauty, like a centipede scaling along a wall. It looked capable of fierce violence like a wild wolf, but at the same time, had an aura of gentleness like that of a lamb. It seemed intelligent beyond the eldest and wisest of humans, but appeared full of humility and curiosity like a child.
And Robin felt the message being sent. It was unmistakable.
Thank you.
Robin's vision returned to normal. Four familiar faces looked down on him, with mild concern.
"You okay?" asked Cyborg. "Since when are you such a klutz?"
Robin ignored Cyborg entirely and slowly sat upright on the ground. The four Titans were on all sides of him, kneeling over. Robin looked around at their faces with a strange expression. His mind was a little foggy, which he assumed was one of the after effects of intense telepathic contact.
Right in front of him, Beast Boy was kneeling over, holding a newly hatched duckling in his hands. A sticky mucus covered its dark yellow feathers, and it made a faint quacking sound as it opened its orange bill.
They all sat still and silent as statues for a few seconds, while the duckling curiously twitched its head around, absorbing its surroundings.
"You took a good fall," said Beast Boy.
Robin shook his head and grunted like he was trying to shake off the morning haze.
"Tell me about it," replied Robin, looking in Beast Boy's direction.
As Beast Boy started to speak, Robin reached out and took the duckling from Beast Boy's hand. He held the fragile creature softly in his palm, and gently stroked its neck and back with his finger.
Everyone was awestruck.
"Uh, well," stammered a flabbergasted Beast Boy, "you sorta backtracked over the chair. Your feet went straight up into the air like you stepped on a banana peel…."
"No," interrupted Robin, as a warm smile came over his face. "I mean the hatching. Tell me about it."
The end
