Noir lay face first on the floor, shuddering and smoking. Myrkblade lay meek and quiet a few feet away from him, as unreachable as the moon.
Red-X crouched into a ready position and produced a myriad of red daggers. His eye slits narrowed dangerously.
"...we've got a lot to talk about, then."
Chang let out a dusty laugh.
"How you underestimate me! Your brawn may be strong, but your wit is weak! I have already outsmarted you!"
"How is that, gramps?"
"It's simple, really. In this poker game of heroes and villains, you must never show your hand and have a wild card...and know when to play it. The Titans even have their own wild card...though they chose to play it too soon." He pointed at Noir's down figure. "You, however, are even more of a dolt. You have no wild card at all!"
Red-X stood suspiciously.
"And you do?"
"Hehehehe! Behold!" He held out his arms like some hellish magician.
ZHHHHTTTT!
With a flash of white light, a teenage girl appeared between Chang and Red-X. The dark-haired girl wore an open robe that fit her more like a cape and a strip of tight purple barely covered her chest and left her midriff bare. A purple, sweeping loincloth fell between her legs from her heavy belt, showing off her smooth legs and calf-high boots.
"Hmm..." Red-X said. "Who is this sexy little lady?"
"My name is Zillah." She said through sultry lips. "Got it memorized?"
ZHHHTTT!
She disappeared in midair.
Red-X turned around quickly, scanning the area.
ZHHHHT!
Zillah reappeared and grabbed him from behind.
That's what Chang had been waiting for. He hefted the large blaster he had used on Noir.
ZAAPPPPPP!
"Ughhh...!" Red-X crumpled to the ground.
Chang smiled, showing his misshapen teeth.
"Booker's going to have fun with you, young man." He cackled.
Flaar burst through the cabin door, panting and sweating.
"Ch-Chang! They're outnumbering us!" He heaved for breath. "They'll be here any minut-!"
ZZAAAPAPZPAP!
Polaar ragdolled into the room, sparking. Static, on his metal disc, floating in the doorway.
"Now that was a shocking entrance, don't you think?" The purple-coated Titan grinned and moved to the side just in time for-
TH-TH-THUMP!
The inert bodies of Miist, Acyd and Fraust slid into the room. Behind them, most of them wet, the Teen Titans gather just inside the door.
"It's over, Chang!" Robin pointed at the lead. "Give it up!"
I ran forward and knelt beside Noir.
"Noir...you okay man?"
Noir slowly sat up and gave me a thumbs up.
I looked up across the room and a pair of light blue eyes met my own.
"Zillah." Chang said. "It's time for us to leave."
Her eyes never moved.
ZHHHHTTTT!
Chang, Red-X, Flaar and Zillah were gone.
"Well..." Beast Boy whistled. "That was a neat trick."
Robin's face was like a thundercloud.
"Cheer up, dude!" Beast Boy said. "We got those three, right?"
Meanwhile, Static was smiling at Cyborg.
"Mission complete. Give me a high five!"
Cyborg shifted his armless shoulder.
"I hate you."
I finally came back to my senses and looked back at Noir who had climbed to his feet.
"C'mon," I nodded my head. "Let's get out of Dodge."
