A/N: Mixed reviews, but that's good, thanks for all of them, it helps me to understand how to improve the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titians, but if I did, Beast Boy totally would have been mauve…
Patriotism is your conviction that this country
is superior to all others because you were born in it.
-George Bernard Shaw
The engine of the Cessna roared to life.
The president appeared on the television, he was behind the desk in the oval office with an American flag on his right and the seal of the president on his left. President Sheppard looked tired, worn, due to the intensity of the past days, but the obvious stress of the situation did not appear on his face and he portrayed the strong and confidante leadership he had become known for.
"My fellows Americans, earlier this week, there were several vicious, unwarranted attacks, as you now know, in Jump City. These attacks are more than just a strike on one American city, they are an assault upon our entire nation…"
The plane turned out of the antiquated rusty hanger and onto the rough, broken concrete, crushing the weeds growing up from between the cracks. It began a slow taxi to one of the few remaining serviceable runways.
"The malicious acts of terrorism were each committed by individual religious fanatics, extremists, that as of now, we believe have no direct connection with foreign governments."
It lifted off from the runway with only a few feet to spare and barely clearing the top of the trees nearby. It began a steep climb and the engine struggled to keep the heavily laden plane aloft.
"They are hostile not only to our great nation and its citizens, but to our very way of life; to the very freedom which we hold so dear. You know, as well as I, however, that the acts of crazed religious fanatics will not break the American spirit."
The plane turned east, the sun shown brilliantly through the clear blue sky. A small white obelisk could be seen far off in the horizon.
"This tragedy has affected us all, but our resolve will not falter…"
The Potomac River came into view, early warning radar hadn't picked up the low flying plane. Fighters were only scrambled after the more advanced detection systems were tripped. The F-16s now tailing behind the plane, broadcasting warning after warning were being ignored.
"We will stand up to this aggression, we will show our resolve. We shall fight it where it lies…"
A missile from a trailing fighter was launched, as it soared towards the Cessna one of the fins on the tail failed and broke loose. The missile veered off course but still managed to find it's mark, exploding just off the tip of left wing and sending the plane into a violent rollover.
"And stop it in its tracks. We will seek out those responsible, we will find where they hide and we shall bring them to justice…"
The Cessna rolled into a dive towards a massive marble building at a 45-degree angle as the left wing splintered apart.
"We cannot allow them to frighten us into submission, and we will not, under any circumstances, allow them to continue, in their reign of terror."
The plane collided with the roof of the Supreme Court Building, engulfing it in a ball of fire.
"We are now a nation awakened by the call to defend our freedom, their actions have only served to fuel our anger, and strengthen our resolve. Whether we bring the men responsible to justice, or bring justice to bear upon them, those Americans, who so bravely gave their lives for our nation will be avenged."
The cameras shut off, the address over. An aid came quickly over to the president bending down to whisper something in his ear, his eyes widened and he bolted up from his desk, heading for the situation room.
The Titans were all in the main living room of the tower, all watching the Presidential address, when it cut away it went back to a news feed with an anchor behind a desk.
"And the President's address to the nation, we have some of our best pundits here to analyze the President's speech. Dr. Johnson, the address was in the mid-afternoon, is that an odd time for a speech such as this?"
"Well, it's not common but also not unheard of, I think—"
"Sorry Dr. Johnson I have to cut you off" the network had not only cut his mic but also severed the satellite link to the three talking heads that were waiting to comment "I have breaking news…we have just received word, that there has been a massive explosion at the Supreme Court building. We have unconfirmed reports that a small, single engine plane crashed into the building setting off a massive explosion and doing a huge amount of damage."
The Titans all jumped up at once from their seats around the room.
"Once again, we have unconfirmed reports of a plane, crashing into the Supreme Court building. We'll try to get definitive reports on this subject and keep you informed and up-to-date as information comes to us…"
Robin turned towards the other Titans, but just as he was about to open his mouth the alarm went off.
Cyborg was nearest to the computer console and he brought up the reason behind the alarm.
"Damn! Cinderblock just staged a jail break let out half the city's villains in the process." Cyborg brought up the security tapes of the city jail.
The Titans watched as a cracked bolt in Cinderblock's restraints gave way and he was able to get free, and on his way outside the walls of the prison, destroy half the cellblock locking devices and a number of bars. Releasing many of the Titan's enemies, who were now running amuck throughout the city.
"We'll stick together and fight them block by block if we have to." The other Titans nodded their heads in agreement "Titans go!"
A white beam of energy hit the Automated Teller Machine and it began to spew out its green contents.
"Ha! This sure beats prison movie night…" the man said, stuffing piles of cash into a sack.
"That's too bad, because you already bought your ticket!" Robin couldn't resist saying a corny line when the opportunity arose, one of the few little luxuries he let himself have…
"The Teen Titans? Don't you have better things to be doing than bothering me?"
"Yeah, actually we do, Dr. Light…" Raven started
"But we figured we'd get you back to your cozy little cell first." Beast Boy finished.
"You can do your best kiddies." Light slung the sack full of cash over his shoulder and sent a beam of light at Robin.
Robin tried to dive out of the way but wasn't quite fast enough and the full force of the beam caught him on his left leg, sending him spiraling away and into a brick wall.
Starfire dived in for the attack, sending a withering barrage of starbolts at him while she speed towards him. Light managed to fire off beam that cut through one of Starfire's green bolts and connected with the alien, knocking her back to earth.
But before he could go back on the offensive, Cyborg charged up a blast from his sonic cannon and fired at him, striking him in the chest, sending him staggering backwards. While he tried to regain his balance a trashcan surrounded in black energy hurtled into him, sending him flying to the street.
Beast Boy transformed into a tiger and pouncing on him, pinning him to the ground and baring quite a few very large, and very sharp teeth in his face.
Cyborg secured Dr. Light while Beast Boy helped Starfire to her feet. Raven flew over to where Robin had landed and extended her hand to help him up.
"You're getting a little slow…" the smallest grin appeared on her lips "You alright?" She asked.
He smiled and took her hand, hoisting himself up "I've never been the speed of light! It's only a couple of scrapes and bruises." He dusted himself off as two officers from a squad car waiting on the edges of the fight came in to haul Light away.
"I'm tellin' ya Jinx, when you're lootin' a whole dang-gum city, magic and bad luck just can't compare with numbers." Said Billy Numerous as they walked down the street, taking what they pleased along the way.
"He's right ya know." another Billy passed them carrying a massive plasma television
"Whatever" Jinx responded "let's just get as much out of this as we can before we have to get out of town."
"Yeah" Gizmo cut in "besides, it's not like—aw crap!" They all stopped dead in the middle of the street.
"Alright, guys, we're just have to going to go through the city block by block, search it street to street, it's not like the villains are going to just walk right up to us…" Robin addressed his team as they all stood in the chaotic city street.
"Uh, Robin." Beast Boy raised one finger in the air.
"What is it Beast Boy?" Said Robin a small bit impatiently, expecting some corny—and probably unfunny—joke.
"The bad guys just walked up to us." He pointed to the street corner just a few yards away.
The Titans all looked to where Beast Boy was pointing and sure enough, standing there were Gizmo, Jinx, and Billy Numerous.
They all stood completely still just staring blankly at each other for a few seconds.
"Holy sh—Titans go!"
Snapping out of their slight shock the Titans charged forward at the rather unlucky bad guys.
The Titans' three foes were not stunned for too long and snapped back into action when Robin ordered his team to attack.
'I've been waitin' to use try this one out on ya!" Cyborg brandished a small electronic disc in his hand, he had his sights set on Gizmo and was running straight for him "I didn't forget what you did, no one changes my internal lighting to pink and gets away with it you little pip-squeak."
The Titans were all running directly at their opponents, Starbolts charged, bodies transformed, Sonic-cannons bristling, dark energy gathering, eyes glowing, Bo staff in hand, power levels at maximum, cloaks billowing, teeth bared, mussels tensed, ears pointed…
But instead of rushing forward to attack the Titans, as they had always done before, the depleted HIVE 5 all turned on their heels and ran back the way they came.
When they saw this, the Titans all halted, right where their enemies had just been standing, they all looked at one another, shocked expressions on their faces.
"Well" Raven said, shrugging her shoulders "shouldn't we go after them?"
"Hell yeah!" Cyborg cheered her on.
"Well don't just stand there, guys" Robin said "let's get 'em"
They all began to run and fly after the villains. The Titans started to gain on them, so the HIVE members began to create obstacles, to slow the Titans down.
Jinx shot bolts of her bad luck wildly behind her; trying to strike a Titan or something that would distract them, while Gizmo kept laying down mines and small robots that shot out webs to stop them.
The Titans were all expertly dodging attack after attack When Jinx saw the water tower only a few yards ahead of them and directly in their path. She fired a bolt of bad luck at the right front leg, causing it to buckle and begin to collapse.
Just as the three bad-guys ran past the dying tower, it could no longer hold itself up and started to fall across the street and right onto the Titans. Raven looked up to the fast falling tower and, raising her hands, sheathed it in black energy, slowing it down long enough for Cyborg and Starfire to both unleash devastating blasts of energy at the water tower and destroying it.
Beast Boy and Robin ran right past the other Titans to keep up the pursuit of the villains but when the tower was vaporized, so was the massive amount of water inside it, quickly blanketing an entire city block in steam and totally obscuring their view of the HIVE.
Even though they could no longer see them, Robin and Beast Boy kept running in the direction they thought their enemies had gone. They didn't see them turning off on a side street only a few yards ahead of them, and they didn't see the other shadows moving through the steam-showered streets.
Robin realized that the other Titans were nowhere near them. 'Why would they have run? They've never done that before…oh man, this is gonna be bad...'
"Beast Boy, stop." Robin called out "we have to regroup with the oth—" Robin was cut-off mid-sentence by a savage punch to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him to his knees.
Beast Boy tried to react, only to be tripped and then kicked in the side, sending him sliding over the pavement to where Robin was.
Both Titans recovered themselves quickly, they got up and stood back to back, trying to defend against their unseen attackers But when the steam began to clear it became obvious that they were just a little bit out numbered.
At least half of the villains who'd escaped from prison, and a good number of ones who hadn't been caught but knew a good opportunity when they saw it, were surrounding them. Beast Boy turned his head towards Robin, both still in fighting stances
"Things don't look too good, Robin."
"I think we can take 'em Beast Boy."
"Bold words, Robin…" One of the villains said, sending a chill down their spines. The voice was unmistakable, the low, smooth, mocking, terrifying voice, Robin knew much better than he ever wanted to, Slade.
"Do you really think you can 'take' all of us?"