Alexa groaned as she shakily got out of her cot. Her bare feet felt weak and unsteady when they became planted on the cold concrete floor. She scrunched her eyes as they slowly came into focus and her battleship grey cell appeared before her. Every muscle in her body ached, no doubt a residual effect of the electric shock torture she endured the day before. Her implant didn't mask aches or sores, and she wished she had aspirin at hand.
As she sat unhappily a tray slid under the door. It has a bowl of oatmeal, some eggs, toast and a glass of orange juice. It was the best breakfast she had been served since becoming Slade's prisoner. The menu previously consisted of some disgusting gruel served with tepid tap water.
She rose to her feet, her legs unsteady but holding. Picking up the tray, she placed it on the small table, sat down and greedily wolfed her meal down. Only after consuming her breakfast did she notice a tiny note, folded in half, tucked under the last piece of toast. She unfolded it and read it.
Be ready to leave within an hour. And get rid of this note, we don't want dad to see it.
Alexa crumpled the note and tossed it into the stainless steel toilet in her cell, flushing it to oblivion. Rose didn't say where they were going; Alexa knew where she wanted to go.
-( - )-
The Andean Condor is a magnificent bird, indigenous to the west coast of South America. That one would be flying over Jump City's Bad Lands (which were officially known as the Padre Kino Canyons) was unusual in and of itself, as Andean Condors had never once been spotted in the wild anywhere in California, or North America for that matter.
Of course, this was not an ordinary condor, as it was green. The huge green bird surfed the thermals in the sky, patiently circling over a large mesa, one it associated with bad and painful memories. It continued in its pattern for over 30 minutes and was about to head home when a solitary masked figure suddenly emerged from a cluster of boulders. If he could have, Beast Boy would have frowned, as the muscles on his currently avian face were not configured to do so. The green bird banked to its left and began an aggressive descent, flapping its huge wings as it landed in front of Slade.
As always Slade stood in a confident pose. As soon as Gar reverted to his human form, Slade tossed a retractable bo staff to him.
"I see you were trying to see how I arrived here, weren't you, my apprentice?"
Beast Boy did not reply. Instead he clicked the button on the staff, which with a loud snap extended to its full size.
"I see you are familiar with the staff."
The changeling deftly twirled his weapon, ending in a fighting stance with the end of the staff tucked under his armpit. "Robin taught all of us how to use it years ago."
"That he did, but now I will teach you how to use it correctly." Slade droned in his baritone.
The changeling shook his head. "This is a waste of time. I don't need to use the staff. I only learned how to use it to humor Robin. And don't give me the self discipline and self mastery speech, I've already heard it from both you and Robin."
Slade produced another staff from his utility belt and extended it. In a blur he attacked the changeling.
"Then you should know that we are both right!"
Gar parried the attack and countered. Slade blocked his strike.
"The only thing you and Nightwing have in common is that you're both arrogant pricks."
The sparring match continued for a few minutes, with the staffs loudly colliding with each other, the sound of steel clashing with filling the air, until finally in a swift and fluid move Slade hit Gar behind his knees, knocking his legs out from under and sending him tumbling onto his back. Slade relaxed and offered the changeling a hand, which the Titan refused as he stood up on his own and adopted another fighting stance, defiant and ready to continue.
"I must congratulate you, Logan, your technique is very good … but just as it was with Robin … it's imperfect. I will teach you how to be perfect."
"Why?" Garfield hissed. "This is pointless."
Slade chuckled. "Now you are talking like your wife. I must say, Logan, I was surprised by your choice. I always thought that you had a thing for blonds. First Terra … then Dr. Pontone. What did you think of seeing her again … this time in my torture chamber?"
Garfield's face became screwed with anger. "You're gonna pay for what you did to her."
"So you do care. What would dear Raven have to say if she knew that you still harbor feelings for your ex-lover."
Gar's expression changed from anger to regret. "She wasn't my lover, she's just a friend. Or at least she was … now I'm not so sure that she ever really was my friend."
Slade replied in a stern voice. "Don't kid yourself, Logan, you have feelings for Alexa. And how could you not? The woman is a goddess, unlike the mousy, grey girl you married for reasons that still …"
Slade never finished his sentence. The changeling bellowed his anger and launched into an attack that was so powerful and intense that Slade had to retreat to hold his defenses.
"Very good, Logan, use your anger! It is a powerful tool and most mean fear using it. I will teach you how to control it."
Beast Boy kept striking at his opponent. "The only thing you're gonna teach me is how to fall on your ass and lose, Slade!"
"How could I teach you that, may apprentice? For you are already an expert at that."
-( - )-
A sleek yacht, with the name "Adeline" painted on its stern, sailed out of a small marina on the very south end of the bay, making its way towards the city's signature suspension bridge. The marina was an unpopular one, due mostly to its location mear the city's industrial quarter, which was far away and inconvenient for most of the city's yacht owner as well as for the above market rates it charged to rent a slip. Other than the "Adeline" there were only four other boats moored at the marina, and like the Adeline they all belonged to a Japanese businessman named Yoshihiko Kimura, who also owned the marina. Of course, there really was no such person as Kimura-san, who was really a front for Slade Wilson, whose secret lair was hidden beneath the small cottage that housed the management office for the marina, with its ever present "Sorry, we're closed" sign in the window. The small cottage always had a "No vacancies" sign in the window, even though there were clearly over 70 unoccupied slips.
Alexa gulped as she watched marina shrink into the distance fall them, expecting Slade-bots to come pouring out of the cottage and pursue them with the other boats.
"Relax, they aren't coming." Rose reassured her, while another Slade-bot stoically stood behind the helm, guiding the powered yacht through the bays calm morning waters.
"So, where are we going?" Alexa asked.
"The only place in town where we you can access a lab and we can be safe."
"Safe?"
Ravager crossed her arms and frowned at the scientist. "You don't expect my father to shrug and forget about our little escape, do you?"
Alexa shook her head. "I still can't believe that you're doing this."
"I need to know the truth. I need an antidote for whatever my father has been making me take all these years."
Alexa looked down into the shoebox in her hands, which was full of unlabelled inhalers. "You know that I can't guarantee that an antidote can be made for this … the damage you've suffered could be undoable."
"You mean my memory loss could be permanent?"
"It's a possibility."
"What are the odds?"
"I don't know … I can't say until I've analyzed the contents of these inhalers … so where are we going? You still haven't told me where this safe house is."
The yacht's engines were cut and two Slade-bots, who had been preparing a Kodiak, lowered it into the water.
"Where else?" Rose replied as she climbed down into the inflatable boat and fired up its outboard motor. "Get onboard, it's time to go, doctor."
The yacht was parked under the suspension bridge and Alexa saw their destination in the distance. She followed Rose into the boat and they took off. The yacht turned and headed back to the marina while Rose, sitting in the Kodiak's stern with her hand in the outboard motor's throttle, steered them to their final destination.
Garfield often talked about life in the Tower during his undergrad days with his three shapely coed friends, so much so that Alexa almost felt like she knew the place. She even visited it once when it was a national monument, lingering in the changeling's old room, recognizing every preserved item in it from his descriptions. But now it wasn't a museum anymore. It was retrofitted, functional and occupied by 13 superheroes, one of which was her old friend and, if only for a single night, her one time lover.
"We're just going to show up, just like that? What are we supposed to do, ring the doorbell and shout trick or treat?"
Rose glared as she replied. "I already contacted them … they're expecting us."
Once again the Kodiak pulled up to the dock on Titans Island, where they were being expected. Rose tossed a mooring line to the dock, Wonder Girl caught it and secured the boat. Alexa and Ravager climbed out of the boat, and found all of the Titans, except for Garfield, waiting for them.
Rose quickly read the crowd. The five junior Titans were skeptical. Superboy and Wonder Girl looked ready for a fight. The archer looked tense and the new, younger Robin was studying her as assiduously as she was reading the Titans. The speedster, along with his older mentor, looked impatient, as did the older speedster's wife, the hextress, who seemed to be expecting trouble.
The four original Titans and the Titan known as Bumblebee approached the two arrivals. Their expressions looked severe. Raven stepped forward, her face looked as cold as steel and her balled fists were oozing with eldritch energy. She made eye contact with Rose.
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't believe this is a trap."
Rose smirked. "I can't … but you're talking to us, right?"
Raven pointed angrily at Alexa. "She's the only reason Garfield is under your father's thumb."
A panel popped open on Cyborg's arm and he scanned Alexa for several seconds. He scrunched his face as he read the results, after which the panel receded back into his arm.
"Her injuries are real." He announced solemnly.
"It could part of the ruse." Raven quickly interjected.
Cyborg took one of the inhalers from Alexa's shoebox and examined it with a strong dose of skepticism on his face.
"So this is what Slade uses to control you?"
"She wants an antidote." Alexa remarked.
"I've got the gear to analyze its contents, but it will take some time."
"The inhaler proves nothing." Raven shot back.
"You can lock me up if you want. Once you have the antidote, I'll take it and leave."
"I'd like a blood sample, also for analysis." Cyborg quipped.
Raven frown at Alexa. "I suppose that you expect to stay with us after she leaves. In case you forgot, this isn't a hotel."
"I have nowhere else to go."
"Maybe you should have thought of that before teaming up with Slade, and yes, we know that you worked with him and kidnapped my husband … we also know what you stole from Luthor."
"Slade doesn't have it, I swear."
Rose cleared her throat. "It's true, father has a flash drive with the data, but it's encrypted. Alexa has the password, but she hasn't given it to him. If you send her back, he'll torture her until she reveals it."
"A nice story, but I'm not buying it. I don't trust you Alexa, not as far as I could throw you … and I could throw you into another dimension." Raven replied.
"Why do you think father traded the boy for his identity?"
"How do we know that we can trust you?"
"You've seen father torture her. He's going to up the ante. He will hurt her if he has to. She has an implant to block pain, but there are some things it can't block. Father could dismember her, starting by chopping off her fingertips. He wants that password, and if you send us away, he will extract the password from her. His patience is wearing very thin."
"Where is Mark?" Alexa asked in a cold voice.
"He's in the tower, asleep." Raven replied before pausing. "I will agree to this, under one condition."
"I'll agree to anything you say. Please don't send me back to Slade."
"OK then … you will give up all claims to Mark. He will legally be my son."
Alexa frowned "If you really want the brat … then he's yours."
"You'll give him up, just like that?" A stunned Starfire asked. "He's your son, Alexa!"
Raven glared at the Tamaranian, who said no more.
"Why not? I'm a fugitive from both Lex Luthor and Slade. If I run, I won't exactly be able to fulfill my role as mother, will I? He's yours Raven … I'll sign anything you want."
Raven turned to Nightwing. "I have no objections, as long as they are both kept in separate cells in the detention level."
"Agreed. Superboy, Wonder Girl, Robin escort our guests to their cells. Make sure they are secured."
"It'll be our pleasure, Nightwing." Connor replied as Robin handcuffed the two women. With stern faces they led the prisoners away.
"I'll analyze the inhalers right away." Cyborg announced.
"And I'll let Garfield know that he doesn't have to train with Slade anymore." Raven said with a victorious tone in her voice.
-( - )-
Garfield hit the ground with a dull thud. He had lost count of how many times Slade knocked him down. So far Slade had fallen but a single time, and only because he tripped on a rock. The sun was higher now and temperatures were rising on the mesa. Gar wiped the stinging sweat off his face with his sleeve before getting up. Slade tossed him a bottle of Gatorade, which the changeling gulped down.
"Go ahead, rest, then I'll explain to you what you're doing wrong."
"Oh, goodie, I can't wait." The changeling muttered to himself as his communicator trilled. He saw on the cover that it was Raven calling.
"Do not answer the call." Slade ordered him.
Gar quickly decided to ignore the order and flipped it open. Raven's serious face was on the small screen.
"What's up?" He gasped. "I'm in the middle of getting my butt kicked … again."
"Not anymore. Come home."
"You know I can't do that."
"Yes you can … we have Alexa, she's safe."
The changeling grinned. "Now that's good news, I'm on my way."
Slade angrily approached the changeling. "I told you to not answer, you will pay for your disobedience!"
"I don't think so." Gar replied as he began to morph into a T-Rex. Slade's eye bulged upon seeing the monster rise above him.
"What are you doing? Stop immediately and I will spare punishing Pontone for your insolence."
The green dinosaur raised its head emitted a deafening roar, and the entire mesa seemed to shake. Slade turned and ran. The leviathan pursued him, closing ground on the one eyed villain with ever step it took. Slade moved with the speed of an Olympic sprinter and reached the edge of the mesa before Beast Boy could catch up with him, and with a might leap he jumped over the ledge and disappeared from the T-Rex's sight. The mighty dinosaur continued running and leaped off the mesa's edge as well, morphing into a falcon as he fell. The green bird soared and using its sharp eyes it tried to locate Slade, but he had vanished without a trace. Beast Boy made a few passes over where Slade should have fallen, but he was gone. He then changed course and flew home.
-( - )-
Alexa sat on a cot in her cell. This one was clearly different from the one she occupied in Slade's lair. For one thing, there was no door. The wall on the hallway was a force field, which was completely transparent. Across the hallway Ravager was in an identical cell, which she was carefully exploring, probing every nook and cranny for a flaw.
"I thought you said you would wait for them to find the antidote." Alexa shouted at her.
"That is my intention, but if they don't find one, or decide to not release me even if they do, then I will leave, and for that I need a contingency plan."
Alexa shook her head. "Knock yourself out; I'm certain these cells are escape proof."
"Nothing is escape proof."
Alexa laughed. "Who taught you that, your father?"
Rose glared at the blond. "Don't be so cocky, doctor. Just because you banged the changeling once doesn't mean that you have his undying loyalty. He won't protect you."
Alexa smirked. "You clearly don't understand how men think … and by men, I mean those who aren't criminally insane psychopaths."
As if on cue the elevator doors opened and the changeling, with his wife, emerged from the lift. Raven had look on her face that could curdle milk. Alexa sighed as they approached. It wasn't her fault that Raven was a plain Jane, she thought to herself. It was always an issue with other women, they always felt threatened by her good looks.
The Logans approached the cell and the changeling shut down the force field.
"We need your help in the lab."
"Did you find anything usual in the inhaler?"
"How about lots of things … the only compound we could name is epinephrine. Biochem was your specialty, if I recall correctly."
"Yeah, it is. So, why is she here? I'm not some super powered villain you can't handle on your own."
Raven smirked as she handed a sheaf of papers to Alexa.
"Sign them."
Alexa quickly read all the papers.
"Everything seems to be in order … once I sign these, I release him for adoption … but before I do that, the deal is that I can stay here as long as I want. Is that correct?"
"It is." Raven replied.
Alexa locked eyes with Garfield. "You heard her; you're my witness, Gar."
The changeling heaved and exasperated sigh. "We're superheroes, Alexa. We won't let anyone hurt you. Didn't you learn anything about me during school?"
Yeah, I learned that you aren't well endowed and suck in bed. Raven must be easy to please if she guards you so jealously.
"I know who you are, Garfield. Raven's the one I'm worried about."
"You have nothing to worry about, unlike Slade, I don't double cross people. But if you cross me, Alexa, you will experience the fullness of my wrath. And Gar won't be able to stop me or protect you. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, Raven, loud and clear."
-( - )-
A masked human figure phased into existence at the bottom of the canyon, miles from the mesa. Once the teleportation was complete Slade pulled some binoculars from his belt and with them he saw a green hawk flying over the now distant mesa. Slade was fully enjoying the fact that he was using mobile teleportation technology that he stole from the new defunct Red-X, technology originally developed by Robin. What especially amused Slade when he acquired the suit was that the utility belt was chock full of Wayne Enterprises top secret technology. The Boy Wonder either stole the tech from Wayne, or he had a special arrangement with a Wayne insider, possibly Lucius Fox. It couldn't possibly be with Bruce Wayne, the man was an airheaded hedonist who was lucky to have Fox run his company for him.
Slade pulled a clicker from his belt and pressed on its sole button. A nearby bush blurred, transforming into a hovercycle, another prize, this one stolen from that idiot, Dr. Sivana, who never noticed that it was stolen, he instead mistakenly assumed that it was somehow Captain Marvel's doing. Slade mounted the cycle and took off.
-( - )-
Alexa stared bugged eyed at the printouts in Cyborg's lab.
"So, you have no idea what any of those compounds are?"
"No, Gar, I don't. Well, except maybe this one. I once read a paper on something similar … used for mind control … but Rose doesn't need help with that, she's already broken her father's grip on her … I told her it would be a long shot, developing an antidote … how can I when I have no idea what the mystery stuff even does … whoever developed this … is a freakin' genius."
"I guess we turn her loose then." Raven sighed. "She isn't going to be happy with the news."
"I'm surprised you aren't turning her in."
"While I was opposed to the deal, we did grant her immunity if she delivered you to us. But once she's out the door, the deal's over and she's just another criminal again."
"Has anyone ever told you what a sweetheart you are Raven? Has it not occurred to you that maybe Rose doesn't want to be a criminal?"
"You're deluded if you believe that."
"I'm not deluded; in fact I think she'd make a good Titan."
"Now you're just screwing with us. The Ravager, a Teen Titan? Have you genetically engineered flying pigs in your spare time?"
"You're quick to judge, Raven, with your holier than thou attitude, which is kind of ironic since you're a demoness."
"Shut your mouth, Alexa, you don't know what you're talking about." Gar snarled at her.
Alexa pursed her lips. "How the mighty have fallen, here I am getting chewed out by the biggest loser at CSU."
"What did you say?" Raven snarled.
"Oh come on, no one would touch him with a ten foot pole."
"You did." Raven seethed.
Alexa smirked. "Ever heard of pity sex?"
Raven lunged at the woman, and was stopped by a pair of green arms. Raven struggled to break free without using her powers.
"Let go, Gar. I'm gonna rip her a new one."
"It's OK, Rave; I don't care what she says. I used to think she was my friend, but now I know she never really was, so whatever she says now doesn't matter to me at all."
The changeling let go of his wife, who pointed angrily at Alexa. "You're nothing more than a cheap slut. You used Gar; you took advantage of his insecurities to satiate your base desires. There was no pity involved, just selfishness."
"Whatever … at least now you know I don't really want to steal your freaky husband from you. Darwin's Beard! He's the worst roll in the hay I ever had."
Raven began to growl until she felt his hand on her shoulder. "Let it go, Rave."
Alexa grinned triumphantly. "Yeah, Raven, let it go. You were not only dumb to marry him, you were also stupid enough to take the brat off my hands and now to top it off you've sworn to protect the woman who deflowered your husband. Enjoy your sloppy seconds, witch."
Raven tensed up again, and once again she felt his soothing touch. "Raven, I think we're done here. How about you take Alexa back to her cell?"
"My cell? Now wait a minute here! I'm not your prisoner!"
The changeling grinned. "Of course not, you're free to leave whenever you want. But if you stay with us, the only way we can guarantee your safety is if you stay in one of our secured holding cells. Don't you agree, Cyborg?"
The tin man, who had witnessed the showdown in silence, nodded his agreement. "Absolutely."
"If you'll come this way, doctor." Raven droned in her monotone.
"No way! I won't stay in a cell."
Alexa suddenly found herself engulfed in Raven's dark energy as the sorceress lifted her from the ground. "This way, doctor." She grinned happily as she dragged a kicking and screaming Alexa out of the lab. Once they were gone Cyborg grinned at the changeling.
"Man, I haven't seen Raven look that happy in a long time. You don't know how lucky you are, grass stain."
"Huh, what do you mean?"
"Let's just say you're gonna need an extra large haystack tonight."
The changeling grinned. "I hadn't thought of that."
The two friends were about to fist bump when a powerful explosion rocked the Tower.
-( - )-
A little cliffhanger to keep you on your toes. And thanks to those who review. We're closing in on the 1400 mark! Amazing!
And now, the mailbag!
Nightwingexpert – Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.
Randamwriter – Thanks!
Me – Rose is in a bad place right now, but she won't give up.
Jess – Ask and you shall receive.
Just a Reviewer – You know how it goes with Slade.
mlbv-grimm – Ravager arranged everything.
Bluedog197 – Oh my! We don't want you going into cardiac arrest.
JasonVUK – Slade is good, but even he makes mistakes.
Soulsurfer2112 – Well, I finally revealed where Slade's lair is and how he vanishes from the mesa.
acosta perez jose Ramiro – Well, they're still newlyweds … sort of.
BartWLewis – Well, no we know the Logans will be keeping Mark.
DeeThom – You're very good at guessing!
JOHNXgambit – Terra was so vile in the comics that I'm sure everyone who followed the Judas Contract cheered when she died. And she died in the comics. No, turned into stone, maybe we can bring her back. She wa D.
Anoymous136 – I think the Logans had a grand time in the afternoon.
The Cretin – I guess Cyborg could have made Gizmo beg alike a dog!
Hairul The Nightrage Beast – My version of Rose is a bit different from comic book Rose.
Dragonkyng – That would be interesting.
chica13 – I'm speechless ;-)
SuperNolon – It was hard for Rose to cut loose from Dad.
titanfan45 – Slade made his first mistake. Will he make another one?