After a long hiatus the TV in the studio automatically fizzles to life. Arny unexpectedly appears on the screen on a handheld camera, standing next to a door with the letters WC engraved on it.

"Huzzah! I'm back!" He announces to audience that were surprisingly still present. "Welp... sorta... I'm about several floors down below the studio, I found the autodialer but it had self-destructed." Arny shrugged. "So right now I'm outside a toilet where it sounds like someone in there isn't having the easiest time right now." The sound of someone playing a tuba in an odd way could be heard from behind the door. "Ah well, it'll take me awhile to get back, so you lot might as well go and see whats in store for the other Titans." Taking out the remote he points it at the camera and hits the 'Play' button.


THE DISPATCH

Part 11: Lost Sun

The remaining team were still assembled in the common room. They thought it best not to separate under the circumstances. Robin had managed to reboot the mainframe and logged into the tower's security system. The bank of monitors filled the viewing screen, each showed an empty corridor on every level of the tower. Raven was seated behind him on the couch along with Starfire, their gazes fixed to their leader as he worked the computer.

"Alright, I've adjusted the sensor array to detect any vibration that could indicate motion from within the tower." Robin reported. "If something moves, we'll get an alert." He turned to face his teammates.

"How long are we to be in the lock-down?" Starfire asked.

"I don't know, all we can do is hope that the others are safe and are able to find a way back. As for now we should just try to eat something, we've already missed breakfast." They all nodded in agreement and went to have some food and think about something else.

Twenty minutes passed without any issues. Robin leaned against the kitchen counter, taking a bite out of a ham sandwich. Raven and Starfire were seated at the dinner table, Starfire prodded a spoon into one of her half eaten alien dishes with a look of unease. Raven sat next her and took a long sip from her tea mug, placing it back on the coaster, she stared at the half empty cup, her expression mirrored that of her fellow teammate. Robin finished his meal and looked over at the two girls.

There had been little to no communication since they began their meals. The quietness that filled within the large room was becoming more noticeable with each passing minute. That was, until the looming silence was shattered by a blinking 'Incoming message' sign appearing on the mainframe.

"Yeek!" Starfire jumped up from the table with a fright, her chair crashing to the floor. Raven also let out a startled yelp. Her powers slipped causing her mug and Starfire's dish to flip over, spilling their contents onto the table. Robin rushed over to the computer and began typing again.

"Who is it this time Robin?" Raven asked slightly irked at having her tea ruined.

Opening the message file, they were presented with one small word on the screen:

Help.

(MSP) Sinister Dark Ambient Music - Haunted

The Titans stared at the oddly short message, it was accompanied by another, much longer message appearing below it.

It's late in the morning and still dark outside. I can hear the tornado sirens in the next county over, but the weather radar is clear.
where is the sun?

The sender was unnamed and there wasn't an email address of any sort. "What is... going on...?" The masked detective muttered.

Just then, a video link was posted below the message. Momentarily confused by this, he opened the link. The video displayed a first person view of someone in a blacked out room, filming a television that was broadcasting a live news report. A female announcer's voice could be heard detailing the strange event about the sun apparently... vanishing from the sky.

'...and is taking hold of the nation in response to the sudden disappearance... of the sun, with violent riots taking place in just about every major city. We're receiving an influx of reports of ransacking, and looting from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington DC... with hundreds more isolated incidents.

The TV footage showed the various city in eternal darkness and complete chaos, whatever was happening had now spread across the nation. Robin tugged at his collar, how could this even be happening? Raven and Starfire were just as baffled, unable to find any logic behind it.

The president made a public statement this morning urging people to remain calm and stay in their homes. Meanwhile, experts are claiming this could go on to be an event similar to New England's Dark Day...'

The video was then cut off, the screen transitioned back to the message browser. A new sentence had now been posted.

The power keeps going out and I keep hearing noises outside. Sometimes far away, sometimes close.

This was followed up by another video link.

Robin instantly opened the link. The next video was almost pitch black, as if someone was pointing the camera up at the sky in the dead of night. It appeared to be filming an unseen aircraft, several lights in the distance were blinking repeatedly. The video ended, returning to the message browser, where a third message had been posted.

I think the noises outside are gunshots. The news said it would be back to normal by now, but it isn't.
Now the news isn't even coming on.

Accompanying the message was a picture that showed the television from before, it was now displayed a 'NO SIGNAL' sign on a static background.

TV signal is gone, the noises keep happening outside, and I can barely keep track of time anymore. I am honest to god terrified.

Robin lowered his head, the ever lingering dread of the unknown was rising to a hazardous degree. "The sun is... the missing?" The alien girl whispered. Raven looked towards her masked leader who seemed to be at a total lose. "Robin... maybe you should send a message back. At least let whoever it is will know that their messages were received." She suggested.

Raising his head, he looked back at the monitor and sighed. "Your probably right. At least we have someone to communicate with." But just as he's about to type, another sentence appeared.

I went outside. I saw something out there I can't really explain, but I can show you.

A third video was attached to the post. Unable to stop himself, Robin opened the link. The video showed what appeared to be a wooded area. The person holding the camera moved slowly through the bushes and trees. The sound of a lone cricket filled the air as the person came to halt, shinning a flashlight across the immense darkness. Remaining still the person inexplicably turned off the flashlight for a few seconds.

A loud clicking noise then came from the distance. The camera pans up to see a brightly flickering orange light, just beyond the trees. Clearly spooked by this the person turned to flee, just as the video ends. The three Titans all shared disturbed looks. What on earth had they had just seen?

Still shaken from the short time I was outside. I don't know what that flashing light was, but it was following me. I looked for stars or planets, the sky was pitch black. Could be because of clouds or something else.

Robin quickly seized the moment to type back a reply.

Hello! this is the Teen Titans! who are you and what is your location?!

They all stood tensely for over a few minutes, waiting for any sort of response... but there was none. The unknown informer had gone silent.

(MSP)

Robin frowned, this was the only lead they had to whatever was happening. Just then, a fairly distant vibrating noise caught everyone's attention. "W-what is that...?' Starfire whispered. "I dunno star, but it sounds like it's coming from the outside." Quickly, Robin switched back to the security system, this time bringing up the camera views on the outside of the tower. What they showed made him groan in frustration. They were all pitch black. The noise got closer, until it was practically above the tower. It sounded mechanical, like some kind of high teck generator. The Titans all looked towards the ceiling, readying themselves for anything. Then, as quick as it came... the noise vanished without a trace.

Silence filled the room again with the Titans being left with zero answers. "Well... that was anticlimactic." Raven folded her arms. Robin faced the computer once again. He started rewinding the camera footage to see if they caught anything. Something just flew over the tower and somehow it wasn't detected by the sensors.

Starfire and Raven accompanied him as he played back the footage. A line of white lights could been seen floating through the darkness before transcending upward. Robin tried to zoom in on them, but it didn't reveal anything. "I can't see it, it's took dark outside." Robin whipped a bread of sweat from his forehead. A wave of heat just came over the room. It felt like the temperature had increased by 10 or 15 degrees.

"Perhaps... it was just one of our... earthly crafts of the airs?" Starfire uncertainly spoke. "Well whatever it was, it was definitely not a helicopter." Robin answered. "Judging buy the noise it made, it sounded a lot more like the T-ship when it's in hover mode." The young detective pondering on that thought. "Come to think of it, if it was a hovering ship, then it just might of landed on top of the tower." The trio of Titans glanced up at the ceiling again. "But... we did not hear it do the sound of the landing." Starfire mentioned. "We also didn't hear it leave either." Raven added. There was a long pause as Robin debated on whether or not it was safe to investigate.

His train of though was then interrupted by the 'Incoming message' alert appearing on the screen again. Straight away Robin rushed back to control panel again, reopening the message file to see a short sentence at the top of the screen.

Now I have another problem.

(MSP) Sinister Dark Ambient Background Music - Dark Rage

This was followed up by a picture of a mysterious figure standing outside on a street corner, just a few yards from the senders house. It was dressed in mostly dark clothing and would have been completely invisible if it weren't stood next to a row of lawn lights that were exposing it's presences. Another sentence accompanied the picture.

This guy has been standing completely still with his back towards me. I have know idea how long hes been standing there.
He's still standing there. Hasn't moved.

Robin was quick to type a response.

Hello! we've received your messages! we highly recommend you get away from the window! keep all lights off. Do not talk to them or let them in!
And if you see any flashing lights, hide!

To the masked leader's surprise the informer responded almost immediately.

Whoever was standing outside is gone now.

A short amount of time later they posted again.

Someone is screaming outside.

A video link appeared with text. Robin opened the link without hesitation. A closeup of a wall being lit up by a flashlight was shown, then the faint sound of a males voice could be heard. It yelled something inaudible, thought it sound like someone was shouting orders to 'Get Down'. The yelling lasted for a number of seconds, then a loud vibrating sound was heard. The yelling ceased abruptly, as did the video.

(MSP)

No further posts were made for over a minute. "Ohh kay..." Robin muttered out before closing the browser. "I guess all we can do now is try to wait all this out." He faced the two girls who were displaying mixed expressions. "But... is there not something we can do? our city is in the great peril!" The alien princess felt her confidence return. "I know that Starfire, but we can't leave the tower. The broadcast said it would be dangerous if we so much as look out a window." Robin looked defeated, which was a rare sight to behold.

Raven then voiced a thought. "That may be true, but whoever sent us those videos clearly had no problems going outside. This isn't the cause of a nuclear meltdown, so the outside air must be safe." Realizing that she had a point he let out a sigh. "Okay... I guess our next move would be to go and see if anything landed on the roof." Getting back into his leader mode he walked forward towards the double doors. "C'mon! we have no time to lose!" His fellow teammates shared a look of curiosity and quickly followed.

They took the elevator up... up... up... the doors opened and they stepped into the hallway. They started towards the stairwell that lead up to the roof. They turned a corner and halted as they saw a faint flickering light coming out from a certain place, and that was their destination. "Look..." Robin whispered, staring forward. There was an audible clicking noise coming from the top of the stairs. The small group edged closer, bracing themselves and peered into the stairwell. They had no idea how but the door to the roof was unlocked and wide open. The alarm never came on either. Had it somehow reset itself? undeterred by this, Robin cautiously started up the stairs, ready to reach for his belt of weapons if needed. Stafire and Raven trailed closely behind, fully prepared now that their powers had returned. Halfway up the stairs they came to a stop.

The flickering light was coming from beyond the open door.

(MSP) Kevin MacLeod - Blue Sizzle

It was white in color and resembled that of a spotlight. The clicking noise that accompanied it was getting louder. Shielding his eyes, Robin tried to see past the light, but couldn't see anything. Raven extended her awareness several yards ahead of her, and what she found made her cry out in shock. "Wait!" Robin jumped and snapped his head back to her. "What is it Raven?!" Raven had a disturbed look on her face. "I couldn't sense anything on the roof of the tower, not even on a structure level, in other words... that light is floating." With this foreboding knowledge they all glanced back at the unknown light source. It continued to flicker, though it seemed to be getting brighter.

Without warning the light ceased flickering, filling the stairwell with darkness. "Um..." Before Robin could form a sentence, he was instantly cut off by the clicking sound.

The light was now blood red.

It flickered angrily at the intruding Titans. "Aagh!" Robin stumbled back into Stafire, she let out a startled shriek and grabbed onto to Raven. This caused all three Titans to tumble down the stairs, landing in the hallway in a sprawled out heap. Robin quickly scrambled to his feet, just in time to see the door slam itself shut. The loud clicking stopped, leaving the area in total silence. Robin stared up at the door, which was now most likely sealed shut. It suddenly dawned on him that the mysterious light was almost exactly like what they'd seen in one of the informants videos. But just what was it? and where did it come from?

Raven sat up, felling dazed from the fall, her vision focused on Starfire who was staring in a trance like state. "Friends... I am starting to fear... that we are the... prisoners of our own home." She spoke in a very calm, yet haunting voice. Pursing her lips and forcing down a shudder, Raven leaned over and took hold of the tanned aliens arm, slowly pulling her up as she stood.

Robin was at her other side in an instant. "Starfire?" Robin said, she could barley even stand. "Hey, are you sick? Starfire?" He grabbed hold of her arm, draping it across his neck. "Please... make it stop... the light... the horrid light..." Thinking her delirious with fear, he looked towards Raven.

"Lets get her back to her room, whatever that was affected her in someway." Raven agreed and they made there way back, still very much disturbed at what they'd encountered.

(MSP)


The TV screen turns to static before Arny's hooded face appears. "Hey y'all, just to let you know I'm still not back in the studio yet. I got sidetracked by all the disused stuff down here." Arny moves the camera behind over his shoulder. "I came across an area called Sector 7-G and I found this old safety command console that's somehow still active." He looks back to the views. "Anyhow, next up is part eleven. Please review if you have time, and my creator will update real soon, alrighty?