Chapter 13
Well, this chapter took so bloody long to upload. Apologies for that, especially as it's a short one, but I've been busy with other stories that just come to me faster than this one. Combined that with college and me thinking up new ideas for stories, there's just hasn't been much time for this story. Hopefully, the sequel won't take as long to upload, but I won't hold my breath on that.
Titan's tower
Rooftop
"So who is the league member that's coming here? Anyone got ideas?" Asked Beast boy as everyone watched a slim, but functional, black jet began its slow descent.
"I know who it is." Said Robin with narrowed eyes. He knew only one league member used that jet. And it was something that he didn't want to meet. Not yet anyway.
Upon its landing, the cockpit door opened up, revealing the occupant. A man with a set of black armor with a cape and cowl. The cowl having ears in the shape of a bat. Upon seeing the occupant, Beast Boy gasped.
"It's Batman!" Yelled Beast Boy with childlike awe as Batman walked closer to the Titans, Argent, and the Decepticons. "The actual Batman!"
"Who is this Batman?" Asked Starfire, looking at everyone with confusion. Being an alien, Starfire didn't have much knowledge of Earth heroes aside from the bare minimum. She didn't know much about Batman.
"He's the only founding member of the Justice League that doesn't have superpowers." Whispered Cyborg as Batman got closer. "He's also their main source of funding along with Green Arrow and government."
"And he looks so cool!" Yelled Beast Boy as he smiled at Batman, who stayed stoic to the fanboying around him. Ignoring Beast Boy, Batman looked at Robin, who narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. Staring at Robin for a moment, he then looked at Soundwave and Barricade, who were staying still like a private ready to be chewed on by a drill sergeant.
"So this is the new Cybertronian?" Asked Batman, looking a bit at Barricade, who nodded.
"This is Soundwave. One of Megatron's most loyal followers. He's also a formidable warrior that can prove to be an invaluable asset to our crusade against criminals and corruption." Said Barricade, treating Batman with respect. Soundwave, having read reports of Batman, could see why.
Batman, a man that fought hard against the corruption and criminal underworld of Gotham, known for being filled with various supervillains and criminals within its borders. Though he disapproved of Batman not killing them, especially the ones that kept escaping from prison and causing more harm, he couldn't help but respect his resolve. It was…admirable.
"I see." Said Batman in a gruff voice, looking at Soundwave, not giving away anything. "I expect you to not cause trouble for us."
"I won't. I simply wish to go back to my own home." Said Soundwave. "Until then, I will assist you in bringing the criminal elements here to justice." Batman stayed silent as he looked at Soundwave, staring him down. After a minute, he looked at Robin.
"I heard about what happened in Jump City. A group of Cybertronians had caused substantial damage here. Where are they?" Asked Batman.
"Currently being detained by the Jump City police force. They got them under lock and key, though we appreciate you taking them away from here." Said Robin, stiff and glaring at Batman, something that caught the eye of everyone around him.
"Understood. Superman and Green Lantern are arriving to send them to a special containment cell in space." Said Batman, causing Beast Boy to squeal. He not only gets to meet Batman but also Green Lantern and Superman. This was a dream come true.
"Good." Said Robin, glaring at Batman. "Now you can leave."
"Not yet, Robin." Said Batman before turning to Soundwave and Barricade. "I need to determine if he's safe to be here in Jump City. Barricade went through something similar before we let him on his own with Argent." Soundwave, a little annoyed with such a procedure, nonetheless nodded.
"If it will allow me to continue my career as a…hero." Said Soundwave. Batman just stayed stoic and went inside, motioning Soundwave and Barricade to follow him. Following the Dark knight, Soundwave and Barricade left everyone else on the roof, somewhat concerned that Soundwave will be taken away from Jump City.
The Titans didn't want that. Even though he was still mysterious, refusing to give much background on his species until just recently, he was still a good person in heart, something Raven can attest to. They silently hoped that things will turn out alright for everyone.
Soundwave
"I can assume this procedure involves keeping some things from the Titans." Said Soundwave as the three entered an interrogation room in the tower when the Titans needed to interrogate criminals themselves.
"Yes." Said Batman as he turned off all cameras and recording devices in the room, including the ones that were hidden. He then turned towards Barricade and Soundwave before speaking. "Barricade told the league everything about your war, how it destroyed your planet and your leader. As well as your level of involvement in it." He then narrowed his eyes. "You helped Megatron as he brought your planet to the state that it is, never once questioning his intentions or if you're on the wrong side of the war once he turned entire cities to molten metal and slag. Not only that but you also deliberately helped him achieve this. With all that in mind, why should we permit you to stay on Earth?"
Soundwave just stayed silent, looking at Barricade, who motioned for him to say something. He knew something like this would happen. Given his history serving Megatron faithfully for so long, never questioning his orders or his intentions in the slightest during the long course of the war between Decepticons and Autobots, he figured that the league wouldn't like it that he would be working on Earth. Some probably even deduced he's only doing this hero work so they can get off his back while he finds a way to get back home. And he knew that lying or speaking a half-truth would not help him in any shape or way. This human known as Batman was just too smart to be tricked. And Barricade no doubt told them everything about him prior to him meeting Soundwave, perhaps even prior to him knowing that he was even in this dimension. As a result, Soundwave had no choice but to tell the whole truth.
"I will not deny that my leader has done many questionable things over the course of our war." Said Soundwave. "But they were done so because of the corruption and decadence coursing through our society. Innocents were being oppressed by the rich and were unable to get out of their economic hardships, barely able to sustain themselves and their families. Megatron, during the initial stages of the war at least, had the best of intentions in mind when he made his war. I stayed loyal to him to the end because it was better than the alternative and because it would be shameful to betray a friend that only wished to make life better for all our kind." Batman stayed silent as he processed this.
"There's a fine difference between loyalty and being someone's attack dog." Said Batman. "Many wars have also been fought with the best intentions in mind for a people, only to end up making things either worse for them or some other groups of people. If your leader was the great person you make him out to be, he should have realized what was going on and called the truce with the Autobots. Barricade explained that their leader would have been open to negotiations and has been former friends with your leader prior to the war." Soundwave looked at Barricade, who nodded in confirmation. Annoyed at Barricade for this, Soundwave nonetheless explained Megatron's reasoning.
"To Megatron, Optimus Prime had now become an agent of a system that had oppressed the grand majority of our people. He was defending and safeguarding the very system that he and Megatron tried so hard to change. To Megatron, Optimus has become part of the problem and so must be purged along with those that followed him." Said Soundwave, knowing that this wasn't completely true. At least, not anymore. Batman, hearing all that, stared at Soundwave before continuing on with his questioning.
"Your record on Earth so far is spotless." Said Batman. "You've helped the Teen Titans with dealing with low-level criminals, even helping them deal with this Slade and that Combiner of yours. While it may seem, you've done this out of the kindness of your heart, there's the possibility you only did this to ease suspicion away from you. To hide your true intentions from us until it was too late." Soundwave had to admit, this human was smart and logical. Paranoid, but smart and logical.
"A logical assumption on your part, but know that I have no intentions of committing any illegal actions against your world. Except for the vigilante portion of my actions." Said Soundwave. "I merely wish to return to the universe that I originate from. I merely helped the Titans both because I despise the guilty from escaping justice and in order to garner trust with the Justice League and the other heroes of this world. I don't desire to conquer this world or work with the criminal elements of this world. That is all." Batman starred at Soundwave, processing all that information, before looking over at Barricade, who then replied.
"Soundwave maybe Megatron's most loyal warrior, but he's also an honest Cybertronian." Said Barricade. "While his methods are much more radical and violent compared to the League, the end goals are still the same. Protection of the innocent and inflicting harm to those that harm said innocent. Trust me, Batman, he can be trusted to protect the innocent. Besides, according to the police in Jump City, no criminals were killed by the Teen Titans or Soundwave. So, at the very least, we can trust Soundwave to allow the justice system here to do their job." Batman still stayed silent, causing Barricade to speak up. "If it helps, I can stay here in Jump City in order to help the Teen Titans in monitoring Soundwave until he's received the trust of the Justice League. New Zealand is relatively safe enough that we can leave it for an extended period of time." Seeing that Batman was still silent, Barricade sighed. "Batman, if I must, I vouch for Soundwave and his sincerity to help us until he gets back to his own home and I swear to answer of whatever Soundwave does that the League frowns upon or believes needs to confront about." Batman, hearing all this, continued to stay silent for a few more minutes before speaking.
"Very well." Said Batman before turning towards Soundwave. "Soundwave, you're free to continue to your vigilante ventures in Jump City with the Teen Titans. Barricade and Argent will be your observers until the League has determined that your free to be on your own." Soundwave nodded slightly at that, pleased. Barricade was someone he can reliably trust to not interfere in what he deems is necessary, even if he disagrees with his choices. And this Argent should not be a problem either. If she is with a Decepticon, even one such as Barricade, then she was fine with getting her hands dirty. And if she wasn't, then too bad for her.
"You won't regret this, sir." Said Barricade. Batman just stayed silent at that before leaving the room. Once he was gone, Barricade looked at Soundwave and spoke. "I trust that you won't make me a liar, Soundwave. The league is not someone that you wish to have as an enemy." Soundwave just nodded at that.
"I assure you, Barricade, that I have no desire to become an enemy of the league." Said Soundwave. "I merely wish to return back to the side of our master. Nothing more." Barricade just grunted at that before walking outside with Soundwave in tow, knowing that he was telling the truth. Once the two of them were outside, they would tell the Titans the news and they'll all be living normally from now on. At least, as normally as they possibly can.
Meanwhile
Slade
After recovering from his battle with the Titans and their allies, Slade was sitting silently in one of his hidden bases, used whenever he needed to remain hidden from anyone that was looking for him. It was here that he was contemplating his failure in acquiring an apprentice for himself as well as what to do next now that he failed in acquiring Robin for himself. With him out of the question and now with the League taking away his strongest asset, Slade had to readjust his future plans.
First things first, acquire a new target to be his apprentice. Much as the other Titans were more powerful than Robin in terms of powers, they lacked his drive. His will to fight on against the odds. And, perhaps most importantly, his tactical mind. All of which are far more important to him, than some special meta-human powers. They were the traits that Slade needed if he wanted to advance in life. Traits he needed to advance his plans further than ever before. However, now thinking about it. Perhaps it was because of those traits that he failed to acquire Robin along with something that, as much as he disliked to admit it, miscalculated on.
Sure, Soundwave had caused his initial insurance policies to fail, but perhaps it wouldn't have been successful in the first place. His tactical mind would try to find a way to get out of his forced apprenticeship with him, helped by his stubborn nature. And then there was the thing that he miscalculated on. Robin's moral compass. He was trained and taught by the greatest, non-superpowered hero in the world, Batman, who was known by nearly everyone in the criminal underworld as a strong man with a strong sense of justice. He would have no doubt taught Robin this same code of justice as well as teach him the necessary things he needed to remain firm in the face of any type of adversity, which was something that Slade admired, no doubt on that, but he may have underestimated the extent of that training as well as Robin's stubborn nature.
So, with those in mind, Slade realized that, in order to acquire an apprentice, he needed an easier to manipulate individual. One that is in need of guidance. And one that had something that can compensate for the lack of traits he wanted.
Silently brooding to himself, Slade wondered how long such an individual will pop out for him to exploit. It'll perhaps take months, even years for them to show up, but when they do, he'll be ready to pounce on them and take them as his own.
So before I end this chapter, may request some title suggestions for the sequel to this story. I'm not exactly the most creative when it comes to making names, so if I can get some help for the title for the sequel, it'll be appreciated. I'll be either picking the one I think is the best one or making a poll that'll have people decide on which one to do, but it'll likely be the former due to my past experiences with the poll system on this site. Anyway, that is all.
