Robin felt his stomach sink at the sight of Terra's empty cell. The force field was off and a half eaten meal was on a tray in the cell. Her power cancellation collar was laying on the floor. Batman picked it up and examined it, before handing it to Robin.
"You lost something." He droned in his own deep monotone.
Robin quickly checked the collar. It was undamaged, meaning it had been unlocked, after Terra's cell was opened. The Boy Wonder frowned.
"This was an inside job … Cyborg, what does the security camera show?"
The tin man began to type at a console. A screen came to life, but only showed static.
"Sorry, Rob, whoever did this covered their tracks, we ain't got nothing."
"How did she get out of the Tower? She didn't just walk out the front door."
Raven pointed at a dark corner. "She dug a tunnel."
Everyone approached the tunnel, which was partially concealed by a bookcase.
"There's only one set of footprints in the tunnel, meaning she left without her accomplice." Raven added. "Meaning that whoever helped her is probably still in the Tower."
"Maybe not." Batman interjected. "While we were down here she had ample time to escape through the front door."
"Cy, does the front door camera still work?" Robin asked.
"That one can't be shut off." Cyborg replied as he typed again. This time there was an image, of the main door seen from the main hallway. The time stamp on the screen showed it was about 10 minutes before.
"The log says that someone opened the front door about ten minutes ago. We should be able to see who it was"
Everyone stared at the screen wondering who it would be. And on cue, she appeared.
"Argent?" Beast Boy said incredulously.
The New Zealander pressed a button and the massive doors opened. She turned around, blew a kiss at the camera, and walked out.
"Why?" Starfire said in a stunned voice. "We have known her for many years. She is an honorary Titan. She is our friend."
"Apparently, you Titans didn't know her as well as you thought." Batman growled.
"Or maybe that wasn't Argent. I know I didn't speak with her at the party, and now that I think of it, she arrived late and mostly kept to herself."
Batman and Brion, who looked angry but said nothing, turned to leave.
"I doubt you will be seeing Markov anytime soon. We'll be leaving now."
-(-)-
Spock was already working on repairing the Galileo, while Man of Steel watched.
"That's interesting technology you have on your ship. Not how it would have been done on Krypton."
Spock continued to work as he replied. "This way has some advantages. It is more efficient and the dilithium crystals last longer."
"Your shuttle can only achieve Warp 5."
"True, but the Enterprise can, for brief periods, attain warp 9."
"Krypton had ships that could reach Warp 14."
Spock looked up. "Interesting. Would you be willing to share that technology?"
"I'm afraid I can't, Mr. Spock … that information was lost with Vulcan's destruction."
"I understand, and you have my gratitude in supplying these components." He said as he closed the nacelle's cowl. "I have completed my repairs."
The lift's doors opened and Batman and his entourage entered the hangar. Superman noticed that the blond troublemaker was not with them.
"What happened to Terra?" Kal-El asked.
"She escaped … we're leaving." Batman said as he walked up the Javelin's ramp.
Superman smiled as he extended his hand to the Vulcan. "Good luck, Mr. Spock."
Spock was about to say that there was no such thing as luck. Instead, he shook the Kryptonian's hand.
"Thank You." He replied, then released Superman's hand and made the Vulcan salute, forming a V with his fingers. "Live long and prosper, Kal-El of Krypton."
Clark smiled and followed the others up the ramp. The Titans, who had followed them to the hangar, watched the Javelin fly away. Robin stared stoically at it until it could no longer be seen.
"How did we mess that up?" Robin asked in a morose tone.
"You are referring to Miss Markov's escape?" Spock inquired.
"Yeah … that … it made us look incompetent to the Justice League."
"I will take that to mean that the Justice League has never had a prisoner escape from them."
"Uh, I wouldn't say that." Cyborg replied.
"It still bothers me." Robin interjected. "It shouldn't have happened."
"But it did happen. What you should do is analyze the situation and create countermeasures to prevent it's recurrence."
"We already know what happened. One of our party guests was an impostor." Raven remarked.
"I was under the impression that at palm scan is required to open any door from the outside." Spock calmly remarked.
"She probably tailgated in with someone." Gar replied.
"Tailgated?"
"Someone else opened the door and she entered with that person." Starfire replied, obviously proud of the fact the she knew the colloquialism.
Cyborg sighed. "I'll get onto changing that right away. It's gonna slow down getting into the Tower. People are gonna complain."
Gar looked at the Galileo. "So, how's your shuttle?"
"It is fully repaired and functional." Spock paused. "Which means that it is time for me to leave."
"Leave?" Starfire squeaked.
-(-)-
The Titans returned to the party and did their best to put on a happy face. Raven and Beast Boy received copious congratulations and gifts, many of which consisted of kitchen appliances, which puzzled them both as Cyborg always kept the kitchen well equipped and Raven still wasn't into cooking and relied on Cyborg culinary skills or ordering pizza to meet her dietary needs. Many gave them gift cards to the local Tattered Cover Bookstore, which she though was a better choice. Towards the end Spock approached them with a large envelope that was covered in gift wrap. He handed it to Raven.
"Vulcans are not known for giving or wrapping gifts, nevertheless I hope you will find this to be gratifying."
Raven looked genuinely curious as her husband said "Go ahead, open it."
She cautiously tore the wrapping off and opened the large manila envelope. She reached inside it and pulled out a photograph. Upon looking at it, both she and Gar softly gasped. It was a picture of a child, about 5 years old. She had gray skin, pointed ears and long green hair. Her nose and forehead were Ravens while her mouth and jaw were definitely the changeling's. She also had Raven's violet eyes and Gar's smile.
"Mr. Spock this is beautiful … I can only hope that our child will be this lovely." Raven whispered.
"Actually, she will be. Using the data I collected when I scanned you and your unborn child and with the assistance of the now functioning computer in the Galileo, I was able to construct this image of your daughter at age 5, which I estimate is 98.976% accurate.
"Dude, are you saying this is what our baby will look like?"
"That is exactly what I am saying, with a confidence level of 98.976%, as I already mentioned."
"Thank you, Mr. Spock … this is a wonderful gift."
"I am gratified that you are pleased."
-(-)-
The next day …
Starfire was in her room, brushing her hair, when there was a knock on her door.
"It is unlocked, you may enter."
The door slid open and Spock entered the Tamaranian's room, It was brightly lit and very … pink, Her bed was circular, which puzzled him with it's impracticality. She turned to look at him. The smile on her face seemed very familiar and Spock remembered a still image, a portrait of his mother when she was a young adult. Their expressions were identical. A coincidence?
"Greetings, grand bumgorph Spock."
"Salutations, grandmother Kori."
Starfire's grin widened. "What may I do for you?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"Please, do the asking."
"I have been attempting to plot a course back to the worm hole, one that will help me avoid Gordanian space as much as possible. Unfortunately that is not feasible. I was wondering if your people could provide me with intelligence reports to avoid Gordanian patrols. I will only need a small window as I am planning on approaching at maximum warp. I would be in Gordanian space for about 24 seconds before entering the wormhole and returning to my time. If the Galileo were faster I could perform a time warping slingshot around the sun, but I cannot increase its top speed and there is 53.656% probability that the Galileo would not survive the maneuver."
"I will speak with Galfore. I am sure we can provide a distraction that will ensure there are no patrols near the worm hole when you approach."
Spock thanked her and left the room.
-(-)-
Later that evening …
Robin reserved a private room at a local Indian restaurant, after Spock and the Changeling agreed that there would be vegetarian fare there that would please them.
Spock was anticipating being surrounded by five boisterous young people, fitting in like a square peg in a round hole. But to his mild surprise they were all subdued. After ordering the room became very quiet, until Gar broke the silence.
"I can't believe you're leaving. I mean, it feels like you just got her. Are you sure you can't stay for a while?"
"My presence here affects the timeline, and the longer I am here the greater the risk of contamination. Even dining in this private room introduces risk as I am exposed to new people, though the risk at this time is negligible."
"You are very worried about the timeline, aren't you?" Robin asked.
"Indeed … one of my greatest concerns is that because of my presence here, that you and Grandmother Kori's futures may have been affected. I won't know the extent of the damage incurred until I return to my timeline."
"You're worried that Star and I will never have a child."
"It is a concern."
"Then do not worry, grand bumgorph Spock, for Robin and I are doing the attempting to conceive!"
The other three Titans did double takes.
"You are? Since when?" Raven asked.
"Please receive my congratulations." Spock replied as the server returned with the appetizers.
"Dude, have a samosa, they're delicious. Even chrome dome likes them, even though they're vegetarian."
The rest of the meal was uneventful. The Titans, their cheer having returned, bantered and ate, and Spock sampled the Indian food, which he found spicy but acceptable. Soon enough it was time to go back to the Tower. Starfire produced a camera on a tripod and set it up.
"We must take the group picture!" She chirped happily.
They lined up, for the shot, with Spock in the middle. Group portraits were another human custom Vulcans didn't care for, though Spock was accustomed to them as his own mother had many taken, including one of the bridge crew before his deployment as first officer on the Enterprise. Starfire had a remote, which she used for taking multiple shots. For some odd reason she favored cameras with film over digital cameras and used Robin's dark room with great expertise and skill. After the photo shoot was complete she packed her gear way and they headed home.
-(-)-
Well, readers, it's time to wind this story down. That said, I promise you a little surprise after Spock gets hom.