Robin, Blue Beetle, Wonder Girl, and Miss Martian had what they called, the most boring evening of their lives. It would seem that Mammoth and Gizmo weren't even causing any trouble. Judging by their orange uniforms, they were doing community service, picking up every piece of litter around the park.
"What in the actual F?" Blue Beetle was fully armed and ready, and it was all for nothing, he muttered a few swear words in Spanish.
"Language!" Robin glared at his companion, still gobsmacked by the sight.
"Hey!" Gizmo shouted to the group, "Can't you see we're doing a job?"
"Jeez, sorry for being surprised at you doing community service." Jaime shrugged, earning a scoff from the little man.
"Let's go team." Tim commanded, all walking away from the two grumpy villains.
"So much for being a talented detective."
"Shut it."
Their banter would be interuppted by the sudden appearence of a small alien ship in the skies, hovering above Titans Tower.
"Guess there's a sliver lining afterall." Robin smirked, knowing this was a chance to prove he could be a reliable leader.
"Titans Go!" And so the group headed towards the tower, ready for whatever came ahead.
The ship continued to overlook the city, with no indication of it posing a threat. It simply hovered in the air, it's passengers silently observing.
"The tracking device is emitting from this city Sir." A wolf like hybrid called out to his commander, who looked down on the city with disgust.
This lizard hybrid seemed to be the leader, donning a black suit of cybernetic armour, a scar was present under his left eye, amplifying his intimidating look.
"Good." The Commander said, "We can request to whoever these "Titans" are to subdue our fugitive."
"Sir?" A female voice called from behind. She was a hybrid, with a cat like appearance, she wore a high ranking officer vest.
"If we're to ensure our target's capture, it is only right to leave a few details out." A sly grin formed on the Commander's face, his many sharp teeth resembled that of a dragon.
The young Titans made it to their home, all moving to the rooftop with haste. They all stared at the ship in awe, the crimson red seemed to glow, with blue lightstreams across the exterior. The ship began to descend, carefully landing on the tower without damaging anything.
"Let's not jump the gun team." Robin warned the group, who nodded as the bottom of the ship began to open.
Standing before them was a lizard like humanoid, his guardsmen completely obscured in black metallic armour, hiding their faces.
"Do not be alarmed." The lizard spoke with a kind tone. "We mean no harm."
Jaime gave a dry chuckle, "Haha, the guy made a rhyme- Ow!" Wonder Girl elbowed him, placing a finger over her mouth.
"What brings you here?" Tim asked, noting how well armed the guardsmen were.
"Straight to the point. My name is Praxis, and we're on the hunt for a dangerous fugitive who has escaped our custody, and believe he is somewhere in this sector." Praxis kept a straight face as he spoke, the way his tongue moved made Miss Martian shiver.
"Do you have any images of the fugitive?" The Boy Wonder gave another question, unsure of what to make of the strange alien before him.
Praxis took out a drone of some kind, showing their escapee fighting off several guards before dashing off into the escape pod. Robin analysed the footage, noting how the being beared a similarity in terms of hybrid like features.
"How dangerous is this individual?" Tim added another question.
"Dangerous enough that he poses a threat to both your world, and mine." Praxis said, putting his arms behind him.
"Come on Robin! I say this is a good chance to impress our predeccessors." Blue Beetle exclaimed, jumping at the thought of a new opportunity.
"Yeah." Wonder Girl added, "This is our time to shine!" The only person who didn't voice their opinion was Miss Martian.
She knew something was off with this Praxis. Why would he request their help, when his guardsmen were clearly fit for the task?
"Alright. . . We'll help you catch this guy." Robin cautiously accepted, "Any idea of where he could be?" He asked one last question.
"The tracking device doesn't pinpoint his exact location, only a proximety." Praxis showed them a large red colured circle on the layout of Jump City, indicating somewhere in the north.
"He's most likely hiding inside a S.T.A.R Labs facility in the proximity zone." Robin narrowed his eyes on the map, knowing that they were already on a head start.
"You are more likely to have access to the area than us." Praxis gestured to his guardsmen, "I'm sure you understand the circumstances." His sly smile did not go unnoticed by Miss Martian, more than certain that he was leaving a detail or two out.
"Alright. We'll ensure he's stopped before he hurts anyone." Robin stretched out his hand to shake, with the Commander firmly grabbing it.
"We appreciate your assistance. Once we've got him in custody, we'll take our leave, you have my word." Praxis politely bowed, before walking away back into his ship, followed by his two guards.
The ship powered up, the sound of a cloaking device caused it to vanish in a snap, leaving the new Titans with a new objective.
"Ready to catch an alien fugitive?" Robin asked the obvious question, seeing the group eager to get going.
"For real this time, Titans Go!"
Jump City S.T.A.R Labs Facility - Seventeen Years Ago. . .
Doctor Alice Black didn't just work for S.T.A.R Labs, she was the head researcher in advanced exo-suit development. On the outside, she was just a socially awkward young woman. But inside, she was something beyond normal.
She was in fact a low level metahuman, one with a high metalbolism, amplified senses, and what many would consider as unnatural agility. As a scientist, she devoted herself to creating a suit that would benefit low level metahumans such as herself. With the help from her human partner John Miller, together they created the Star suit, designed for heavy duty rescue.
Alice fell pregnant with John's baby, the mix of metahuman and human DNA would inadvertadly create a hybrid, though the possibilities of it sharing certain abilities was uncertain.
With the success of the Star rescue suit, and the upcoming arrival of her baby, Alice couldn't be happier. John on the other hand however became jealous, annoyed that she recieved the credit for creating the suit, where as he did not. Only designing the way the suit would act like a second skin, Miller convinced himself that he developed all of it.
Alice developed the flight capabilities, the strength enhancements and the nano technology that served as a healing property, enabling the user to heal themselves and others at a fast rate. Fueled by pure jealousy, John attempted to murder Alice and her unborn child by ramming her car with his own whilst she was on her way to the facility.
Miller was arrested for attempted murder, and Alice was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Knowing that she may not survive, she begged the doctors to save her child.
"Please. . . save my. . . Kai. . ." She reached out to the surrounding surgeons, they could only nod as they watched Alice slowly fade. So they began to act with haste, using the neccessary tools to cut the baby out of her.
The last thing she heard before passing on, was her child crying. A sigh of relief came from her, which also became her last breath. John Miller was charged with vehicular manslaughter, sentenced to over fourty years in prison, with no parole. He took his own life after discovering that his child survived, knowing Alice had written in her will that the child would inherit everything, including the information of the Star suit.
Kai Black would be informed of his biological family via an e-mail by a Doctor Luke Thomas, a man who would represent Alice on her behalf. He would ultimately become Alice's successor, crediting her as the founder of Blackstar, a division honoring both her and the Star suit she created. Before Kai's dissapearence, they exchanged e-mails, both expressing their wish to meet each other, in the hopes that Kai would follow in his mother's footsteps.
Jump City S.T.A.R Labs Facility - Present Time.
The facility was open to visitors, from 7AM to 10PM. This gave Kai the opportunity to contact Luke Thomas, and perhaps find a way to reverse the transformation caused by the alien splicers. Despite the awkward stares from several scientists, tourists, and security guards, Kai walked towards to the receptionist, with the intent of meeting Doctor Thomas.
The young lady before him turned to face him, a little gasp escaped her mouth as she looked at the hybrid up and down.
"C-C-Can I help you Sir?" She stuttered out, doing her best to keep eye contact.
"Yes." Kai politely spoke, "I wish to meet Doctor Luke Thomas, my name is Kai Black."
Surprised by his mannerisms despite his appearance, the receptionist grabbed the telephone, punching in the number for Luke. After a few seconds, there was already an answer.
"Doctor Thomas speaking."
"Sir there is a Kai Black here to see you?"
"Kai?! Send him to my lab right away!" Luke couldn't contain the excitement in his voice, Kai could pick up the sound with his ears, smiling at the doctor's pleasant reaction.
"Of course Sir." The receptionist acknowledged before hanging up the phone, turning her attention the smiling individual. "Doctor Thomas is waiting for you in Lab A. Would you like security to escort you?"
Kai nodded, "I appreciate your help Ma'am." He winked at her, causing her to blush.
"Polite and a charmer. . ." She signalled two security guards to approach Kai. "Would you two escort Mr Black here to Lab A to meet Doctor Thomas?" She asked.
The guards nodded, gesturing the hybrid to follow them. "Just follow us Sir."
Kai eagerly followed, smiling at the chance to meet his Mother's successor, and hopefully find the answers he was looking for. Little did he know that he was being watched from afar. The Titans caught a glimpse of the supposed fugitive.
"Something's off about this." Robin said as he looked through a pair of binoculars, watching the hybrid being escorted away.
"You think that Praxis dude was lying to us about this guy?" Blue Beetle asked, looking at the size of the facility.
Miss Martian interjected, "He doesn't seem that much of a threat. If he's supposed to be an escaped prisoner, then why go to S.T.A.R Labs?"
"Now that you mention it, Praxis didn't give many details about this guy." Wonder Girl added quietly.
Robin placed his binoculars away into his utility belt. "I say we follow him, see why Praxis wants him so bad." He said, earning nods from the group.
"If Praxis is indeed withholding the neccessary info, then we'll need to confront him before handing the fugitive over." And so the group made their way towards the facility, with the intention of questioning the supposed escapee.
Little did either party know, that they were about to be played against each other. All while Praxis silently observed from his ship.
End of Chapter III: Origins
Author's Notes:
As requested, I've dedicated this chapter to explain Kai's background, as well as adding detail to his link with Metahumans through his mother. Next chapter will bring in the Star suit, a fight with the new Titans, and Praxis's newfound objective.