Beyond the Titans

Issue #3: Let's get started

By Alphafemale1

Summary:

Titans! Go! When old Titans, in the year 2037, are going missing or being murdered. It's up to their children to solve the mystery of what's happening to their parents. With questions, friendship, and action to be had. There's a little bit of something for everyone in store as we follow our new titans into their adventure of discovering who they were meant to be as well as each other. Rated T for Language, Violence, and some sexual themes.

Last time on Beyond Titans:

"My mom… she… died for me…?"

Douglas only looked back and smiled, "You'd be surprised what I can teach you in only a day."

"Batman called me before we got here, there might be someone looking for revenge for what you did a month ago. I know that it's hard to think about but-"

"I figured it would happen," Markus looked down and crossed his arms.

"I thought the Royal Flush Gang was in prison", he remarked looking through the wreckage.

"There looks like there was a struggle..."

"Then one day, they just finally looked into each other's eyes and they knew… 15 months later they had me."

"Oh, your parents' dated for 6 months before having you?"

"No that's how long the pregnancy was."

"Call me Robin."

Crowds of people moving from one place to another. Like speeding cars over a virtual highway, they didn't seem to have time for the sun beaming down on them all. Their clothes looked strange to her with so many metal patches on them or how they spoke over the phone with people like they weren't there, to begin with.

Despite, Wren's advancements in her studies with Dr. Fate and her father over the past few weeks… this world she was stepping into with crowd of people and a lack of greenery was still so cold and off-putting. It felt so detached from the nature filled hills of Tibet that it was hard to comprehend that this was even the same dimension let alone the same earth that they all shared. She stepped through the doors for the school only to be greeted by the unfamiliar girl standing next to her in the mirror.

Her blond hid one eye while at the same time covering her gem from sight. She had been wearing clothes she was sure she wouldn't have warned on a daily basis. Her shoulders bare for everyone to see while the next was consumed by the cloth of her shirt's collar. Her pants seemed like the only thing that she would normally wear but even that seemed odd in comparison to her usual ones which were much less constricting.

Looking at this vision, she contemplated to herself, 'This is all so new for me... Am I ready?' She had to adapt quickly after everything that she had learned. Wren couldn't make it all go to waste… not now not-

"Hey there", greeted a voice next to Wren. She looked over to the side only to see another girl. Her bright blue eyes beaming with joy inside their irises. Wren jumped in surprise taking a few steps back from the student in front of her. "Oh sorry, I just haven't seen you around before. Are you new", the stranger greeted.

Wren hesitated slightly and took a deep breath taking this new person up and down. The dark brown of her hair shined like rivers against the sun conflicting with her pale freckled face. The blonde nodded slightly to her, acknowledging everything she observed before speaking, "Well… you see… I just kinda moved here from a ways away."

"Oh cool", the stranger replied, "My name is Jen, let me show you around."

The new kid just smiled awkwardly and walked with Jen as she gestured to every crevice of the school. Wren had never seen such diversity that came with the numbers of such a small space. Her violet orbs glanced around only to stop at a dark-skinned football player through the window. "Who's that", she asked turning to her new friend.

Jen practically drooled on her shirt at the sight of the green-eyed classmate through the shield of glass, "Only one of the hottest guys in Gotham High! Markus Stone-Andier." Wren only looked unimpressed at the swooning as she simply admired his athletic abilities. "He's the Offensive Guard on the team. Though he's also in a bunch of other sports: track, gymnastics, stuff like that."

Wren was still unimpressed by the dreamy expression that Jen had but nodded as she continued to listen. "Is he nice?"

"Nicest guy you could ever talk to around here", Jen replied with a big smile, guiding to through the halls. "He puts everyone before himself, he even volunteered to tutor this one really grumpy chick that's in my class. Total loner."

Wren nodded again, seeming more interested now that her guide in this new world wasn't overcome by hormones, "Oh really?"

Jen nodded as she put a pencil behind her ear, "Yeah, she stays by herself mostly but ever since last week, she's been hanging around Markus a lot. Honestly..." She trailed off looking from side to side, blue eyes scanning every corner as her lips kept a secret before reaching close to the little bird's ear, "I think she's just putting up a front because she watches too much anime."

The blond's face scrunched up in confusion, "Anime?"

The acquaintance gave a quick nod, "Yeah, a real tsundere type. She probably actually likes him a lot and is just hiding how she really feels. So really when she says that she doesn't like him. She totally does."

The tinge of fear crossed her face when the words moved through the air, "That sounds absolutely terrifying…"

"Oh don't worry, until he catches up, she'll probably just hit him a lot."

"Is… is that… normal?"

"Yeah, absolutely. I can show you a few different shows that have that trope at my place", Jen smiled. Wren only stood there scared as the brunette smiled joyfully. The outside world is strange… Was this something that she was to understand as normal? The confusion only grew the more she spoke with Jen, talking about animes, fanart, and the like.

Surely there was more to this city than such… barbaric notions.

The city lights were bright as ever with the world moving and turning without a care in the world. Nigel Gonzalez had been minding his business off the job, ready to call it a night in the slums. His ears perked at the sensation of shuffling in the distance. "Who's there", he called out holding his laser pistol. The heavy air weighs down his arms with fear as his eyes scan the sidewalk carefully. More sounds coming from the left and the right like ghosts from a distant past coming to haunt him.

Miscellaneous trash tiptoed across the cement sidewalks in whispering notes. Nigel took a few deep breaths once more before putting his gun away. Just the wind. He was getting too worked up over-

WHACK!

"OOF", exclaimed Nigel.

"Gonzalez", a voice bellowed through the alleyway that Nigel had neglected, "You have some explaining to do." Nigel only groaned before receiving a strong kick to the stomach. "Now let's talk about that little-unauthorized credit withdraw that you so graciously decided to take for yourself."

Nigel reaches out to the others but they only gift more kicks from different directions. "Oof, I'm… not an Oof… thief..."

"Gentleman", said a voice from above the group, "Good to see you out and about." A swift kick in the darkness makes one of the thugs disappear from the group's eyes. "I've got a bit of business with Mr. Gonzalez." Another kick before an electric stream flows rigidly through another unsuspecting victim. The light for a split second shows a smaller figure glaring at the two people left standing before disappearing once more.

"Where are ya, Bat", exclaimed the leader.

"You should be more worried about me", said a whisper in the corner behind him. Nigel could only gasp as the man in front of him was so taken down by the electrical wave. His nerves found no comfort in the white eyes that glared at him in the night before a gust of wind shows up behind him.

"Let's talk", Batman said in a slightly gravelly voice.

Nigel backed up from the Black clad man only to find a younger girl behind him in green and red, "I thought Robins didn't come with the bat anymore."

"I really don't think we have time for this, Gonzalez", Robin said as she crossed her arms, "Where is Falconi?"

"I…I don't know what you're talking about", the target hesitated as he backed himself against the wall of the alley.

"Bull", replied Robin pressing the buttons on her gloves, which released a hologram of the older man in question, "Falcone put you in charge of the district accounting for this sector which means you have to know something."

"Listen, I just make the books and cook them when I want something a bit more for my wages. I don't know where the guy- OOof."

Batman glares menacingly into the man's eyes with a straight face giving nothing but anger, "I said talk."

"I don't know where he is! All I know is that he makes at least 4,000 credit deposits into a club, called the Classic, every Wednesday. I-I swear that's all I know", Nigel panicked with fear in his eyes. The last thing he saw for the night were those white blank eyes before being consumed by black.

With a sigh, Terry looked at Marsha sharply, "This is a lot deeper than I thought."

"The evidence shows that the Royal Flush Gang has a new replacement for these ongoing operations", stated Bruce through both their communicators. "Their pattern though is all over the place. These new Royals seem to do everything from high tech robbery to arms deals-"

"To assassinations", Marsha interrupted looking through the computer on her cuffs.

"Easy, kid", Terry said with a glare, "We're closing on the people who took them out." The younger girl glared before turning her eyes to the floor of the alley. He takes a deep breath before glaring down, "Falconi will be at the Classic tonight then."

"If you haven't already missed him", responded Bruce, "Intel from security cameras all over Gotham says that his reported car isn't anywhere nearby that area. Even so, it's too dangerous for you to go in alone."

Robin looked at Batman with a glare, almost as if glaring at Bruce herself, "What do you mean alone?"

"You're too raw to go in with him and you'll have to wait", said the voice through their earbuds. "Besides, you're going to need the rest for tomorrow. You have actual school work that needs to be done."

"Are you kidding me", she fumed.

"Robin", Terry said firmly grabbing onto her shoulder, "I know this is hard to believe but you're too green for being this far in. I know you want revenge but-"

"Oh don't talk to me about that hypocritical bull", she argued. "You told me once that we were the same because both our dads were taken out beyond our means. You got revenge on yours. Why aren't you letting me do the same?"

"I...", the latest Batman hesitated before he could give her a plain answer. This was something that she needed to do. He knew that probably better than anyone, but after all the horror stories he had heard… from Commissioner Gordon, from Dick Grayson, from Bruce himself… he didn't want that life for her. Not this young… Terry sighed and took a moment to look down into those blocked off eyes that somehow showed the sadness in her orbs. On the other hand... "Look you need to cool off and the best way to do that is to patrol."

Robin grumbled under her breath getting out her grappling hook, "Fine, don't answer me."

"For now, we're splitting up", Batman said flying up to the rooftops with Robin. "I'll take the eastside, you take West. We'll rendezvous back to the plane in half an hour." Robin looked out as one of her mentors moved off flying from rooftop to rooftop, before looking down at her holograms.

The wind blowing around her as the cape flapped with each gust passing by. Each bit of tech analyzing and modeling around the plans coursing through her head. She had half an hour, right? She smirked for a moment.

She could make this in ten.

Virgil was looking through his files with vigor as he could see the progress report videos that Markus had sent. The kid was persistent, he had to give him that. This was all good information but the more he watched through each file and trail… the more he could see the ordeal he was putting on himself. He was starting to enjoy his fist hitting harshly against the guard's face.

There was almost a smirk through the glass…

'Kid', he thought to himself, 'You need to get out while you still can...'

The veteran glanced over to the pictures on the wall, each one a different memory connected to it. From when the Justice League came back together to recruiting Markus…. Though he had to admit, that he missed the old paper feel against his ungloved hands. The smooth polish of the keyboard was really doing him no favors. He took another swig of coffee for the long road of office work and mentoring.

Suddenly a beep on the screen shows up, a familiar, masked face looking back at him on the screen. He could swear if they still had satellites, he could get the pay-per-view channels, "What's going on, kiddo?"

"What do you have on that side project of yours", Batman asked in his usual serious tone.

"Well", Static started, "We know that there are a lot of branches to this web. Our agent has gotten into the main enforcing group but the info tells us we might be working with a syndicate."

Batman groaned, "Great… just another thing that we have to worry about. Doomsday is still out there, Changeling is missing, Drake's dead-"

"Speaking of Timmy, how's the baby bird", Static questioned. "Heard she's a bit of a spitfire."

This time Bruce stepped in through the communicator, "She's green but admittedly learning quickly. I think it's more important to look into that syndicate."

Static shook his head and looked over the files through the screen. The cold steel and plastic are swiped and pressed against his fingertips, "What we know is that the main contact is the leader of the Royal Flush Gang, King." Batman can see on his screens so close to his eyes as he patrolled the streets the picture of the latest King. He was around the same age as the former King that he had seen but there was a different air about him. He didn't feel like a leader based on these files. More like a pawn in this game of chess than a deck of cards.

"Any clues on who's the real head of the operation", said Batman to his older colleagues. "Because all I'm seeing is a new group showing up in the city with no answers and no way to stop it."

Static's eyes widened a little, "Woah Woah, slow down now. Where is this attitude coming from?"

"He's never had a Robin before and he doesn't know how to properly train her", answered Bruce for Terry.

Terry could only growl through the suit as he kept going back and forth between the League files and the tracker he made sure to leave on Marsha. She's going towards Falconi's place now. That was no surprise, "I'm stressed because someone in our League is MIA, an enemy we have no idea how to fight without Superman is around and I'm trying to make sure my new sidekick isn't getting in the way of the investigation. Forgive me if I'm testy. To add on to that, Robin is going on her own to The Classic."

Bruce sighed petting Ace on the head as he took another drink, "What did you expect? You left her alone."

Terry was about to answer back before Static interjected, "Let her make her piece, she won't get hurt too bad from what Bruce has shown me so far. Besides, you have the tracker on her. Keep an eye out and be close by just in case."

"There's only so much you can do, Terry", Bruce added. "With any of the Robins' you have to let them act on their own, so they can learn who they are. Just don't let her get too far." Terry could only let out a sigh in response. His scanners leading to his new protege in a not-so-far distance from their original venture point. His black suit standing out against the blue and white exterior of most of the buildings, before his cloaking activated.

She better not have done anything stupid.

Music plays in the background with clinking glasses ringing around the bar. It wasn't like the new nightclubs that were pulling in more business from the younger crowds, but he liked to hang around here all the same. It reminded him of the bars his father used to run. Falcone smirked slightly as the taste of brandy with a nostalgic burning.

Older rich men with their younger side pieces laughed and drank on red velvet couches. Chandeliers shined down around the dancefloor. The Classic truly was a time capsule to what could be thought of as a different era. He stepped through a pair of hidden curtains to a winding staircase hidden behind projector screens. This was a nice little time away from work, though there was always business to be had.

His guard reached for the door with his big hands, but then… there was resistance from the door. The guard pushed but still, there was a mass in front of the barrier. After shoving and pushing they could see the bodies on floor, unconscious or tied up. A pair of glowing eyes in the darkness glaring at the group of men. The sound of laser guns getting cocked echoed through the room before Falcone spoke, "What does the Batman want to do with me?"

"Not Batman, just Robin", she answered smirking through the dark. She stepped into the light with a glare at Falcone, "What can you tell me about the Royal Flush Gang?"

Silence…

"You're joking, right", ridiculed Falcone. "I thought Robins stayed with the Dark Knight."

Robin let out a hiss under her breath as her eyes continued to sharpen at the three men in front of her. "I do just fine on my own."

Falcone chuckled and put his own pistol away in his coat, "What do you want to know about the Royal Flush Gang?"

"Everything. From what they had for breakfast to where they are", she demanded to hold onto her bo staff in a defensive position.

Falcone nodded and lit a cigar calmly as he watched every movement, "Top draw on the right of the desk." Robin, without much forethought, rushed to the desk and held the key to open it but stopped for a moment to look at the man in front of her.

"How do I know this isn't a trick", she asked hovering a thumb over one of the tazing features on her staff.

"You'll never know until you take the risk", he responded. The smoke veiled his face but framed around his daring eyes. Robin looked down at her hands and looked back into his eyes, they wanted her to open the drawer. The still air around them became heated with the challenge. A robin under the careful watch of a hungry falcon.

Robin took a deep breath, "I think I'm smart enough not to leap before I look." She carefully lets go of the key before looking at Falcone strictly.

Falcone's smirk turned down to a frown as he took another puff of smoke into his lungs. "How disappointing. I thought that you'd be more fun", he stated, "Kill her." A barrage of lasers came at Robin with an intensity. Her body flipped and dodged the spray as much as she could. On getting far too close to her cheek before she took cover under the desk.

'Take a breath. Just like you practiced', she mused. One hand still firmly grasping on the bo staff; the other shambles in the utility belt for the Robin Shurikens. Her hand launches the shurikens at the guns causing them to malfunction. As the shrapnel fell, Robin flipped in the air and shocked both guards with her staff. Only to be hit by another laser gun from Falconi, she crashes the screens causing a ruckus downstairs.

"Thought you were going to be a lot more fun, Robin", Falcone mocked, cocking his fun again.

"You haven't seen everything yet, Falcone", Robin responded before taking out a smoke pellet and overcoming the ground floor with smoke.

Falcone looks all around to see the little bird, but she's nowhere to be found. He curses under his breath, his eyes squinting to find the girl every which way he could but there were only-

Whoosh!

What was that?!

Whoosh!

There it was again.

The building goes dark as the guests scatter away from the dark towards the light of the outside world. Falcone stood alone slightly panicked and fearful as he still had his gun firmly in his grip. "Come on out you… you", he hesitated, trying to listen for her footsteps but only silence until-

"Hello Falcone", said a male voice from behind him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he slowly turned to meet a red bat symbol in his face. A strong punch passed his face as Batman continued to push him back to the wall. "I believe that you owe my Robin an answer", he growled, his eyes hidden away from view only to have Falcone look at his scared face in the reflection.

"I ain't telling you anything", he managed to spit out still shaking under the Dark Knight's grip. Suddenly the sound of electricity flashing buzzed too close to his ear, "You think I can talk?! I have a business to run."

"A business you might like to keep going right, Falcone", Batman responded.

"Would be a shame if someone were to give the Police all the evidence to bring down the Falcone Dynasty", Robin threatened.

Silence… a strong stiff silence… then dread.

"I don't know where they are...", Falcone said defeatedly. "But I know where they will be."

Serena and Gryphon both were sitting by themselves again. Most of their time together was focused on school, their investigation, and food… something that Serena was more than ready for. Gryphon watched his sister taken those hamburgers with so much disgust. She tore apart her food like a starving animal to a fresh kill, using her fangs like knives to cut into her food.

Gryphon did note that she had been transforming a lot lately, which usually got her hungry in the first place. Though… he really wished she didn't eat that around him. He sighed and kept looking at all the notes that they had taken over the course of a month. The card was a big clue that was definitely from the Royal Flush Gang… but why? They hadn't really been active since in jail… and when they went to Falcone to look over what he had to do with any of it Batman and Robin had already gotten to him.

It was strange. He had always heard his dad talk about how this Batman didn't want a Robin… how he didn't want to repeat the cycle… so why is she around? He sighed and started to see his messy notes as just that… a mess. He needed a clear head. His mother was still at home worried since she couldn't get over how the man she had spent so long with was gone. It was heart-wrenching, but she was getting better. She actually is starting to work at home so that's nice at least right?

Serena put a hand on his shoulder to bring him back to reality. "Hey, maybe you should take a break", she suggested. Gryphon nodded and looked over at one of the tables seeing a girl as blonde as he was talking to a brunette. Her violet eyes caught his as a smirk grew on his face.

"Yeah", he said, combing his hair back, "Maybe you're right."

Serena looked confused at him before following his eye's line, "Nooooo…."

"What? Chicks dig the green dudes", he replied. Serena groaned at that saying that she often heard her father say despite never getting lucky with that line… ever. She continued to look through their notes comparing them as best she could. They were onto something… something bigger than them… but what? Her gut was telling her to go to the Justice League.

The only thing stopping her was the one nagging feeling that echoed behind the logic. What if they were part of it too? Serena examined the photos she had taken of the Dynamic Duo with an analytic eye. That Robin… clearly a girl… couldn't be any older than them… wears way too much hair gel for it to be legal. Other than being some white chick with dark hair, it's not exactly like she could get a comparison.

Meanwhile, Gryphon sat in front of the two girls with a faux swagger. He examined the two's reaction to him, Jen's was no surprise to him. One of boredom and disinterest as his advances had no effect on her in the slightest. Though not like he didn't try. Wren, on the other hand, looked at him with curiosity. This was another look he was relatively used to but now was time for the golden charm. "Soooo, is anyone sitting here", he asked placing a hand on the table.

Only to fall on his face when he missed the table part.

Wren jumped at that and went down to catch him though is just too late ending up skinning her knee instead. "Are you okay", she asked sympathetically. His blue eyes meeting her violet eyes. He had to admit that she was cute if just allowed her hair to be out of her face to show the rest of it off. Though then he noticed the large gem on her forehead, such a strange accessory… Maybe it was religious?

Hey, he'd be willing to convert if it meant being around this chick for a little while. "Yeah", he groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Although, it probably hurt a lot more for you."

Wren raised a brow before looking at her knee, "Oh no, I've gotten much worse."

"No, I meant when you fell from Heaven", Gryphon answered flirtatiously. Wren gave him a questioning look trying to figure out what he meant by that. The phrase seeming less familiar in her head as she pulled away once more.

"Well, I hope that you're okay." Wren smiles down at him awkwardly before offering her hand, "My name is Wren Wilson."

Gryphon took her hand as he gets back on his feet, "Logan, Gryphon Logan." He keeps giving his best Cassanova grin only to be met with a kind smile. "So if you're not busy, let's say we-"

"Are not interested", Jen interjected pulling at Wren's arm protectively. Her stern look pierced Gryphon to his soul as she continued, "Can't you see that she's clearly not interested in a string bean like you? I mean, do you have to flirt with everything that has two legs? It is so rude and you just focus on her-" The brunette continued to ramble on about how his behavior was unacceptable but at that point, she blocked it out and just paid attention to the expressions Gryphon was giving.

At first, it was one of annoyance but then as the words played in his head, his eyes began to droop and fists gripped tightly. His once carefree expression quickly turned to one of melancholy and mourning. She had seen a similar expression on her father's face whenever he thought of her mother… though this talk wasn't helping anyone.

"Another thing-"

"That's enough", interrupted Wren, pulling away from Jen. "Look I understand that you don't like him and that you want to defend me, but trust me when I say I don't need defending."

"But-"

"Talking down to him like this doesn't solve the problem, it just brings people down. Clearly, there's a lot more going on", she said putting a hand on Gryphon's shoulder. "Would you like to talk to about?" Gryphon coughed slightly, his eyes avoiding hers. People already knew he was the son of Changeling but not everyone knew that he was gone. The news was silenced till the end of the investigation with the Justice League so it wasn't publicly broadcasting yet.

"Honestly I would really rather not", he admitted backing away. His eyes glancing back at the new girl, he could've sworn that her gem glowed slightly under her hair but he made no mention of it. "Sorry if I bothered you", he apologized quickly, almost pressing his words together before rushing off back to his sister.

The blond glared at the brunette with a disapproving expression on her face as they passed by the infamous Offensive Guard sitting alone. Moving his food from the left to right of the tray. Thinking. Analyzing. The mission reeled through Markus' brain like a hamster in a maze. He'd gain trust, however, he was no closer to the head of the snake than he started.

There was a piece missing… but what?

He looked up to see the usual face of the latest friend he'd acquired in the past few weeks. Marsha was still closed off and didn't talk much about her life but he had grown on her. Her light green eyes looking into his as she sat down with some food of her own. He looked at her up and down seeing everything was normal except for a single bandage on her cheek. "What happened here", Markus asked putting a hand on her cheek over the small bandage.

"It's nothing really", Marsha replied pushing his hand away nonchalantly, "I was trying to get something from under the table, but ended up cutting my cheek on the edge of the table by mistake. Teaches me not to lift with my back am I right?"

Marsha took her first bite as Markus just looked at her concerned. He didn't really believe that for a moment. She was holding her back tenderly, trying not to get anyone to notice but he knew she wouldn't say what it was really from.

Still, getting her to sit here, on her own, was progress, "Sooo, what do you think of superheroes?"

She shrugged in response, "What about them?"

"I mean", before he could finish, an alert blinked on his wrist which he covered, "Sorry, gotta go. Intern stuff."

He hurried away quickly, leaving Marsha alone with her meal and thoughts. She had heard rumors that her latest acquaintance had become an intern for the Justice League. A rumor she didn't really find direct conflict with it. Though she would need some proof before anything else.

She watched the busy lunchroom passing by from left to right, talking amongst themselves as the time on the clock passes bit by bit. Another minute to pass around a mundane life. Go to class, eat lunch, go home, do homework, do the chores, and go to sleep. Repeat. She sighed before drinking some of her water. The smell of mystery lunch under her nose as the cooling water trickled down her throat.

All the clues were coming together… soon…

She could still hear the screaming from the prior night. Her mind wandered to the old Hollywood glamour look of The Classic. The shards of glass shattering across the floor. The adrenaline pumping. A smile creeps on her face without her realizing it. The grip on her fork intensifies from the smacks she gave those guards.

A feeling.

A rush.

She could practically smell the reek of cigar smoke caressing her nostrils before the familiar smell of body spray broke Marsha's daydream.

"How are you holding up", Terry asked concerned as crime kissed dreams were dashed before Marsha's eyes.

"A little sore", she admitted, "The fight got out of hand." Terry nodded taking a bite of the food that he had packed, his eyes calculating. He wanted to say something but how to say it. Marsha noticed, "What's on your mind?"

He bit his lip in response, "I don't think you're ready to face them."

A heavy wall of air plummeted between them, their faces looking at the other's expression. Terry analyzed the slow progression of changing expressions on Marsha's face. Shock consumed her every pore before her hand clenched down on the fork, close to breaking it. Terry could've sworn that steam was coming out of her ears.

"What do you mean, I'm not ready", she hissed in a harsh whisper. The tension was getting ready to shatter under its already shaky foundation, "We're seeing them tonight. I need-"

"To calm down", Terry said harshly, "You're too close to this. Let me take care of it and take them to jail."

"Jail...", she trailed off. "They killed my parents… If there was a God, only he would know how many others have been affected by them existing."

She got up throwing the food into his face, "Hey!"

"If you're not going to help me, I'm going on my own!" There was nothing that could say at that point… she was already rushing off of campus on her own. Serena and Gryphon looked at each other before back at the scene with curious faces.

Wind blasts passed the many flying vehicles around the aerial highways. Lights leave fading lines on her helmet as she passes them by on the hover-cycle. The feeling of the engine vibrating the handles shot through her arm like electricity. Her eyes were focused on the road while thoughts drove down as wildly as drag racers. She was ready for a fight. She needed a fight. Everything was going red. Something just isn't right here.

Marsha had changed into her Robin costume sometime before she had left but was adamant on her course. Her hand revved the engine quickly passing the cars with more effective accuracy. She was Robin right now. Focus was key. Looking through her files on what informations the had gathered so far, the next meet up is supposed to be later tonight. Though with the fact things have been compromised, it wasn't likely that it would be according to plan.

What if instead, it was a trap to capture Batman and her? What if they end up giving a dummy trade-off? She can't risk it. The little bird glided to the closest rooftop for an overlook on the city to contemplate until, what are those?

Looking up in the sky, Robin can see the flat, familiar crafts of the Royal Flush Gang. There, they were right there! She could take them out now! Get her revenge. Make them feel the same way that she had felt from losing her parents. Gripping her bo-staff, the iron grip activated its extension. Then hesitation. What if there's something more to this? The Royal Flush Gang doesn't just appear. The last ones were announced just a year or so ago, too recent to take up the mantle so quickly.

The bo-staff retracted. There's more to this and she was gonna find out what. She pressed her thumb on the cloaking device for the hover-cycle as she kept a keen distance away. Following their every movement carefully. They were definitely not the same guys that Batman had fought before.

They all seemed to be making a reference to the era before this flying car and holographic time.

The Ace looked like a gentleman, dapper with daggers on his side. His suit was white with black pinstriping along the long form of his body. His hair pulled back with a gelled polish. The man looked no older than thirty but it was hard to tell with his mask covering his mouth. His insignia was placed on his shoulder like a uniform branding.

Meanwhile to the left stood the Ten, he and Ace couldn't have been more different from one another. His branding took the form of a band over his bicep with the same arm as a metal gauntlet. The freehand having a hold on a specialize revolving laser gun fashioned like a Tommy gun. She could feel the rage that was within this one every if his face was hidden by a bandana. His suit, showing off a reversed pattern to Ten's, was black with white pinstriping.

The King and queen were a similar reflection to one another.

King appearing in a royal purple suit and a long seemingly ivory cane like he was awaiting his throne. He may have been the leader as evidenced by the rings he wore and the chain on his hip that bared his rank for all to see; but he was, by no means, the eldest. He bravely (or stupidly) showed his thin mustache wearing face to the world with a smirk. His weapon seeming to only be that cane. Probably some technology with it she'd have to scan before the upcoming fight.

Queen, on the other hand, had her own royal blue pants suit with red pinstriping. Her haircut in a bob with a simple hairpin on the side, to keep most of her hair out of her face. Queen's only weapon appeared to be a pistol at her side. Her dark lip showing off a mischievous grin.

'If only I had a Jack', she joked in her head analyzing each of their weapons for their schematics. The "Brass" gauntlet seemed to have some kind of electric unit inside them to create a taser-like effect on targets based on the wiring implements. The Daggers seemed to be standard; the only extraordinary thing about them was the drug that was inside the hollow handles. The cane on King was the biggest thing to worry about. A computer weakening software was bound to cause her trouble if she wasn't careful.

Queen appeared to be the only one who Robin felt she shouldn't have to worry about. Nothing of note. Everything standard old-school gear. She glared at all four of them. If she could just see Jack, she could confront them all at once… This was it. She'd be able to get her revenge.

After 30 minutes of flying, Robin found herself towards the abandoned building like the one Falcone had promised. 'No… that's not right... ', she thought, hiding in a building nearby. 'He said the deal was going on tonight.' She follows them on foot, still cloaked by the suit. Pressing a few buttons on her wrist, she aimed a projectile listening device one of the cards.

Careful…

Careful…

A heartbeat plays around her ears as she aims, hovering her finger over the trigger. That's it… Aim... Fire! The projectile hit just off the mark of than what she had wanted at the center of the diamond but it was on the card. That's what mattered. She turned on the listening device remotely listening to everything going on inside.

"Where is Jack", said a suave voice through the speakers like smooth liquor into a glass.

"He said he was going to be late because of traffic", replied a much older male voice stepping about further from the mic.

A feminine woman's voice appeared, "Well he needs to hurry." There's a definitely latino accent somewhere in the mix, "We have to meet up before the night thanks to that Bat."

'What no mention of the Robin', she snarked looking around. Another card comes flying by quickly, too fast to get an initial look. All she saw was white, green and brown. Odd.

"Sorry I'm so late, King", said a voice hurried and out of breath. How can he be out of breath if… she tried not to bother with the details. She could take care of things no matter what was ahead of her.

"Not at all, Jack", said a different male voice. His voice sounded no older than a college student, "We're just scoping the place out. Falcone was able to alert us of the drop as soon as the Bat left, but the boss didn't like that too much." A boss? Weren't the Royal Flush Gang their own crime family? She needed more.

She touched her communicator by her ear, "Bruce, is there any way you can get Batman out?"

"What are you doing out of school", he responded almost immediately.

"I… Needed some air. School can only teach you so much at a desk", she lied, "But that's not important. The Royal Flush Gang is expecting a drop a lot sooner than we thought."

"Why didn't you just call Terry yourself", he asked.

"Because he's not exactly in my phone, Grandpa", she said. Bruce was unclear whether he meant that literally or insultingly. "If he's not here within the next 10 minutes, I'm going in."

"You're doing no such thing", he argued, "You don't know what you're going up against."

"I've already scanned the weapons, I should be fine."

"There's a lot more to knowing your enemy than just the weapons", rebutted Bruce. "I'm sending Terry a message now. Lay low until then."

"No promises", she stated. Her fingers released the communicator as she continued to listen in on the group of cards. They continued to talk for some time, nothing of real note that she could gather but it was something to keep in mind. She knew Bruce was right but she didn't have time for covert operations. They were right in front of her. She could easily just take them all out with her bo-staff like last time.

Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she sees… is that a pterodactyl? She uses her enhancing vision in the mask to see the object better. Yes, that is indeed a pterodactyl with green plumage on its spine and a green boy on the back? Did Bruce drug the suit? Then again, as she thought about what kind of fantastical world she lives in now. Aliens, mystics, Amazonians, bird people. Yeah, she could understand it now.

Two kids around her age stood there speaking for each other. The green haired Girl in a purple and blue suit with her green hair up in a bun. She was shorter than the green teen that was next to her. Her eyes squinting at the two, puzzlingly. Robin could've sworn that she had seen those two before… but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. They sneaked into a broken part of the building that was easy to access.

Uh oh.

Robin activates her feet blasters as fast as she can, landing just away from the opening the two strangers came from and found a different hole just above them. Analyzing the situation carefully from afar. The sidekick stood over the railing still cloaked from view.

Serena morphed into a small cat next to her brother feeling the rusting rails under her feet. Gryphon's footsteps ease towards slightly as he watches the scene going down below. The feline heightened hearing helped her listen in on the events happening below them. Her energy and focus all concentrated on the group below.

The latest arrival stood tall amongst the rest with what appeared to be no weapons at all. His green suit had lighter green stripes going down the side of his body. He was definitely one or the taller of them just passing Ten by a hair. His face was mostly masked, unable to see his hair color or his eyes with the only indication of identity is his dark skin against the white mask. Robin had even less interest for him as she did for Queen. There was nothing that he could do to her that wasn't something she could handle.

"So when is the drop", Jack asked looking to everyone else.

"Should be soon", responded Queen coldly. "You really need to start choosing where your life is, Jack", she sneered examining the area.

"Excuse me", he replied, his hands clenching into a fist, "Would you like to repeat that?"

"You can't be the good boy at school and the bad boy out here, amigo", she clarified, "Or else something going to break."

Robin kept listening in and that voice from Jack sounded so familiar… what was that… the accent? No… the tone… it was on the tip of her tongue. Regardless, she clenched on her bo-staff tightly getting ready for Batman to show up or for the drop to go down.

"At least, this won't be like that one job we had at the Changeling's place", commented King. "Woooo what a mess that was?"

A small rumbling was taking over the building. Serena looked back at Gryphon, whose glowing eyes took over his face excluding a sneer of anger. Serena turned back to normal, taking a step to calm him down only to be pushed back against the dead end railing. He's out of control.

"I'm going in, tell Batman to hurry", shouted Robin jumping out from the shadows and tackling Queen first. Ace charged at Serena with his daggers going with an offensive position before Serena pushed him back with her tiger form. The building still shaking and moving in place with pieces coming down from the ceiling.

Robin fighting back Queen from shooting her gun only to get a nicely placed kick in the face. Queen's jacket hid a whip taking away Robin's bo-staff. The raven-haired girl suddenly felt the pressure on her chest alongside the gunshot in her ear. It was directly on her heart but the armor was able to make the bullet ricochet. Queen pistol whips Robin's exposed jaw adapting quickly to her opponent.

Jack and Ten were flying towards Gryphon, still in his state of anger and rage. Jack had a battle stance ready while Ten charged up his glove. The high pitch whine vibrating through Gryphon enough to finally focus. He jumped up before the two could get to him floating on a small platform of stone. "Where's Changeling", he demanded of the two. His blond furrowing brows pointed at the cards he had in his hands.

Ten shouted, "Probably the same place you're goin'!" He launched his hand at the green teen from his position on the ground, "Six feet under!" The gauntlet landed on the stone as it broke apart the foundation with the force of the electricity. Gryphon jumped off avoiding another blow from the laser guns until he got blasted by green energy. Jack stood there his hand out and a green bolt of lighting surrounding his eyes.

King was crawling up behind Robin with his staff, ready to jam it into her suit. Only to get tripped up by the sound of sirens outside. Robin turned invisible once again now turning her focus on Jack. He had a look that was ready to kill and she wasn't going to have it. Her utility belt a grappling hook on Jack's arm to divert his aim, shooting Ten on accident. He didn't seem too concerned about his fellow teammates before flying off, dragging Robin with him.

Ace shot out his daggers, probably aiming for the fleeing comrade but missed.

Robin gritted her teeth to keep her grip climbing the rope against the winds. Jack can fly then? Now she really needed answers. Jack tried to shake her off as he took sharp lefts and rights by buildings. She was determined if not resilient to the ongoing chase. The wind whipping through her hair as gloved hand finally grabbed his coat. "Jack! I want some answers", she demanded, holding onto his Mask for a more secure grip.

"Stop! You'll ruin everything!"

Jack flew higher feeling something wet on his back, maybe an oil leak but he couldn't think about that now. He was more concerned with getting her off of him. He leans back to a rooftop only get his mask taken off at the same time. Robin hit her back enough to make her gasp in pain. Finally, the large gash on her stomach was starting to affect her. The adrenaline was still high but seeing it made the pain all the more real.

"Oh god," exclaimed an unmasked Jack, "Are you okay?" He flew down putting pressure on the wound without thinking. Robin finally got a good look at his face… and she wished she hadn't.

"Mark", she asked, the name spilled out of her mouth like loose change. Mark just looked back at her stunned that she said the name at all. His green eyes examined her shocked features carefully; however, her face was too obscured by bruises and her mask to make an I.D.

"How does she know your name", said the earpiece in Mark's ear, concerned.

She clenched onto her bo-staff, "What are you… doing here?!" Her cut wasn't the only feeling in her stomach she was having. Betrayal. Anger. Confusion. What… who… How…? She didn't know what else she could say. What was he doing here? As Jack? A million things going through both their heads. Though, Robin's head was starting to get blurry with the poison from the wound.

"You have to make a choice", Static stated bluntly, "Either blow the mission and take her to the hospital or leave her there." Mark looked back from Robin's wounds back to the suit he was wearing. If he told the Gang that Robin was nearly dead, he'd get an in on the head of the operation; but… He looked back at her one more time with concern on his face.

'Don't look at me like that', she thought, "Trait...or... " The poison was making her trail off.

Mark… why was he doing this? Why is it all so cold…?

What…?

Everything went black.

A light was coming through as if the sun were just two inches away. Her eyes squinting at the brightness in her face with a groan. "She's awake", said a grumbling voice in the background. It sounded so close. She was starting to put her head together. Royal Flush Gang… Green animals… Called for backup… Mark…

Robin shot up suddenly getting off her back, "Ma-Ouch!" She winced at the sudden pressure on her gauze as she feels a cold hand on her shoulder.

"I told you to wait for backup", said Batman sternly. She looked around not seeing Bruce but instead seeing the two teens from the fight. The green boy looking disheveled with traces of embarrassment on his cheeks. The green haired girl, on the other hand, looked thoroughly annoyed.

Robin groaned again, "Batman, I was in a time crunch, you weren't showing up and these two got involved." Batman just sighed in annoyance before he looked at the twins, acknowledging them to have some fault. "Besides, I know the identity of one of the Royal Flush Gang", she said confidently. Batman only looked at the wounded bird as she wondered to the supercomputer, "Mark Stone-Andier. He's Offensive Guard at Gotham High and the son of Starfire and Cyborg of the old Justice League and Teen Titans programs respectfully. Currently playing as Jack in the Royal Flush Gang."

"How are you so sure", asked Serena with her arms crossed. She was admittedly curious by everything in the cave. Her father had told her stories of this place and its triumphant majesty. The spoils of past conquests riddled the cavern of feats far beyond their own. She had to question what that giant Penny was from though… and that T-Rex… and what even is that?! She shook her head and focused on the computer ahead.

"Because I saw him without the mask", she replied focused on the computer.

"Isn't that like bad guy vs good guy rule number 1", questioned Gryphon, "Don't look under the mask?" Everyone else looked at him with blank expressions, "What? That's a thing right?"

Robin only rolled her eyes before looking up to the older hero, "Batman, we have to investigate this. There's no telling what he could be spilling to them. They also have some kind of boss-"

"Enough", he said turning off the computer, "Do you have any proof that Stone-Andier is Jack?"

The younger of the Dynamic Duo looked at him with shock before standing up, "I saw him! He literally applied pressure to my wounds." Terry expression twisted into one of severe disappointment. Most of it was a facade though, he was just happy that she was alive after her first outing alone. The problem was that now she was finding out more than she needed to know. Marsha was smart but too impulsive to help with the investigation.

"You need to lie low for now", he finally said, "Your wounds could compromise you on missions."

Gryphon finally spoke up, "What about Mark? The Royal Flush Gang said they knew about our dad. He could still be alive!"

Before Batman could speak, Serena pitched in as well, "We understand that the League is busy, but something just isn't right. If you would just-"

The Dark Knight turned to the two sharply, "You two will get an update when we can. Changeling was a good mentor of mine and did a lot for the League, but you have to trust that we can handle it." He tried to reassure the twins but he could tell it did little to ease their rattled nerves. Marshe's ears perked up at the mention of Changeling, that's who they were! She had been reading up on the prior Teen Titans to check for possible leads.

Garfield Logan aka Changeling/Beast Boy was put the lowest on the list of possibilities due to his close workings with the Justice League. Looking at the twins now, she felt stupid for not realizing it before. I mean, the green skin and hair should've been a giveaway.

Robin gritted her teeth in annoyance, she was so close to bringing these guys to justice. The Royal Flush Gang was right in her grasp and the pieces were nearly together… but what was Batman trying to keep from her? Her closest acquaintance turns out to be helping with the people who murdered her parents… what was she supposed to do? Act like everything is normal?

It wasn't long until the twins were sent home with Robin acting as their escort in one of Bruce's limos. There was a heaviness in the room filled. Anger. Distrust. Betrayal. Frustration. It swirled in the silence in a stew of lies. The twins were blindfolded the entire time but they could feel the sharp glare of the red-crested bird in front of them.

Robin finally broke the pregnant pause, "You guys should've stayed out of this." Her voice remained cold and unwavering as she looked through the clues on her hologram screen.

"We have just as much a right to look into this as you do", shot back Serena, leaning on the car door next to her. "Our dad was kidnapped by those guys! Why shouldn't we find out what happened to them?! The Justice League doesn't seem to be doing anything about it."

Gryphon looked at his sister with surprise, never once had he thought her to speak emotionally like this. He smirked, maybe he was brushing up on her. He then turned his attention to Robin. Her eyes glaring at the both with annoyance but also… sympathy? He could definitely sense some kind of mutual understanding as her mask made a move down to their feet. "They took someone from you too", he concluded causing Robin to widen her eyes.

"Its none of your concern", she spat out, clenching her arm.

"You have to know what it's like", Gryphon continued, "To lose someone important to you and want to know what happened." Robin didn't say anything. Not like she could say that he was wrong. She wanted desperately to take them down but this was bigger than just her parents or Changeling… They couldn't just get into this investigation half-cocked. She learned that the hard way after the fight with Queen. "We're looking for the same thing. We help you find whatever his name is-"

"The head to the snake", Robin corrected, "We just know that they have a boss… we don't know his name…"

"Whatever", he dismissed, "We help you find the guy… and you help us find our dad." He takes out his hand in a gesture to seal the deal. Despite the blindness, Gryphon took out his hand with a smile on his lips in kindness.

With a suspicious eye, she glanced down at the offending appendage. She had been marred once before, could she really afford to be struck down again. Looking at the two people in front of her, Marsha went through the possibilities in her head once more. If she did, she would be able to gather data faster and better but she could risk being crossed again. If she didn't, she could handle it on her own just fine, however, on the other hand, she could get overwhelmed by a large group again if she wasn't careful.

Gryphon bit his lip waiting for an answer, a sound… until finally, he felt her cool hand on his warm one. "We will meet every other night to gather data", she said pointedly. "You don't get to know my identity and once I've found your father, we go our separate ways."

Serena nodded with a soft smile, holding her brother's shoulder to prevent him from speaking further, "Agreed."

"Pleasure doing business with you", Robin smirked.

Elsewhere, a man oversees video footage from a dark and cold room. The only light seen was the screens of the four children fighting and battling it out. The man couldn't help but smirk at the shock of Marsha's face seeing Markus being behind the mask. "What an interesting new generation of heroes... you've all raised them well", he said to the people behind him.

"Dude", shouted out Changeling, who struggled against his chains even though exhausted and panting. "If you so much as think about touching my kids-"

"Oh I wouldn't dream of it, Logan", the man calmly said as he swished his wine in its glass carefully. "I'm just looking at how my work is going. The pieces are all coming together..."

"What are you planning on doing with us", groaned another voice.

"I'm just curious what this new generation is bringing us", said the man pausing the televisions to show all 4 of the kids, "for now, let's get started on the main event."

Next time on Beyond The Titans Issue #4: Teamwork and Questions

Wren: "I've never been to a real party before."

Markus: "How'd you find my address?"

Marsha: "Why are you doing this?"

Gryphon: "She could be useful to our cause!"

Serena: "What are you?"

Dick Grayson: "You took a Robin?"