Beyond the Titans
Issue #4: Teamwork and Questions
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:
"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."
/
"Well, I hope that you're okay." Wren smiles… before offering her hand, "My name is Wren Wilson."
Gryphon took her hand as he gets back on his feet, "Logan, Gryphon Logan."
/
"How are you holding up", Terry asked…
"A little sore", she admitted, "The fight got out of hand… What's on your mind?"
"I don't think you're ready to face them."
/
"You can't be the good boy at school and the bad boy out here, amigo", she clarified, "Or else
something going to break."
/
"Oh god," exclaimed an unmasked Jack, "Are you okay?"
"Mark", she asked…
/
"You don't get to know my identity and once I've found your father, we go our separate ways."
"Agreed."
"Pleasure doing business with you", Robin smirked.
/
"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."
Empty spaces amongst the silence. Wren's purple cape swishing around with her powers as peace overtakes the room. Voices whisper all around her as the stars launch themselves from nothingness and passed her meditating mind. Her eyes remaining closed despite the great mysteries that hide behind the nooks and crannies of her mind. Wren could hear one voice starting to reach out, a form ready to take shape as it spoke so softly from the nether.
A shadow of heat lightly caressing the air around her cheek with care behind every movement. Wren's eyes shot open before falling on a golden floor with harsh pressure on her tailbone.
Douglas let out a sigh of frustration, "You have to work harder to make the connection." Wren groaned in response, frustrated herself for feeling so close yet so far from her powers. "There's only so much we can do without your powers, Wren."
"I know...", she replied getting up as she retreats into her cape.
Joseph simply put a hand on her shoulder in comfort, his concerned green gaze met her cloudy violet ones. She could sense the power so close to her grasp… but it kept getting out of reach. What was holding her back? The blond patted her on the head with a reassuring glance.
"Take your time", he signed with a smile, "You may have been born with this power, but you were never taught to let it flow."
"But why do I have to learn in the first place, if I don't have the powers", she exclaimed. "I've never once been able to do the amazing things mother had done or you, so why were those things after us?" Joseph glanced to the side as if avoiding the topic, "Why won't you tell me?"
Joseph still avoided eye contact with the teen, he could tell her about his own past... What good would it do though? Slade was dead… he saw it happen. Through the months that had transpired, she was still struggling with the idea that her parents were heroes… so then what would she say if she knew her grandfather was a killer.
"Just know that your father as a reason", stated the brunette man, "He's trying to protect you for now. When you're ready to know the rest, he'll tell you." Douglas took a moment to look at the mute sternly, "Or else I will."
The promise of his words reverberated in Joseph's chest before he finally looked down at his daughter. Wren looked up at both men before hearing the alarm on her wristwatch.
"Oh no! I'm gonna be late", she exclaimed rushing off to her room.
Leaving the two men in the middle of a hollowing room. The blond older man looks at Douglas in the eyes with concern, only to meet with a determined stare. "Why are you keeping Slade hidden from her", the younger man asked.
Joseph sighed, "He has been dead for years. I do not want to worry her over something that isn't going to happen."
"You saw those bots yourself", argued Douglas, "Slade maybe dead but someone is following in his footsteps and with Trigon still being a possibility-"
An emerald glare flashed at him with an intensity of the legends that Douglas had grown up with. He may have gotten much of his information from Nabu but he had heard the stories himself and he'd seen the footage when he studied in college. Joseph Wilson, aka Jericho, Son of Slade. The man who could look him in the eye now and take over his body. The man who took the burden of his wife's curse and died to make sure she didn't suffer, only to walk out on death itself… It was a miracle that more didn't know of his escapades in the past.
Joseph's feet stepped closer towards Douglas with a threat in his eyes. The younger man could only stand tall in front of the former hero as the threat became evident.
"I know you're concerned for her", Douglas whispered, feeling the heated breath of an angered father on his face. "However, wouldn't you rather prepare for the worst?"
Silence passes through the air between them, barely getting through the tension. Green meeting blue. The challenge grew harsher the longer they stood off against one another. Their chests move just a whisper from each other. The tension broke from a sigh and heavy steps away.
"I'm sorry", he apologized, "She's… still my daughter. Wren is all I have and I can't risk losing her. Not like how I lost..."
The gestures stop as if signing his wife's name might break the digits. Not that the latest Dr Fate needed him to finish. Douglas nodded understanding putting a hand on Joseph's shoulder.
"You won't lose her", he promised confidently. Joseph slowly looked up at the brunette with a look of hope in his green eyes. The former hero gently nodded.
Suddenly, a stomping echo rushes through the halls at a rushed pace. "I'll eat on the way to school! Love you, Dad! Bye!"
No sooner did Wren appear from her room did she disappear amongst many passageways of the hallways. Joseph and Douglas stared wide-eyed at the passing image of the young girl before looking at each other and laughing at the poor girl's heightened emotion.
She will learn with time.
Wren charged into the school with vigour as the bell rang in her ears like sirens. She was so close to that last step towards the mysterious black figure. She was so close to what she might be her mother… why is she so far away? The little bird knew she had the power… she could do so much with it… but what's really stopping her. Her legs bolting through the halls in a race against the minute hand. She knows she's lost it though when looking into the face of the teacher at the door.
A great start to the day, she mused looking around for an empty space only to find it not next to her friend but in the back, closest to the door. Curiously next to that door and an empty seat, sat a girl she had for the most part been warned as mad. Her hair shown behind her like a black ink river being held back by a damn, making her light green eyes glare at the tardy student intently.
Wren shivered at the thought of having to sit next to Marsha herself. Wren had this distinct sense that at any point Marsha could break her neck whenever she felt like it. The blond looking down at her work as she takes notes. Though half her mind was on the class and the other was on the dark figure still echoing through her. It was so close… she knew it. Was it in the corner of her eye just before she could fully process it? Was she going crazy? She had the power. What was stopping her?
She rubbed her forehead hearing the clock tick echo in her ears like a valley… Before she could remember what was happening a hand touched her shoulder.
"Hey are you okay", asked Marsha in concern, though the sincerity felt half empty.
Wren jumped in surprise, "Oh! I'm sorry. Must've dozed off."
Marsha nodded with a slight glare, "You're the new girl, right? Wren Wilson?"
"Yes", she confirmed feeling the blue gem on her forehead under the soft golden river on her head.
"I've just got a lot going on."
The raven-haired teen nodded in understanding, "Moving to a new place can get pretty stressful."
"It's not so bad", Wren defended, "I have my friend Jen. So that's nice."
Marsha scrunched her brows together, "Isn't that the chick who thinks that I'm interested in Markus?"
Wren nodded, "Yeah… she said that you were just trying to bide your time till he got your advances."
A soft chuckle passed the green-eyed girl, "Yeah… no. I'm not interested in him like that… besides, I'm not in a place to go on dates anyway."
Wren could sense ease the more they talked. Marsha didn't seem so bad, cold perhaps and distant but she seemed to be the only other person at this school that was level headed. Wren could tell that she was intelligent from what could be known of her. Though she had a hard time believing Marsha was deficient in anything. She could also sense the new acquaintance's emotions. She seemed troubled. Her relaxed smile hid hurt as behind the windows of her eyes was a wave of anger burning through everything. Something was wrong but what? She couldn't be sure.
Marsha still analyzed the blond up and down, looking at her body language. She clenched onto her books close to the loose-fitting white shirt, brushing her hair slightly to cover up something. Marsha could just barely make out the blue tint on the forehead. What was that? Bindi? She had heard about her being from somewhere in Tibet but she knew nothing of the culture so perhaps...? Her green eyes looked into the deep ocean of Wren's violet ones. They weren't colour correcting lenses… maybe tattooed?
It wasn't until Jen rushing to her excitedly did the two girls split their separate ways. The brightest smile on Jen's face as she held a green flyer in her hands. Wren's eyes glancing the writing, "What's this?"
"It's just the biggest bash of the year", the brunette exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "I got invited to this party at Markus' place. Rumour is that his parents are going out this weekend."
Wren arched her brow, "Oh… um… cool, I suppose."
She'd never really understood such large gatherings unless for a festival or religious ceremony. Even then though, her father and she tended to stay away from the large crowds. Wren saw the black writing on the paper before looking at Jen again.
"And guess who's coming with me", asked Jen coyly, waving the flyer in Wren's face. The little bird thought to herself for a moment thinking about every possibility but the impatience got the better of Jen, "You silly!"
Wren's eyes widened, "I've never been to a real party before."
A gasp released itself from the confinement of Jen's chest, "You've never been to a party before?"
"No", Wren answered.
"You've never been to a real party before", she repeated.
"I believe I just said that", Wren replied with a slight annoyance. "I didn't really need to go to parties."
The brunette calmed down slightly, "Not even for your birthday?"
"It wasn't really something that we were that big on celebrating", she complied, "My dad and I would just go out to the city on either of our birthdays."
Jen frowned with guilt in her gut. How could someone like Wren not have had a party going experience…? She seemed so nice. "That must've been hard… Are your parents poor", she asked gently walking out towards the next class.
"Not really", Wren replied. "My mom died when I was very young and my dad and I live with his… friend while we're here in Gotham."
Jen nodded a little, her face filled with questions and thoughts before a small smile graced her lips. "How's about this? You and I go out on the town for a club. Just to get used to all the commotion of a teen party."
"I don't know", Wren hesitated. Could she really go out when she still had so much training to do? She was so close to being able to activate her powers on her own. "I'll ask my dad after school."
The smile on Jen's face gave Wren a small bit of happiness in her chest. Jen was a lot of things. Hyperactive, excitable, obsessive with media… but she had a good heart. Jen gave her what she got when being her friend and it was nice to not have someone with secrets in her life… or at least not another one.
The air stood still as he drove up to the mansion's willowed face with a focused glare in his eye. His own had aged quite a bit from retiring all those years ago, though he was sure he hadn't lost any bit of his skills. He had to see this for himself. He needed to see it for himself. Bludhaven news was buzzing around Gotham like a freshly killed horse that had meat left to harvest. Not after Tim, please by all that is just, not after Tim.
The man's hand hovered over the door like an old friend. Bitter with time but memories still held a pleasant candle to his eyes. A swish of the door opens slightly revealing what used to be a man from his youth. He used to have such kind eyes filled with the splendour of justice, but now all that was there was an old man who had seen his world disappear around him.
Bruce looked up at the younger man, though he couldn't really say that for someone that was pushing close to 50. The stranger in front of him was nothing like the little boy he had found at the circus crying next to their dead bodies. "What is it, Dick", Bruce asked, though he said it as more of a statement than a question.
"You took a Robin", asked the former Nightwing, glaring at the old man with a hardened eye.
"I think we're done", stated Bruce starting to close the door before Dick's foot stopped in mid-motion.
Bruce and Dick had never gotten along well after that last fall out involving Barbara and the wounds still felt fresh even now.
Dick allowed himself in, motioning to the stairs above them, "Is she up there?"
"I don't see how that's much of your business", the former Dark Knight argued.
"It's every bit my business when you're putting another kid's life in danger", he shot back at Bruce.
His glare never wavered once as he watched the anger slowly simmering in his old mentor. He thought he was done doing this, no more Robin's he said after Tim, but now… now he didn't know what was going to happen.
"She made a choice to do this, and as I recall, you were even younger than her when you started", shot back the older man.
Suddenly the door opened behind them showing Terry and Marsha standing in the light's path. The new Robin's head cocked at the new visitor with curiosity in her eyes. Looking him up and down, she could see bright blue eyes looking down at her with so many emotions. Anger, disgust, pity, sadness. Marsha thought she was actually looking at Terry's for a moment. The greying hair slicked back similar to Bruce's with slight thinning as his face was marred with wrinkles and scars.
"Uuuuh, Mr Wayne? Who's this", she asked pointed to the stranger standing at the foot of the stairs.
"Dick Grayson", chimed Terry with a flat voice. No anger, no happiness but there was definitely respect in those icy blue eyes. When she heard the name run through the air, Marsha's head whiplashed towards Mr Grayson with wide eyes.
"Dick Grayson", she asked, transfixed by the figure in front of her, "As in Nightwing?"
Dick nodded slowly at the girl, measuring her up. She was too young for this work. He had done it and lost friends, allies, people that he loved, how could Bruce let her do the same?
"So you're Tim's little girl", he stated. Dick could see the look in her eyes. Hunger. The anger. Signs he had seen before.
"I'm not really little anymore", she shot back. Marsha looked at her guardian, "I'm going out tonight."
Marsha headed towards the Batcave entrance, dropping her bag on one of the many couches laid through the study. Her eyes focused and determined as she reached into her pocket for her hairband, putting her midnight mane into a ponytail. Dick watched her determination with the other three.
The middle-aged man looked at the other two generations for a moment, examining their expressions. Bruce was as hardened as ever, probably not showing disapproval but allowing her to do as she needed to. Terry, on the other hand, clenched his fists and glared at the younger girl. Hatred? No… that wasn't right. Perhaps concern was a better word for what he saw there at the latest Batman's face.
Dick followed Marsha down the long winding steps of a familiar cave. The winds flowing past him, which once didn't bother him as much now, seemed to feel like brisk knives against his open skin. He's been out of the game for so long, he'd forgotten what it was like to go down these steps. His body ached from past injuries but they also brought back memories of times that were once happy.
Now they were soiled by blood and pain.
The raven-haired teen looked up at her predecessor with a glare, only got his eye to catch hers. Blue versus green as she stepped into the private changing room. Dick thought of so many ways that he could say what he needed to.
How it wasn't right. How she was only a child. The more than was thought, the more that it sounded like a hypocrite. He was much younger than her when he took the mantle… The Nightwing suit looking back at him almost mockingly. Years of once being that man and now…
Suddenly metallic footsteps coming closer and closer to the former crime fighter lost in the thoughts of the past he'd left behind a long time ago. Dick turned around to see her standing there tall and proud in red, yellow, and green. "You can't stop me", she stated.
"I'm trying to get you to see your father wouldn't have wanted this. Neither would your mother", he argued.
Robin scoffed, "What do you know about my parents? Didn't see you at the funeral."
"Your parents and I hadn't spoken to each other since I quit", he replied.
"And that was your choice", she spat back. "You get revenge for your parents. Why don't I get the same treatment?"
"Because it was a mistake", Dick said, grabbing her arm. "You're going to end up ruining your life if you don't stop and think about what's best for you."
"What's the best for me is getting back on the people who did it", she protested, snatching her arm back. "You have no right to tell me what to do."
Terry finally pulled back Dick with a direct tug on his shoulder. His body suit was ready for the night ahead, with the only exception being the mask that was absent on his face. The cold air moving through the cave with Robin standing in the centre. Bruce's cane echoed through the walls as if ready for the last decision of the night.
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
The old man stood in front of the young girl with a concentrated glare. It was starting to become a regular occurrence, these heated staring contests. The tension between them as thick and stubborn as they were. She still stood shorter than Bruce did but Marsha felt alive and proud feeling this suit on her skin. The power, the gears. Yet, a bit inside of her still shook at the sight of him. He carried an air of his own to any fight… even at his age.
"Don't come back in a body bag", he stated.
It was all the permission she needed before rushing off on her cycle, blasting into the darkness of the tunnel beside them.
"You just let her go", Dick asked, pulling away from Terry.
Bruce sighed as he stepped closer to the monitor tracking Robin's every movement, "In all the years that we've done our work... In all the time that we've spent making sure that no other victims of crimes like you or I came to be… who or what would it help if we told each other that we had to stop."
The salt and pepper haired man opened his mouth for a moment, but nothing came out. Nothing could come out…what can you say to a person with a mission? A mission each of them had taken. Each of them had completed. It was a matter of how successful she would be that would decide her final fate.
Terry put on the mask using his usual voice for the character he played in the night, "She's still injured from the last fight and we've got a tracker in her bike and the suit. I'll keep an eye out for her."
The one-eyed man glared at the high school senior, "Was that supposed to be funny?"
"No but it is now", Terry smirked, rushing off to the Batplane to start his evening work.
Dick Grayson for a moment was shocked before giving a small chuckle under his breath. He stepped closer to the computer, standing beside the ancient man sitting in the chair.
"Where do you get these guys", Dick asked.
"You should be asking where they find me."
The lights were so nice and blue tonight. Rivers of light blues rising up with sprinkled with coloured lights covering a black ocean in the sky. The sounds of honking below vibrate his skin as the lights and advertising blasting in his eyes. Something he wasn't unfamiliar with. It comforted him somewhat. Though, Markus still couldn't help but see the look of shock on Robin's face. The shock. The anger. The betrayal...? He took a sip of his water as he looked out into the world.
So oblivious to the world that's out there or they do know but they don't want to think about it. He could feel the imaginary eyes on every inch of his dark skin. His red dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail to prevent it from getting too much in his face. Markus nodded to himself.
'It's for the right reasons,' he thought to himself, 'It'll prevent so much damage in the long run.'
His lips pulled up in a sad but knowing smile, just a little longer… he could crack it with a little more time. Markus took another swig of his water again before putting it down and turning around. Only to see the white masked eyes of the Girl Wonder. He took a step back being cornered at the railing surprised at the sudden appearance.
"How'd you find my address", Markus asked.
"Does it matter", she shot back, crossing her arms as her glare pierced him down to his spine.
"You should get out of here before my parents get here", the human hybrid suggested.
"You seemed to have no problem with fighting me before, Markus. Or are you going by Jack now", her voice was dripping in venom when she said, Jack.
She was pissed. Of course, she was. She probably didn't know about everything like he did. He had to keep up appearances. He… had to.
Markus flashed a half-hearted smirk at the short young teen in front of him, "I just don't want things to get messy here, Robin."
Robin's lip tightened at the smirk. So this was what he was really like then? Was being her friend just another lie? Not that they could even be called friends in the first place… they'd only been talking for a month or so… nothing was going to change her goals. Not even the tightening around her chest. Though, maybe… just maybe.
"You don't have to do this", she stated. her shoulders relaxed as her arms dropped to her side. Slowly and cautiously offering her hand to him in peace. "You could just come clean to the Justice League. Maybe you could even-"
Markus' smirk wavered, if only slightly. His heart hitting his stomach like a nuclear bomb. He'd heard the harshness of how Robin had fought with from Static Shock. He'd seen her spit out harsh words at criminals. She wasn't a stranger to cruelty. If he didn't know any better, he'd say she'd revelled in it. Yet here she was, reaching out to connect the olive branch. But why…?
It was then that rage started to sink in. She's a Robin. He's the son of Starfire and Cyborg. This was nepotism at its finest. His smirk turned into a sneer. This was exactly the reason why he did this undercover work in the first place. She only saw him as his parents' son. The legacy. No… Not anymore!
"You think that just because my parents are good guys", he growled, "Means I'm going to follow in their footsteps."
Robin's eyes widened, "What? No! That's not what I'm getting at."
"What? So just because they're heroes means I get special treatment", he interrogated, floated closer to her. His eyes and hands glowed an emerald green.
"That's not why I'm doing this", she insisted.
She stood firm at first but the closer the proximity to each other, the more her heart sank. Before long, she could hear the blood rushing from her face and the wall pressing against her back. She could practically smell his breath on her face as his shadow consumed her being. Marsha knew that he was a large teen. He was part of football, he had to be but… it wasn't until she could only see a silhouette with green eyes glowing intensely at her.
So then… she was right. Fine.
"Then why", he hissed as his starbolt got closer to Robin's masked face. "Why are you trying to help me?"
At first, Robin said nothing. She was eerily quiet for a moment, as Markus was still on his rage high.
"Because I thought the you that tried to heal me was the real you." Though, when he finally saw the single water drop from under the mask journey down her cheek. The light faltered slightly. "I guess I was wrong."
Regret didn't have time to fill Markus' mind when an electrical current flowed through his body. His muscles constricted as Robin pushed against his heavy body. Markus shook off the initial attack before powering up again. His hands focused on hand to hand combat against her bo-staff. The electricity still lives on one end as they punched and kicked. Robin flipped out of the way of an intense punch meant to take her to the ground only to have the ground show what would've happened if he had.
No more holding back. She hated to do it but… she- wait. Why is there a sudden blue light? She didn't have time to process the conclusion until she got shot back over the railing by a blue stream of light and sound. Victor standing there with an angry, red-headed alien standing beside him, ready to attack.
Markus' eye widened at the sight of his parents before shutting down his powers and looking over the ledge. A black jet suddenly glides off into the distant. Though the heat of glares suddenly appeared behind him instead… oh no.
"Uh", he hesitated when looking at his parents. "Listen… I can absolutely explain what that was."
"I believe that would be good", stated Starfire. Not a drop of sympathy could be heard in what was usually a honey coated tongue.
"Well", Markus started, "See… ummm… She's a… superfan! She's seen me play before and she wanted to use her power with Batman to get to me and-"
"It wouldn't have anything to do with the internship that you decided to take up", Victor growled, his weapon soon morphing back into his arm, only to be crossed over his chest.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about", stammered the young man, looking away.
Starfire floated to her son's level with a concerned look on her face, "Galorpca… why did you go to the Justice League when we told you of its dangers?"
A cold sweat broke out on Markus' forehead before floating away, "You… you don't understand."
"Markus", Cyborg added, his features softening at the fear that was painted all over the young man's face. "We're just concerned about you. You would've gotten a good smack in the back of the head, but you were just fighting Robin. Come on, Markus… what's going on?"
His heart was speeding up, he continued to fly further from his empathetic mother's loving embrace. He thought they wouldn't have to know till after. He didn't want to lie to them. Then the statement Queen rang in his mind.
"You can't be the good boy at school and the bad boy out here, amigo… Or else something going to break."
She… She was right. He… he couldn't do this… he… he had to report to Static. Without saying another word, he blasted at his parents with a reluctant blast of his starbolts before flying off as fast as possible. Starfire tried to catch up with him but he knew the city better than she had and lost him quickly between the buildings and streets.
Starfire searched tiredly for hours flying block after block, street after street and every rooftop. She tried so hard to see look for him. Her eyes darting from every direction they could but nothing. The cold air stunned her orange skin as her eyes leaked out tears, mourning the absence of her son while flying back to the apartment. Victor was standing at the balcony like before, pacing with a phone in his ear. Starfire could see his frustration and frown at the prospect of what might be happening to her boy.
Victor muttered a string of curses, but his anger melted when he saw his wife of several years. She was holding herself, tears streaming down her face like rivers of sorrow as her body shook. He hung up the call and grabbed her ankle to pull her back into reality. With comfort in his gaze, he pulled her into a strong hug. Kori could only weep in his arms allowing tears to land on his shirt.
"We'll find him, Kori", he reassured. "Don't worry..."
Kori and Victor said nothing for a few moments. His large hands holding her tiny back, stroking it every so often as he tried to stay calm. He hated seeing her sad. He hated not knowing what happened to make Robin come here and beat him down. Why all the secrets? Maybe if he had watched over better. Where was the problem? What did they do? Kori finally moved her head up to look at him. Green alien eyes looking into steel with a slurry of emotions running in them.
"We…. we should talk to the Batman", Kori concluded.
Victor took a deep breath and nodded, calming his nerves. This wasn't a time for questions. They had to stay calm.
"Let's go."
The lights could barely reach this part of the city. The high rooftops of Old Gotham still stood as tall as they did when the original Batman came into the public eye. They had seen better days though. Some windows had shattered, while paint had wept for the years. So many memories screaming out like ghosts from the past. The orange tint of the lights still echoed of times before our present day.
The green skinned teen paced back and forth thinking to himself. His blue eyes kept looking at the clock before backing into the streets. Searching anxiously for a familiar traffic light character. This isn't like her. They had met up a time or two after she was healed, though it was all low stakes things. This was their first higher stake mission. Where was she? Gryphon through his hands through his blond streaks impatiently.
She watched her brother pace from one side of the building to the other, using pebbles to pass the time away. Serena was still far less trusting of Robin after everything that happened. They had gotten to know each other little by little but that didn't mean she felt she could trust her. There was something not right about her… she didn't smell like other people… Gryphon had told her she was crazy, but it was something that she couldn't shake off.
"She's not coming", Serena stated, standing up from her spot by the abandoned water tower.
"Just give her a bit longer", Gryphon insisted.
"For what? A call that says she's going to be late or isn't even coming", she argued. "Face it, she's not coming. We don't need to wait for her anyway."
Gryphon rolled his eyes, "We still need her."
"For what exactly", she shot back.
"She could be useful to our cause!"
Serena just rolled her eyes at Gryphon. Their cause? What cause? They were just trying to discover what happened to their father. It wasn't a matter of some bigger cause. Robin had given the directions to meet there. Something was supposed to be happening but… what?
As if by magic, her question was answered. A small van drove by one of the abandoned buildings like a future look of death. There was something melancholy about it. About the way the low tech garage doors opened and closed behind them. Serena used her shapeshifting to see the finer details with the eyes of a hawk. There was some old text on it, probably wiped away from being identified.
Gryphon whispered as if making sure that the others below don't hear them. "Why don't you listen in", he whispered, "we'll need to put this all together once Robin meets up with us."
Serena rolled her eyes but reluctantly nodded. She kept thinking to herself that it wasn't for her father nor was it for Robin. This was for her brother and mother's own sanities. She shifted into a hawk completely before gliding down through an open window on the high beams of the building.
The air smelled drenched in sanitation as drips from the ceiling fell on the plastic tents below. The truck creaks were drowned out by the screams echoing inside its rear confinements. Her hearing could hear something glass clanking against each other as people spoke to one another. She slowly shifted to a human form as she watched a group of men carrying another figure out from the depths of the truck.
Screaming. Chatter. Punches. Struggles. Then silence.
Serena watched as they held them down onto what might've been the slab. The clear plastic of the tent made it hard to fully make out anything from the opaque colour. What was happening down there? She crawled slowly, quietly like a mouse hiding from a cat's claws as she looked over to the side. A hole? Why was there a hole?
She got closer just above its edge before seeing exactly what was inside… Bodies… couldn't have been more than thirty in such a small space though with the amount of decomposition that was around… It was harder to say if there were more. Quietly, her hands shifted to her phone in the back pocket taking pictures of the warehouse. There was light chatter below between the tent's occupants as her green eyes scan the floor as her pointed ears twitched at every little sound.
"What's going on in there", whispered a voice from Serena's earpiece.
"It looks like a lab of some kind. Scientists. Lab equipment", she replied. "There's a hole filled with dead bodies… it looks like they've been doing this for a while. What are you?"
Her breath shook slightly. Serena's hands started to shake as she looked at the bodies. Some old some young. Men and women. Black, latino, white, any ethnicity under the sun. Nothing was safe. The churning in her stomach was creeping up her throat but changeling pushed it down as best she could. Tiny motors were running in the background as the conversation echoed through her ears before someone spoke.
"He's a dud too. Put him the pit with the others", commanded the voice.
A tall man marched out with a body over his shoulder carelessly, only to toss the lifeless man into the pit among the other decaying bodies. Serena stepped back in shock at how easily someone could just be tossed to the side like that. Though the young rookie soon found herself falling down below as plastic wings consumed her form.
People speaking around before a familiar fist comes after her. She barely could shift into an elephant as she dodged the blow. The shock of the gloved man shaking the building to the foundation. Serena used her overwhelming trunk to push back the card she knew as Ten. Ten crashes into the wall as rage gleamed in his eyes.
Gryphon stared through his binoculars with wide eyes. "Sis", he shouted in a war cry as he carried a large boulder with him to fly down.
His eyes glared down at the building crashing through the roof. The scientist fled only to shoot at the young man, just barely shooting him through the oulder chunk of the building. A yellow glow surrounded several bits of foundation shooting back at the scientists. His eyes glowing yellow as he kept defensive, using his floating device as a shield. He screamed out for his sister to get on the hover rock and, though she growled at the name, Serena complied.
Ten charged at the large animal again only to be met with a wall. Her small sugar glider body floated to the boulder to make their quick escape. Serena panted as she morphed back to her human form, her dishevelled forest hair curtaining around her hair. Thick with sweat as she noticed that she was bleeding.
"What was that", asked Gryphon with a panic.
"I… I don't know", she hesitated.
Gryphon's blue eyes glanced over at his twin wide, as she got up. He had almost never seen her scared before. Always strong Serena. Fearless Serena. Leader Serena. Now though, she looked terrified. Her green eyes scanning her hands in shock of what had happened. They had fought before. Their father had taught him his ways and basic training but… to use in combat was something different.
Gryphon realized he was staring and placed them both on a different building to regroup. "Serena..."
"There were so many", she said. Her voice was barely over a whisper as she shivered. "There were so many… they… why? Gryphon…."
"I know", he said holding her tightly, "I'm sorry… I should've backed you up."
Serena could feel the rain coming but the world was so dry. Drops came down, running south to the ground. Some of the drops rushed down his shirt as she clenched onto it like an anchor to Reality's cruel hold on her. Gryphon looked down to his sister with concern as he rubbed her back comfortingly. Her tears felt like acid on his chest as the world around them seem to fall and break.
"Serena… we don't-"
Serena interrupted him before he could finish, "If we don't… who will…?"
Blond waves swished in magical energy as white glowing pearls gleamed across a pale face. The world seemed to not matter to her as her body floated up and down against the waves of power coursing through her. A blue glow centred around her forehead continued beam against the darkness surrounding her. Wren could once again feel the pressure of a hand on her cheek in a comforting caress. It was similar to what she had tried yesterday but… this time was different.
A voice could be heard just outside of the edges of her little pocket dimension. The voice sounded raspy but calm and warm like a honeycomb being dipped in warm milk. It felt so close to her ears, yet the voice sounded so far away from her that she'd never touch the hand's owner. Her mind painted a picture of the being speaking to her bit by bit. Far away voices soon became sentences that streamed across the air. The darkness showed light peaking through before spreading out like a flash fire.
The white glow stopped around Wren's purple eyes to reveal the woman in front of her, still holding her cheek softly. Violet against Violet in a field much like the ones she remembered from Tibet. The sky's watercoloured night showing a deep contrast to the haven she saw around her.
The older woman's pale skin seemed more grey as the celestial light made her glow with a peaceful aura. Her violet eyes looked down upon her own with a quiet smile on her lips. She was dressed in a cosmic threaded dress as her long purple river flowed down her back with a soft wind pushing it around.
"I've been waiting for you", the woman stated, the same raspy voice as before speaking to her felt present and safe.
"M-mom", Wren stuttered. Her lip quivered under the pressure of her teeth with tears dripping down her face.
"Hello Wren", she replied with a slightly bigger smile on her lips.
Wren opened her arms and rushed at her mother with a smile so filled with joy, her cheeks protested in pain. Raven returned the hug with a calm loving smile down at the small girl. Wren looked up at her mom in disbelief as the warmth of her presence consumed her.
"Mom… I'm… I'm so sorry", Wren said, nuzzling into the galaxy like fabric.
"You have nothing to apologize for", Raven rebuffed. "I gave you the best chance that I thought you could."
"But because of me, you died..."
"It's because of you that I had never felt more alive." Raven lifted Wren's chin with a single finger to meet each other's gaze, another hand pet her blond flowing locks. "When I found out that we were going to have you, I was the happiest I could've ever been. But I feared what your grandfather would do if you were born."
"My grandfather", Wren asked, rubbing the salted water off her face.
"Your grandfather was a demon. A very powerful one and if I didn't do something, your powers would've been beyond your own understanding", Raven explained. "The prophecy of Trigon was supposed to end with me, but we didn't want you to be taken advantage of as well."
Wren nodded in understanding, "I understand but… Goddesses above… I want to tell you so much."
Raven nodded, "I know, but I've always been here, watching you, helping you, even if you didn't know it."
Wren could only nod, understanding the words and feeling their meaning but still feeling… alone. "There's so much change going on. The henchmen that kidnapped us and made us move… Dad moved us here and I know that he means well but I feel so lost. There are so many rules and so many social things I just don't understand."
Raven laughed softly at her daughter's face.
"What's so funny", she asked, confused.
Raven let go of Wren and patted the patch of grass next to her as the older woman sat down with her legs crossed over one another. "I knew someone very much like yourself when I was your age."
Wren looked at her suspiciously with a furrowed brow, "Really?"
"I knew many things about the world around me. I wasn't naive to them and most things that didn't matter to me were because of my prophecy. Starfire, on the other hand?" Raven took a moment to pause at the memories of her days with the Titans, "She was from a completely different planet. She didn't understand the difference between a normal drink and a mustard container."
"I'm not that out of touch", the blond argued with a small pout.
"No. No, you're not. Thank your father for that."
Wren frowned hesitantly as she asked, "What… did your friend do? To try… getting more in touch with everyone?"
"She paid attention", she answered back, "She wanted to learn about everything on Earth's customs. What we ate, what we drank, what we did for fun, what we did when she was sad."
"But I don't want to give up myself to fit in."
"Neither did she."
Wren's eyes widened at that when Raven spoke so sincerely, her voice piercing her mind like a bolt of lightning to a rod.
"Starfire was always true to herself no matter what. She might've been unfamiliar with our customs at first but she learned."
Wren just stared at her at first before slowly the awe-filled stare started to nod up and down. She averted her gaze up to the watercoloured sky as the pigments changed from day to night in playful splashes every so often. Mer mind seemed to take a paintbrush to the canvas up above and streak it with bright stars shooting across.
"I… want you to help teach me how to use my powers", Wren stated.
"Because you want to control yourself."
"No", Wren replied before a determined glint shined her eyes, "Because I want to be closer to who you are. I want to know who you were in life. I want to make Dad happy that you're still here in a way. I know I'll never be you, even if I tried… but… I just want to be closer to you."
Raven's eyes went wide before taking only a blink to bring herself back to an even calm, "I'll teach you alongside Douglas." Wren could only give her one last hug before Raven whispered one last thing in her ear, "I love you..."
"I love you too..."
Wren opened her eyes to the golden room as she had done many times but her father had rushed to her with concern on his face. His thumb rushing through her face to wipe off the tears streaming down her face. Her hands touch his as a smile still graces her face with overwhelming happiness.
"I saw her today, Dad", she stated as if her eyes had laid witness to the Goddesses herself, "She's so beautiful… and kind…"
Joseph could only meet Wren's smile as he held his child close to him. Warmth building up in his chest like a cozy fireplace amongst what seemed like a cold winter. A comforting knowledge wrapped around him. Raven… Raven was still there… living through their daughter. Wren was going to learn. It was going to be okay.
Then there was the sneaking fear that also gripped the back of his mind. If Slade is back… or someone trying to be Slade trying to hurt them, could this be for the worse or the better? Joseph glanced up at Douglas having the same knowing look on his face.,
All that was left to do was prepare.
The school bell rang loudly as the crowds of children came rushing out of the doors. Wren smiling starting to see the world in a whole new way than before. Instead, a fear creeping in with every interaction, she thought of it as a new quest for knowledge. The fluorescent lights seemed brighter. The people around her glowing like each of them were a different path to her way through life. She felt powerful, confident, and more open to the ideas of this new age.
A form hugged her from behind in overwhelming glee which caused Wren to flinch. There went her flow but she was still glad one of her paths had come forth.
"Hey, Wren", greeted Jen with an excited smile.
Wren smiled back, "Hello Jen. How are you doing?"
"Well as you know, you haven't been to a club or anything like that...", she trailed off with a mocking sadness barely hiding the happy mode that Jen was really in.
Wren kept her smile but it twisted in confusion, "Yes… I believe I would know that better than anyone."
"Did you ever ask your dad about the club", asked Jen, holding something behind her back.
Her world around her shattered, oh no… She had forgotten… In all the commotion of finding out about her mother and the training of her powers, she forgot to tell her father about the escapade that her friend had planned. Wren frowned disappointedly at herself for such a large oversight.
"I forgot", she answered sadly, rubbing her arm.
Jen was… not letting up, "Oh that's okay. We can just sneak out."
"Sneak out?"
Wren's heart jumped a beat at that notion. Sneaking out? How could there be even a suggestion of such a thing? They could get in trouble… She thought back through to what her mother had said. Perhaps, she could rebel even if only the one time to learn. Wren looked at her friend hesitatingly before taking a deep breath.
"W-when should we start", she asked nervously.
Jen could only grin and pulled out two tickets, "These are tickets to the latest club opening tomorrow night! Which is perfect timing before the party at Markus' house this weekend. We walk around for a bit, hang out, drink some drinks, be back home before eleven."
Violet eyes perked in curiosity as she took one of the thick plastic tickets out of Jen's hands. It shined and flashed in her gaze while her hands could feel the smooth perfect texture. Her heartbeat bumped up a little before looking into Jen's eyes.
"And we won't get in trouble", the blond asked with concern on her face.
"If we're careful", Jen replied. "We just can't get caught. Besides, this is only to prepare you for the party. If you're able to make it through that you can handle a normal party easy!"
Wren nodded in understanding, feeling jitty but scared and even that thrilled her. They went their separate ways for their respective classes. Wren could only smile at the great day that had started for her before her smile dropped in confusion. The Raven haired girl that had been sitting next to her in class was gone. She looked around the room to see if she was still there but to no avail.
'Huh', she thought, tilting her head to the side as she walked to her desk. 'I've never seen her absent for class before… I hope she's okay.'
"What were you thinking", shouted Terry at the young girl on the couch, who laid there mostly topless.
Her only shirt was a midriff showing off her bandages which had been newly replaced. Marsha could only roll her eyes at the angered man pacing back and forth. Her nightly rousing with the Stone and Aider family had opened her wounds from the previous night. Her blood gushing all over the batplane circuit board as they tried to heal the wound.
"I was trying to convince him that this wasn't the way", the rookie superhero replied bluntly.
"You shouldn't have got there", he stated. His glare pierced her own but she just shot it back.
"You have a tracker on me", she rebuffed, "It is not like you didn't know where I was."
Terry ran his fingers through his hair as he took a deep breath to calm down. His rage starting to simmer down as she sat there carefully. His eyes had the smallest hint of baggage after a long night of crime fighting and giving her the riot act. His voice hoarse from no water despite a pitcher being beside her the entire time. Coming back from classes must've not helped at all.
"The tracker doesn't mean that I'm a mind reader", he replied finally standing next to her on the bed.
"It just means that I know where you are and if you plan on continuing on this rampage, then you're not going out there anymore."
Marsha's eyes widened, "But that's not fair! I was just trying to help him."
"And you should know better! He could've killed you!"
"I was fine on my own", she replied, "I was getting through to him too. He was about to turn the leaf but… then.."
She took a moment to remember that fight. How she wanted to save him from himself… before something wild happened… but then there was that look in his eyes. The rage. The inferiority. All of the memories from last night rushing at her like punches to the face. Was she really going to lose Markus to a life of crime? Was there any way to save him? What did she say that set him off?
"His parents called me this morning."
"They know who you are?"
Terry shook her head and frowned, "They know Batman. Called him last night to find out where their son is."
"Markus isn't with them?"
Knock… Knock… Knock…
Terry and Marsha looked over at the door, slowly locking eyes to each other.
"Is Mr Wayne expecting anyone today?"
"He never expects anyone."
Marsha takes out an antique knife from the couch and stepped behind him as he walked calmly with his Batarang in his pocket. The air became thick as they pushed through the silence intense synchrony. Marsha kept her back to the wall by the door as Terry's hand gingerly wrapped around the doorknob. His breath stopped for a moment as she held her own.
Knock… Knock… Knock…
Her heart jumped in her ears as it beat too fast for time to have stopped around them. Terry glanced at the young girl once, giving her a slight nod. She returned it with a determined glare as he turned the knob and opened the door to a floating young man with papers in his hands. His red dreads moving around unorganized and chaotic as his deep green eyes scanned the papers in her hand.
Markus finally looked up from his work, "Oh. Hi, I must be lost? Does Marsha Drake live here?"
Marsha tensed at the voice. It was back to its normal tune. So happy and helpful. Read to be there if you needed it… but that wasn't the real him. She knew it wasn't the real him.
Terry took a moment to nod before replying back, "Yeah, she lives here. What are you doing here Markus?"
Marsha glanced down at the Batarang still firmly in his grasp behind his back as she follows suit with the dagger in her hands.
"She didn't show up to school today and I got worried so I brought the homework to see if she was okay", he answered, not missing a beat. "Marsha and I have been growing really close but I realized that I had never been to her place before… She was adopted by Bruce Wayne or something?"
"Something like that", the dark-haired teen replied as he slowly let go of his grip on the weapon, "I'll take that up to her and tell her you brought them all the way out here."
Markus shook his head, "I thought I would bring it to her myself. Is she sick or something?"
"Extremely sick", Terry said sharply, "Probably shouldn't be anywhere near her."
Markus' face twisted at that before pushing himself in, "Nonsense, I've got half alien, that should be able to make me i… immune..."
His eyes widened in shock at Marsha standing next to the door with a knife in her hands. Her body covered in bruises and cuts. Her lip split but healing as her eyes staring up at him, obscured by the black eye that was yellowing around her face. He looked down at her observing the large bandages around her midsection. The red blood leaking to the white cloth of the bandages as if they were still freshly carved.
"Marsha… what happened to you?"
Next time on Beyond the Titans Issue #5: Coming all together
Marsha: What are you talking about?
Markus: I'll kill you!
Serena: This is a lot bigger than us.
Wren: How could you!?
Gryphon: So we're a team now?