Sorry for the short wait. Had a little writers block for one of the scenes in here. Got over it three days ago. Some editing later. And voila! I present the next chapter to this awesome story!
Mailbox Time! (bit shorter than usual)
RPGPersona: I get what you mean on that first line *wink**wink* but I'm trying to keep it PG-13 at least. I like writing out scenes where Beast Boy thinks Rae would kill him. And exactly! I can't believe how much she seems to forget that her emotions are a part of her. I mean, didn't Beast Boy have to remind her of that in the Episode Nevermore? A hidden advantage, I might not know what you're talking about, might. Last thing, is that really Superman? Didn't he just go off to the planet Rimborr a couple hours ago? Hope you like this chapter!
Latisha McPeanuts: Well, here's the more. Now just be excited for me again so I can write out the next chapter for ya!
HornedGoddess: Hey, don't go all demon on the author here. He's the only one who can write this story you know! And thanks! I like to dab in first now and then, but I've come to prefer 3rd person the most.
Foamsatmouth: You only got two things right. Boy scout, and Raven, so dirty. As to those first couple parts... hehehe... I suggest you read and find out for yourself! Can't have Beast Boy become epically badass all at once you know.
Bluedog197: Interesting translation, I'll have to use that in the future! Maybe Superman, maybe not. As to your guess from the villain, *shrug* one is kind of right. Which one, now why would I tell you and ruin it for the others? I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the rest! (And leave an awesome funny review while your at it!)
So this is a new idea I'm trying to help me track the popularity of this story. It's mainly for me, and not you guys. Although you can look at this area to see how many more people have joined your ranks on this.
Since last chapter: 5 more favorites, 11 more followers.
Also, something I did for Forgive Me that helped me keep track of how long each chapter took me to write and publish. You can choose to ignore this if you want as well. Or use it as a guide to guess when I might update.
Updated: July 22, 2016 10:15 P.M.
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Now that I have DC comics and Warner Bros off my back, enjoy the story!
Chapter Five: Fight and Flight
Even as Robin shouted his command, the Titans had been moving in their different directions. Starfire flew up into a dark portal. Robin side flipped over to the right behind the side couch. Cyborg jumping to the left behind the other side couch. Raven melted into a portal above the ground. And Beast Boy did several back flips back over the destroyed coffee table and the couch, which put more distance between himself and the figure.
As he retreated, Beast Boy studied the guy who had crashed through their window, who was just starting to get up from the small crater he made on the ground. When he was to his full height, Beast Boy noticed a few disparancies he and the others hadn't seen before.
The guy had looked a lot like Superman at first glance. With the epic entrance, the flying glass, and his intimidating bulky form and all. But now, after several more glances as he had back flipped, Beast Boy had to conclude that this guy just couldn't be Superman.
The guy looked like a far younger version of what Superman should have been. He was slightly shorter, his shoulders were not as wide set, his face was far younger and less creased from age. Heck, he looked a lot more like another average teenager than an adult. The big giveaway though had to be that the big red S he bore was on a black t-shirt. Superman never wore a t-shirt. Ever. The phony was also wearing jeans instead of tights! A classic feature in any superhero in his book!
'Yep, this guy is definitely not Superman.' Beast Boy thought as he came to a stop after his fourth backflip. He just assumed it had to be some phony playing the Superman angle. The guy was looking at him directly, but he wasn't afraid. Beast Boy looked to Robin, who was giving him an 'Are you crazy' look as he held a disk in his hands.
"Don't worry Rob. I just noticed he doesn't look like the real-" Beast Boy started to say.
Beast Boy didn't even register that the guy had jumped forward from his original position, that is until he saw the fist coming right towards his face. That was when he stopped speaking. Shocked at its sudden appearance.
CRACK!
It might not have been Superman, but the punch to his face felt almost as powerful as the real deal. Beast Boy flew backwards through the air, before crashing into the doors to the Common Room. It knocked both himself, and the doors into the hallway with him.
'Okay, not Superman. But he definitely packs quite the punch.' Beast Boy thought to himself as he rubbed his face and felt his broken bleeding nose..
Back in the room. The guy cracked his knuckles. Muttering something that sounded like, 'Too easy.' to himself, before he started to charge towards the fallen changeling again.
Boom! Kshsh!
Then one of Robin's explosive disks and a small blast from Cyborg's sonic cannon hit him in the back. The explosion from both hits shrouded the guy in smoke.
When the explosion from both hits faded away, it showed the guy still facing the doors. Simply brushing off dust from his shoulders. Then he fully turned towards the two Titans. Only two distinct singe marks on the back of his shirt were proof that the attacks had hit. His eyes were narrowed at them.
"Is that seriously the best you can come up with Rob? I see your tricks haven't changed all that much over the years since you left." The guy said, glaring at Robin's stunned direction.
Before he could retort, the guy was already jumping towards Cyborg. Even though it wasn't flight, it almost certainly looked like it. Cyborg had barely blinked before the guy was suddenly in front of him. The guy hit his sonic cannon arm up towards the ceiling, making Cyborg go off balance. He was then sent flying back into the right wall when the guy kicked him in the chest with both feet.
The guy used the push off to head right for Robin. He was already cocking his fist for the haymaker he was going to deliver.
Robin was barely able to recover from his shock in time to front flip over the guy's reckless charge. The guy's eyes widened as he saw Robin flip out of his vision.
Halfway through the flip, Robin turned in the air and threw an electric disk at the guy's spine. It caused the guy to hunch over in pain from the unexpected shock while still in mid air. While he was distracted by the pain, Starfire came from out of nowhere through one of Raven's dark portals in front of him. And screeched in rage as she kicked him hard in the face.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The force of her blow knocked him straight through the wall on the left side of the room. And then several more right after that. Starfire immediately gave chase. Letting her glowing green eyes light the way through the darkness of the next few rooms. While the others probably weren't strong enough to take on the Superman phony, Starfire was the right hero for the job.
Cyborg got himself out of the small crater his body made in the wall shortly after Beast Boy had came walking back into the room. He was still holding his face and groaning in pain. He was also a little ashamed that he had been taken down so easily. He hadn't seen what happened to Cyborg.
'Way to go master. Our mate will surely be impressed by the fact that we were the first to be taken down in a fight… when we were supposed to be protecting her… again!' Beast Boy was able to sense the sarcasm in the Beast's voice for once.
'Dude! Not helping! And again, will you stop calling Rae our mate!'
On the outside, he stayed silent as he argued with his Beast. So he didn't notice that Raven had appeared at his side from another portal until she had started healing his injury. Within the first few seconds he let out a sigh of relief as the pain started to fade. And because the Beast had become silent when he felt how close Raven was to them. He was probably on cloud nine now.
With the small reprieve, Cyborg limped a little to Robin before he finally spoke. Well, I should say shouted.
"Rob, who the hell was that guy!? He looks a hell of a lot like Superman, but in a way, he doesn't at all! Is he from an alternate dimension or something like Superman Prime was?! Is he a member of the Justice League!? How the hell did he even know you?! Are you acquaintances or something!? Or does it have something to do from your time with Batman?!" Cyborg shouted in an almost too fast voice to be understood.
Robin stayed silent for a moment. Wondering if he should tell them or not. It was a part of the past he had left behind after all. And he wasn't one to really look back at his past before the Titans.
As Robin thought on it, Raven managed to finish healing up Beast Boy. Who uncovered his face to give her a small grateful smile. Her face remained stoic, although she was slightly blushing underneath the shadow of her hood for unknown reasons.
Then both of them looked to Robin. "Well dude, are you going to tell us how you know the guy or not?" Beast Boy asked. After a couple more seconds, Robin let out a sigh. He might as well.
"That guy Starfire just beat through the wall is a hero called Superboy."
Cyborg looked like he wanted to interject, but then Robin continued. "No, he isn't from an alternate dimension Cy. He's a half human, half Kryptonian clone of the Superman from this dimension. His powers are limited because of his human side, otherwise, he'd be as powerful as Superman, maybe even more so. Believe me, I've seen him when his human genetics are repressed... But normally, he doesn't have the ability to fly, nor does he have heat or x-ray vision. But he is still monstrously strong, incredibly quick when he needs to be, able to leap over a great distance, he sees things better than anyone I know, and his body is almost completely invulnerable like Superman's." Robin said.
The other three stayed silent for a moment. "Dude, if he isn't from another dimension, where on Earth did he come from? I mean, it'd be quite hard to just hide all that from other people." Beast Boy finally said in a disbelieving voice.
Robin took another deep breath before he briefly explained it. "He was made as part of a secret experiment at an illegal facility called Cadmus. He was being trained to be used as a weapon to replace Superman in the unlikely case that he fell. But he was never allowed out to see the sun, the moon, or the stars. He was never given a choice for what he wanted to do in his life. Even his mind wasn't his own while we were there He was controlled by these weird creatures. So when me and three other guys infiltrated the complex and found him, we decided to bring him back with us to the surface. We ended up destroying the top part of the complex he had been imprisoned in order to escape." Robin finished.
"Wait, so you're saying you saved the dude who broke my nose!" Beast Boy yelled.
"I believe that's what he said idiot." Raven said in a monotonous voice next to him. Beast Boy glared back at her, a little hurt at the insult. Raven just stared at a different direction. Refusing to meet that look.
Robin was barely paying the two any attention, as he was now looking to Cyborg. Who was already searching through his databases on his arm for a Superboy. His search came up blank, confusing Cyborg. "According to my systems Rob, this Superboy doesn't even exist in any known records."
Robin let out a sigh before he continued. "That's because Superboy prefers to go by his real name, both in the world, and with his team; Connor Kent. He got it from his girlfriend Miss Martian, or Me'gann shortly after we rescued him." Robin replied back.
Beast Boy and Raven had now seemed to forgotten their little spat as both were now staring at Robin in shock. They knew of no hero afterall that preferred going by their real name.
The sounds of a fight a few rooms away could be heard. Starfire was still locked with Superboy, or Connor as it appeared. Although the noise was starting to get louder. Maybe the fight was getting closer?
Cyborg searched up Connor Kent, and immediately came up with several hits. He quickly searched each one in his database, going over each one's picture and profile quickly before moving on. Finally, he came to a stop on one with a picture that looked exactly like Superboy. Same shirt, jeans, and hard look on his face. Did he always scowl or something? He quickly looked at the info showing on his arm, before he stared back at his leader.
"Rob, it says all that you've told me... and more. Long pause: He's a part of a covert team that operates under the Justice goes by the name… Young Justice." Cyborg said, looking to Robin for confirmation.
"Yes, that's right. They're usually sent out an recon, or for quick villain take downs. Sometimes they work in sync with the members of the Justice League. And a few have even risen from the Young Justice to the Justice League this way. Rocket and Zatanna being prime examples of this." Robin said, now looking at the new hole in the wall.
"Yeah, I got that. But it also says here, that you used to be a member of this team. That you were even considered to lead it at different times." Cyborg added on. Beast Boy was staring curiously at his leader, while Raven was staring at a scuff mark on the floor. She seemed reluctant to look up for some reason.
"Yeah, I used to. And yes, I could have been the leader a couple times. Although, you could say I was too immature back then to do that." Robin said. Beast Boy laughed, thinking it was a joke. Before he realized that Robin's tone had never wavered.
"Wait, you're serious!" Beast Boy said in disbelief. Robin nodded his head, confirming he wasn't lying. Beast Boy just stood there in shock at that.
The fight definitely sounded like it was getting closer. Like right outside the wall. "Rob, just how big of a threat would this team of heroes be? And do you think, based on what you told me, that Superboy would be the only one here at this moment? If they have a lot of experience with recon and all?"
Boom!
Before Robin could answer, the wall on the left exploded outward. Starfire burst through the area where the wall used to be. Besides a tear in her skirt on the right side, she seemed mostly okay. She managed to reorient herself about a foot or so above the ground by Robin before she growled at the dust cloud that had formed in front of them.
"It appears to be that our enemy has brought the friends with him." She growled out. Her glowing green eyes focused on a figure emerging from the dust. Her other four teammates also turned to see the figure.
Superboy walked out into view. Or Connor as he liked to be known as. He was cracking his knuckles and neck as he did so. There was several new tears in his shirt, but he seemed fine overall. A smirk had briefly replaced the scowl on his face.
"I must admit Rob, your new girlfriend there packs quite a punch. Fortunately, I didn't come here alone." He said, trying to goad Robin, who simply ignored the taunt. For a couple seconds, no one else came out with him.
Then, on his left a blonde haired girl dressed all in green walked out of the dust. Wielding a bow much like Speedy's, except it was green. As were the feathers of the arrows in the quiver on her back. Her face was able to be seen, besides a small part covered by a green mask over her eyes.
On Superboy's right, another girl appeared floating an inch or two above the ground. Her skin was green like Beast Boy's, but she had red hair instead of green. Her eyes were glowing a bright green like Starfire's at the moment. Hiding their true color underneath. She had no notable weapons on her. But she did have a concrete block levitating in the air behind her.
In the air above the three. A guy, covered in a weird blue and black striped scaly armor, flew out of the dust cloud. He had two weird extensions sticking out above his head that looked strangely like blue mandibles. He was flying in the air thanks to a pair of blue bug like wings. Basically, his overall appearance was that of a human scarab. Besides his right arm, which was currently in what looked like sonic cannon form. Much like Cyborg's.
And finally, a fast blur sped in front of them all before stopping in front of Superboy. Dressed in an all black speed suit that covered his whole body from head to toe. With red goggles over his eyes that also acted like night vision goggles. He looked like a dark version of the Flash.
The two groups of heroes stood in their places. Neither one moving or speaking. Only the sound of breathing could be heard in the room. The dust cloud from the collapsed wall slowly dissipated into the air. Showing the next few rooms over were trashed. Most likely thanks to Starfire's and Superboy's fight. Silence reined supreme in the room for a few moments.
"So Rob, how has the new gig here been treating you?" The guy all dressed in black finally asked in a casual voice.
"Oh, it's been good so far Kid." Robin casually replied. One hand in his utility belt. The other holding a small pole. "Where's Kaldur? I thought he would have enjoyed having a family reunion."
The guy simply pointed out the window to the bay. "Oh, he's out there in his element. You know, just in case someone was thinking on trying to escape that way. And Cassie is out hovering in the air around the Tower. Just in case someone were to try and escape by air. Heck, even Zatanna came from the Justice League, I think she's on the ground chanting or something. You know, just to make sure nobody decided to teleport out. Whether by magic, or Boom Tube.
Robin nodded his head. "Sounds like something I'd do for this sort of mission." Robin replied.
The guy in black looked at him weirdly. "You seem to think you have a good idea on what we're here for, don't you."
Robin simply shrugged his shoulders. "You don't train under the world's greatest detective and not learn a few tricks."
The guy relaxed slightly. "So then tell me old friend, what would be our purpose of breaking into your Tower here in the middle of the night? What would we have to gain from that?" The guy asked. Treating it like a game. Just like they used to when they were younger.
Robin seemed to think on it. He knew what their main goal was. But he hadn't really figured out their plan of attack, that is, until Artemis and the others had appeared with Superboy. So he knew almost everything at that moment. He just had to act like he was figuring it out on the spot. Robin had a small smile on his face nonetheless. Imagining his old friend's reaction in his head.
"Well, I'm guessing Superboy's entrance here was supposed to set off our intruder alarm to wake us all up. Shortly after his entrance, while we'd be scrambling to answer the original intruder alert, you guys would come in through a different entrance. Masking your entrance with the original intruder alert while we would go to the spot where the first intruder came in. Leaving us none the wiser of the extra team that came in through another way." Robin paused to think some more on his next words.
The guy in black nodded. "Okay, you have it right so far, go on Mr. Detective."
Robin continued after that. "So we'd come into this room. Only to find that the first intruder had moved on from it. I'd check the security cameras, and I expect that Blue Beetle's scarab will have hacked the system by then, turning off all the security cameras and erasing footage from the past hour or so. I'm guessing he did manage to do that before you helped Connor with his problem."
The guy in black looked up to the guy flying in the air. Who was rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I didn't realize the plan had changed when I did that…" Blue Beetle trailed off, as if a voice had started talking to him inside his head.
The guy in black nodded at Robin to continue. He gladly did so. Knowing their was now no evidence of what happened just before Connor's arrival.
"So, if your plan had gone accordingly, we wouldn't have known who the original intruder was. Nor would we have had a clue as to any other intruder in the Tower. So I would have likely made all my teammates split up at this point out of frustration and try to have them find the one intruder that came in. When in reality there are five roaming the hallways of the Tower. Getting to strategic spots and corners where you could ambush one of us and take us out easily with the element of surprise."
The guy lifted his eyebrow underneath his mask. A look of surprise at how much Robin had gotten right. "And what makes you think we would attack an old friend of ours along with his teammates? You see, that has to be what I'm most curious about."
Robin smiled as he knew perfectly why. He just had to twist just how he had gotten the information. There was no way he was ever going to admit that he knew most of it already because of a call from Slade.
"It likely would have taken us until it was too late for me to have figured that out. But luckily, your plan was flawed from the start. Even if a false alarm hadn't come from the city, me and Star had already been here in the Common Room. Connor's part would have been doomed to fail."
Robin received a glare from Superboy at this. But didn't even pause as he continued in a more confident voice. "So here we were in the Common Room, before the intruder alarm even went off. When Boy of Steel there came crashing in through the window into our midst. And instead of just falling back and making a new plan like I would have if I were in his position, he went ahead and tried to attack in the direction of two specific teammates of mine first. And in doing so, he exposed what you were planning to do all along. And just who you were planning to ambush inside my Tower."
Robin pointed to Beast Boy and Raven. Shocking the other team of heroes, including the guy in black. "So I know that these two are your targets… I'm just not entirely sure on the last part of your plan involving these two here." Robin lied. Having heard Batman making it loud and clear. "But whatever the hell it is, you're not going to lay one finger on them if you thought you could just take them away from us that easily." One hand was still in his belt, the other extended the Bo-Staff he had been carrying in his hand.
Cyborg stepped forward. His sonic cannon and a missile from his shoulder at the ready. "And me! No one tries to take away my little sister and best bro and gets away with it!"
Starfire's eyes glowed brighter as she charged her starbolts in her hands. Her eyes, if possible, looked like miniature green suns in the lit room. "You so called heroes will not do the touching of my family! Not when we just saved it from being the destroyed!"
Beast Boy and Raven just stood in stunned silence behind their teammates. Seeing them all stand up for the two of them in the face of these five experienced heroes.
The guy in black looked briefly stunned for a second. As did the rest of his teammates. Before he started to chuckle to himself in disbelief.
"Well what do you know. I guess old Bats really did teach you a few tricks before you left Dick. You seem to have gotten the whole plan we were given from Batman down to a T."
His teammates behind him got out of their stupors and got themselves into battle position. Him included. Like the Young Justice motto went, 'If the original plan fails, there is always Plan B. Brute force.'
"However, that doesn't change the fact that we have a mission to do… I know we're old friends and all that Rob. And as much as I hate to do this, you know as well as I do that we can't go against our orders. Especially when these orders are from the Batman himself."
Robin shook his head from side to side. Already knowing what those orders would be. "It doesn't have to be this way Wally. You could simply leave and tell him we caught on to your original strategy, and that you had to strategically retreat to regroup for a better plan."
Wally, the guy dressed in black, shook his head this time. "Wish I could Dick, but you don't seem to realize how serious this matter really is. Me and the others spent all of last night after we were returned from our stonen prisons going to different parts of the universe. Trying to stop a trail of destruction that has left many dead, or suffering. Even Batman's gone off the deep end trying to stop the mess your teammate there created. (Points to Raven) I've never even seen him this angry before. It's freaking scary man." Wally said, shaking at the end.
"It wasn't Raven's fault that Trigon sent his soldiers across the universe while we all stayed here and fought him! Heck, she was suffering in the pits of hell for most of the time Trigon was in our world!" Beast Boy shouted in anger. All that did was make all the Young Justice heroes glare in his direction.
"Regardless of how much truth there is in that, she is a demoness, and when she defeated her father she would have been given control over those soldiers of his. And if she had truly cared about the universe's well-being, she would have called them back and sent them to hell just like her dear old daddy. Instead, she let them run rampant! And many people suffered from it!" It was the archer on their team that shouted this time.
Raven spoke in a monotone as her eyes glowed black. "I'm only a half-demoness blondie. I wouldn't have been able to control all of Trigon's fire demons even if I had tried. I also would have had to know they were out and about in order to have done something about it. But, since as Beast Boy here so lightly put it, I had been suffering in the pits of hell when Trigon sent his soldiers away. I never had a clue that he had done any such thing."
"Half-demoness, full-demoness, who cares! If it wasn't for Batman's orders to bring you two in alive, I'd be putting an arrow through your cold dead heart here and now and sending you back to that pit! Along with your green friend there as well!" As she said this, she cocked an arrow and pointed between Robin and Starfire at Raven.
"Why do you even want friend Beast Boy?! What did he do that angered the Bat!" Starfire yelled in fury.
Wally shrugged his shoulders. "He never did explain that part. He just said he was as important to capture as Raven there. We couldn't ask any more questions after that because he Boom Tubed us here to Jump City before we even got the chance."
Robin just shook his head from side to side again. Seeing the tension rising in the air. "We're not going to be able to convince you to go without a fight, are we."
Wally shook his head. "As my girlfriend there said Rob. We have our orders to bring those two to old Bats alive. And you know that we can't go against what he ordered us to do. So we're going to take Beast Boy and Raven to the Watchtower, whether you guys like it or not."
Robin calmly nodded his head. "Well, I guess that leaves us with only one choice then."
He pulled a disk from his belt, not really catching his old team off guard with it. What did catch them all off guard though was when he threw it at the ground in front of him and averted his eyes. As did his four other teammates. The disk hit the ground before they could react, and a bright flash of light appeared, blinding all five of the Young Justice members immediately.
Kshshsh! Ksch! Ksch!
Robin quickly turned around as Cyborg and Starfire instantly started to charge forward and fire their sonic cannon and starbolts at the heroes. Further distracting them.
"Beast Boy, do you remember where we put those travel packs for… you know." Robin quickly and quietly said to Beast Boy, who nodded his head at him. Robin sighed in relief.
"Then take Raven with you, grab two of them, along with whatever else you might need from your rooms. After that, you'll have to find some way to get past Kaldur, Cassie, and Zatanna once you get outside. We'll try to distract these five here for as long as we can so you have a chance to escape." Robin finished.
Raven looked like she wanted to say something, but Robin silenced her with a look. "I know you two don't normally get along well Raven. I saw a perfect example of that just a few minutes ago. But right now, both your lives are in danger. We still don't know why my mentor is so crazy over you two. And after this stunt, I doubt he won't punish us for helping you two to escape. So please, whatever your differences, set them aside and work together. Don't let our sacrifices here to help you escape be made in vain."
Raven still looked like she wanted to say something, but then sighed and nodded her head. Beast Boy gave her a sad look. Robin made as if to turn around, but then pulled Beast Boy to him. Whispering something into his ear that Raven couldn't hear. It took a moment, but then Beast Boy blanched, before he nodded his head.
"Now quickly, go! You don't have much time to lose! Go, now!" The two were shocked at the intensity of his voice.
Robin grabbed three more disks from his belt and charged forward towards the archer girl and Kid Flash. Leaving Beast Boy and Raven behind. Before he entered the battle though, he took one last look at the two of them. Raven had been in the middle of opening a portal for the both of them. There bodies already halfway into the form of a shadow Raven.
He mouthed two words after their disappearing forms.
'Good luck.'
And then Robin plunged himself into the losing battle. Hoping he, his second in command, and his girlfriend could hold the others off for enough time so his little brother and sister figures could manage to escape.
How they would do that, Robin didn't know.
All he and the others could do was hope, and fight on.
Author's Notes:
Well, things escalated pretty quickly there if I say so myself. Didn't get to Beast Boy and Raven's big escape. But I promise you it's coming up next chapter! Along with what happens to the rest of our Titans.
As to what I said at the end there, I was basically summarizing how Robin relates to his teammates. Cyborg being like his second in command since he is also like a leader on the team. Starfire, that is for obvious reasons there. And you already know why for the last two.
Although, I think you guys have one big question for me. What did Robin whisper to Beast Boy at the end of the chapter?
Till Next Time
Allen
