Titans Beyond

Episode 31: Training Day

Author: Brruundin

Warning, I do not own the Titans or any other DC characters I may use.

10am arrived rather quickly for the Titans, they all met downstairs in the training facility to await further instructions. Nightwing was the first speak and address the sleepless bunch.

"Okay well, good morning Titans, and welcome to the first day of the advanced combat training. Today we're first going to go over some basic tactical procedures, and then we'll move on to some more advanced stuff. For most of you this is going to seem very basic and boring at first, but it's for your own good. We can't afford to lose anything in the heat of battle. Okay, any questions?" Nightwing says, looking around and his fully assembled team, the group still not very responsive from the late night before.

"I understand everyone is tired, I am too, but this is very important and I need everyone to wake up and focus up. Okay, first thing first, we're going to do a basic search and rescue procedure. I will play the target to rescue and I'm going to divide you into groups of three. I then want each group to split up and go ahead and start looking for me when I give the signal and turn on the simulator, there will be traps and ambushes, so do your best to look out and keep your eyes open. Alright, so teams… Cyborg, Blue Beetle, Robin, you're going to be the first team. Raven, Lagoon Boy, Miss Martian, you're going to be the second team. Finally, Starfire, Beast Boy, Terra you will be the third team. I want each of your teams split up, look for clues, this should be fairly simple. I'm going to be at three different locations via hologram. The first team will take quadrant A, second quadrant B, and third quadrant C. You all have 45 minutes to track me down and rescue. Good luck."

Nightwing finished his speech and took off to the control center, he was going to be the eyes and ears of the scenario, watching how each team worked with each other. He decided to keep the new members with the two members he trusted the most when it came to search missions, Cyborg and Raven were excellent scouts. However, Starfire could use some work, and Beast Boy needed to start taking things more seriously or he could risk no longer being a part of the team.

The rest of the Titans split up into their various teams, Cyborg, Blue Beetle, and Robin already had an idea of where he might have gone from a trail they picked up. Nightwing left several but very distinct clues to help them figure out where to go.

"Yo, I think I found something over here" Cyborg says, calling over to his team.

"It looks like footprints, probably fresh... Heading in that direction. Let's go!" Robin says, using his quick detective work.

That group quickly follows the trail into a group of mechanized soldiers. Blue Beetle and Robin make quick work of them while Cyborg watches, he's also doing some observational training of his own, so he and Nightwing can compare notes about the new teams. The group then continues dodging various traps and obstacles along the way.

Meanwhile, Raven, Lagoon Boy, and Miss Martian were having similar luck in finding out how to get to Nightwing. They picked up a trail that led under water, this was Lagoon Boy's specialty as he swam down to look for clues. Once he found the underground cavern, he signaled for Miss Martian and Raven to follow him. They did so and were then again on land, this time in a very long dark cavern, Raven then used her powers and displayed a sort of glow, so they could see where they were going.

"Look like this cavern is going to take us to Nightwing" Lagoon Boy said, as the three of them headed down the long tunnel.

"Not necessarily, Nightwing tends to make it not so easy, we'll probably end up at multiple outlets, and we'll have to split up. Ahh... Just like I predicated". Raven says as they approached two different paths in the cave.

"I guess I'll go to the left, and you two can go right... Just yell if you get into trouble, I'll be there." Raven says, as she puts the two new members together.

Lagoon Boy and Miss Martian, nodded, this opportunity is perfect to talk about what happened the other night, he thinks to himself as the two of them head further down the tunnel.

"So, um Miss Martian, about last night... that was weird right? Like I hope I didn't do anything to upset you or anything. You kinda just ran away" he says, while stopping to turn and look at her.

"Yeah, it's um fine. I guess, it sorta frightened me, that's all. We were talking about our pasts, and I don't know I guess we just got a little close. I just don't want things to get weird between us. We just got here and we're trying to figure everyone out. I just didn't want to rush into anything or lead you on or anything. I'm just worried that's all." Miss Martian says, finally talking about her feelings and turns to him as well.

"Look, there's nothing to worry about. You seem really sweet and a good person to be around, I just want to get to know you better that's all" I guess that's good right? I hope I didn't come across too strong or anything. I don't want to scare her away. Lagoon Boy then takes a deep breath and tries to relax. He knows he needs to focus on the mission at hand, but he really wants to clear the air with her and see if this is going anywhere.

"Yeah I guess that's fine. Also, yes, I'd also like to get to know you better as well. I've enjoyed our conversations so far, and you seem like a sweet guy." Hello Megan, he's totally into you. Play it cool. But not too cool, you don't want him to think you're blowing him off. Or do you? No... You don't, get it together...

"Haha yeah, hey maybe after we get some free time we could go to the movies or something, maybe grab a bite to eat. Just you and me?" Lagoon Boy asks, finally mustering up the courage to ask her out.

"Oh awesome, yeah that sounds great, we should totally do that" Miss Martian's face lights up. She's already super excited about this date and it hasn't even happen.

"Well Lagoon, we should probably get back to the task at hand, we don't want the others to think we don't care about the mission, do we?"

"Yeah you're right, let's get going" Lagoon says, and Miss Martian nods, they then head down the tunnel and eventually meet back up with Raven.

Elsewhere Beast Boy, Terra, and Starfire had quickly dispatched several enemies, and were right on the trail of Nightwing. Beast Boy had morphed into a bloodhound and quickly ran into the direction of Nightwing. They eventually run into him, being the first group to complete the task.

"See dudes, I told you it would be easy. My nose can track anything" Beast Boys says morphing back into the dog, rolling around on the ground, panting.

"Good work team, I expected this much for you, but this test was more so for the new members, and they seem to be doing just as well". Nightwing says, as the environment shifts back into the training room. The veteran group 3 then head upstairs to check on the others. Cyborg's team has finally found Nightwing in quadrant A, and Raven's team was not far behind. When all three groups complete the task, Nightwing gets on the intercom.

"Great work, you all managed to complete the task in the required time frame. Next, were going to begin more one on one sparring sessions, first up, Robin and Beast Boy. The object is to knock the other person outside the ring. No flying, or use of levitation is allowed, jumping around is okay." Nightwing says, while pushing a button, the training room turns into a large battle area, with distinct red lines, for where the boundaries will be.

Robin and Beast Boy then step into the ring, and when Nightwing gives the signal, they begin the session. Nightwing quickly changes into a gorilla and tries to knock Robin outside, but Robin dodges and come back with an attack from behind, Beast Boy misjudges his footing and gets sent flying outside the ring. The match ends quickly.

"Oh no fair dude, I wasn't expecting an attack like that from behind!" Beast Boy says, complaining about the results.

"Everything was fair play Beast Boy, Robin played by the rules, you gotta do better next time" Nightwing says over the intercom, then giving the names for the upcoming match.

"Ok up next, Terra and Blue Beetle."

The two of them then step into the ring. Objective destroy the enemy target...

"No relax! It's just sparring" Blue Beetle says, trying to hold back his suit from pushing it too far.

Terra begins to launch boulders and debris at Blue Beetle, but Blue Beetle blasts away at the boulders causing more debris to hit Terra in return, she scrambles to the ground but leaps back up and begins to use the debris to form a type of rock twister, which knocks Blue Beetle around. He eventually gets up, but Terra launches a fist at him, sending him out of the room.

Well, I tried... Blue Beetle says, while struggling to get up. Terra looked back at him and smiled.

"Hey good job, Blue Beetle, you really pushed me to my limits" Terra says, while putting her arm out to help lift him up. He nods, and grab her hand, and gets back on his feet.

"Thanks, you're a really good fighter, it was a good challenge!" Blue Beetle and Terra then step down and await the next group of fighters.

This eventually continues with the rest of the group with Cyborg beating Miss Martian, and Starfire taking down Lagoon Boy. Raven then took on Robin and defeated him. When Cyborg fought Starfire, they both ended up getting knocked out of the ring and the same time, so they called it a draw. Eventually Nightwing came downstairs and came neck and neck with Raven and they agreed to call it a tie, because neither could knock the other out.

"Alright, good work today Titans, you showed a lot of strength and courage out here. We'll continue to do this periodically, but in the meantime, I want you all to focus on doing some more research with the villain database, especially paying close attention to Slade and Red-X, as I think one of them is behind that attack on the warehouse, and I'm afraid they're going to strike soon again. So other than that, just be on your feet and be ready for whatever comes our way. You all are dismissed". Nightwing says, dismissing his group for the day.

He knew they would be ready for anything especially after watching today's results, even though all the new members were defeated, none of them went down easy, he knew they would a good match for anything thrown at their way. The Titans were stronger than ever and were ready to face anything obstacle in their way.

A/N Another chapter down! I'm looking to get into some lighter more fun material as well as some serious stuff, just for a change of moods. Let me know what you think! As always, read and review!