Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the property of DC Comics
Chapter 10: Complications:
As Wildebeest walked up to the two hybrid guards that stood outside the structure that was serving as the Brotherhoods headquarters a green tick had walked up to his ears and started to whisper instructions to the adolescent mutant. As one of the two crocodilian like guards started to growl at Wildebeest, who responded with a series of grunts and snorts apparently engaged in some form of conversation. Evidently successful in his pursuit to convince the guards that he was supposed to be bringing the "unconscious" heroes to the Brain, Wildebeest found himself allowed to walk into the base. Upon entering the structure the first thing he did was take look around the repurposed building's entry room to ensure that none of the other Brotherhood's hybrids were either in the room or would soon be. Satisfied that the room would be empty for the time being, he grunted and pressed a button on one of Cyborg's shoulder which caused an electrical current designed to take out any observation devices, to shoot out of the half robotic Teen.
"Oh yah that was awesome, I told yah it would work Rae," Beast Boy announced as he jumped off of Wildebeest's shoulder and returned to his human form, while the mutant put down the other heroes. Before taking his bloodhound morph and starting to sniff the floor, searching for the unique scent that emitted from the Brain. His joy and enthusiasm undeterred when the empath choose not to respond with anything other than a glare.
"Good work shortsuff they didn't even suspect a thing," Argent complimented choosing to ignore the grunt in protest Wildebeest uttered over the nickname. Then turning to her boyfriend who was still wondering around the room as a dog she asked, "So what's the next in your plan Gar?"
"Now, as soon as I can get a fix on the Brain, we go finish this. We should also probably keep an eye out of Star and Robin, I still haven't heard back from either one of them," the changeling replied. Then after yet another circle he asked, "Cy there's to many new scents here for me to focus, do you think you can hack into the Brotherhood's network and get a fix on the Brain's location?"
"I think so let me try," Cyborg replied as he started to type furiously on his arm. "I most definitely can, but it will take a long time," he announced after a few minutes of work. "Their networks are pretty well protected by a series of firewalls, but that's pretty much the extent of their cyber defenses. I don't think Immortus has gotten around to developing a cyber-division, once I'm in I can pretty much take over their cameras and other tech. But I'll have to stay here and someone will probably need to stay here and help me out in case someone attacks, since I'll only be able to use one of my arms," he continued as dug through Brotherhood files.
"Wait what do you mean, Monsieur Mallah and the Brain are brilliant technical geniuses and inventors," Beast Boy asked. Then before his mechanical friend could respond he turned to Wildebeest he asked, "Think you can keep chrome dome safe?" Upon Receiving a confirming nod and grunt from the mutant the changeling returned his attention to Cyborg and said, "Alright, you and Wildebeest will stay here and work on providing us with tech support."
"The Monkey and Jarhead maybe geniuses, but I doubt the ol' geezer let them program defenses in his army's network," Cyborg answered. Then nodding at Wildebeest he said, "Alright shorty let's get to work." When the mutant grunted and cracked his knuckles Cyborg added apologetically, "Sorry, I get it that's BB and Toni's thing."
"Don't worry, Cy will make sure nothing happens to him," Beast Boy assured Argent as the two of them headed down the main hallway with, Raven bringing up the rear. After a few minutes of relatively uneventful wondering the changeling would wrap his arm around her shoulders in a comforting embrace, hoping that the empath behind them wouldn't mind.
"It's not Wildebeest I'm worried about, you were right he can handle the few hybrids that wonder on to them. It's Starfire and Robin that has me worried, they still haven't reported or made any form of communications since the start of this mission. What if the Brain's hybrids actually ate them that would explain their silence and the Brotherhood's horde not being released?" Argent replied causing the changeling to come to a sudden stop.
"That… would be very bad, Rae can you sense them," Beast Boy said as he stopped to consider the repercussions of the possible reality that the missing Titans had been eaten.
"Yes and no," Raven answered before explaining, "I can sense that their alive but something's preventing me from even slightly pinpointing their location." Once she had finished her explanation the empath continued her search attempting to break through the interference while Beast Boy took his bloodhound morph yet again in an attempt to locate their friend's scent. As they did this Argent opened the Titans communicator and informed Cyborg as the situation before instructing him to dig through security tapes in an effort to reveal what happened to them.
Meanwhile
Starfire held up her arm with an unfired star bolt for light as she and Robin wondered through the basement level of the Brotherhood's headquarters. "Tell me Robin, why is it that you and friend Beast Boy have not gotten the along since we were reunited," she asked deciding to break the silence the two had been wondering in.
"Because Star, Beast Boy somehow discovered the warrants I was going to put on him during the Beast incident. He well, he didn't take it too well and I tried to explain to him that it was the only logical option I had available. That I had to do it because I couldn't just risk the safety of the city because of his work even though he is our friend," Robin answered before picking up the pace in an attempt to end the conversation.
"Oh, then how come you have not done with the apology and fixed things with him," Starfire asked matching the Boy Wonder's pace. Either not noticing or choosing to ignore the look of irritation on Robin's face.
Exhaling and taking a moment to ensure that in his anger he did not say something he would later regret Robin responded, "I haven't apologized because I shouldn't have to. He knows just what the Beast is capable of and that he can't control it, he should understand that even though I didn't enjoy doing what I did I had to. I just couldn't risk an incident our job is to uphold the law in all cases, not just in times where it's convenient for us to."
While the alien princess looked like she wanted to say something perhaps even yell, a series of movements on the outskirts of the pool of light her star bolt generated caused her to stop. "Did you see that," she asked reading another bolt with her other hand.
"Yes," Robin answered as he readied his bow staff seeing and reached for his explosive disks on his belt.
No sooner than they had finished their preparations than the duo found themselves under attack by a group of the Brotherhood's hybrids. As Starfire fired bolts from one of her hands holding the other up for light still, Robin tossed the handful of explosives at the hybrids. At first this would prove effective in holding off the hordes of nocturnal themed hybrids eventually a woman's laugh seemed to convince the mutants to attack as one.
"Madame Rouge," Robin asked aloud as he swung his staff knocking back two wolf like hybrids and proceeded to toss an explosive at a group of hyena like mutants causing them to disperse. Starfire for her part had hovered at a height to where she was able to fight and maintain the light but it was becoming evident that soon she would have to use two hands.
"Not quite," the feminine voice announced as a figure appeared on edge of the pool of light, clad in black and wearing a familiar mask.
"Slade," Robin snarled recognizing the mask but unable to figure out what could reasonably but a reason as to why his arch enemy would sound like a girl.
"Father is not here but you can call me Ravager," this unknown foe replied angrily as she drew to katana blades.
"It does not matter who you are you father is, you will not stop us," Starfire announced before she started to launch a barrage of star bolts at their still unknown assailant. However both she and the Boy Wonder could look surprised as their foe but her swords together causing them to generate a shield which easily absorbed the attack.
"You'll have to better than that Princess," Ravager said as she joined the fray, using her dual swords to cut Robin's bow staff in half before delivering a powerful kick to the Boy Wonder's stomach. "Huh dad always said that you guys were made of tougher stuff," she added as he fell to the ground and stomping on Robin's back.
"Leave him alone you most wicked not nice person," Starfire yelled as she flew forwards swinging her fists as yet again her star bolts proved ineffective against their assailants shield.
"The word you were looking for is bitch, and you'll pay for that you bitch," Ravager countered as she was hit with enough force to make her drop her swords. Recovering enough to get back up she proceeded to reach for her belt and tossed a small black device at the alien princess.
Quickly flying over to the fallen Boy Wonder Starfire asked, "Robin, are you alriiii..." Before she could finish her question however she found herself joining him on the floor as the device emitted a powerful electrical shock.
Scene Change
"This isn't really a good time for you guys to be doing that," Raven said somewhat irritated when she stopped her meditation to see her counterparts preoccupied with one another.
"Relax Rae; I couldn't smell them so Toni and I were just talking while we waited for either Cy to report or you to finish your magicy thing. Were you able to sense their location now," Beast Boy announced as his face turned brown with embarrassment.
"No and this operation is only going to get harder if you two insist on locking lips every time," Raven countered.
"It's not like he cooped a feel or something we kissed that's all," Argent retorted before the Titans communicator went off.
"Yo we got a problem; Star and Robin were captured by some Slade wannabe. They're being held with a group of hybrids their captor and the Brain in the central room, y'all had better start heading there now. Wildebeest and I'll meet y'all there," Cyborg announced before ending the transmission.
"Come on dudes we need get to that main chamber before it's too late," Beast Boy announced as he took the form of a green stallion. "Your oh so handsome steed awaits my fair lady," he said as turned to Argent and laid down flat on the floor.
"I don't know how to ride a horse Gar," the New Zealander replied. To which the changelings reply he wouldn't let her fall was expected. "Well alright I guess but if I fall," she conceded after a moment of consideration as she got onto his back.
"As touching as that was that was a complete waste of time," Raven commented in her usual monotone, ignoring the snort that the green horse gave her as it galloped away.
AN: As promised in my other fic I have updated both of them, hope you enjoy this as it sets the stage for the final confrontation with the Brain
Next Time: The meeting with the Brain
Turkleton: Thanks I'm glad you like the story