Part 3- The Enemy's First Wave
(The remaining pieces vanish from the chessboard. Raven walks over and sits by Starfire and Robin. Echo is gaping, and switching his gaze from Photon to the chessboard to Raven.)
Echo: Incredible… I never woulda thought… He's never lost before… Raven, lass, I salute ye!
Raven: Maybe, but I don't expect him to actually keep his terms of defeat…
Echo: He doesn't have a choice; he has to.
Raven: You're going to order him to-!?
Echo: No. He did it himself. He swore on his clan's blood. That's his most solemn oath. He'd never break that, not fer nothin'! (glances at his right palm) Not fer nothin'…
(Robin is about to say something when a whining buzz fills the air, followed by some screams. Everyone turns and sees that the other park-goers are being attacked by some things that are clearly not human. They resemble praying mantises, but each one is six feet tall and gleaming silver. To make matters worse, there are hundreds of them.)
Cyborg: Where'd they come from!?
Robin: Worry about that later! We've got to save those people! Teen Titans, go!
Bumblebee: Titans East, let's move!
Echo: Titans South, all hands on deck!
(All sixteen teenagers rush into the fray. Gemini multiplies quickly and uses her doppelgangers to get the frightened people to safety. Mas and Menos join hands and help her out. Robin throws a couple of Throwing Birds at the insect-like monsters, but his weapons bounce off their shiny exoskeletons. Bumblebee tries firing a few bolts from her Stinger blasters, but this does no more than leave a few marks on the bugs. One swings it's massive foreclaw at her. She shrinks down to a tiny size to avoid the blow, then flies upward. Above, Starfire is throwing Star Bolt after Star Bolt at the insects that are hovering with the help of their wings, but is having no more luck than Bumblebee. Echo has drawn his sword and is engaged in a duel against one insect's claws. His blade can't even chip his opponent.)
Echo: Neptune's beard, what are these things made of!?
Medic: My shuriken cannot pierce these foes!
(Cyborg opens a panel on his arm while dodging a swing.)
Cyborg: No wonder; their outer skin is composed of a steel-titanium alloy! They may as well be walking armor!
Raven: Hyah! So- (dodges a claw and counters by throwing a shadow-enveloped ice cream cart) –what are we supposed to do about it!?
Echo: Shotman! If ye can see anything of use lad, we'd love to hear it!
Shotman: Hmmm… Speedy! Aim a couple arrows at that one! Just below the two wing joints!
Speedy: Easy shot…
(Speedy loads two arrows at once and fires. They hit the targeted insect right where the wings connect to the body and detonate. The insect gives a high pitched shriek and falls to the ground as it's gleaming red eyes go dark.)
Robin: Good shot! Titans, go for the weak spots! Just above their wings!
(Starfire begins beaming Optic Blasts at the bugs, hitting the weak points with each blast. Photon hovers nearby, performing similarly by blasting red lasers from his fingertips while using light speed motion to avoid being hit. Echo becomes surrounded by a large group. He thinks for a moment, then has a brilliant idea, a somewhat rare occurrence for him.)
Echo: (thinking) Insects communicate through sound waves from the antennae. So…
(Echo points his palms at the enemy and begins generating soft blue sound waves. The insects surrounding him freeze, their senses becoming confused.)
Echo: Hey, ye two! Catch!
(Echo continues to generate his binding sound with one hand and tosses his cutlass to Mas and Menos with the other.)
Echo: I'll hold 'em! Ye do the rest!
(Mas and Menos grin, then touch fingertips. They take off in a blur of white, slicing the blade across all of Echo's opposition in roughly three seconds. They screech to a halt, and return the sword to Echo.)
Echo: Many thanks, lads. I owe ye one. Both of ye.
(Aqualad backs away as he is surrounded, then spots the fountain behind him. He raises his hands, and the water flows out in a tidal wave. Another group of bugs is washed away by the miniature tsunami. Beneath the water, Beast Boy is in crocodile form, snapping away at the weak spots as he swims along. In the sky, Photon has started to get winded from all the light speed movement. The insects are closing in on him as he struggles with his fatigue. He dodges a few swings, but because of the multitude of enemies, he is still getting cut up. Starfire spots this, and starts to fly over to help.)
Photon: (thinking) No! I will not allow myself to need help from a woman! (aloud) You're gonna wish you hadn't ganged up on me! Necronom Hezberek Mortyxx!!
(Photon points his staff while screaming the incantation. Jagged bolts of white light stream out of the end of it and move outward in a wide sphere, striking down every last insect that surrounds him. Starfire stops just short of getting hit herself. A few yards over, Raven is watching with a look of disbelief.)
Raven: That spell…
(Photon sinks to the ground, breathing heavily and leaning on his staff like a crutch.)
Photon: That was not one of my better ideas… Using a spell like that when I'm this worn out…
(Cyborg fires bursts from his Sonic Cannon at one and sends it sprawling.)
Cyborg: Boo-ya!
(Just as he is celebrating his victory, however, one pops up behind him, raising it's claws. He turns with a surprised look and brings up his hands to shield himself. Before the monster can strike, however, there is a burst of light from behind it, and it falls. As it drops out of sight, Bumblebee is seen behind it, Stingers raised.)
Bumblebee: You owe me, Sparky! Learn to watch your own back sometime!
(Déjà has succeeded in tapping one on the wings and is now flaying about with his new insect claws, ripping into entire groups of bugs who can only wonder why a comrade is attacking them. At one moment, however, a tonfa comes down on the back of his head. He turns back to himself with a cry of pain.)
Déjà: Mademoiselle Gemini, it is me!
Gemini: Oops, sorry… (thinking) I knew that, but when will I ever get another opportunity like that?
(The last bug is backing away, apparently horrified. It turns and takes to the sky.)
Shotman: What do you think, my sharp-eyed friend? Some target practice?
Speedy: Sounds good.
(The two take aim and fire. Bullet and arrow connect at the same time, and the bug drops.)
Echo: Victory! This calls fer celebration! Drinks all around!
Robin: Not yet. We have to find out where they came from. Raven, can you sense anything?
Raven: I'll try.
Echo: Shotman, what can ye see?
(Shotman is about to answer when more screams come from the direction of the city.)
Robin: Titans, move!
(Upon arriving in the city, the source of the screams is made apparent; the face of Killer Moth on a giant sized screen, looking down on a city block.)
Killer Moth: Hello, Titans, because I know you're watching. Did you like my little pets? They were sort of a test run; I wanted to see how an eighth of my army would fare against you. But that isn't the point. The point is, I've something to show you. Some friends of mine and I have been working on this for some time!
(The screen shifts to show what looks like a satellite of some type. The pint-sized and foul-mouthed Gizmo can be seen making some adjustments to it with a welding torch.)
Killer Moth: This is one of the latest things in technologic weaponry. When we send this satellite into orbit, we will be capable of wiping Jump City off the map! Even better, this cannon has enough power to take out the bases of you other two teams of annoyances at the same time! If you want to stop us, you'll have to come and get us!
(Cyborg types something into his arm and looks up.)
Cyborg: They're transmitting from underground.
Shotman: It looks like they've built a stronghold down there. Quite a large one at that.
Bumblebee: This is an obvious trap. What are we supposed to do?
Robin: What else can we do? We have to stop them. Guys, I'm sorry, but it looks like the party's over.
Bumblebee: You talk like we weren't going with you! This involves our cities too!
Echo: Right ye are, lass! We're not gonna just hoist anchor and ship out after hearin' that!
Robin: Then we'll all take 'em down together! Titans, move out!
(The Titans find a passage to the underground and begin to search out their targets. Raven pulls her hood down to see better in the dim light.)
Gemini: Ugh… What's that smell?
Speedy: We're in a sewer. Use your imagination.
(Gemini shudders. Raven walks up and taps Photon on the shoulder.)
Photon: (annoyed) What?
Raven: What you did back there… that spell... How do you know that spell?
Photon: (sneers) Wouldn't you like to know?
Raven: That would be one reason for asking, now wouldn't it?
Photon: Oh yeah? Well I don't have to answer, because you're just a-!
(He stops in mid-sentence, pauses for a second, then clamps his mouth shut. Evidently, Echo has hit the mark about Photon's sense of honor with his promises. He does not, however, look happy about it.)
Echo: So, what do ye suppose we're dealin' with here?
Robin: Obviously Killer Moth plays a part in this…
Cyborg: And that little runt Gizmo was there, so we can probably figure the Hive is in on it, too.
Shotman: Hmmm… I sense our Moth Man… as well as this "Hive" you spoke of; six of them.
Beast Boy: Six? Last we saw, they were a five man team!
Shotman: Someone else is aiding them. By the look of it, he has power similar to Gemini's, but nowhere near as advanced as hers…
Starfire: Another who does the multiplying?
Robin: That sounds like…
Cyborg: Numerous! That little banjo-strummin'-! I hate that guy!
Shotman: Three others… and they are true monsters!
Robin: I think we know which three… Anyone else?
Shotman: Just thousands of those bugs we fought earlier.
Raven: A group of those things of that number could be a real problem…
Shotman: Wait! I sense one other! But I cannot perceive him accurately! He is shrouded… Captain, this one is absolutely steeped in murderous intent; he's a killer!
Raven: I feel it, too…
Robin: Slade?
Raven: No. This guy feels… different.
Echo: What's a Slade?
(Robin grits his teeth and takes Echo aside to explain. Starfire walks ahead and strikes up a conversation with Gemini.)
Starfire: Has… has Echo been acting… strange in any way recently?
Gemini: How do you mean?
Bumblebee: Like…a bit over-excessive in any way?
Gemini: Well, he does seem to like making me blush a lot more… Ever since he found out-
Bumblebee: No, we mean like… in combat situations.
Gemini: Huh? No, not that I know of… Not since he got rid of that Eye… Why, have you… heard something?
Starfire: We just want to be sure that everything is okay.
Gemini: (sweating, and not quite meeting eyes) Everything's f-fine. It's not like any of us would ever try t-to kill s-s-someone or anything! I mean, we've put all that behind us, right!?
(Gemini gives a very forced laugh. Starfire exchanges a glance with Bumblebee and they are about to ask a few more questions when Photon walks past. Starfire and Bumblebee's gazes follow him and they turn momentarily red, as does Gemini.)
Bumblebee: You sure he's not available?
Gemini: Impossible. He doesn't trust anyone. He's colder than an ice storm in January.
Bumblebee: When a guy looks like that, who cares?
(Starfire gives an enthusiastic nod of agreement. Gemini says nothing, unable to assent to or deny this. Raven is watching this display, and looking embarrassed to even know the other girls.)
Raven: (thinking) I will never understand them. (shifts her gaze to Photon) What do they see in him, anyway? He's a first-rate creep! Okay, so maybe he does have some impressive power at his disposal, and maybe he is pretty smart, and he does…look very nice…and…those really are some amazing eyes…
(The eyes in question turn their dark blue gaze on her at that moment.)
Photon: You want something?
(Raven starts, realizing she is staring, and turns sharply away to hide the momentary red glow that creeps up her cheeks. She keeps her eyes on the path in front of her after that, then gets the feeling she is being watched. When she turns, he is facing forward, but Raven could swear that Photon had been looking right at her a second before.)
Raven: Hey, were you-?
Echo: What!? That's horrible!
(Everyone turns. Robin has just gotten to describing some of Slade's more endearing qualities to the red-haired captain.)
Echo: How could anyone be that twisted? Ye've got me word on this, Robin; this lunatic shows up again, me crew and I will be there to help ye!
Cyborg: Wall up ahead. A big one.
(Sure enough, they come to a pair of giant steel doors that are blocking the passageway.)
Cyborg: I'm picking up some type of man-made structure beyond these doors. Looks like it stretches out under the desert.
Robin: Now we know why they'd strike at the city so readily; they won't get hit if they do.
Bumblebee: Then we'll just have to stomp 'em before they're ready. First we gotta get past this roadblock. What do you think, big guy?
Shotman: These doors are impressively strong; even my cannon would be like a water pistol against this.
Robin: No problem. Raven…
Raven: Thought you'd never ask.
(Raven puts her hood back up, then surrounds the entire party with shadows and they all vanish into the form of a gigantic bird. This phases right through the doors. The bird fades and everyone is now standing on the inside. The East and South teams are looking around in surprise.)
Aqualad: Didn't know we had someone who could do that…
(Mas and Menos are shivering)
Together: Man, that stuff is cold!
Gemini: That was so cool! Raven, you're amazing!
Photon: I confess to being mildly impressed.
Echo: Really?
Photon: Well, it's not something I can do… (thinking) Incredible! I've never seen anything like this! How could a female ever…?
(There is suddenly a sound nearby that is like a mix of clanking and shuffling.)
Robin: We've got company.
Shotman: It is our insect friends from before.
Cyborg: (glances at his scanner) A lot of 'em. In these tunnels, they might have an advantage…
Echo: Fortunately, we won't have to fight 'em. Photon, me lad, it's yer turn!
(Photon gives a small nod, then spreads his hands out in a sweeping gesture.)
Photon: Everyone hold still and don't make a sound.
(The scene shows a huge crowd of the mechanical bugs all marching past the giant entrance doors. They eventually all pass by and are gone. After they leave, the air in front of the door shimmers and the Titans appear.)
Starfire: Why did they not attack us?
Echo: (grinning) Special trick that Photon discovered about three months back. By creatin' a hologram that mirrors whatever is right behind it, he makes everythin' within it completely invisible! He's been usin' that in combat fer quite some time now!
Raven: (thinking) And I can't do that…
Bumblebee: Good going, man!
Starfire: Your invisibility is a most fascinating thing, friend Photon!
Photon: Whatever… tell someone who values your opinion.
Cyborg: (thinking) Raven has a point… what are they so into him for? Especially Bee! Since when is she the friendly girl type? I figured I knew her better than that! Never mind. If she- I mean if they want to chase after jerks like this guy, it ain't my business.
Robin: Cyborg, which way?
Cyborg: Looks like it's up to the left…
(Everyone heads forward down the passage and they come to an opening to the left. Robin, Bumblebee, and Echo are leading the way. Mas and Menos suddenly come speeding into the room, skidding to a halt in front of Bumblebee. Beast Boy, who had been hanging onto them in mouse form, drops to the floor and enters his human mode, looking dizzy from the high speed. He stumbles around for a second, greener than usual.)
Beast Boy: (dazed) Next time, I'm riding on Cyborg's shoulder… (gags)
Bumblebee: Now who gave you two permission to lead the-
(Photon suddenly leaps in front of Echo.)
Photon: Captain, watch out!
(Before anyone else can even move, Photon, Beast Boy, Mas, and Menos together are all struck with scythes of pink light that seem to have sprung up from the floor.)
Speedy: What was that!?
Medic: Photon noticed it before any of us. That can only mean it was some type of magic.
Robin: How do you know?
Gemini: Photon has a special gift with magic; he can look through it and learn everything about it with a single glance. His eyes are very sensitive to it. In the sorcerer's world, that's a very useful ability.
--But can he see why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch? – The Cap'n--
Echo: Ye all right, lad?
Photon: I am right now. But I won't be later. Neither will they.
(He gestures to Beast Boy and the twins.)
Echo: What's happened?
Photon: We were struck with a motion-sensitive hex. Sometime during the next twenty-four hours, those of us afflicted will be forced by coincidence into the worst possible situation we can imagine.
Gemini: These curses will kill you!?
Photon: No. Just make us wish we were dead. The one who set the curse was-
(At that moment, Photon stops talking and is silent for nearly a full minute. When he speaks again, it is in a whisper that is dripping with hatred.)
Photon: It's her… She's here… She's here in this fortress… She's mine!
(Photon gets up and is about to run ahead, when Echo grabs him.)
Echo: Hold on, mate! Yer in no condition to run off by yerself. Besides, what'd ye always tell me back when ye we're plannin' our piratin' raids? "The key to victory is not mindless aggression…"
Photon: "…but carefully planned strategy." You're right Captain. I was out of control. I apologize.
Aqualad: So who is this "her" you were yelling about?
Robin: Jinx. A member of the Hive. She's bad luck.
Raven: Literally. (to Photon) You know her?
Photon: (through gritted teeth) We've met. (in undertone) "Jinx", is it? How fitting…
Starfire: Beast Boy, you are undamaged?
Beast Boy: I feel okay… I guess.
Mas: Us too.
Menos: We were just surprised is all.
Cyborg: Good. (glances at his arm panel.) The path branches off into three that way.
Shotman: It looks like we're in luck; each of those three paths leads to a power generator. If we can disable those, their satellite cannot launch!
Echo: We take out the power…
Aqualad: We take out their weapon…
Robin: We take them down! Then let's get going! We'll take out the generators, then we'll get Killer Moth and the others.
Bumblebee: Hold up. If this curse or whatever is going to hit each of them, won't we get caught by it too?
Robin: Point taken. We need a plan before we make any moves.
(Robin calls a meeting of the team leaders to decide how best to proceed. Echo sends Photon in his place.)
Robin: Echo, what-?
Echo: What? He's the strategic-minded one, not me!
(The two leaders and the sorcerer converse while Beast Boy speaks with Medic.)
Beast Boy: Can you cure this curse?
Medic: No. I am sorry, but my power has limitations. I can do nothing for magical afflictions. I also cannot help blood loss, or cure death.
Beast Boy: Death I get, but why not blood loss?
Medic: My power allows me to cure disease, heal bones, and close wounds. This is simply destroying the virus or repairing existing matter. To cure loss of blood would be to create matter from nothing, not heal it.
Beast Boy: Huh?
(Beast Boy has a background of question marks.)
Robin: Okay! I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but we have to split up. We'll go in three equal teams and each take care of a generator. Since we have four people who are cursed, and Mas and Menos need each other, each group will take one of them.
Bumblebee: Mas and Menos, you're with me. Star, you too. Big guy, you and your little French pal are comin' too.
Déjà: Tres bien! It is fate that we are to be together, non, mon cherie?
Mas: Hey pal, we told you before…
Menos: Butt out!
(The three get into their second argument since meeting.)
Robin: Echo, you take Beast Boy, Aqualad, Medic, and Raven. The rest of you, with me! Let's move!
Gemini: Aidan, be careful. There's no telling what else we might find in here.
Echo: No worries, Colleen, I'll be alright. I promise.
(The two step in close and kiss briefly. Evidently, their relationship has gotten closer over the past few months. Gemini still turns red, however.)
Robin: Okay! Titans, go!
Echo: Oh yeah! Robin, c'mere a second…
(Robin steps off to the side with Echo.)
Robin: What is it?
Echo: If ye want to get on Photon's good side, get him talkin' about his family. That'll make things easier fer ye. Right, ye four, let's ship out!
(Meanwhile, in the very center of the stronghold, a girl with bubble-gum pink hair and cat-like eyes is yelling at a group of teenage boys.)
Jinx: Haven't you gotten that thing finished yet!?
(A boy in a black uniform answers in militaristic fashion.)
Hive: Ma'am, yes ma'am! The launching device will be complete momentarily, ma'am!
(Another boy in a red jumpsuit that bears a division sign sticks his head up from behind the device they are building.)
Billy: (Southern accent) Just let us get a few more hands on the job…
(Billy multiplies himself into twenty.)
Billy x20: …and we'll be done in no time!
(A bald kid in green pops out from under the machine.)
Gizmo: No matter how many there are, it doesn't change the fact that I'm working with a bunch of crud-munching morons…
Billy: What!? Why you squinty-eyed horn-toad, I oughtta stomp the life outta ya!
Gizmo: Try it, barf-brain!
(They are about to go at it, when a gigantic eyeball appears between them. A boy in a white jumpsuit is standing a few feet away.)
See-More: Cool it. (calls back the eye) While you two are fighting, the Titans are getting closer. (to Jinx) It looks like they're going for the generators.
Jinx: As expected. And after my hexes take effect, it'll be all the easier. But just in case…
(She turns to three huge forms behind her, one formed of rock, the second of purplish ooze and green pustules, the third of crackling electricity.)
Jinx: You three get into position! Make sure you stall them long enough!
(Cinderblock, Plasmus, and Overload give grunts of assent and head out through a set of doors as Killer Moth enters.)
Killer Moth: My troops have been patrolling for hours with no signs. Are you sure the Titans are in this base?
Jinx: We just saw them on the cameras; of course they're here! Sigh This is why I don't work with bugs…
(A huge boy with bright orange hair and a gorilla-like face steps up to Jinx.)
Mammoth: Can we just launch this thing? I wanna go eat…
Jinx: For the millionth time, we launch the satellite after it's gained full power. Then we'll wipe out all the cities that the Titans protect as a warning to the rest of the world. While the Titans are down here trying to stop us, we'll crush them slowly, and have nothing to stop us from taking over everything!
(Jinx pauses for a moment and glances at a shadowy figure in the corner.)
Jinx: You could help, you know!
(The figure steps into the light. It is a boy of roughly seventeen years with dark hair and a pale complexion. He is garbed in black jeans and a loose red shirt under a black denim vest. He doesn't appear to be anything special. He glances up at Jinx, revealing eyes that are black as coal.)
Damien: What did you have in mind?
Jinx: Go patrol or something!
Damien: Patrol, huh? (grins, revealing very large and pointed canine teeth) Okay. You're the boss. One second…
(Damien reaches to his hip pocket which has a chain dangling from it. He pulls out a pewter flask which is attached to the chain. Engraved on the side of the flask is a skull with bat wings. He unscrews the lid and takes a quick drink. He spills a little, and a dark red droplet runs down his cheek. He wipes it off with his hand and licks his fingers. He then replaces the flask in his pocket and heads toward the door. Before he leaves, he turns and grins at the other men, who all shiver.)
Damien: Maybe one of these "Titans" will be in the mood for a drink, huh? (chuckles darkly) I'll be back…
(The scene shows Damien's face right before he leaves; the irises of his dark eyes have turned as red as the fluid he had drank moments before.)