Part 7- Trust
(Meanwhile…)
Bumblebee: Okay, I see where you're comin' from, but what if you're just not ready?
Echo: Nothin' wrong with that, lass. Just hang in there until yer comfortable. I'm not sayin' I know best, after all…
Shotman: Captain! I sense a presence behind us!
Robin: More of those bugs, judging by the sound of it…
(Sure enough, the mechanical monsters come scurrying down the corridor after the five Titans, in much larger force than they had previously been.)
Bumblebee: This isn't good…
Robin: We can't stop now! If we all work together, we can do this! Titans, go!
(Robin jumps up high and launches a Grappling Bird into the ceiling. He swings down, delivering a hard kick to one of the bug's faces. Once on the ground, he fills his hands with Throwing Birds and let's fly. Whole groups of the insects are cut across the wings and fall to the ground. Bumblebee fires her Stingers again and again, catching several in the weak points and dropping them to the floor. Starfire hovers overhead, throwing Star Bolts at every bug she sees. Shotman provides artillery support with his pistols. One bug raises it's curved metal claw, and deflects an energy bullet, which ricochets right into Starfire.)
Shotman: Sorry! Really, I'm sorry!
(Starfire falls and is set upon by the bugs. Robin jumps between them and begins holding off the bugs with his staff. One in front of him swings hard, and breaks the staff in two. While Robin takes a second to study his bisected weapon, another claw cuts him across the back.)
Bumblebee: Okay, let's see how you like this!
(She shrinks down to a tiny size and flits around in front of some of the bugs.)
Bumblebee: Come and get me…if you can!
(The bugs swing at her, but thanks to her decreased stature, she can evade with ease. She leads the bugs all over, and goads them into swinging at her, which results in them slicing each other right in the wing joints. Her plan doesn't last, however, as one simply holds up a claw while she is looking behind, and she flies right into it like a June bug. She falls to the ground, and resumes full size, rubbing her head.)
Bumblebee: Oww… Wah!
(She raises her hands to defend herself as one insect swings a claw down at her. There is the clang of metal on metal, and Echo is there, shoving the claw back with his sword. He raises his free hand and the concentretic blue sound waves burst forth and send the monster flying.)
Echo: Ye all righ- Aggh!
(Another bug has hit him from the side, opening a gash down his sword arm. The bugs have also succeeded in pinning Shotman to a wall. It took many of them to hold the hulking Russian back, but they managed it. Then, just as the five Titans are a step away from being destroyed, a storm of shuriken come flying at the bugs. The metal stars multiply in midair and strike down twice as many targets, hitting them in the weak spots. An axe blade slices across several more.)
Echo: Medic! Déjà! Colleen!
(Medic begins to heal the wounds of the others. Bumblebee is still surrounded, but this is rectified when a Sonic Cannon blast rips through her would-be captors.)
Cyborg: Really, Bee; when are you gonna learn to watch your own back?
(Bumblebee is about to get mad, but thinks better of it.)
Bumblebee: Thanks for the hand, Sparky.
Cyborg: Sigh How many times do I gotta tell you to quit callin' me that?
Bumblebee: You sure? I think you actually like it…
(The other Titans are about to resume their attacks, when pillars of solid stone burst through the metal floor and crush about half of the insects into the ceiling.)
Starfire: That attack-!
Robin: It can't be…
(A figure passes over them and lands in the light; Terra. She raises her hands, which glow with yellow light, and several more insects are sent flying by a pelting of stones.)
Terra: Who told you guys to start without me?
(A green triceratops comes rampaging down the passage and flattens the remaining insects. Beast Boy shifts back to human form shortly after.)
Beast Boy: Or me?
Robin: Beast Boy! You're okay!
Beast Boy: Yeah. Thanks to these guys. (indicates Medic, Gemini, and Déjà) And…to her.
Terra: (waves) Hey.
(There is the sound of bones snapping, and Terra's eyes shoot open; Starfire has seized her in one of her hugs.)
Starfire: Terra! Thank Zal! You are alive and undamaged! We were so very upset to think we would never see you again!
(Starfire is increasing the pressure of her hug. Terra's eyes water with pain, and her head begins to inflate like a balloon. Gemini has twin tear streams flowing down her face.)
Gemini: I feel her pain…but it's better her than me!
Terra: (gagging) Starfire, I'm happy to see you again, but I can't breathe…!
Starfire: Oh…my apologies, friend…
(Starfire releases the blonde. Terra's head resumes it's proper size.)
Echo: So yer Terra, are ye? Ye got good taste, Beast Boy me lad! Owwww!
(Gemini grabbed his cheek and pulled it out at his last words.)
Echo: I didn't mean nothin' by it, Colleen. I was just bein' friendly…
Terra: And you are…?
(Echo performs a sweeping bow.)
Echo: Aidan "Echo" McQuain, at yer service, lass. I lead the Titans South. But how is it ye are here? I understood ye to be…indisposed.
Terra: I have Gemini and these guys to thank for that. They brought me back.
Gemini: But we nearly killed ourselves doing it; don't count on another revival any time soon…
(Shotman has gotten to his feet and strode over.)
Shotman: A greeting to you, little one. I am Shotman of the Titans South.
Terra: Uh… hi.
(She is staring up at him, finding it hard to believe that anyone could be this impossibly huge.)
Robin: Terra, it's good to have you back. We really appreciate the help.
Terra: Robin…I'm really sorry about before. It's just… he helped me to learn control and… I don't know what I was thinking. I understand if you guys are still mad…
Robin: Don't worry about it. That's in the past. Besides, you turned out all right in the end, don't you think?
Terra: Thanks… So! Seems like I came back at just the right time, huh Star? Gemini told me on the way here. I always wondered when you two would get together!
Robin: Er… about that… that was…
(At that moment, there is a swirl of shadows on the wall and Raven and Aqualad appear, holding up a battered-looking Speedy.)
Raven: Robin! We've got trouble! It's Photon, he's-! Terra!?
Terra: Raven! You're here after all!
Robin: She's been revived. We'll explain later. Now what's the problem?
Bumblebee: Speedy, what happened to you!?
Echo: And where's Photon!?
Speedy: (gasping) That's just it… Photon… Photon did this to me…!
Gemini: What!? Why would he-!?
(Medic finishes healing Speedy and he stands with a grim look.)
Speedy: He's a traitor!
(Before anybody can move or say anything, Speedy goes flying into the wall after Echo's fist impacts his face hard enough to set both his bottom lip and nose bleeding. Echo is now struggling to get at the archer, with Shotman holding him back.)
Echo: Shotman, let go! I'll teach ye to call me best mate a mutineer, ye nasty, lyin' little scum!
Shotman: Captain, please, calm down!
Gemini: Aidan, control yourself!
Echo: No! This mangy bilgerat is gonna learn what happens when ye insult me mates!
(Speedy gets up, rubbing his face. Medic heals his wounds again.)
Medic: Are you all right?
Speedy: I guess so… What is going on today!? Everybody's hitting me! It's like the whole day is being planned by some evil writer who enjoys seeing me in pain!
-- Whistling innocently - The Cap'n --
Bumblebee: Quit whinin' and tell us what happened!
Speedy: Photon's joined up with the Hive. I saw him myself! When he found out I was listening in, he attacked me.
Echo: That's not true! Ye've been settin' him off all day! Ye probably just went and made him mad, an' now yer tryin to avoid blame!
Shotman: Captain, he could be telling the truth.
Echo: Yer not sayin' ye believe this load of bilgewater!? Photon has been me best mate fer years! I'd stake me life on our friendship! He has me complete trust! An' yer tellin' me that's not good enough!?
Shotman: I can see into Speedy's memory, Captain; it happened as he said.
Echo: Either ye need yer Inner Eye examined, or he does his head! (indicates Speedy) Medic, what say ye?
Medic: Captain, I believe everyone deserves equal chance…but Photon is not exactly the ideal picture of innocence. None of us has ever really gotten along with him.
Déjà: That attitude of his is not to my tastes at all!
Echo: Ye swabs! Ye'd abandon a mate just like that!?
Speedy: Photon didn't seem to have a problem with it…
Echo: I'm warnin' ye, lad, one more word… Colleen, what do ye think?
Gemini: Aidan… Photon is far from a good friend of mine. He's rude, selfish, cold, and he never has a decent word to say to anyone. All in all, he's a total jerk. But…his friendship with you is real enough. Anyone can see that. I don't believe that he would betray you. I don't like him, but… I trust him, too.
Echo: Finally, a vote of confidence! An' she's right! Why would Photon ever betray me? I'll tell ye: he wouldn't! I'll prove it!
(Echo opens his communicator.)
Echo: Photon, me lad, come in!
(There is static from the other end.)
Speedy: That won't do any good. He destroyed his communicator. I watched him.
Echo: Don't be stupid; it's just a bad connection!
Cyborg: Listen, sometimes the people you think are friends turn out to-
Echo: Photon would never break the promise we made!!!
Robin: What promise?
(Echo looks down at his right palm.)
Echo: A promise we made when we first met; to always be best mates, an' never stop fightin' fer our dreams!
Gemini: Photon said that? I never thought he'd say something that sappy… Unless you count some of the things he said because of that virus…
Robin: The virus! If the villains he saw were with a girl…
Raven: That's it! Jinx was with them! He went without his blindfold. He must have seen her and-!
Shotman: Why was he without his blindfold?
Raven: I got tired of the arguing, so I… (stunned pause) It was me… It's all my fault... If I hadn't uncovered his eyes, he never would have-!
Robin: Forget that! The point is, if that's what happened, then whether we trust him or not, Photon's on the evil side now. And that means… (cracks his knuckles) …he's gotta go down. Echo, are you with us?
(Echo is silent for a second, continuing to stare at his palm. Then he looks up grimly.)
Echo: If it's that virus, I can see why he might've done it. I'll help, but I'll never believe me best mate's turned traitor. If we have to fight him… fine. But Robin, ye should know… out of all me crewmates I'd never want to fight, the idea of goin' against Photon scares me the most. He's a genius with access to some of the highest level magic; ye've no idea what he's capable of…
Shotman: Captain, I've just thought of something rather disturbing… Photon has joined our enemies because of this Jinx girl… his dream… "Black Queen captures the White Knight"…
(With a chill, Echo realizes what the marksman is saying.)
Echo: Aye…and next comes checkmate fer the black army… if that's truly what it meant… we're all in the worst type of danger.
Robin: We'll have to risk it. Where is he now?
Shotman: I cannot tell. He is using his magic to shield his mind from me. Hm? Ah! But this Jinx is a few corridors to the left. It appears that Photon has created a strategy for them; she and her four companions, and Photon as well it looks like, are going to be springing a surprise attack on those who come down that corridor.
Bumblebee: Well, it'd be a shame to disappoint 'em!
Robin: My thoughts exactly, but we still have to take care of that satellite. So, we'll keep moving ahead, then we'll split up.
(After continuing down the corridor for a few minutes, the path branches off in several directions.)
Robin: Okay! We'll split up, and if you find the satellite, destroy it, and report to us over our communicators. Star and I will take this direction. We know that they're probably waiting for us, but we also know where most of them are gathered. Shotman, is there a path where you can reach Photon from here?
Shotman: Farthest path to the right.
Robin: Okay then, You take Beast Boy and Terra to deal with their sneak attack, and-
Echo: I'm goin'! As his Captain, it is my obligation to see that this is taken care of.
Gemini: I'm going too! Aidan, I know you don't want to believe it, but if Photon has turned against us, I won't let you face him without me!
Echo: If that's what ye want, lass…
Speedy: Count me in! I've got a score to settle with that guy…
Robin: Okay, Raven, you can-
Raven: I'm going with them.
Robin: Hm?
Raven: Well… I feel a bit responsible for this. It's my fault he's turned against us, so I'm going to deal with it!
Robin: Alright. That leaves us a bit shorthanded… Déjà, you take Mas and Menos down that way, Cyborg, you and Bumblebee take that way… Medic, Aqualad, will you guys be okay on your own?
Aqualad: I'm good to go.
Medic: I shall do what is necessary for our goal.
Robin: Alright. Titans, go!
(Everyone splits up and heads down different corridors. The Hive Five and Photon are busy lying in wait for their sneak attack to go off.)
Mammoth: This is going to be so perfect… I can't wait to see the looks on their faces…
Jinx: We owe it all to you, Photon. Hey… (she leans in closer) …maybe when we're through here, we can head down to our control room… (she jerks her thumb at the passage behind her on the right.) …and you and I can push the launch button on the satellite together!
(She flutters her eyelashes at him.)
Photon: Sounds like fun, as long as I'm with you. Can we strike Harbor City first?
Jinx: (chuckles) If you want…
See-More: Somebody's coming… A whole bunch of 'em.
Hive: Alright, cadets! Just like we went over in practice!
Jinx: Gizmo, you're on!
(Gizmo runs down the corridor, stops before reaching the corner, tosses a ball-shaped device from his belt. It rolls in front of the incoming Titans and a hologram of several Gizmo's pops up. The Titans stop in their tracks to deal with the apparent threat.)
Jinx: Private Hive!
(The militaristic villain raises his shield and tosses it like a discus. As it heads towards the Titans, wisps of thick smoke begin to pour out of its edges. The Titans cough as the smoke chokes off their air and obscures their vision.)
Beast Boy: I can't cough can't see!
Jinx: Okay, Mammoth, you and me!
(Mammoth raises his arms and swings them at the ground, shattering some of the metal and sending it flying. At the same time, Jinx waves her arms at the ceiling, sending waves of pink light that create even more metal shrapnel.)
Shotman: Incoming!
Raven: Get behind me!
(Raven raises a dome of shadows around everyone that shields them from the metal.)
Photon: They went for it! See-More, now!
(See-More adjusts his visor, then launches a giant eye-shape that surrounds the shadow-dome, walling the Titans in.)
Jinx: It worked! We got 'em!
Hive: Mission accomplished! Sir, you are the best tactical officer this army has ever seen!
Photon: Thank you. Now we end it…
(Photon puts his blindfold on and steps forward.)
Echo: Photon! What are ye doin', mate!?
Photon: My job. Luminos Necrodin Xendrenel…
(A ball of light appears in his hand and begins to grow brighter. He points this at the trapped Titans.)
Echo: Photon, stop! What about yer dream!? The one you swore ye'd fulfill someday!?
Photon: I woke up.
Raven: You traitor!
Photon: Don't be like that. Think of it as a chess game; you know how it goes. You open up your defenses just enough, let the enemy get a false sense of security as they creep ever closer, and before they know it…
(Photon suddenly turns around sharply, raises his blindfold, and points his blast at the Hive Five.)
Jinx: What!?
Photon: …they've walked right into a trap!
(He fires, and the Hive Five all go flying through the wall in the same fashion Speedy did before. This taken care of, Photon raises his staff and shatters the giant eye around the Titans.)
Shotman: I don't believe it… You were tricking them the whole time!?
Echo: Ha! I told ye!
Photon: When I first saw them, I knew we couldn't fight them with just the four of us right then, so I played this card.
Shotman: But you were looking right at that girl… What about the virus?
Photon: Iris can't infect me. It's all her fault my life got so destroyed in the first place. I can never feel any type of affection for her. "Base emotion only", remember?
Speedy: Why'd you attack me, then!?
Photon: If I didn't, they would have gone after you when they spotted you themselves.
Speedy: Well, you didn't have to hit me so hard…
Photon: I owed you for tripping me.
Beast Boy: First you're with us, then you're against us, now you're with us again; how are we supposed to trust you!? For all we know, you're just like that Malchior guy!
(Photon turns to him with a shocked expression.)
Photon: Who!?
Beast Boy: Malchior. He was this-ow!
(Raven has just elbowed him in the side.)
Raven: (whispering) Shut it! I told you not to mention that!
(Photon stares at Beast Boy for a moment more. One can almost hear the wheels turning in his head. However, he doesn't get much time to dwell on it.)
Terra: So you're the last member of the South team?
(There is the heartbeat sound after Photon glances at her, then he is right up close to her.)
Photon: Let's not talk about that now. Let's discuss it later, maybe over dinner.
Terra: Huh!? (to Echo) How many guys like this are on your team!?
Beast Boy: Hey, what's your deal!? What do you think you're-!?
Raven: Relax, it's not his fault.
(Shotman explains the virus to the openly-irritated changeling while Photon keeps his gaze on Terra. With the virus now at it's fifth stage, he is finding it much harder to resist.)
Beast Boy: Well alright, I understand. Just…( he spins Photon to face away from Terra.)…keep your eyes off her is all I ask.
(There is another heartbeat sound, and Photon is now gazing at Gemini, who is struggling with the unwelcome blush that follows. Echo pulls out the blindfold and shoves it rather roughly over Photon's eyes.)
Photon: My apologies Captain… Still, I can see why you chose her as your girlfriend…I'd never realized she was so- No! I must not give in… I know where the computer is; let's go and shut down that program!
Shotman: Photon, you could just smash the computer. That would solve your problem too.
Photon: No. It's better if I just shut it down. Then I might be able to find a way to create an immunity if we ever face this again. Gemini, wait for me- Agh! Sorry, Captain…
(Echo is smiling, but has several cross-marks on his head.)
Echo: Don't think on it…now, we've been ordered to split up an' search fer that satellite, but we need to get that virus out of ye, especially now that it's a step away from its permanent phase…
Gemini: Let Shotman or Speedy go with him. It'll be safest that way.
Echo: What? But I thought I'd-
Gemini: Please, Aidan? I've had to be separated from you twice on this mission; I want to be with you at the end.
Echo: Sigh Ye know very well I can't refuse ye when ye make that face, lass. Right, Beast Boy, ye can…
Beast Boy: No thanks! I haven't seen Terra in such a long time and I'm not splitting up with her now for anything. Besides, what if that blindfold slips? You think I want him stuck on Terra!?
Echo: Fine. Speedy, Shotman, ye can fight over it. Let's go, Colleen.
(Echo and Gemini take off down one corridor while Beast Boy and Terra take another. Speedy looks over at Photon with contempt in his eyes. This is visible even with his mask on.)
Speedy: I'm not going anywhere with him. He nearly killed me. And anyway, isn't it kind of obvious what we should do?
Shotman: What do you mean?
Speedy: Think about it. I'm an archer, you're a marksman. Our abilities complement each other. It'll be best if you and me stick together. The same applies to those two.
Shotman: Good point. Raven, I leave it to you!
(These two are gone in seconds.)
Raven: Hey, wait! Our powers might complement, but…
Photon: We don't!
(Realizing they are alone, they grudgingly start moving together towards the control room, Raven guiding her blindfolded companion. As they leave, there is an explosion from the wall and Mammoth steps out followed by the rest of the Hive Five. Jinx is absolutely livid.)
Jinx: That slimy, two-faced…! Nobody leads me on like that and gets away with it!
Gizmo: Yeah? He just did.
Jinx: Shut up! All of you, follow them! Take them all out!
(Jinx opens a hexagonal-shaped communicator.)
Jinx: Billy, get out here! We're gonna need some extra hands!
Billy: But, there's intruders headin' straight fer the control room!
Jinx: I said get out here! Leave those two to me…
Damien: So where do you want me?
-- Wheeeeeeee!!! Here comes the fun!! But you've gotta wait til next week for the fights! Ha ha! Carve out some time, 'cause the next chapter is a long one. If you are squeamish about blood, you may want to be sure your stomach is settled before you read it. You were warned. - The Cap'n --
Jinx: They've probably got someone after the satellite; Damien, you get over there and guard that room! If any of the Titans get in, eliminate them!
Damien: "Eliminate"? As in…?
Jinx: As in do whatever you want with them! Kill them if it makes you happy, just don't let them near the satellite!
Damien: (sounding elated) Y-You mean it!?
(Damien gives a bone-chilling laugh before leaving the control room.)
Damien: This promises to be a lot of fun…