Author: Here's chapter 11. I'mma post it and chapter 12 because I feel the two should be posted at the same time. Things are about to hit the fan. With this chapter you'll see three new characters (old in Teen Titans) who bring about chhaaoooss! 8D But you technically won't meet all three until the next chapter. Ahahahaha. I'm cruel. Anyway, enjoyyy.
Disclaimer: I only own the energy users, nothing more. Ahahaha.
[MaraJade57]
Thanks. c': I know I didn't give much detail to how Wintergreen was doing, but I like being vague, letting the reader try to visualize it as they want. :P Yessss. I'm really starting to love the concept of Wintergreen. He's, in his own way, a bad-ass like Slade cause he was also a major in the military. He knows how to fight without powers or enhancements. cx
The night air was frosty, chillier than it had been recently. It was already dipping into the later half of August. The unexpected happened. Her miraculous escape.
Her powers had kicked in while they were distracted with Slade and it consumed her, acting like a teleport mechanism. She found herself in an empty alley, body shaking from the cold.
After quite awhile of being stuck in casual clothes it was nice to be wearing her old attire, clean of course. The tan, white and brown colors gave her a sense of comfort even as it began to rain. She darted under a doorway, the overhang covering her from the water.
She pressed her back against the wall, sliding down to rest on the top step.
She cupped her face by the sides, sighing into the damp air. She was lonely, scared, hurting emotionally and cold physically.
"I wish things were easier.."
"Things are never easy. Where would the fun be in that?" A low, vibrating male voice asked, clearly hidden behind a veil.
She peered up and was surprised to see the robed villain from her first day in Jump City leaning casually back against the opposite wall, arms folded across his dark chest, his costume ominous as ever. Another stood beside him, an unknown she didn't recognize.
"You.." She gasped, clearly recognizing the masked anti-hero. "Who are you?"
"We cross paths again.. only this time.. it's just us." He said menacingly, like his intentions here were ill instead of simple. "The name's Red X, babe. Don't worry about my partner. He don't bite."
"Just leave me alone.." She lowered her head, huddling in on herself.
"You know, I didn't notice it at first with your friend in the way, but.." He said, walking over to crouch before her, tipping her chin up with a gloved hand. "..you are kind of cute."
Her eyes began to glow red and she got up, stalking over to reach out, gripping his collar area with crackling red hands. "I said.. leave me alone." She let go, shoving him back into the wall.
The rain crashed down all around the duo, each staring down the other. Ruba held an irritated expression while Red X's mask hid his face. The dark garbed male merely stood beside the wall, watching silently.
"Feisty. I like that." He laughed as her energy faded away. She merely glared before returning to sitting on a step, her forehead against her knees. "But we're on a tight schedule. I know you won't come quietly if I ask, so I won't." Movement followed and when she looked up she was staring at a black gun he pointed at her. "Time for you-" Her eyes widened and she tensed. "-to go to sleep." The gun clicked and a laser zapped her.
She hissed in pain before collapsing onto her side.
He put away his gun, examining her unconscious frame. "We have much to do." He glanced back at the quiet male, whose form shifted to a tall, lean and curvy red suited body that had short black hair and blue eyes.
"Much to do indeed." A light French accent spoke softly.
"The boss will be happy." Red X chuckled. "You have your treasure.. where's mine?"
The female retrieved a bag from somewhere in her suit and tossed it to him. He opened it, checked and put it away.
"Pleasure doing business. Send the boss my regards." She nodded to this as he turned and began to run, but when he tapped his belt he flickered like static and was gone.
The woman moved in a brisk saunter over to the knocked out energy user, reaching to lift her up into her arms to carry her. "I am Madame Rouge and you, my dear.. now belong to the Brain."
Sari punched a wall, which webbed at the impact. He started to pace, growling under his breath.
"-just got her back! Where could she have gone?" He was saying, a biting sting to his words.
"We checked the cameras and they have shown her.. vanish." Starfire said as she floated over to stand by Robin.
"Vanish? She can't vanish." San questioned lightly, confusion on her face.
"Here, watch this." Cyborg pulled up the feed on the monitor and pressed play. It showed Ruba seated, tied, half turned. Just as Slade was about to be disconnected red energy enveloped Ruba and she did vanish, the rope falling to rest on the couch.
"No way.. she's progressing in her power, she's learned to teleport with it." Sari stared dumbfounded at the screen before facing the team behind him and his two allies. "I don't even know how to do that."
"Neither do I.." San whispered, shocked. So they were capable of other things with their energy?
"I believe Atty has a similar capability." Silvy mused aloud, gaining the attention of the others. He looked at their expressions, gauging them as he continued. "Swift like wind. The scientist said something about how because we're unique it'd be plain to see that we'd all have different abilities with the power we had."
"Makes sense." San nodded her agreement.
Sari rubbed his chin, returning to pacing. Just what could they all do? What made each of them 'unique'? These were just more confusing questions.
"So what are we going to do? I'm starving!" Beast Boy whined, bouncing at his seat like a hyperactive child.
"Let us make dinner!" Starfire pointed up with a finger, beaming that sincere smile of hers.
"Alllriighhttt!" Cyborg rose and moved over into the kitchen area, Starfire, Beast Boy and Raven following.
Robin sat blankly, watching Sari like a hawk. "What are we going to do?"
Sari grabbed his jacket, from the back of the couch where he had placed it when they got back, and tugged it on. "I have a really bad feeling.. I'm going to find her. If I'm not back by dawn send San and Silvy to find me." The Titan nodded and the blue user marched out of the room, the silent eyes of the white and grey user trailing after him until the door closed.
He walked down the hallway, the glow from the lights above casting a small shadow from him.
His mind wondered as he walked. He headed down to the garage area and borrowed a jet-pack that had been set by Robin's bike and used it to get to the city. The chilly air felt good on his visible skin as he landed after flying for several minutes.
He felt lonely as he detached the pack, setting it down on the beach area he arrived at.
He walked down the street soon after, scanning it as he went. A few night owls roamed, but otherwise it was creepily quiet. Even the cars passing by were like ghosts. You could see them, plain as day, but they sounded so soft, like a helicopter in the distance. It started to rain and even as he got soaked he continued to walk in the open, looking, searching for his comrade.
At some point he started to hallucinate and he could have sworn he saw his actual little sister standing a few yards ahead, giggling, waving at him with a light smile on her young face. He called out, "Aubrey!", but she didn't respond, just waved some more before turning and vanishing into the growing mist.
He had ran after her, but she, too, was a ghost in this city, a remnant of his past, his memories haunting him. He gripped his head as a sharp shink! echoed in his mind, but he forced that vision aside. He didn't want to recall the day he had no control, the day he was forced to take away the people he cared about. It had been a nightmare.
He picked up his pace and faltered his step as he heard a gunshot close by, but it was hollowed, like a beam or blast instead of a bullet. He advanced toward it, curious, and paused by the mouth of an alley as he heard a male voice that was muffled by something, cloth perhaps.
"The boss will be happy." A short laugh. "You have your treasure.. where's mine?"
He felt stiff, back against the wall as he listened.
"Pleasure doing business. Send the boss my regards." There were two presences, but one was quiet as the male spoke again. The sound of footsteps running in the opposite direction and he knew the male was gone.
Who was left- "I am Madame Rouge and you, my dear.. now belong to the Brain." That voice.. he didn't recognize it, a sharp French curl to her words, but the name rang several bells.
Madame Rouge was a master spy, a shape-shifting stretcher capable of infiltration, assassination, theft and other vile things. She was known to work with a group that the Doom Patrol fought against: the Brotherhood of Evil.
What was she doing here, in Jump City?
He peeked around the corner and his eyes widened at what he saw. The villain was holding in her arms.. Ruba!
He had to act! He darted around the corner, using speed, stealth, the rain and the large shadows as his allies. He tackled the lady and Ruba was dropped.
The pair rolled for several seconds before he got control, delivering a punch at the red clad spy. She growled, wrapping her fingers around his neck and pitched him away. He grunted as he connected with a wall and collapsed to the wet ground below.
Blue energy crackled around him as he moved to stand, but he was pushed back against the wall by two long hands. The woman smirked, walking closer to see her assailant.
"You're.. just a teen.." The woman evaluated, but wasn't overly surprised. This city and several others were overrun by child heroes.
"I'm a young adult! Let me go!" He struggled, but her hands pinned his arms against the wall and his kicking feet was met only by empty air; she stood a safe distance away, her stretched limbs keeping him in place.
"No. Just who do you think you are? Vhat are you doing here?" She demanded, studying him with mocking blue gemstones that were like his own.
He laughed heartily and grinned at her. "I get it. The masked villain sent you here to retrieve Ruba. Just who was it you were talking to?"
She frowned, tilting her head, causing her short black hair to sway with the gesture. They were beneath an overhang so they were shielded from the rain, but not the cold.
"Ah, Ruba, that is her name.." She saw the energy glinting around his clenched hands and noted the connection. He was like her. "And you are?" She had clearly brushed aside his other words.
"Sari. It's a pleasure to make you acquaintance, Madame Rouge, but you're not taking Ruba-"
"On the contrary, my young friend, the game has changed. Two birds vith von trap." His eyes widened. Wait, no. Brain was after her powers? Oh, no, no! He couldn't let her take either of them.
"Red X." She spoke into the air and realized she was talking to whoever had been there previously. "Change of plans. I vill require your presence further."
Suddenly a form materialized beside her and Sari found himself staring at a white masked, dark robed short male. "Well, well. Another hero?" He said mockingly, earning a glare from the wriggling energy user.
"Let the two of us go and I won't hurt either of you, you can just walk away safely." He stated, dangerously calm and serious. His blue orbs had narrowed and the energy increased at his fingertips.
"You're funny, kid, but you're not gonna play hero, not this time." Red X said and then a current consumed Sari's body and he screamed in agony as he writhed under the power. When the anti-hero let off he was unconscious, steam rising from his body in small patches.
Madame Rouge turned to spare her partner a look, smiling. "Vell done. The Brain vill be pleased."
"I'm sure he will. Let's get them back. I'm tired of standing in this weather." He walked over and picked up Ruba, placing an x-shaped device onto her hands. Cuff-like objects meant to constrict powers. He tossed one to Rouge and she put it on Sari's wrists. Red X teleported them back to the Brain's lair.
The sound of rain falling filled the quiet alley as the event went unnoticed by the Titans back at the tower.