Well, this chapter goes out in celebration that I survived my first week back at school, and I hope everyone who had their first week back survived too. So here is the next chapter, after my first small cliff-hanger. Didn't think I did too bad on it. Anywho, here it is. Enjoy
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE TEEN TITANS!!!!
Once he had taken out the men, Nightwing started looking for 'Aukia. He spotted him closest to the outer docks. 'Aukia was moving toward the bins, making sure he stayed hidden behind the crates. His dark complexion and 6'0 height made him a very hard man to not be afraid of; not to mention his savage dark eyes. When Nightwing first met him he was taken back, but it hadn't taken long for him to realize that 'Aukia had no fighting skills, though he was a superb shot. I've got to cut off his escape.
Nightwing started moving quickly toward him then stopped suddenly when he saw 'Aukia pointing a shotgun at something. Nightwing turned toward the barrels direction and saw Starfire throwing a man off a bin. He knew if he went after 'Aukia, Starfire could be seriously injured but if he went after Starfire, 'Aukia could get away. He started to continue on his path before the he heard the gun sound then instinctively turned left. His heart tripled in speed as he raced to reach Starfire before she hit the ground. He had 50yds to go and he was sure he wouldn't make it. Using all of his energy he jumped, arms outstretched. As soon as he felt her, he pulled himself into a front flip and landed on his feet, Starfire cradled in his arms.
He laid Starfire on the ground and searched for bullet. He ran his hands over her waist and felt liquid on her left side. He turned her on her side and looked at the womb.
"Nightwing," Starfire's voice quivered, "I will be fine, just find Raven."
Nightwing thought quickly. He closed his eyes and focused on Raven, trying to contact her: Raven, where are you?
Beast Boy, Cyborg and I are at the western corner heading south-
No, come east; Starfire has been hit and she is loosing a lot of blood.
Nightwing heard a faint pop and felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling him away from Starfire. Raven got down beside her and quietly whispered something while moving her hands over Starfire womb.
"Star, this might hurt a little."
Star nodded. The others watched as the bullet removed itself from Starfire's side and her skin mended itself; all the while, Starfire maintained her composure.
"She'll be fine. Nightwing where do you…." Raven turned to look at Nightwing, but he had disappeared.
"Man, that guy cannot stand still."
"Well, we better find him before he does something stupid." Raven turned to Starfire, "You should probably stay seated for a while so you gain regain your strength."
Starfire shook her head, "No, we must find 'Aukia. That was our mission and Nightwing has left to finish it; we must help him." Before Raven could protest Starfire launched off into the air and headed to the east towards the outer docks.
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Nightwing jumped from bin to bin, heading toward the docks. He could see 'Aukia's ships in the distance. I am not going to let you get away again.
A bullet hit the metal bin an inch away from Nightwing's left foot causing him to loose his balance and fall off the side. He landed on his feet and looked around, listening for any sound of movement.
"Well, well. Bird Boy seems to have grown up a little." The deep voice echoed through the bins, with no real direction to where it was coming from.
"Why don't you stop hiding in the shadow's 'Aukia? Are you too afraid to face me man to man?"
'Aukia smiled as he silently moved toward Nightwing's position. "Don't think your petty words will cause me to loose my patience. I am a very patient man."
Nightwing slowly moved along the edge of the bins, knowing that any sudden noise could give away his position. "You know, I don't think your boss will appreciate you failing him like this. I mean this has got to be embarrassing, loosing your men to a couple a young adults. It's pretty pathetic if you ask me."
Lighting struck the sky followed by a loud roar of thunder. "That saddest part about this Bird Boy is that no body will be able to hear you die. The thunder will cover the sound of the gun and then I can just dump your body into the ocean. No body will ever know."
Nightwing had moved beyond the safety of the bins and was standing out in the open waiting for 'Aukia to make a mistake. He kept moving in circles searching the shadows for a figure.
"Too bad your little girlfriend isn't here to see you die. But, then again, you did get to see her perish."
Nightwing new he was trying to get him to stop concentrating, and it was working. He had left Starfire to find 'Aukia and had trusted that Raven would take care of it, but what if it had been too late. No, Richard, stay focused. You would know if anything had happened to Kori.
'Aukia raised the gun to eye level and had it pointed at Nightwing's back. "She was a pretty girl. Too bad you never got the chance to say goodbye."
"He won't have to."
'Aukia turned around only to be blasted backwards into a cargo bin by a green bolt. Before he had a chance to react Nightwing's hand was at his throat.
"WHERE IS YOUR BOSS 'AUKIA?!?!?!?!?" Lighting again lighted the sky and rain started hurtling towards the ground. 'Aukia face remained still.
"TELL ME WHERE HE IS AND YOU WON'T GET HURT!!!!!!!"
"Nothing you do to me will ever match what Pilot is….." His eyes widened in realization of his mistake.
"Pilot. So where can I find this Pilot? What is he up to?!?!"
"Do you think I'm stupid Bird Boy? Pilot doesn't accept failure and he hates traitors."
Nightwing smirked, "Looks like he won't be very pleased with you then."
"Who said I……" 'Aukia's eyes widened and he screamed in agony. Nightwing let go and stepped back, watching as 'Aukia fell on his knees, holding his head and screaming.
"PLEASE, MASTER!!!! I HAD NOT YET FINISHED THE JOB!!! I HAVEN'T FAILED!!!! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!!!! PLEASE, MASTER, PLEASE!!!!"
"Nightwing, what is wrong with him?" Starfire said, cautiously approached Nightwing.
"I don't know Star."
'Aukia stopped moving and lay flat on his face. Nightwing guardedly moved towards him. As he reached for his shoulder, 'Aukia jumped forward on top of Nightwing. His eyes were blood shot and he was drooling uncontrollably. Starfire helped pull him off Nightwing and they both pushed him into the bin.
"MAKE IT STOP!!!! MAKE THE RINGING STOP!!!!" 'Aukia twisted and turned like a rabid animal, screaming and twitching.
"Night-wing. What…. is wrong…..with him?" Starfire struggled to ask as she and Nightwing tried to hold 'Aukia against the bin. Even with her Tamaranian strength, she still struggled as 'Aukia shook rabidly.
"I………
……..don't
…….know
…….Star."
"MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE, I'll TELL YOU ANYTHING!!!! JUST MAKE IT…………….." 'Aukia's body slumped against the bin Starfire immediately let go and gasped when she saw his pale face and the ghost-white look in his eyes. She turned towards the ocean and hugged herself, trying to stop her shivering.
Nightwing released his hold on 'Aukia and watched as the body fell to the ground and into puddles of water.
"Nightwing, what happened?" Nightwing turned to see Cyborg, Raven and Beast Boy coming out of the cargo bins.
"I don't know. We need to get him back to run a diagnostic to see what killed him."
Cyborg moved over to 'Aukia lifeless body and started running tests. "The rain is interfering with the testing. This would be easier to do if he were in the hospital wing at the tower."
Nightwing nodded and looked up at the sky, watching the rain fall.
BAM!!!!!!! The others looked over to see a dent in one of the cargo bins where Nightwing had punched it. Without a word he walked off in frustration back towards the cycle and T-Car. Cyborg picked up the body and moved alongside Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy as they followed Nightwing in silence.
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High above them hovered a small remote control airplane. It had zoomed in on the Titans just as Nightwing had hit the cargo bin.
"Now, now Nightwing. No need for violence." The shadowy figured smirked, evilly. "How would that look to your little girlfriend?"Ok, so fall all those who want to know where I got the name: 'Aukia means Seafarer. I thought it was pretty fitting, and different, so I went with it.
I would love to hear everyone's thoughts, grammatical or based on the storyline. And for the record I say I'm maybe a little over half-way done. Of course that is always prone to change. Hope everyone has an AMAZING weekend!!!