IMPORTANT: BEFORE YOU READ ANYMORE, I HAVE TO INFORM YOU TO READ MY PREQUEL CALLED: A PLANTED SEED. I JUST FINISHED IT AS I STARTED THIS CHAPTER AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO READ IT BEFORE CONTINUING DUE TO ENSURE STORY CONSISTENCY AND LACK OF CONFUSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THOUGH.
Spencer lay on the broken couch fast asleep. His limbs were construed in odd positions from where he carelessly plopped himself down. His parents had taken the liberty of changing him out of his clothes and donning him with fresh, clean ones. Everyone surrounded around the couch, or at least got as close as they dared. They didn't want to disturbed the Logan family moment, Raven and Garfield sitting by their son's side. Everyone else was cleaning. Cyborg and Sarah had quickly gone back to their room to get changed. Levitate was using his powers to move items back to their original positions and Tech Girl was working on trying to put the technology back up. Nightfire and Starfire were both off cleaning the kitchen. Nightfire was picking up broken pieces of china plates. Every so often she would glance at the miracle known as Spencer Logan. She just couldn't understand how he could've survived. Granted, she was glad of it, but even Slade didn't survive that onslaught, and he was wearing armor. Spencer, though, was wearing nothing but jeans and a shirt. His mother was healing him at the moment, she told the team how Spencer had tried earlier to set his legs, but it was only by luck did his Shadow Healing hold him together. The bones in his legs were almost completely shattered, his body suffered from a multitude of third degree burns, he suffered from three broken ribs and his shoulder was displaced. His clothes were completely tattered and his powers were completely out of his control if he even used them, hence the dramatic entrance. Nightfire remembered last time she saw Spencer not have control of his powers like that was when he was seven, on his first trip to the Shadow World. He didn't realize that he had to suppress his powers on his entrances back, or he'd blow everything apart. On his entrance back on that day, he created a crater in his backyard so big they had to borrow city money to fix it up. It was the most incredible thing she had seen in her life, but now there was this.
Cyborg and Sarah reentered the room and looked at it. Sarah sighed and joined her daughter at repairing the technology. Cyborg motioned for Raven and Garfield to follow him to the medical room, where they could bring Spencer to speed up the healing process. They complied and carried their broken son into the medical facility. Nightfire looked down back at her work. She hadn't realized the ceramic plates were cutting her.
҉
Levitate rotated the couch another 90 degrees. He was surprised enough as it was that Spencer had survived, but that power level was incredible! He never knew how much Spencer had been suppressing, but now he knew. He placed the couch down and looked at his watch: 5:00 am. He would have to take his injection in about an hour. He sighed. He hated how he had to take a stupid injection just to keep himself alive and keep his own powers from killing him. Sometimes he even hated that everything was about Spencer. But he knew that was stupid, Spencer had never done any harm against him and he never meant to. He just seemed to fall into the mold of the leader, and Levitate didn't. He looked back toward his work and continued moving things with his mind. He was just a loner he guessed. He had never had any real friends, and Spencer had been the first. And now… and now he was envious of him. It seemed wrong to him, and he disregarded the jealously. Why dwell on something that wasn't right?
҉
Spencer's breathes were quick and shallow. Garfield watched his son with a careful eye. He wasn't going to let him escape him this time. But he couldn't help but keep going through his mind the machine that Slade built. It was so familiar, the feel of the energy being sapped from him. If only he could remember what it was. Then it hit him. That day when he and Raven were trapped in the cave! That weird glowing rock of course! The energy drain, the normalcy returning. Slade did get ahold of that rock long ago, and he used it.
He sighed. They got lucky. Really lucky. But Beast Boy knew from experience, sometimes your luck was just what the opponent wanted. They had to keep on their toes, his instincts told him something more was up. But all he could do is wait. It always boiled down to waiting. He looked back at his son. He was just happy he had him back.
Garfield looked to his wife and smiled, grasping her hand in his own. He would talk to her later about his conclusions, but for now they just waited. Once their son returned to his full health, they would throw a party for his return, it only seemed necessary. Their children had made a great team, soon they would be going off on their own to fight crime. He sighed. He never wanted a life like that for Spencer, but now it seemed inevitable. He guessed crime fighting was in the family blood, and now that he got a taste of it, he won't go back. That was the problem of having such huge power, even if you used it for good, you still want it. The power was an addiction either way they put it, some just used it for better reasons than others, but they would never give it up. If any of them had the chance to give up their power to someone more worthy of it, if there was anybody like that, they would never give it up. Power was just too strong, whether it was for good or bad, it had a curse. But they had to carry that curse with them, and use it for good.
҉
You can't die child. You freed me. You have done me a great service, and for that I will let you live. For over a thousand years I have been trapped in that accursed rock, rebuilding my energy from those who touched me. Before I was trapped, I was a god among men, but they feared me. Azarath Metrion and Zinthos feared me and locked me away. But now I return, and they are no longer here to stop me from regaining my kingdom. Shadow Child, arise from the rocks and live.
Spencer opened his eyes. He was covered in sweat and he was breathing heavily. That voice. He remembered hearing that voice before he woke up in the cavern. He couldn't stop thinking about it. It played itself over and over again. That cold, evil voice, it sent shivers down his spine. Whoever this "god" was, it didn't bode well for anybody.
He looked around his surroundings. He was in the medical facility, the short, digital beeps went rapidly at the pace of his heartbeat. Spencer breathed in deeply, trying to calm himself down. It was only a dream. Sometimes his powers would play tricks on him, it wasn't a far-fetched idea, considering how he was only now slowly regaining control over his powers. He looked out the window from his bed, the sun was just rising and it was a gorgeous mix of orange, yellow, and red. He looked to his right to see both his parents sleeping, curled up together at his bedside. Spencer smiled. They must've been exhausted after what happened. He looked at the clock: 6:30 am. Yeah, it was morning all right.
Spencer quietly got out of his bed on the left side, as to not disturb his parents and he quietly tip-toed out of the room. He looked up and down the hallway. All clear. Walking quickly, but quietly, Spencer headed down the hallway to the kitchen. He was in one of those weird hospital robes, and he hoped that his butt wasn't visible, but as far as he could tell, no draft yet. He looked into the living room and saw everyone sitting down around the couch, draped in blankets and drinking either coffee, tea, or some hot cocoa. He could smell the mix of aromas from where he was standing and his mouth began to water at the wonderful smells that engulfed him. Smiling to himself, he shuffled to the kitchen area and made himself some hot chocolate. Grabbing his warm cup he walked up to the couch behind where everyone was sitting and took a sip. Relishing in the warmth he spoke.
"Sup dudes."
Everyone jumped up and once violently, cups went flying into the air and a couple of chairs and a couch were tipped over. Spencer looked down at the pile of bodies before him and blinked a couple of times before he sipped his hot chocolate. Man these guys were weird.
Nightfire was directly beneath him looking up at him on her back. She blinked a couple of times and a huge smile dawned on her face. Uh-oh, happy-happy-joy-joy time from their own Nightfire Grayson. He embraced himself for the squeal and crushing embrace.
"OHMYGODI'MSOHAPPYYOU'''RESUPPOSEDTOBE! YIPPEE!" she spoke in a high-pitched voice that would've made anybody's ears bleed, speaking quickly all her words so they ran together in one, long rant. He didn't even see her get up, she moved so fast, and before he realized it, his ribs were cracking and his lungs were collapsing from her violent hug. His face turning red from lack of oxygen, Spencer tried to breath, but all he could accomplish was a small, weak squeak.
"NIGHTFIRE! YOU PUT HIM DOWN THIS INSTANT!" Spencer felt himself fall to the floor in a crumpled heap, like a ragdoll. Starfire was standing on the side, hands on her hips in her nightgown. Spencer hated to admit it, but Nightfire's mom was awfully hot and was definitely considered a MILF by most people his age, or any age. And it wasn't any better now that her full figure was defined in her nightgown, but he felt that was disgusting, and he looked for someone else his own age who was hot, like Nightfire.
Nightfire was in a fitting nightgown. It was a small very light pink lacy one that was slightly transparent so her undergarments were partially seen, with a small bow where her cleavage was. Nightfire probably didn't realize when she bought it that it was meant for sexual purposes, she probably just thought it was cute with the bow. His red face began even redder. Her silky, jet black hair was down and hung loosely around her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with happiness and Spencer groaned at the thought of her crying with joy. Much like her mother, if Nightfire began crying with joy, they were all sure to drown.
"Uhh, hi Nightfire. And thanks Mrs. Grayson." He got up from his crumpled state and leaned heavily on the nearest thing he could find, which was Nightfire.
Sounds suddenly came from the hallway and Spencer's eyes widened. Oh no. It was his mother.
She burst through the hallway door, glowing dark essence engulfing her. She looked around fanatically before settling her eyes on her son. Using her dark traveling capabilities, she immediately appeared before Spencer and grabbed him in her own crushing embrace. Spencer could see past her that his dad had run down the hallway as well, he was breathing heavily and leaned against the door from his sprint. But he quickly recovered and joined in the embrace. The living room was becoming pretty crowded.
"Okay guys, yes, I'm back. Now can we please stop crushing me?" All the voices started mumbling apologies and took a few steps back from him. Spencer laughed. He didn't know he had been missed so much.
As soon as everyone backed away, they were almost immediately in his face again. Bombarding him with questions on what happened. Spencer put his hands up in defense and tried to answer as many as possible, with his mom at his side turning demon on those asking stupid questions.
Nightwing/Robin walked up and pushed everybody else out of the way. Taking a deep breath he separated everyone out of the way.
"Alright guys, we all have our questions, but let's wait until after Spencer tells his tale." He motioned for Spencer to begin and Spencer nodded gratefully and told his tale.
He kept his story simple and to the point. Every so often the group would nod or he'd hear Nightwing mutter a "Holy (blank)" at moments. But other than that, it was a smooth, quick story. He didn't mention the voice he heard, he didn't want to sound crazy and he felt that he didn't want to worry anybody just yet.
҉
The dark entity walked along the ruins of the broken lab. He was a tall, suave, handsome figure. Well-groomed and his figure was commanding and demanded respect. Power emanated from him, dripping like water off his body. He looked to his left at a large pile of rocks, a single, metallic looking hand stuck out of it. His curiosity now in motion, the man walked up to the hand and grabbed it. The effect was immediate as energy welled into the broken body. Dark symbols covered the once-dead man's armor, claiming him as the other man's property. Slade looked at the man who brought him back to life with deadly intent. Half of his mask had fallen off and cuts and bruises were now extended as the dark symbols traced them.
"Rise. You will be my first minion in my new kingdom." The empty shell that was once Slade continued to stare, not responding. The man smiled, that was easy to take control of.
"I am your new master… Nightskin."
Thanks for reading Chapter 2. I know, pretty boring and not well written, but hopefully I can get this story to take off in the right direction, I could feel that it can and will be great. Please review this story and check out my two previous stories if you haven't already. Also, I am more than open to ideas and criticisms if you have any. Thanks a lot!