Hello dear readers. Today we are going to end the the filler chapters and start on the Luthor Corp ark. Hope the story goes well and will be better accepted then the filler chapters.
As always I don't own the DC characters and setting.
Chapter XVII: Get the wheels rolling
It took Beast boy a entire day of swim to reach back to jump city. As always the Techpirest tech in him had aidded him well , giving the him the energy to swim the entire distance without a break. He had addapted his body with sea creatures charactaristicks and the backbone machine augmentation gave him the needed speed to travel that distance for a entire night and day.
He arrived at Jump city at dawn. The sun met him as he jumped out on the pier. He smiled at the familair sense of getting back to his home town. Even thought as a child he used to travel all around the world and even when he traveled with the Doom patrol he never got this feeling which returning to this city gave him. A feeling of home.
Talking of home , he spotted the T tower on the island in the distance. Something struck him. What will happen if he decided to just walk to there, talk to Robin and try win his place back in the Titans? Would everything be like before? Will everything be back...to the status que? Him and the Titans being the glorious heroes loved by all.
No. It will not. He has already seen Robins paranoia. He had seen his foster family, the Doom patrol Reaction to all his actions. Going back to that place would not take the pain away from being accused of being a monster. A criminal.
Also he had formed a new crew of people who are not forced by duty or moral allingment to stay together. His new family was with him because they were all the same. Neither in the dark or in the light. Their action not judged by the public or their superiors. Just doing what ever they felt good. For good or bad.
Yeah. True freedom. To live like you like and not be judged.
Garfield walked down the pier, in the city to slip in the shadows and go home. His new home. The trip was not something to speak about. He walked from alley to alley, thankfully not spotted neither by any of the public or a hero patroling the streets.
The Green anti-hero finally reached the "The Devil Nest" pub and inside he was amazed to see who was here. While the tables were filled with shady characters the Bar was populated with a multi colored patrons.
Yet, again Slade was sitting on the barstand, but this time in his feet were bag filled with a questionable substance. He was drinking a glace of clear drink, surelly vodka or a clear type of brandy. Next to him sat again Calander man, but his left eye was blackened and closed from the swelling. On the other side of Slade sat a man wearing a owl mask.
Garfield usually would avoid talking to the Pub visitors, but when Slade the Terminator visits your place too much,you should worry. He approched the mercenary and squized him self in between Slade and Calander man. Slade gave him a lazy quick look and returned to his drink, before Garfield gathered the balls to speak to him:
-Hey there...Nice seeing you here again...-BB tried to smile.
-Yes, indeed. A good drink with no annoying "heroes", while you share experince after a High-tech raid is a thing which a person like me should enjoy more.-Slade said almost in a cheery tone.
-Ye...Yes. Cool. Umm...I kind will be like rude, dude,but I wanted to ask something.-He took a big breath and spat out the rest faster then avarege.-Are you going blow up the city, march a big army or yet again go demon on us.
-No. Neither of those. I am going back to only mercenary work. You see, when we first met , I had came here with only one thing in mind. To train a successor to my trade of work since my son has turned to a Tree hugger and my daughter is more insane then I would prefer. Sadly that backfire as you know. Robin turned out too narrow sighted then intended , Terra the blasted little minx was unruly and that boy with the red mask turned out to be too much of a ,forgive my english, dick , even for me. With that all failed I gave up on the entire plan of a student and went back to previous occupation. A gun for hire. Less trouble then trying to corral a bunch of teens in to doing something. But don't worry for both this delightful pub and this city. I am out of the ruling the world gig...until my next visatation to my daughter...Cheers-Both Slade and Calander man took a big drink of their beverages.
Calanderman grunted out behind BB:
-And I thought I had it bad...
-You think this is bad! Let me tell you of the time when a demon brought me back to life...-Slade replied in a cheerful tone.
Garfield slowly walked out of the conversation. He kind felt ...wierded in a good mood and not plotting to take over the world via robots or a brain wahsed teens. Time to get out of there before Slade tells him that he was a old time family man with a house, big family and a doggy.
His walk up to the main room was not long. Before he could reach it he went to check the library. For his joy Raven was not there which ment she was either with the others or resting. Good.
Inside the command center he found the entire group. His team.
On the couch were from left to rights, Stich holding a controller and playing a verses game, Raven was reading yet again, but she kept on spilling one liners whenever Stich or Gizmo screamed out,The Techpriest holding his very own controller playing versers Stich. Beast boy could not tell if he was angry or in joy cause of his perma smile. Gizmo was sitting on the couch armrest watching the game and mocking whom ever lost.
How not to join such a moment.
BB walked up behind the couch and slouched on its back without saying anything. First to notice him was Raven. She closed the book she was reading looked up at him with blank expresion.
-How was your trip...
The rest of the Gang lifted their heads from what they were doing and gave a warm welcome, but did not ask anything, since Raven had already asked the first question to be asked by all of them.
-You know, good. Got to swim twice around the Atlantic ocean and Panama channel. Got my ass kicked by my Dad and made my Mom cry, Oh and Slade is down stairs-Both Gizmo and Raven eyes bulged out-Don't worry, dudes. I talked to him. We got nothing to worry about him.
-The only cruddy time you can facking say "Don't crappy worry about Slade" is when somebody tosses him in a volcano!- Gizmo spat out.
-...And have his soul destroyed, just in case he decides to go Demon on us.- Raven said, but her tone did not say if she was sarcastic or serious .
-Chill guys,He has tossed the rag. He is back to being a mercenary , not a raving lunatic. He actually is so happy now...That it wierds me out on so many levels.-A shiver ran down his spine as he remember him from below-Anyways what have you guys been doing?
-We got to monster mash with a giant spider. The Teen Titans arrived to stop and they succeeded. Darn party poopers. It not like we hurted someone.-`Stich whined while excuting a combo on the controller.
Garfield lifted an eyebrow and turned to Gizmo:
-And how did you escape Robin?
-We cruddy ran back in the sewers while the human cruddy traffic light tried to bombard us with batarangs...-Gizmo replied smugly
-I see...Did anyone get injured? -Garfield questioned while looking up both of them up and down.
As in on cue Stich coughed a few times and in the last time she spewed out a Batarang which planted its self in the platform. -Nothing to worry about. I got a few more of those somewhere in me, but I will cought them out during the week.
BB slowly nodded and turned to Raven:
And you Rae? Did you do something awesome. Last time I found you practically sleeping on your read.
-I was not!- Raven said defencivly -I just was closing my eyes after finding something connected to my father...When he was human and would have been still be there if SOMEONE did not drag me out of there and send me to sleep in my chamber.-
Raven gave a nasty stare at the Techpriest who was still playing vs Stich and was winning thanks to her spitting out a batarang out.
-See there Rae. All this time when we told you are not born bad, we have proof that you are not.-Gar smiled while rubbing her shoulder. Raven quickly grabbed his arm squizing it painfully and tossing it of her.
-Its RAVEN! And that proves nothing. I was born when he was demon...-Raven hissed.
-Demons are never born. They are created.-The Techpriest Interupted- Both my books and your scroll tell this truth.
Garfield saw as a nerve poped on Raven's forehead as she listned to the half mechanical priest.
-YOU ARE wrong! You humans have no understanding of demons as the Azarathian monks...-Raven quickly jumped on that reply.
-Or maybe your monks got it wrong...
The two started to argue, but not in a violent way, but in a debate way. Garfield rolled closer to Gizmo and whispered to him .
- Gizmo, I like talked to the Doom Patrol...When shall we be ready to start our plan.
Gizmo whispered back:
-After two days!
Thank you for reading the chapter and hope you have enjoyed it.