These Black Eyes

by P0ST

The ongoing adventures and experiences of the Teen Titans, as witnessed through the eyes of a silent newcomer.

58. Full Circle Part 5

58. Full Circle part 5

SWOOOSH!!!

CRACK!!!

The stage shattered and formed a gaping hole where Myrkblade struck.

Starfire fell through with a cry. "EEK!!"

I bicycle-jumped to the side, snaked around a gaping Cyborg, twirled, and struck the broadside of my sword to the back of the android's legs.

THWACK!!!

He fell on his knees.

I swiftly brought my leg up and slammed my foot into the back of his neck, pressing him to the stage.

THUMP!!

I stepped on his shoulders, vaulted off, flipped, and tossed two razor-sharp playing cards in midfall at Beast Boy.

The green changeling yelped. "YACK!!"

THWUNK! THWUNK!!

Two cards swiftly pinned him to the sparking t.v. sets behind him by his jumpsuit.

I landed in front of him, spun, and kicked him square in the stomach.

WHUMP!!

Both Beast Boy and about four t.v.s tumbled back off the stage and went crashing to the courtyard of the Bayside Plaza below.

I immediately spun around—dark goggles glistening in the spotlights of the public extravaganza.

From the sound controls and camera pit below, Raven and Robin watched…dumbfounded. There jaws were still dropped in shock.

I smirked, snapped a finger, and pointed at them.

"He….he….," Robin stammered.

I twirled Myrkblade. I blurred down the stage and ran at them. People shrieked and went every which way as my shadow streaked a merciless path.

"He's evil!!" Raven finally shouted for the two of them. She raised two obsidian-encased hands. "Defend yourself---!"

But it was too late. I was upon them.

SWOOOSH!!!

Myrkblade came down. It completely shattered Raven's black shield and tossed her back with a FLASH!!

"Oof!!" she landed hard with her back to a news van.

Robin looked at her and gasped. He spun to face me.

I grinned.

I spun around and slashed horizontally at the Boy Wonder's cranium.

Naturally he ducked.

SLIIINK!!

My blade sliced through a camera behind Robin like a hot knife to butter.

The Titan leader rolled along the ground, hopped up, and jabbed his fist at me.

I effortlessly sidestepped his punch, and dodged and twirled to avoid the next two.

Robin sweat. He knew that I knew his fighting techniques. So he swiftly reached into his pocket to pull out his staff.

I spun. I kicked him the side.

WHAP!!

The staff fell out of his hand before he could pull it out. He grunted as he landed against a sound system console.

I swung Myrkblade down.

He spun to the side.

SLASH!!!

The sound system split open. Wires spilled out and sparked.

Robin pressed his weight to a refreshment table and lifted a steel-plated foot up. "NNNGH!!"

I was shoved back a bit.

He charged forward, both fists swinging.

I tossed Myrkblade up into the air. With free hands I blocked both of Robin's punches, grabbed him by the shoulder, and spun him to the side. As he twirled—suddenly vulnerable—I reached a hand up, caught Myrkblade on its descent, twirled it, and struck Robin hard across the back with the blunt edge of my blade.

SMACK!!

Robin was sent stumbling forward and collapsing over a roadblock and onto the hard concrete of the courtyard.

THWUMP!!

People gasped. People fled. The cameras kept rolling.

Filming the villain in his limelight…

I flexed my arm, gripping onto Myrkblade.

All the Titans had been downed.

I looked up at the Stage.

Smith and Glover stumbled back, gasping.

I 'smirked'.

I looked up at the rooftops to my right. I saluted in a dark shadow's direction.

Jinx went bug-eyed. She swiftly ducked behind the border of the rooftop to avoid being seen. She was panting.

I 'smirked' again. I turned and headed for the stage--

FLASH!!!!

A starbolt struck me hard in the gut.

I flew back a dozen feet. I flipped in mid air and swiftly landed in a crouch.

I looked up…my goggles glistening in a sudden glow of green.

Starfire lifted up out of the half demolished stage. Her hands glowed bright emerald with her eyes. Her red hair flickered about her head like a torch.

At the same time, Cyborg slowly shook his head and got up. I also heard Raven stirring besides the news van and sensed her getting to her feet.

"Rrghh!" Robin stood up, clenching a fist. "Titans!! Attack pattern alpha! Go!"

Beast Boy turned into a green bull and tossed the t.v. sets off him with his horns. He quickly stampeded onto the stage and posed beneath Starfire, grinding his hooves into the stage. Cyborg ran over and readied his laser rifle, aimed blue and deadly and directly at me. Finally, Robin flipped over and readied his staff while Raven floated over the rest with her eyes glowing bright gray.

"Has the term 'crossing the line' ever resonated in that dark head of yours, Noir?!" Cyborg grunted.

"He is not Noir…," Starfire said firmly. "Not any longer…"

"Give it up!" Robin shouted, extending his staff and pointing. "It's five against one!! You stand no chance of taking us all d—"

SWOOOOOSH!!!

I blurred directly at them.

Robin sweatdropped.

I leapt up, flew down towards, and spun with a slash of Myrkblade.

Robin's head ducked at the last second.

My blade sliced off the tips of his spiked hair.

I came down and immediately swung my leg outward, tripping the Boy Wonder. I swiftly jumped up and kicked his careening body into the green bull that was Beast Boy. Two starbolts soared down at me, burning the air. I flipped over them and grabbed Starfire's left leg with a free hand. When I came down, my gravity went into play and I swung Starfire's body around like a club straight into Raven's side. Both girls went sailing out off the stage and through the glass entrance of an ice cream shop. An aura of blue light exploded from behind me. I slid to the ground as Cyborg's laser beam warbled through the air right above me. The stream of blue chaos plowed into the marquis of the movie theatre, shattering it completely. I vaulted up from my grounded position, spun towards Cyborg, and stabbed straight into his laser rifle with Myrkblade, shorting it out. While the android Titan gasped, I swiftly snaked around his dormant rifle, yanked him down by the shoulder, and flipped his titanium body over me. Cyborg went tumbling to a stop and slid with sparks flying out from underneath him.

At that moment, Robin was getting up on his knees. He reached a hand out for his staff.

THUMP!!!

My metal-laced boot clamped down over Robin's hand.

"Augh!!" he cried. He looked up at me. His teeth grit. "Y-You…."

I smirked. I waved. I kicked him hard in the chest.

WHAM!!!

He went tumbling off the stage and into a refreshment stand, smashing it apart.

Raven and Starfire were limping out of the ice cream shop.

Cyborg groaned and started to get up.

I looked at the scene…and judged that I had done enough.

I spun around and rushed past Smith and Glover. The two old men watched in shock as I blurred up the side of the speakers and up onto the light fixture. I twirled Myrkblade, grabbed onto the light fixture like a saddle, and slashed apart one of the support chains.

SNAP!!!!

As a result, the entire light fixture of metal mesh and cobwebs swung down by one support. Before its loose end could grind hard into the stage, Cyborg ran up and caught it with strong, titanium arms and an intense growl for composure. At the same time, his act of heroism supported the light fixture safely enough that I could run up the length nimbly like a ramp and leap onto a building's rooftop bordering the courtyard.

Robin got up. He winced, rubbed his head, and spotted my escape. "Not today!!" he shouted and let loose a birdarang.

SW-SW-SW-SW-SW-SWISH!!!

I spun.

I faced him.

My lips grinned from underneath the goggles as tossed down a razor-sharp playing card.

SWIIIIIIIISH-CLANK!!!

The birdarang pierced through the body of the playing card. But the colliding momentum of my playing card stopped the ascent of the birdarang. The two skewered objects twirled in place in the middle of the air before falling straight down to the concrete below with a CLUNK!

I jumped and blurred away.

The chaos was over.

People slowed their frantic running-away and murmured in shock and confusion.

Smith and Glover stepped out fully in the open, eyeing the damage done to the stage and courtyard.

Cyborg sweat and dropped his end of the light fixture, stroking his head.

Raven and Starfire floated over while Beast Boy knelt down and picked up the birdarang and playing card stuck together. "Uh….dudes…this is not good. Not good at all."

Robin walked over and rudely snapped the two objects out of Beast Boy's glance. He narrowed his eyemask and read the contents scribbled down on the ripped playing card.

"Mark my words, Titans. Slade's apprentice doesn't give up that easily. The Wyldecarde will be watching you…"

Robin gritted his teeth. "It's happening….It's happening all over again…"

"Lovely," Raven grumbled. "Just lovely."

Starfire looked around at the scared faces and the ruined cityscape. "Wh-What do we do?!"

"Looks like we'll have more on our hands than just Slade and his bomb threats…," Cyborg said. "His latest apprentice is bound to rain down on July Fourth."

"We're gonna do what we've always done…," Robin slurred. "We take crooks down." He grunted and slammed the birdarang and playing card into the concrete.

SHATTER!!!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Jinx stared at the scene below her.

Her heart beat crazily.

Her mouth was dry.

Slade's voice crackled into her ear.

"Apprentice! Head back to the frigate!!"

"But….B-But…," Jinx held a graceful hand to her ear and gestured out at the disorganized public scene. "I didn't even get a ch-chance to…."

"Believe me, Jinx. It's far too late for that. I'm meeting with Dagger over what has just happened. I want you there with us!!"

The sorceress shuddered forth a sigh. "Understood. Jinx out." She stood up…her fists clenching, and turned around to blur a pink path clear across the City and to Slade's HQ.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I leapt over rooftops, blurred along buildingsides, and dashed through alleyways.

The city grew loud with the echoes of police sirens and emergency crews.

For the first time in my life, I knew that those haunting sirens howled because of me…

When I felt I was sufficiently far enough away from the scene of the crime for the Titans to not be able to locate me, I made a stop at the top of a metal fire escape. I slumped down against the brick wall of the fifth floor of a building side. Shrouded in the darkness of the alleyway around me, I slipped my goggles off till my quivering black eyes were exposed.

I couldn't stop it. I was hyperventilating.

Pain wracked through my lungs and up my empty throat with each heave of my shoulders. I ran hands through my black hair and down to the side of my head where I clutched the skin so hard I felt like I would smash my own skull in. I shook. My eyes clenched shut. Moisture formed around the edges.

I couldn't believe what I had just done.

But I had to do it.

At the moment…all it felt like was pure evil. Pure betrayal.

And it was.

But it was the first step in what would soon be a battle of necessity.

And I had just gotten over the initial hump. That painful crest of no-turning-back.

There was no time—or reason—to cry. Or so I told myself…

On shaking legs I got up, composed myself, and took a deep breath.

I slipped my goggles back on, sheathed Myrkblade, and blurred towards the Southwest side of the City.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

The sealed door creaked open.

Jinx stepped inside the dark cabin.

She peered across the black expanse with blinking cat eyes.

Dagger stood beside Slade, twirling his trademark knife between his fingers.

The apprentice's master looked over and signaled for Jinx to come forward.

"How prompt of you to join us, Jinx. You did have to run across the entire length of the City. I commend you."

Jinx jogged up, panting frantically. "M-Master! It's Ghost Boy! He—"

"I know….I saw," Slade said. He gestured towards a t.v. set in the black wall displaying a mute news coverage of the disastrous public event. "Everyone saw. Noir is back. He is doing your job for you, apprentice."

Slade's helmet turned and the emblazoned eye glared at Dagger.

"And I would like to know why…"

"You look to me as if you expect me to provide an explanation…," Dagger said, unblinking.

"Well, naturally," Slade gestured. "You do seem to know the boy. Jinx has told me about the speech you gave him in the meat packing plant just before the second carbonite explosion. I hadn't tried to think much of it before. But now that the infernal, black-eyed phantom is back and pulling off some……frustrating antics, I'm inclined to ask about the depths of your knowledge."

"We all have our secrets, Slade," Dagger said with a tip of his head. "You would be a hypocrite to deny that."

"I deny nothing," Slade said firmly. "You should trust me by now, Dagger. Think of all that I've provided for you. All that I will provide for you. Is it not logical that you pay me and my colleagues the same respect?"

Jinx placed her hands to her hips and glared at Dagger.

Dagger didn't blink. But he did inhale deeply. "There is not much that I can honestly tell you. You have your own Experiment, Slade. And I have mine."

"Oh really, now?"

"Indeed," Dagger nodded. He twirled the knife as he spoke, "And believe me when I tell you that Noir is as much a wildcard in my prospects as he is in yours."

"Well that's rather obvious," Slade glared and folded his hands behind his back. "Neither one of us has ordered him killed."

"As it must remain."

"Why is that?"

"The Balance of Morals is a trivial thing you believe in, Slade," Dagger said. "I've only chosen to assist you in making it come into fruition because of your payment to me for my services. Mark my words—when you are done with the Titans and you have gathered the strength and universal rise in power you've always desired—Noir will remain standing. And in so doing, he will prove to be a key to a much greater shift in power. If I was to explain all of it to you, I would have no choice but to end your life. But I respect you, Slade. And for that…I will play along with this….'partnership' of ours."

"Your threats are most fantastic," Slade spoke. "I admire a man of ambiguity. I can never truly trust someone I can understand."

"I think along a different spectrum," Dagger said. He turned and faced Slade completely with a suddenly ominous glare as his knife twirled to a stop and pointed at the masked terrorist. "So I would greatly appreciate it—especially after this sudden incident of unexpected chaos—that you outline to me the exact plans you have for the Titans' fate!"

Silence.

Jinx looked worriedly between the two despots.

She bit her lip.

Slade glared. His helmet tilted forward. "Very well…," he finally said. His emblazoned eye glanced over at Jinx from a distance. "Apprentice…leave us be for a moment."

"But…s-sir, can I at least—"

"Dagger's men are here," Slade spoke over her. "I would be most happy if you provided them with more of your wares…"

Jinx frowned. "But….I don't want to! I helped them with another shipment merely a day ago!"

"Apprentice….," Slade spoke softly—yet firmly. "I do not wish to argue with you…."

Jinx's face flushed. She looked down…legitimately ashamed. "I'm s-sorry, Master," she uttered. "I'll g-go now…"

She slowly turned around and sauntered off towards the far side of the ship…somewhere in the cargo hold.

Dagger watched her walk off. Once she was gone, he looked at Slade and started twirling the knife between his fingers again.

"Leaving her out of this conversation…is that trustworthy between a master and his apprentice?"

"What I'm about to tell you, the fair Jinx is quite aware of," Slade said. "Believe it or not, Dagger, there are some things—and I do emphasize 'some'—that Jinx knows as much as you and I."

"Does she yet suspect the cold truth about her—?"

"No," Slade said firmly. "Now pay attention, Dagger. You're a man who learns fast, correct?" The terrorist pulled out a remote. He clicked it and the black walls of the cabin's interior flickered and turned into displays of microscopic bloodstreams. There were five separate displays total. Each was labeled with a different Titan's name: Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy.

"What are these, pray tell?"

"These….," Slade gestured, "…are recordings taken nearly a year ago. When I first came close to eradicating the Titans."

"Hmmmmm," Dagger stared. His stone eyes squinted…but didn't blink yet. "Are you referring to when Robin became a turncoat against his will?"

"I succeeded in subjecting him to my will for a blissful period of three days…," Slade said. "And my method of controlling him to do my bidding was this…" He clicked the remote. One of the bloodstreams was magnified and displayed billions of nanoprobes attached to the blood cells of the Titans.

"Nanotechnology….," Dagger nodded. "Harmful, I assume."

"Deadly," Slade emphasized. "With a push of a button, I could have eliminated the Titans at any time…and at any place."

"What—may I ask—kept you from doing so when the ability was just a finger stroke away?"

"At that time, I was foolish. Obsessive. I did not yet know the planes and dimensions of my true thirst for power. All I wanted…was Robin. I wanted Robin's loyalty. His obedience. His bowing down to my feet. I wanted him to be my loyal subject. And as such, he momentarily became my apprentice. The….First Apprentice. It was my goal to brainwash him and thus—long term speaking—tip over the Balance of Morals by converting a true hero into the advocate of Evil."

"The plan failed, I assume."

Slade nodded. "My second attempt was out of bitterness and spite. Months later, all I wanted to do was destroy the Titans."

"And that is when you employed Terra….," Dagger added. "The Second Apprentice."

"Correct. She had the power and the fervor to betray the Titans and eliminate them…momentarily freeing the City from all vigilantism and heroism. But my taste of victory was short-lived. I underestimated the fleeting emotions of the girl. In the end, she turned on me. Though I had managed to wound the Titans beyond all recovery, Terra's vengeance had struck me down so hard…I had to start over again."

"And how do these nanoprobes from the first scheme play a part in all of this?"

"My schemes as of present is a conglomeration of my successes and mistakes learned from both plans I have undertaken before now," Slade explained. "You already know that Noir's villainy exists solely because of the psychological damage Terra made on the Titans."

"Until tonight…," Dagger slurred.

Slade ignored that. "Similarly, the plan I had in taming Robin is playing a part now in bringing things full circle. Observe."

He clicked the remote.

The five screens blipped for a second. In their place appeared seemingly identical images of the Titans' bloodstreams; with their names labeled and everything.

"I fail to see the difference….," Dagger droned.

"Oh, but there is one," Slade pointed. "Notice the date."

Dagger stepped forward. He read from the schematics beneath the images of the bloodstreams. He glanced back at Slade. "These readings were taken two days ago."

Slade nodded. "That they are. Notice the nanoprobes again present in the Titans' blood."

"They are much smaller in number," Dagger said. He folded his arms and tapped the handle of his knife against his shoulder. "Hardly in the billions like they were when you were 'taming Robin'."

"Not yet in the billions, they aren't," Slade said. "When I infected the Titans' with the nanoprobes the first time, it was through the sudden burst of a transferal energy rifle. The probes were essentially 'beamed' into their bloodstream from a close—yet remote location. Knowing the Titans' knack for learning from the past, if I desired to infect them again anytime soon…I could not do so by identical means. I had to find another process to….expose them."

Dagger rubbed his chin, thinking hard. He paused. He tilted his head to the side. "The carbonite cores…."

Slade's helmet slowly nodded. He clicked on a button which showed schematics of a Type IV Carbonite substance. "Polluted with nanotechnology, the carbonite I've been supplying for the bomb threats are good for one of two things. One: Either they'll explode at the push of a button and consume the Titans by fire—as I threaten for them to. Two: Up until the moment of explosion, the Titans absorb the nanoprobes into their bloodstream through osmosis. The closer they are to the carbonite cores and the longer they are in proximity to them—the more they are infected by a gradual, energy transfer of nanoprobes being beamed into their bloodstream. Don't you see, Dagger? My constant ambushes and lures and traps and ensnaring of the Titans have been serving a purpose. They think it is merely a cat and mouse game. What they don't know is that—each time they come to the rescue—their bodies are being once again polluted and infected by the tiny, blood-borne machines that can kill them like they were once threatened before. But they haven't a clue due to the fact that the method I am presently using is not of the same convention they've faced in the past."

"Eventually, they will have acquired enough nanoprobes to rival their first infection during the trial of the First Apprentice," Dagger said. "Am I correct?"

Slade held up a finger. "Just one more exposure, Dagger. Just one more exposure to my carbonite cores and the Titans will again have their lives determined by the push of a button. All of them."

"All of them except…."

Slade stared at Dagger. He turned and clicked the remote at the screens.

An image of a Titan's bloodstream appeared. It was titled: 'Noir'.

"Noir……..is seemingly immune to the nanoprobe energy transferal," Slade said slowly. "Though—to be honest—I had psychological reasons for singling the dark-eyed boy out as the 'Third Apprentice' and betrayer of the Titans, it turned out to be twice as logical an exclusion due to his incompatibility with the technology." He slowly turned his emblazoned eye about and glared at Dagger. "One reason that I brought you here is curiosity. I want to know why he isn't affected, Dagger."

"And what if he could be?" Dagger retorted. "And what good is it to you if any of the Titans—for that matter—is affected? Is your only choice in the end to destroy them? To be honest, that is exactly the outcome I would desire. But your motives confuse me greatly, Slade. Just exactly where are you going with this nanoprobe scheme of yours and how exactly is it any different from last time during the trial of the First Apprentice?"

"I see that we are at a stalemate…," Slade's mask nodded. "I am no more willing to give up my secrets as you are willing to give up yours. It matters little." He clicked the remote and the screens all turned blank. "Like I told my apprentice earlier…Noir—immune to the nanoprobes or not--is out of the equation. Regardless of whatever foolish thing he's done tonight, he is still exactly what I want him to be. A scapegoat. He may not know it, but he has only further assisted in my plans. The Titans may have once suspected him at the Third Apprentice earlier. Now he has made sure that they totally believe in that."

"If he is of no threat to you…then I trust you will not make any attempts to kill him anytime soon," Dagger said.

"Don't tempt me, Dagger," Slade's eye narrowed. "I surely do not like being tempted."

Dagger nodded. He took a deep breath and twirled his knife. "How far along is your apprentice? I would greatly like to leave this god-forsaken ship of yours."

"Impatient to the end. You truly are a man of the street, Dagger," Slade said. He held up his communicator. "Apprentice. How far along are you?"

"Just starting, Master."

"Please make haste. Dagger and his men will be leaving soon."

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Jinx stood in the cargo room. A few dark-suited men gathered around her as she walked gracefully up to a tall, gray machine with a crevice in the shape of a human figure.

"Understood," the girl nodded, a hand to her ear. "And what have we decided about Noir?"

"I believe 'Wyldecarde' will be the correct reference for that waste of DNA from now on…," Slade's voice replied darkly. "He is of very little concern to us. He is a fool, as he always was. We shall proceed with the plan as scheduled."

"The shipyard?" Jinx smiled slightly.

"Indeed. After giving Dagger's men the shipment…get a good night's sleep, Apprentice. I will need your talents fully tomorrow…"

He nodded. "Understood. Jinx out."

She let her hands fall to the side and sighed. She turned around and stared at Dagger's henchmen.

A beat.

"Don't you guys ever smile??"

They were silent.

Jinx shrugged. She stepped backwards and into the crevice of the machine. "Let's get this done with…," she said quietly. She slipped her hands and feet into special slots…closed her cat eyes…and concentrated.

Slowly, her body started to glow. Pink rings of energy soared out of her wrists and flew into the wires and framework of the machine.

The henchmen walked up with cartons of glass vials. They slipped the vials into a slot of the machine one by one, upon which they were filled with a glowing pink aura. The henchmen literally captured the sorceress' hex into the vials and carted them off in a human chain that ended up in a metal container hung from a platform, suspended by a crane. Later, the crane would lift the metal cart full of hex-vials onto the deck of a smaller ship running abreast to Slade's frigate. Minutes later—when an exhausted Jinx was done—Dagger and his men left in the boat…shipping the paranormal material to some mysterious destination under the cover of night.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Run a search of the entire City…," Commissioner Decker mumbled to his lieutenant inside his office of the police department. "If all else fails, it'll be up to the police force to ensure the peace of this City. Make sure that you hunt down and arrest this Noi---" He froze in mid-speech. He glanced over across his office at where the five Titans were gathered. "……..arrest this…Wyldecarde…" he corrected. "And I want no hesitancy on the force's part. He may have been a Titan before, but he's Slade's lousy spawn now."

"Understood, sir," the lieutenant said. He gave the Titans a subconscious glare before exiting the office in a hurry.

Silence.

Decker leaned forward at his desk and sighed. "Okay….so…which of you kids would like to explain to me how your long-lost buddy is suddenly the flashiest terrorist in town?!"

"We cannot answer for Wyldecarde's actions," Robin replied firmly, "…but we can assure you that we'll hunt him down and turn him in the first moment we spot him!"

"Oh! Naturally!" Decker cackled, stood up, and paced around the office windows. "Lord knows it's the job of the Titans to understand the psyche and prowess of their teammates just in case any single one of them happens to go berserk one day and work for Slade and the rest will have to kick his ass!" Decker kicked a waistbasket across the room with a CLANG! and turned to fume at the Titans. "What's the tally at now?! Three?! You think we—the citizens and protectors of this City—were so happy the last time a newcomer to your team turned out to be Slade's right-hand lady and about tore this damn Town to bits?!?!"

"Terra redeemed herself in the end," Starfire exclaimed, frowning.

Robin nodded. "The entire time she worked for Slade, she was being manipulated. She didn't truly desire to do any harm."

"Easy for you to say!" Decker marched over and stared down at Robin. "You…who—if I'm not mistaken—was the first to pull this 'betrayal' trick!"

The other Titans winced.

Robin clenched his fists, but managed to keep his cool as he said: "I was coerced!"

"Oh, I'm sure you were!" Decker nodded. "That makes it feel sooooooooooooo simple, doesn't it?! 'Coerced'. Such a cute little word. It evokes sympathy in almost the same fashion as does 'manipulated'. Well grow up and learn, kid! Whatever it was that has caused Titans to turn evil—unfair or not—it still doesn't change the fact that damage is done, peace is jeopardized, and people. get. hurt!"

Most of the Titans were silent in response to that.

Raven spoke up: "I suggest you think twice about who you're blaming. Remember that Slade is behind this."

"Oh, Slade has alwaaaaaaaays been 'behind this'!" Decker tossed his hands. "Always polluting the Titans and thus polluting the City. Do me a favor, young lady. The rest of you too! After you've fought your way through Wyldecarde and reach Slade, do the just thing that my forces and I cannot do by killing him!!"

The commissioner's voice echoed with his last words. It was silent, even in the cubicle area outside of his office. A person or two coughed once or twice before the five seconds of utter deadness was over and the typing, filing, and cigarette lighting continued.

Decker cleared his throat. He marched over orderly to his desk, sat down, and rummaged through a few papers. "Allright…," he said in a low, calm voice. "You've heard enough from me. Go out there into that urban Hell and do what you do best. Just be sure no more of you turn evil on us again."

"What will become of the Independence Fireworks show??" Beast Boy uttered, to the others' dismay.

Decker looked up. He glared. "Well, Mr. Beast. That's in all of your hands now…isn't it?!"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

The Titans filed out of the front entrance to the City Police Department. The night sky hung low and depressing overhead.

"So….um….," Beast Boy simpered and scratched the back of his neck. "Good thing I didn't make a donut joke, huh?"

"Save it, man…," Cyborg grunted. He looked over at Robin. "I think we should go back to the Tower. Try and assess this situation."

Raven added with a nod, "Cyborg's right. That's the safest place we can be right now. With all the security system updates we've made, I don't see how Slade—or Wyldecarde—could interrupt us in a thorough search of the City."

"Search for what exactly?" Beast Boy muttered.

"Residuals of Wyldecarde's smoke energy. Eye witness accounts in the papers. Anything."

"Sound like a good idea to you, Robin?" Cyborg asked.

The Boy Wonder was silent. He stared off down the city street.

"Robin??" Starfire walked softly up behind him. "Are you not listening to our suggestions?"

"I'm listening…," he muttered. "And I frankly don't give a damn what we do."

"Dude, we're all pretty torn up about this too, man!" Beast Boy frowned. "As if we haven't enough of Noir's betrayal—"

"He is NOT NOIR ANYMORE!" Robin spun and growled.

Beast Boy yelped back into Cyborg.

Robin shook, his fists clenching. "He is Slade's pet. Wyldecarde! A terrorist! Now we have to add his bloody name to the list of those we beat up!! You think that's gonna be enjoyable?!"

Beast Boy gulped.

Cyborg looked to the side.

"There's hardly enjoyment in what we do," Raven said firmly. "A world with Slade is hardly a good one."

"Slade Slade Slade SLADE!!!" Robin shook. "It's all about Slade!! The air breathes his name!! The City streets echo with his voice!! Why…Why on this godawful green earth does he have to have so much power?! So much treachery!! Why can't he just roll over and disappear?! Why can't he die?!?!"

"It's the Experiment…," Raven said. "It is what's pushing him forward."

"The Experiment! The Balance of Morals! Full Circle!!" Robin cackled and pulled at his hair angrily. "I've had enough of words! There is no excuse for what he's done and what he continues to do!! Whatever the motive…whatever the cause, he will do anything and everything in his power to make our lives a living Hell!! And I hate him!!"

Robin spun around and shook his fist at the night air. "You hear that Slade?!?! I hate you!!! I hate you!!!!!!!!!"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Robin's yell echoed through the City in a haunting ring.

Maybe I heard it. Maybe I didn't.

Whatever the case, I flipped from buildingtop to buildingtop till I came to a strip of stores along a city block in the Southwest District.

I jumped down and landed swiftly on the roof of a two-story store packed in between the street, two office buildings, and a back alley. I walked over to the rear edge, descended to the fire escape, and walked down the steps to the first floor. I looked around the alley to see if I was followed. I wasn't. I reached into a belt pocket and whipped out a key. I opened the rear door, slipped in, and closed it shut—and locked—behind me.

Once inside, I took a deep breath. I slipped my goggles off from over my face and tugged my metal-laced bandanna loose. I slumped them down onto a table in the dark room I was in. I was surrounded by a not-so-aesthetic assortment of used appliances, hardware equipment, kitchen tools, and electronics. The backroom to a store of some sort.

I wandered over to my 'corner' where there was a rough cot to sleep on. Besides the cot was a canvass bag full of the things I had gathered from the collapsed building site. A tiny base of operations.

I removed Myrkblade and its scabbard from my back and placed it on a makeshift mantle above the cot…within arm's length of the 'bed'.

FLIP!

A dim light illuminated the backroom.

My black eyes squinted and I looked indirectly into a nearby hallway where a figure stood besides the light source.

"Back so soon?" the voice meekly said.

I silently nodded.

"I-It's good to see that you're all right…," the figure said gently and stepped into the light. Renee was in her robe and slippers. It didn't seem like she could sleep. "You were……on the n-news, ya know."

Again, I nodded. My black eyes went to the floor.

Daniel stepped down the stairs and joined his wife's side. "How'd it go?"

I sighed. I wandered over to the table where a pad of paper and a pen rested from where I had used them earlier. I quickly scribbled a response and held it up for the two pawn shop owners to read.

They squinted their eyes and nodded.

"Thought as much," Daniel said. "Can't be all that…….fun doing that."

I bit my lip. I busied myself in removing my boots and belt.

The two stared at me.

Eventually, Renee said: "Noir…..why are you doing this?"

I froze. My belt in my hand. I slowly…slowly folded it.

"Why make yourself look so bad?" she asked in a concerned voice. "Why must you ruin your image? How is it helping your friends?"

I looked up at them. I dropped the belt down on the floor besides the boots. I picked up the pad of paper and scribbled again. I held it up for them.

'I am not even sure myself. I am hoping tomorrow will tell.'

The two nodded.

"Well….we trust you….heheh," Daniel simpered.

It tore at my heart.

"Lord knows we owe you enough as it is for what you've done to save us and this place," Renee added. "And like we promised earlier…we're more than willing to help you with a place to stay."

"Just be careful, Noir," Daniel said. "We don't want to see you ruining your life by trying to be the hero."

I suddenly snickered breathily.

"What??" Daniel raised an eyebrow.

'Hero' I mouthed, and again I chuckled.

Daniel scratched his head, looked at his wife, and shrugged.

When I was done chuckling, I let out a long…depressive sigh. I wandered over to the cot and slumped down.

"I guess….w-we should all get some sleep…," Daniel suggested.

Renee nodded. "Yeah. Good night, Noir."

I saluted them.

They were gone…and the light went off again.

Alone in the dark backroom, everything was still bright to me.

I sighed. I missed my room. I missed my eyemask. It was a curse to try sleeping when even the dark was as bright as day.

I thought of the goggles….but I didn't want to wake up with rings around my black eyes.

Heh….like it really mattered anymore.

I laid down on the cot.

But instead of sleeping, I pulled out a radio that had meatball surgery done on it. I turned the knob as it crackled and snowed in a desperate attempt to find a signal….

It hardly made any sense…but I was still thinking of the Titans the more I tweaked the radio.

Somehow, I drifted off in the middle of all that.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Bright and early the next day….

In the northeast shipyards….

SMASH!!!!

Shipment workers and sailors cried out and ran away from a huge tanker full of multicolored, shipping trailers as an explosion went off against the huge, metal hull. A throng of Slade's robot henchmen jumped down and marched after them. They aimed and fired threatening laser blasts that ricocheted all around the fleeing workers, scaring them off even further.

ZAP!!!

ZAP!!!!

ZAP!!!!!

Hopping, flipping, and blurring from crane to building top to ship's hull to crane again was Jinx. The Third Apprentice covered the scene from above, launching hex bolts down to assist in the occasion explosion of a truck, or the collapse of a crane's cargo, or the sinking of a life raft. Combined with the robot henchmen, the girl succeeded in frightening off the last of the panicked people from the scene.

"Good job, apprentice," Slade crackled in her ear. "All we want here today is the Titans."

"Glad to be of assistance," she smiled cutely. "I rather enjoy this!! Hehehehe. Scatter, ants!!" She flung another hex bolt that popped the tire of a van full of escaping workers. The automobile skid, swerved, and rolled miserably along its way towards the distant highway leading South to Downtown.

"Is the carbonite in place??"

"Being assembled just as we speak," Jinx perched atop a crane and planted her hands on her hips. She smiled and looked over at a dozen henchmen carrying a black obelisk over to the center of the freighter's deck. "The emissions are already being let loose. Hopefully the Titans will take the bait."

"And the C4?"

Jinx giggled. "No problem, Master! Your apprentice spent the early morning hours putting up all three explosives all around the freighter's hull!" She flicked her wrist, produced a cylindrical trigger, and spun it in her hand. "You just give me the word, and I'll press the button. The whole ship will go down…and the infected Titans with it!"

"While keeping yourself hidden, I assume."

"Naturally!"

"Well done, Jinx," Slade's voice said. "This will be it…the final pull."

"And then they'll have enough nanoprobes to go 'kerplunk', right??"

"Relatively speaking. And after the ship goes down with both the carbonite and their disoriented bodies…you and my henchmen must carry them over to the frigate as quickly as possible. The Experiment is nearly complete. I can already taste the power……"

"Did you work everything out with Dagger that you needed to?" Jinx asked. She swiveled around atop the crane and watched as the distant henchmen assembled the obelisk. "Ya know…with Wyldecarde and all?"

"Do not fret about that, apprentice," Slade said in a hideously gentle fashion. "Just do your job and round up the Titans one last time. You have performed well for me. I am proud of you."

Jinx smiled. "Thank you, Master." She held her hand to her ear. "Is there anything else?"

"Not until you're victorious. Slade out."

The voice died.

Jinx sighed dreamily, blushing. She cleared her throat, pocketed the C4 detonator, and blurred down the crane's Tower to assist the henchmen in establishing an ambush.

She was totally oblivious of a dark shadow across the way on a building top. Two black spots glistened in the Sunlight for a split second before the figure turned around…and leapt off towards the horizon.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Raven pressed a button on the main computer console, shutting off the noise.

"Well…the fourth scan is in and it's showing positive. If there was ever a doubt to its certainty, there isn't any now." She looked over and blinked at the other Titans. "There's definitely a heavy amount of carbonite emission located around the shipyards."

Starfire looked at Raven. She turned and faced Robin. "But is it safe to go there?"

"Like…do we have a choice??" Beast Boy gestured. "I know we're all pretty beat trying to chase down Slade's loose ends and such….but—in case we forgot—carbonite DOES explode."

"What's worth protecting at that shipyard anyhow?" Cyborg asked. "Word is that all the workers have cleared out from some sort of robot attack. So there can't be many lives at stake."

"There's something we should be learning more and more these days," Robin spoke. "It's not always blood that's on the line. But money. Control Freak had it right way back when he threatened Kobayashi Tower. Money and goods can be just as valuable as lives in terms of protection."

"Pffft!" Cyborg rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

"Dude!!" Beast Boy gasped, surfing the web. "According to this site, the next Final Fantasy game is coming in on that shipment!!"

Cyborg's eyes bulged. "Okay. We're going there. Now!!"

Raven rolled her eyes.

"Friends, we must use caution!" Starfire exclaimed. "There are more things at stake now! More villains to contend with!"

"No sweat!" Beast Boy smirked. "If we run into Slade's henchmen….WHAM! SOCK! POW! And if we run into Wyldecarde, we'll do the same thing!" A beat. "…………………………right??"

Silence.

Everyone looked down.

Beast Boy bit his lip.

"We have to be serious about this…," Robin spoke firmly. He frowned as we looked up. "If any of us see him…if any of us run into him…we must not hesitate."

"We hesitated at first with Terra," Raven nodded. "Look where it got us."

"No setbacks this time," Cyborg cracked his titanium knuckles. "We won't let Wyldecarde get the upper hand just because we wanted to be soft on him!"

"Agreed!" Starfire nodded. "Besides, it was he who initiated the sadness between us!"

"So……," Beast Boy grinned. "WHAM? SOCK? POW??"

Robin smirked.

Starfire giggled.

"Let's get a move on," Cyborg motioned. "Last one to the shipyards is a rotten Titan!"

On cue, they rushed to their stations.

Cyborg and Raven went to the elevator.

Robin rushed down the pole.

Starfire opened the window and flew out.

Beast Boy stood at the window, transformed into a green eagle, and flew out into the open air.

In mid flight—the bird stopped. The changeling glided around and returned to the Tower.

Clinging to the outside frame, Beast Boy returned to elf form and looked curiously at the open window.

"Why did I leave it open??" he thought aloud to himself.

Then he realized why….and his heart sunk.

"How stupid of me….," he groaned.

There was no longer a sixth person to blur out the window and down the Tower's side…..

Beast Boy sighed, shut the window from the outside, and flew last in line to join his friends in the cavalcade to the shipyards.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Inside Slade's mysterious frigate, the masked terrorist stood facing an array of live feeds showing the Titans rushing out of the Tower and heading Northeast towards the shipyards.

"That's it, Titans….," Slade said. He folded his hands behind his back and narrowed his emblazoned eye. "Take the bait. Come embrace your fate. A new universe awaits us…."

"Slade?!" Jinx's voice crackled. "I think they're coming! One of the henchmen spotted them with the farsight!"

"That they are, apprentice. Be ready for them."

"Affirmative."

Slade's helmet tilted forward. "Take your time, Titans. For I am already in your veins…."

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I landed into a crouch on top of a warehouse.

I pressed myself low to the roof and glared over the side like a falcon.

The wind kicked at my long black hair and bandanna. The Sun glistened off my costume of brown and black metal mesh.

In the distance—coming along the road—I spotted the Titans. First there was the T-Car. Following a fair distance behind was the R-Cycle. Starfire and Beast Boy flew in from the sides. They were nearing me…passing docks of private yachts and fisherman ships coming in from a night's catch.

I took a deep, shuddering breath. I stood up, flexed my knuckles, and unsheathed Myrkblade.

My black goggles glinted emotionlessly in the bright morning.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

VROOOOOOM!!!!

Cyborg cruised the T-Car along, his hands firmly gripping the wheel.

Raven sat in the passenger's seat, typing away at a computer on the dashboard. "Only five minutes away…," she said. Her blue eyes tilted up. "Into the lion's den."

Cyborg smiled over at her. "Come on, Rae! Brighten up a little!" He pointed out the windshield and gestured at the clear blue sky stretched over the distant freighter and the cranes overhead. "It's a beautiful morning! Not a cloud in the sky—"

WHUMP!!!!!

The whole vehicle lurched as I landed on the hood and perched right in front of them.

Raven's eyes bulged.

Cyborg gasped. "WHOAH!!!"

I grinned, saluted them through the windshield, and promptly stabbed Myrkblade straight down into the T-Car's engine.

CRUNNNNNNNNCH!!!!!

Sparks flew and smoke flew up and engulfed me and the passengers in turn.

The whole car shook and jerked as Cyborg fumbled for control of the wheel.

"My baby!! MY BABY!!!"

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!!!!!!!!

I was gone. The car spiraled across the road, hobbled sideways over the sidewalk, and crashed diagonally with the side of a warehouse.

SMASH!!!!

The windshield cracked.

Raven and Cyborg jerked forward just as the airbags safely deployed.

And everything was still.

Raven moaned and rubbed her head.

Cyborg leaned up. His teeth gritting. He spoke into the communicator in his titanium arm.

"Robin!! He's here!! Wyldecarde is here!!"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Huh?!" the Boy Wonder uttered into the hollowness of his helmet as he sped the R-Cycle down past the docks. "Where is he?!?!"

"He just leapt down out of nowhere and tore a fresh hole in my car!! Go get his ass!! He's gotta be around here somewhere!!"

Robin watched as he passed the smoking T-Car to his side.

"I don't see him!!" He looked forward. "He's not anywhere near—"

Robin gasped.

I was jump-kicking over the front wheel of the cycle and sailing straight into his face.

WHAM!!!!!

I kicked Robin off the motorcycle and blurred away.

Robin flew back eight feet and tumbled hard across the asphalt. "OOOF!!!! Nnnghh!!" He rolled to a stop and winced. It was a good thing he was wearing his helmet.

The R-Cycle roared off on its own, veered, and slid chaotically into a streetlamp that bent over and shattered glass over the downed vehicle.

WHAM!!!

The engine died down.

The wheels slowed to a still dangle.

Cyborg kicked the titanium side door open to his car and stumbled forth. He gave Raven a hand as she dizzily stepped out. The two limped towards the center of the street as Robin stood up, removed his helmet, and looked around. Finally, Beast Boy and Starfire touched down besides the other three.

"Goodness! Is everyone allright??" Starfire exclaimed.

Cyborg took one glanced at his smoking car and glared. "It depends on one's definition of 'allright'."

"Dude! You were totally trashed!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "Who was it?? Slade's robots?"

"No…," Robin muttered. "Him…."

"Noir???"

"Wyldecarde!!" Everyone else growled.

Beast Boy sweatdropped.

"He just came out of nowhere…," Cyborg murmured.

Starfire looked around. She wrung her hands together. "Wh-Where is he now?"

Raven's eyes narrowed…then widened. "He's here."

Robin spun. "Where??"

I materialized behind Robin and kicked him square in the butt. WHUMP!!

"Augh!!" the Boy Wonder went stumbling into Starfire. The two collapsed to the floor.

I immediately flipped over a gasping Raven, pulled the hood of her robe over her eyes, grabbed her shoulders, and tossed her straight into Cyborg.

THWAP!!

"OOF!!" Both flew back into a fish merchant's stand, smashing it to bits.

I spun around.

Beast Boy growled. He morphed into a triceratops and came thundering at me with a roar.

I stood in place. I reached back. CHIIIIING!!! I held Myrkblade at ready, glistening in obsidian murk.

The triceratops's white eyes bulged. Beast Boy cowardly turned back into elf form, crouching low and covering his head with his hands.

I swung my blade over him—just in time meet the incoming dive of Robin with his staff. CLANK!!

"RRAAAUGH!!" Robin vaulted over Beast's Boy's huddled figure and came at me, spinning his bludgeon madly.

I stepped backwards towards the docks behind, parrying and deflecting each attack stoically. CL-CL-CL-CLANK!! CONG!!

Robin swung high and brought his staff down.

I backflipped, landed on a railing, and slashed down with Myrkblade.

CLANG!!

I pinned Robin's staff to the sidewalk.

The Boy Wonder struggled to get his weapon loose. He looked up at me.

I grinned.

He gasped.

WHAP!!

I swung my leg up and kicked him hard in the eye-masks.

As he flew back, Starfire flew forward. FLASH!!! FLASH!! FLASH!! Starbolts soared at me in a swarm as she gritted her teeth and frowned at me with glowing emerald eyes.

I dodged the first volley of alien energy and backflipped a large pulse that exploded against the railing.

I flew back and landed on the bow of a small sailboat.

"RAAAGH!!" Starfire flew a heavy starbolt.

FLASH!!

It exploded against the hull, knocking me back. In mid flight I reached a hand out, grabbed the boat's mast, spun around on it, and let go into a flying kick straight into Starfire's chest. WHAP!!

"UNGH!!" she fell back with a cry and landed in Robin's arm as I flew over, flipped across the asphalt, and landed in a slide surrounded by newspaper stands. As I raised Myrkblade, the newspaper stands were encased in black energy and floated up from the ground.

I looked off as Raven—ten feet away—rose up from the ground with her robe billowing and eyes a glowing gray. "Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos!!"

The telekinetic stands spun around me like an onyx cyclone. I eyed them all through my goggles. At the right time, I leapt.

SWOOOOSH—SMASH!!

All the stands smashed together to squash me, but they missed by an inch. I leapt directly over Raven, flipped, and—while upside down—flung a handful of razor sharp playing cards down at her figure.

THWUNK!! THW-THWUNK!!

All three cards stabbed through Raven's robe and stuck her to the asphalt. She grunted and struggled to yank herself loose.

I landed from my flip behind her, spiraled, and kicked her hard in the square of her back.

RIIIIIIIIP!!!

Her robe shredded from the cards as she teetered over and collapsed into a recovering Beast Boy. "OOOF!!"

I panted. I spun around.

"RAAAUGH!!!" Cyborg rushed in with his fist.

I barely ducked the mountain of titanium muscled, jumped backwards and twirled Myrkblade at ready.

SWOOOSH!! "RRRGHHH!!" Cyborg angrily punched. SWOOOSH!! He punched again. "YAAAUGH!!"

I held Myrkblade up and—showering sparks—blocked each throw of the limb. My body was jolted back with each massive deflection. I tried to stab once. My sword merely bounced off the Titan's chest, as expected.

Cyborg suddenly gripped onto the length of Myrkblade, holding my weapon at bay. I tried to yank it from him, but to no use. He raised a blue laser cannon and aimed square at my head. "Your call, punk!!"

I took a deep breath.

ZAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!!!!!!!

Blue energy exploded where my head was.

I teleported swiftly behind Cyborg and slammed both of my fists—murking—into his back.

THWACK!!!

He stumbled forward with a cry. He dropped Myrkblade.

On murking currents, I slid down, under the android's legs, snatched up Myrkblade, and shot straight up in a massive uppercut to Cyborg's chin.

SMACK!!!

"UGH!!" he fell down. When his laser rifle struck the asphalt, it shot off a burst of blue that impacted a fire hydrant. SMASH!! Water spurted out. Robin and Starfire—who were nearby—ran for cover.

Beast Boy and Raven stumbled to their feet and rushed over to Cyborg's side, helping him up.

"Nnngh…why did we teach him so much?!" Cyborg grunted. He looked up. "Where is he?!"

Robin and Starfire—soaked—wandered over. "Did any of you guys get him?!"

"What?! Dude, we thought you got him!!"

"He was too agile and fast for us!!"

"Well, he has to be somewhere—"

There was a whistle.

They all looked up.

I smirked. I waved down from where I perched on a boat's crane suspending a huge net of live, twitching fish. I raised Myrkblade and slashed a rope that was part of the pulley system.

CREEEEEEAK!!!

The crane pivoted away from the boat, past the docks, and stretched over the center of the street. I saluted and slashed the rope holding the net beneath me.

SNAP!!!

An ocean of fish came sailing down at the huddled five.

Their eyes bulged.

"Titans!!" Robin started jogging. "MOVE---"

And the Boy Wonder was silenced by fish.

PLOP!!!!!!!

The entire net sagged around them, pinning them to the ground.

I let out a sigh of relief, looked towards the freighter, and flipped away.

….

….

After nearly a minute, the net of twitching fish started to shake and bulge from underneath. Soon, a green elephant sprouted up from underneath and tossed the net to the side with a mighty trunk. The rest of the Titans were sprawled about on the ground, covered in a random assortment of flip-flopping, aquatic life.

Beast Boy shrunk down to elf form, looked at the fish slime on his body and gave a wretched expression as he tried to brush and wipe the stuff off him.

"Don't quote me on this…..," Cyborg muttered. "But….'ew'."

"You said it," Robin grumbled, reaching down his costume, pulling out a twitching fish by the tail and tossing it away.

"Yecch!" Starfire stood up and shivered. "Forgive me for saying this…but the marine life on Earth possess the most unpleasant of smells!"

"Yeah…," Beast Boy nodded. "Strange, though. It kinda sorta smells like Raven's laundry."

The dark girl gave Beast Boy a horrified look as she stood up.

Beast Boy blushed and scratched his neck. "Eheheheheheheheh…"

"Now that we're all collected," Cyborg clenched his fists and looked around. "Where'd he go?"

"He is….gone?" Starfire blinked.

"I don't sense him anymore," Raven frowned. "He is definitely gone."

"Aw man!!" Beast Boy groaned. "It was another trap!! I bet there's worse waiting for us at the freighter!"

"If there's anything at all…," Raven's eyes narrowed.

Starfire glanced over. "Robin? Are you okay?"

The Boy Wonder nodded absent-mindedly. He was diligently scanning the dockside street with his eyemask. "Um….guys? Where's my motorcycle?"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Jinx paced around on the deck of the freighter, twirling the C4 detonator in her fingers. The robot guards stood silently along the perimeter. The sun glistened on the waters surrounding the scene of the ambush. Seagulls flocked and cawed overhead. One even perched down innocently atop the obelisk containing the carbonite.

"Where are they?!?!" Jinx hissed. She glanced at a watch built into her apprentice outfit. "The Titans are usually more prompt than this!!" She looked over and raised a feline eyebrow at the henchmen.

The robots stared emotionlessly past her with white eyes.

Jinx made a face. "Can't Master at least choose prettier looking thugs?"

Just then, the roar of an engine lit her ears.

Jinx's cat eyes brightened. "Ah!! Here they come now!! Places, everyone!!"

The robots nodded and shuffled into the shadows around the obelisk.

Jinx stepped up towards the walkway platform leading to the deck from the shipyards. "Heheheh…this is it!! Won't Slade be pleased?! The last of the infection shall consume the Titans! All we need to do now is wait for them to park outside the scene of the crime, assemble calmly, and walk up the—"

VROOOOOOO-OOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin's R-Cycle soared up the walkway and vaulted like a hulking missile towards her.

Jinx's cat eyes exploded. "Holy mother of---!!!"

CRASH—SCRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPE!!!!!!!!!!

Jinx dove out of the way as the rider-less bike slammed down onto the deck, tipped over, and slid past her with a huge shower of sparks. It smashed through three thugs and clipped off the legs of two more before crashing hard into the obelisk and knocking the explosive container of carbonite over.

Jinx looked up from where she lay on the ground, gasping.

The robot henchmen gathered around the obelisk. Their heads swiveled and exchanged confused glances. Then their heads fell off.

SLASH!!!! SLASH SLASH SLASH!!!

Heads, arms, legs, and torsos flew apart as a dark figure blurred among the throng of henchmen and disappeared just as quickly.

Jinx watched it all from the ground, her jaw dropped. She got up on trembling feet and wrung her hands.

Henchmen—desperate—whipped out laser rifles and shot everywhere.

ZAAP!!

ZAAP!!

ZAAP!!

Jinx herself had to duck and dodge a few paranoid laser blasts. "WATCH IT, YOU TIN CANS!! AACK!!" She jumped a blast that exploded beneath her.

ZAAP!!

ZAAP!!

ZAAP!!

Then….silence.

The deck was quiet. The obelisk sparked a few times. The R-Cycle, sprawled on its side, smoked from its rattled engines. The ebb and flow of waves against the ship's hull filtered through the encore of seagull caws.

Jinx panted. She stepped out into the open, looking around with wide cat eyes. Trembling.

"Jinx?! What's the matter??"

The girl absent-mindedly placed a hand over her ear. "Uhhhh……," she slurred.

SWOOOOSH!!

She sensed a dark figure blurring behind her.

She spun, raising glowing pink fists and gritting her teeth.

Nothing.

She lowered her fists….blinked…then gasped.

Something was wrong.

She squinted her eyes. She bit her lip.

One of the C4 explosives was missing all of the sudden!

"Apprentice!! Report!! What is going on?!"

"Um….," Jinx stammered, "I-I'll get back to you on that…"

She lowered her hand and then spun to face the remaining henchmen. "Check the C4!! Quickly!! Make sure the last two aren't taken!!"

Behind her, something blurred over and stabbed into the gas tank of the R-Cycle. A moment later, the vehicle exploded.

BOOOM!!!!!

Jinx fell hard to the ground. "OOF!!"

Something blurred through the flames and dashed over her.

The henchmen raised smoking pistols, but soon their arms were lopped off by a smoking blade. The blade then twirled and a blurred figure with it. SLASSSSH!!! The robots fell down their middles and sparked to a dying silence.

Jinx stumbled up to her feet, scampered—panting—across the deck, and froze at the edge's railing. She gasped.

A second C4 explosive had been stolen.

She turned around and bumped into someone's chest.

She shrieked girlishly and jumped back, pink hands raised.

One of Slade's robots. It stared down at her lifelessly.

Jinx let out a sigh of relief. "Good…there're still some of you left. Look, we gotta run off with the carbonite before it's too late—"

The android's head teetered and rolled off the shoulders to the floor. Its body still stood.

Jinx blinked. "Um…"

THWUMP!!!

The body was suddenly shoved into Jinx.

She cried out from the impact and slid five feet across the deck.

WOOOOOSH!!

A dark figure leapt up from behind the android's body, flipped in the air, and sailed down at her.

CLAMP!!!

I landed, pressing the length of my body like a predator down against hers.

Jinx gasped. She stared up into two, glistening black goggles.

I grinned. I grabbed her shoulders. I somersaulted with her into a roll and kicked her off of me with a jolt of my feet.

WHUMP!!!

"AAAAAAAAIIIEEEEE" Jinx soared through the air, twirled once, and slammed her back hard against a stack of trailers. Her entire body flattened against the wall. She dropped the cylindrical detonator before slumping down to the deck with a sigh.

I leapt to my feet, spun around, and ended in a pose with Myrkblade twirled into readiness.

Jinx gritted her teeth. "You….," her eyes glowed pink. "YOU!!!!"

I smiled wide and mouthed 'Me!'

SWOOOOSH!! I blurred at her.

She brought two hands together and aimed directly at my feet. "HAAA!!!"

A hex bolt flew…but struck nothing but deck.

Jinx blinked. "Huh?"

I materialized behind her. I grabbed her shoulders and spun her madly behind me.

"YAAK!!" Jinx stumbled, spun, and careened across the deck and into an open trailer. "AAA-AAA-AACK!!" WHUMP!! She fell down inside the metal box.

SWOOOSH!

CLAMP!! CLAMP!!

The double doors to the trailer slammed shut. Daylight filtered in through a barred window as the locking mechanisms were fastened from the outside.

Jinx gasped. "HEY!!" She ran over to the window, gripped the bars, and yanked on them. "Nnnnnghhh!!" The doors wouldn't budge. "Frickin' stupid…," she grumbled.

My head rose into view from the outside.

She gasped.

I slipped my goggles off. With black, frowning eyes I stared at her from outside on the deck.

Jinx's lips quivered.

Suddenly, in a strangely familiar fashion, I blew her a kiss, winked, and 'giggled'.

Jinx snarled. A growl grew up from the inner heat of her being and exploded out of her throat. "rrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRAAAUGH!! LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU CREEP!!" She pounded the metal doors of the trailer in frustration. "YOU HEAR ME, GHOST BOY!! CREEP!!! LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!"

I didn't reply. I blurred up and out of sight from the inside view out the trailer's barred window.

Jinx's shoulders heaved. She growled and kicked hard at the door. "NNNGHHH!!"

Suddenly, the whole trailer lurched.

"Whoah!!" Jinx shuddered. Her whole body wobbled with the dancing trailer. The world outside the bars dropped out from under her. She landed hard on her butt. "OOF!!"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Outside, I had blurred up to the operating cockpit of the crane which—coincidentally enough—was currently suspending the trailer Jinx was sealed inside. Pulling back at the joysticks and pressing the right buttons, I managed to swivel the whole neck of the machine about and dangle the trailer over the Bay's waters several feet away from the hull of the freighter.

I whistled a pleasant little tune, curled my fingers, and lightly touched a tiny red switch…flipping it.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Inside the trailer, Jinx pouted with her hands on her hips.

"Now what?"

CLUNK!!!

The support cables unlatched to the roof of the trailer.

The lumbering metal box fell from a great height.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!" Jinx shrieked and clung desperately to the walls.

After a split-second eternity…… SPLOOOOOSH!!!!

A fountain of water leapt in through the barred windows from the outside. Jinx was jostled beyond definition. Amazingly, the trailer proved buoyant. It bobbed up and down in a sickening fashion. The smell of ocean water and fish wafted in and filled the girl's nostrils.

She stumbled up to her feet, wincing.

"I swear….you can't do this to me, Ghost Boy. Do you know who I am?!?!" She brushed herself off and straightened the top half of her outfit. "I am the Third Apprentice!! The trusted aid to my Master Slade and—" She suddenly gasped.

In fingering her outfit, she realized the flatness of her belt pocket.

She fumbled through her belt, stuttering. "M-My detonator!! Wh-Wh-Where is it?!?! Did I drop it?!?!"

Suddenly, she froze. Her cat eyes twitched. She slowly looked over at the far, dark end of the Trailer.

Stacked on top of each other…wobbling in the bobbing motion of the buoyant trailer…were the three C4 explosives.

Jinx waved her hands. "NO!!!!!!!"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I perched on the docks.

I twirled the detonator in my fingers, brought it still, and jammed my thumb down over the trigger.

BOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The trailer exploded in a flurry of shrapnel, fire, and ocean spray. A gust of wind flew across the waves, kicked water violently against the docks before me, and scattered frightened flocks of seagulls overhead.

The debris flew back to the ocean in a myriad of white splashes.

And all was silent save for the distant roar of a tall plume of flame over the waters.

My brow furrowed.

I stood up.

I carelessly tossed the cylinder hard to the docks beneath me.

CLANK!!!

I slipped my black goggles on, slung a canvass bag over my shoulders, and marched off slowly with my back to the fire.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Apprentice!! Apprentice!!" Slade shouted into the communicator. "Answer me!! Report!! What happened?! Where are you?!"

"You've been trying to contact her for twenty minutes, Slade…," Dagger said, his image on a t.v. screen against the wall behind the terrorist. "Accept the fallen of your flock already."

Slade turned and glared at Dagger with his emblazoned eye. "Jinx is no ordinary lackey. She is a sorceress. She bends the fabric of fate itself!! There's no way she could POSSIBLY have failed me!!"

"Well look alive, Slade," Dagger glared, unblinking, folding his hands together. "She just failed."

Slade's fist shook. He spun around and again shouted into the communicator. "Jinx!! This is your master! Respond at once!!"

CREEEEAK!!

Dagger's image glanced up.

Slade looked over.

A slit of light appeared. A sopping wet, physically exhausted Jinx stood in a hunched-over position before the unsealed hatch. "R-Reporting for d-duty Master…."

"Jinx….you are alive….," Slade walked over to her. "There was a terrible explosion on my end of the communications. Did the C4 go off prematurely?"

Dripping, Jinx nodded and moaned: "Uh huhhhh….."

"How did you survive?" Dagger's voice asked.

Jinx's face sagged. She wheezed: "L-Luck…."

"Tell me that you saved the carbonite core….," Slade demanded.

"I….I….," Jinx stammered.

Slade's fists clenched. "You came straight here?!"

"A-Aren't you going to give me a hug?!"

"I do not accept failure!!" Slade shouted.

"Eek!" Jinx cowered, covering her head with trembling hands. "I-I-I'm sorry!! It was him!! He came in out of nowhere!!"

"It was who, exactly?!" Slade growled.

"Who do you think??" Dagger exclaimed.

"Wait a minute….," Slade's eye narrowed down Jinx's shoes.

"What??" the sorceress blinked. "So I'm soaking wet!! I had to swim half of the way here!! Why the Hell do we live on a boat anywa—AAACKIES!!"

Slade hoisted her upside down by her leg. He stared closely at a razor-edged playing car embedded in the heel of Jinx's platform shoe. "Interesting….," he murmured and yanked the thing out.

"Wh-What's that?!" Jinx gasped with upside down cat eyes. Her wet pink hair dangled like storm clouds to the floor. "A playing card?! Sorta out of style this far from Gotham City!!"

WHUMP!! "OOF!"

Slade dropped her and turned the card over in front of his mask. "There is some writing…." He squinted.

Hey there, Slade.

Answer me this…what did your face look like before your parents were born?? Oh wait, my bad. You're a BASTARD! You'd better start getting more useful study buddies if you're gonna erase my equation off the paper! In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the show, Master. Your Third Apprentice is taking care of the Titans for you. In fact…I'd say he has their full attention by now. Ciao!

Sincerely, Wyldecarde

Jinx stood up, brushing herself off. "Master….we've got trouble with him hanging around loose like this!"

"My thoughts exactly, Slade," Dagger nodded. "Something tells me you're going have to try harder for that universal revolution of yours."

Slade shook. "Yes…..yes….it appears that I have to." He let out a yell. "RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRAAAAUGH!!!" And flung the playing card into the ground.

It shattered from the heavy throw of the masked terrorist.

CRASH!!!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

The Titans stepped slowly onto the deck of the freighter.

Cyborg was first, with his glowing laser rifle head at ready.

He eyed left and right.

A beat.

"Okay…," he whispered. "Coast is clear."

Robin stepped up, his staff at ready.

Starfire flew overhead, hands glowing bright green.

Beast Boy and Raven took up the rear.

After a while, they all relaxed.

The deck was full of scattered robot limbs, burnt marks, metal shards, and—

"Look!" Beast Boy pointed.

"My bike!!" Robin ran over to the charred remains of the R-Cycle. He looked around. He spotted something else.

A tipped over obelisk. There was a huge gash in its side where the core was supposed to be. The thing was now an empty, metal husk.

"Guess they bailed out when they saw us coming…," Cyborg rubbed his head. "Maybe Slade sent Wyldecarde to distract us long enough for them to retreat!"

Raven knelt by the husk. "If they retreated…then why didn't they take the entire obelisk with them? Why just the core?"

"And why are all of the henchmen in disarray?" Starfire gestured towards the robotic body parts.

"Dude…this is wyrd. But you gotta admit," he smiled. "It's sorta good luck for once!"

"Yes….," Robin stroked his chin and thought to himself. "Absolutely….good karma today…."

He stared at the gash in the side of the obelisk.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Late that afternoon…as the sun was beginning to set amber and warm…

I stood in the center of an iron mill. Heat bubbled through the air all around me as I stood on a catwalk overlooking a huge urn of red hot, molten metal.

After sneaking my way in, I pulled the canvass bag over from hoisting it over my back. I untied it and reached inside. My hand pulled out with the glowing carbonite core in my grasp. I stared at it. The light reflected off my goggles.

I smirked.

I was about to toss it in when I paused.

I thought about it.

I placed the carbonite down on the metal catwalk floor.

I knelt in front of it and whipped out Myrkblade, twirling it.

SWISHSWISHSWISH-THWACK!!

I brought the wooden blade down, chipping off a glowing piece of carbonite. I pocketed the sliver away in one of my belt pockets for future examination. The rest of the carbonite core I picked up, held over my head, and tossed mightily down into the urn full of molten metal.

FFHSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

Steam rose as the explosive melted harmlessly away.

I folded up the canvass bag, pocketed it away, and sheathed Myrkblade behind me.

I swiveled around and walked away from the heat.

I emerged onto a high scaffold of metal overlooking the industrial complexes of the City's North district.

I took a deep breath…absorbing the sunset from far away.

And I smiled.

For the first time in my life…'being evil' almost felt good.

I cracked my knuckles, readjusted my goggles, and blurred off towards the Southwest.

I would make it by nightfall…and would plan the next counterattack.