77. Kara's Visitor part 3

"So….like…..Thomas the Train Engine's summer home??" Beast Boy uttered.

The T-Car coasted to a stop. Cyborg and Robin got out, followed by Raven, Beast Boy, and myself.

We all stood in a line and looked out at the roundhouse through the alleyway we were hidden inside. Six different railroads converged in the distance. They all formed one giant line of rails that headed into a brick, croissant-shaped structure of red. Before the six different huge doors and compartments for engines rested a turntable that governed which railroad went to which compartment. The place had been abandoned long ago, while the rest of the industrial complex surrounding it was still in operation. Or at least…that's what it was supposed to be.

The sun was slowly making its downward plunge into the horizon. The Kansas atmosphere turned a dull orange. The sounds of power plants and distant train horns filled the earth with a dying ambiance.

No Intergang….at least not yet.

"Make that 'retirement home'…," Beast Boy mused.

I blinked through my shades. I glanced at the others. I hand-signed.

"Supergirl and Starfire?" Cyborg rubbed the human part of his head. "I'm not seeing any sign of 'em, man."

Suddenly, two bodies dropped down from the sky behind me.

"BOO!!" exclaimed the Girl of Steel.

No sooner had I turned around that I fell back on my rear with a startled gasp.

WHUMP!!

I winced, gritting my teeth.

Starfire and Supergirl giggled mightily.

"Please forgive us, Noir," the Tamaranian smiled. "Ourselves could not be helped!"

"Dude!" Beast Boy smiled. "That was righteous! I've never seen Noir land on his butt before!"

I frowned at him.

A hand stretched out at me.

I looked up.

Supergirl smiled. "No hard feelings?"

I blinked under my shades. I took the hand and was hoisted up to my feet quickly.

"So…," Supergirl's eyes trailed on me for a moment before she faced the entire group in general, "…aren't we supposed to be finding some laser-toting creeps here?"

"Not yet," Robin said. He walked over towards the edge of the alleyway and looked out on the roundhouse and railroad tracks as he spoke, "We outran them for a purpose. They're gonna meet somewhere in this spot. I just know it."

"How exactly?"

He turned back and squinted through his white eyemask. "Call it a hunch."

Supergirl smirked and folded her arms. "Riiiiight. Detectives, gotta love em!" she glanced at me.

I shrugged.

"According to the readouts…," Cyborg peaked in on the computer monitor on the T-Car's dashboard and spoke, "…our 'buddies' should be here in a matter of a half-hour. Whatever they're up to…we don't have much time to set up an ambush."

"Should we not choose logical points of observation and readiness?" Starfire uttered.

"Agreed," Robin nodded. "We should split up into small groups and form a perimeter around the roundhouse."

Beast Boy giggled. "Hehehe….'around the roundhouse'…say that three times fast!"

"………….." everyone stared at him.

"Allright….fine….be dismal….," the changeling muttered.

"How shall we go about doing this?" Raven droned.

"Hmmmm," the Boy Wonder scratched his chin.

"As long as I'm paired with someone, I'll be happy!" Supergirl exclaimed. "Sorry….'new girl', remember?"

"We remember….," Raven said dryly.

Supergirl looked at her funny.

"Very well…I've got an idea anyways," Robin said.

I took a deep breath, folded my hands together, and bowed my head.

Please don't do it………please don't do it………please don't do it…

"On top of the roundhouse…."

Please don't do it………please don't do it………please don't do it…

"The first team will be………."

Please don't do it………please don't do it………please don't do it………

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

He did it.

"Gee…isn't this exciting?! I'm taking part in an ambush! And with the Teen Titans of all people!" Supergirl exclaimed, her platinum blonde hair waving in the late afternoon breeze.

I nodded listlessly a few feet away from my teammate. I crouched at the edge of the roundhouse's rooftop.

"If only Cla—er---Superman could see me now. He'd flip. In a good way, I hope."

I stared out at the tracks. The sky was growing increasingly dark. The wind lukewarm and relentless. The air smelled of age-old ash and rust.

"Any sign of Intergang yet?"

I shook my head.

"They're sure taking their sweet time, aren't they?" the Girl of Steel looked out onto the industrial landscape. "And….if you don't mind me asking….j-just how does Robin know for sure that this is the place to be anyways?"

I shrugged.

A beat.

"You're quite the conversationalist, you know that?"

I slowly turned to look at her, an eyebrow raised over my shades.

She giggled.

I looked back out.

Silence…..

"Don't take this the wrong way….ya know…," she sauntered up and stood beside me. "But you do seem to put in the whole nine yards when it comes to not looking at me."

I bit my lip. I blushed.

She craned her neck to get a better look at my face.

I looked away some more.

"Hehehehe," she giggled. "What's up with you? You seem so tense and on edge and----I bet it's all a part of being mysterious and badass, huh?"

I looked at her. I mouthed: 'badass'??

"That's what they say at the local schools," she winked. "That badass new Titan! Noir!"

I blinked under my shades. I looked off into space.

"Don't believe me?"

I shrugged.

"Pffft. You're too modest."

I rolled my black eyes and stared out onto the railroad wasteland again.

Silence.

There was a shuffling sound. I sensed something petite and lightly dressed to my immediately left. I realized rather awkwardly that Supergirl was sitting on the edge of the roof. She was no further than two feet from me.

"Some vacation this must be for y'all…," she remarked, her legs dangling over the side. She looked outward into the wasteland. "Can't even get a rest in Kansas of all places! Pfft! I know I'm enjoying every minute of it, but I bet you're exhausted!"

I scratched the back of my neck. She wasn't entirely accurate in that statement. But it did feel good to hear.

For some reason….

"And look at you," she leaned back on two hands and smirked. "Walking around Kansas City. Tripping criminals. Smashing getaway cars…"

I bit my lip.

"Oh yeah! I saw you!" she giggled. "I-I had to follow you. I couldn't help myself. It was just…..s-so cool how you did it and all! Especially that crook in the plaza. All you did was trip him and step on his hand and he was under! Talk about confidence!"

I cleared my throat and looked away…my face felt red again.

She craned her neck. "What?? It wasn't like I was stalking you or something…"

I let out a nervous, breathy chuckle. "I just….well….I like superheroes," she said with a shrug. "I know that sounds funny coming from a girl that should be a superhero and all….but….."

I glanced at her.

She lifted her knees up and hugged her legs as she looked out into the wind and expanse. "Clark…..h-he's so protective of me. I know girls are supposed to find that chivalrous and stuff…but I see it as downright bossy. He's not my dad or anything! And who cares if he was the one who awoke me from the years of suspended animation on my wrecked planet…."

I glanced at her, curiously. I tilted my head to the side. But Supergirl shook her head. "Bah….what am I doing? You poor thing…you can't talk to me and here I am taking advantage of it by talking my mouth off!"

I shrugged. I was used to it. So I smirked.

She glanced at me through the corners of her sapphire eyes. "Is it…..Is it r-really that you can't talk, Noir?"

I performed a long, winded shrug.

Her eyes lowered a bit.

I glanced at them.

I blinked as her hand reached out and rested lightly on the base of my neck. I could feel my own pulse suddenly.

"This….Th-This scar……does it have anything to do with it?" I stared at her hand…then at her. Some part of my body was shaking a bit. Was I getting the shivers again??

"Sometimes in the images from the news of you and the Titans….it can be seen. But I wasn't sure if it was real…," her fingers lightly traced the 'X' on the base of my empty throat. "…who on Earth could have done this to you?"

I flinched away from her.

She bit her lip, as if hurt.

I felt bad and looked away…sighing.

Silence.

"I…I-I'm sorry…," Supergirl uttered. "I should know better than to pry into someone 'mysterious' and 'badass'." She giggled. "But…it doesn't change the fact that I'm curious."

I nodded without looking. I think I was getting the shivers. I clutched my metal left hand to myself and looked off onto the railyards. I could sense that she was staring at my prosthetic then. I made no attempt to interrupt her. I didn't see a point in trying.

There was a rushing sound. Like the grinding of rubber against a sea of gravel.

I glanced up. There was a white thing coming. A white thing on wheels.

"Hey! I-It's them!" Supergirl stood up and whispered.

I looked at her…I looked at the oncoming pickup truck…I stood up and pushed the both of us back.

"Hey! What are you—oh yeah…we're hiding. My bad!"

I sweatdropped and reached for my communicator.

But Robin was already chiming us.

"Noir! Supergirl! Get ready!"

"Is it them??" Supergirl hissed.

"Affirmative! Cyborg's readings confirm it. And there appears to be another party arriving as well!"

"Another??" Supergirl remarked.

The two of us looked out onto the railyards beyond the incoming pickup truck.;

"But we don't see another automobile!"

"That's because it's probably not an automobile…," Robin said. "Keep your eyes peeled and standby for further instructions! We're gonna give these creeps a few minutes to reveal exactly what they're up to before we jump 'em!"

I nodded and clicked an 'affirmative' morse code response by the movement of my left metal fingers and its communication device.

Robin's voice cut off.

I crouched low and scooted forward on my chest. I narrowed my black eyes and looked out through my shades. The white pickup truck stopped at the base of the roundhouse. Four familiar men in black uniforms hobbled out, still in helmets. The one I had slashed with Myrkblade was clutching his shoulder. The Leader still had his cuts in his outfit…with the mysterious metal shining out from under. He had a satchel in his grasp.

"The Kryptonite….," Supergirl uttered.

I glanced at her. I pointed.

"I'm doing okay…," she said quietly. "I'd have to be really close to a bunch of the stuff to be affected, remember? Besides…he's got it in a lead bag. I think it's supposed to keep us from sensing it or something with Cyborg's technology…"

I nodded. That made sense.

I looked back onto the scene.

The four men weren't even talking. They all stood as one and looked out towards the west where the railings stretched out and connected the abandoned portion to the rest of the industrial sprawl.

My eyes trailed towards the horizon. And there I saw—chugging along—a short train. It was coming in reverse. Three metal cars, a fourth car of what looked like reinforced, black metal, and a strong engine pushing it all along.

Per the directions of the four from the truck, the hulking train came to a hissing stop right in front of the turntable of the roundhouse. In the setting sun, the four walked forward and greeted six or so men in black (but without helmets) stepping out. They were holding laser rifles on each side. As if they were unsure of each other in spite of being on the same team.

"Took you long enough to get here," the Leader from the pickup truck said.

"You're one to talk. Looks like you got here shortly before we did…," said a member of the train group. "Something tie you up in Kansas City?"

"Oh…nothing important. Just Supergirl and a Titan."

Many of the train group recoiled as if they had been hit by a shockwave.

"What?! How the Hell did THEY get entangled with you?!"

"I think that matters little. What's important is that I easily disentangled them from me," the Leader said. He held the canvass bag up and pointed at it. "And I emerged with the fruits of our labors in the long run."

"Superheroes were not part of the equation!!!"

"Quite frankly, you cackling oaf, the equation was not part of the equation. This whole operation was a swan song from the start. Only by sheer stupidity am I willing to go along with it, and—yes—the occasional desperation as well."

"Have you been followed?"

"Most likely."

"……….."

The Leader tossed them the canvass bag of lead and kryptonite. "So be a good fellow and toss that into the magical train car, eh? The important thing is not to lose our cool. We have more to be concerned about than teenage super-punks. Like the survival of Intergang. Or was I just imagining it when we were briefed on the importance of this mission??"

"This mission is indeed important…," one of the train group members said, passing the bag to someone to carry into the train cars. "That's why we can't risk any involvement with any vigilantes…ESPECIALLY someone of Blueboy's ilk!"

"Supergirl?? Pfft…putty in my hands. Bruised putty, I assure you."

I bit my lip as I listened to this. The leader of the Kansas City raid was quite sharp. Undoubtedly he knew that there was an ambush to be sprung.

I looked to my left.

Supergirl was gone.

I did a double-take. Frantically, I looked all around for her. The roundhouse. The turntable. The train. The railyards---THERE! Perched on top of a metal telephone pole. Peering intently down onto the train engine and its subsequent cars.

My mouth parted.

"Noir…are you getting all of this?" Robin's voice exclaimed.

Trembling, I clicked my metal fingers.

"Huh? Where did she go??"

I gave another morse code signal.

"What?! Go and stop her! B-But keep in stealth!!"

I nodded. I charged up a wave of murk…cloaked myself…and blurred out off the roundhouse and through the railyards. I kept a fair distance from the meeting of Intergang members. I circumnavigated the train, hobbled over rails, blurred up the metal pole, and perched alongside Supergirl…panting.

"That's so cool how you go all invisible and stuff," she smiled…still squinting her eyes at the train. "Wish I had that…but lord knows I have everything else."

I hand-signed furiously, my face flushed.

"Shhh!!" she emphasized as if I was 'talking'. "Take it easy. Tell Robin and the others I'm getting a look at the train."

"?????" I looked at her funny.

"X-Ray Vision…silly…."

I mouthed 'oh'. I clicked a morse code message to Robin.

"Very well then…," he sighed…more like moaned. "Keep us informed. But make sure she doesn't go any further than that…"

I took a deep breath.

"Thanks for babysitting me," she silently giggled.

I glared at her.

"I think I'm getting something…," she muttered. She held up her communicator and spoke hushedly to the other Titans through it. "H-Hey guys! This is Supergirl. The first three cars are lined with reinforced titanium. Very tough to break. Even for me. But the first one facing the roundhouse has a door that's fairly easy to bust through. The next two do as well. It's possible to break one's way through all of them and get to the final car. But that's where things get hazy. The last car before the engine is lined with lead. I can't see a darn thing inside it. I think these Intergang bozos were expecting something like this…"

"Dude! We could use your X-Ray Vision more at home!" Beast Boy's voice offered. "Especially whenever we drive by that all girl's school on Fifth Street—OOF!!"

"Supergirl, this is Cyborg. Are there any defense systems or bombs inside the train?"

"Nope. But I can't make any guarantees about the fourth one."

"The one encased in lead?"

"Right."

"How about the engine? How's that structured?"

"Very strong. Reinforced with titanium on the inside. Totally refitted. Expensive stuff. I wonder how long Intergang had it sitting around before they started using it for….well….whatever they're using it for now."

Robin's voice came up over the communication: "Any other people inside?"

Supergirl nodded and spoke: "About five. One of them's the guy who just walked in with the bag. So…five on the inside. Five from the train on the outside. And the four dudes from the pickup truck…..Oh! And two men in the engine."

"Sixteen people…," Robin mumbled. A beat. "Any weapons on the inside?"

Supergirl smiled and winked at me as if to poke fun at how much the guys were using her reconnaissance at her new 'perch'. "Yup. A handful of laser guns, but that's about it."

"If we are to ambush them, we had better use all of our powers at once," Raven's voice said. "Confuse them. Overwhelm them. And then have a Titan or two run inside to uncover what's inside the train undetected."

"Agreed," Starfire's voice exclaimed. "As long as we do it so nobody gets hurt!"

"Hey! You got Supergirl here! Who's gonna get hurt?!"

"Plenty…," Raven's voice droned.

Supergirl frowned and mouthed something that made me sweatdrop.

"So, like, when do we make our move?" Beast Boy's voice uttered.

A beat.

Then… "Keep an eye out on that leader…"

"Of the pickup truck gang?"

"Yes. As soon as he gets near to the rear car of the train, we make our move."

"Why then, Robin?"

"Something tells me he's very dangerous. I'm going to swing in and engage him. Supergirl, Noir…you two take out the group from the pickup truck. Starfire, Raven…try and take out the two in the engine. Beast Boy, Cyborg…attack the rest of the group by the train and prepare to back me up for the inevitable charge in on the cars. That goes for the rest of you as well after you've quieted your respective groups of thugs. The prime goal here is to get…inside…that…train."

Starfire: "Understood, Robin."

Cyborg: "Loud and clear."

Beast Boy: "Dude, let's rock!"

Raven: "Whatever you say."

Supergirl: "Showtime…"

Me: "……."

"Wait for my signal…," Robin's voice said.

While Intergang chattered, the leader gradually marched towards the rear train car.

Supergirl cracked her knuckles.

I reached a hand back to the hilt of Myrkblade.

A cloud passed overhead, blocking the setting sun. The railyard and roundhouse darkened. Our teammates were nowhere to be seen, but I knew they were all there. Ready to ambush…

The leader stepped up to the rear entrance of the car. He looked over his shoulder.

I saw a glint of metal.

My black eyes twitched.

"NOW!!"

FLASH!!! ZAAAAAP!!! SWOOOOOSH!!!

Starbolts, laser cannon fire, and the sailing body of a green panther converged upon the scene. And in the midst of all the chaos, the Boy Wonder swung in via grappling cord—his cape flapping. With gritting teeth, he lifted his metal boots up, let go of the cord, sailed down, and plowed mightily into the chest of the leader.

WHANG!!!

The two tumbled inside the car.

"Come on!!" Supergirl grinned. "Gotta crash!!" She physically yanked my shoulder.

I gasped as she blurred the two of us forward in superflight. When we met the ground below, my feet frantically went into movement and suddenly I was running. I saw two men from the pickup truck with laser rifles standing with their backs to us. They were aiming at Starfire and Cyborg. Supergirl plowed one down with a fist while I unleashed Myrkblade—CHIIING!!!—and dove into action.

SLASH—CRACK!!!

The laser rifle shattered dramatically. The thug barely had a chance to gasp as I spun in a twirl, shot my foot out, and kicked him hard in the chest. He went sailing back, landing hard against the body of the truck, and forming a dent in the aluminum.

I looked over through my shades and saw three other gunmen from the train and truck aim at us. Suddenly, a spray of black-charged gravel from beneath the tracks flew into their face. They stumbled backwards, crying out in surprise. Raven soared over them, her eyes glowing bright gray. She flicked her wrist and tossed a rail support or two under the crooks' feet as she flew quickly towards the train engine as instructed. In a flurry of green, Starfire soon joined her.

I twirled Myrkblade and ran at the disoriented men. I jumped, landed between them, and swept my leg out. I tripped one completely and forced a second to stumble. I struck him hard across the back with the blunt of Myrkblade. WHACK!!! He went tumbling down.

The third man recovered his laser gun and was aiming at me. ZAP!!!!

SWOOSH-CLANK!! I deflected with my sword in a crouching pose.

Suddenly, two red beams of light flew in and melted the front of the gun.

The man gasped.

I looked over to see Supergirl with her eyes glaring. She cut off the laser stream and rushed in with a fist.

I winced.

WHAM!!!!

The man flew off into the brick wall of the roundhouse and was out cold.

Supergirl giggled. "It's outta here!!"

I had to smile at that.

A stampeding sound awoke me from the right. I glanced over—gasped—and jumped out of the way to avoid a blindly charging Beast Boy in triceratops mode. A very brave—or stupid—thug was saddling his horned cranium and was covering his eyes.

I watched with confused shock and amusement as the green dinosaur smashed his way into one of the roundhouse's gated doors and took the fight inside.

Supergirl flew towards the interior. She waved at me in mid-flight. "I'll help him out!" she exclaimed. "Go assist the others!"

It didn't occur to me that she was suddenly giving me commands. After all, it all made sense. I spun and looked across the chaotic scene. I saw flashes of blue light and white metal in the foreground. A muffled battle going on inside the frighteningly rocking train cars. And the black and green flashes of Starfire's and Raven's efforts in the background. I wasn't sure who I was to assist first….

Then Cyborg's voice crackled on his communicator: "Noir!! C-Could use a metal hand here!!"

I gripped Myrkblade and blurred over with a jolt.

The scene of an android Titan pummeling his way through an encircling crowd of thugs flew at me. In a half-second glance I caught one thug eyeing Cyborg and pulling out a spare pistol to fire---

SWOOOOSH—I rushed in, barreled to a stop, and rose my left hand.

BANG!!

CLANK!!

The bullet bounced off my prosthetic.

I frowned.

I spun, twirled Myrkblade, and jabbed towards the man.

THUNK!!! The tip of my blade dug into the barrel of his gun. I unleashed a pulse of Murk.

CRACK!!!

The gun exploded in the man's grasp.

He held his wrist and doubled back, shouting in pain.

I uppercutted his chin into silence with a high kick and smacked him into the ground with the blunt edge of my blade.

"RRAAAAAUGH!!" Cyborg shouted from behind me as he punched two Intergang thugs at a time. Another one jumped on his back and performed a choke hold. The Titan struggled to get him loose.

I held my breath, blurred over, and ended with an expert pose upon which I jabbed Myrkblade forward—caught the thug with the blade between his shirt and neck—and swiftly lifted him off Cyborg with an expert toss.

FWOOOSH!!

The man tumbled to a stop across the gravel and rested on the turntable.

Cyborg wiped his brow and smirked at me. "Thanks a million, pal."

I gave him a metal thumb's up.

POW!!!!!

There was an explosion and an entire gate from one of the roundhouse entrances flew at us.

Cyborg let out a shout and dove out of the way.

I stood there.

The gate barreled down at me.

I held my breath, gripped Myrkblade, raised it, and slashed down just as the huge wooden door made contact.

CRASH!!!!!

I made the structure split around me. I stood in a tornado of settling smoke energy…panting. My black eyes narrowed as I spotted Beast Boy and Supergirl retreating from the interior as the bruised thug ran after them with a grenade launcher. I looked past him and realized that the roundhouse was actually a storage base for a weapons cache.

Ahhh….

POW!!!!!!

A grenade went off too close for comfort.

I dove to the side to join Cyborg.

Beast Boy let out an animal sound of panic and ran towards the train.

Supergirl—in the meantime—ran over to the pickup truck.

The man launched a grenade at her.

She gritted her teeth and batted it away with a hand.

It flew off and exploded underneath a telephone pole, causing the structure to collapse loudly.

Supergirl then proceeded to lift the entire pickup truck with her bare hands, swivel about, face the grenadier, and launch the entire vehicle at him. "RRAAAAUGH!!!!"

SWOOOOOOSH!!

The man's eyes widened. He frantically took aim with his grenade launcher and--

POW!!!!

He exploded the truck in midair. But through the midair cyclone of fire and shrapnel, Supergirl suddenly flew with a fist that trailed smoke and ashes as it soared its way into the man's chest.

WHAM!!!!!

He flew back hard from the contact, met the earth, skidded with his feet across the gravel, and then backflipped into a knock-out landing against the brick structure of the roundhouse. WHUMP!!

Supergirl touched down and dusted her hands off. "Get a bigger catcher's glove."

Cyborg and I stared. How could we not?

ZAP!! ZAP!!

The android Titan and I ducked as laser fire flew overhead. I dove to the side while Cyborg charged the enemy with his laser cannon firing.

I panted and tried to catch my breath amidst the chaos.

Over my communicator I heard Starfire and Raven:

"Robin! We have been unsuccessful in our attempts to accost the men inside the train engine!!"

"The entrance is sealed tight with emergency metal plating. No matter how much damage Starfire and I exert…we cannot pierce through and get to the Intergang members running the train!"

"Perhaps if someone with brawn like Beast Boy or Supergirl were to assist us—"

Robin's voice crackled over the line: "Raugh!!" A punching sound. A gasping sound. Scuffling. "I'm in a bit of a pinch here!! If we can't get to the train engine—" (interruption for a round of punches) "—we'll have to break into the train cars one by one before---"

The train lurched forward. The four cars jostled behind the engine. Slowly…the entire machine chugged along the railroad and towards the distance.

I watched through blinking, black eyes.

"They're moving the train!" Raven's voice said. "We're too late!"

"Not in my book! Someone get in here and help me!! This one guy is positively—(WHAP!!)—AUGH!!"

"Robin?!?! Robin!!!"

I took a breath. I gripped Myrkblade hard and ran towards the rear car of the train moving away. Beast Boy and Cyborg took on the remaining thugs on the turntable. Raven and Starfire hovered along the sides of the engine. A bruised and dizzy thug standing in the rear doorframe of the car was leaning against the wall and on his laser rifle. He took one look at me, aimed, and fired.

ZAAAP!!!

I deflected with Myrkblade. CLANG!!

He fired again.

ZAAP!! ZAAP!! ZAP!!

I ducked, dodged, and deflected my way through the onslaught while running. At the last second I blurred, teleported up to the doorway, smoked through the man, and solidified on the other side of him in mid-air. Before coming down, I used the man as a springboard with a reverse kick that sent him sprawling unconscious out from the moving train and onto the tracks behind.

I took a deep breath and looked through my shades at the interior. Intergang's train car had a narrow passageway lined with mobile computer stations, monitors, weapons lockers, and cabinets full of mysterious equipment.

I raised an eyebrow. I looked beyond my immediate surroundings.

The door to the next car had been smashed open. Birdarangs and scuff marks lined the frame. There was a scuffle of moving bodies in the next compartment.

I ran briskly towards the fray. The closer I came, I saw Robin in fisticuffs with the leader. The Boy Wonder wasn't doing so well. He was getting the first real pummeling in ages.

I gritted my teeth and raised my blade.

Suddenly, a thug twirled from inside the door frame and aimed a shotgun at me.

Ch-CHTUNG! He pumped.

I exhaled and slid down on my back.

BLAM!!!!

Shot flew over me.

I slid past him, vaulted myself up with a current of murk, bounced off the side of the wall with my foot, twirled, and kicked my other foot across the man's cheek.

SMACK!!!

He was stumbling on one foot when I came down, grabbed him by the neck, gritted my teeth, and tossed him with a blurring arm at the back of the leader who was fighting Robin.

SMACK!!!!

The two men went tumbling across the floor.

Robin slumped against a wall, gripping his side and panting…sweating.

I rushed over to him and placed my hand on his shoulders.

"I'm okay," he said through clenched teeth. "Just had my yolk shaken around in the shell a bit."

Slowly, the leader stood up. His helmet was cracked a bit. His stance was strong and unyielding.

Robin got into a fighting pose with a fan of birdarangs.

I twirled Myrkblade and stood at ready.

The train jostled and clanked around us as we gained speed down the tracks.

"Quite the bothersome bunch you are…," the masked man said. "Come to think of it…you two would make a very nice couple."

"………"

Robin and I sweatdropped. We looked at each other. We frowned at the man.

"You're going down." Robin growled.

"Touche'," the man replied.

"RAAAUGH!!!" Robin dove forward.

"!!!!!" I blurred.

The man held his arm out as I slashed with Myrkblade. CLANK!! Somehow, his forearm managed to block. Robin slid between his legs, rolled on his back on the other side, and flung his birdarangs up. CL-CL-CLANK!!! All three stuck into the man's side.

He shoved me off through my sword.

His helmet literally swiveled about, glared down at Robin in reverse, and plucked the birdarangs out.

The Boy Wonder's eyemask bulged.

I was no less shocked.

"You might want to sharpen your beak, bird boy….," the man then tossed the birdarangs down at the caped hero.

"Nngh!!" Robin exhaled and jumped up.

CLANK!!!

His own projectiles fell at his feet.

He landed and was immediately met with the reverse kick of the man. THWAP!! The Boy Wonder went sprawling back towards the far end of the second car.

I gritted my teeth and stabbed Myrkblade again. The inhuman man grabbed the tip of my blade without looking. He twisted.

My arm was wrenched into an awkward position on my side. I gasped and twirled my body to match the movement.

His helmet twirled to face me again. He dove at me with his other fist.

WHAM!!!

I went falling back with my sword.

Then…. SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-CLANK!!!

Another birdarang flew. This time, it landed in the man's helmet. And this time…it had a blinking light.

An explosive.

I gasped and covered my head.

"Oh lovely…." BOOOM!!!!!!

The entire train car rocked. Parts of the wall caught on fire.

As the ashes settled, Robin took a bold step forward and growled. "You're not human! And I know you survived that!! Now who are you!!"

I stood up, wincing….dreading what I would see.

Smoke cleared, and there stood before us the very same man. The explosion had torn off the upper, torso half of his uniform. His helmet was completely shattered. I saw one side of his face. Tilted down. Short, short brown hair and thin lips. His eye snapped open.

Robin gasped from behind him. "Corbin!! John Corbin!!"

"Please….how many times must I tell you lot…," the man's head turned to face me…and I saw half of his skin torn away to reveal a metal skull. "It's Metallo now! It's been Metallo for years!!"

My jaw dropped.

"You're still with Intergang?!" Robin exclaimed.

"I work for myself…," the man stood up and flexed his metal arms. "Always have! Always will! Now who do you work for, exactly, Bird Boy? Surely it's not that aging Bat that once had you on a leash! Is it for peanuts?! That'd be a shame to piss your life off over!"

"It's you who's after the Kryptonite, isn't it?!" Robin gritted his teeth and pointed a jabbing finger. "You need fuel for that god-forsaken soul of yours, right?!"

Metallo smiled a half-metal smile. "Please, my good man, there comes a time when one wakes up and realizes some dreams shall never be realized. Every time I put that green crap inside of me, I'm bound to lose it in some way or another. It's only fair I devise another way to power my laborious limbs!"

"Then why are you trying to collect more of it!"

"Correction," he held up a metal finger. "Intergang is trying to collect more of it. And neither is it in my best interests or their best interests."

"Then whose?!"

"What do you know?! Probably your mother! As if you had one!" Metallo bowed…then swiftly picked ripped off the metal door to a cabinet and tossed it at Robin. "RRAUGH!!"

Robin tried to duck, but he was struck hard by the metal. He went tumbling backwards with a cry.

I gritted my teeth and charged Metallo from behind.

The metal man spun around, focused his eyes, and shot a pair of laser beams at my person. I gasped and fell directly backwards, barely avoiding the screaming lasers of heat shooting over my body. As I hit the floor of the train, my head tilted back. Upside down, I caught sight of the lasers meeting a blurred end. Then—magnificently—the streaming body of Supergirl came rocketing through the narrow length of the last car and a half. She zoomed over me, kicking up an invisible wind, and plowed her hard-as-steel fist (and body) into the chest of Metallo.

WHAM!!!!

"AUGH!!!" he cried out as the two soared down the rest of the train's length.

Robin dove out of the way of their sparkling trajectory.

Metallo tumbled. Supergirl continued to shove him. The two rushed through the third car and smashed through the door to the fourth and final car before the engine.

CRASH!!!

Metallo went tumbling inside its dull interior.

Supergirl landed on her feet, frowned, and placed her hands on her hips. "Allright, Corbin! Game over! Surrender or…..or….nnnnghhh," she suddenly and spontaneously collapsed to the floor.

"!!!!!" I stood up, my mouth dropped.

"What??" Robin mouthed as he dusted himself off.

Metallo got up inside the last car and smirked. "'Come into my parlor', said the spider to the fly! Ah ha ha ha ha!!"

The Boy Wonder and I stepped forward. We could see eight—count 'em—eight huge chunks of glowing green kryptonite lined up in the back of the final car. There was so much of the stuff, the entire train reflected an emerald light. Supergirl was down for the count…twitching and moaning at the huge level of Kryptonite that even her Argosian system couldn't counteract.

"Too….m-much…," she moaned. "Hard…t-to breathe…"

"No wonder the car's lined with lead…," Robin palmed his fist. "That's where you're storing everything!"

"Always on the go! It's the only way to be American!" Metallo winked. "Oops…I'm sorry. Is she on your side?" He effortlessly picked Supergirl up with a fist. "You must understand…I've fought her kind before. They're like cockroaches. They'll survive everything." He tossed her with a grunt into the center of the room…closer to the clumps of Kryptonite. "Unless you microwave them!! Ha ha ha ha!!"

"Nnnghhhhhh…," Supergirl moaned and cringed. Her face was a pure expression of suffering. "S-Someone….please…."

I sweated. I looked at Metallo. I looked at Robin.

"You won't get away with this…," Robin growled. "You're outnumbered. The Titans have your men under control. It's just a matter of time before we stop this train too and confiscate all of the Kryptonite!"

"Then I suppose it's time I deal my winning hand…," Metallo made an effort to look at me when he said that. He then opened his trademark chest cavity with the flick of a wrist. But instead of a Kryptonite core inside, there was a metal object of a conical shape with flashing lights.

I was clueless….

But Robin gasped in horror. "N-No…."

"Good!" Metallo beamed. "You recognize a hydrogen detonator when you see one! Before going on this mission, both my partners and I couldn't help but think: 'Kansas. Gee, what a boring state. Wouldn't it be best to take if off the map of America entirely?'"

"That'd mean you would die too!"

"Yes, a pity that," Metallo nodded. "Then again…I've been dead for the last four years."

Just then, Beast Boy caught up with us…running the lengths of the train.

"Hey guys!! Everything's clear outside! Raven's got a plan to get into the engine and---wh-wh-whoah!! Holy Godness!!" he flinched and hid behind me.

"The stakes are simple…," Metallo smirked. "You try to stop me, the earth gets a new belly button. And, suffice to say, that'll cut your pathetic years of hormone spreading utterly short!!"

I was staring beyond Metallo as he said this. At the tortured body of Supergirl.

"So what'll it be, Titans? Surely not all of you are mute!"

I sheathed Myrkblade. I got into a squatting position.

Robin looked at me through the edge of his eyemask. "Noir….wh-what are you doing---"

SWOOOOOSH!! I blurred forward.

Metallo's grinning face came at me. Closer and closer. His hand fingered the detonator inside his chest. "Not a wise idea, my good man…I assure you…"

I gritted my teeth. I summoned murk.

FWOOOSH!!!

I morphed around him in the form of smoke. I materialized behind him, slid to a stop, scooped up Supergirl, charged murk energy, soared back at the metal man's back and---

FWOOOOOSH!!!!!

Teleported safely on the other side next to Robin and Beast Boy. I panted and leaned against the wall with a slightly relieved Supergirl draped across my arms.

There was a clapping of hands. Metallo's hands.

"Bravo, dear boy. I so look forward to killing her in a much more sporting way to come. Thank you for giving me that outlet. Now…I must give myself another outlet."

That said, the man yelled at the top of his metal lungs and slammed his foot hard down into the rattling doorframe connecting our car to his lead one.

SMASH!!!!!!

Cracks formed in the car. It rattled louder. Then….

SHATTER!!!!!!

Metallo's impact forced the last three cars to disconnect with his. We braced ourselves as our car rattled, shook, and bounced before losing momentum and slowing down behind the lead car. Metallo leaned casually in his doorframe, smiled, and waved as he chugged along ahead of us…gradually creating distance between us. Raven and Starfire flew down and hovered at our level.

"He's getting away!" Raven exclaimed. "Quick…we must reassemble! I have a plan as to opening the engine compartment with my powers and—"

"No."

Raven and Starfire did a double-take at Robin. "What??"

"That's Metallo in the train that we're dealing with," Robin said.

"So??"

"Right now, he's the walking equivalent of a hydrogen bomb. If we get too close to him, he threatens to blow himself up."

"How horrible!" Starfire exclaimed.

"But we just can't let him get away!" Raven exclaimed.

"We can…and we will," Robin said. Then he pulled out what looked like a gun from his utility belt. "But first…." He took aim.

POW!!!!

A tiny, almost invisible dart flew off and impacted the body of the train from afar.

"A tracking device??" Starfire remarked as the train cars we were on slowed down to a near stop.

"The most powerful in my arsenal at that…," Robin said. He hopped off the train and ran to the side. I heard his distant voice say: "Where's Cyborg? I need his help in catching the frequency of the tracker!"

"He is over there!" Starfire exclaimed. "I will show you…."

The car rolled to a stop. Metallo's ride disappeared on the dark horizon. Night was approaching.

Raven dropped down to the tracks, adjusted her robe, and sighed. "So close….." She looked up at me. Looked at Supergirl in my arms. Then looked at me again. "What happened to her?" she droned.

"Kryptonite…," Beast Boy shuddered. "And lots of it!"

"Wonderful….."

I raised an eyebrow at Raven. And just then, the Girl of Steel in my arms started stirring.

"Nnnnghh….how…..wh-where did he go?"

"You okay there, Kara?" Beast Boy asked.

Supergirl snapped out of it. Her blue eyes opened under a halo of tossled blonde hair. She glanced up at me as I held her.

A beat.

"Well…," she chuckled. "It was good for me. Was it good for you too?"

I nearly dropped her.

Instead, I bit my lip and lowered her gently to the ground.

She dizzily regained her senses and smoothed her hair back. "Well…that was a rush. Don't wanna do that on a Saturday night." She glanced at me. "You know….you blush easily."

I jolted.

Beast Boy snorted.

"Seriously…guys….," Supergirl looked around. "What happened?"

"Metallo happened…," Raven said.

"And he just got away?!?!" she exclaimed. "With both the train and the Kryptonite?! What were y'all thinking?!"

"Uh…..dudette…," Beast Boy scratched his head. "He had a LOT of Kryptonite. We're surprised you're even standing. Even if we were to try and stop him—"

"He would have blown us all up," Raven droned. "You. Me. Everyone."

"Hydrogen bomb," Beast Boy sweatdropped. "He's gone one strapped to his chest."

"Then how did you ever manage to get me out of there?!" Supergirl exclaimed. "If I remember right…he was blocking access to me inside the tube of Kryptonite death!"

Beast Boy pointed at me.

I bit my lip.

Supergirl slowly turned to look at me. "You…..You got me out, didn't you?"

I shrugged.

"You did!" she smiled. "Wow, that was…… you…… I……. how………………," she blinked. "……………..thanks."

I scratched the back of my neck and uselessly tried to sign something when Beast Boy jumped up in front of me and smiled.

"He wants to take you out!! Tell her, Noir!! You want to take h---"

I shoved him off the train.

"WHOAH!!"

THWUMP!!!

He landed with a splash of gravel besides the tracks.

Raven folded her arms. "Now if only we could have done that to Metallo…."

"Glad to be a test subject…," Beast Boy's eyes went googly with dizziness.

Supergirl giggled. She suddenly walked over and hugged my arm. "I scratch your back, you scratch mine….right?"

I swallowed. I was speechless……………..heh.

She blinked and said in a soft voice. "I owe you one…." And then she let go and walked down the length of the train's interior.

I watched her leave. A little too long for my own good. I turned around and once again caught the gaze of Raven.

"She's way too reckless…eventually, she's going to owe each of us favors."

I blinked under my shades.

"In other words…," Raven turned around and walked off, "….don't let it get to your head."

I watched her as she walked off. I mouthed: 'I wasn't'.

Silence.

Beast Boy got up, brushing the bits and pieces of gravel off of him. "I thought it was you who's supposed to be falling head over heels! Not me!"

I rolled my black eyes, adjusted my shades, and jumped off the train car.

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

It was very dark about the time we all gathered by the T-Car to hear Cyborg say:

"Well….Metallo's quite sharp for your run-of-the-mill enemy."

"Why is that?" Starfire inquired.

"He's already located and smashed Robin's tracking device."

"D'oh!" Beast Boy winced.

Robin palmed his fist with a growl. "Damn it! Then that leaves us…."

"Right back where we started," Raven droned.

"Not entirely…," Cyborg pointed to the tiny screen on the dashboard. "The train car reached a stationary position on the tracks for about twenty minutes before he found and destroyed the device. Something tells me they reached a new destination of interest."

"In order to find more Kryptonite?" Starfire asked.

"I would think so."

I noticed through the corner of my shades that Supergirl was leaned back and forth. Whistling innocently and eyeing the stars. Very childish. I raised an eyebrow.

"Where was it that they were at last?" Robin asked.

"Smallville."

Everyone looked at Supergirl now.

The Girl of Steel smiled and blushed a bit. "Smallville, Kansas. That's where he has interests at."

"How do you know that?" Beast Boy asked.

"She's right…," Cyborg uttered. He pointed at the dashboard. "That's where they stopped last."

Raven glared at Supergirl. "You know why he's finding all of this Kryptonite around here, don't you?? Wouldn't now be a good time to tell us?!"

"Easy…Easy…," Supergirl smiled and calmly held her hands out. "I'm gonna tell you. But it's gonna take some time to sort it all out and devise a plan. And if y'all haven't noticed—" she gestured to the stars above "—things are getting pretty dark and sleepy-friendly."

"Hey, I'm wide awake!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "……………………………………………….." He yawned.

"I rest my case," Supergirl winked.

"What's on your mind?" Robin asked.

"I told y'all I live around here, right?" Supergirl asked.

"Yeah….," Raven droned, her eyes suspicious.

"Well…Smallville's the place!"

"Smallville?" Beast Boy looked silly.

"Yup! It was Clark's place too! His….um….'parents' live there….a-and they're kinda sorta my parents at the moment too…"

"No kidding!" Cyborg smirked.

"Ah…the unfiltered love of Earthling foster parents!" Starfire beamed.

"It is rather interesting that Metallo would be searching around the hometown of both you and Superman…," Raven spoke.

"And I said—I will explain that! But I think you all deserve a safe place to crash for the night!"

"You can't be serious….," Cyborg's human eye bulged.

"Mmmmhmmm!" Supergirl smiled, her eyes shut. She held her arms out. "Let's have a superhero sleepover!!"

Robin sweatdropped. "Um…..Supergirl. Thanks. But…..that's utterly ridiculous."

"Oh, fine!! Pfft!! George Washington, I swear to God….ahem….'Let us have a strategic encampment for the conservation of our energies and the united focus of our concentration in completing the task at hand of accosting Metallo and ending his Kryptonite-finding tour'!"

Cyborg clapped.

"Dude…," Beast Boy smiled at Robin. "She's good." He then smiled at me with thin eyes of mischief. "Really good."

I pretended to look elsewhere.

"I dunno….,' Robin scratched his chin. "It would keep us from having to go all the way to Kansas City and back. But would it be trouble? I mean…how would Mr. and Mrs……"

"John and Martha," Kara smiled cutely, her hands folded. "John and Martha Kent. Happiest couple since 'Leave It to Beaver'."

Starfire gasped. "Ooooh!! I loved 'Leave the Beaver to It!' Your foster parents must be very loving to you!"

Supergirl scratched the back of her head. "Yes…well…in between farm chores, they're downright….um…..country."

"But I love the country!! Cobs of corn and Handkerchief Williams!"

Raven pushed Starfire aside and stood in Supergirl's vision. "Are you being absolutely serious about this, Kara? Metallo and Intergang are a force to be reckoned with. If we chase after him and draw attention…'John and Martha' could be threatened."

"Pfft! For crying out loud! We're superheroes! We're not completely stupid, ya know!"

"Most of us aren't…."

"………….uh huh." Supergirl blinked. She smiled, "Well…we got a guest room that can fit two people…and then there's the barn—"

"The barn?!" Beast Boy jumped.

"Yeah! Nice dry loft on the second floor! Good enough to fit four people!"

Both Raven and Starfire said at the same time: "The guys."

Supergirl giggled. "Exactly!"

"Fine by me," Robin smirked and folded his arms.

"Well alright!" said Cyborg.

I shrugged.

Beast Boy gulped. "But….spiders and bats and stuff!!"

"Come on, B.B.!" Cyborg stepped out of the T-Car and nudged the changeling's shoulder. "Be true to your namesake! If a cow could do it—"

"Dude…I am not a cow! I'm an elf most of the time! Find me Lothlorien or something and then I might be one hundred percent kosher!"

"Do not despair, Beast Boy," Starfire smiled with her hands together. "You can share my bed if need be."

"………………the barn," Beast Boy stammered.

Starfire giggled.

"So it's agreed then?!" Supergirl exclaimed. "We all come to my place?!"

I lifted my hand to 'say' something.

"Great!" Supergirl floated up happily. "I'll go ahead and tell my folks! Y'all just follow along and I'll give you directions along the way through the communicator!"

"Sure thing," Robin nodded.

"Oooh!! Oooh! Can we follow along, Kara?!" Starfire jumped. "I so would not enjoy a laborious ride in the T-Car when I could be flying by your side!"

"Hey!" Cyborg protested with a smirk. "I heard that!!"

"Eek! Now I must accompany you!"

Supergirl giggled. "Sure thing, Kori." She looked aside. "Raven, would you also like to—"

"T-Car."

"Very well then. Come, Kori!! Hehehe…I like the sound of that. COME KORI!!"

"Hehehehe! COMING KARA!!!"

Robin blushed for some reason.

The two alien girls soared off into the starlit sky.

"Guess we should follow along now…," Beast Boy said.

"In a minute…," Robin pointed out. "We're still waiting for the police to come by and investigate the weapons cache at the Roundhouse."

"Shouldn't we tell Supergirl and—"

"Soon," the Boy Wonder smiled. "But they do need the head start to let the Kents know about us. And besides…they deserve to have some fun."

"Supergirl's a trip…I tell you what," Cyborg remarked.

"Yes…an absolute tangle-foot," Raven droned and walked off to the other side of the T-Car.

"Uh…..yeah….," Cyborg stared after her. A beat. He looked at me.

Then Beast Boy looked at me. He was grinning evilly from pointy ear to pointy ear. "So…..like….dream come true, huh Noir?"

I raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Dude! You're going to her house!!"

"Her barn."

"Well, her barn. But that's titillating enough as it is, right?!"

"Oh please…leave him alone, guys," Robin rolled his eyes under his mask and walked over to join Raven.

"Uh uh!! I'm not leaving him alone!! This situation is too perfect!" Beast Boy wheezed. He smirked at me again. "The way Raven's been acting up…looks like she'd prefer the barn to the guest room!"

"Yeah, who knows?!" Cyborg chuckled. "You could be Supergirl's guest of honor!"

"Have fun sharing shower privileges and stuff!" Beast Boy giggled.

I sighed and gestured something to them.

"You're right!" Cyborg winked. "They DO have to conserve water in these parts!"

"Maybe you'll have to share the shower!!"

"Oh come on, Beast Boy. That's going too far!!"

"Go on, Noir! Blush!! Blush!!"

"Man…it's too fun flustering him for once!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

I shook my head and walked away to be by myself for a while.

"'Ooooh! Thank you sooooo much for saving me from the Kryptonite, Noir'!!" Beast Boy imitated the Girl of Steel in an unnecessarily high voice.

Cyborg joined in. "'What favor could I ever do for you, hero'?!"

"Hehehehehehe!!"

"Ha ha ha!!"

I sighed as I found a quiet place of my own. Inwardly I grumbled at their desperate attempts to fluster me.

Oftentimes I wondered when would be an opportune time to inform my friends that I was castrated…