238. Crossroads
December 1, 2004.
Smallville, Kansas.
9:57 am
Abandoned barn.
T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Well…," Jinx shrugged and leaned back against the shaded interior of the dilapidated wooden structure. "We're here early."
Pulsade was pacing.
Pulsade had her eyes to the ground.
Pulsade was silent….
"………," Jinx took a breath, stretched, blinked her cat eyes, and said: "You know you've hit a new low when the best you can do in your rogue career is sit around where cows used to live and die." Silence. "…………..or maybe that's hitting a new high?"
"I'm nervous about Terra, Jean," Pulsade griped.
The girl half-cheshired. "You think?"
Pulsade stopped to glare. "I can glimpse bits and pieces of the girl who worked for Slade and made a City bow to its knees."
"Oh?"
"She is unpredictable….emotional. Quick to anger…quick to tears. She has at her disposal intense, thermalkinetic energy. And yet…I don't think she truly knows who's side she should be working for yet…."
Jinx shrugged. "Who said anything about sides?"
"I think it's a legitimate argument in our case…," Pulsade growled.
Jinx frowned slightly and pointed: "And what about her case?"
"Nnngh…."
"She's lost her child, Leslie. She's lost so much that was once a part of her. I personally don't blame her for dancing on the fence and still looking for a suitable lawn to jump into…," Jinx hopped up and straightened out her jacket and frills. "….never mind which grass is greener. Everything's been burnt to a crisp in her life. By both people she hates and people she trusts."
Pulsade lingered by a wall, staring off into space. "Mmmm….still, that's a very dangerous person to be risking your neck for. What if she's truly hopeless after all? What if Michael's words were wrong and the Gaia Sphere isn't anything to worry about in the end?"
"I think we'll have Terra to show us the truth in that or not."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jinx shrugged calmly. "I think that once Terra sees the right direction to go in—the direction that's right for her—she'll go that route. And she'll be heading in such a direction so passionately that you and I will have no doubts in our minds when is or is not the right time to follow her along. Like a compass needle, ya know?"
"To her…" Jinx scratched her chin. Her pale cheeks smiled softly as she said. "….more or less, she'll take us into the heart of what truly matters most. Whether that be her child or not? Who knows. But I think she'll be our biggest help in taking care of Gaia Sphere. Much the same way that 'J' was so helpful in our tracking down and thwarting Red Aviary."
Pulsade nodded. "It all comes down to relation…doesn't it?"
Jinx silently shrugged.
"………."
"……….."
Jinx was pacing this time. But slowly. In a calm fashion. She drifted besides Pulsade and said: "When I was in the Omega Wing for so long, Leslie…..When I was in solitary confinement…I thought only about myself."
Pulsade inhaled sharply.
Jinx went on: "I was……lonely. Guilty. Regretful. I thought about you a lot, Lez. But not just cuz I missed you….but I felt that with Slade and with my life after H.I.V.E., I had totally ruined any chance of being with you again. And who would blame you? Heh….I became that nasty freak's apprentice as a choice. I nearly died in the end. And I took it all out on the Headmaster and the dying remnants of H.I.V.E. I nearly killed the Headmaster in my anger. My anger at my past, myself, and those who had molded me into who I am today."
She looked steadily at the blonde assassin.
She said: "I'm not like that now. At least…I don't think I am." She touched the locket hiding like a cameo beneath her neck at the top of her jacket. "I….think about them less. I think about the now. Especially the reality of 'now'. I think about you, Leslie. And about this silly, self-destructive world. About Red Aviary and Gaia Sphere and everything else trying to rip us apart. And all I can do is propel myself towards the center of all this madness. It's like….something magnetic is drawing me in to some center of horrifying friction. I can't stop and I can't rest until Red Aviary and Gaia Sphere bite the dust. I'm not trying to say I'm some virtuous heroine or whatnot……but, a person changes. I lost my obsessions and found my only solace in chasing down the biggest threats in this land. Threats that are big enough to endanger me. I've given up a lot of my cruelty and nefarious tactics to find more allies in the pursuit of this mission. Much in the same way that I think you—Leslie—have softened up, ya know?"
"Heh….," Leslie's lips curved ever so slightly. She shook her head and folded her arms. "You think I'm 'softened'….?"
Jinx shrugged. "You come back home a little less stained red these days."
"Yeah….true that…," Pulsade stared aside. A look of coldness and—perhaps—horror too blotched across her features.
Jinx's lips parted. She walked over, head leaned to the side in curiosity and concern. "Leslie?"
"Do you think….it's a bad thing, Jean…..," Pulsade murmured. "…..to not be so…..angry anymore?"
"Angry?"
Pulsade slowly nodded.
Jinx smiled slightly. "I think it must be relaxing to lose…..a lot of anger."
"That's a matter of perception."
"True…true…," Jinx nodded. "Do you think you're less angry a person than you used to be, Leslie?"
"Bloody hope not."
"Hehehehe….but are you?"
Pulsade sighed. She simply gazed at Jinx.
That answered her.
"So….uhm….," Jinx ran a hand through her short pink hair. "If it's not so much anger anymore….what's inside of you these days now, Leslie?"
"……………..," the blonde stirred uncomfortably. She sighed and rested a hand on Jinx's shoulder.
Jinx glanced, curiously.
"Jean…promise me one thing…," the assassin said with soft lips. "….no matter what happens once noon falls….whether we join those two blonde pigeons to the East Coast or if we go face-first into the Gaia Sphere…..will you promise to help me?"
"H-Help you what, Leslie?"
"Help me keep us together……no matter what?"
"………O-Of course, Leslie! You never need to ask for that…."
"Nnngh…..perhaps some of the anger has left…..but the fear is always there."
"I know the feeling, Lez. I know the feeling….."
There was a shifting of shadows. A warm kaleidoscope of the Sun's rays scattered into the barn through the joints and shingles of the wooden shack. A distant buzzing of insects.
And then—softly—the shadows hugged each other.
T-T-T-T-T-T-
Kents' House.
10:04 am
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Supergirl stood, leaning sideways against the door to the guest room. Clad in her cape, t-shirt, tube-skirt, and boots…she folded her arms and casually spoke through the wall to the petite blonde residing inside.
"All I want to know is if you feel like you're up to all of this."
"Haven't I told you that enough, Kara?"
She smiled somewhat. "Yes. I suppose I'm being….er….I don't know…"
"What?"
"When you're part of the 'super' family like me, you sorta get this addictive habit of wanting to protect people. I've spent enough time here in Smallville realizing that Ma and Pa can take care of themselves more often than naught. Because of that, my only times to protect people are the scant occasions I go to visit Metropolis or something."
"I see. Am I a social experiment for you then?"
"Hehehehe…," Supergirl chuckled. Then sighed. "Yeah….sure…."
"…………………you don't sound pleasant."
"Are you done changing?"
"Just about. Is everything all right, Kara?"
"Yeah….yeah, it is."
"…………are you mad at me?"
Supergirl eyed the door with a strange face. "How so?"
"You know why."
"God, how I hate it when people say that. Please be specific."
"When……Wh-When I went to town while the standoff was there. When I used my powers….in p-public……"
Supergirl took a deep breath and brushed aside a strand of blonde hair. "Well, at least Red Aviary didn't catch up with us. I think we know that's obvious by now."
"I wasn't thinking about that. I was just……j-just thinking of the people."
"You mean the people there?"
"Y-Yeah……I think they had every reason to be scared."
"Terra….ya know, I might not have been too pleased with you flying out there and intervening like you did. But I gotta admit….you're one heck of an expert with those powers of yours! Considering that a school bus was bearing down to rip all of those people to shreds, you did the absolute best to perfectly keep the citizens safe! You didn't lose control, you didn't freak out, you were just…….perfect."
"……………"
"Terra?"
"They were still scared of me………I could sense it."
"How long did you stay to find out?"
"Not long."
"Well, Terra? I think half of your infamy is in your head!"
"That's not true, Supergirl, and you know it."
"No, I don't know it. I have yet to see any remorse for you up close. All the Titans love you in spite of what you might have been. And there's not a single person here around Smallville who I've seen or heard say something nasty about you!":
"This is a long way from the Titan's City……"
"Perhaps. But still…part of the Eath."
"…………"
"Ready yet, Terra? You've taken forever."
"Y-Yes, I'm ready. Sorry……it's a little haunting."
Supergirl smirked. "Well let's see!"
Cr-Creeeeak.
The guest room door opened.
Supergirl stepped back.
Terra stepped out. She was wearing a yellow pair of shorts and a long-sleeved, black shirt with the midriff exposed. She had on a pair of amber-brown boots and was in the process of slipping on the second of two brown gloves that looked a little too large on her small hands.
"Is this the stuff of legends?" Supergirl winked.
Terra blushed a bit. "Sort of. The shorts are a little bigger, and uhm—"
"Bigger?" Supergirl did a double-take. "Kela alive, girl! The dress code at Smallville High would SO give you an infraction for that!"
"Hey! A girl can be daring!"
"And a girl can be cold."
Terra folded her arms and upturned her nose. "This coming from someone who'll fly a thousand feet in the air wearing a tube skirt."
"Touché."
Terra sighed. She looked off towards the wall and meekly said: "J-Just don't call me chicken legs…"
Supergirl tried to keep a straight face. "What's this all about?"
"Cyborg was joking one night when I had this costume and—"
"Screw Cyborg. I bet he's Macintosh compatible."
"I'm not a computer person."
"Heh….you're better off," Supergirl smiled. "Oh!" She reached behind her. "I got what you asked for. They used to be Pa's when he dusted crops. I hope it serves your purpose." And she produced a pair of blue-tinted goggles on leather straps.
"……," Terra wamly smiled. She took them, adjusted the straps' length some, and fitted them over her golden brow. "Wow….th-they're perfect!"
"Well, blessed be…."
Terra fitted them over her eyes. Her optics seemed doubly blue for a moment. "Oh yes….these will work wonderfully…."
"I gotta ask…," Supergirl gestured. Eyebrow raised. "Fashion statement?"
"Half and half….," Terra rested the goggles around her neck. "They help me see better when I'm flying."
"See better?"
"I….uh….," Terra blushed and hugged her opposite limb, looking aside. "I-I've needed glasses for a long time now…"
"And you never told anyone?"
"Well, when I was with the Titans….," she winced. "……erhm….I-I didn't feel like asking for anything."
"I understand," Kara nodded. "After all of this…I bet you can get a whole mountain of glasses."
"Hehehehe…"
"I bet you'd look cute in glasses. Beast Boy won't be able to stand up straight."
"Okay, now that's going a little too far!"
"Is it?"
"…….ugh….cut it out."
Supergirl chuckled and folded her arms.
Terra was biting her lip.
"What is it?"
"I still…..find it amazing that you're willing to do all of this for me, Kara."
"Hmm?"
"Helping stay hidden. Assisting me with finding my child. Dealing with these two rogue girls. Helping me with the Titans…."
Supergirl shrugged. "This is your life, Terra. I'm just along for the ride."
"Yes, but why?"
"……………," Supergirl took a deep breath. "A long time ago, I made a terrible mistake, Terra. I made a mistake of assumption. I thought I was doing what was right for myself, for Ma and Pa, and for Clark….but in fact, I was screwing everything up royally. And because of that, I betrayed the Titans, I betrayed Clark's family, and I betrayed myself. Not all the Titans know of what I've done….but those who do…..they've forgiven me. And in this case, I'm talking about Jordan. And with Jordan….it's a little hard to understand things. So….I-I've never completely gotten over what I've done. His silence only perpetuated that. I guess….I guess I'm still the little, unwitting villain I became months ago…"
"Kara….," Terra murmured. "D-Don't say that. Please…."
"Why not?" Supergirl looked up. Calm eyes. "We can all accept the truth, right?"
"……………"
"Anyways…..I guess I….," Supergirl fidgeted. "…..I-I guess I want to help you for selfish reasons as well, as much as I want to see you prosper."
"You? Selfish?" Terra giggled.
"…………"
"Oh….um….y-you're being serious…," Terra nervously remarked.
"I want to see you do well, Terra," Supergirl said. "Because I want to be able to believe."
"Believe?"
"In myself," she said. "I'm watching you being redeemed, Terra. I'm watching you take what was once terrible in your life and making it so incredibly….clean…..wholesome…..righteous. People are loving you and accepting you back into their fold and…." Supergirl bit her lip. She shuddered: "I want that. I-I really…really do…."
Terra glanced aside. "I wish I felt it like you did…."
Supergirl rested a hand on your shoulder. "That's what I'm here to do, Terra. To help you so that you can reach a place where you will feel it. And once I see that…." She smiled gently. "I'll have no doubt whatsoever about myself."
"………," Terra smiled.
"Now…..isn't th-that selfish?"
"I dunno. Does 'selfish' mean 'friendly'?"
"In our cases, girl, who's the wiser?"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Hehehehe…..come on…," Supergirl escorted the blonde out of the house. "We've got a pair of heads to turn upside down before heading East."
"I w-wonder if those two are selfish as well?"
"Who's selfish when everyone wins?"
"……………………..EW!"
"Hahahahaha!"
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Metropolitan Highway.
10:34 am
Batmobile.
T-T-T-T-T-T-
At this point in time, I was driving. Robin used his authorization codes with the on board computer to switch the vehicle into a sort of 'stealth mode'. The exoskeleton of the Batmobile bent light so that—from the distance—we looked like a speeding mirage heat vapor moreso than a car. Since we felt that Dagger may have been watching from the skies and Slade may have been watching from the 'Styx', we took all precautions necessary to hide our speedy exit from the City as possible.
Cyborg sat in the front passenger's seat, closest to the computer dashboard. Jericho sat in the back seat behind me. Robin sat in the middle, leaning forward and working with Cyborg on the computer. The Messenger was still there—remarkably enough. He teleported in and out once for an hour's span, supposedly because of the 'battery life' of his clunky watch.
While I sped us expertly around traffic on the highway that couldn't even see us, the Messenger supplied Robin with the materials that the Boy Wonder supplied to Cyborg that were eventually supplied by the android Titan to the computer, and the computer said:
'Zzzzt……Inconclusive data.'
"Nnnngh!" Cyborg growled. "We're giving you complete samples of Triangular's crap, you…..c-craphead!" Cyborg punched the dashboard once. C-Clank!
"Hey! Easy on the tech, Vic!"
"Robin….Batman's stuff looks high-end and all, but it's nothing but a load of digital manure! I mean…how does someone get away with such faulty—"
"I keep telling you, we need to try something different! We keep running mineral analyses on the essence in the vial."
"Yeah? And?"
"Be a good robot and input what your leader says," the Messenger smiled.
"Man, shut up! Pee Wee Herman wannabe, I swear to god…."
"Hrmphh…," the Messenger playfully folded his arms in a winking pout. "Don't make me sic Blade Runner on you."
"……….."
"This is obviously not the same sort of stuff that was in the vials at Area 51…..," Robin said, pointing at a darkened vial of substance.
"How do you know that?"
"Noir's related it to me," Robin said. "Both in Area 51 and in the underwater base of Lexcorp, he's seen the vials in action."
I nodded.
"I don't think the thermal energy of this stuff could have burnt out so easily….s-so quickly….," the Boy Wonder said. "Unless something happened to damage the ones at Gotham Labs, these are not the same thing."
"Then what was the point of having Mr. Hippy-Child go in and scrounge this stuff up?"
The Messenger adequately replied: "Now, let's keep some things in perspective, Robocopout. Two-Face was a big moron and gave up all of his good stuff to Batman's troupe, right?"
"Right….."
"Now—we should have seen it then—but that was a little too easy. Two-Face is better than that. It's quite possible that the vials were meant to go into police possession after Batman and company royally brought the house down. If that was the case, Two-Face was an unwilling brunt of some Triangular joke."
"You mean—as in Dagger?"
"More than positively," the Messenger winked. "Now….if the vials had stayed in Wayne Corp…."
"They would have eventually gotten to Titans' Tower," Robin nodded.
"………," Cyborg was silent.
"But we've seen Triangular move swiftly enough before that—it's a little surprising that such a shipment to the Tower was delayed, isn't it?"
"I figured that with the Terrible Troupe, Deathstroke, and Batman all converging on Triangular in Gotham…," Robin spoke, "…they got a little tangled up in their own red tape."
"Oh…but Triangular is much more efficient than that!" the Messenger cackled. "Even if Two-Face was being an overall doofus, he was obviously waiting for you and Noir and the rest of your buddies with Metallo, Killer Croc, and the muddy clay-face half-clones….right?"
"Right…..," Robin rubbed his chin. "….so you're insinuating that it was a distraction?"
Jericho hand-signed: 'An ambush. A reverse ambush.'
"Right….," Robin nodded. "You told us that before. But even if it was an ambush….an ambush on us…to what ends? We got everything we wanted…..unless…."
Jericho bit his lip.
"………," Robin looked nervously at the Messenger.
The Messenger raised his eyebrows.
"What?" Cyborg remarked. "For the first time in ages…I feel lost." A blink. "Alright, make that second time."
"Cyborg…..," Robin murmured. "Do a organic scan of the vial's content and……..on th-the side of finding Carbon elements, make the computer run a search for sulfur."
"Sulfur?"
"Trust me."
"Alright, dawg….I'll do it…," the android Titan slid the vial into the computer compartment and typed away at the dashboard's computer. "One wyrd-ass analysis coming right up—" He froze. Glancing at his one good arm. He gritted his teeth. "Awww….SHOOT!"
"?" I glanced nervously aside at him.
Robin leaned forward. "What is it?"
"When it rains, it shits!" Cyborg clenched his left fist. "I swear!"
"What?"
"Take a good look for yourself!" Cyborg lifted a panel in his titanium limb, showing off a trio of red, illuminated bars and a counter that read: '08'
"Stock shares going down, Cyborg?" the Messenger asked.
"Knock it off, man! You're worse than B.B.!"
"I wouldn't be too sure…."
"Your power banks are draining…," Robin said.
"Considering I've been burned, battered, broken, and tossed into a god damn refrigerator to sleep for an entire month…I'm surprised my core hasn't exploded or something!"
"Are you at a risk of a meltdown?"
"Hardly. But the curtain's going to fall on my operations if I don't find a power source soon enough. And I'd hate to power down now…." He took a deep, fuming breath. "…..right when everything's about to hit the fan."
Jericho bit his lip.
Silence.
Jericho anxiously hand-signed: 'We are nearly past Metropolis. Perhaps there we could get a re-charge?'
"Nuh uh….," Cyborg shook his head while the computer did its analysis. "We can't afford to delay our arrival back home. Can we, Robin?"
"We need your assistance, Cyborg," Robin said. "I don't know what we'd do without you or anyone else in this vehicle as a helping hand at this point…"
"What would we do then? Hook me up to the Batmobile? No offense, Mr. Tim….but I can feel the heart of this machine Batman built. Even IT is not enough to power up my core. Plus, I'm damaged more than a fractured grandfather clock. I'm practically leaking the energy that's inside of me. Even if I was recharged, I'd drain at an exponential rate!"
"Guess we should use you for as long as you're good and awake," The Messenger said.
Cyborg turned and glared at him.
The Messenger stared back solidly. "Am I right?"
"………..," Cyborg sighed and ran a hand over his bald head. "You're always right…."
"Ah…now that's only partially true."
"Okay….we've got to plan a few things out…," Robin gestured. "Cyborg…concentrate on finishing that analysis. Messenger…..see if you can get a line through to Tempest in Metropolis."
"Guppy boy? What for?"
"I think this is the sort of thing Tempest has been waiting for," Robin breathed. "When everything boils down."
"Ah….gotcha," the Messenger winked. "On it."
"I'll try and contact the Tower."
"Haven't you already tried that, dawg?"
"Right. Three times in the last hour."
"You think nobody's there?"
"People are there, Cyborg," Robin glanced at me. "From what I've heard…nobody seems to leave the 'house' much these days…."
I nodded. A sigh….
"Maybe Triangular's intercepting our message and sending it somewhere else?" Robin shrugged.
"No, man…I know what's going on. Don't you?" Cyborg frowned. "My god damn copy is sorting through the stuff that goes in and out of the place and editing what Triangular doesn't want out of the picture. And what would Starfire, B.B., or Raven do to stop him? He's the 'leader' now, isn't he?"
Robin clenched his jaw…and his fists.
My flesh and black hands tightened around the wheel.
My letter to the Titans.
Any broadcast that was ever made regarding me……
Clayface was censoring it all.
I couldn't sense him when I was there. I couldn't tell the difference between Cyborg or a metaphoric copy of him. Neither could the other Titans—we were so wrapped up in the gray depression that fell on us. We were so weak-minded and swayed by emotion……
But………
But Raven too?
She was joined at the hip with Cyborg.
Why didn't she sense a thing?
Or perhaps……
She is in on it too?
"………."
I shook my head.
A sigh.
Black eyes thin under their shades.
Idiot.
Don't ever doubt Raven like that.
Hell, if I could be stupid enough to think that Raven was bad after all the crap that's happened……
How can I not expect Raven to be warped enough to think 'Cyborg' as good?
Red Aviary and Dagger and everything that is everything BAD is surging together just as Raven's emotions have been surging apart and……
How does someone—anyone—keep focused in the middle of all that?
"A couple of things are for sure," Robin said. "The computer will take a while to finish that analysis. And there'll be more and more daylight. I doubt our cloak on the Batmobile will last forever. We might have to find an alternate route to our destination."
"Might I say…we're quite the Superman's stone's throw off…," the Messenger pointed out.
"Nnnngh….," Cyborg rubbed his flesh temple, stressed….
I whistled.
Everyone looked at me.
I looked in the rear-view mirror and pointed at Jericho.
The little blonde blinked.
"Say…the little smurf did promise us some assistance, didn't he?" the Messenger smirked.
"Oh boy…," Cyborg rolled a human eye. "Here we go…"
Robin looked over. "Joey…is this true?"
Jericho swallowed and gestured: 'I have people who can help us. All of us. But it will mean us making a detour.'
"What kind of a detour?"
'A long one. Long at first.'
"………," Robin scratched his chin.
I glanced at him off-and-on in the rear mirror.
Cyborg seemed anxious. The computer clicked and chirped away as he glanced back from the front passenger seat.
"The airwaves are silent….," the Messenger mused.
"We'll do it," Robin said. "Any covert help we can get. The better."
"Who exactly are we talking about?" Cyborg remarked at Jericho.
The blonde smiled and hand-signed: 'My best buddies ever.'
I felt something that made me veer invisibly a bit in the lane we were in. But I straightened our path and continued burning down the highway.
What was that?
Jealousy?
Pfft……god, I miss having all the Titans together.
Jericho Hand-signed: 'Take the second exit coming up. Head West.'
"Towards the coast?"
'Almost. There is a forest there.'
"Oooh….forest….fun…," Cyborg quirped. "Maybe it's the Army of the Rebel Squirrels who will come to our aide."
"Hey Cyborg," the Messenger smiled. "Grow me a heart and let it bleed!"
"Ha ha ha ha….hah hah hah…heh….ohhh….nnngh…..god, I can feel my stomach growing empty."
"Is that the first of the things to drain?"
"Luckily for you, my fist is."
"Robbbbbin," the Messenger folded his arms behind his head and smirked. "Cyborg's being meeeean to meeeeee."
"I'd make us pull over to settle you two down, but if we did…I might throw up."
"You okay, man?" Cyborg asked of the Titan Leader.
"Just full of thoughts, Vic…," the masked boy leaned forward and folded his hands under his chin. "……just full of thoughts."
"……………"
I drove us forward silently.
When Jericho pointed, I exited.
And a thick line of trees yawned around the roadways we zoomed on.
T-T-T-T-T-T-
Gotham City.
10:54 pm
Remains of Gotham Labs.
T-T-T-T-T-T-
The usual ring of police squad cars and the usual ring of emergency vehicles surrounded the charred site of the former Gotham Labs and the building alongside it. A raging carbonite fire had consumed both structures early in the morning, and ashes and crackling embers under the spray of rescue vehicles resided in its place.
Harvey Bullock limped out of his squad car, chewing on a toothpick with only half energy. He was lethargic. Haggard. And embodying the faint traces of anger. With sleepy eyes he gazed at the rising smoke drifting towards the late morning sky.
Renee Montoya was already there. She finished briefing a police officer or two and then walked over to Bullock's side. A gentle expression. A hand against her hip. A deep breath. And she said: "Got any sleep?"
"No. You?"
"Yes, actually. Strangest thing."
"I heard that you collapsed last night…"
"Exhaustion, I suppose. Mi Mama isn't around to tell this officer when to quit when it comes to an investigation."
"Yeah….lucky you."
"Perhaps…."
Silence………………..
"Nnngh….," Harvey mumbled. He flicked the toothpick out into the embers. "I wonder if there's anything against the 'detective man' code about giving up."
"Do I need to answer that?"
"Just don't know how I'm gonna report all of this to the Commish," Bullock lifted his hat and scratched his hard head. "I swear, there's a Hell going on somewhere at some place whether we all suffer from it or not."
Montoya nodded. A beat. She glanced over at him: "How's Barbara?"
"Alive."
Montoya exhaled. "That's good." Silence. She bit her lip. "H-Has s-she…?"
"Possibilities of her gaining back the use of her legs is a big time no-no right now," Bullock uttered. "She'll likely be wheelchair bound all of her life."
"…………," Montoya folded her arms and gazed off. "That's unfortunate."
"Amen, sister."
"Has she woken up yet?"
"No. Still under. Stable condition, it would appear. They've got docs on her all 'round the clock. Jim's been running circles around the hour hand himself too. I don't think the man's slept at all yet."
"Well, we have jobs to do," Montoya murmured. She added with a glance at Bullock. "For him."
"Right. Anything special happen that doesn't involve…," he gestured wildly at the embers, "—ya know…flamin' nightmares?"
"Nothing that would seem connected."
"Right."
"However…."
He glanced at her. "Yeah?"
"People last night were claiming that the Batmobile was driving wildly on the highway. Against traffic. And there was no sign of any suspect being pursued."
Bullock's fists clenched as he heard that. "You don't say…."
"Although….one of the eye witnesses on the highway had the darndest thing to say."
"What's that?"
"There appeared to be a couple of strangers battling atop the L-Train running North and South along the Metropolitan Highway last night. And this morning, one of the trains turned up with quite a bit of scuffs and scratches on the top of its cars. A hole even."
"Wyrd. Does it get wyrder?"
Montoya nodded. "Someone could have sworn she saw—get this—Robin atop the train."
"………………Robin…."
"Mmmhmm….."
"As in 'choir boy fodder' Robin?"
"Ay, verdad."
"Pffft…this City's gone nuts….."
"Bullock….," Montoya leaned forward. "Could it be that Batman…..had special reasons for not showing up till he did at Wayne Corp?"
"…..pfft….the heck do I care?"
Montoya frowned momentarily, but shook that off. "I'm going to see what the experts have figured out. Gotham Labs is going to be a big loss. But—to my surprise—there's been no response from the employees' homes and contact numbers. Something's strange here."
"We'll get to the bottom of this," Bullock succumbed to a yawn. "Sooner or later. We always do."
"Maybe you should find the bottom of your mattress," Montoya pointed with a wink. "We're gonna need you with us one hundred percent, right Bullock?"
"Yeah…whatever you say," he waved.
She walked off.
He sighed and straightened his hat.
He gazed up.
His eyes narrowed.
"Eh….that's funny….," his face twisted. "The sky looks……….blue."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"………………," Batman stood atop a building across the way. He stared through high-powered binoculars for a few seconds before lowering the viewing aid and staring naturally from afar. The eyeslits of his mask narrowed as a gentle breath escaped him.
Cold, December winds flew at his cape.
Silence….emptiness…..
"Carbonite burns……," he mumbled to himself. His jaw tightened. "It started in the adjacent building…not Gotham Labs….."
"Snkkkkt……Master Bruce, sir?"
Batman clicked his communicator. "Yeah, Alfred?"
"I know you're out looking for your elusive Batmobile and whatnot, but I believe there are some things to attend to at home."
"Is the analysis on the thermal samples done?"
"Uhm……n-no, sir."
"Well, I'm busy at the moment. It will have to wait—"
"Sir, it's Master Dick."
"……….."
"He's here. He would like to speak to you."
"………..," Batman stood up with a deep breath. "I'm on my way….."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Smallville, Kansas
12:09 pm
Abandoned barn
-T-T-T-T-T-
"We'll be heading to Gotham City first."
Pulsade made a face. "Gotham City? Why there?"
"The Titans have their Tower much further south, last time I checked," Jinx added.
Terra took a deep breath. Her arms were folded Her 'trademark' goggles rested around her black turtleneck. "I want to get in touch with the Titans again to help them through this mess. But first I need to work through someone who can best understand what I'm going through."
"We need to find Noir," Supergirl said. "We're pretty darn sure he's in Gotham City at this point. With all the stuff that's been going on in that City, it's no doubt that he's dancing to the same tune there as he has in Metropolis and Las Vegas."
"Gotham City is a mess…," Pulsade droned. "There are shadowy alcoves of rubbish in that Town that not even my light could touch."
"Poetically speaking…," Jinx frowned. "It's a shitpile."
"If there's anyone who can find a needle in a haystack where Noir's concerned," Supergirl pointed. "It's me."
Jinx smirked. "So, I guess that makes you the shitpile expe—mmff!"
Pulsade had her hand planted over Jinx's lips. "Fine. We'll go where you want us to go. And we'll help out in anyway possible." She glanced at her partner, glaring. "Right, Jean?"
"Mmmff! Ptooie! Finding Ghost Boy? Sure…why not? Things were getting boring anyways…."
Pulsade rolled her eyes.
Supergirl took a breath and said: "We'll be heading to the East Coast. And last time I checked, neither of you were necessarily welcomed citizens there. This may be very risky for you…."
"Any less of a risk of her running into Red Aviary?" Pulsade pointed at Terra.
The earth maiden hugged herself and glanced aside with a sigh.
Pulsade calmly reiterated: "Horses for courses. Let us take it as it comes…"
Supergirl nodded. "So be it. Excuse me for a moment."
Jinx squinted her cat eyes. "Where are you going?"
"We're going to take off soon," Supergirl spoke. "And that may be a very awkward scene…consider that there are four of us. Ahem. I'm going outside to make sure there's nobody on the countryside or nearby roads who might see us. It will only take a minute." She walked out of the barn. "Terra?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"……keep cool."
Terra smiled. "You too, Kara."
SWOOOSH! The Girl of Steel was gone.
"………..," Terra's smile slowly faded. "……….." She glanced aside at the two vixens.
Pulsade and Jinx tried to avoid eye contact, shifting where they stood.
Terra eventually spoke aside to them: "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Trying to find my child? It means more than just saving your butts. It has to be."
Jinx shrugged. "It's not really a romantic world, ya know…."
"So, there's no personal reasons for it…?" Terra spoke. She bit her lip. "No obligation? No guilt?"
"Don't be so quick."
"What do you mean?"
Jinx fidgeted. "I don't really know you, girl. I can't say much."
"……..," Terra looked out of the barn in the direction of Supergirl. She sighed. She said: "Kara cares so much. All the Titans as well." She looked sadly back at the girls…but her vision fell to their feet. "All the Titans…they care too much…."
"…….."
Terra took a deep breath. She looked at the two firmly. "I want to…..make an offer to you…."
Jinx blinked.
Pulsade leaned her head forward. "An offer?"
"But….B-But you must not tell Supergirl……or a-any of the Titans………"
"………………….we're listening."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
A few minutes later, Supergirl returned.
The girls stepped out of the barn and into a clear portion of the field.
"All right…," Supergirl exhaled. She cracked her knuckles and stretched the kinks out in her back and neck. "We're talking about a good two hours of furiously fast travel…and I'll be having to carry all of you so—"
"Carry us?" Jinx made a face. "You've got to be--!"
Supergirl glared. "How did you think I was going to do it?"
"You might be strong enough to pick up a building, but how do you expect to carry us all with only two hands--?"
"One of you will have to ride me."
"……….."
"……….."
"Ahem. It's quite simple. You straddle my back with your legs around—"
"Yes….we…uhm…..," Jinx nervously scratched the back of her short head of hair. "We understand….er…"
"That'll be Terra's job, I assume…," Pulsade said, refusing to make eye contact.
Supergirl squinted her eyes suspiciously. "Uh…yeah. I suppose."
"Eheheheheh…yeah…," Jinx blushed. "That'll work."
"Right. Jeez…what's the big deal?"
Jinx and Pulsade shifted nervously.
"……….," Supergirl blinked. "Wait….," she pointed. "Are you two….?"
"We're wasting time," Terra stepped forward, slid her blue goggles on, and flexed her forearms. A terribly bright, golden glow surrounded her. She snarled. "Nnnnrraaaugh!"
RUMMMMBLE!
CRKKKK!
The other three girls gasped as a circle of dislodged earth ripped up around them. A round platform with dangling dirt structures and grass roots hung beneath them as they lifted up…up….up….
"I'll take us to Gotham….," Terra said. She winked through her goggles at Supergirl. "The rest of you….just take it easy."
"…………heh….," Supergirl helplessly smiled. "Well this is a change. I'm sitting on a flight for once!"
"Yeah, imagine that. Everyone grab ahold."
"…….."
"That means sit down."
"Oh…right. Cheerio."
Jinx and Pulsade sat together. Supergirl sat down, but for reasons untold she shifted over to the far side of the platform away from the two vixens.
Terra concentrated, moved her hands, and propelled the platform forward.
In a yellow streak, they soared through the wintry air on an eastward track.
Making good time…..
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Countryside.
12:45 pm
Forested road.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Am I the only one disturbed by the fact that….uhm……there are no power outlets to be seen around here?"
"Let's take one thing at a time, Cyborg," Robin said.
The android Titan frowned and folded his one arm. "Speak for yourself."
"Shhh….Joey, are we there?"
Jericho was sitting in the backseat, his neck craned and looking out the windows of the Batmobile. I was driving us down a dirt road into the center of a forest. Everything was becoming growingly claustrophobic. The wintry leaves shed its last leaves on us. A dead yellow aura filled the air…like the sky was vomiting down on us.
"I am suddenly and horrifically reminded of a godawful, independent film," the Messenger smirked.
I made a face in the rear-view mirror.
"This is nuts…," Cyborg murmured. "What the heck is out here to help us?"
Jericho hand-signed.
"What kind of 'friends'?"
I smirked to myself, idling us along.
"Pfft…," Cyborg turned his attention to the dashboard computer. "Well, at least we're making good progress with this thing."
"How close is it to completion?" Robin asked.
"Five percent."
"Thar she blows!" the Messenger uttered.
"Yeah I know. It's almost done, right?"
"No…," the asian teen smirked and pointed out the window. "Henceforth."
"Huh?"
Jericho turned to look, and suddenly grinned. He tapped…punched my shoulders for me to stop.
I braked and put us in park.
Schwissh! The top rolled open.
Jericho unclipped his seatbelt and dashed out in an instant.
"Hey!" Robin gasped. He too jumped out. "Jericho! Not so fast!"
"Don't run off too far, Tim!" Cyborg exclaimed. "I want your input once this thing times through!"
"Yeah! Don't let the brownies get burnt!"
"That ain't funny, Masseuse."
"Messenger."
"Whatever."
"And it is funny and you know it."
"……..bah."
"Oh grow an arm." The Messenger climbed out and stretched his body. "Rest stop! I'm gonna go take a leak." He looked over at me. "Noir…you want some?"
I did a double-take.
He giggled madly, sighed, and walked off with a drunken smile. "Ahhhh….never gets old. Worked on Evan too."
I shrugged. Cyborg murmured distractedly over his shoulder, "Hey Noir, why don't you check on Robin or something?"
I just remembered something.
Cyborg's second in command.
Could that be counted as……an order?
I swiftly jumped out of the Batmobile, stretched my natural and synthetic limbs, and walked out to join the Boy Wonder.
I smirked.
I miss taking orders like that.
Man, I'm wyrd.
I walked out into the thicker and thicker woods.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
It was hauntingly quiet. Birds chirping and bugs buzzing and all that good crap. It wondered—if but for a second—if Red Aviary's deathstroke would spread over to the natural world as much as that of the superheroic.
The universe is an awfully easy thing to rape.
I heard noise. I lowered my shades and searched the shadows to see the movement of two bodies. Tim. Joey. I headed that way and soon found myself standing behind them, patient and quiet.
"What's out here? I don't get it…," Robin shrugged. "To be honest, Joey, I don't think any of us can afford to be out in the open for too long—much less delaying our move south. We're sitting targets for your father."
Jericho was fervently hand-signing, gesturing, blurring his hands so quickly that even I had trouble discerning him. He motioned Robin along towards what looked like a seemingly innocent array of…….leaf piles?
"Sorry, Joey," Robin smirked slightly. "I was too busy busting ass in Atlantis to have been above ground, playing in the leaves. Although Starfire once invited me to—"
'Shhhh!' Joey hissed. He slowly approached one heap. He knelt. He reached into the mountain of leaves. He reached…groped….reached…stretched. He tongued his lips. He reached some more. A squinting expression of concentration…
Click.
WHURRRRRRRR!
A piece of ground started to open up like a clamshell.
"Dah!" Robin jumped back, bumping into me.
I winced. We exchanged glances nervously. We stared at the opening 'mouth' in the earth.
Jericho grinned like a birthday clown as the mysterious 'passageway' opened. A dark tunnel could be pictured leading down into some dark dimension. Both the Boy Wonder and I were rather…speechless. Half so, at least.
"Uhm…..okay…..," Tim blinked under his Robin mask. "So….you live in Sheol?"
Jericho gave him a wyrd look.
"Right….never mind," Robin cleared his throat. "Ehm…what gives, Joey?"
Jericho enthusiastically pointed down the tunnel and motioned for us to follow him.
"Are you sure? Maybe if we got the others to come with us first…."
Jericho frowned. He charaded as a 'chicken'.
"Hey!"
I smirked.
Then I thought of something.
That tunnel.
It looks awfully familiar in style and build.
Like………
Like the passageway to Bludhaven……
There was a terribly deep-throated snorting sound from right behind me.
I jumped. I spun about.
So did Robin. He started, and pulled out three birdarangs in an impromptu fan of defense. Chiiiing!
"…….," Wildebeest glared. There was a second tunnel opening behind him. It must have unsealed without us noticing. The large, hairy humanoid folded his arms and straightened his gargantuan posture. "Nnnngh…"
Robin's lips parted. "Wildebeest?"
I heard a happy exhale.
I turned to see Jericho bound past me and run joyfully towards Wildebeest.
The hairy mutant managed a bovine grin, knelt down, and reached an arm out.
Jericho hopped agilely up his arm, swung on his horn, and straddled his shoulders…hugging his neck from behind.
Like a freakish big brother, Wildebeest grunted, winked, and patted Jericho's back from below.
I couldn't help but smile….if at least crookedly.
"Uh….r-right…..," Robin nodded dazedly. He glanced at me. "Did you think to mention to me that 'J' and Wildebeest were in a league of their own together?"
I shrugged.
Jericho whistled.
We both glanced up.
Sitting atop Wildebeest's shoulders, Jericho hand-signed: 'I have something to show you guys. We all need as much help as we can get from each other. Will you please follow us?'
"Follow you?"
"Nrnngh….," Wildebeest motioned with a meaty arm and proceeded to march down a dark tunnel in the earth.
I glanced patiently at Robin.
Robin was scratching his head. He shrugged. "Well….I make it a rule to follow at least one cow to slaughter. F-For the fun of it…"
I planted my hands on my hips.
"Yeah, that was stupid," he muttered. "Let's just get this over with."
He followed Jericho and Wildebeest, and I took the rear.
Descending…
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Gotham City.
1:02 pm
Batcave
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
VSHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOO!
The Batplane zoomed in through the caverns.
It came to a hovering stop above a circular platform.
The jets cut off.
The engines silenced.
After the cockpit slid open, Batman jumped out.
No sooner was he a couple of steps away from the main tiers of the cave…
He took off his helmet and saw him from a distance.
Dick.
"………," Batman took a ready breath and marched up the steps.
Dick was standing with his arms folded. He leaned against the laboratory wing of the Batcomputer where the samples were still being tested. He had on one of his average glares. He uttered: "Tim's gone."
"I know."
"Noir and the son of Deathstroke must have bailed with him."
"……I know."
Silence.
Batman came to a stop at the laboratory tables. "They took the Batmobile."
Dick whistled. "Wow….and I never even had the guts to do that."
"……………"
"She's alive, in case you care."
"I was there, Dick."
"No, Bruce was there. For a short time. And ever since 'Bruce' and I talked," Dick pointed. "He's disappeared. And instead…Batman's been running all around town on a mission that's getting nowhere and costing us Barbara's life. At least…her life as she used to know it."
"Is that why you've come here, Dick?" Batman's eyeslits narrow. "To berate me?"
"……..," Dick sighed. He planted his hands into his jacket pockets and glared aside. "Nah….I can make a life living doing that enough as it is."
Batman nodded.
"………………this is what I think, Batman…."
"I'm listening…," Batman walked around the laboratory, checking his experiment equipment.
"Red Aviary is like a variable relationship with what we do here in Gotham," Dick gestured. "Same with the crooks. Triangular…the Terrible Troupe….they've all been tied in with the Parasite too."
"Obviously."
"The villain's attempts to beat back Deathstroke only ended with the red reaper ripping them apart. Now look at us, Bruce. We've been silent and under the radar for so long….but then—with one night of zeal and action—he strikes back a million times as hard. He ravages one of us completely. Beyond repair."
"Are you saying that the heroic deeds we commit are responsible for Red Aviary's intense attacks on us?"
"Partially, yes…."
"And let me guess…," Batman checked the progress of the vial samples. "The course of action now is to stop trailing Deathstroke for the sole sake of avoiding any future assault on our collective?"
"Even if that was what I was trying to say, Bruce, I know you wouldn't follow along with it. Robin either."
"Then what are you proposing, Dick?"
"………," Dick sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. "I….I-I'm not proposing anything exactly, Bruce. I'm just….j-just trying to figure it all out…."
"Deathstroke is purely evil," Batman said. "I don't say that about a lot of people. But it is true in Slade's case. He desires only the destruction of all that is innocent and alive. That is not something I must let rest. That is something I must annul at all costs. Even my own. Though—I am sorry and remorseful that Barbara ever….EVER had to suffer in my stead."
"Before you get all self-sacrificial and gung ho and shit…," Dick pointed: "Think about this. What are we doing different?"
"………I beg your pardon?"
"Better yet. What are we doing that would be much better if it were different?"
"Changing tactics wouldn't work with Slade at this point. He's dug too deep into us as it is."
"I'm not necessarily talking about a change in tactics……," Dick said. "But….a change in….in everything. Slade expects us to combat him. He wants us to feed him his hatred. And what's more than that…the more we struggle to end him or Triangular, the more our energy is used against us. It's like…the more evil we are, he absorbs it and slams it back. The more good we are, he propels us along the same energy strand to make us shatter under our own force. There's gotta be some way to….to break the pattern. The whole freakin' circle of events. But what would do that? The gray area? Luke warm? There's nothing to clarify this!"
"You over-analyze too much…."
"Do you have a solution Bruce? Or should I say…Batman?"
"…………"
"I don't think any of us do. Red Aviary…Slade….he's like some Kafka time traveling experience with the Titanic. Imagine you're on the Titanic. You've gone back in time, and now you're sailing the cold, subarctic seas. You know that the ice berg is coming. And furthermore, you know that it's going to rip your ship apart and end your life. And since you've gone back in time from a future where this is an absolute in history….what hope is there of you breaking the pattern of things to come? Things have become an absolute, and there's no reversal. No reversal at all…."
"Kafka wrote fiction. Things like that don't happen in life."
"Then what, Batman? We have control over things? Deathstroke's disproven that."
"Deathstroke hasn't proven or disproven anything…," Batman said. His gloved fists clenched and he paused momentarily—his back to Dick—during his experimentations. "He has merely slain Barbara and murdered hundreds—if not thousands of others. That is not fate. That is criminal lunacy. The same we've always faced before. If…or if not on the same scale."
"I don't believe you're that confident, Brtuce," Dick stepped forward. "I think you're scared. I think for the first time in so many years as the Batman, you're scared. And you don't know what to do about it but keep moving."
Batman turned and glared at Dick. "And you are not?"
Dick stopped at that.
"…………"
Dick took a deep breath. "D-Didn't think you would actually say that…."
"……..," Batman looked off. "If I am scared….," he murmured to the faraway, shadowed walls of the interior. "It is for Tim."
"What'd he do, Bruce?"
"He kept rambling on about something Jericho had told him. Something about Triangular not being defeated. I didn't give time to think of what he was trying to tell me. All I cared about was holding him at bay. I didn't want him running off and being hurt on his own like Barbara was. I told him to stay put here."
"And you actually expected that to work?" Dick smirked.
"………….," Batman shook his head.
Dick raised an eyebrow.
Batman looked Dick's way. "Dick….if anyone will stop Deathstroke….anyone of us all…….it's Tim."
"……………"
"You know this too, don't you?"
"I just wish it wouldn't have to come to this," Dick murmured. He glanced over at the spot where the Batmobile was usually located. He sighed. He uttered: "Whatever happened to trust in our 'family', Bruce?"
Batman glanced across the cave to where a spare outfit of Batgirl hung on a mannequin. He said: "The same thing that happened to invulnerability……"
Dick shuddered.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
"?" Dick turned. "What's that?"
"The tests on the samples are done," Batman walked over to the lap equipment. "This might finally reveal to us exactly what sort of army Dagger was planning to create with the essences of Terra when—" He froze upon seeing the equipment.
Dick blinked. "What?" He walked over briskly. "What, Bruce? What is it?"
"………something isn't right…."
"What?"
"…….h-help me, Dick…," Batman hurriedly began opening the lid to the testing equipment. "I need to take a closer look at these results…"
"What for?"
"Jericho may indeed have been onto something…."
"And that's bad?"
"………."
"Heh….I'll take that as a 'yes'."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Countryside
1:06 pm
Underground hideout.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Robin and I followed Jericho and Wildebeest down a long, dark tunnel.
And indeed, it was quite similar in many respects to the corridor through which a handcuffed Jinx and I traversed to get to Bludhaven.
But there was something….warmer.
And homelier about this tunnel.
Homelier?
I glanced at Robin.
Robin glanced at me.
We both nervously glanced ahead as a warm light started to dimly light the tunnel. A flickering sensation. Orange and amber….dancing.
I squinted as my black eyes started to be gradually, softly stabbed.
Robin rested a gloved hand on his utility belt just in case.
Jericho glanced back at us with a smile and motioned for us to follow around the last bend. The ambient sounds of grunting voices and deep throats filled a chamber as we entered it.
And…..
Torchlight.
Platforms.
Wooden lattices much like the Mortuana dwelling of lore.
Crates of supplies.
Distant computer equipment and tracking devices.
Whining, crackling radios.
A rack of axes and metal weaponry.
Rows of metal 'hoods' hung on the wall.
And finally…
Dozens of bodies….bodies….bodies….
Thick.
Muscular.
Meaty.
Hairy.
And……
"………," I blinked.
Bovine.
"Ah jeez…..," Robin murmured with a wince as he walked in. "…..crap….now it's starting to make some sense to me…."
"?" I glanced at him stupidly. I glanced back into the underground community.
Nearly one hundred 'Wildebeests' stared back at us. Each and every one of them was….identical. Exact duplicates of one another. The same horns. The same crown of fur. The same gray eyes. The same teeth and expression. The same gait.
I swear, they all look like 'Wildebeest'! I wonder if this is a clan of his or somet--
And my jaw dropped.
Oh snap……that's it!
They ARE 'Wildebeest'!
That would be……perfect……
The Wildebeest at Blue Pine. The Wildebeest in our Town. The Wildebeest in Las Vegas……
But………n-no……
How could I be that stupid?
Certainly the Messenger knew. But perhaps he didn't see a reason to tell me.
Jinx and Pulsade?
Would they know?
Oh……
Joey……………
He knew all along.
The Hacker had………friends.
Lots and lots of hairy, badass friends…………
That cute little turd, damn him!
The 'Wildebeest' carrying Jericho set the boy down. He smiled, hand-signed something, and ran past a group of grunting….saluting mammals towards a wooden platform high up top in the cave. He seemed to know his way around.
The Wildebeests all turned and looked at us. Snorting…whinnying…they gradually gathered around. A hairy circle of bovine life. All silent….all mute of language.
Robin shifted uncontrollably. "I don't think it's any coincidence that they all look the same…," the Boy Wonder murmured aside to me. "There's something…..wonderful afoot here."
Well, aren't you the romantic type?
A murmuring.
A grunting.
Two or three Wildebeest's came up to my side.
I bit my lip and drew back.
But one leaned forward, and his snout curved into a smile. He held a hairy fist out.
"…………."
Robin raised an eyebrow.
I cleared my throat, simpered, and planted my flesh fist against his.
One of the other two patted me on the back. There was a snorting exchange between the three….like a chuckling….or an inside joke.
I sweatdropped.
Ehhh……yeah.
I guess these are the 'Vegas' ones……
Then some more shifting. The crowd up ahead parted.
Robin and I turned to look.
There was a procession of Wildebeests. And in the center was a hunched-over, gray, mottling thing. He limped his way over with help of a black-metal scepter of sorts. His crown—half broken horns—was adorned with beads and jewels in a shamanistic fashion. Jericho held him by the upper paw, leading him towards Robin and I.
Robin took a step forward. He cleared his throat and pointed at Jericho: "Is th-this someone special, Jericho?"
"I sp-speak for m-myself, Titan……," the graying Wildebeest said.
I did a double-take, jaw dropping.
Robin was no less taken back.
Jericho stepped to the side and hung his little hands behind his back as he stood straight in attention….perhaps reverence.
The gray, aged Wildebeest wheezed, took a deep breath, and sat on a round, whicker chair before leaning forward on his scepter and uttering: "Y-You are with f-friends now……friends……nnrghh……in th-that we are all a-a-against Deathsssstroke…nghhh……"
"Nnnnrrrghhhh!" the collective group of Wildebeests murmured together.
"……….," Robin took a deep breath. He glanced over at Jericho.
The little blonde smiled sheepishly.
Robin looked at the leader again, all the while I was scratching my head.
"You know Red Aviary?"
"Th-That was the name……nrghh……that the young womennnn called it……," the gray beast spoke. "Nnnngh……this is a quest of no name. Much like it is to be sought to its end by those with no voice."
"I-I'm sorry for the awkwardness…..my partner and I are just a little surprised, is all…," Robin pointed. "Wh-Whom am I speaking with…s-sir?"
"Nnngh………," the graying one opened a pair of blind, pale eyes. "I……nnngh……am the Elder……" He took a deep breath and shook his crown with a rattling of beads across his shattered horns. "…….Nnnnrgh……I am the l-leader of the Wildebeest Society………"
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Countryside.
1:11 pm
Above ground.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Whoops….I think it's done…," the Messenger said over Cyborg's shoulder.
"Hmm? Oh! Shoot! Damn, man! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"You didn't emasculate me to."
"………y-yeah."
The Messenger smiled.
"Here goes…," Cyborg fingered the compartment within the dashboard computer of the Batmobile.
Click!
POP! HISSSSSSsssssssssssss……………
Steam billowed out.
Cyborg squinted his eyes, waved a hand to fan the mist away, and pulled the vials out. "There we go. Analysis complete—"
"Wait a minute….," the Messenger murmured.
Cyborg sighed. He turned and looked over his shoulder. "What is it now---?" He paused in mid exclamation.
The Messenger's grin was completely gone. In its place was a look of blank shock and…..
Despair?
"Open one of them…."
"Huh?"
"I said open one of the vials, Mr. Stone."
"Listen, little man! Whatever's inside of that capsule, I ain't lettin' out—"
"Trust me."
"……….."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Batcave.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Opening….now….," Dick said. With a pair of metal finger extensions, he opened a vial.
Batman watched closely.
Dick turned the vial open and let the matter inside fall out.
It was brown. No longer a glowing gold substance.
Dick made a face. "What in the Hell?"
"It is no longer volatile…."
"Terra's power lots its punch?"
"……..I don't think so."
Dick looked at Batman, his mouth agape. "Bruce….what's going on here?"
"Hand me the electrotool."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Batmobile.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"An electrotool?" Cyborg made a face.
"You have one built into your arm, right?"
"Well, yeah, but—"
"And did it read a high carbon and sulfur content just like Robin predicted?"
"Yes! It did! Now what's the use—"
"Just test it, Cyborg," the Messenger pointed. "Trust me…."
"……..," Cyborg opened the vial some. He pointed a finger down the tube. He took a breath. Cl-Clik. Clak! His left finger turned into a sparkling taser. He aimed the tip down the tube….and fired a spark.
Z-Zap!
Suddenly, the brown matter inside jolted….morphed…and took the shape of a golden half-liquid.
"Whoah! What in God's name?" Cyborg twitched, nearly dropping the vial. "It's Terra's stuff after all!"
"Not exactly."
"……?" Cyborg glanced at the Messenger.
The Messenger looked back. He said: "Zap it again…."
Cyborg bit his lip, hesitated…..
…..but complied.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Batcave.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Zzzzt!
"There it goes again!" Dick exclaimed.
Batman's eyeslits narrowed at the vial turning from a bright gold to a dark brown. "Reacting to electric stimulus…."
"It's…..it's like mud!"
"It is mud, Dick….."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Gotham City.
1:15 pm
Gotham City Police Department.
Underground evidence containment.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
A guard on duty was walking down a row of the glass vials confiscated from the Wayne Corp. site.
Half of the material were covered in shrouds.
A flashlight armed in one hand, the fellow walked down the cold, cellar-like place and started covering the last of the evidence with canvass.
"God….hope the Commish makes use of this shit soon…," the man murmured. A shudder. He tried to hide the last of the golden vials from sight. Seemingly allergic to the metaphysical, thermal glow. "….you creep me the hell out…."
Suddenly…as if on cue…..
Every….
Single……..
Vial…………..
F-FLASH!
The man gasped and dropped his flashlight in the middle of covering up a cart-load of vials.
The golden glow had faded.
Inside every vial, a glob of mud melted into a puddle.
And rested….dull…..dead…….earthen….
"………," the man's lips quivered. "Wh-What the Hell?"
He frantically rushed from package to package throwing the canvass shrouds off.
Panicking.
Every golden vial had lost its light.
And muddy dullness rested dead in their places.
"All of them……they're….th-they're…."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Batmobile.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"M-Mud….," Cyborg clenched his one good fist. CRKKK! The soggy vial shattered in his titanium grip.
The Messenger took a deep, shuddering breath. His almond eyes thinned as he stared off into space. "Hagan….."
"Damn it all……"
"Hagan must have……been at Gotham Labs….," the Messenger murmured. "He must have been there to have given his body formula towards the creation of Two-Face's thugs in the vaults…."
"And the essences! The God Damn vials!" Cyborg balled his left hand into a fist and rammed it into the dashboard.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Batcave.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
CLANG!
Nightwing finished kicking the leg of a metal table.
He clenched his fists. "It was a decoy! The vials weren't real! Matt Hagan was in it all along! He was providing some fake-ass golden illusion!"
"Then Robin was right to be worried….," Batman clenched his gloved hands. "After all we went through…..after all that was lost at the hands of Triangular—Two-Face. After Red Aviary tracked us down and slaughtered Barbara……Triangular was pulling the wool over our eyes."
"An….An Ambush….."
"………….," Batman stared at a rack full of vials besides the experimental equipment. All of the glass tubes were filled with mud that was gradually losing their fake, golden glow.
"….Then…..if those weren't the vials of Terra's essences that we so conveniently found at the vaults….," Dick turned and looked at Bruce steadily. "Where're the real deals?"
"At this point?" A deep breath. "Where….," Batman snarled. "….do you think?" He gripped the rack of vials in both hands. "RrrrrraaaaaaaaughHHH!" He tipped it over with a flail of his cape.
SHATTTTTTTERRRRR!
Dick winced….
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Titan's City.
2:02 pm
Titan's Tower.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Darkness.
Silence.
Then….
Footsteps.
A light.
Louder….
Creeeeak—SCHWISSH!
A light from a ground-level hallway illuminates a doorframe.
'Cyborg' stands as a dark shadow against the illumation.
He marches out onto a rail-laced tier, one heavy foot after another.
He reaches a hand over and flips on a switch.
Clik.
A bright amber light floods the basement room from a few bulbs overhead.
In response, hundreds upon hundreds of glass vials of Terra's golden essence pulsate even brighter.
A golden shine illuminates 'Cyborg's' face.
His face is deadpan.
His human eye glosses over an amber brown momentarily, then returns to its chestnut normality.
"……….."
Just then, an intercom speaker crackles besides the doorway.
"Snkkkt……Cyborg?"
He walks over and flips a switch. In Cyborg's voice, he replies: "Yes, Rae?"
"I'm just about ready……"
"Understood, cutie. I have the car waiting for us."
"I'll meet you out there."
"Fine by me. Cyborg out."
Click.
Cyborg turns the lights out, turns, and heads back into the upper floor's doorway.
The golden glow traces after him.
But he closes the door behind him….and with a loud sliding sound, locks it tightly with his authorization code.
The golden glow of the genuine samples start to fade ever so slowly.
And as they do….a persistently blinking light visibly strobes in the middle of the shadowed basement lair.
In concordance with a beeping sound.
And the incessant, faint scent of carbonite….
Everywhere.