These Black Eyes Chapter 240: Wrought Iron, a teen titans fanfic

240. Wrought Iron

December 1, 2004

Countryside

6:53 pm

Forest.

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

Twelve members of the Wildebeest Society stood around the Batmobile.

Two of them assisted Robin and I as we hoisted a slightly-charged Cyborg into the driver's seat of the vehicle.

He lay back limply in the cockpit, nodding numbly at us. Seemingly breathless.

The Wildebeests withdrew and Robin walked up to the side of the sliding door/top of the vehicle. He smiled gently—half forced—and said: "Vic…you're going out for a little evening drive."

"Hoo boy….," Cyborg murmured.

"When the Batmobile gets to Metropolis, it'll set off a beacon that will alert Superman—if anyone—to your location. From there on out, S.T.A.R. Labs should patch you up and maybe you'll be lucky enough to get the attention of Tempest and the Man of Steel."

"And what if I don't?"

"Then at least you'll get repaired one way or another," Robin patted his shoulder. "Vic…..this is for the best. We look forward to seeing you soon."

"I hope this plan of yours works," the android Titan merely mumbled.

"………," Robin took a deep breath. "I am supremely…utterly proud of you, Cyborg."

He turned his limp head and smirked at the Boy Wonder. "Tim…that works on Jordan. Me? I'm a different story."

"How about this? I'm freakin' envious of you. At least you might get some damn sleep out of all this."

"Heh heh heh…," Cyborg patted Robin's shoulder back with his one good arm. "Now that's what I'm talking about…."

A spark off of Cyborg's metal skull.

He twitched…winced….and sighed. "God bless these cowbell soldiers and all—but—their computer systems really suck."

"Funny that 'J' of all people would be their one human friend, huh?"

"Yeah….heh heh…..funny….."

"…………"

"…………."

Robin took a deep breath. "Vic…I promise you. If all else fails, Jordan and I will work this out. We'll hold back Dagger. We'll save the Titans…and the City."

"And Deathstroke?"

"Maybe you'll be up and running at least by that time," Robin gazed aside. He murmured: "We'll need all the help we can get….."

"………," Cyborg leaned his head to the side. "Ya know…..Tim…..now that I know you're the heir of a rich billionaire in a batsuit, your stubbornness makes a Hell of a lot of sense."

"Heh…er…y-yeah….," Robin scratched the back of his neck.

Cyborg gently shook his head in wonder. "But for the life of me……I can't figure out where the 'punk' in you comes from." He swallowed….then added in a softer voice: "And how exactly that punk is changing….."

"………ride safely, Vic," was all Robin had to say. He stepped backwards from the Batmobile. "Reserve your energy."

"Yeah….for the double-ass kicking," Cyborg nodded. He looked my way. "Keep it real, Jordan."

I smiled. I gave him a thumb's up.

"Give that Messenger a kick in the ovaries for me!"

"I heard that!"

"Heheheheheh……….ughhhh…….allright, Houston. Okay to go."

Robin nodded. He pulled out a remote and clicked it.

Beep.

Schwissssssssh!

The door to the Batmobile slid shut, causing Victor Stone's face to vanish from view. The engines revved. The lights flickered on. Robin initiated the autopilot from remote, and a previously-programmed track towards Metropolis was followed to the T. The vehicle rolled out of the forest, back up the dirt road, and zoomed on under the shadows of falling evening. A cold wind seemed to blow stronger once the android Titan was gone. Robin walked off somewhere and the Wildebeests started to disperse.

"……….," I stared with my hands in my tattered fatigues' pockets. I took a deep breath.

Is the end to something?

Or the beginning of an end to something?

The Messenger walked up, his hands in his seatjacket's pouch. "Hmmmm…..nothing outlasts the Energizer Boo-Ya."

"……..," I gazed at him. My face in a twisted expression.

He turned to look at me, droning: "It keeps going….and going……….and going……"

"………….."

"………….you could use some shampoo."

I ran a hand through my long, thick locks. All frazzled. Dirty.

Yeah……

I sighed.

God help me, Ana.

I'm tired of having long hair.

I really am……

"Well, I'd better get going myself," the Messenger simpered. "Ragnorak to prevent and all that."

I nodded.

"……..you know….," he scratched his head. He sought the words. He found them: "I never thought I'd find myself delving into this dimension so much. This is an—heh—awfully dangerous place to be. What, with supervillains and intergalactic invasions, and pink-haired lesbians left and right…..a guy really has to watch his head he walks out of the door, ya know?"

I shrugged.

"I don't know how you do it. But it's admirable. Not just you…but all the Titans. All the young…..do-wells."

"…….," I leaned my head to the side. Taking a good, long look at this goofy asian kid who seems to incessantly tag along with every adventure I go on as of late.

He looked back at me. He smiled: "Still wandering why I like to pester you so much, eh smokey?"

Damn mind reader.

I nodded…….

He motioned for me to lean forward.

I did so.

He brought his face to my ear, paused for a moment, then whispered: "….cuz if I only sat at a computer and wrote fanfics about you all day, well, that still wouldn't be half as good as the real thing….now would it?"

I shoved him.

"Wh-Whoah! Heeeeey…heheheheh….touchy touchy, Mr. Soft and Mushy!"

I folded my arms. Pouting.

"Face it, Noir. Some secrets are best kept silent. It's all sexy that way."

Congratulations, Mr. Oxymoronic.

"Heh….you would be an expert on silence at least…."

I raised an eyebrow above my shades.

"Well, time for me to skedaddle," he stretched cracked his knuckles, faced the far end of the forest, and fingered his watch. "Here's hoping the security system is on the other side of the Tower's welcome mat."

I nodded.

But he was hesitating. He slowly turned his head around and glanced at me over his shoulder. Gentle. Deadpan. "You know….if you gain anything from this whole debacle besides the life of Robin and a new prosthetic limb………maybe it'll be a chance to look back and realize…….you were never held back. Not once."

"…………?" I made a face.

He smiled. "You went West, Noir. You headed to Vegas without hesitation….."

"……….," my lips parted.

He saluted. "Don't let the Wildebeest's bite! At least…not anywhere below the waist. Ciao!"

ZAAT!

And he was gone.

On a mission.

I took a deep breath. I reached a hand to a rear pocket of my fatigues. I pulled out the harmonica that the Messenger had gotten for me. I fingered its contours. The ridges. The vents and the joints where the wood met the metal.

"………………."

I took a long, deep breath.

What's he trying to prove, Ana?

That I'm no longer afraid of my past?

I still hurt from everything that has happened to me.

But………

It's just n-not……not important anymore.

You're important still, Ana. That's a given. You'll always be important to me.

But everything……everything that I remember……and everything that I try to forget……

Is it all finally behind me?

"……………."

I took a shuddering breath.

My eyes didn't know whether to twitch or tear.

No……

It is not behind me.

Once all of this is over……

And once the worries have died with it……

I will………

I w-will have a chance to look back.

And remember everything.

Only……

I might not feel so bad.

Oh Ana……

How I long for that.

I hugged the harmonica to my chest.

Exhaling…..

How I long to just……

Lie down.

And rest……

For a day.

Or forever.

Just………

Rest…………………

"…………………….."

I think it was my spatial sense that alerted me first, but there was definitely someone standing behind me. Someone small.

I turned around.

Jericho stood, looking up at me. All of his Wildebeest friends had cleared the forest floor. It was just him and I staring at each other across the natural domain.

"…………," I smiled. I pocketed the harmonica away, blushed a little, and hand-signed: 'The Messenger knows how to give good gifts.'

Jericho nodded. He gestured back: 'He knows good people to give them to.'

I smiled.

So did he. His green eyes trailed aside. He fingered the scar on his neck absent-mindedly before signing: 'I was wrong about you……'

I raised an eyebrow. 'Wrong? How so?'

'Long ago. I thought you only went after Slade cuz of anger and hate……'

I bit my lip. "…….."

He gestured: 'I have spent so many days inside of you. Seeing through your eyes. And now that I have spent so much time alongside you and your friends, I think I understand now.'

"………….?"

He smiled. A painful grin. 'It is a righteous anger.'

I sighed in relief at that, but I couldn't help but reply: 'There is no such thing.'

He glanced aside for a moment before again looking at me and gesturing: 'Perhaps. But your hate is not the same as my father's. It could not possibly be responsible. I think my father tapped into the Red side of your Spectrum on his own. He struggled to curse you with his dying, gurgling breath on that freighter. Did he not?'

'I was too busy cursing him to tell.'

'Yes. Yes, I can imagine.'

"………….."

'I cannot imagine how hard this has been for you, Joey. I think it is best that you station yourself with your Wildebeest pals for the time being. Where Robin and I are going, we are most likely to run into your father. It will not be a pretty battle. And we will not……hesitate to end Slade if we have to. And most definitely, we have to.'

He nodded. 'I understand. I really do, Jordan.' He bit his lip.

I leaned my head to the side. "………?"

He walked forward: 'You have helped me, Jordan. You really have.'

'Me? Helped you?'

'Before my mother died, she said I had an older brother……and a half sister somewhere. I could never see them.'

'I am terribly sorry about that, Joey.'

'But, you are like the big brother I never got to see. You are like all of my remaining family all in one. I am glad we got to cross paths, Jordan.'

I smiled at that. 'Well, I was very happy to have fought alongside you as well—'

He hugged me from the side. His green eyes were wet, and he sniffed.

I calmly ran a hand through his blonde hair and soothingly squeezed his shoulder. I glanced aside….sighing…..

I miss my family too.

My sister……

How old is she now?

She wouldn't be much older than Joey here………

I miss talking to her.

I gazed off towards the thick center of the forest.

Where the tunnels were located.

And…..I was somewhat surprised by the emptiness of it all.

Wait……

Where did Robin go?

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

"Nnngh….here you should find…..a grand assortment of th-the various automobiles—nnghh—that we have collected throughout our days of restless missions. I suppose you could-nngnh---say that it is all a harmlessly….impromptu inventory. Not many of us can even operate these th-things….but a lot of them belong to neafarrrrious individuals whom—dealt with orrrr not—hardly deserve to possess these things—nngh---anymore….."

Robin walked down a line of cluttered 'junk' in a lower cavern of the Wildebeest lair. On his right side were appliances, stolen weapons in heaps and piles, various junk collected from mafia kingpins and criminal agencies the world over, and random knick knacks of the surface world sort. On the left side—however—there were cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even a boat or two. Half of them were at least two decades old. A good many of them were rusted and inoperable. But a few seemed salvageable, and Robin eagerly looked through each and every one.

The Elder stood at the top of the craggedy rock stairs leading down into the storage cavern. He leaned on his rickety scepter, shook his gray snout, and uttered: "Feel free to choose that which suits you best. I cannot promise something---nnnrghh—as operable as what the Batman providessss you, but good fortune either way."

"No problem….," Robin nonchalantly said. "I think I found something."

"Oh?"

Robin walked over to a bike. A harley. "Hmmmm……" He ran a gloved hand along the leathery handles, down the chassis to the seat and then examined the engine. "Mmmmm-hmmm…." He stood up straight, turned, and addressed the Elder from afar. "Do you have gas?"

"Nnngh….of course…."

"It's perfect," Robin said. He ran a hand through his black hair and observed the harley from the side. "Could use a little polish….not that it matters, of course. How can I repay you?"

"Be victorious in all of your endeavors."

Robin smirked. "Seriously, Elder. You deserve something for your gratitude. How can I serve you?"

"Nnnngh….we are already serving each other….let the politicssss go for the time that is at hand…."

Robin nodded his head. "Understood. I'll let it go….."

"Nnnngh….," the Elder turned about and hobbled out of the room.

"Yup…..," Robin exhaled. He turned and stared blankly at the motorbike. "……let it all go….."

Silence.

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

Titan's City.

7:04 pm

Front of Tower.

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

A loud motorized whur.

The huge doors to the Tower opened.

Raven trotted through in her blue robe and black leotard.

The huge doors to the Tower closed.

A loud motorized whur, then a slamming silence.

Raven sauntered softly down the steps.

Calmly.

As if in meditation.

She came to the bottom of the steps and stopped.

Her gaze at her feet.

"……………….."

She looked up.

'Cyborg' stood besides the second T-Car. His arms were folded and he leaned back against the vehicle.

Silence.

"………….," he smiled. "Packed a toothbrush?"

"Hardly a time for a joke," she droned.

'Cyborg' nodded. "Well," he shrugged. "It was worth a try."

"Let's not waste anymore time…."

"Whatever you say, cutie…," he walked over to the passenger side door and opened it for her. "At least let me be a gentleman," he beamed.

"………..," something old settled in her. And the dark girl's lips curved ever so slightly. "Fine…."

She strolled over.

'Cyborg' 'bowed' and held a hand out for her.

She repressed a slight giggled, exhaled it away, and sat in the vehicle…resting her hand in his.

"…………," Raven froze.

"Is everything allright?"

"…………," her fingers gently stroked the contours of his titanium palm. Her eyes were blank.

"Raven?"

"……….h-huh? Oh….uhm….y-yes. Everything is……allright….."

"We'd better start burning rubber now. If it's Noir you're wanting to track down, he'll probably be with Batman. And Batman always hangs out at night."

"R-Right…at night…," she bit her lip and pulled her finger out of his grasp. "Let's go…."

He gently shut the door, walked around the front of the car, and sat down in the driver's seat. He stuck a key into the ignition and twisted it.

Vrr-rr-rr-rr-rr---

Raven glanced. "You're not using a computer chip of yours to start it up?"

He twisted the key some more. Vrr-rr-rr-rr-rr—

He glanced over, smiled, and winked. "New model…," he softly said.

"……."

VRRMMMM!

"There we go! Boo-ya!"

Raven held her hands perfectly in her lap.

Staring ahead…..

Vrrmmmmm-VRMMMM!

The T-Car pulled out of the Titan's driveway and made for the land ridge to get to the mainland…then take the Suspension Bridge out.

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

On the eleventh story of the Tower, Starfire stood at a window.

She stared pensively outward as the T-Car II rolled along through the dark, settling evening.

She bit her lip….holding her hands cupped together before her chest.

A slow….gentle exhale.

"………….."

Garfield walked up and stood beside her. Calmly. He glanced at her. He glanced out the window. He glanced at her again. He smiled gently and said in an even gentler fashion: "You got left out of the loop too, huh?"

Starfire slowly shook her head: "I was not aware that Cyborg and Raven were going on such an expedition at this time…."

Garfield sighed and shrugged in an exhaustive manner. "They're not telling us anything these days. Just as well, I suppose. They need the time to make up….you know what I mean? Heheheheheh….."

Starfire's green eyes narrowed. "I do not understand…..What if something horrible was to occur in the City? If there was a criminal breakout, than only you and I could be trusted upon to intercede upon the behalf of the innocent citizens!"

"Nothing we can't handle, right?"

"…….," Starfire turned and gazed at him. Her head leaning to the side. "Garfield….you are extensively……cheerful tonight."

He smiled. "Didn't Raven tell you? I've been training out! It's high time I stopped—ya know—moping about the depressing things of last month and start embracing the new me! That's acceptable…..r-right?"

Starfire's gaze fell to the floor. "There is….a great deal of depression yet to defeat in this somber domain…."

"Hey…," the changeling walked over and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "What say you and I take it easy tonight? Cyborg and Raven are having their 'fun'. So can we, right? No need to be cooped up in this godawful Tower!"

"…………," the Tamaranian girl smiled. "Hmmm….hehehe….yes, Beast Boy. It is only fitting. We must celebrate life in every faculty…."

"Uh uh uh!" he raised a finger.

She had a hurt face. "'N-No'?"

He winked. "It's not 'Beast Boy' anymore."

She rolled her green eyes. "Ohhhh, Garfield. You and your evolving mannerisms. How can an alien female keep up?"

"You can start by thinking what type of pizza topping you want!"

"Oooooh…hehehe! How divine….let us endeavor upon embracing sustenance outwardly!"

"Hehehe…yeah….what you said…."

And the two sauntered down the hallway, side by side.

Alone.

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

Countryside.

7:17 pm

Mountain outside of Wildebeest Lair

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

A rough country road wandered down the bumpy incline through the forest trees and towards the Metropolitan Highway yawning beyond.

A dull, maroon sky slept above us.

Pinpricks of stars started to dot the last fingers of the stretching sunset.

Amber was gradually being replaced with mahogany.

Or was it?

We didn't notice.

I stood, absent-mindedly turning Myrkblade over and over in my grasp.

I glanced over with naked black eyes at Robin.

He stood straight…still…a few feet away from the borrowed Harley.

"…………….," the Boy Wonder gazed out at the southward expanse. The treetops. The slopes. The last inches of pavement and dirt and rock and sparkling lakes being kissed by the sunset's penumbra.

Silence…..

A cold wind.

A few flakes.

Neither of us shivered. We both seemed well-used to the cold weather by now.

Two boys.

Two vigilantes.

Miles apart by birth.

Inches apart by destiny.

Destiny….the red sword…..

The Aviary turned red…

Throbbing.

"…………," Robin took a breath. He reached a pair of gloved hands up and removed his eyemask. Tim blinked his ocean-blue eyes. Narrowing them. Staring hard and intently across the landscape.

"………….," I looked at him sideways, leaning on Myrkblade.

His lips moved a few seconds before a breathy voice came forth: "We are going to live through this, Noir."

"…………?" I blinked my black eyes.

He swallowed. He bravely uttered: "We will live….because I've found a new obsession. Something that won't consume me. Something that makes me want to live more than triumph."

A beat.

He looked over at me. Full of life. A breathing, existing young boy. "I have never….ever…..seen her eyes up close without the tunnel vision of my mask getting in the way." He swallowed. He gazed southward again. "Such emerald pools….so pretty. So……So wonderfully beautiful…." He shuddered. His sapphires moistened a bit as he rubbed a sleeve across his cheek and added: "…..I must live to see them as I am now. I WILL live for that. For…for Tim……………I-I only hope she will want to….live with Tim as much as with Robin……once all of this is over….."

I smiled. A slow inhale. Warming….

His lips curved painfully. "Flowers…..I think she likes….yellow. Pink and yellow. Heheheheheh….," he hugged himself and uttered a breathy footnote: "I'll get her a whole, god damn bouquet…."

I chuckled breathily. I turned my shades over in a black hand. I eyed my reflection in it. The black-eyed freak. The 'X' on my neck. The fresh scar on my cheek from November Fourth….

"……Jordan…."

I looke dup.

Tim slipped his eyemask on again. Robin gazed intently at me. He said: "I am alive today. And I have caught up with Triangular. And I have learned to change….and learned to accept so many things. I am much weaker than I have ever been before in my life. And yet….I-I've never felt freer. Terra has been resurrected. The Titans are still alive. Red Aviary has come to a halt in spite of all his violent aggression…..and I cannot imagine how this all would come to be….or where I would be otherwise….if it wasn't for you and all that you have sacrificed to get here."

"……..," I smiled bashfully. I shrugged.

He stared at me and uttered in pure sincerity: "Seriously, Jordan…..You have risked life and limb, sanity, and your very own career to see to my safety…and the Titans' salvation. None of this would be possible without you. And….I-I couldn't face neither the Hand nor the Dagger if it weren't for your intercession….."

I turned the shades over once more. I leaned Myrkblade against my thigh. I brought the sunglasses over my face and rested them there. I faced Robin. I hand-signed: 'The Hand and the Dagger may be overwhelming indeed. But while one more hand is left dangling, I intend to bleed as much as I have to tonight just to hear the sound of that lonely limb clapping.'

Robin smiled. He shook his head slowly: "We have to go all the way, Noir."

"……….."

"We have to end Deathstroke. We have to destroy Slade…..or else everything will repeat itself again. And the next time through—if we fail—will be so much bloodier than my apprenticeship, or the betrayal of Terra, or the torturing of the Titans with Jinx, or even the swinging sword of the Red Reaper. We must break the circle….to end the full circle…."

I nodded vehemently.

He raised a fist. "Together…..Noir……As always…..now and forever…..are you with me?"

I smiled.

I raised my fist.

We collided both of our knuckles twice. Up high. Down low. We dove our palms outward and gripped each other's hand in a firm shake. GRIP! We held each other's fist in vice-like furor, grinning doubly. We pulled…snapped our fingers, and pointed at each other before doing thumb's up.

I mouthed: 'You know I sure as Hell am.'

He nodded, walked over, and straddled the harley.

VrrrrrrrRRRMMM!

"Let's do this……"

I took a deep breath and faced the southern mountain slope with him.

CHIIIING!

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

Titan's City.

7:34 pm

Tower.

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

Th-Thwap!

WHAM!

THWAP!

Inside the gym, Garfield was busily panting….huffing…and punishing the heck out of a punching bag.

He built his muscles up the best he could. Sweating. Exercising.

After a few relentless seconds of toughening his upper limbs, he stepped aside and took a big swig of water. He toweled his brow and chest. Still panting.

He lingered for a moment….thought of something…and wandered off to the sidelines.

He walked over to an intercom and pressed a button on it, still toweling up.

"Star….Garfield to Star….you there?"

He waited.

Waited.

Waited……

He pressed the intercom again. "Starfire? Koriand'r? This is Garfield. You anywhere in the Tower?"

He waited.

Silence…………

"Hrmmmm……"

He pressed the intercom again. "Starfire? Cyborg? Raven?" A beat. He blinked. "A-Anybody?"

Nothing.

He leaned back, arms folded. "Where the heck is everybody…..?"

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

Minutes later….

The changeling walked up to the glass windows of the Main Room.

He gazed out at the darkening City.

The fall of night….

He squinted his emerald eyes as he swore he saw a figure flying over the Bay towards the main land. The Bayside Plaza to be exact.

A green-streaking figure. Feminine. With another green figure in tow.

"………..," Garfield blinked. "Star?"

A beat.

He scratched his head. "Heh….got a new friend I don't know about?"

Silence.

The changeling glanced up.

He squinted yet again.

The night sky….

It looked awfully……

Red that night.

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

"Hmmmm….," Starfire tongued her cheek and glanced left and right as she and Garfield walked down a sidewalk. She was dressed in a pink sweater over a white shirt and long, gray jeans. "My….quite a few stores appear….closed earlier than one would expect!"

"Huh?"

She pointed at many of the darkened establishments. "The Pizza Parlor that we have felicitously enjoyed in the past….it is not operative at the moment. And—behold!—many of the usual hormonal occupiers of regularity are not present! The streets are veritably empty…."

"Hmmmm…," Garfield tapped his temple. He smirked. "I know!"

"You do?"

"Yeah, Star. If I knew better….I'd say a bunch of the businesses are closing down for the new holiday that mayor proposed. It's almost been a month since then, ya know…"

"Oh…..," Starfire hung her head. "Then this is now a time of mourning. Perhaps we should venture back to the Tower—"

"Are you crazy?" he giggled and hugged her arm. "Come on! We should be happy that we're alive! Hey….that Chinese place downtown has got to be open! Let's go check it out!"

She smiled. "Hehehehe….oh to the kay, Garfield. I should know better than to attempt resisting your mutual jubilation."

"Heh….you said it sister. You lead the way!"

"Gladly…," she giggled and walked ahead.

"………," Garfield watched after her. He took a long breath. His limb flexing. "……..Zzzt!" There was a flicker about his figure. Like a holographic short-circuit. "………" He grinned evilly. He strolled slowly after her…taking his time before catching up……

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

Country Road.

7:44 pm

T-Car 2.

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

'Cyborg' whistled.

His hands to the wheel.

He drove steadily northward.

Trees blurred past the vehicle on both sides.

But they weren't speeding.

Merely a……swift cruise.

'Cyborg' glanced aside at Raven.

"………….," she was staring steadily ahead of them. "………" She glanced over towards the driver seat.

He winked, smiled, and kept on whistling as he drove.

"…………," Raven again stared forward.

Only this time….

She sighed and hugged herself.

As the trees blurred….blurred….blurred…

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

Metropolitan Highway.

7:46 pm

Batmobile.

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

…blurred….blurred….blurred….blurred.

Cyborg was lying back in the driver's seat.

Breathing hoarsely.

The energy in his batter reserves was leaking again.

His wakefulness dwindled.

His human eye was thin.

His one left hand rose up towards something invisible between himself and the ceiling as the autopilot guided him Metropolis-bound.

He murmured….

"D-Don't cry……D-Don't cry for me……."

He shuddered.

His human eye rolled back.

His lips pursed.

"…..N-Not until I am there……Not until I can see it….Not until….."

He rambled.

He twitched.

The red light in his robot eye began to fade again.

"………Nnngh….mmf…."

He hiccupped.

He bit his lip.

A tear formed in his shut, human eye.

He shuddered: "N-Not until I can….h-have your cute….fragile self in m-my arms again……"

The cockpit was silent.

Things quieted with the blurring…blurring….blurring….

"I-I'm so sorry…..s-so………..s-s-s-sorry………….."

And he was unconscious.

The digits in his arm panel blinking:

Zero.

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

Metropolis.

7:49 pm

S.T.A.R. Labs.

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

For the umpteenth night in a row, the Justice League was bickering.

Diana and J'onn stood at one end of the laboratory.

Flash and Green Lantern—his arm in a sling—stood at the opposite end.

Superman stood between the group, attempting to mediate between the exchanged statements and heated remarks.

Steel sat on the sidelines, leaning on his sledgehammer. Sighing….

And Tempest….

Tempest sat at the window.

A dark window looking out on the icy waves of the Metropolitan Bay.

Through the cold, electric reflection of his white-on-black eyes…the Atlantean gazed out and saw flakes of snow settling down onto the frothy waves.

"……………."

He reached a hand out.

He silently palmed the glass.

His white irises flickered a gentle purple.

He waved his hand….

And the flakes on the other side started to dance and twirl gently in the air.

Swimming about each other like happy, existential plankton.

Melting as soon as they appear.

A hidden heat that even he couldn't see.

But he looked for it anyways.

Exhaling.

Fogging the glass.

Drifting….drifting….drifting…..

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

Titan's City.

7:52 pm

Apartment.

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

Lindsay sat cross-legged on her bed.

She was scribbling in a notebook, attending to after-supper homework.

In the gentle glow of a bedside lamp, she strapped a pair of headphones to her ears. Listening to Michael W. Smith.

"……………," she paused in her writing. She gazed up. Her face blank. "……….."

She pressed 'pause' on her CD player.

She sat up from the bed and stood in the center of the room.

Cold…alone.

The distant sound of a t.v. in the family room wafted under her door crack.

The gentle cries of Phillip.

"……….."

She walked over to the window.

She gazed out onto the avenue beyond.

The walls of the adjacent apartment complex.

The darkness of the night's shroud.

And….

A gentle red hue about it all.

A maroon glow rested across her freckled features.

Soft….almost inviting.

But chilling all the same.

She shakily brushed a lock of stringy brown hair out from her brow and murmured a mute prayer to the shadows….

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

Renee walked down the stairs of their home.

It was a struggle.

Her belly was hardly the enormity that she was soon to fear, but it did make it a slightly lopsided effort to descend. Regardless, she adjusted her gown and walked the last few steps before reaching the ground level.

She shuffled her way towards the door to the soon-to-be nursery. A light was pouring in from the other side. As well as the smell of paint and varnishing equipment.

She pushed the door open with a creaking sound.

She gazed in.

Daniel was asleep in the middle of an exhausting evening of decorating the nursery. He was draped across a working bench, his hand still gripping a paint brush. Splotches of pastel grazing his cheeks.

His breath was low and mild.

She couldn't help but smile.

She walked over to the corner, grabbed a blanket, shuffled to her husband's side, and laid it over his back.

He stirred a bit, dropped the paintbrush to the newspaper laced floor, and snoozed away.

Slowly….Renee's smile faded. She took a deep breath. Her eyes watered and—in somber intimacy—she leaned over till her upper body and head cuddled with the nook of his slumbering shoulder and neck.

She remained there for a while.

Silent.

Still.

Entwined……

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

Lisa finished tucking Ashley into the left side of the bed.

Ashley snuggled under the covers, her back to her already sleeping brother. She smiled and murmured something sleepily.

Lisa managed a smile. She said something soothing in reply, brushed a few strands of Ashley's hair aside, and turned off the bedside lamp.

She walked out of the room—once solely her bedroom—and shut the door softly behind her.

Once alone, she leaned back against a wall of the apartment living room and sighed. She dragged a hand up and pushed a few of her own strands aside, revealing her eyepatch to the liquid soft light of the evening domain.

She limped across the room to her month-long, makeshift 'bed' on the couch.

She sat down and produced a notebook full of sketches.

She turned to one picture in particular….a post-mortem illustration of Howard and Gladys Knight….posing with their children Ashley and Greg.

A family in peace. Smiling. Together.

A family in fantasy….

Lisa bit her lip, closed the notebook, and hugged it to her chest with a sigh.

"………"

She reopened her one good eye. She slowly turned and gazed out the window of her and her sister's apartment.

Towards the red bricks of the building across the way.

Red bricks…

Redder.

"…………"

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

City outskirts.

8:03 pm

Warehouses.

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

His knife twirled…twirled…twirled…twirled in his hand.

Dagger stood at the edge of a large, seemingly abandoned warehouse surrounded by forest and elevated countryside.

He gazed at the one mountain road leading down into the small, bleak valley.

A mountain road suddenly being occupied by four solid cargo trucks full of shady personnel. The headlights gleaming.

His eyes narrowed.

A body stepped up from the sidelines.

Dagger glanced over.

"……..," Killer Croc stood tall. Anxious. Slowly breathing…..anticipating….

"………," Dagger nodded his head.

Killer Croc grinned his mutated teeth. He motioned and whistled shrilly at a few henchmen standing to the side.

Just as the trucks arrived and unloaded their men, Killer Croc and a handful of thugs rushed to their stations and opened the huge, looming doors of the warehouses.

Revealing…..

Jeeps.

Gattling guns.

Stacks of grenades and machine gun caches.

And….

More vehicles.

More guns…..

Four H.I.N.D.s

Two cargo helicopters.

And even shadier shapes in the furthest corners of the shelters.

Dagger took a deep breath. He stopped spinning the knife and gripped its hilt.

"…….."

As everyone went into action, the deadpan despot stared straight up.

At the reddening sky….

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

Northern Appalachians.

8:12 pm

Open air.

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

FWOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

Soaring high over the mountain tops and into the frigid cloud cover….

Terra guided the huge rock platform westward…and gradually northward…

Constantly concentrating.

With ever her hands outstretched.

Fingers crooked, but firm.

Her goggled eyes and her meditative wrists pulsing a bright gold.

Cutting a yellow-hot path through the dark, open night.

But it was still dark.

So Pulsade stood at the 'front' of the rock platform. She stretched both palms out and produced a star-bright glow of light.

Illuminating the clouds and mountains that loomed before the four girls' shimmering path.

It was cold, and Jinx shivered where she sat in the center of the rocketing platform.

For the sake of everyone, Supergirl was busily breaking loose a clump of rock from the flying platform and holding it in two steely hands. She glared at the rock until her eyes glowed a hot orange and two heat beams flew into the material, heating it up.

Like coal, the rock burned between the four bodies and warmed them.

Terra managed a smile.

Jinx silently nodded her head 'thanks' at Supergirl.

The Girl of Steel was as silent as Pulsade, her mind and blue eyes elsewhere….

Warming up, Jinx gazed along the horizon. Her pink cat optics lingered southward…then narrowed. With pursing lips, she leaned questioningly forward and graced the Southern edge of the hemisphere.

Where—beyond the mountain slopes—a red aura seemed to form….

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

Countryside.

8:16 pm

Open field.

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

Four large, meaty shapes stood in the shadowed plain.

They looked about, anxiously.

Waiting…

Snorting……

Then…………..

A tunnel opened besides them from the earth.

They grunted and stepped back in a half, crescent halo.

Three more shapes emerged from the tunnel.

One of which—a graying figure—was gracing a little blonde boy straddling his crown.

Jericho rested upon the Elder's upper body. He gestured to the four Wildebeests waiting in the field.

They 'read' what he had to say and nodded in one accord.

One lifted his snout and let out a low-throated groan/call.

Twelve more figures raised their horned heads from beneath the tall grass. Coming out of hiding, the contingent of Wildebeest brethren wandered over to the Elder and bowed reverently before him and the blonde son of Slade.

The Elder merely waved his scepter, snorted, uttered something, and pointed at Jericho.

Jericho hand-signed something in finality.

All the Wildebeest surrounding him nodded.

Jericho took a deep breath, hopped atop a tall and strong beast's back, and pointed southward with a strong little arm while shrilly whistling.

Loud.

And strong.

All the Wildebeests—the Elder included—turned south…

And marched.

And soon, more and more were emerging from the tunnel to join them in the slouching exodus across the field.

Dozens of Wildebeests.

Scores.

Hundreds….

Rumbling stealthily through the star-laden night…

And the coldly swaying tall grass.

Like shadows.

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

Metropolitan Highway.

8:20 pm

Southbound lanes.

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

VRMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Robin sped on the highway.

The traffic was thin and next to non-existent.

The wind kicked at his hair and threatened to coldly slap his eyemask off.

Regardless, he braved the most frigid currents of it.

His gloved hands tight to the wheel.

And—taking a deep breath—he gazed to the side of his speeding vehicle….

….and saw the smoking, speeding blur that was me.

Fw-Fw-Fw-Fw-Fw-Fwooosh!

I managed amidst my blurred movement to look sideways at him, smile, and wave.

He smiled back and nodded his head.

Then gunned it.

VRMMMMMMM!

He burned rubber southward…straight towards the City.

I soared alongside him, not losing a single second of time or speed….

Together, we rocketed home.

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

Titan's Tower.

8:32 pm

Tower Basement.

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

Hidden….

Nestled….

Between golden, glowing vials of thermalkinetic essence….

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Carbonite charges chirped.

Carbonite charges blinked.

Carbonite charges ticked down….

To the fiery dawn of ground zero.

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

The City.

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

The shadow stands.

On the outskirts.

Red and black.

Frothing crimson vapors against the wayward flakes of white.

Two tails dancing behind his twitching head.

A shotgun in one hand.

A two edge sword in the other.

Glaring.

Staring.

Devouring the City with his pulsing, red eye….

"Hckkkkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clikkkkkk………hckkkkktt…….snkt…snkkt….snkkKKT-CLIK-CLIK-CLIK-CLIK-HCKKKKKKKTTTTT!"

FLASSSSH!

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

…………………………to be concluded.