These Black Eyes Chapter 241: Break the Circle part 1, a teen titans fanfic

241. Break the Circle part 1

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

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-k-k-ktttttt…..

…

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-k-k-ktttttt…..

…

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-k-k-ktttttt…..

The sounds of gears and axels flooded the underground chamber.

Infernal wheels and mechanisms twisted and vibrated and shook together.

And beneath the doubled shadows of such, the two figures resided in somber softness.

Laced viciously with rusted brown metal and black mesh….

Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Hckkkkkt…..

A tumbling collection of gears slowed to a creaking stop.

The footsteps of the taller figure resonated as he paced about against a sudden gray glow.

A gray glow that transformed into a row of flickering, staticy monitors.

In horrific, digital accuracy, the interior circulatory systems of the four Titans could be seen.

'Beast Boy.'

'Cyborg.'

'Raven.'

'Starfire.'

Each and every monitor displayed tiny, deadly nanomachines clipping onto the blood cells and fusing themselves to the organic substructure of every hero and heroine.

"The Titans still have no idea that my chronoton detonator was more than a decoy….," Slade gestured as he walked around his new apprentice. "Now that my probes are inside their bodies, they could remain undetected for years……decades…."

Robin took a deep breath. His jaw was tight. His fists clenched, one hand gripping the stolen laser device so hard it might have snapped in two….

"Unless of course…"

Robin looked over.

Slade stepped halfway up to Robin, his hands behind his back. "….you disobey me……and I decide to destroy your former friends with a push of the button." With added emphasis, he fingered the trigger equipped to his glove. His emblazoned eye narrowed at Robin.

The Boy Wonder braved the icy glare and pointed while practically hissing: "Sooner or later, you'll let your guard down. I will get that controller. And the instant they're out of danger……..you….will…..pay……

Slade marched towards him threateningly. He snarled: "That sounds like a threat, young man." He glared and softened his voice some. "Quite a good threat, actually…." He took the laser weapon from Robin's grasp and proceeded to tweak it with fiendish expertise. "Betrayal, destruction, revenge….we really do think alike."

Something boiled in Robin.

His muscles shook and strained under his metal mesh uniform.

His teeth clenched and his face twisted….

And as soon as Slade has his back turned—for but a moment—the apprentice launched himself at him.

"Raaaugh!"

Swoosh-GRIP! In a blink, Slade had spun around and grabbed Robin's forearm. He twisted his limb—and the whole boy's body for that matter—the wrong way entirely and forced the gasping apprentice down towards the ground, quivering and writhing from the strong pressure.

"I monitored your vital signs during the mission…," Slade hissed. Practically into the boy's ear. "Elevated heart rate. Adrenaline. Endorphins. You won't admit it, but at some level….you enjoyed stealing for me. It was a thrill…….wasn't it?"

Th-Thwap!

Robin was tossed aside.

He gasped and twirled up to his feet, rubbing his hand…wincing.

Slade paced around him. Continuing naturally: "You're going to keep stealing, Robin. And you're going to keep getting that thrill. And sooner or later….you will see things my way." He finished his work on the laser rifle. He walked over to Robin and fitted it on the apprentice's armband. "Who knows? I might even become like a father to you."

Hckkkt-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clikkkkkkktttt……

The wheels above grinded together.

"…….," Robin took a deep breath. He tilted his head up. "I already have a father…."

Slade faced off at an angle from Robin. "Indeed you do….and yet you choose to live life an orphan?"

Robin clenched his fists again. He didn't bother to look at Slade. "I choose to live life for good."

"Correction….you used to….my apprentice…," Slade paced around him. Gesturing: "I know what it is that ultimately haunts you, Robin. I know what keeps you sweating…bleeding….struggling day in and day out every sunrise and sunset of your life." He came to a stop, resting his metal-meshed hands behind his back. "You refuse to lose, don't you?"

"I refuse to let evil win."

"'Good' and 'evil' are empty words, Robin," Slade pointed. "The only reality you should be concerned with is the thrill I am now bestowing up on you every night. It is something you must seize. Something you must….hold onto and junction yourself to." The villain walked around and stared Robin down in the face. Emblazoned eye to glazed mask. "Do you actually think that fighting alongside your Titan friends would supply you with that element? That much-needed boost to grow? To become something you've always wanted to be?"

Robin tried to glare back at him. But something was distracting him. He found himself gazing beyond Slade's mask at the four flickering screens of the Titans' raped bloodstreams. Their blood. Their names. The Boy Wonder's lips opened waveringly and he said with summoned strength: "What I want to be….is not something you could ever provide."

"That is because you are still stubborn…," Slade hissed through his mask's mouthslits hotly into the Boy Wonder's face. "That is because you are afraid. For the first time in your life, you are afraid. You now have a chance to be strong, Robin. Not the weak, human thing you always were as a sidekick…and as a Titan."

"Don't….judge…..me……," Robin snarled.

Slade leaned back, gesturing: "Oh, I don't have the power to judge, Robin. But then again…what loving parent does?"

"…….."

Slade slowly, icily stepped around Robin. "I have the power….and the authority….to shape you in what I see fit. And though you don't see it now….and though the thrill is the only window through which you have to envision your future self…..I know every new potential waiting for you. You are to change into this…this new ideal, Robin. You are to shed every piece of you that is human. You will be my apprentice. Superhuman and supernatural to the last. You will be my apprentice….even if I must wear off every shred of you that clings to your worthless…..pathetic……weak…..childhood….."

Slade came to a stop behind Robin. He placed his hands on the Boy Wonder's shoulders. He leaned forward and whispered into Robin's ear:

"Even if I must……annihilate every remaining trace of touch you have for your friends……in that weak body of yours…..my son………"

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-k-k-ktttttt…..

Robin was shivering. He stared fixedly at the monitors. At the names of the Titans. The pumping blood. The life. The internal, raping essence of Slade swimming within.

Slade took his hands gently off of Robin's shoulders.

The apprentice stood there, shivering still.

Trying to stand up straight.

Trying to remain tall.

His body firm.

His jaw tight.

His muscles tense.

"…………………….."

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-k-k-ktttttt…..

………..

WHAM!

Slade's elbow smashed into the base of Robin's skull.

"Nnngh!" the Boy Wonder tumbled forward, panting. Pulsing all over in pain. He struggled…..shook…but slowly….slowly stood back up straight. A little more numb...

Subordinately refusing to return a fist to Slade…….

His eyes on the nanoprobes inside his friends……

"……….."

TH-THWACK!

A fist across the small of his back.

Robin winced and leaned forward.

"RrrrRRAUGH!" Slade spun around and plowed his fist hard into Robin's gut.

WHUMPPPP!

Robin gasped.

He clutched his stomach.

He wheezed, fell on his knees….

Spat blood.

His eyes twitched under his mask as he sat….shivering. Looking up.

'Beast Boy'

SM-SMACK!

A foot slammed across his brow.

He fell back on the cold floor.

Twitching.

His gaze momentarily rested on the gears and axles above.

Hckkkt-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clikkkttt…..

He struggled to his knees.

Still not fighting back.

Still not resisting.

He tried to stand up.

His eyes darted across the monitors.

'Cyborg.'

GRIP! A fist around his neck. Another fist to his face. WHAM! Again. SMACK! And again. SL-SLAM!

He was thrown down to his side.

He coughed.

He spat up more blood.

But he gazed fixedly on the nanoprobes.

And he refused….

He refused to fight back…..

So weak.

So…..human.

'Raven'.

"Nnnnnnngh!" SLAM!

A boot to his rib cage.

Robin curled up.

Coughing.

Sputtering.

Twitching all over.

His eyemask was thin.

He shook and struggled to look up at the monitor.

His bruised lips quivering.

His skin red and welted….

'Starfire'.

Robin panted….panted…..panted….

His hand shook.

His fingers stretched out.

A gloved palm moved in the direction of the distant monitor.

'Starfire'.

"……………"

His fingers curled closed.

His hand fell.

He rested his body.

Exhaling…………………

WHAM!

A kick to the small of his back.

"Nnngh!"

He convulsed.

Slade knelt down and punched his face…elbowed his forehead….and stood up with a final kick to the shoulders that sent Robin tumbling…tumbling…tumbling to a stop on the far side of the metal floor.

Near unconscious.

Bleeding…..

"Your initiation has begun, apprentice…."

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clikkkkt……

"You have but only one….father……now……"

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

"…………..," Robin took a deep shuddering breath.

I gestured to him.

"…………..," he said nothing. He didn't even move.

I whistled.

"?" he glanced over.

With his attention now, I again hand-signed: 'The highways looks perfectly clear from here on out.'

Robin nodded, running a shakey hand through his black bangs. "Y-Yeah…..almost like nobody's going cross country at all tonight. And this is one of the nation's biggest, busiest highways. Period."

"……..," I gazed silently down at the stretch of asphalt below the mountainous edge where we were perched. I leaned against Myrkblade. Robin's temporary harley rested a few meters down the north face of the hill. The night stretched on over us. Silent. Cold. Laden with sparse patches of frost settling…settling…settling….

"Everything feels so…..dead….," the Boy Wonder murmured.

I gazed sideways at him.

He swallowed. "I-I suppose…we shouldn't expect any less or more. Red Aviary is on the same path as we are. For all we know, he could be here. Spreading his crimson blight…."

I hand-signed: 'I think Slade was intent on paying a visit to the Titans, Robin.'

Robin nodded. "Of course. Of course. I'm not denying that. Hell…we have no time to stand around and speculate." He adjusted his cape, turned towards me, and said: "I just get this….awful feeling."

I nodded.

"Like we're walking into a trap. Naturally, we always are. But….to what degree of terror is it this time? Dagger has proven that he can be one step ahead of the game….always. And D-Deathstroke has shown how deep he can drive his own blade in. What can we do that they would not expect and take advantage of at this point?"

I took a deep breath. A cold wind blew at my long black locks as I gazed aside towards the southern horizon.

Dagger.

Slade.

Coming to a head all in one dark……sickly night.

Only instead of a freighter on the Bay, there's the cold darkness surrounding all.

And instead of a storm-swept skyscraper, there's the frost of a broken City stretching before us.

Everything is coming full circle. A different shade. Perhaps a different rule book.

But still, the exact……same…….players……

I hand-signed: 'We will figure it all out, Robin. There must be a way to break this pattern.'

"Mmmm…..or maybe that's exactly what Slade himself is trying to do…..by killing all of us?"

"…….."

"One thing's for sure. Dagger's merely a vulture. A conniving, genocidal vulture….but second fiddle nonetheless. I know he'll never admit that….but—if we focus too much on him as we've done in the past—we might be falling back into the same, bloody groove. And Red Aviary—like always—will be picking us off…..one by one…."

I bit my lip.

Robin sighed, a hand over his masked face. "Always outnumbered…always overwhelming…..is it just the twists of fate to throw us into this?"

I snapped a finger.

He looked at me.

I hand-signed: 'It is a darn good challenge, though.'

"……," he smiled. "Damn….you and I are such pathetic heroes, aren't we?"

I smirked.

'Zzzzt-skkkr—obin, you there?snkkkt!'

The two of us jumped.

We exchanged glances.

My lips pursed.

I mouthed: 'The Messenger?'

Robin whipped out his communicator and flipped it open with a Star Trek sound. "Messenger? Is that you?"

'zzztt-Snkkkt—rying to ge—zzkttt-snskkktt—is vantage po—snkkkt'

Robin held the communicator up high, attempted to get a better reception….and ultimately frowned.

"It's no use…," the Boy Wonder murmured as the static of the communicator persisted in the background. "He must be too far away to get a proper connection with us."

I leaned my head to the side. I hand-signed: 'Could that mean that he is in the City already?'

Robin's face brightened. "That could be possible!"

'Snnnkkt—ething is going—zzztt—snkkkt—or nothing at a—snkkkt"

"Messenger?" Robin spoke firmly into the communicator. "Messenger! We can barely make you out! You're too far from our receiver! Try and be blunt! Is this an important update? Are you at the Ci—"

'zzztt—o tell you th—zzkkksnntt—the Tow—snnkkktt—is moment!'

I took a shuddering breath. I looked helplessly at Robin.

"Messenger, try and stay where you are! Noir and I will be going to meet up with you! The closer we are to each other, the easier we can communicate! Got it?"

'snkkkt-zzzt-ome office-snnktt—ights and everyth-snnkkktt'

"Nnngh…," Robin pocketed the communicator away. "What's the use of a Messenger when he can't give a decent message?"

I whistled and pointed southward.

The Boy Wonder nodded. "Absolutely. A blazin' we will go."

I started meditating…summoning the blurring streams of smoke back into my limbs.

Robin rushed over to his harley. He had barely hopped on when he already had the engine revving and the tires squealing.

SCREEEEEECH!

Oh Hell yeah……

We're burning………

VRMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Robin ramped down the earthen hill and zoomed towards the highway.

I took a breath….

Twirled Myrkblade…

And soared after him.

FWOOOOSH!

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

"I'm telling you, Robin, something's up! The City is….like a ghost Town! I barely see a car driving down the street or a light on in a single building! If I didn't know better, I'd say that everyone was---….Robin?" The Messenger stood on the northern edge of a mountain slope across the Bay. He slapped his communicator against a tree. He frowned. He growled to himself and looked across the waters. "Too much distance between us. I should have known." He pouted. "Feh….when fate shuts me up, that's a sure sign of bad stuff if I ever heard one…."

Silence.

The Messenger was gazing at the Southern half of the City and Bay. He had arrived in record time, choosing to circle around the Town and approach the City from the South in traditional, cloaked format. But the sight of the dull, lifeless urbanscape troubled him.

So did another sight….

The Tower rested gray and lonely on its waterwashed island in the center of the Bay. But something flickered at the base of the tall structure. Swirling lights. Two police squad cars. And….

Police officers?

"I wonder if it's a domestic dispute….," the Messenger said. He braved a momentary smile. A smile that faded. He sighed and pocketed his communicator before starting to walk briskly down the mountainside. "…time to be the usual, nosy nerd-do-well…."

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

Inside the Tower, Garfield walked restlessly across the Kitchen Unit of the Main Room.

He poured himself a glass of tap water from the faucet.

A towel was draped over his figure, clothed in a white tanktop and long green slacks.

The residual sweat from an evening's worth of training was still wearing off of him.

As he poured himself the water, he sighed.

"………….."

The drink filled.

He turned the faucet off.

He lifted the glass to his lips and took a sip. A long…thirsty sip.

He gulped the last of it down, lowered the glass, and exhaled.

His sleeve wiped across his lips.

As he placed the glass down, his green eyes wandered off to the side.

He leaned against the kitchen counter.

Deadpan…..but gradually more and more troubled…..

"It couldn't have been Cyborg or Raven…," Garfield murmured. "Who was Starfire taking off with?"

Silence.

He gazed across the room of the Tower. A room full of memories. Some good. Some bad. Everything a cauldron of Titan-esque legend….

He walked across the room.

He approached the entertainment center.

He gazed at a couple of homemade DVDs half slid out of their shelves.

"………."

He reached a hand out.

He shuffled one out further and turned it around to read the label.

'Terra's Birthday'.

"…………"

He slid it back in.

He pulled another out.

He gazed at it.

'Robin and Terra training.'

And then…

A last DVD case.

One laced with yellow-gold.

'Robin's farewell speech.'

"…………………………..," Garfield lifted his gaze. Emerald eyes squinting, he stared off across the Main Room. His jaw clenched….then loosened as his lips parted. "What the Hell is she doing with someone else?"

Silence.

He took a deep breath.

He dropped the DVD case and his fists clenched.

"Th-There's something wrong with her."

He dropped his towel of his shoulders and ran over to the Titan Computer.

He swiftly ran his fingers across the knobs and dials of the Communication Station.

He pulled a mic out and spoke into it while tapping a button: "Star, this is Garfield. Come in!"

Silence.

"Star…..Beast Boy, remember? Please….respond! Say something, girl!"

Silence.

He took a deep breath.

He flipped a few switches.

He hooked himself into the emergency communication relay.

He breathed deeply and spoke again into the mic: "Starfire, this is Garfield. Come back to the Tower at once!"

Silence.

"Come back, Star!" He fidgeted for but a moment, then added. "It's an emergency!"

…………..

"Please…..give me an answer! I-I'm….I'm worried about you…….."

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

The eyes of 'Garfield' flickered as he and Starfire walked down the sidewalk.

He remained behind her and brought a hand up to his temple.

The flickering in his eyes stopped.

Frowning, he gazed off into space.

"…………."

He brought his right hand to his left arm and touched the flesh.

There was a flickering sensation, like part of his upper limb being opened…then washed into invisibility.

Light beeping sounds filled the nearby air as Garfield 'typed' across his small section of green skin……

"I am most perplexed….," Starfire murmured, gazing all around as she took the lead of their stroll. "Even your beloved places of Oriental distinction are strangely vacant. I fear that there is something transpiring in our Town that we have not been made aware of."

"………..," the changeling kept 'typing'.

The Tamaranian girl turned and gazed intently at him. "G-Garfield?"

He looked up, arms held behind his back. "Hmm?"

"Do you not notice this strange unfolding?"

"Beats the heck out of me, Star….," he shrugged. "Perhaps…erm….the C-City officials have put some sort of street warning into effect?"

"Do you truly believe so?"

"Unless you have a better idea."

She folded her arms, pouting in confusion. "I do not like this. Not in the least." She turned and looked at him. "We would have been warned if something was afoot, correct?"

"Perhaps."

"I suggest that—since we are in the vicinity—we make way to the Police Department and inquire as to the transpirations."

"Good idea…ya know…," 'Garfield' raised a finger and stepped past her. "I was just gonna suggest that."

She blinked. "Oh?"

"Yeah. I know a shortcut. Since there's no traffic for some reason, we can take an alternate route. Follow me—"

"But Garfield, you and I can fly—"

"If there's indeed something to worried about, do you think that you and I should be flying across a City in blackout?"

She winced. "Your point is well received…"

"Follow me…," 'Garfield' hunched over and took the lead, rushing around a building corner. With his body hiding his limbs, he smiled and 'typed' more on his forearm. A wicked curve of the lips….far off in their corners. "…we'll get to the bottom of this."

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

"Nnnngh!" the changeling grunted and tossed the mic to the floor. "Piece of crap….does anything work around here anymore?"

He stood there.

Fuming.

He ran a hand through his scraggly green hair.

Sighed some….

And reached for the communication station again.

"Maybe if I tried to call Cyborg and Raven back—"

ZZZZT!

The console suddenly, explosively shocked him.

"Aaaugh!" the green elf hopped back, wincing. He rubbed his wrist and stared at the station.

Gaping.

"What the--?"

Zzzt! The console flickered again. Zzzzt! Zzz-zzt!

Two blue bolts shot out from the electronic contraption towards his helpless figure.

He gasped and dove to the side.

Th-Thwump!

ZZZZTT-ZZZZZZTTTT! The electric bolts of hot blue ruptured across the Main Room.

Panting, the changeling squatted on the side lines. Watching with wide green eyes as the electrical storm shot across the interior.

After a few seconds, the bolts died.

Smoke rose from random pieces of furniture and singed sections of carpet across the Main Room.

The communication console smoldered. Tiny tongues of flame danced up from the grooves and metal plates of the structure.

Breathless, Garfield stood up. He gulped, shuffled across the hazy domain, and reached a hand out to the nearest security system console on the wall. "Screwy as all get out…..damn. I gotta check the power infrastructure of the—"

ZZZZZZZTTT!

"AAAUGH!" the green elf twitched and convulsed as sparks exploded from the conduit and surged across his chest. A burn streak singed the front of his white tank top, and he went toppling head over heels in reverse across the Main Room before collapsing against one of the stools of the Kitchen Unit's counter.

Th-Th-Th-Th-Thwump-WHUMP!

"Nnnngh…," he twitched….winced….

'Zzzzt! Does not compute DNA authorization.'

"The Hell?" Garfield stood up, clutching his chest and wincing…..gradually frowning. "You stupid-ass computer! It's me! Beast Boy!"

'Zzzzt! Warning. Does not compute.'

"Mrrf…..," Garfield frowned, swiveled around, and marched straight towards the elevator doors. "Screw this, dude. I'm going straight to the energy hub of the Tower to power you down. And as soon as Cyborg comes back, I'm so gonna to—"

SCHLUMP! Gray-slate metal shields slammed down over the elevator door in plates. SCHLUMP! SCH-SCHLUMP!

The changeling gasped, eyes wide. "The Hell?"

SCHLUMP!

Garfield glanced right.

The stairwell was blocked off.

SCH-SCHLUMP!

He twirled left.

The utility hallway was sealed with slate gray metal.

He sweated….shaking nervously. "What's going on here?"

'Zzzt! Warning. Does not computer DNA signature. Intruder alert. Intruder alert. Location: Computer and Operation Room of Titans' Tower."

"You stupid crud machine!" Garfield hissed and jabbed a finger at himself. "That's me!"

'Zzzt! Initiating level 10 defensive matrix!'

He gasped.

He spun around.

SCHLUMP! SCHLUMP! SCHLUMP!

Panel by panel, the slate gray blast shields were closing across the windows of the Main Room. They shut from the outside edges and met inward. Sealing everything off…

"NO!"

Changeling twirled, morphed his legs into kangaroo feet, launched himself across the room, dove in the form of a lemur, rolled on the ground as an armadillo, and finally pounced upon the windows in elf form with two gorilla arms splicing upwards and—

SCHLUMP-CLAMMMMPPPP!

"Nnnnnnnghhh!" Garfield struggled…sweated…and strained as he forced the shield from collapsing down over him. His meaty animal arms wobbled down into his elfin frame and forced his legs to quiver all over. He panted…sweated….and gritted his teeth with the effort. "Come on…..come on!" Panting, he glanced down through the half-window left and gasped.

He saw two squad cars situated in front of the Tower. Their lights swirling, strobing. A couple of officers gathered around the front door of the building. They seemed to be….trying to get in.

"Nnnngh! Somebody! G-Go get help!" the changeling helplessly shouted amidst his strain. "Nnnnngh! Please! Do you hear me? GET! HELP!"

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

"Well…this is certainly confusing the Hell out of me…," one police officer scratched his head. "They're not responding to the intercom at all!"

Five other officers stared back. They all looked anxious. Breathless. Even their squad cars were still hissing from having sped there to the Titans' Island.

"First they ignored the Lieutenant's priority one messages. Now they won't even answer their own frickin' door?"

"I don't like this…," another officer uttered nervously. He gazed around the dark waters of the Bay. "Not only was the 'phone call' right on….but now the Titans are a no-show. There's something very….very wrong about this picture…"

"We'd better report back to Smith. Something's already afoot in this City—"

ZAAAT!

"Mind describing this foot to me, gentlemen?"

The officers turned around. They gasped and all aimed their guns at once. Cl-Clik! Clak!

"………," the Messenger blinked from where he sat cross-legged atop the nearest squad car. He stared blankly at the gun barrels aimed at his skull and smirked. "It's because I'm asian, isn't it?"

"……."

"……..uhm….."

He gestured: "Heaven forbid I pass an AP Calculus test in the general direction of your forehead. But really, boys…."

They lowered their firearms as the leader of the squad walked forward. "I don't know how you got here, kid—"

"Teleported."

"Yeah. Uh huh. Didn't you pay attention to the public announcements?" the officer made a face. "There's a curfew out!"

The Messenger leaned his head to the side. "A curfew………..? Oh really……."

"Do you live in the Southern District?" another officer pointed. "If so, come with us. Everyone in the Southern District has been evacuated to the Subways. Acting Commissioner's orders…."

The asian teen grinned wide. "Truly now…..?"

One officer made a face. "You look…..surprised….."

"Oh….believe me," the Messenger winked. "I'm overjoyed…." He reached a hand to his sweatjacket's pouch and produced a familiar communicator. "This should be welcome news to Robin…."

"Robin?"

"Wait a minute…," a shorter officer squinted his eyes and pointed. "You look familiar."

"Ah yeah! Wasn't he…..an advisor to the late Commissioner when--?"

"Autographs after incidents, pal," the Messenger winked and started to initiate a communication frequency.

"Look….Just who in the Hell are you?"

"Think of me as the Titans' loving puppy. If there's any number one rule in this world, officers, it's 'always trust a metaphysical kid when he takes on marshal law'. Don't worry, I'll answer questions once things get really boiling. Hell…I'll have Noir or Robin do it."

"Er…..huh?"

One officer sighed to another. "This night is getting screwier by the second—"

"Shhhh! Hush!"

Every officer tensed.

So did the Messenger.

"………………," the teen's almond eyes danced around. He leaned his head to the side. Listening.

The officers too craned their necks.

"………."

"……….."

"………."

Silence….save for the cold wind.

The waters lapped….lapped….and lapped some more.

"Did you hear that?" one officer on the edge of the driveway murmured.

The Messenger stood up on the hood of the nearby squad car. He turned around and peered north across the Bay. "……….." His gaze fell to the dark waves just beyond the bluffs.

"…………….I hear nothing, Banta."

"I swear, Kamm! It was………like a gurgling noise…."

"That's because there's something in the water…," the Messenger droned without looking at them.

The officers spun and looked up at him. All tense….

"……..," he dropped his communicator and tightened the muscles in his limbs. "I suggest you all plug your noses………quick….."

SPLOOOOOOSSSSSH!

A gnarled, gray body shot out of the North Waters of the Bay. In a liquid trailing comet, Killer Croc flew up in the air and hurtled himself swiftly down and straight at the Messenger's petite form. "HRESSSSSSHAAAAAA!"

The asian teen squatted in a fighting position, teeth gritting. He didn't have time to dive---

WHAM!

The Messenger's ragdoll body was slammed off the squad car and clear across the hard-as-stone driveway. Th-THRUMP!

CRUNCH! The reptilian freak planted his serrated toes into the edge of the police car's body, denting it as he coiled his weighted legs.

The guards shouted: "Croc! Croc!"

"It's Killer Croc!"

They all took aim.

"Freeze!"

"Hrssssh…," Killer Croc licked his lips. "So sofffffft here…." SWOOOOSH! He leapt at them.

The guards gasped and fired.

BL-BLAM!

BLAM!

BANG!

Killer Croc charged, shoulder-first.

A few bullets bounced off his hard shell of a body.

He shouted in bloodlust and flew into the group of policemen. A single, slashing uppercut…and he threw two men up high fifteen feet till they slammed into the side of the Tower and fell back down. TH-THWAP!

The four other policemen parted ways and fired from opposite angles.

BL-BLAM!

BANG!

The bullets grazed Croc's hard skin.

"HRESSSSSHA!" he shrieked. He charged towards the police on his left. He rammed into one and kicked him aside. WH-WHAM!

"Ooof!"

The other knelt and aimed up at Croc's head. BLAM!

FWOOOSH! Croc leapt over him, dove into the rock bluffs, rolled bumpily across the crags, stood up, shot his gnarled hands down, growled, tightened his muscles, and pulled a huge rock loose. He let out a bloodlusting shriek and launched the salt-crusted boulder with all his might at the cop. "RAAAASHESSHA!"

"Nngh!" the man dove out of the way just as the rock made contact with the asphalt where he was once positioned.

CR-CRKKKK! The rock struck, spilled sparks, skipped across the asphalt with a heavy heated friction of speed, and slammed into the side of one squad car….quite literally bending the entire vehicle in half.

CRUNCH!

Wriiiiiiiiii!-Wrii!-Wrii!-Wrii!

"Where is he?"

"He's on the bluffs! He's doubling back!"

"Peebles! Banta!"

"We'll check on them in a moment! Keep your eye out for—"

"Where's the kid?"

"I don't know! I haven't seen where he—"

"HRESSSSSHA!"

FWOOOSH!

"Sh-Shit!"

"Look out! He's right behi—"

Stomp-Stomp-STOMP-STOMP-SWOOOOSH-SLAM!

Killer Croc's scaly fist slammed into the back of one police officer, plowing him to the ground.

Another spun, pistol raised.

Croc grabbed the barrel of the gun, bent it at an inoperable angle, and flung it out off with his right hand before bringing his right forearm straight back to bitch-slap the cop across the face.

WHAP!

"Augh!" the man tumbled to the side.

"Guys! Clear the way!" the last standing cop shouted.

"Nnnnrghessh!" Killer Croc spun around, heaving.

The cop had a tear gas grenade in his palm. He shakily fingered the pin to it.

"HRESSHA!" Croc charged. Stomp-Stomp-Stomp-Stomp-STOMP!

Clink! The man pulled the pin loose and tossed the smoke-trailing grenade at the reptilian freak's body. "Nnngh!"

Killer Croc had his mutated jaws open just in time to—CLANK!—receive the tear gas grenade in between his teeth and—CRACKKK!—bite down on it. He chewed once…twice…grinned…and—"HRAAAUGH!"—exhaled a burning puff of steam into the officer's face.

FWSSSSH!

The man dropped his gun and clutched his scalded face. "NNNNNGHHH!"

WHAM!

Killer Croc's knew flew up into the man's gut and knocked him back to the bluffs.

Billowing steam out through his serrated teeth, Croc stood in the center of a halo of groaning, twitching cops and raised his snout to the sky. "HRESSSSSSHAAAAAAA!"

And the Messenger….was nowhere….

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

Garfield sweated all over….straining….quivering.

And yet—as he barely made out the explosive scene down below, he gasped.

His eyes wide.

"That…..Th-That…..isn't that…..?"

A whirring sound.

"?" he looked up.

Sparks were traveling down the plate of slate gray metal that he was fighting to hold up.

"Ohhhhhh no…."

ZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTT!

"AAA-AAA-AAAAUGH!" the elf convulsed all over from the electrical currents surging through him. He wobbled, danced, and twitched in place until--

"Nnngh!"

His spliced gorilla arms morphed back to their slender counterparts.

The metal shield flew down shut.

WHAM!

The concussion of the shutting threw the changeling ten feet across the Main Room and away from the sealed windows.

Th-Th-Thwump!

Garfield rolled to a stop against the couch.

"Ughh…," he winced. His hair ends and upper torso smoking. He struggled to his feet. "Dammit….wh-what's happening? First the Tower…now---!"

'Zzzzt! Initiating defense matrix!'

Changeling's green eyes widened.

WHURRRRRR!

He spun around.

His jaw dropped.

Two twin-barreled laser turrets descended from ceiling panels, twirled, and simultaneously aimed at his figure.

Lights blinked atop the motion sensors of the weapons.

The barrels glowed a hot orange.

Zzzzzzzzzzt!

"………," the elf exhaled. "Dude….."

Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-ZAP-ZAP-ZAP-ZAP-ZAP-ZAP-ZAP!

ZZZZAAAAAAAPPPPP!

POWWWW!

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

Halfway across the City….

Betwixt two shadowy apartment buildings….

Starfire floated a foot or two across a courtyard dotted with two half-playgrounds.

In the middle of the 'shortcut', she froze.

Her feet planted firmly on the ground.

As 'Garfield' walked ahead, Starfire spun around and stared southward.

Her pink lips parted.

A concerned pair of emerald eyes.

"I…….I think I heard something……"

"……….."

"X'Hal…..," Starfire murmured. Two hands clasped before her pink sweatered torso. "I cannot sense past this uneasiness…..this unsettling feeling…."

"………."

"Garfield?"

"………."

She turned around. "Garfield, tell me if you just heard—"

His lips were pressed firmly against hers as his hands tightly clasped her forearms.

"Mmmmmfff!" she gasped, green eyes wide.

He pressed into her further. His lips exploring. His fingers tighter….

She instantly fought back….but found herself mutely surprised that she was indeed having to fight back. His strength and grip had increased tenfold, and it took a last second charge of a starbolt at point blanc to—

FL-FLASH!

Starfire stumbled back, panting. Her hands clasped over her mouth and her green eyes wide. "G-Garfield…..what…wh-what are you—"

"Heheheheheh," the 'changeling' smiled at her, convulsing all over in sudden hilarity. "Has anyone told you that you're a real knockout?"

"……………," she stared blankly at him. Numb.

"No?" he winked. "Allow me then…."

SWOOOOSH!—TH-THUNK! He headbutted her.

The sound of metal colliding with bone.

"Aaah!" Starfire recoiled.

POW! A fierce, snarling uppercut from the seemly elf plowed her to the earth.

Starfire fell back and landed between two swingsets that shook with her impact with the earth. She winced all over, staring horrifically up at the changeling with a trickle of green blood rivering down from her left nostril. "Beast Boy! S-Something is dreadfully wrong with—" She froze. Her eyes thinned and her lips hardened into a frown. "…you are not Garfield."

"Do forgive me….," 'Garfield' smirked and gestured while speaking in a voice far too eloquent and foreign to be his. "…but I was oh-so-desiring to see how far I could go. I had a bet with Mr. Hagan…and I think I just won the 'masque' award of the month! Ha ha ha!"

Starfire scooted back, charging one shaking hand with green energy and beholding the supposed elf in uncertainty. "Wh-Who are you? What do you want?"

"What else do I want? A trophy!" 'Beast Boy' marched towards her. Looming. As he spoke and as he grinned, the visage of a petite little elf with green skin and green hair faded away to metal, reflective titanium. "Just the way I like you alien bitches….," two white eyes bulbously flickered as a pair of wrists extended down towards her, extended laser rifles, and charged brightly. "Pretty….dumb…..and DEAD!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!"

FLASH!

ZAAAAA-AAAAAAA-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!

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

"Nnnngh….," Raven suddenly slumped forward in the passenger seat of the T-Car II and rubbed her temple. Wincing all over.

"………….," 'Cyborg' glanced over. "Rae? Everything okay?"

"………….."

"………….Rae?"

"C-Could you stop the car…..Victor?"

He looked over. A curious eyebrow raised in concern over his human eye. "Well….uhm…..sure….."

"Th-Thanks…," she rubbed her head and winced some more.

He pulled over gently to the side of the hallway. "Seriously….is something wrong?"

"…………," she took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'm…..I-I'm not sure……"

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

Robin shuddered.

He veered a little on his harley.

The vehicle wobbled left and right.

He shook out of it and angled himself along with the highway.

Exhaling…..

Blue eyes blinking under his eyemask.

On his right flank, I was blurring faster and streaking parallel to him.

Fw-Fw-Fw-Fw-Fwoooosh!

I waved a smoking arm.

He glanced right amidst his speedy travel.

I gave him a concerned look.

He merely smiled me to comfort and focused on the road ahead of him.

I drifted back to the offroad and continued my blurred streaking.

In the meantime, Robin sighed. He clutched tighter to the handles of the motorbike as a sharp pain bit at his center.

He gazed upwards towards the southern horizon.

His eyemask narrowed.

"………….."

The sky….

The sky was gradually bleeding red…..

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

….

…

….

…

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-k-k-ktttttt…..

……

…..

….

…..

….

Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clik-k-k-ktttttt…..

"……………………………"

He stirred.

He squirmed and shook.

Slowly, he flexed his aching, bruised muscles and sat up.

Welts formed in his skin beneath the metal mesh of the apprentice uniform.

His eyemask was battered….much like his face.

He panted….panted….panted….

A swallow.

An aching head turning…focusing….

On the monitors.

'Beast Boy'.

'Cyborg.'

'Raven.'

"……………," his half-squinted gaze focused on the last microscopic image of blood vessels and nanoprobes.

'Starfire.'

"…………………….."

He tried getting up.

He tried moving his legs.

But it was torture.

Fresh….raw torture.

He couldn't even move himself away from staring at the last monitor.

Her monitor.

He sniffed.

He convulsed…..

Then gave in to a series of hiccupping shakes.

He slumped back down to the cold, underground floor.

He curled up in the terrorist clothes.

The 'son' of Slade.

"I-I'm so sorry….I can't d-do it……I-I can't do it anymore…."

He sobbed.

He cried.

Alone, the Robin died.

"I-I-I just c-can't do it anymore……….."

And Tim was dragged under in tow…..

…

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