258. Break the Circle part 18
"Snkkkkkt-Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clikkkkttt…….hccck…….."
Red streams.
Cold night winds.
The City glowing.
Burning.
Waves of life and death.
Entertwining.
Spinning.
Helixes.
Silence………
"Hckkk! Snkkkt-Clik-Clik-Clikkktt!"
The pile of debris pulses red where she is seen.
A disturbance in the air.
Her figure starts to stir from on top.
A crimson-strobing life breathes again.
Lips pursing……gasping……
She winces and tries to sit up.
"HCKKK!"
"Nnngh……," she rolls over atop the debris
Her body is a fire of pulsing red.
Her bruises and cuts shimmer the brightest of all.
She crawls on all fours momentarily across the rubble.
Panting.
Wincing.
Her red hair dances……and splashes out in trails of endless maroon.
Merging with the collapsing air.
The passionate convulsions of the universe.
With her at the 'center'. "Nnngh……de X'Hal…….wh-where have my flying friends gone to?"
"…….Snkkt…..Hckk-Clik-Clik-Clikkkttt……"
TH-THWOOOSH!
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Starfire huddled atop the mound of debris where she had landed in the Industrial District after the giant golem's destructive demise.
Her green eyes thinned as she hugged herself from a sudden bone-chilling freeze in the air.
December seemed to catch up to her in utter seconds…
Causing her red hairs to stand on end….
Her eyebrows to twitch frostily….
Her lips to quiver….
"Am I-I alone?" she murmured, gazing around.
The apaches were nowhere to be seen.
"………..Mrmmm….."
She held her breath and took off in a green glow.
As she levitated numerous meters above the rubble-strewn site……she paused.
"…………."
She glanced down.
Alien eyes squinting.
In her peripheral vision, she almost saw it. A darting shadow of RED. It stole her attention but for a minute…
A difficult thing to be done during a time of war.
But she let it fly….as she then let herself fly.
Sailing southward over the factory tops to check on the airwaves of the war.
……
……
…….
…….
"Hckkkkk-Clik-Clik-Clik-Clikkkktt………"
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Yo! Get some medics over here! NOW!" Cyborg shouted. He laid Raven down on a medical cot in the freshly erected MASH at Bayside Plaza. "I mean it, people! Step it up!"
Military nurses and physicians were rushing among the instruments and medical tools still being wheeled in.
"Get some anesthesia!"
"I'm on it!
Cyborg panted.
He gently adjusted how Raven's blue head and body lay on the cot. "Raven……Psst…Hey! Raven!" He leaned over, murmuring. "Stay with me, girl…."
"………," she shuddered. Her eyes closed. Breathing gently. "I…….f-feel……"
"Yes, Raven?"
"……….s-so useless…."
"None of that, you hear?" Cyborg panted. He swallowed and spoke with greater fervor: "Looks like BB went through hell making sure both you and him lived. I can't thank him enough for that. But I'll gladly toss him away and worship you from head to toe if you just pull yourself through this, Rae! That means in spirit as much as in body. Hell, you should know this, girl! Meditate with me! Let's hear those magic words you keep chanting—"
"I've been…..f-focusing ever since the Tower blew up…..," Raven coughed…sputtered….winced. "Ever….E-Ever since Deathstroke drove his sword th-through my s-soul self…."
The titanium Titan's fists clenched. "And Hagan…..?"
"…………snkkt….," Raven hissed…wincing. "I…..I-I failed in so many ways, Cyborg."
He clenched his teeth. He looked more hurt than angry. "Raven….please….."
"Everything….E-Everything I ever learned…..," she murmured. "All put to waste……."
Cyborg bit his lip. Sweating. He glanced over his shoulder and barked: "Where's the damn doc already?.!.?.!"
Raven shook….quivered…. "I figured out what happened to Noir….and I had an inclination towards Robin…..and Deathstroke…..but….I couldn't….I-I couldn't….."
"Raven….," Cyborg leaned over. He smiled. He cupped a hand around Raven's pale chin and cheek. "Please….don't blame yourself. Nothing's your fault…..do you hear me, cutie?"
Cutie………
"………," her eyes widened at the word. She gazed at Cyborg. Fixedly. Almost a horrified look. Like a lame, bleeding bird caught in the headlights. Something akin to the red-bathed soul-self that quivered when the sword drove through her hours before. Violet saucers fixated on the android Titan….and slowly they softened. The corners flexing over and caving in. Like tongue muscle to a bitter poison. Moisture formed at the corner of the dark sorceress' optics…and faded away as if melted by a returning fury of cold fire. Raven breathed slower….slower….and resolved herself to silence as her eyelids closed tight and clenched the last of the newborn tears away. The petite teenager looked as if she was being shot in the belly with a magnum in slow motion. She 'lurched' inward like an earthworming mummy, let loose a wheezing sigh…quivered….and turned her head away from Cyborg.
Cyborg's butchered heart fell deep. The organic streams inside his plastic vessels froze and he dropped his jaw as he gazed at her from aside. "R-Raven?"
"………."
"R-Rae….Cutie…."
She only cringed all the more.
Cyborg choked back something. Something he was afraid to release…but did so anyways. "What happened, Raven?"
"……………."
"….Wh-What am I missing here?"
"…………," she weakly hugged herself. Eyes clenched painfully shut. She sighed….
He himself was nearly at the breaking point. "What did…..," his teeth gritted. "What did that son of a bitch do while he was 'me'?"
"P-Please….Cyborg…….," Raven whispered. "I need to be alone."
He started. "Raven--!"
"I need to heal….."
"……………………'
Cyborg stepped back.
Cyborg stepped back….and….
The medics drew in.
Surrounding Raven.
Touching her.
Pricking her.
Needles and tubes sticking in…..
Drowning her….
And he shuddered….
Mere meters apart as they were, she never before looked more distant than she appeared right then and there.
He spun around and left the MASH before he could be struck with the urge to collapse.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
I was standing with the 'group'.
At the sound of titanium footsteps, I looked over from where I leaned on Myrkblade.
I mouthed: 'How is Raven?'
Cyborg ignored me. "B.B. When did you last see Clayface?"
But Changeling ignored him. this by me one more time…."
On the side of the Plaza, Robin stood. Tempest, Jericho, and I formed a crescent around him. Catwoman and Steel stood off in the sidelines. Lieutenant Smith in the distance was speaking to his five fellow officers who had finally arrived on motorcycles minutes before. Around us, Calvin's army was reforming and creating a solid line to rush down the westward streets.
Changeling was pacing back and forth between us. As soon as the MASH was set up, concerned medics urged him to receive treatment….a bandage…..anything—for his ear. But he refused them with a gruffy growl. So now he shuffled before all of us he with a caked brown splotch of blood stretching dryly over his brow, neck, and upper chest in some hideous organic paint job that complemented his hardened face and frown.
"You didn't die in that blast….as a matter of fact, the Messenger saved you…," Changeling swiveled to a stop and jabbed a pointing finger at Robin. "And you've been alive all this time…"
Robin nodded. "Exactly."
"And just what have you been doing all this time?"
I glanced aside at Robin with my black eyes. "……."
The Boy Wonder took a breath and said as firmly as ever the Titan Leader spoke: "I was back with Batman in Gotham City. I was hiding as my alternate identity while we hunted down Deathstroke and figured out where he'd strike next."
"Wait a second….Dude, you hid?" Beast Boy's eyes twitched. "That ain't like you!"
"A lot of things as late haven't been…..like me," Robin sharply replied. His arms weren't folded. The fingers inside his gloves weren't clenched whatsoever. Instead his limbs hung limply….defenseless by his side as he gazed beyond Changeling's feet and said: "The Messenger was behind many of the earlier decisions. I…..I-I figured that after he pretty much had his prophecies about Dagger and the City confirmed in blood….I would be wise to pay heed to him. And….A-And Batman and the rest of the troupe agreed."
"But dude, you hid?"
"Deathstroke wasn't concerned with the Titans!" Robin replied, frowning. "He wanted me! He still does! At the time, he thought I was dead. And he was going after Terra and Noir next. But the Messenger—through Glover—got Noir to head west and go after Terra. While she was being rescued, Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl and I got a head start and began trailing both Triangular and Red Aviary! Don't you see, Beast Boy? I had to maintain the secret of my being alive! I had to pull the wool over Slade's cowl!"
"Well he may not have been all of us then," Changeling pointed with a frown. "But he sure as heck is after us now!"
"And I'm sorry about that, Beast Boy! Noir, Jericho, and I came as fast as we could—"
"Not friggin' fast enough, dude!" Changeling marched forward, hissing. "Deathstroke skewered Raven like a hot dog! He nearly killed me…and now Starfire's still missing! Does that sound like a good leader's plan to you?"
Robin recoiled at that. He immediately snarled back…but there was a definite squeaking echo to the breath in his voice. Something weak…worried……and fragile.
I maintained my cool in spite of this heated exchange. I took a deep breath and gazed blackly at the elf and the Boy Wonder.
This isn't the same Titan Leader everyone thinks they know.
"Don't dictate to me who is or who isn't in danger, Beast Boy….," Robin growled. His voice rose as he added: "Batman was nearly killed. Batgirl was paralyzed. And Noir and I nearly lost our heads as we battled Slade in the haze of Gotham City. We risked life and limb to uncover the most secret of secrets that pointed to this hellish night long before it happened. And if I had 'come back from the dead' much earlier than that—trust me—everyone of us would be dead! Starting with TERRA!"
"Don't you SAY THAT ABOUT HER--!"
Cyborg shoved a seething, heaving Changeling aside with a brush of his titanium hand. Frowning, he glared at everyone and then said: "We have no frickin' time to waste arguing amongst ourselves. Now…where in the Hell is Clayface? Someone answer me--"
"Clayface's melted pudding by now for all I care…," the elf hissed and shoved Cyborg's arm off him. He clenched his fists and frowned. "After what he did to me….after what he did to Raven! He can burn for all I care!"
He isn't the same Beast Boy either.
Cyborg yelled in Changeling's face: "And how do you think I feel about it, little man?.!.? Shit on you! Raven's a broken heap of shattered emotion in that tent over there because I wasn't there for her! Just what the Hell were you doing all this time that mud-ass poser was walking around in my shoes!"
"Hey!" Changeling suddenly roared in a wave of animalistic fury. "If Raven couldn't sense her with all her empathy and crap, how the hell could I, dude?"
Cyborg all but strangled him. "Bite your tongue, you little shit!"
"Bite your own tongue, Cyborg!" Changeling shouted back. His eyes flickered into a panther's and back. As he frowned and hissed at Cyborg and Robin interchangeably, canine fangs spliced in and out of existence. "None of you were here! Do you hear me?"
Cyborg fumed.
Robin shuddered.
"None of you were frickin' here! None of you were crying! None of you were having to rebuild this raped City of ours! For all I care, you guys ain't even Titans anymore! I see a bunch of posers standing in front of me! Good luck getting called heroes from here on out, you yellow-bellied turncoats!"
"Garfield…," Tempest sighed from the sidelines. "Robin has had good reasons. And Cyborg was in cryo-freezing against his will."
"I don't give a damn about excuses, Gar! Besides, you were gone too! You're as bad as the rest of 'em!"
I gazed down to my side.
Jericho was shivering.
He didn't look scared.
Just…..
Sad.
Everything was so damn sad.
Tempest: "I nearly got my skull smashed in by Metallo on two occasions helping Noir and the Justice League—"
Changeling: "I said NO MORE EXCUSES! You know why this City's burning to crap? It's because none of you were here to protect it! Like you SWORE TOO!"
I looked up from Jericho.
I swallowed.
Silently….gently….I walked over and placed a hand on Changeling's shoulder.
But Beast Boy was dead. He hissed and shoved my arm off fiercely. "You too, Noir!"
"…….," I stared at him.
He hyperventilated. He pointed at me: "If you really did save Terra, then why isn't she here? Why couldn't you bring her back where she'd be loved finally? Did you just abandon her like so many other creeps who used poor Terra?"
"Beast Boy….please….," Robin uttered. Not very strongly. His lips were quivering and I was wondering if his legs were finally about to give out from under him. "…you're not thinking. Be silent for a second—"
"Make me, Robin!" Changeling shouted and stomped towards him. "Huh? MAKE ME! You're the Titan Leader! You can do that! Or at least you used to! But look at you! You aren't the Boy Wonder! Not anymore!"
"B-Beast Boy…."
"What? Are you gonna cry, man? Go on! Join the crowd! About damn time, you cowardly piece of crap!"
"You do not understand…."
"Understand this!" Changeling hissed and swung his fist—
WHAP!
Jericho and I both winced.
Th-Thwump! Robin fell on his back against a bench. A red welt on his cheek.
"Nnnngh!" Changeling leapt down at him.
Robin flinched…..
…..but to his surprise, Beast Boy wasn't pummeling him. The changeling was slumped down to his knees, his arms tightly around Robin's torso, his bloody face buried in the Boy Wonder's shoulder.
Changeling was sobbing.
Robin breathed heavily….his jaw agape…..calming down….
Cyborg, Tempest, and I gently watched as Changeling sniffed and hiccupped and murmured aside: "I hate this….I-I h-h-hate all of this…..no more deaths, Robin…..please….n-no more deaths……"
Robin took a deep breath. He swallowed…and nervously reached a hand over to gently press into Changeling's shoulder. "To save the team is what I came here for, Beast Boy. The City—sure—but I never….ever stopped thinking about you guys. Not for a second. If only y-you knew the nights I anguished and all but tore myself apart with having to be away. With having to play the charade…to keep Deathstroke from starting his unstoppable severing of our family…."
"Shut up….just sh-shut up…..," Changeling muttered. His tears damped Robin's cape. "…..don't die again, Robin. If y-you're alive…th-then that means Terra is alive too….r-r-right?"
"…………"
"Why can't we just get all of us together again? Wh-What's so fr-frickin' hard about that? I feel like everyone's dead…..m-maybe Red Aviary has g-gotten us already…."
Silence.
I gazed up.
I gazed over.
Cyborg was glaring off towards the glowing cityscape. His titanium fists were clenched.
I reached a black hand over and tapped his shoulder.
He looked at me.
I hand-signed.
He 'read' me. He said: "Y-Yeah….I'm sorry, Jordan. I really should have answered you earlier." He rubbed the human part of his head. "Raven…..was at the worst phase in her life for Clayface and Dagger to have pulled the old 'switcheroo' on her. She and I….we drew so close, Jordan. And we—well…..I loved it. I felt so…so very blessed and honored to be so close to someone like Raven."
I slowly nodded. Gazing silently….
He sighed. "As long as I was there….we figured…..Raven didn't have to be so dog-gone hardcore about her motions. I wanted to….protect her. I wanted to protect her from all the silly little fears that burned at her all her life. But now………….sh-she's really, really been hurt, Jordan. And….I wasn't there to protect her. I wasn't there to save her when all her 'silly little' fears came true."
I bit my lip.
He shut his human eye and 'deflated'……
"…………I let her down…..and I didn't even have to be there to do it. Now I may never….n-never feel that blessing quite the same way again. But what's even worse…," his eye reopened and it had a sad tone to it. Like the blue aftersigh of a melting computer program. Digital gravestone granite. "…..I see her in that medical tent……like she's alone in some godawful sea. And…..she's been there before. Raven has been drowning all alone before. She's survived. She's strong. She knows how to live life that gloomy and that hopeless and that gothic. But……I-I can't for the life of me imagine her being alone again. I feel…..I-I feel like she wouldn't tread water safely without me." A beat. He choked something back and said hoarsely……a broken voice I never quite heard from him before. Even when his Uncle turned permanently into a construct off the shores of Anderson's yacht. "…….and I-I don't know if I can ever fix that, Jordan…."
Silence.
I was only half-surprised that my throat wasn't sore.
In fact, my eyes were completely dry.
The distant drone of warfare turned into the ambient rush of waves off a Virginia boardwalk as I gazed towards the MASH tent, the Atlantic horizon of fate beyond, and exhaled.
The only person who can fix Raven is Raven herself, Victor.
Tempest stood up nervously from where he had been hunched over. He gazed at Changeling—who was still crying over Robin's shoulder (quieter now)—then looked my and Cyborg's way. "I hate to be an angst-buzz-kill…..but there's still….uhm….a surface dweller City burning around us to save. And they may be hot ass-kickers and stuff….but the Justice League can't do all of the crap on their own."
"Damn straight…," Cyborg punched his palm. Suddenly, dissociatively returning to kick-ass mode. "There's a job that needs handling……and subsequently unleashing a can of sonic whoopass on."
"Can you be a little less poetic for once?" Tempest groaned. He glanced my way….then looked at the short Jericho to my side. "And just who's the seakelp larva here?"
"That's 'J', man," Cyborg said. "Jericho…Joey….a boy of many names."
"Ah….," Tempest managed a smirk. "I see."
"………and he's Slade's son."
Tempest's white-on-black eyes widened some.
Jericho sheepishly simpered.
I bit my lip. I coughed and hand-signed.
Cyborg interpreted: "He's as harmless as a dove, flipper."
"I find that hard to believe," the Atlantean said, nervously scratching his head of long black hair. "Nobody above ground in this burning City can possibly be innocent at this point."
As Tempest said this, both Jericho and I found ourselves gazing in one direction.
At Robin.
The Boy Wonder on the ground held the shaking form of Changeling against him. He was looking back at us at the same time. With a knowing inhale, he shifted where he sat and gently pried the wounded elf off him. He held his gloved hands on Changeling's shoulders and gazed straight at him. "Beast Boy…..," his eyemask thinned. "Garfield…….where is Starfire?"
"……snff….grff……," Garfield shook. He dried his wet cheek with the back of his hand and tremblingly avoided the Boy Wonder's gaze. "…..sh-she….went out…..b-before the battle began."
"She went out?"
"The last time I remember….I saw her from the Tower while it was still standing. She was with a copy of me. But it wasn't Clayface. It was Metallo. M-Metallo with a hologram field posing as me."
Robin's eyemask widened. His lips hung numbly open…
"I-I was going to go out to get her, Robin….," Changeling murmured. He sniffed….twitched…then said: "B-But as soon as I made a move, the Tower's defenses went berserk. I was shut inside our very own home." A beat. He looked up apologetically at Cyborg. "C-Courtesy of Simon Stone."
The android Titan's metal muscles tensed. "Damn you, old man….."
"Simon St-Stone has been under Dagger's computer influence from the get-go. He hacked the computer to kill me with its own defense systems. I managed to survive long enough to battle Clayface and to experience a brush with Slade……all of which kept me from possibly going out to….h-help Starfire….."
"…………..," Robin was silent.
"I-I don't know where she is, Robin….," Changeling shuddered. "N-None of us do…."
The Boy Wonder bolted up to his feet. He took a deep breath. Glaring, he spun around and proceeded to march in the direction of the smoking heap of metal that was once John Corbin--
Steel stood in his way right as he bolted into the conversation. "He's not going to speak, Robin. Not a word."
"He's going to have to….," the Boy Wonder's hardcore voice spoke icily. "….even if I have to torture whatever soul's inside of that shell of a bastard to get him to talk."
Robin made to circle around Steel.
Steel held a titanium glove against Robin's chest. He leaned forward and emphasized: "He won't talk….Robin. Not now. Not anytime soon." He gestured towards his scuffed / scorched hammer. "I made pretty damn sure that he wouldn't. Cuz then he might be smashing up more buildings and calling in airstrikes from Dagger. The League and I can't have that happen. Not to your City."
Tempest walked up besides Robin and shrugged: "Hey…maybe the reason why Metallo was so beat-up when the League got here is because Starfire gave him the thrashing of his life!"
"………………..," Robin said.
"Hey!" Tempest frowned and jabbed a finger into the Titan Leader's chest. "Starfire's not a mangy sea otter. She's a freakin' killer whale. All the time we've worked with the Titans, I've jokingly placed bets with Cyborg over how many bones in your silly body she could break with one punch. If anyone can handle Metallo, it's her." He leaned forward and said close to Robin's face. "You need to stop worrying and put your mind on other things. Like how the Heck we're gonna press the attack now!"
Robin sneered and shoved the Atlantean back. "You think I don't know that, Garth?" Then in a lower, determined mutter: "But I gotta go find her anyway."
I realized that Robin was staring at Beast Boy.
And Beast Boy was kneeling on the floor of the courtyard. Still shaking back the sobs. His dark green eyes hung wide and low to the solid concrete beneath him. His arms dangled by his sides…but seemed bent as if to hug someone….anyone. But all of us knew it wasn't Robin that floated before his dazed, weathered vision.
This City is ripping us all apart.
Raven……Cyborg……Starfire……Robin……Beast Boy……Terra……
Am I the only one not suffering so, Ana?
I took a deep breath.
I glanced over.
Jericho stood anxiously, craning his neck to look over the heads and vehicles of the reforming Army. Attempting to spy the horned crowns of his Wildebeest counterparts.
"…………….," I stared.
VRMMMMMM!
We all looked over.
A jeep drove up swiftly. It was one that had seen lots of battle—undoubtedly bolting its way straight through the madness of Main Street. Scorch marks and scrapes spotted the government-issued metal in numerous places. One soldier was wounded. Another was treating him. The driver parked the vehicle, jumped out, and breathlessly ran up towards us.
"T-Titans!" she saluted.
Robin and Cyborg exchanged long-distance glances. They gazed back at her.
"Yes?"
"What is it?"
She glanced momentarily at Robin, paused, then said to all of us: "We just got word. Phaser Labs is in lockdown."
"Huh?" Tempest blinked.
"It has a defense system set up! One of our convoys was attacked."
Robin looked over at Cyborg. "It's your uncle. Dagger must have gotten to him again now that the battle's going our way."
But she had something else to add: "There's also a report of a muddy shape-shifter entering the building before the shielded plates slid up."
"Nnnnnngh…," Cyborg punched his palm and snarled. "There's our asshole…."
Lieutenant Smith and his officers walked up. "What's the news?"
"Phaser Labs is in lockdown," Robin said. "Undoubtedly Dagger's forces have got something valuable there."
"Damn straight….an over-inflated slop of dead-ass!" Cyborg growled. He turned to the forming line of forces. "We gotta get some tanks over there or something and—!"
Steel waved his sledgehammer. "Uh uh…..that's not gonna work."
"Why the Hell not?"
"Calvin's got all of his forces solely bent on this two-frontal attack. He's not going to set aside any units during his most important move to take out Dagger yet!"
"Correction, sir…," the soldier remarked. "The General has given up one vehicle."
Cyborg blinked. "Lemme guess. Yours."
She nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Well I know where I'm going now…," Cyborg said….already marching over to the jeep. As soon as he got to the vehicle, he glanced at Robin. "Right?"
Robin smiled. He nodded firmly. "'Right'."
"………..," Cyborg was silent. But as icy-still as he was, his flickering red eye said 'thank you'.
The wounded soldier and his assistant were ushered out of the back of the jeep by medics from the MASH. In the meantime, Lieutenant Smith walked over and stood one foot into the back of the jeep. "No use letting you go alone, Cyborg." He pointed at the officers behind them, clutching their motorcycles. They all nodded as he said: "The Army may not be able to spare a bunch of soldiers….but my men and I will be your entourage if necessary."
"Sounds sweet, Smith."
The messenger soldier hopped into the passenger seat. "There's very little time. We must go before the two fronts push towards Downtown at full force. No need to drive through a rain of fire."
"Well put…," Cyborg waved as Smith got into the jeep and the other officers took to their motorcycles. "Robin…..keep alive while I'm gone, you hear?"
"That I will."
"I'll give you word of mouth the soonest I hear or see a thing of Starfire! Got it!"
"Yes. And Victor?"
Cyborg started the ignition….paused…..and turned to look at Robin. "Yeah, Tim?"
Tempest and Changeling did double-takes.
Robin, unphased, nodded his head and said: "Good luck…..with your Uncle."
"……..thanks. Really, dawg."
"Do what you know is right."
"I always flippin' do."
VRMMMMM!
SCREEEEE-EEEECH!
The jeep zoomed off north of the Bayside Plaza. The five police officers swarmed around them on their motorcycles. They sped off into the red night.
Robin took a deep breath.
Tempest scratched his head.
Changeling looked up, eyes thin. "'Tim'?"
"Yup…."
"……….as in 'Tiny – Ti—'?"
"You got it….Beast Boy…," Robin snarled.
Jericho giggled.
I smirked.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
VRMMMMMM-MMMMM!
Cyborg sped the jeep north along the City avenues with Smith's officers flanking him on motorcycles.
The streets were empty—save for a mound of rubble and burning ash here or there. The bodies of terrorists, Wildebeests, and once-burning golems lined an intersection or two.
Cyborg took a deep breath.
With a swivel of his metal head, he glanced sideways towards Main Street…where the battle had compacted around the efforts of Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman.
"Where we'd be without the League….I truly don't know…."
"Something tells me that the Titans would do the same for them if Metropolis fell under again!" Smith said.
Cyborg smirked. "Then again….something tells me that one of the Titans already did."
"………….?"
"How long till Calvin rushes in on Dagger's behind…again?"
"Any time now…," uttered the soldier riding shotgun.
Cyborg's face hardened. "Well alright…."
He gunned it.
SCREEECH!-VRMMMM!
The convoy hurtled itself northward to make a westward bend…and land at Phaser Labs.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
SWOOOOOSH-SMASH! Superman's fist plowed into a five-story giant.
CRKKKKK!
The huge rock-beast stumbled back, flailed its limbs, and stormed again towards Superman with a charging crown of fire.
WH-WHAM!
"Ughhh!" Superman flew back and smashed—limbs spread—against a building face. CRNNNCHH!
The monster raised a 'fist' of molten rock, rumbled, and flew it straight at the Kryptonian's wincing body.
SW-SWOOOSH! Wonder Woman hovered up in front of Superman, brought both hands together, and smashed directly against the oncoming fist. "RAAAAUGH!"
CRAAA-AAAA-AAACK!
The length of the plunging limb shattered. The monster spun from its empty blow.
Green Lantern hovered up from behind and roped a sturdy strand of green light around the torso of the giant with his ring.
CRKKKK! The beast writhed and struggled in its holding.
Superman kicked off the building and flew at the creep. Wonder Woman soared in too.
"Nnnnghh!"
"HAAAAH!"
SM-SMASSSSH!
The beast shattered into a dozen huge chunks of flaming rock that fell down, smashed across the street, and crushed over twenty fleeing golems beneath it.
SLAMMMM!.!.!.!.!
Green Lantern retracted his emerald power. He panted from where he hovered…then glanced at the other two heroes. "Well…think he'll give us his lunch money now?"
"All of the outlying streets to the Downtown area has been cleared…," Wonder Woman reported. She was sweating. Heaving. "All that's left is a squadron or two of HINDs still in operation."
"Damn….," Green Lantern shook his head. "I tell you….that terrorist's pack of vultures just won't quit!"
"Well they'll have to," Superman said. "It's hard to believe that just a last-minute intervention on behalf of the League was enough to stop Dagger."
"Don't tell me you're having doubts…," Green Lantern moaned. "That's the Bat's job!"
"What's happening here in the Titan's City is big….bigger than us," Superman said. He glanced at Wonder Woman. "I don't think everything's over. Not yet."
Wonder Woman's eyes were hard set. "We'll be on the lookout then."
Green Lantern looked at his watch. "Time's almost up. Let's move our people out to the perimeter! Green Arrow and Black Canary are here. Along with a few others."
"Let's move!" Superman motioned.
All three zoomed off in separate directions over the battle-strewn streets.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
On a hovercraft.
Hidden in the dark Bay.
In the ship's cabin.
Fox typed….typed…typed….pounding away at the keyboard.
He tweaked three computers at once, his hands expertly flying.
Two guards watched him warily from behind.
The young man whistled…finished a keystroke…and took a deep breath before reaching for his communicator. "All right, Dagger. All set. I have access to Luthor's satellite cannon and can……..(gulp)……make any strike you deem worthy. But be warned….it'll only be one strike."
"…………"
"Uhh…..Mr. Dagger? Yoo-hoo. You dead yet?"
"Well done, Fox. Hrghh……n-now………we need to distract the League and the Titans before they or the Army have any time to detect the Ion charge. Now would be a good time to launch our payload."
Fox shuddered. "B-But….uhm…..could we……I dunno….put the City on ransom? I mean…this place has got it all! Pizza…uhm……..a big-ass prison……..Pizza…….I-I'm sure there're babes hidden in the subway and all—"
"You have your order, Fox. Launch the payload……and when I give the command, we shall set off the ion cannon."
"Well….don't you want an airlift or somethi--?"
"Follow through with my words, Fox."
Cl-Clak! A gun pointed into the back of Fox's skull.
He flinched…..sighed….and nodded to the air. "Understood, Mr. Dark stuff. Launching the payload. Fox down and OUT."
Click!
"Arrrrgh….Mohammed on High….," William B. Fox murmured and finished a deathly keystroke. Red lights flickered on all the monitors.
A beat.
He smiled plasticly. He turned and gazed at the guards. "Could we—like—I dunno……move our boat a few hundred miles from here between now and the next thirty minutes?"
"Be quiet."
"Do what the boss says."
"Jeebus! Don't you yahoos have any souls? For the love of Chef Boyardee!"
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Across the Bay.
Over the dark waves.
Bodies of water-crashing metal solidified.
A dozen hovercraft uncloaked in falling curtains of flickering light.
The red hue of the night was momentarily broken as the boats purred to life and—
CL-CLAKKK!
Metal bay doors in the decks of the ships opened loudly.
WHURRRRRRR-CLANK!
WHURRRR-CLANK!
WHURRRRR-CL-CLANK!
Four missiles per hovercraft popped up, pivoted, and aimed towards the City along the northern shore of the Bay.
The weapons started to steam….
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
In Bayside Plaza, the last of the Army's backup soldiers were running to take up the rear of the Eastern Advance.
Orders were shouted.
Radios squabbled.
And—as Jericho and I watched—the jeeps and tanks hummed to life and coasted in menacing slowness down the streets towards the center of the war-torn City.
A squadron of apaches roared overhead in accompaniment.
"Guess that does it for the forces of Dagger…." Tempest said.
"Hardly," Robin uttered. He clenched his fists and frowned. "Even if it is a victory, those golems are going to be the ones wreaking havoc long before this conflict is over. Many soldiers may die."
"Unless we jump in and do something, right?" Changeling said. "We're together. It's about time we started kicking major butt, dude."
"Beast Boy….," Robin pointed. "You should be in the tent recuperating along with Raven. The two of you have suffered too many injuries to go back into that mess now."
"Okay…first thing's first…," Beast Boy frowned and pointed at himself. "It's Changeling now. And—come on, Robin! The City needs me as much as it needs you! Sorry if that bruises your ego or something….Tim!"
"Bea—ernngh—Changeling! Your freakin' ear is missing!"
"I could have lost much worse, man….," the elf said. A sigh. His eyes shut momentarily. "I still can….."
"………….."
"Robin….."
The Boy Wonder looked over.
Tempest was staring at him. "When Clayface was playing as our 'leader', he refused to let us do the normal duties of a Titan…..because he thought we weren't ready for it…or that we were too fragile." The Atlantean narrowed his dark eyes with emphasis. "Don't be like him….."
Robin took a deep breath. He ran a gloved hand through his black bangs and glanced my way.
I stared at him. I hand-signed: 'You are human, Robin. You cannot fight by yourself forever. You know this now, right?'
"…….…….," he smiled. "Changeling?"
The green elf looked over.
Robin winked at him under his eyemask. "Better not start passing out on us anytime soon."
Changeling smiled gently and gave a thumb's up. "Got it, dude."
Robin pulled out a grappling hook and turned to vault himself up—
"And Robin?"
The Boy Wonder turned to look at the elf again.
Changeling simpered: "I-I am sorry about earlier. It's really…..r-really cool having you alive and stuff."
"Let's live to say that to each other after the night's end, Garfield. All of us."
"Heh….sure thing…."
"Let's just get going already….Neptune Almighty…," Tempest rolled his white on black eyes.
Steel walked up from watching the army depart. "Are we moving out?"
"Damn straight," Robin said.
"Good," Irons nodded his helmeted head and turned to motion to: "Okay, Miss. Kyle. Let's get go---the Hell?"
"Hmmm?"
"Catwoman's gone!"
"Yeah," Robin nodded. "She'll do that."
"I noticed her glaring somewhat at Noir the whole time….," Changeling said.
I bit my lip.
"War time," Robin grumbled.
"Erhm….r-right, dude."
"Titans!" P-POW! Clank! "Go!" SWOOOOOSSSSH!
Beast Boy leapt, morphed into an albatross in mid-air, and glided up after the Boy Wonder.
Tempest summoned water from a nearby fountain, produced a large snaking 'tentacle' of liquid and rode it to the nearby rooftop where he jumped and ran freely westward.
Steel flew off on the Prototype's boot rockets.
I was about to blur into action when--
A tug on my camouflage jacket.
I turned and looked behind me.
Jericho bit his lip and hand-signed: 'Take me with you.'
"……….."
He added, as if he knew that he had to convince me: 'I at least need to check on the Wildebeests. Many of my dear friends have fallen today.'
I took a deep breath….for that was true.
I hate to do it, Ana……
I brushed aside a few black bangs and looked westward towards where the Downtown glowed with fire and chaos.
The Justice League.
The Titans.
The golems and Dagger's forces.
Giants and explosives.
The Crunch.
But……
This is his war too.
I looked back at him.
The little brother to be.
He's better off with me than here with a bunch of soldiers………and possibly his father in waiting.
Anywhere.
Anywhere where I am not……
I gave him a smile, motioned towards my shades, and gestured: 'Better hitch a ride.'
He nodded with a childish smirk….a smile that fought back the sorrow and anxiety of this whole Hell.
He leaned forward, widened his green eyes, and—
CONTACT.
FLASH!
I took a deep breath….alone.
No, not alone.
Just……careful.
CHIIIING!
Th-THWISH!
I twirled Myrkblade and streaked westward over the buildingtops, soaring after Robin and the other Titans.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
TWNNGG-TWNNGG!
Green Arrow slid down a granite seam of the St. Faustina Cathedral.
In mid-drift, he let loose two arrows that exploded against the feet of a group of fleeing, terrorist gunmen….slamming them up against a wall opposite the Cathedral.
Green Arrow reached the end of the gothic building ledge. He flipped off and landed in the Downtown street with a grunt.
Cl-Clak!
Clak!
He spun and looked over his shoulder.
Three men behind him aimed pistols at his back….glaring.
Green Arrow raised an eyebrow above his mask.
From above….a whistle.
The men did a double-take and glanced upward.
"Watch the birdie!"
TH-THWOOSSSH! Black Canary sailed down with her fishnet-stockinged legs twirling and slamming feet straight into the faces of the hapless terrorists.
WH-WHAM!
The blonde vixen landed before one last thug who stood trembling with his gun.
"Hi-YAAA!" she twirled with a leg stretched outward.
CL-CLANK!
His pistol was knock free of his hands.
He gasped and sweated….staring bug-eyed at her.
She stood up straight…tossed her hair…and planted a hand on her hip before smiling slyly at the thug. "Hrmmmmmm….." A beat. She jerked towards him--!
He gasped and jumped back—WHAM!—slamming his skull back into the cathedral's front wall. "Ughhh…."
Black Canary blew a kiss.
"Always a knockout…," Green Arrow murmured and launched more arrows at a distant throng of gunmen fleeing from Calvin's advances. TWNGG! TW-TWNNG!
Black Canary spun and smirked at him. "What? Jealous?"
"Of a socially impotent underling of some mafia creep called Dagger? Hardly, babe."
"I could make you jealous…."
"Do it and die."
"Is that a threat, Ollie?"
"No….," Green Arrow pointed at a sudden wave of marching golems. "That is!"
The two heroes gazed at the oncoming throng of burning monsters.
"Guess Calvin's meatheads didn't get around to them….," Black Canary frowned.
"We're in the center of the Crunch, sweetheart…," Green Arrow loaded a new bundle of arrows. "Pretty soon we'll be back to back with the Justice League against these creeps."
"And what about now?" Black Canary uttered as the two slowly backed up away from the line of golems. "Two against twenty monstrosities? Not my kind of turn-on."
"I'm working on it…..," Green Arrow muttered.
Th-THWOOSH! Catwoman suddenly leapt down and crouched nimbly before the two. "All work and no play…..feh!" SWOOOSH! Catwoman ran straight at the creatures, whip slapping. WH-WHPPP!
The golems stumbled in surprise.
Catwoman snagged her whip around the limb of one, pulled with all her might—"Nnnnghh!"—and forced it to stumble into two of its comrades so that they fell in ashen gold clouds of debris in the street.
TH-THUDDD!
Catwoman then cartwheeled sideways, leapt over a burning punch from one of the golems, flipped in the air, and landed nimbly so that she lashed her whip out—THWPP!—caught the ankle of another golem, and yanked it off its feet. "Raaaugh!"
THWOMP!
"………………….."
"………………….."
Black Canary and Green Arrow were both staring.
That is….until Black Canary stopped staring, blinked, and glanced over at Green Arrow….
…..who was still staring.
The blonde frowned and planted her hands against her hips. "And just what are you looking at?" She elbowed him.
Th-Thap!
"Ow!" he side-lurched, rubbing his ribcage. "I'm not entirely too sure, to tell you the truth!"
"Rrrghh….," Black Canary ran madly towards the line of golems. "Everybody's gotta hog the damn spotlight…"
Green Arrow scratched his blonde beard, sighed, and pulled out two arrows as he rushed towards the fight that the maidens were advancing. "Why she wasn't jealous at first sight of one of those crud beasts too, I'll never know…."
As the three vigilantes took on the supernatural phalanx—
FW-FW-FW-FW-FW-FWOOOOSSSH!
The Flash surged on through.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
FW-FW-FW-FW-FWOOOOSSSH!
He streaked up a buildingside in a red-orange blur.
Landing atop a roof, he braked and cupped his gloved hands over his masked eyes….staring out onto the Downtown Cityscape.
The soaring bodies of Wonder Woman, Superman, and Green Lantern were soon joined by the silver flare of Steel. Soon, the four heroic Heavyweights were teaming up on the last remaining golem giants…thrashing their four-story…..five-story bodies with merciless opposition. A haze of gold shimmered beneath them in the streets of Downtown, signifying the thick retreat of golems to the center and the rest of Dagger's forces in between. With a loud whurr of machinery and tank treads and wheels….Calvin's army thickly coasted in from the West and East sides. The sea glittered a reflection of the red night sky in the distance….and everything about the burning, tormented City finally appeared to be cyclonically shrinking into the central Crunch.
"About damn time….," Flash smiled and cracked his fingers and stretched his spine. "Nnnngh…..Maybe we can all get pepperoni after this---" His speech was cut short. For he was blinking….and then soon he was squinting as he leaned forward and gazed across the open waves. "Th-The Hell?" His eyeslits narrowed. Confused. Concerned.
Dots lined the waves.
Hovercraft.
Dagger's second-to-last arsenal.
Rows upon rows of missiles aimed from the uncloaked ships to the urban cityscape.
Flash gasped….
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Fwoooosh!
Starfire soared over the City.
She approached the Downtown center.
Her emerald eyes widened as she saw the Crunch.
Superman and Wonder Woman and Green Lantern and Steel thrashing enemies.
And on either side, the armies advancing.
And beyond…..
The Tamaranian's mouth dropped as she too saw what the Flash had seen.
"X'Hal…….m'brill yee-akku……."
A beat.
Her teeth grit.
Her eyes strobed a hot green as her body bolted hotly into action.
"Salad'm chlorkak minnultite de DAGGER!" SWOOOOSSSH!
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Steel panted, swinging his sledgehammer in mid-air.
"You know…this ain't so bad!"
THWACK! A golem giant was sent lumbering back.
Steel hovered, swinging.
"Not bad at all!" CLANK! "….for a white man's party!"
FL-FLASSSH!
Green Lantern streaked by, dragging a building facing. "Hey….speak for yourself, Tin Man."
"……oh right. Sorry."
"NNNRGHHH!" Superman was using a streetlamp as a battering ram against a giant golem's crown. SMASSSH! He breathed heavily. "Keep it up, League! Just a few more minutes and Calvin's forces will be all over this crowd!"
"And what of the Titans?" Wonder Woman panted as she swung a golem—via lasso—smashing into jeeps and hummers and other Daggerite vehicles at the length of her cord. SMASH! CRASSH! "Have they all been found?"
"We gotta worry about one thing at a time!" Green Lantern said, tossing the building face at a crowd of rock monsters. THWOOOSH!
"Don't worry, Princess!" Steel flew by, swinging his sledgehammer into a giant's torso. CRUNNCH! "I already met a whole bunch of them! All the boys, in fact!"
"Yes….," Wonder Woman panted. "But what about--?"
THWOOOOOSSSH!
The Amazonian gasped and looked directly upward after a hot green streek. "Starfire!"
Superman's jaw dropped and he spun to look—
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Nnnnnnrghhh!" Starfire growled loudly as she hurtled her alien self towards the line of hovercraft dotting the ocean.
Her red hair kicked in the wind.
Her amber skin turned sheen with sweat and the cold redness descending all around.
FWOOOOOSSSH!
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Bleeding atop a skyscraper.
High above the Crunch.
Dagger meditated….reserved his strength…..held his breath….
And then released it all for one firm utterance.
"Fire."
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
WHURRRRR!
WHURRRRR!
WHURRRRR-CHTANK!
PFTOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSH!
PFTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSH!
PFTOOOOOOOOOSSSSH!