AN: Been having trouble with my ipad and will be taking it in this week. It's been having problems opening apps, freezing and copying and pasting a few things. I think this is what's causing the weird errors in the story. I'm currently trying something different so hopefully this will work.
Also, glad you're liking Carter and I have to admit, I did not anticipate Kid Devil being as popular as he is. However, there is still lots more of this story to go and the riddle to solve.
jwill21 - Nerf Wonder Girl? Never, lol. And I would think Trigon's more dangerous, given he's omnipotent and Darkseid ain't.
Eric - So you still want a meeting of the two superbabys, huh? You may not have to wait too long.
Riley 000 - Arrowette has the same bolt tips as Artemis did in the series, so she has both lethal and tricked tips. As for your question on Bereft, I think M'gann's victory came from Conner giving her confidence resulting in her strengthening her abilities to defeat Psymon. If you remember, towards the start of the series, she was still getting used to being around Earthlings with the way she went about using her mind link with the others and not thinking its a big deal to be in someone else's mind. So I think she was holding herself back a bit until Conner showed he as there for her and reminded her she's strong enough to take on any threat. At least that's the way I saw it.
5.
Blood Temple
May 3
15:37 UTC
Watching the stone sphere roll into place on top of the slanted slab coming from the ceiling, the three team members failed to notice a group of cultists come from behind and grab them, forcing them to their knees. Those stuck on the side where the corridor size bolder was began to kneel down with their hands clasping together and their heads bowed. Again, they began to chant in unison as the bolder locked into place above them.
"What do they think they're doing?" Wonder Girl asked. "They not only want to kill us but themselves too?"
"These people are insane." Using his electrical powers, Aqualad freed himself as Wonder Girl and Blue Beetle did the same. "Blue Beetle, clear the way!"
"Got it, jefe!" Joining his hands together, the armored black ops member formed his bumper and charged ahead to break up the group of hooded figures attempting to keep them in place.
Bouncing left and right, dozens of cultists went flying into the walls or flipping over the blue hero. Some were trampled on by those being knocked backwards while Aqualad and Wonder Girl followed Blue Beetle.
"What are you guys doing?" Wonder Girl yelled. "Get to moving or you'll die!"
None of the cult members moved as they ether continued to bow or got to their knees after being knocked down and began chanting with the others.
"Cassie, it is no use! We have to get out of here now!" Holstering his water bearers, Aqualad pulled his holo-computer up and had the list of upcoming traps display.
Even though they tried to kill them, it still did not feel right to her to not at least try to save the cultists choosing to stay behind as the bolder began to roll down the inclined slab of stone. Not wanting to see the result of the sphere hitting the suicidal cultists, Wonder Girl quickly turned her head and joined the others in getting out of the temple. She tried to ignore it, but still heard the sound of bodies being crushed by several hundred ponds of rock. She could understand giving her life for her teammates, family, and personal beliefs, but to a demon god wanting nothing but death and destruction was insane.
"Slide!" Aqualad shouted as the first of several traps was triggered.
Hitting the floor, the three team members just missed being hit by a thick stone cylinder swooping down from above them. Had they been standing, it would have struck them square in the chests. Getting back to their feet, the three continued running for the exit with the next two traps having been mechanically deactivated by them on the way in. With Aqualad shouting directions, the three dove, slid, leapt, and performed any other physical requirement to get past the death traps meant to keep them out but were now keeping them in.
"We have to crawl!" Acting first, Aqualad dove under several blades springing out of the walls resembling large fans with razor sharp blades perfect for slicing them in half.
Moving fast, the heroes scrambled on their bellies with the blades slicing through the air above them. Cool air blew down on them and the sound of gears working behind the walls was almost deafening when a deep rumble caught their ears. Chancing a look back, Blue Beetle saw the large bolder coming their way with none of the traps doing anything even remotely useful to slow it down.
The next trap for them to get across was a falling floor leading to a pit of poisonous snakes. Grabbing onto Blue Beetle's arm, Aqualad had to be carried across the large chasm to the other side. Jumping into the air last, Wonder Girl flew over the pit, never looking down at the slithery animals when an idea hit her.
"Wait a second." Touching the ground, the Amazon looked back at the incoming bolder and shook her head while rolling her eyes.
"Cassie?" Blue Beetle said once he noticed she was not beside him. "Cassie?!"
Coming to a stop, Aqualad turned to see why the others were not following him when he saw Wonder Girl in a fighting position. "Cassie, what are you doing?!"
"Why are we running?" Wonder Girl shot back.
Once the bolder crossed where the snake pit was, the two boys watched as Wonder Girl took a running start before leaping into the air and delivering a Superman Punch to the middle of the incoming rock sphere. The impact of her fist on the stone was like using a jackhammer on a sugar cube. Dust fell from above as small pebbles bounced over the ground from the shockwave created from the hit. As for the bolder, it's face shattered with the middle imploding then exploding from the back, leaving cinder block sized stone where it once traveled, filling the pit completely.
Turning from the destroyed bolder, Wonder Girl smiled widely while looking at her hand. She flexed her fingers a few times and looked over her nails, happy none of them were broken. "I've hit an alien bounty hunter, Black Beetle, and an Apocolyptic tank like that, but none completely shattered like that bolder. Now that's girl power."
Looking first at Wonder Girl, Aqualad and Blue Beetle exchanged wide eyed looks before the armored teen rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I...I could have done that."
Indeed you could have, Jamie Reyes. The power needed to reduce that bolder to the resulting size and pieces is-
"Aye, just let this one go! Jeez!"
Affirmative. However, I must warn you about the current geological readings I am picking up.
"What geological readings?"
I believe you call it an earthquake.
Before anything else could be said, the ground began to shake with the team members attempting to keep their balance. Small stones fell from the ceiling with the rumbling increasing in volume.
Groaning, Wonder Girl shook her head. "Oh yeah, the first time I shatter a rock using a Wonder Punch, I cause an earthquake. How fair is that?"
"Wonder later," Aqualad said. "Run now.
Taking off in a dead sprint, Aqualad lead the way through the remaining traps. Since it did not matter if they were set off now, he instructed where Blue Beetle should fire his sonic pulse cannon to destroy the mechanisms. Rock, dirt, and other debris rained down on them with the ground shaking more and more. Wonder Girl was hit a time or two from falling stones as was Blue Beetle who tried to make sure his leader was not victim to the same. With the three approaching the final trap before the entrance, Aqualad leapt into the air, catching his armored partner and letting him carry him over the pit of spikes.
Diving through the door, the three were just in time as the entire temple collapsed in on itself. Nothing was left as the structure came crumbling down, taking with it the remaining cultists inside and was nothing more than a pile of old, decrepit rock with dust rising high into the air.
A few moments passed with the three resting on the ground face down with their hands over their heads. Rising to his feet first, Aqualad coughed several times, getting the dust out of his lungs with the others doing the same. A white coating of sediment covered their backs but easily came off with a few swipes. Retracting his helmet, Jaime ran a glove covered hand through his hair to get the sweat off before checking on Cassie who was doubled over and in a coughing fit.
"Are you...you two okay?" Aqualad asked while continuing to dust himself off. The red of his uniform was faint under the sediment and his skin was just a tad bit lighter.
"Yeah," Wonder Girl answered. "Just got the black lung but no problem." She then went into another coughing fit and spit up some dirt in her mouth.
"Just fine here," the helmet-less Blue Beetle told him. "Think we can break radio silence to contact the others?"
"Hope they got out in time."
"I wouldn't worry about that." Looking up to the sky, the three saw Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Green Arrow, and Blue Devil descending on a green disk construct with a fourth standing in the middle of them, clutching their left arm.
"I see you had just enough time to get out," Green Arrow said once the construct touched ground. "Everything okay with you three?"
"Yes," Aqualad choked out. "We ran into hostiles on our way out but have found some answers and more questions. The destruction of the temple may have been our fault as well."
"Actually, that was ours," Green Lantern said. "We found some interesting information while in there and also found some kind of holding cells."
"We were too late to save most," Blue Devil told them. "But we did manage to save one."
Stepping forward, a young, teenage girl in torn clothes with matted blonde hair shyly looked at the three black ops members with piercing, light blue eyes. Her arm was bandaged from mid bicep to her wrist and still had blood on it. She also looked to have not eaten in days.
"This is Terra. She was chained inside a cell. From what we can guess, she's been down there for at least several months. She caused the earthquake that destroyed the temple and made sure you had time to get out. She may just have the answers we've been looking for."
Titans Tower
May 3
16:27 UTC
Recognized, Zatanna, Two Five
With the light from the Zeta Tube fading out, and the departure of the League's magician, Conner and M'gann looked over the group of young heroes they were charged with training. It had taken nearly an hour of discussion, but once Zatanna placed all her cards on the table, the two Titan leaders knew they had to make a decision on what to do with the information given to them. Everything Zatanna knew about Raven was thought over carefully by the two until it was time for the dark haired woman to go once she was called away for a mission with the Hawks.
Watching the group enjoy small talk and eating the snacks in their civilian attire M'gann had prepared for them, the couple engaged in their private mind link on what to do.
"Yeah right, a sentient planet?" Cissie said as she finished drinking some lemonade. "How can a planet have a consciousness and be a Green Lantern?"
"I have no idea," Kyle answered. "He got his ring before I was chosen but I've got to tell you, Mogo's a pretty cool, laid back guy. Always has a sunny disposition."
"So how many Lanterns have you met?" Garfield asked once he swallowed a bite of his tofu sandwich. Ever since his battle with Teekle where he was almost eaten, he had become a vegetarian. The thought of eating meat after he was almost dinner did not appeal to him in the least.
"Just a few. There's the one they call Sergeant Kilowag. He's...moody. Ch'p the squirrel, who's tough for a little guy. Arisia, she's hot, and Jade, she's hot too. Aya, he's kind of like Starfire but more cute than hot. Um, Blue Lantern Saint Walker, he's like a Buddist, sort of. Blue Lantern Razor, he used to be a red Lantern and is with Aya. Don't hear from them too much cause they're always spending time on Mogo alone."
"Hey, Rae, think it'd be cool to see a living Green Lantern planet named Mogo?" Garfield asked.
"A living planet with the power of a Green Lantern...I guess." Sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, the Gothic teen took another drink from her cup then bit into her peanut butter and banana sandwich half, completely unaware she was being looked at by Conner and M'gann.
"Think we should handle this now?" M'gann asked her husband as she lightly stroked the back of a sleeping Carter.
"Sooner the better. Things like this are always worse when brought up later." Stepping forward, Conner headed to where the teens were congregating and came up behind Raven. "Raven, we need to speak with you in the conference room."
"What about?" Raven asked, looking back at him.
"We just need to speak with you for a moment."
"They what?!" Jumping from her seat, Raven stared at the two leaders who were breaking the news on what Zatanna was there for earlier. "Why would they do that?"
"Raven, calm down." Sitting in the chair in front of the teen, M'gann tried to defuse the outburst and tried to get her to sit back down.
"No! I thought she was trying to help me, not spy or pry into things she shouldn't."
"Raven, listen to me. Zatanna only wanted to help you with your powers, to develop them and find your full potential. Her father, Doctor Fate was the one who had his concerns. He told her he sensed something not entirely...well, it's hard to describe."
"Basiclly, he was suspicious you might do something against us at any time," Conner bluntly said as he held the sleeping Carter.
"I...I can't be here." Turning away, Raven made her way to the door quickly when she felt a had of her shoulder.
"Raven, Rachel," M'gann gently said. "Before you make any decisions, can you please sit back down? We can't make you stay, but we can find ways to help you if we can."
"Help me," Raven said flatly. "You can't help me. It was a mistake coming here in the first place. They had no right to pry into my private life. I trusted them, her, I trusted her and was-"
"Raven," Giving a sympathetic look, M'gann got the Gothic girl to bring her words down to a normal level. This was the most they had ever seen her express herself. She actually raised her voice.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it to us. We brought you here not because we wanted to learn whatever secrets you might be hiding, but to help you learn to develop your powers and to have the opportunity to help others and make a better life for yourself. We and the League only want what's best for you but we have to ask if there's something you are going through to let us help you any way we can."
"You can't help me. You understand that? No one can help me and the best thing for everyone here is for me to leave."
"How bad is this that you're afraid of?" Conner asked. "Can't be any worse than being part Luthor."
"Or to know you're responsible for nearly destroying a friend's entire mind without any possibility of it being repaired," Mgann added.
"Or using a synticizing patch to unlock your full power set and nearly killing a teammate from being so mad."
"Or using your powers to augment someone's mind, no matter what the reason."
Looking at the co-leaders, Raven hung her head and let out a sigh. "And let me guess, you two did those things."
"Our point is, everyone in the Justice League, Black Ops team, and even us here in the Titans have a past and secrets. Personal ones that have no effect on others are yours to do with as you wish. Ones that could affect us as a whole, those are the ones that need to be known. Again, they don't know everything about you, but something that gives them cause to be concerned about, we need to know. You're not just a member of a team, you're family. And families are there for each other."
Moving from his spot, Conner walked up beside Raven and switched Carter in his arms. "You don't have to leave. You belong here as much as the others and can stay here for as long as you want. All we can do is offer our assistance any time you need it. It's your choice weather to tell us what Doctor Fate and Zatanna might be onto but if it's not going to interfere with how we operate, then you shouldn't worry about it."
"It's...it's really okay if...after what they said about me?" Looking at the Kryptonian, Raven felt as if they actually did care, unlike someone else she knew who had blood connections to her.
"If we judged everyone by what secrets they kept, none of us would be on this team," M'gann told her. "If you want to, you can tell us what Doctor Fate and Zatanna feel as if they need to look out for with you."
Looking down again, Raven balled her hands into fists, popping her index fingers. She knew she could not lie given M'gann's powers and Conner's ability to hear her heartbeat, so she settled for a half truth. At least that way she could give them something. "I'm...not completely...human."
"Nether are we," Conner told her.
"I'm, I told Garfield once that I was born from darkness. I get my powers from it. They're affected by my emotions, which is why I have to meditate every day. I guess with the stress from working with Zatanna has me a little strung out or...something."
"We'll talk to her," M'gann told her. "But you've been so quiet ever since you came here with us. If there's anything you want to talk about, we're always here."
"So, I can stay?"
"Never said you couldn't," Conner told her.
"And they won't keep trying to pry into my privacy?"
"I'll tell them to only train you in developing your abilities. If you want, you can work on them here with her instead. I'm sure we can set something up."
"Th...thanks."
Giving a soft smile, M'gann tilted her head to come into eye contact with the Gothic teen. "Our door's always open. Your privacy's respected here. And nothing we talked about will leave this room unless you want it to. We promise."
Nodding, Raven gave the faintest of grins before excusing herself to go back to finishing her snack with the others. Part of her was still worried about what all Zatanna and Doctor Fate had found out about her. It was the downside of her lineage, a lineage she did not want anyone to know about if she could help it. The other part, as much as she thought it would never happen, felt accepted for who and what she was, even though she did not tell them the entire story, but then, she wasn't ready to tell them about what darkness she was really part of. After all these months, she finally felt like she could belong somewhere instead of being alone.