In the words of the Terminator, "I'm back." And in the words of Kuzco, "Boom baby!" Moving on.
Gordhanx - Plenty's happening next. Plenty.
Eric - Yup, Mercy's the only one Luthor would trust like that. And you called for drama once the Leauge finds out what happened? Well get ready for drama.
jwill21 - And the bad guys are finally losing the ground they gained throughout the years.
Paragon Eight - SB's heat vision is mimiced. He has to use hi TTK to manpulae the molecules in the air around him and concentraite on coursing it though his eyes. I thought I explained it clearly in the chapter, but guess I didn't. And the triangle between Gar, Ter, and Rae is over. You'll just have to enjoy the ride to find out. As for Lex...
The Darkman - And you've gotta love him getting his comuppance.
Black Victor Cachat - And I was thinking the same with a red sun. Conner should keep his TTK but not his Kryptonian powers since his other abiities don't stem from his alien half. And I think with Mercey, in YJ, she's a cyborg controlled by Lex as oppose to SmtAS where she owed him her life.
batman4life - I was tempted to have my own form of the Hive in this one but dropped it in favor of the Church of Blood angle. But I do have ideas for a season five if I get to it. Just have a lot on my plate right now. And thanks, glad you've enjoyed all you've read.
Lyger 0 - Not quite...
Natalie - So many questions, girl. But I can't just answer them all cause that would create spoilers and there's no fun in that, although I really want to get to those parts to see the pay off by readers. As for the next story, I'm still trying to write a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers one since the reboot's coming out to compare my ideas to the new movie.
Mindy M 19 - Robin's Nightwing in this one due to it's a continuation of YJ and Starfire's in here to. I'm just a fan of Nightwing and Batgirl (Barabra) and Starfire has been romanced by Red X in this one, though he still has no identity for the reader to know about, other than he knows multiple languages and is light skinned, and a master of disguise. Only Starfire and Supergirl know what he truely looks like. Hope you liked what happened to the flirt you mentioned and happy to know another reader likes Carter. It's hard making an OC that fits in with established characters.
Star - Thanks. I work hard and glad people enjoy what I can do. I do have an original ebook on Amazon called UCW: Underground Championship Wrestling for .99 cents for Kindle devices and apps if you want to check that out. Hope you enjoy the rest of the chapters as things are gonna hit the fan.
Dude - You're annyed by Conner and M'gann getting away with things? Well...
14. Blue to Red
1.
Oa
August 26
09:46 UTC
"Oh man, so ready to get home."
Tiredly walking through the white hallways of a Green Lantern training center, Kyle Rayner swept a hand through his coal colored hair. This was the day he was to head back home to Earth after a last meeting with the small blue men known as The Guardians. The past few days, since getting out of school, he was hard at work learning to better control his constructs. While having no problem creating the elaborate weapons or vehicles, he did have a problem making more than one at a time and having them as stable as the last.
Letting out a yawn, the teen Lantern scratched his armpit as he turned the corner and cam face to face with one of Earth's Lanterns, Guy Gardener. Like him, Guy was half asleep and was vigorously scratching his armpit as he bumped into the teen. Instead of apologizing or paying him any attention whatsoever, the elder Lantern simply continued to walk on, picking his lounge pants up as he went while not bothering to stand up straight.
"Lousy poozer. Good Lantern, just lazy."
Turning back in the direction he was headed in, Kyle looked upwards to see the giant in front of him. Wearing a Green Lantern Uniform with black sleeves and white gloves, the large, pink skinned, tough as nails Sergeant of the Lanterns known as Killowag, looked down on the boy and huffed while crossing his arms.
"You were supposed to be up and on the training platform fifteen minutes ago, Rayner. What's your excuse for still being in here. And in your pajamas?"
Growing nervous, Kyle tapped his hands on the sides of his legs and tried to find an excuse other than how he slept in due to being too tired. He knew he had to be ready at a certain time, but after an intense gauntlet run, he was simply dead to the world last night.
"Cut the kid some slack. You were extra hard on us last night, Kilowag. Even the best need their rest." Standing behind Kyle, an orange skinned woman in a white corset and green skirt, placed a hand on her hip in a sassy way. "You should really learn to ease up every once in a while."
"Arisia, oh how my morning is complete when you're around." The sarcasticness in the sergeant's voice was like a blanket.
"Hmm, I know," the Green Lantern known as Arisia said with a flip of her short, blonde hair, "I make everyone's day. Care to join us for breakfast, Kyle?"
Wishing he would have changed into more appropriate clothing, since the pointed eared woman next to him was flat out gorgeous, Kyle looked back up at Killowag then at Arisia. "Yeah, I can eat."
"Killowag, same goes for you. Join us for breakfast?"
"No thanks. I have work to do getting poozers like you in line," the large Lantern answered.
"And I suppose that's a full time job by the way you speak about it." Heading down the hall, another male Lantern in blue armor with a female companion with mostly white Green Lantern armor, passed the veteran corps member and the other two.
"I don't need any of your lip, Razor."
"Then quit complaining."
"Good morning, Green Lantern Arisia, Green Lantern Kyle, Green Lantern Killowag," the female lantern sweetly said.
"Morning, Aya," Killowag greeted back flatly. "Tell your poozer of a boyfriend to-"
"Mind my own business," Razor completed for him. "You really should expand your vocabulary and list of simplistic orders."
"One of these days, Razor-"
"Bang, zoom, right to the moon?" Aya finished for him.
"Great, last thing I need is for him to corrupt you too, Aya."
No sooner had the Blue and Green Lanterns turned the corner, when Kyle's ring began to pulse. Raising his hand, the teen saw a small screen form from the center of the small Lantern insignia with Hal Jordan's face appearing in it.
"Kyle," the image of Hal said, "report to Earth immediately. Training's postponed until later."
Titans Tower
August 26
09:57 UTC
Recognizing, T-5, Green Lantern.
Entering the living area of the Tower, Kyle stepped down from the Zeta platform and instantly grew nervous. Standing before the large TV, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, along with a few other members of the Team and Justice League, waited for Cissie to finish yelling at them, despite Conner and M'gann staying silent.
"What's going on?" Stepping beside Hal, Kyle tried to make sense of what he was hearing and seeing as the rest of his team sat around Conner and M'gann with Carter in her arms. The two leaders stood before the Dark Knight as if on trial with the two other trinity Leaguers seemingly staring them down.
"I think it's best if you join your team," Hal told him.
Doing what was suggested, the young Lantern went and stood beside Cissie who seemed to had calmed down for the moment.
"As I have stated," Batman told her and the other members of the Titans, "the purpose of this team was to bridge the gap between the League and civilians. You were chosen due to what you could do and your drive to help others lacking that ability. This is not a club, it is a organization of young heroes to train for the future of protecting innocents, not to play house or to congregate after school."
"That's not what we do," Terra told him. "We take what we do seriously. We train hard, work hard, and fight hard. I may not be a seasoned veteran like most of my friends, but I still do what I can to make a difference."
"You were under Queen Bee's control and do not have the knowledge you had before she freed you."
"But I can still remember some of it. It's coming back slowly."
"Terra," Wonder Woman spoke, "while we believe you are slowly remembering the missing time you are experiencing, we also must take precaution on what you do not know. You may feel trained like the others, but until your memory clears completely, I am afraid you must be put on reserve for the time being."
"But I can fight!"
"I do not doubt you can. This is just a precaution."
"Can someone please tell me what this is about?" Kyle asked.
"Seeing as how you and Cissie were not part of the unsanctioned mission the rest of the Titans were on," Batman said, "you two are excused."
"Oh, yeah right," Terra snorted.
"Um, I really don't know what's going on," Kyle said, "but I stand with my team and friends."
"Very well then. Despite the reasons for your chosen actions, you still defied strict orders. The reason I had issued said orders was to avoid a political backlash, which could possibly form from this."
"Batman," M'gann said, "Lex took my son. Regardless what you commanded, once we knew where he was, we were going to get him."
"I thought that was clear before you left," Conner added.
"Wait, Carter was kidnapped?" Kyle asked. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have maybe gotten a few Lanterns to help out, especially the squirrel. You do not want to mess with the squirrel."
"Kyle," Hal said to silence his trainee.
"Your actions nearly cost repercussions with no possibility of cleaning up," Batman said sternly. "Queen Bee, regardless of how she chose to run her country, was a high ranking political target. The same goes for Lex Luthor, which you are lucky someone listed them as taking a sabbatical until election season. There is also the possibility you were all recorded on camera-"
"We erased the footage," Terra told him.
"Thoroughly," Conner added.
"And despite that, despite your actions and reasons, the bottom line is you defied orders. Time and again, the black ops team have gone on unsanctioned missions and I looked the other way due to the results they have gotten. When I chose you two to lead this new team, to form a bridge of trust with the public, I stressed to you about taking on missions such as this. But with the actions you have taken, the potential for not only your son's life being in danger but the other's as well, you leave me with no choice."
Waiting for the decision Batman had reached, both Conner and M'gann stood strong in front of their peers and team.
"Until further notice, you two will be relieved of your command."
"What?!" Garfield yelled.
"With that, you are hereby suspended until a final decision by the League has been made on what to do with the Titan team."
"You can't do that!" Cissie yelled.
"Cissie," M'gann said to calm her down.
"No, he can't do that! You're our leaders!"
"This isn't right!" Garfield told the Dark Knight.
"You can't be serious!" Terra stated.
"Batman, come on," Kyle pleaded.
"You know that's the wrong choice," Raven commented. "We-"
"Raven, don't," M'gann mentally said.
"But-"
Opening the mental link to the other Titans, M'gann ordered them to remain quiet. "I want each of you to not mention going to Bee's penthouse on your own. Conner and I already told the League it was our idea to send you there."
"Why would you do that?" Tera asked.
"We protect each other, remember? We want to make sure all punishments are on us. Had it not have been for our actions, you three would have not gone off by yourselves. Just keep quiet and whatever happens, do not tell them you decided to act on your own. We'll face the repercussions."
Marching up to Batman, Conner showed no signs of backing down. He stared directly at the masked vigilante who gave him his Batgare. "You realize what you're doing, right? By relieving us, you're leaving them to fend for themselves. You're splitting up this team."
"Team?" Batman asked. "This is not a team. By the looks of things, you are all playing hero instead of actually being ones."
"They do the same things we did when the black ops team was formed. They take this seriously."
Raising his arm, Batman activated his personal holo-computer. A quick series of key strokes brought up a video and had it stream to the large TV screen overlooking the living area.
Video log-Titans-July 13-13:27 UTC
As the video clip played, the image of a fast food restaurant came on screen. A car at the second drive-thru window had just taken off when the sound of powerful motorcycle engines with a series of beeps came on screen. Pulling up to the outdoor menu and speaker, Sphere and the group of teenage Titans came to a stop to look the list of fried foods over.
"Welcome to King Donald's, would you like to try our new southwest chili tater shrimp?"
"No thanks," Arrowette said loud enough for the employee to hear her clearly while the others shouted their orders out. "Guys, quiet down, please."
Leaning over the edge of the living machine, the red clad archer moved closer to the intercom. "We need three double King Macs, one with mayo, one with mustard, and one with chipotle sauce. One triple tofu patty melt, with ketchup. Two orders of cheddar tater wedges, large. One order of large onion rings. A large order of jumbo tots. Two chocolate milkshakes, one vanilla mint shake, and one cookies and cream shake. And sixteen apple pies. A large root beer, large sweet tea, large pink lemonade. Oh, and a diet soda, large."
Turning to look at the one who wanted the soda, Arrowette stuck her tongue out. "There, girly man."
"Hey, someone's gotta watch my figure," Kyle joked.
Ending the recording, Batman waited for Conner's response. After a moment, he knew one was not coming and spoke about what he just showed them. "What kind of vigilante team gets drive thru food while on patrol?"
"We do," Terra told him.
"We were hungry," Raven commented.
"And thirsty," Kyle added.
"Our bodies were beginning to eat themselves," Garfield mentioned.
"Growing teens need nutrients," Cissie finished up.
"The end result is, you five acted irresponsibly," Wonder Woman told the teens. "We are here to be taken seriously, not to goof off or play around while on duty. As part of this team, you are to set an example for others and show you are capable of protecting the lives of the citizens of the city and the world later on. The actions taken by your leaders are subject to review and seeing as this has major implications, the choice we made is final."
"Well, the choice you made was wrong." Standing up to the Amazon, Cissie all but jammed her finger in the woman's chest. "We take what we do seriously. We don't goof around when dealing with criminals and make sure we all come back in one piece. We worked with nearly every one of you Leaguers and trained with all the members of the black ops team, then trained with M'gann and Conner to be a Titan after that. We show up every day, we patrol every night, sometimes in shifts, and we get hungry. But far be it for us to grab a few burgers since it seems you Justice Leaguers don't get hungry! So instead of pointing out the negative aspects of the way we do things, instead of zeroing in on what we did wrong, why don't you look at what we do at the end of the day? We helped people, we saved lives, and we did it all in our own way, oh, but I forgot, the Justice League is perfect, they never screw up, they never fail or do anything wrong, so it's their way or the highway. So stop being so freaking judgmental and let us do things our way instead of Batman's usual one track way of dealing with things!"
With everyone's eyes on her, Cissie became extremely self conscious. Fear coursed through her body quickly beginning in her spine, leaving her cold as she just realized she told the world's greatest superheroes off. Her eyes widened with her hand slowly dropping. She then turned on her heel and made her way out of the room with her teammates watching her.
"Never thought I would see that," Nightwing muttered.
Switching his gaze back to the rest of the Titans, Batman continued with his thought. "Despite Arrowette's outburst, and the reason-"
"Kidnaped son," Conner growled as he and M'gann gave the League veteran stern looks.
"Despite the reason and for going into hostile enemy territory alone while ordering your subordinates to do the same, the Titans are hereby suspended until further notice and it's leaders relieved of command and from all League and black ops missions."
With Batman's words, Garfield, Raven, Kyle, and Terra made their frustrations known with their body language and various noises teens are known to make out of anger. Even Carter made his opinion known with a raspberry and angry little face.
"This is not a team, not anymore. For the foreseeable future, the Titans are no more."
After a few minutes, Terra went in search for Cissie. she found her in her day room on the floor behind her bed, should she want to spend time at the tower between missions when school was not a factor.
"Cissie, what was-are, are you, what are you doing?"
Coming around the side of the bed, Terra saw the teen girl rapidly breathing into a paper bag. Her eyes were wide with panic as she rocked back and forth with the bag held tightly to her mouth.
"Cis?"
"Hey, Terra," Kyle called as he came around the corner into the room, "you find Ci- What the heck?"
"She's having a panic attack." Entering the room next, Raven made her way to the bed and sat down on the corner. "I could feel it coming on after telling off Wonder Woman."
"I, I ju, just told off the Justice League," Cissie said during a momentary pause in her breathing. "I, I yelled at Wo, Wonder Wo, Woman, I yelled at, OH MY GOD! I YELLED AT BATMAN! I don't wanna die!" She then went back to breathing into her bag.
"So that's it," Terra said as she leaned against the wall. "We're not on a team anymore."
"Worse, we don't have a team to be a part of anymore," Kyle told her.
The last to enter the room, Garfield looked his friends over. "Well, I guess it was fun while it lasted."
"Any idea what they want to do with us?" Terra asked as she rubbed Cissie's back to help calm her down.
"I don't now. Superman and Martian Manhunter are talking with sis and Conner in the living room. Maybe they can convince them to let us stay together or something."
"Think we'll all go the to black ops team?" Kyle asked.
"Don't know. Right now, they're asking that same question. But that's not all. They said Kaldur's missing."
"Kaldur?" Terra asked.
"And Lilith. Superman said she went missing early this morning and Uncle J'onn told them the apartment she was in was destroyed."
"Any clues?" Raven asked.
"No. Only footage of him leaving the cave on a motorcycle and heading into town."
"So we're homeless, and down a leader and a witness, or whatever you call her," Terra said quietly. "Are we going to help look for him? I mean, we should for Megs and Con since they aren't allowed to."
"Yeah right," Cissie said with the bag off her face. "You heard them, we don't operate anymore. I bet they'll split us up, put us on grunt work duty, and handle finding Kaldur on their own. Geez this sucks!"
"Whatever happens, we have to find a way to help Conner and M'gann. They trained us. They protected us." Moving away from Cissie, Terra stood next to Kyle and Garfield. "We have to do something to show they need the Titans."
"What exactly happened with you three?" Kyle asked. "Why did they tell you not to say anything?"
"We went to Queen Bee's penthouse on our own while the Kents went after Lex for taking Carter," Raven told him. "She's dead and he's in a coma or something."
"And they have a problem with that? We fight bad guys."
"But they were high political targets, making them that much harder to take down quietly and without problems coming back to bite us." Looking at Garfield, the black clad Titan swept a strand of her hair behind an ear. "So are you still the leader? Or did they put you under someone else?"
"I don't know," Garfield told her. "But if this is the last day I am, maybe we should just enjoy being together while we have the chance?"
"Lame. But doable," Raven snarked.
"Is that an order?" Kyle asked.
"More of a request," Garfield explained.
Out in the living area, Superman and Martian Manhunter had just finished speaking with the couple and left through the Zeta Beam platform. With the Justice League and black ops team veterans gone, the former Titan co-leaders sat in silence on the couch facing the TV. In less than twenty four hours, they would be locked out of the tower's mainframe and be unable to view any and all files pertaining to team missions. Then there was the other problem the three now faced.
"So, what do we do now?" M'gann asked. She gently bounced Carter on her lap to keep him occupied as he chewed on a teething ring.
"I don't know. We really don't have a life outside of what we do," Conner told her. "Can you get your old apartment back?"
"It's been rented. Uncle J'onn said it was a high demand apartment. But he did say we could stay at his place for a few days."
"Clark said the same about the farm. But we need something more permanent."
"Especially since we'll be locked out of the Zeta platforms by tomorrow."
Looking at their son when they heard him coo, they watched him play with his drool covered teething ring when M'gann turned back to her husband. "Since we have nowhere we really have to be at for a time, maybe we could go away for a while?"
"Where?"
"Well, we never really had a honeymoon."
Leaning back on the couch, Conner stretched his arms across the headrest. Scooting closer, M'gann leaned on him with her head resting on his shoulder.
"I hope Kaldur's okay," she said as Conner placed his arm across her shoulders. "I hope they find him and Lilith soon."
"I wish we could help look for him," Conner told her. "It's not right we're banned from both teams like this."
"And I wish I knew what was going to happen to our team. I hope they can stay together."