Teen Titans Presents Robin – Torn Legacy of a Prodigal Son –
/
Chapter 49: Surface Pressure - In Your Own Image; Molded
/
She floated the halls of the Tamaranean Royal Embassy with a heart full of remorse. The search for the assailant had not come up, even upon her return home. There, in a few days she would be issued a return home if all proceeded. She'd spoken to Galfore, her Gnorfka from long ago. The castle was still how it had been upon her capture. She'd come to earth with a desire to escape and arm herself against the Gordanians. The Citidal was still a threat, even to those here on earth; the League knew of such a capital in the Andromeda star system. Their role could had been significant and if it had not been for the Titans…
Starfire swerved in midair at a small face in the next hall. Curly red hair and a smile she'd died to see.
"Wild…fire?"
"Sister, I'm glad you've come home to us." He held back a hacking cough, the only male heir, yet his body was too weak to rule the royal doctors had told the emperor and empress. "You must not wander away! Oh, I cannot leave you…. then nothing will ever be right. Come." She coaxed him up and to her as he followed with younger eyes all on his last family that still cared as much as he had. "We can go to Galfore and he will be most relieved to know that –
"That is why I came." Sniffled the younger red headed sibling. "The council of Tamaran's Embassy has made it unanimous, sister. YOU are to be this planet's next Empress."
She was too blank of heart to know it, yet now she could never return so she wept into her hands as Galfore reunited a few moments later. Starfire weeping heavily into the big caregiver's arms as she had so many moons ago.
/
~ The Planet of Tamaran, the United Nations on Earth and The Rulers of the Galactic Order to the Andromeda Quadrant have come out publicly today to announce that a new ruler to the throne of the Tamaran has been decided. ~
Cy and the others huddled together in front of the screen in their tower, the new Titans all looking on with worried brows and faces in genuine shock. "I really hope no one else saw this –
"It's been broadcast to ten different regions in space." Raven deadpanned, also hoping for the same. "There was no way to stop this, she's got a responsibility to her people." They'd all found out about Starfire's birthrights months ago before she'd taken off. Customarily, right now she was the only one fit to lead but still…. was she going to be alright without her friends?
"I think we should go there." Zatanna nodded to Cy as his words seemed to make things brighter in the dark room. "No, it could be dangerous for her rep!" Bb suddenly intervened. "She's a galactic princess and now, she's the ruler of an entire planet! Do you know what I think? We should send her a vid! Show her we can do more now that she's got this –
"Bb….that….is smart?" Cy's eyes blinked by how it, was very wise to just check in. "I'll connect to the channel with the Andromeda star system."
"I'll see if I can telepathically get in touch." Raven sat to meditate, but then fell as she cried out and went to the floor on her rump. Bb and the others crouched over her, Zee lending a hand. "Are you ok, Rave?? What happened??"
"I…think something tried to talk to me, and….it was –
"Robin!" Zee smiled. "It has to be him!! Call back; I'll enhance the range via my spells."
"Dude! Then, we'll get Star to look our way." Bb grinned. "I wonder how the two moles are –
"Shush up about that! Do you want anyone finding out?" Cy hushed his bud, their plan with the Bat to be sure that no hidden cameras picked up a thing….
/
Slade's boots tapped the floor as he came to a wall with a security panel on it. Dick was in the gym, the bag to the mat and his towels in need of a wash. Wintergreen wasn't here so the bots played nanny as Slade took this new data to the source.
The door slid back as he stepped inside to tap away at a smaller set of keys. "Contact. We have a problem with that plan of yours, my boy."
~ Say that to my face and you won't get to see it again, dad. ~
"Grant, you should know…" Slade recalled his little investigation via the cameras still in the Titans' tower. "You have spies on both ends. Two. I think it's high time you decided to rethink your loyalty and theirs'."
~Are you – Where did you find this out? Dark web –
"A little birdy enlightened me, so I'm helping like you wanted. You want a fair war between your team and the Titans?" Slade brought his masked image closer. "Then choose your friends wisely, next time. The two I'd check are Terra and your brother. He's still loyal to the heroes, by far your mother. I bet Batman wanted you to find out once they'd put you away in cuffs beside me."
~Shit… shit! Joey….you had better go through with eliminating that rodent so we can get a real showdown. Now all I have is….is fucking Rose and Jade!? ~ Whined the mini Jackal as he stomped his anguish around their base like a screaming child. "The one thing I never taught you was self control of your emotions, especially that rage." Slade smirked. "Tell you what, my apprentice and I have a new contract on the fourth."
~ That's….oh, shit…..you're a part of the parade….~ Grant gawked.
"Yes, and as body guards for the "Legion" we work to uphold. I might be on it someday, if that is something –
~Just tell me when and I'll be there in a dying heartbeat. ~ The snake of a leader snarled at his pops. (Masks ep season 1 tt03 In a heartbeat was what Robin had told Slade.)
"Good boy. The Titans may hesitate, but don't cause any lasting damage. I need them alive to keep my point made."
~No, shit. That's in the contract, old fart. ~ Grant yawned and leaned into the machine closer. ~Same time, say…ten? ~
"Noon, strictly. A few other League stand ins are going to protect the city. Lex had everything arranged to keep the main JLA seniors out of the way of that hour. Understand? You'll show, and your job is to keep the killing to a –
~AANG! No blood? Are you –
"As self- defense only, we are there to simply get the materials Luthor wants out of that part of the city. It's a cover, boy. Figure it out, and have a better grip on your moles before they multiply, next time."
Slade shut off the connection as Grant gritted his teeth and withheld a yell. "Oh…. ok, pops…. you're on! My contract, my rules…you're just cannon fodder to those saps the JLA left in charge." (Based on the JLA unlimited episode where Speedy shows up with Power Girl and a few others to keep a parade from being destroyed on Independence Day I think.)
/
"You want us to be your stand in guys??" Roy hollered at his ex mentor over the feed back in Young Justice's head quarters. "WE have had it with you league bozos calling the shots. My team is still looking into the missing Cadmus project data. Miss M is locking in with seeing if she can contact Bruce on –
~ He'll be there too, Roy. We were called off - world by a distress signal that's too big for a single party. It's one parade float and a bunch of TNT away from causing Statewide panic, by you. You and YJ are made for getting this done. Isn't Kaldur leading the team, anyway? ~
"No, Ollie. I'm his rep and he's now in Atlantis stopping yet another hard - headed criminal from sinking the city of Atlantis into the sea bed floor. Where have you been? Whatever. I'M in charge until he gets back, and my team isn't ready to shield you guys from –
"Roy. We have to go. Superman won't be in Metropolis." Conner cut the red head off as Green Arrow couldn't have agreed more. ~ He's right on all accounts, and Power Girl with Wally have this thing in the bag. Talk to Canary if you wanna stay away from the pressure.~
/
"So, we're going to divert their attention….by rigging one float with explosives…" Dick still had no idea how to about this briefing, the last time he'd ever be a hero to anyone. "While the other…. –
"Is armed and has stored inside of it the materials Lex needs to have his next project up and functioning." Slade finished with a nod. "This might be the last time Robin's picture in the papers will have any remembrance, not to the Bat or your friends. If you do this, if you commit to this action without consequence, then you will have certainly been prepared for what's to come soon after our little showdown."
"Show…there's more?? Who?" Dick pleaded in his seat; his extra clothing changed to fit under a set of work attire for those aiming to drive those floats into the center of town. " Who is showing up to this event, sir?"
"A few faces." Slade said with a lofty wave. "Speedy, who's taken it upon himself to watch out for a new team called Young Justice, was given full reign of the situation. Power Girl, even Kid Flash if we're lucky. But don't worry. We won't be alone in this fight." Slade reassured as Dick looked out the window of the car Slade was driving in his nee get up as a similar position to Richard. "Dick, this is your moment to do what you can. Protect that shipment, help our side and the Titans are safe for tomorrow. I'll keep my end –
"Yes, I know." Dick swallowed. "Sir, I know that they will be…"
"As long as you know where to shoot your target." Slade tapped a finger to the wheel, just to see the boy's face follow his in the mirror up front. How he was desperate to keep his history out of this affair. "As long as you do as I ask, this will all go along smoothly. After all, Defiance has offered their hand in this contract. I made sure to keep their leader on his toes."
Dick froze. "They are…but they aren't our allies! How can we trust –
"Trust your master in battle, apprentice." Slade let the car jut to a stop. "We're here. Get the gear, get out and follow me."
/
"A hologram of Lex will be in the stands, so you won't have to protect the fake. Just the merchandise." Slade told the teen as they headed for the floats all in a row. "Ah, Greg! You're in good shape. Mr. Luthor says he wants…"
Slade made small talk with the director of the event, while Dick looked around off to the side to see if he could spot the materials they were about to work with.
He saw the dreaded C4 and backed away. "Before I forget." Slade pulled out a strange collar that had a metal disc in the center. "Before the explosion hits, this will have ten seconds and in that time, you'll have a force field, so be ready to fight once the smoke clears." Dick took the link and put it round his throat, thinking it had to be a lie but not truly. The man hadn't told him that he'd be driving the damned float! Was he just a shield after all??? Was Grant actually right?
"I wouldn't have you handle such a very, dangerous material." Dick looked up as he adjusted the band to not ring his neck. "That green glow means that if it leaks out, the chemical inside is radioactive, high combustible."
Dick felt dizzy as Slade steadied him, the blood flow to his brain threatening to have him black out. "I'm doing you a favor, this stuff can't harm me but you would have irreversible damage. I couldn't fix you if I'd have all the technology to do so, maybe skin grafts but not to your organs." Dick felt bile fill his throat as he nodded, swallowing it down for later's upchuck.
"At least the C4 is better contained. It's up to you if you should jump out a moment sooner or later." Slade brought a hand to Dick shoulder as the teen nodded, numbly seeking the advice of Robin but….
He wasn't anywhere to be found, no hero in him was saying to fight back. Just a vulnerable Dick Grayson, and one ruthless Renegade as Slade left him to driving the contraption with his sanity in check.
/
John C had decided to get Bruce as much intel as he wanted for a few dollars to quid in no time overnight. And even Selina for sure as not just eye candy was witty and strong. So, he did what he did best. Checked in with some sources to find out all he needed to about how things wouldn't go if the kid stayed a Renegade (Ha! Like my one shots!)
"Alright, Mate." John dusted off his hands as Bruce sighed and rubbed his face. "We found two spots; one, you need to recollect where he wasn't in the last time that he was spotted. According to the scale I use to find a missing person, there is…something the matter."
"That was anti climatic." Frowned Selina as Bruce tried to figure out what they'd both discovered. "So there is something at work here."
"Ah, I wouldn't say is rather than will be." Shrugged the magi. "Sources point to a child of prophecy who knows our target quite well. However, would you happen to know such a person if they do exist, mate?"
/
"I might, but I'll have to get back to you on that." Bruce turned on his heel in the hotel and John leaned back. "How long until it shows up. You didn't bother to ask, Bruce."
Mr. Wayne had reason to feel as such, a bit of unease in who might have been the one who could find Richard for them if not, set him free. "Well, I'll be here in this city a few hours so gather all of your questions and we'll talk payment in the meantime. Who knows? Maybe by the time you're back out of the thick of it all, I'll have the answers you want in plain sight. Wouldn't that be bloody interesting?"
"Like a damned miracle, Constantine." Selina shook her head. "I'll watch him, hon. You go be you in the big city. Besides, your suite is mine, for tonight?" She said in a sultry tone."
"Thanks, and John?"
The Magi looked up from a deck of cards he'd found sitting in a pocket in space for later.
"Don't try anything while I'm out." Bruce warned the other anti – hero. "I know you care about this case because of Slade's reputation. He might even show up very soon, so don't poke around it until I've gotten back to you both with more news about Robin's captor."
"Got it."
"Don't let the cat get you tongue, babe." Selina waved Bruce off. "Suit up, frown on. You know the drill."
"Again, thanks. I could have never come this far without either of you." Bruce turned and began to swap out, the two other anti – heroes thinking that his persona was just that. Something to change as easily as a pair of pants and a tee shirt.
The worst part was as Bruce suited up and pondered what John had said, the more he came to realize that Raven was really the only empath that had kept an eye on Dick all this time.
"It…can't be…" He shook his head, the rooftops a perfect place to let his sprits soar before any fireworks barreled into the air to lead him towards another cry for help. Grappler on three, he took no changes and went to meet up with the young heroes he'd be monitoring that afternoon all on his own.
/
