Summary: Our heroes on Earth have arrived in Markovia to bring Ravager to justice. Little do they know that they're about to get dragged into something much bigger than their quest for justice. Meanwhile, in Hell, Garfield learns more about the disturbing side of his new permanent home.
/
Pentagram
Garfield went up and knocked on the door to the house.
"Go away!" He heard Amaroq shout from the other side.
"I can't do that. Couldn't very well leave a kid all alone with no one to take care of her." Gar retorted.
"I can take care of myself!" She insisted.
"That's what every child says. But really, they can't." Garfield replied. "You were lucky I was here when those looters attacked you. But then what? What happens after I leave? More looters will come and steal your stuff. You can't stay here."
"Just watch," She growled from the other side.
"Man, was I that stubborn when I was a kid?" Garfield wondered out loud.
"Probably," Charlie said, showing up behind him. "Every child is irrationally stubborn at some point in their lives. They cannot help it."
"I know, I know." Garfield retorted. "Boy, you sure got here fast."
"I did tell Razzle and Dazzle to step on it," She said, motioning to the limo at the driveway, which was covered with road signs and what have you.
"Who?" Garfield asked.
"Oh yeah. You haven't been properly introduced to them yet. They're my drivers and bodyguards. Friendly people but can be a bit of tricksters from time to time." Charlie replied. "But they can wait. Where's this girl you were talking about?"
"Inside the house and refuses to come out." Garfield said, pointing a thumb at the door. "She's locked the door. And I am this close to knock it down."
"Don't. We shouldn't give her a reason to think we're here to hurt her." Charlie told him. "You said she's a hellhound?"
"That's right."
"Then we definitely cannot allow her to be taken in by child service. They'll just drop her at the nearest pound." Charlie said.
"Pound?" Gar asked, curiously.
"Right. You don't know. Hellhounds are ranked lower than any class in Hell. Even imps outranks them. They're treated as little more than pets. Instead of a normal orphanage, young hellhound orphans will be put in a dog pound. And believe me, it is no place for any child to grow up in. If they're not adopted before they turn 18, then at best they'll be thrown out into the streets. And at worst gets put down."
Garfield's jaw dropped. "That's terrible."
"I know. Which is why we need to get her out of there before the dog catchers finds out about her." Charlie told him.
"Of course there're dog catchers for this sort of shit." Garfield retorted, dryly.
Charlie walked up to the door and gently knocked. "Excuse me, Amaroq was it? My name is Charlie Morningstar. The princess."
"Good for you," Amaroq rudely retorted.
"Sweetie, can you please come on out?" Charlie politely asked. "There will be nasty people coming here, not just to steal everything in your house. But they will try and take you away as well."
"I don't care! Let them come!" Amaroq retorted.
"Breaking down the door doesn't seem like a bad idea anymore, does it?" Garfield asked.
Charlie ignored him and tried talking to Amaroq again. "Amaroq, try to understand, you cannot stay here anymore. I'm sorry about your loss."
"Why would you be?" Amaroq asked.
"You're one of my subjects. And I love all my subjects." Charlie replied, sporting a sweet smile.
"Why? Nobody cares about you. No more than they care about me." Amaroq retorted.
"But I do care about you. And so does Garfield here. That's why he called me." Charlie said, remaining patient.
"Why? None of you know anything about me." Amaroq cried.
"I know enough to know what you're going through," Garfield replied, chiming in. "We get that you don't trust us since you don't know us. But at least give us a chance, will ya." He asked and waited for an answer. He got one.
"Fuck you!" She spat.
"… I'm stumped." Garfield said and turned to Charlie. "What's plan B, boss?"
Charlie sighed and tried talking to the hellhound again. "Amaroq, if we wanted to hurt you, we could've easily busted down the door by now."
"The green bean already tried that one. I ain't budging." The hellhound girl stubbornly pouted.
"This is getting really frustrating," Charlie told Gar.
"We just gotta be patient. Raven hated kids before until she babysat three super powered toddlers. She eventually grew really fond of them through her patience. And she's one of the impatient people I knew." Garfield explained.
"Well I'm running low on patience." Charlie dryly replied.
"Want me to break down the door?"
"No!" Charlie spat. But then they heard Amaroq scream inside the house.
"Ah! Let go of me!" She cried out.
"Quit strugglin. Ya'll get a new home soon enough." Someone with a deep southern accent said from the otherside.
"Break down the door!" Charlie spat, panicking.
Garfield turned into a ram and rammed down the door. The two followed the sounds of Amaroq screaming and struggling all the way to the back of the house where they saw her in a fishing net being carried away by a someone who looked like a dog catcher. He had her over his shoulder and carried her to over to his truck that had the logo of the dog pound on it. As for the dog catcher, he was also a hellhound with stubby legs and a belly that stuck out. He had a tired looking face and was whistling "Kingdom Coming" by Henry C. Work.
"Hey! Let her go!" Garfield spat, about to attack the dog catcher, but Charlie stopped him.
"Wait! He's not doing anything illegal." Charlie told him.
"That's right, princess." The dog catchers said as he hauled Amaroq into the truck. "I got a report of an orphan hellhound minor. Just doin my job." He said as he closed the truck doors.
"This is seriously fucked up," Garfield spat.
"And unjust law is no real law. But we shouldn't act like we're above the law. Instead I'm trying to change the law to put an end to this sort of thing." Charlie explained. "But in the meantime, we have to follow the system and get Amaroq out of the pound legally. Otherwise, we're no better than outlaws."
"Now that's dedication, man." The dog catcher commented.
"And what the fuck are you doing?!" Garfield shouted at him. "You're working as a dog catcher that snatches orphans and brings them to a nasty place like the dog pound? Your own kind?"
The dog catchers just shrug and said, "It's a livin." He then whistled Kingdom Come some more as he went to the driver's seat.
"Don't you worry, Amaroq! We'll head straight to the dog pound and have you out in no time! I promise!" Charlie assured the frightened hellhound girl who was in the corner of the truck, hugging her legs and crying, rocking back and forth.
As the truck drove away, the confederate flag was very visible on the back doors of the truck. "...Well that ain't right."
"Welcome to Hell," Charlie said with a deadpan. "Come on," She said, dragging Garfield to the front lawn. "We should hurry if we're going to save that poor girl. Dogs are usually thrown into cells at random. Regardless of age."
"Really messed up," Garfield replied with a disturbed look.
/
Earth, Markovia
/
"This is where Ravager was seen exiting the cab." Nightwing told his team. The Titans were standing outside the building where Ravager and her mysterious companion were situated. "Cyborg?" He said, looking at his companion.
"Already hacked and meddled their security cameras. They won't see us coming." Cyborg replied.
"Raven, can you detect anyone in there?" Nightwing asked his gothic companion.
Raven's eyes glowed as she used her empathic powers to snuff out anyone in there. "I can't detect any life force in there. Something's blocking my powers. They must have a powerful telepath in there. I've sensed this power before. It's Psimon."
"For real?" Cyborg asked and Raven nodded. "When did he get out of prison?"
"Who's Psimon?" Terra asked.
"He's a villain with psychic powers who was part of the Brotherhood of Evil. He's extremely powerful and equally dangerous." Nightwing explained.
"I'll deal with him." Raven assured. "I've gotten a lot stronger last time we met."
"That's our girl," Cyborg replied, patting the back of Raven's head, much to her annoyance.
"If Psimon is here, and he's already put up a telepathic shield, then they know we're here." Nightwing pointed out.
"Looks like your suspicion at the airport was true then," Starfire pointed out.
"Don't worry. I got a trick up my sleeve that just might work." Raven assured.
/
Inside the structure, Psimon was indeed present and accounted for. Next to him was Ravager, sharpening her sword. Then the doors blew open and the Titans charged in.
"Ravager!" Nightwing cried out as the team charged in.
"Oh? What's this? Boy wonder has switched over to the big boy pants?" Ravager said, mockingly.
"Name's Nightwing now. You're under arrest for murder." Nightwing told her.
"Yeah … I'm not gonna face any consequences for killing the cunt who murdered my father." Ravager told him. Then out of the shadows emerged several goons with guns as well as an insanely jacked, gray skinned woman with a tattoo on her face.
"Storming the castle without a proper plan." Psimon said as he stepped forward. "You haven't changed one bit since you took down the Brotherhood of Evil."
"Actually, Psimon, we've changed a lot." Raven told him.
"Kill those fuckers!" Ravager ordered and all the goons fired their weapons. But then the Titans faded away as the lasers went right through them. "What the-?!" Ravager cried out. And then the ground suddenly collapsed beneath everyone's feet, throwing them of balance.
Raven then emerged from the shadows and grabbed Psimon from behind, phasing her fingers into his jar covered brain, eyes glowing. Psimon cried out in agonizing pain as he struggled against Raven's efforts.
"Babe!" The muscular woman cried out with concern, then her expression turned to rage. "Get away from him, you goth whore!" She spat, charging Raven, only to be blasted away by a green fire blast from Starfire. And got a boulder on top of her by Terra.
Cyborg then emerged from the ever so convenient glass ceiling. "Hi," He said with a cocky grin and started knocking out the goons one by one with his ray gun. Which was set to stun.
Nightwing also emerged from the ceiling, landing before Ravager. "Hello, Rose." He said, walking over to her, holding a pair of batons in his hands.
"Pretty clever move you pulled there," Rose said, drawing her sword. "Clever won't beat me." She said and started clashing with the former boy wonder.
"That was almost too easy," Cyborg commented. But then the muscular villain emerged from the boulder with ease, making Terra and Starfire mortified.
"Is that it?" She asked with a grin.
"Those muscles aren't just for show, huh?" Terra commented.
"Is that the villainess Rampage?" Starfire asked.
"What?! NO! I'M NOT FUCKING RAMPAGE!"
"I did not ask if you're making love to her." Starfire replied.
The muscular woman gave Star a dumbfounded expression, eye twitching. "Are you fucking daft?! And I am NOT Rampage! I'm Devastation!" She spat back.
"… Who?" Terra and Starfire asked, which only seem to have made Devastation angrier.
"Oh shit. I just looked her up in the villains files. She's one of Wonder Woman's rogues." Cyborg revealed with a worried expression.
Devastation smiled smugly and said, "That's right. I've gone toe to toe with that slut. What makes you washouts think you can take me?"
"Well, only one way to find out." Terra said and used her powers to bury Devastation into the concrete, up to her head.
"You think this will work?!" Devastation asked and broke free in one move, letting out a battle cry. Rocks and pebbles flew in every direction, which Terra stopped and sent back at the villain. She only laughed. "This doesn't even tickle." She said, mockingly. Only to be blasted away by a green and blue energy blasts from Starfire and Cyborg.
"So tell me, how did that feel?" Cyborg asked. But then, the three heroes were grabbed from behind by the goons. "The hell? I knocked you guys out." He cried out before knocking them back, only for them to splatter against the walls. Cyborg and the other heroes gasped. But then saw the remains of those goons suddenly moving. They were a mush of pinkish and red goop now, mixed with eyeballs, teeth and bones, looking like something straight out of a John Carpenter horror movie. It was enough to make Terra throw up.
"Hehe. That's my man's handy work." Devastation said as she got back up, grinning wickedly. "He isn't just another freako with psychic powers. He's pretty handy with people too. And by that I mean he knows how to turn people into abominations."
"What the fuck is wrong with that guy!" Terra cried out in disgust.
"Isn't he just dreamy?" Devastation said with zero sarcasm.
"Girls, you take Abby over there. I'll handle … this." Cyborg said as he tried holding down his lunch at the sight of the goop now taking humanoid form again.
"You sure?" Terra asked.
"Yeah. I can handle this … I think." Cyborg replied.
"Very well then. Good luck." Starfire told him as she turned her attention back to Devastation.
"I'm gonna crush you bitches skulls like eggs in my hands," The massive villain said before launching at them with a gruff battle cry. The two girls leaped out of the way, with Starfire flying and Terra floating on a rock. Devastation then threw herself at Star. But the latter grabbed her fist, used her momentum and flung her across the room, into a pile of wooden crates.
"Don't overestimate yourself," The Tamaranean warned. "My people are warriors. You are just a thug who relies too much on your physical prowess."
"Oh yeah?!" Devastation cried out and ripped a stone pillar of from it's foundation. "Take this!" She cried out as she charged. Only to be stopped when the pillar was engulfed in yellow energy and swung her aside.
"Hello. Did you forget about me?" Terra asked, giving her a dumbfounded look.
Cyborg was having some difficulty with his opponents though. For one, he found himself unable to shoot at them as he took sympathy on them.
"Come on, ya'll." He said, holding his canon arm up, shaking as he backed away. "I don't wanna hurt any of you."
"It's okay, Cyborg." Raven told him as she still held onto Psimon's head. "Those things … I detect no human life signs what so ever. They're like a hive," The empath said, turning her attention back to the villain before her. "And this monster is what's keeping them going."
Psimon however was finally able to break free from Raven's hold, sending out a powerful wave of telekinetic energy. It sent her backing about 20 feet. But she looked unfazed by it.
"It is you who are the monster, daughter of Trigon." Psimon growled, glaring at her.
"Aw geez. Here we go again," Raven said, rolling her eyes. "Look, don't bother with that crap. I've made peace with myself on that years ago. Besides, is this any way to talk to the person who freed you from Trigon's hold?"
"One good deed doesn't make up for the apocalypse you brought to Earth. Because of my powers being connection with Trigon, I didn't turn to stone. I witnessed the hellish landscape you caused." Psimon told her with a wicked grin. "I knew you were evil. But that was just-"
"Will you shut the fuck up already," Raven said, looking increasingly bored at his attempts at goating her. "Sure, I was the reason Trigon came to Earth. I allowed myself to be used as a portal for his coming. But in the end, I also put an end to his reign, once and for all. Sure. I feel guilty for causing everyone on Earth to turn to stone. But if it hadn't be me, it would've eventually been someone else. And in the end, everyone was changed back without any permanent damages. At worst, they were only left confused. So stop trying to gaslight me. It's honestly really pathetic. Besides, when I freed you from Trigon's hold, you could've chosen to use your powers for good. Instead, you use them to hurt people in most inhumane way possible. I use my powers to help people. Just goes to show that the old saying is true. Evil is never born. Only corrupted."
"Well, don't you have an ego?" Psimon said and then his eyes started glowing.
"Please," Raven said, unimpressed. Her own eyes started glowing as well and formed her iconic raven like astral projection, which engulfed the villain.
/
As Nightwing and Ravager clashed, the two locked weapons with each other, holding each other in one place. "You guys are such fucking hypocrites." Ravager hissed.
"Excuse me?" Nightwing replied, confused.
"Why are you trying to avenge a murderer?" Ravager asked through shut teeth. "He broke the so called hero code. He crossed the line that cannot be uncrossed. He was a villain, like me. And yet you're hunting me down in his name."
"What Gar did was still wrong, but what makes you righteous? You also committed murder against someone else. You think you're righteous? Avenging for a loser father who got his son killed, another to never speak again, and now you're following his footsteps without some agency you could have. Gar would have faced the law properly for what he did, just as you will. And unlike you, you will live. So if you think we're hypocrites to avenge a friend, it's no different for what you did."
"Whatever. It's not like it changes this situation," Ravager said and went onto the clash sword with Nightwing's batons. They locked weapons, glaring at each other. Ravager then smiled and said, "Give it up. You couldn't beat my dad. I was trained by him. And I was given the same treatment. I have his healing factor. What makes you think you can beat me?"
"Oh really?" Nightwing said with an unimpressed look. "Let's see what he taught you."
They clashed some more with Ravager pulling her gun on Nightwing. He swiftly dodged the first shot, locked his leg around hers and tripped her over. She kicked him on the side, making him lose balance and swung her sword at him. He narrowly dodged it, as it grazed his side, taking a few strands of hair. She tried shooting him again, but he just tossed his baton at her hand, knocking the gun out of her grip. She got up and lunged at him, sword forward, with such speed and thrust that Nightwing barely had time to dodge it as the sword made a hollow slice on his abdomen. If he hadn't been wearing armor underneath his suit, his entrails would be hanging out of from a gaping hole. She took a swift swing to the side, but Nightwing ducked then uppercut her in the chin with the baton, making her back away. She growled as she rubber her chin.
"Looks like Slade taught you everything you know. But not what he knows." Nightwing mockingly said.
"The fuck's that suppose to mean?" Ravager hissed.
"I trained with him once. Your fighting style seems familiar. But it doesn't remind me of his. Wonder who the favorite child was." Nightwing mocked.
"Fuck you!" Ravager spat and came at him.
Nightwing dropped his baton and sidestepped Ravager. He then disarmed her sword in a swift motion in a way she couldn't see. And then she received a back hand to the face, making her back away.
"I came up with that one myself. You'll never evolve if you rely only on your mentor's training all the time." Nigthwing advised. Rose glared at him. But then she noticed her gun to the side. Nigthwing saw this. The two had a stare off for a second before the former boy wonder said, "Ask yourself; can you get it and shoot me before I can take you down?" The two stared each other down, waiting for whoever would make the first move. "Is that the same gun you used to kill my friend?"
"You really need to ask that?" Ravager asked, then gave a wicked grin. "He cried like a bitch in his final moments. And I'm gonna make you cry like a bitch. Then the rest of your pals. I'll save that orange slut of yours for last."
Her mockery didn't seem to phase Nightwing. He just kept that stone cold expression, not allowing Ravager to goat him into doing anything irrational. Realizing she won't be able to get under his skin, she made a move. She dashed for the gun and Nightwing pulled a birdarang with his right, taking a swing at her. But then Ravager smiled as she retracted from her charge, jumping away from where Nightwing was about to toss the birdarang. She pulled a throwing knife, about to toss it at him. But then she saw to her surprise a second birdarang in his left hand, which was kept hidden behind his body while he was twisting his torso to toss the one on the right. He used the birdarang in the left hand to toss at where Ravager was currently leaping through the air, while Ravager tossed her knife. The birdarang hit it's mark, right in Ravager's chest, electrocuting her. The knife pierced through Nightwing's side. But thankfully, the armored platting underneath the suit stopped it from piercing any vital organs.
Ravager laid on the floor, twitching and jerking from the electrocution surging through her body, screaming in pain. Nightwing stood over her. "Got the same treatment as daddy, did you? Gotta love that healing factor now, huh?"
"Kiss … my … ass!" Ravager hissed through shut teeth.
Eventually, Nightwing shut of the birdarang and then cuffed the now weakened villain. "You're under arrest for murder. As well as dozen other counts of criminal activities throughout the world." He told her. But she only groaned.
/
Devastation roared as she charged. She lost balance however, when Terra buried her legs into the concrete. Starfire moved in, fists glowing green as she landed several heavy blows to Devastation's face. She grabbed Starfire's right arm and proceeded to land several blows to her face. But then her arm was caught by rocks emerging from the ground, pulling her fist back. Starfire broke free by blasting Devastation in the face, forcing her to let go, allowing her to float back.
"Are you alright?" Terra asked.
"I'll live," Starfire replied.
Devastation broke free from Terra's hold on her with a roar. She glared at her and said, "When are you going to get it, bitch? That ain't gonna work on me."
"Then I guess I'll have to bury you even deeper!" Terra declared and started sinking her deeper into the ground.
"You buried her alive," Starfire said in disbelief.
"Don't worry. I made sure there's an air hole going all the way down. She can still breath." Terra assured.
"How far down did you send her?" Starfire asked.
"About 500 yards … I'm sure she's fine." Terra replied. Then both their expression soured and they brought their hands to their noses.
"What is this foul stench!" Starfire spat.
It was Cyborg finishing of the abominations, using a flamethrower. "I knew installing this would come in handy," He commented as he burnt the remains to a crisp. "Just didn't think I'd use it for this," He commented with a disgusted expression. Disgust at the sight and smell. But also at himself.
/
All that remained now was Raven. Inside her dark matter globe, Psimon was struggling, using his telekinetic powers to try and break free. But even when using all his might, the darkness would not subside.
"You think the darkness is your ally?" Raven's voice echoed in the void.
"Let me out!" Psimon demanded.
"You merely adopted the dark," Raven went on. "I was born into it. Molded by it. I didn't see the light until after I met my friends. And by then I had already mastered the darkness." Suddenly, hundreds of bright glowing eyes opened up, all around Psimon, making him look increasingly horrified. "Come now. Step into the light. Simon says so." A flash of bright light engulfed Psimon and he screamed.
Back outside, Raven, now in her white leotard, reemerged with an unconscious Psimon.
"Wow. Where did that new wardrobe come from?" Terra asked.
"Just a little something that happens each time I use the lighter side of myself." Raven replied.
"Well uh … it suits you." Terra said, looking away with a blush.
"That's all of them," Nightwing said, dragging Ravager behind him.
Starfire gasped when she saw the knife on his side. "Nightwing, you're hurt!"
"Don't worry. It didn't go all the way through. But I'll need Raven to patch me up later." Nightwing assured. "Let's contact the local authorities and-"
"That will not be necessary," Someone said, stepping forward. It was a military man, dressed in well tailored uniform with lots of medals and badges to signify his rank. He had a clean shaven face and brown hair with gray lines on the side of his head. And of course, a nasty scar across the left side of his face. Behind him were several dozen armed soldiers.
"Baron Bedlam," Terra said in disgust.
"You know him?" Cyborg asked.
"He's the general of the Markovian military. Handpicked by my loving daddy." She replied in a dry tone. "I can tell you one thing. He didn't earn a single one of those medals."
Bedlam chuckled. "Charming as always, your highness."
"Don't call me that. I left that life behind years ago." Terra hissed.
"That was never your call. Which reminds me," Bedlam then turned his attention to the other Titans. "His majesty wants to thank you Americans for bringing our princess back to Markovia."
"We didn't-"
"And we'll be taking the criminals you captured here into our custody." Bedlam interrupted Nightwing. "You will be escorted back to the airport and return to your own country where you belong. I suggest you do as I say."
"I'm never going back to that man ever again. Not after what he did to me and Brion." Terra spat.
"Oh, I would comply with your wishes, princess. But my orders are from the king. So it's not your decision to make." Bedlam told her.
"What're you daft?" Cyborg spat. "She said she's not going. Leave her alone."
"I second that," Raven said as her eyes started glowing. All the soldiers then took aim at the heroes.
"Are you seriously going to go against the military of a nation? That is an act of terrorism." Bedlam hissed.
"The only terrorist I see here are the ones forcing an innocent girl to surrender her freedom." Nigthwing growled.
"Alright," Bedlam replied then ordered his men, "Switch over to tranquilizers! We don't want to risk accidentally killing the princess."
"Like that'll work!" Raven cried out and raised a black sphere around the gang, which caused every shot to bounce of. Bedlam glared at her in frustration.
"Nice going Rae. You always were my favorite girl." Cyborg commented.
"Get us out of here, Raven." Nigthwing ordered.
"Gladly," Raven replied and prepared a teleportation spell.
But there was another in the background with a different gun, raised and aiming at Raven. The person pulled the trigger. A loud bang was heard. Raven's face dropped and her eyes went back to normal, instantly. She fell to the floor, blood pouring from her stomach.
"RAVEN!" Nightwing cried out and was by her side in an instant.
Bedlam was taken aback for a few seconds, but then his wicked smile returned. "How convenient. Shoot them!" He ordered.
"Damn it," Nightwing hissed as he held a hand on Raven's bleeding wound. The others tried to react in time. But the initial shock over Raven being shot left them open for a split second. And then, several dozen darts came their way. But then, a yellow flash of light appeared underneath the heroes and they disappeared just as the darts reached them, hitting just concrete floor instead.
Bedlam was shocked by this. But then he had a furious look on his face, growled and cried out, "Sideways!"
"Oh well. At least I got one of them." Spoke General Immortus as he stepped out of the shadows. "Devastation is trapped underneath the ground. Try and dig her out."
"Yes sir," One of the soldiers replied and went to work.
"You were ill-prepared, general." Immortus told Bedlam and held up his gun. "Nth metal bullets. Not even Dr. Fate himself could repel these."
"And where were you during the fight?!" Bedlam spat.
"You'll have to forgive me. I prefer to lead from behind. But unfortunately, the soldiers I was provided with weren't much of a fighting unit." He said, glaring down at Ravager who glared back at him. "And now the resistance has Tara. His majesty will not be pleased."
"No. I look forward to telling him how you screwed up," Bedlam hissed.
"But I won't be punished for it. I still have my uses to him, despite this minor setback. And besides, I will soon have delivered to him not just his daughter. But the resistance as well." Immortus assured.
"What're you talking about," Bedlam demanded.
/
Somewhere else in Markovia
The Titans soon found themselves in a completely different location. It looked like the inside of an old castle. But there were lots of crates and people around them. Armed people. They looked like militia.
"Bring medics and a stretcher bearer! One of them is wounded!" One of them cried out.
"Hold up! Who are you?!" Nightwing demanded.
"Relax, friends. You are safe now." Spoke another person and then Terra's face dropped. "Hello Tara. Been a while." Said Geo-Force.
"Brion!" Terra cried out, throwing herself at her brother, who returned the hug. "I've missed you so." She wept.
"As I have missed you," Brion replied, patting his sister's head. He then looked down at the wounded Titan. "Let my people help your friend. Our doctors are among the best in the country." He assured.
Nightwing and the others stepped aside to allow the medical team to treat Raven. "Thank you." He said, before turning his attention back to Brion. "I take it this is the Markovian Liberation Unit."
"You know of us?" Brion asked.
"You are starting to make a name for yourselves. And when a resistance trying to overthrow the sitting government is lead by a Meta, it does become the business of the superhero community." Nightwing replied.
"No shit," Said a young man with an American accent. He was wearing full body outfit, covering his entire being. It was black and light gray, with wide eye grayish goggles. "That's how it became my business as well."
"Hang on. I know you. You're Sideways." Cyborg pointed out.
"The legendary Cyborg knows who I am? I'm flattered." Sideways said as he bowed dramatically.
"That's right. Sideways here is the reason for your escape." Brion explained.
"That's right. You can open up portals." Cyborg replied.
"Dimensional portals. I call them rifts." Sideways explained. "I used a doozy to get you and the other Titans out of there. You're all lucky we have insiders to tell us all the major things going on in the country. I was sent in advance by my boss here to make sure you made it out okay. And boy was that right call."
"Indeed. You would've all been capture and your friend would be left for dead." Brion added.
"How is friend Raven?" Starfire asked the medical staff as they finished up first aid.
"It was clean shot," The female doctor replied. "Went right through. No vital organs seems seriously damaged and her wound was already closed up. So no major blood loss."
"That's our girl. Using her powers quickly to shut the wound." Cyborg commented.
"She'll make a full recovery in a few hours," Nigthwing added.
"Great. But what about you?" The doctor asked gesturing to the knife still lodged in Nightwing's side.
"Oh … Somehow, I completely forgot about that," Said the former boy wonder.
"We'll take care of that as way," The doctor said as she lead Nightwing away, along with Raven, who was being carried away on a stretcher. Starfire was also not far behind her lover.
"Well," Cyborg said, turning to the two siblings. "Guess you two wanna catch things up, so I'll just join the rest of my buds at the medical facilities." He said as he was backing away before turning around and left the brother and sister.
"They seem like good people," Brion said to his sister.
"They are," Tara replied. "So … a rebel leader, huh? Our loving daddy dearest always said you were the more rebellious one."
"After what I discovered about father, I couldn't sit idly by and do nothing anymore." Brion said, earning a confused look from his sister. "We have much to discuss."
/
Hell, Pentagram City
"So this is the dog pound … charming place." Garfield said, dryly, as the pound was a concrete block with bars for windows, lots of barbwire fences along with towers and security guards. Looked more like an old prison.
"This is where orphan hellhounds are sent. Most pounds look the same." Charlie explained.
"This is no place for a little kid to spend their upbringing at," Garfield cried out.
"It isn't. But that's just how it is around here. I've tried for years to change that. But my dad isn't exactly known for his bleeding heart. Sometimes I wonder if he even has one." Charlie says, solemnly.
"He's the devil. You do the math." Garfield told her. "Now let's go rescue that poor pup." He said and marched straight to the entrance.
/
Meanwhile, inside the pound, Amaroq was curled up in a corner of her cell. It was a cold concrete floor with a leaking pipe. She was quivering and whimpering like a puppy. Her cellmates didn't make things better as she was lumped in with a group of hard-asses. Gruff mean teenagers who were fighting over the scraps of today's slop.
"First day is always the worst part," Said a female hound next to Amaroq. She was a doberman hound with messy hair and a nasty scar on her face. "You're lucky though. You're still a cute pup. And a girl to boot. You'll get adopted soon enough. Me, I got my face deformed years ago. No way I was ever getting adopted after that. Well, my nightmare will be over soon. I'm gonna turn 18 next week and then … I'll no longer be this pound's problem or anyone else."
"W-what do you mean?" Amaroq asked, still petrified.
"You're about to find out," Said the teen hound as she watched two guards walk past their cell.
The guards, both of whom a different kind of demon, opened the cell not far from Amaroq's.
"Happy birthday, Gib." Said one of them with a dry tone.
"Time for your birthday gift." Said the other.
"No!" Cried out a young hellhound in fear and panic. "I … I'm not really eighteen. They got my birthday mixed up." He told them, pressing his back against the wall.
"You knew this day was coming. Now don't make this harder than it needs to be." Said the guard as the two grabbed the hound and started pulling him out from his cell.
"NO! Wait! Please! I don't want to die!" The hound shouted, kicking and struggling in the guards grip.
"Should've thought of that when you were a pup. Then maybe someone would've actually adopted you." The other guard said, coldly as they dragged him by his paws.
"Please! Mercy! Mercy!" The hound cried, futilely and desperate. "Just throw me out on the streets instead! I beg you!" His cries were shut down when they dragged him through a door and closed shut.
Amaroq looked sick. "W-w-why did they take him away?"
"He had just turned eighteen. Meaning he's now a legal adult. Meaning the pound is no longer legally obligated to take care of him. And when they're no longer legally obligated to do so …" The teenage hound explained, stopping at that last part, unable to finish.
"W-what? But why not just kick him out? Why kill him?!" Amaroq asked, getting teary eyed.
"Because our kind are just animals. And animals get put down rather than thrown out on the streets." The teen explained, looking away with a disgusted look on her face.
Amaroq started hyperventilating. If she cannot find anyone to adopt her, not only will this stank hole be her new life. She will die here when she grows up into an adult. This cannot be her new life. She already lost her parents. Now things had taken a turn for much worse. How could it go like this?
"Amaroq?" Said someone. It was one of the workers there. A caretaker, holding a clipboard, calling out her name. "Amaroq?" Said caretaker came into view. An elderly hellhound with glasses and beads around her neck. Behind was an all too familiar face.
"There she is!" Garfield cried out as he threw himself at the cell. "I told you we were gonna come for ya, kiddo" He told Amaroq with an assuring smile. And for the first time since she met him, Amaroq was happy to see him that she finally let the tears drop. "That's the one I want to adopt." He told the caretaker.
"Fine," Said the hellhound lady with the raspy voice of a chain smoker. "Lets just fill out the forums and you can come pick her up in a month."
"Wait. What? A month?! Is this some kind of sick joke?!" Garfield asked, looking at her with a dumbfounded expression.
"Just procedures that has to be taken into account whenever an adoption is being made." The caretaker replied.
"Oh, hell no!" Garfield cried out and stood firmly up to her face. "You listen closely! I don't care about idiotic procedures that doesn't make a lick of sense! I'm taking her away from here right now! Not tomorrow, not after CSI. NOW!" He spat.
"That's not how it works," The caretaker replied with a careless tone.
"It works for me. Now let her out of there." Garfield demanded.
"No," The caretaker replied, casually, making Garfield drop his jaw in surprise.
"Excuse me?" He asked.
"Either you follow our procedure, or you're not adopting at all. But you're not getting your way." The caretaker casually replied.
Garfield was just starring at her with his jaw hanging. But then he let out an unhinged chuckle. "Okay … I tried to be nice."
/
Meanwhile at the reception, Charlie was pacing back and forth, with a succubus receptionist at the front desk, chatting on her phone. Moments later, Garfield came walking out of the holding cells with Amaroq in his arms, the pup clinging onto him with her arms around his neck, silently weeping as she hugged him.
"Garfield," Charlie said as she rushed up to him. "How'd you manage to get her out so quickly?"
"I was very persuasive," Garfield replied. "Could you take her? I need to take care of some stuff."
Charlie gave him a confused expression as she hesitantly took Amaroq into her own arms. "What kind of stuff?" She asked.
"Just stuff. I'll see you in the limo." He said.
"Ooookay then," Charlie replied before turning around and carried Amaroq out. She patted the pup's back when she heard her whimpering. "Ssh. There, there. It's okay. It's over now. You're safe." She cooed.
Garfield went up to the receptionist and said, "I wanna speak with whoever's running this joint."
Without taking her eyes of off her phone, the receptionist pointed her thump to a staircase. "You're gonna have to book an appointment though," She said. But Garfield just stormed up the stairs. "Or you can do that." She said.
/
In an office room, sitting by a desk, was a Sinner demon. He was a skinny fella with one large eye on the left side of his face, and two smaller ones on his right side. He had red fur and green hair with a shade of dark at the tip of the hair strands. Currently, he was relaxing with his feet on the desk, watching something on his computer, hands relaxing behind his back. Then came a loud knock.
"What the-? I don't have any appointments today!" He spat. "We are closed for today!" He shouted.
"No you're not!" Garfield cried out, kicking the door open.
"Who the hell are you!? What the fuck's wrong with you?! You busted down my door!" The warden spat.
"I'm just a guy who recently adopted a hound from this joint with a complaint." Garfield said as he walked into the office.
"If you already adopted a hound from here and it is causing you trouble, well tough titties. Because then it is no longer our business what problems it causes. Get out!" The warden growled.
"Not gonna happen, warden. I have something I wanna tell you." Garfield told his fellow sinner.
"Do I have to call in my guards?" The warden threatened.
"You mean those big buff guys laying unconscious outside?" Garfield said, pointed his thumb to the open door, where just outside, a couple of guards were on the floor with lumps on their heads.
"What?!" The warden cried out in disbelief. "Just who the fuck do you think you are?!"
"Warden! Warden! Warden!" Cried out a familiar voice. It was the caretaker Garfield had talked to before. She came rushing into the office, shocking the warden with her face covered in scratch marks and blood. "We have a-EEK! You!" She cried out in terror when she saw Garfield.
"Oh hi. So nice to see you again," Garfield said with a wide grin. It drop to a frown and he told her, "Get lost." She quickly did as she was told, not wanting to spend another minute with this maniac.
"Now then," Garfield said as he turned his attention back to the warden. "About my complaint. I don't like the conditions these hounds are living in. Leaking ceilings, drafty walls, no soft beds to sleep in, crappy foods and even black mold on the walls. Not the most ideal living conditions."
"Why the fuck do you care? They're just dogs!" The warden spat in anger. But then Garfield grabbed him by the throat and rammed his head into the ceiling. He could hear the warden groan from the above. He then grabbed the warden's legs and pulled him back down onto his chair, which broke on the impact, making him lay on the floor with a broke chair.
"Listen here," Garfield said as he walked over and hunched down over the warden. "I'm gonna be making some surprise visits to this place from now on. If the I'm not satisfied with how the hounds are being treated here, I'll stop being nice like I was just now and get rough." He said, got back up and started walking towards the exit. "Oh, and uh … abolish this whole putting down hounds that has turned eighteen. That's just awful. Just let them leave this place."
After Garfield left, the warden pulled himself up to his desk and contacted the front desk. "Fiona! Fiona! Cancel all schedules for putting down adults hounds! Right now!" He cried out.
/
Down at the basement, in a room that looked like a 19th century hospital room, the hound who was taken away had been strapped onto a table as he had struggled too much.
"No! No! Please, don't!" He cried.
"Man, this guy put up a fight." One of the guards said, as his clothes were a mess and he himself was covered in bruises.
"Yeah. But it'll be over soon." Said the other guard, looking like his partner. "Hey doc. Patience ready for you."
"Finally," Said a cat demon, dressed in a lab coat, as he brought out a needle. Once the hound saw the needle, it was as if he was starring at death himself. He cried harder. "It'll be over in a jiffy. You won't any pain except the needle … maybe." The doctor said with a sick grin.
"You're a sick motherfucker, doc." Said one of the guards.
"Just doing my job," The cat demon said as he walked over to the table. "Well, happy birthday, doggy. I give you eternal relief." He said with a sick grin.
"Noooooo!" The hound cried out, closing his eyes, feeling the cold needle about to pierce his skin.
"STOP!" Cried out a guard as he busted through the doors.
"Ugh. What now? Can't you see we're in the middle of an important operation here?" Said the doctor, looking annoyed.
"Orders from the warden. We're to cease any future exterminations of adult hounds." Said the guard.
"W-what?" The cat demon cried out, flabbergasted. "What nonsense is this? Why has the warden suddenly changed his mind?"
"Don't know. Don't care. Just following orders." Said the guard with the message. "Release that one and throw him out." He said, pointing at the youngster at the table.
"Oh, alright." The doctor groaned in disappointment. "But the warden can expect my resignation soon enough."
"Whatever," Said the guard, rolling his eyes.
As for the young Hellhound, he was crying again. This time tears of joy. He don't know how or what or why. All that he knew was that he was given a second chance in life. He was escorted out from the pound, being the first hound ever to leave this place without an owner. He didn't know what to do now though. But he'll figure something out eventually. For now, he was just thankful to whatever force had saved his life.
/
Garfield looked at Amaroq, who was sitting by herself in the limo, hugging her legs as she rocked back and forth. He looked back at Charlie, who gave him a concerned look. He then walked over to the pup and sat beside her.
"I think you're gonna like your new home. It's very spacious," He started, giving her a soft smile. But she didn't respond. Or even look at him. "We could go back to your old house and pick up some stuff you might wanna bring with you to the hotel. Would you like that?" He asked. Amaroq was still for a few seconds until she nodded. "Great. We'll bring as much stuff back to the hotel that you wanna keep. Kay?"
But once they returned to the house, they found it empty, with nothing by muddy footprints on the floor.
"Shit," Garfield hissed. "It all makes sense now. It must've been those scavengers from before. They were the ones who called the dog catcher."
Charlie looked down at Amaroq, who just looked around the empty house. "Amaroq, are you okay?" She asked, but got no answer. Instead, the pup just walked into the house. Charlie tried to reach out to her. But Garfield halted her.
"Let her have this. Let her have some time." He told her.
/
As Amaroq traversed into what was once her home, she first went to her old room. The walls were painted light blue with dark blue and green circles. They raided everything. Including her clothes, having emptied the wardrobe. Next she walked into her parents' room. It was empty as the rest of the place. Except for one singular object on the floor. It was a photo album. It made Amaroq's jaw drop. She rushed over and picked it up. She sighed with relief. It contained photos of her and her folks. She sat down, cross legged as she flipped through the pages.
There were pictures of them at the living room sofa, at the park, at dinner parties, etc. She gave a soft smile at each picture. But then her face dropped and her eyes started to water up. She shut the album closed and hugged it. Then she just sat there, weeping to herself in silence. After a good while, she heard footsteps, but didn't react to them. Garfield sat next to her.
"We were getting worried about you," He said and noticed the album. "Well, at least those looters were kind enough to leave that behind." He said and paused. "You know, when I lost both my parents, I was a few years older than you. And I had no one to help me through it … But you do. I know we're just strangers to you. And you're going through a lot. And I know how scary it is to come live with complete strangers. But it's gotta be better than staying in this empty place. Don't you … think your parents would've wanted you to get a fresh start?"
Amaroq finally spoke. "I miss them … so much." She said and cried again. Garfield took her into his arms to let her cry in his chest. "Do you still miss your parents?" She asked.
"Every second," Garfield replied. "You will never stop missing your parents either. But that doesn't have to mean you'll never find happiness again. I thought the same thing when I lost my folks. It hurts so much right now. But eventually, the pain will subside." He assured her. "Come back with us to the hotel. I'll take care of you."
Amaroq sniffled a little, nodded and let out a sigh. "Okay," She finally agreed.
"Atta girl," Garfield said and then scooped her up in his arms.
He came walking down the stairs with Charlie still waiting. She watched Amaroq in his arms as he went by her. She followed closely behind back outside and walked besides Garfield.
"Is she alright?" Charlie asked.
"She will be," Gar replied. "… I hope." He silently added the last part.
/
Earth, Markovia, rebel base
"That knife is a specially crafted material," Said the doctor as she was stitching up Nightwing's wound. "If you hadn't worn body armor, your kidney would be file."
"I know the knife is of special material. My body armor isn't regular either. Ravager clearly has powerful connections if she can get her hands on something like that." Nightwing replied.
"You have no idea," The doctor replied. "You were all deceived back at the warehouse. Ravager, Psimon and Devastation, all of them are working for our cruel king. Bedlam arresting them was just a ruse to fool the people. They will be let go and continue their work."
"God damn it," Cyborg growled. "So Gar's killer will continue to roam free? Fuck."
"For now," Nightwing calmly said. "She'll get what's coming. But until then, we have to be patient." He then turned to the doctor. "So Ravager is working for the king of Markovia?"
"It's a bit deeper than that," Said Brion as he and Tara entered the medical facility. "Ravager was sent here at our father's request to lure Tara back home. After the murder of your friend, they knew she wouldn't be able to resist taking part in bringing Ravager to justice."
"Who're they?" Nightwing asked.
"Only perhaps one of the oldest active criminal organization in the world," Brion replied. "They call themselves The Light. We don't know much about them yet. Just that apparently Slade Wilson was part of it. Until Beast Boy … At any rate, we do know that The Light is assisting our father. And our father has his sight set on all our neighboring countries."
"You mean he's …?" Cyborg asked, and Brion nodded.
"We think he's planning a conquest," The geokinetic replied. "We are a small country. And he has long since wanted to expand it. That is what The Light is doing for him. They're helping him create an army of Metahumans. My sister and I were the first successful experiments. That's why father wanted Tara back so eagerly. To continue said experiments and make more powerful Metas, since all the research on us was destroyed when we escaped our captivity."
"Well, even with an army of Metas, he can't take every country in the region. They're all part of the United Nations. An attack on any of these countries is an attack on the rest of the world. He'd have his hands full if he pulls a stunt like that."
"Not if those countries leaves the UN," Brion replied, getting confused looks from the heroes.
/
Markovburg, capitol of Markovia
"So you had my daughter in sight, but you let her get away?" Spoke a man in kings garm. This man is Viktor Markov, king of Markovia and Tara and Brion's father. "What did I really hire you for?" He asked all the super villains before him. "What did I make you general for?" He asked Bedlam.
"Your highness, if you would just give me a moment to explain, I think you will be most pleased by what I'm about to tell you." Immortus said with a confident smirk.
"Speak quickly," Viktor spat.
"Your daughter was taken by the rebels, no doubt to your son." Immortus started. "Nightwing was with them. And on his wound was the knife Ravager lodged into. The knife I gave her. Among many other weapons."
"Too bad for him," Viktor replied with a dry tone. "But how does this help?"
"This is how," Immortus said as he brought out an iPhone with a GPS screen up. "The knife has a tracking device on it, as does all the weapons I provided Ravager with."
"What?!" Ravager cried out in disbelief. "You mean you've been keeping taps on me!?" She shouted in anger.
"More like keep taps on your weapons. They weren't easy to make, nor cheap. It was just a precaution. A precaution that clearly worked out for the better, since you did end up losing that knife." Immortus said, earning a glare from Ravager. "At any rate, we can assume that the heroes are with the rebels now. Both your children are in this location, along with the rest of the rebels. Your highness, I present to you not only the opportunity of reclaiming your daughter and your son. But the opportunity of crushing the rebel faction."
Viktor sat silently, stunned for a moment, before smiling. "You've earned a second chance, General Immortus. I will put you in charge of the attack. But you will have to lead from the castle. I cannot risk witnesses seeing you leading my forces."
"Good. And opportunity for some sweet payback," Ravager said, delighted at the fact that she's gonna get a rematch with Nightwing already.
"Not you," Viktor spat. "You've served your purpose as bait and the money you were promised has already been put into your account."
"Then I'll act on my own now. I want my knife back." Ravager retorted.
"Forget your bloody knife and listen," Viktor rudely spat. "I'm hiring you once again. This time for an even more important job." One of the guards handed Ravager a hit list. When she went through the names, she looked up at the king. "I want them all dead."
"These are government officials," Ravager told him. "I don't kill these kinds of people for a cheap price. You'll have to pay me triple for what you paid me just now. For each person killed. And if that's too expensive, hire another assassin."
"Done," Viktor replied.
"Oh? Okay then," Ravager replied, not expecting the king to comply with her demands.
"But you won't be going alone," Viktor added.
"Sorry. I work better solo." Ravager replied.
"Not this time. You'll need the extra help." Viktor said, and snapped his fingers.
Stepping forward from the shadows was a young woman in green silk robes and a cat like mask with a wide grin on it.
"Well, well. The legendary Cheshire," Ravager said with a smile.
"You know me?" Cheshire asked.
"Big fan of your work," Ravager replied.
"Likewise," Cheshire said.
"Cheshire has already been filled in on all the details for these missions. She'll fill you in as you go. Now leave. The sooner I see heads rolling, the faster you will get paid." Viktor ordered.
"You got it, kingy," Ravager replied, which earned her an annoyed expression from the monarch.
As the two left, Viktor turned his attention to Bedlam. "If they are captured, general…"
"You need not worry, your highness." Bedlam replied. "We did lace their food with the nanites as ordered. Should they be apprehended, they will explode, cutting of any ties that could lead back to you." The general replied.
"Good," Viktor replied with a pleased smirk. "Now you all have your orders. Go! I want my son and daughter back and the rebels eradicated!"
"With pleasure, your highness." Immortus replied with a wicked smirk, happy for the opportunity to get his revenge upon the Titans.
/
Hope you all liked this one. I especially enjoyed writing the part that took place on Earth.
For some trivia. Sideways is a hero canon to DC Comics. He's like a Spider-Man knock off done right. I recommend checking him out. I think you'll all find him intriguing.
Don't forget to leave a review and share all your thoughts. Even if they're negative reviews. It's the best way for me to improve as a writer. Catch ya'll later.