A/N: Gah! It has been forever! I'm so sorry :,(. Between preschool and waiting tables, I've been exhausted. Some days I work 10-12 hour shifts, and by the time I get home I feel like lazing around, watching anime, and sleeping. Because of this, I haven't gotten too much writing done. For that, I apologize.
Anyway, another chapter is here now. I'm sorry it took so long. Even with my fatigue, I worked really hard on it. I hope you guys enjoy it :)
P.S. Thank you guys for all of the amazing reviews on the previous chapter! I absolutely loved reading them! :) Sorry again for no updates in April
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Part III: Secrets: Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cyborg is out somewhere eating breakfast. Leila is in her room counting cases of contact lenses to see how many she has left. As for Roy, he stands in the center of his hotel room getting dressed. Ginger-colored locks are damp from his swift morning shower, forcing him to towel off his hair before pulling on faded jeans and a black t-shirt. While dressing himself, the only thing he thinks about is the girl in the next room. Or, more specifically, the surprising information that she revealed to them. During last night's conversation, he remembers her vaguely mentioning her elder brother's squadron mate. He never would have imagined that the man she spoke of survived Dabnod's annihilation!
According to Leila, her brother's squadron mate is very much an individual. Apparently this hasn't changed in the five years since Dabnod was destroyed. Although he could only hear Leila's side of the conversation when she spoke with him on the phone, Roy gathered that he teaches some sort of dance class. Considering the girl's persistent cringing and mortified behavior, along with the fact that she had to ask what he was wearing, the past Knight's dance class must be of the unorthodox variety.
Because of this, Roy is unable to decide whether he looks forward to meeting his second Dabnodian of the week or if he is uneasy about it. Of course, considering how the man is using his position at the museum to assist the Titans in their search, Roy would say that he leans toward the prior.
His clothes adorned, the boy runs a comb through his hair and eyes himself over in a nearby mirror. With no mask concealing his eyes, no uniform, and no weapons, Roy looks exactly as he has for the past five days since departing from Steel City. Once the redhead's hair is in order, he prepares to leave the room so that he can find Leila and Victor. It feels odd leaving to meet a stranger from the same planet as Leila instead of leaving for the museum, but if it is for the good of the mission, so be it.
Before Roy can make it halfway to the door, however, he comes to a halt. Sitting in the center of his bed is an open suitcase, a pair of sunglasses sitting atop his clothes. Buried at the bottom are multiple black and white masks along with his bow. Then, sitting next to his bed on the floor is a black civilian backpack. It appears the same as any other backpack on the outside, but on the inside it is heavily supplied with a vast assortment of arrows. Roy isn't positive on why, but for the first time since coming to Metropolis, he has a strong feeling in his gut that he needs to carry his Titan gear.
The boy hesitates for a lengthy moment, staring questioningly at the obscured equipment. As he observes it, wise words from his mentor come to mind. This is the first piece of advice ever given to Roy, and it was given to him only two days after Green Arrow dubbed him Speedy.
"You don't have to ask me if it's okay to take your equipment along, Roy. Lesson number one is knowing how to listen to your gut. If we're going somewhere, even if we're dressed as civilians and are on our way to a baseball game, bring your bow and arrows if you're feeling that urgency. There was a time when I felt that urgency in my gut, I didn't listen to it, and I regretted it."
Even with the years of absence Green Arrow has had from Roy's life, the memory of those words is all it takes for him to move toward the bed. The first thing Roy does is dig to the bottom of his suitcase for his bow and a mask. Once the items are in hand, he removes the sunglasses along with a hooded maroon sweatshirt. The redhead adorns the sweatshirt as well as the sunglasses, concealing his bow beneath the garment. As soon as Roy's bow is adjusted at an angle that is both comfortable and secure, he bends over to pick up the black backpack. He scoops up his mask from atop the bed and tucks it away into one of the side pockets, throwing a strap over his shoulder a few seconds later.
This time when Roy turns to look at himself in the dresser mirror, he gives his reflection a smile. He sees Speedy instead of Roy, and for some reason, he takes greater pleasure in the sight than usual. Shoving the dark glasses onto the bridge of his nose using his middle finger, Roy turns around and makes his exit. For one reason or another, his gut tells him that today is going to be incredibly long.
Meanwhile…
Five pairs of contact lenses. Including the pair that she is currently wearing, that makes six. Even after carelessly tossing one pair across the room last night, Damiana still has plenty. A single pair will normally last for a week or two, so what she has should be enough to get by with until returning to Steel City. As long as this mission doesn't last for several endless months, that is.
Of course, knowing Black Shadow, the girl doubts that this mission will last for too lengthy a period. All of his pieces are in place, so he is bound to grow impatient and make another move at some point. Hopefully when this happens, Robin, Starfire, and Frostbite are in Metropolis for backup. True, Damiana doesn't look forward to encountering Starfire, but having others to assist them against Black Shadow will be more than helpful. While the shadow-using criminal hasn't been the first thing on Damiana's mind lately, the girl gets more nervous the longer they're in Metropolis. She can't decide what's worse anymore. Fighting Black Shadow or waiting for the fight to happen.
Breathing in through her nostrils in attempt to relax, Damiana takes another brief count of her contact lenses prior to tucking them back inside her bag. As soon as this task is complete, she runs a hand through her thick tresses while taking another, deeper, breath. Victor is probably finished eating breakfast and is most likely waiting in the hotel lobby for her and Roy. There isn't a doubt in her mind that Roy is cleaned up and dressed by now, as he is particularly fast at showering. With these thoughts in mind, Damiana is aware that the only thing holding them back from meeting with Adriel right now is her. Staring blankly into the depths of her unfastened bag, a pinch of anxiety strikes. Hopefully Adriel doesn't get too wrapped up in the Teen Titans' situation with Black Shadow…
Running her hand through her hair so harshly that she tugs at the roots, Damiana sighs in despair. Adriel shouldn't have to get involved in the messiness of the hero world. As one of Queen Guayusa's Knights, he saw enough violence on Dabnod to last him a lifetime. After coming to terms with what happened to their home, settling down on Earth, and getting the opportunity to live peacefully, why should he have to get pulled into more fighting? Damiana doesn't regret reconnecting with Adriel. She simply wishes that it had happened under other circumstances. Meeting Adriel only to pull him into a battle with a dangerous criminal is very unfair. Even if Adriel claims the opposite, this most likely isn't what he wants.
Giving her false brown tresses a final tug, Damiana zips her bag shut and stands. Unfortunately, what Adriel wants doesn't matter. Black Shadow is a villain with technology capable of mass terror, and they won't be able to get into off-limits areas of the museum to stop him without Adriel's help. Thus, why she told Roy and Victor about him in the first place.
Doing her best to smile, because at least Adriel can meet two of her friends this way, the girl walks toward the door. She really should leave her duffle bag behind, but for some odd reason, she doesn't. A powerful, somber, emotion strikes her solidly in the gut. As a result, she hoists her belongings onto her shoulder before exiting the room. Carrying her things with her, including her three books from Dabnod, gives her a strange sense of comfort.
"Leila, please tell me that this is some kind of joke. There's no way that's him!"
Roy leans in and whispers so that only Leila can hear him. Of course, even if his voice is concealed, nothing can hide the expression of horror that overtakes his face. He knew beforehand that this squadron mate of Leila's late brother would be a tad eccentric, not to mention that he was aware of the dance classes, but he never expected anything like this…
"Try not to contract your whole stomach at once. First your upper abs, and then your lower abs. Remember those ab isolation techniques Monique taught you, and your belly rolls will be perfect!"
Standing on the other side of the room, his back to a set of mirrors and his front facing a group of brightly-dressed women, is a man. A man who, in Roy's opinion, should question wearing the label. While he is tall with a muscular build, he has a lengthy, reddish-brown, ponytail that falls all the way to his waist. His hair is so thick that Roy can imagine him being the envy of most of the female populace. For crying out loud! This guy has longer and thicker hair than Leila! Along with this, the man's face lacks a strong jawline and angular, masculine, crevices. He has high cheekbones, a slim jawline, and a small nose, which admittedly, manages to take away from his masculinity by a notch or two.
Although, this isn't to say that he doesn't appear male at all. Even with slender facial features and a ponytail, the man carries himself in a strong manner rather than a dainty one. This can't make up for the fact that he is teaching a room filled with women how to roll their stomachs like belly dancers, though. Neither can it make up for the gypsy-style pants that bear silver tassels. In this moment, Roy has a hard time believing that this guy used to be Dabnod's equivalent of a soldier. If he really was one of the Dabnodian Queen's Knights, Roy doubts that he was shown very much respect amongst his peers.
"You ladies are doing great! Besides Sophie, all of you seem to be getting it! Remember Sophie, upper abs first and then lower abs. A few more tries, and I think you've got it!"
The eccentric, belly dancing, man grins widely as he rolls his stomach in front of thirty-something females. It's almost as if he enjoys doing this!
Meanwhile, Cyborg asks Leila a similar question. The disguised metal man stands on the other side of the girl, scratching his head as shares his thoughts aloud. Unlike the archer, he doesn't bother lowering his voice.
"Are you sure we're in the right place, Leila? If this guy you were telling us about was in the military, it seems like he'd have a different hobby…"
Glimpsing at the girl, Roy immediately notes her embarrassment. With false green eyes the size of dinner saucers and flushed cheeks, there isn't a doubt that she is uncomfortable with her friend's actions. When Leila responds, it is plain the amount of effort she is going through to excuse him.
"Don't judge Adriel, okay? He really was in the military, and he fought bravely. He's just a bit unconventional. He always has been. If he wasn't unconventional, he wouldn't be Adriel." Smiling proudly despite her mortification, she adds, "Even if he's teaching a group of women how to dance like gypsies, I guarantee that he'll grow on you."
Raising a brow, Roy is preparing to respond; his response something along the lines of doubt. However, before the archer can utter a word, somebody else provides an answer. They sound nothing other than jovial.
"It's okay, Leila. You don't have to defend me. They're just upset because they're trapped in the cultural stereotype of masculinity while I get to be my own man. Whose rule is it that a man can't belly dance other than society's?"
All three of them turn to face the front of the room. The person who spoke, unsurprisingly, is the shirtless man with the ponytail. He no longer dances, but is instead staring at where they stand near the studio's entrance. Upon spotting the group, he grins in a fashion that seems far too chipper for the average man. Yet, it nonetheless comes off as genuine. Glancing at the room full of women, he speaks to them while making his way toward the room's back.
"Keep working on your belly rolls, ladies, and if you don't think that you have it down, practice your ab isolation. Give me a minute, and I will be right back to help anyone who needs it."
The women take a second to eye the disguised Titans curiously, but a moment later they're facing the front of the room and following their instructor's directions. Shifting his gaze from the belly dancing students to their teacher, Roy gawks at the man as he strides closer. When his thick ponytail swishes sassily, the redhead frowns visibly. Listening to the metallic jingling of his silver tassels only causes Roy's frown to deepen. He is fully aware that this man is Leila's friend, and that he is going to assist them in their search of the Metropolis Museum of History and Astrology, yet he struggles to take him seriously. In Roy's seventeen years, never has he met a man that wears a thick, waist-length, ponytail and that belly dances. It isn't manly! Dabnodian men must be a different breed…
Roy doesn't notice when it happens, but at some point the Dabnodian man makes it so that he is less than a foot away from them. His attention is easily caught by a pair of unearthly, cherry red, eyes, pulling the boy away from his inner musings. Somehow, the cherry red eyes are all it takes to prove to Roy that this man is, in fact, an alien like Leila. They aren't a regular shade of red, but instead, have a bright type of vividness to them. Suddenly, even if this guy is bizarre, he finds himself intrigued.
Meanwhile, the man speaks in a whisper. He juts out a hand while doing so, giving he and Cyborg each friendly handshakes. If there's one thing Roy can say, at least his handshakes are firm.
"Hello. My name is Adriel. Cyborg and Speedy, I presume? It's nice to meet both of you."
This Dabnodian man, Adriel, doesn't give them a chance to respond. He backs up by a step, most likely eager to return to his class. Before backing away any farther, he continues.
"You're here because you need help with your criminal, right? No worries. I assured Leila that I would help if the need arose, and I fully intend on keeping that promise. My class ends in twenty-minutes. Once everyone clears out, we can figure out what to do about your search. Feel free to wait in the kitchen. Leila knows where it's at if you would rather wait there. Help yourself to the apples on the table if you want any."
With that being said, Adriel returns to the front of the room to continue teaching. As soon as the man is out of hearing range, Cyborg asks the question that Roy was going to ask himself.
"Can you take us to the kitchen, Leila? I understand that Adriel has his hobbies, but I really don't want to watch the guy do any more belly rolls…"
Damiana hadn't the slightest doubt before coming here that Adriel could help them. He may be unconventional, but the Ground Badger is also perceptive, skilled, and highly intelligent. It is the simple fact of his eccentricities that cause people to overlook these attributes. Right now, as Adriel leads them from the kitchen up a flight of stairs to the dance studio's second level, his less eccentric qualities are starting to shine through. Considering how he took time to change into khaki pants and a long-sleeved collared shirt before talking to them, Roy's and Victor's perception of him is changing.
Adriel smiles as he guides them through the building.
"Thanks for being patient. Sorry if I took a while. Some of the students had questions, and then I had to change my clothes and call my neighbor to let her know that coffee is canceled. Stuff to take care of, you know?"
Roy, who walks in between herself and Cyborg, is the one who responds.
"Don't worry about it. If it means getting help tracking our criminal, we're patient." With this next question, Damiana almost swears that the redhead's brow is furrowed beneath his dark glasses. "So, you work at the museum? What exactly do you do there?"
Turning to glance at him, the man answers chipperly. "Technically I'm a security guard. I'm supposed to walk through exhibits, make sure nobody is acting strange, and make sure that nothing gets stolen from the giftshops. I do more than that, though. If they're low on staff in the giftshops I'll help ring up items, and sometimes I'll give tours if I know an exhibit well enough. Really, I guess you could say that I do a bit of everything."
This time it is Cyborg who speaks. More than anything, he sounds hopeful.
"If you help with everything, you must know the museum pretty well."
"More than well. I know it like the back of my hand. I should definitely be able to help the Titans out." Smiling fondly, he adds, "Especially if it means helping my best buddy's baby sister."
He reaches over to give Damiana a warm pat on the head. In return, Damiana gives him a swift yet affectionate hug around the waist.
"Thank you so much, Adriel! I'll return the favor eventually. I swear."
Giving her his own hug, Adriel responds warmly. Though his voice is kind, he also sounds somber.
"You don't have to worry about paying me back. I'm doing this of my own free will. There's a criminal on the loose that is capable of mass destruction, so if I can help stop him, I'm going to." His kind smile shifting to something of a sorrowful nature, he adds, "After all, Saeran would do the same."
A brief moment of silence passes, the atmosphere feeling solemn as Damiana and Adriel end their embrace. When someone brings the ear shattering quietude to a halt, it is Cyborg.
"Saeran? That's Leila's brother who you served in the military with, right?"
Peering at the metal man, Adriel nods. "That's right. He was my best friend." Smile weighed down by sadness, he continues. "Which is part of the reason I'm doing this. To save Earth and help the Teen Titans, yes, but also in memory of Saeran."
Adjusting his stance so that he is facing the top of the stairwell, Adriel continues onward. Damiana, Roy, and the uncostumed Victor follow close behind. Another silent period passes, but a few seconds is all it takes for Adriel to end it.
"Once we get inside, you're going to have to tell me the places you've already searched. You're also going to have to brief me on Black Shadow. Don't leave anything out no matter how insignificant. Before we go to the museum to finish searching, we need to map out some strategic spots where your criminal might strike. Figuring out where and how he'll strike is vital."
Cyborg chuckles guiltily at the man's final remark. "Yeah, that is pretty vital. It beats blindly searching the museum and hoping to find something…"
The ponytailed man responds while shrugging lightly. "Being unable to do an in-depth search isn't your fault. Until today, the Titans had no foreknowledge of the museum. Even a visit to the museum's website wouldn't help much, considering how it doesn't provide complete maps or full information on the exhibits. Without those types of resources, blind searching was your only option."
A thoughtful expression paints Cyborg's features. "When you put it like that, I guess it's true. I tried finding a full map by hacking the museum's database, but there wasn't anything. It's a good thing Leila ran into you, or the Titans would still be ten steps behind."
Adriel turns the brass knob of a plain wooden door upon reaching the top of the stairs. He speaks once again while opening it gently.
"It's a good thing I got a job as a security guard and not as the guy who dresses up as a dinosaur to give tours of the prehistoric era." Standing in the doorway of his living quarters, he faces them with a secretive smile. "Did I tell you that security guards have access to complete maps of the museum? This doesn't just include the entrances, exits, and public exhibits. Every off-limits area and closed exhibit is marked, not to mention the employee hallways and exits."
Damiana's eyes widen. Adriel has a map of the museum that includes restricted areas? Whether she wanted to involve him in this mission or not, this is better than she'd hoped!
Apparently Roy is equally surprised by this announcement, because he voices it bluntly.
"You have a map that includes all that, and you're actually letting us use it? The Teen Titans aren't even supposed to be in Metropolis! We're supposed to let the Justice League handle the villains that end up in their cities! Couldn't you get in trouble with your boss?"
The man opens the door farther, moves backward by several feet, and motions for them to follow. The entire time he answer's the redhead's question.
"Yes. If my boss finds out that I shared confidential information, I could very easily get fired. Even so, I'm willing to take the risk. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have volunteered."
Neither Roy, nor Cyborg, nor Damiana says anything more. They ascend the last few stairs and follow Adriel deeper into his home. The whole time Damiana feels a pang of guilt. Not only is this putting her childhood friend's peaceful lifestyle in jeopardy, but his employment as well. More than anything, the girl wishes that there was a way to stop Black Shadow without dragging Adriel into this. Even if lending them his assistance was his choice, it doesn't ease her conscience.
The instant the three of them enter the studio's upper level, however, Damiana's guilt is temporarily forgotten. She finds herself taken aback by a well-kept and very large room. The room is so large that their footsteps echo as they saunter across polished floorboards. Gazing at their surroundings, first at a crimson sectional, then at an orange area rug, and finally at a glass coffee table, Damiana can't help finding the room impressive. The sectional fills up a quarter of the room, and on the other side is a crimson armchair, a stereo system, and a massive television set.
Yet, as appealing as it looks, the space feels empty. The room is drafty as well, almost making it seem lonely…
A second later the ponytailed man speaks, pulling Damiana from her thoughts. He is moving toward a corridor set at the room's left side, walking backwards in order to face them.
"You can take a seat on the sofa if you want. I need to grab my laptop and my USB drive. Just be careful of my rug. Getting stains out of it takes forever!"
Before anyone has a chance to respond, Adriel disappears around the corner. As soon as the trio of Titans are alone, they exchange glances. The first one to share their thoughts is Cyborg. In the time that Damiana has known him, he has never sounded more relieved.
"The guy is a security guard with a map of the whole place! Well alright! It looks like the Titans actually stand a chance!" Frowning slightly, he adds, "I just hope Adriel doesn't get fired…"
Roy shoves his sunglasses onto the bridge of his nose as he responds. "If the people at the museum fire him for helping the Teen Titans defeat a criminal that has access to world-threatening technology, then they're crazy. If he does get fired, maybe we can use our connections as heroes to get him a better job? We'll owe it to him."
Tucking a dyed brown lock behind her ear, Damiana smirks at them teasingly. "I'm surprised you boys are being so kind to Adriel. A little while ago you were having meltdowns because he's a belly dancer."
Shrugging, Cyborg saunters from the room's entrance toward the sofa. "It is a little weird that Adriel's a belly dancer, but then I remember that my best friend is a tofu-eating green bean with pointy ears. Then there's Raven who uses magic, Aqualad talks to fish, I'm half robot… Compared to the people on our team, Adriel's normal." Tiptoeing around the orange area rug with precision, he sits down on the couch. "Not to mention that he seems like a nice guy in general. I'm not going to start hating on him because of his hobby."
As soon as the metal man is planted in the sofa's center, Roy and Damiana start their own trek toward the piece of scarlet furniture. Like Cyborg, they carefully avoid the rug prior to sitting.
"As long as Adriel can help us, I'm not going to judge him. I would say that a man belly dancing isn't normal, but hey. To some people, a redheaded kid with a bow and a taco addiction trying to play superhero isn't normal. Who am I to judge?"
Approximately ten seconds passes. Damiana doesn't give a verbal response during this time. Rather, she grants each of her teammates a small smile. Before she has a chance to do anything more, Adriel returns from whatever section of the upper level he'd disappeared to. In his arms is a laptop computer, a black USB drive resting atop it. For once Adriel doesn't grin and he doesn't have that familiar, chipper, edge to his stride. His demeanor is entirely businesslike.
"A full map of the museum that includes restricted areas can only be found in the possession of security guards on our company USB drives. The date I open the file, how many times I view it, and any changes I make will be recorded. If I download any additional copies of this map, that information will also be recorded. Because of that, we're going to have to be careful. Pay close attention, because I don't want to open the map more than once if I can help it."
Once he is through explaining, the Titans move apart to make room on the sofa for the ponytailed man. It is only after he is sat down and booting up his laptop that Damiana responds with a kind smile.
"It's okay, Adriel. We get it. We don't want to get you in trouble on the job if we can help it."
As he logs into his user account and inserts the USB drive, he returns her smile. "I don't want to get into trouble either, but like I said. I'm willing to take the risk."
From here the four of them fall silent. Damiana is being crushed between Adriel and Cyborg, though she scarcely notices. All the girl's focus is on the computer screen as her childhood friend searches through files and opens various windows. From either side of herself and Adriel, Cyborg and Roy also observe the screen. After searching for what seems like an endless amount of time, as well as entering a password or two, they get to see the obscured final product. It isn't a flat, two-dimensional, map like Damiana had expected. Rather, it is three-dimensional, rotates, and is intricately detailed. Every hallway, giftshop, and exhibit is labeled, leaving not a single space to guesswork.
As soon as the map is full screen, Adriel sets his laptop down on the glass coffee table so that it can be seen more clearly. Touching the tips of his fingers to the mousepad, he rotates the image so that it is shown from the back of the building. Once it is at the proper angle, he zooms in on an area on the second floor. Although Damiana has been on the second floor before, this section of the map is unfamiliar. Rather than being in the center of the level with the exhibits, the room that Adriel is focusing on is in an isolated area near the end of a hallway.
Adriel zooms in a bit more, the hallway as well as the rest of the building fading from view. What is left on the screen is the layout of a rather small room. Besides a few rough images of glass display cases, the room doesn't seem to contain much. In the bottom corner of the section of map are bold white letters, red letters in all capitals placed directly beneath them. The white letters read "Metropolis Mines 1760s Exhibit", while the red letters spell a simple "Closed".
Furrowing her brow, Damiana is prepared to inquire about the exhibit. However, Roy manages to beat her to it.
"'The Metropolis Mines'? I didn't know that this city ever had a mining industry."
Although the man's businesslike demeanor remains intact, an eager smile manifests at the archer's remark. "It sure did. A few years before the Revolution, Metropolis was the largest mining industry in the colonies. For a period of ten to fifteen years, this place was a boomtown! Until its prosperity was destroyed by the American Revolution. It turned into a ghost town after that, and didn't get put on the map again until the 1830s. The 1830s is recorded as Metropolis' official beginning, as if the 1760s-mining period never happened." Laughing slightly, he continues. "The museum thought that people would love hearing about Metropolis' prehistory, but that wasn't the case. The exhibit closed after less than six months."
After his explanation is finished, Adriel zooms out so that the entire map is in view. Damiana isn't sure which button he presses, but it causes the labels of several rooms to become highlighted in yellow. As Damiana reads the highlighted labels, she discovers that each one belongs to an exhibit that shut down. When Adriel resumes speaking, the girl finds herself intrigued.
"The Metropolis Mines exhibit was one of many failed projects. The museum has twelve closed exhibits in total. If you haven't found what your criminal is after in the areas that are open to the public, then I must concur with the three of you and assume that what he is after is in one of the closed exhibits. Even if the public didn't embrace them, they're filled with hidden treasures." Pausing, the man turns away from the device to look at them. "Before we jump in and start searching, though, I need to know the details about your criminal. I need to know what areas you've already searched, too. If we don't find anything in the off-limits areas, we're going to have to turn back to public places."
Cyborg gives a firm nod from beside Damiana. "We understand. It wouldn't make sense for us to run in without a plan. What do you need to know?"
The cherry red of his eyes still marvelously intact, he queries, "What is Black Shadow's personality like? Is he a flashy villain that likes to show off his abilities during a fight, or does he prefer striking more effectively? Does he like to hear himself talk, or does he let his powers do the talking? Is he bold or is he cunning? Those sorts of things. A brief description of his powers and his plan would be helpful, too."
The trio falls momentarily silent. They consider the ponytailed man's questions carefully, trying to decide the best way to describe their adversary. When one of them finally begins giving the details, it is none other than Roy.
"The best way to explain Black Shadow would be as the hide and strike type of villain. His powers are shadow-based, meaning that he can control shadows, make his own creations using shadows, and he can morph his body into a shadow. Because Black Shadow can take on shadow form, he hides in the walls or in dark corners until he decides to come out. After he comes out, he talks to us; it's his way of manipulating his opponents so that they're emotional during the fight. Then, once the fight starts, Black Shadow goes back to hiding and lets his shadows do the work. He will usually come out one more time before leaving, but only after the fight is done." Looking the man in the eye, Roy states bluntly, "The guy is cunning and manipulative. He should never be underestimated."
Adriel narrows his cherry eyes thoughtfully. "I see. We're not talking about a careless and overconfident criminal. Black Shadow is in an entire other league. This does add a new light to things…" Looking at each of them individually, he asks, "What are the details of Black Shadow's plan? Do you know anything specific, or has he managed to conceal most of it?"
"We don't know everything that Black Shadow's planning, but we know that he's targeting the Titans and the Justice League," says Cyborg solemnly. "We also know what weapon he's planning on using. He has access to a machine that opens rifts. When he's using that machine, he has access to every planet and time period in history. It isn't an easy machine to build or to use, so that gives us more time, but not much. By now, I'm sure our time is almost out."
The man gives a strained sigh as he absorbs Cyborg's explanation. Appearing downcast all of a sudden, he turns away from the three of them and toward the screen of the laptop. Before facing away completely, Damiana swears that she sees cherry red shifting to gray.
"In that case, we have no time to waste. We'll map out the exhibits we're searching and go from there. Whether the areas we're searching are public or private, I'll stick with you guys. In a case like this, I'm sure you won't mind having an extra hand."
Later
"I can't thank you enough for accepting my help. I know I'm not one of the heroes, but I believe that my help will be beneficial either way."
The group of four loiters near the museum outside of the employee entrance. It is at the museum's back, leaving it far more deserted than the front entrance. Besides a few passersby and the occasional pigeon, nobody else is around. Damiana stands directly at Adriel's side, Roy and Cyborg across from them. They eye the metal door curiously, wondering what they're going to find now that they have Adriel.
Turning to gaze at the ponytailed man, Damiana smiles fondly. "Don't worry Adriel. We're more than glad to have you here. This is a huge help to us."
"Seriously, man. We wouldn't be getting very far without you," adds Cyborg.
In spite of the dire situation, Adriel gives a small grin. "Thank you. I'll do whatever it takes to help the three of you pinpoint what your villain is after." Pausing, he continues with his brow furrowed in thought. "I have an extra access card on me, too. I'm not sure how you were wanting to do this, but the way I see it, we can either search as a group of four or split up into groups of two."
Looking away from the metallic door, the trio of Titans exchange glances. Groups of two? Admittedly, Damiana had never considered such a thing. Of course, now that she thinks about it, the idea doesn't sound bad. There are twelve closed exhibits that need to be searched. With two groups searching instead of one, the number is cut down to six and their progress is doubled. Each closed exhibit is located on the second, third, and basement levels as well. With four exhibits on each of those floors, they won't need to go to separate ends of the museum to search like they had to do previously.
As an intent expression flickers through Victor's hazel eyes, and as Roy's lips quirk into a frown of consideration, Damiana concludes that their thoughts are along the same lines as her own. When they turn their gazes back to Adriel, it is Roy who confirms for the lot of them.
"Groups of two are a good idea. I think we should stay on the same floor, though. It's been three days since we've started searching and five days since we left Steel City. Black Shadow could strike any time now, and we need to stay close."
Damiana doesn't hesitate for an instant as she gives her support. "I'm with Speedy. If we're splitting into groups, then we need to stay on the same level where we can get to each other quickly. If two of us are on the third floor while the other two are on the second, it would be way too risky."
Holding his employee access card delicately in his hand, Adriel peers at it with narrowed eyes. A second later he gazes at them while giving a single, firm, nod. His warm, cherry, eyes are compliant.
"Okay. Groups of two it is, then." Glancing over at Cyborg, he asks, "You're okay with splitting up, right? If not, we don't have to take my suggestion."
Cyborg answers bluntly. "If it'll help us find what Black Shadow is after faster, then I'm all for it. The clock is ticking, so we don't have much time left." Furrowing his brow, he asks, "How were you thinking we should split up? Do you want to go with Leila while I go with Speedy?"
When Adriel responds, there isn't the slightest amount of hesitation. Crossing his arms over his chest, the young man glues his stare to the redhead in the sunglasses.
"Actually, why don't you go with Leila? I would rather partner up with Speedy."
Roy doesn't understand why, but the foreboding that he felt in his gut this morning has more than doubled since entering the museum. His sunglasses are in place, his backpack is strapped on securely, and the archer's bow is held close to his side beneath the fabric of his sweatshirt. As disconcerting as it is, Roy has rarely felt more relief at having his weapons so close.
The redhead walks alongside the ponytailed man wearing the khakis, the duo sauntering down an isolated corridor on the basement level. Neither man makes eye contact with the other. They keep their gazes pointed toward the hallway's center, a set of dust-covered glass doors adorned by an automated lock entrancing them. As far as Roy can see, the set of double doors that they are currently viewing leads to the only room in this portion of the museum. The hallway prior had its own untouched entrance, Leila and Cyborg currently searching the room lying beyond it. More than anything, Roy wishes that he could be in the previous room with either his fire-using companion or the robotic Titan. Being around this Dabnodian man, Adriel, is unsettling to say the least…
The man is good-humored and energetic just as Leila explained he would be. Between this morning's belly dancing class and the many kind smiles he has given them, believing differently would be nearly impossible. Yet, despite what he has witnessed, Roy can't stop himself from being leery of Adriel. While it is clear that he has good intentions, as a man without good intentions would never risk their employment, there seems to be something else beneath his chipper exterior. Roy can't pinpoint exactly what this something is. All the archer knows is that it doesn't belong.
Pulling his dark glasses down by a notch, Roy risks a glance in the Dabnodian man's direction. Even as the two of them make their way down this forsaken corridor, the redhead is still able to sense something off about his demeanor. While Adriel's pace is even and his facial expression at ease, the fact that his posture is ramrod straight is a dead giveaway that the man isn't as joyful as he appears. Also what gives Adriel away are the color of his eyes. They were the popping color of cherry red earlier. The instant they separated from Cyborg and Leila, however, the color vanished. His irises are currently stormy gray. If Leila is any indication, this is not a pleasant color.
Roy observes him for several lengthy seconds. Considering how Adriel's posture stiffens farther, the man is fully aware of his watchful stare. Yet, for one reason or another, he says nothing. This is not a surprise, though. He hasn't spoken to Roy once since entering the building.
It feels like eternity rather than a single minute, but eventually Roy and Adriel come to a halt outside of the dust-coated doors. Nonchalant mask glued flawlessly to his face, Adriel reaches a hand inside of his pants pocket and removes a small card bearing his photograph. Roy doesn't have to do a double-take to recognize it as an employee access card. When he waves it in front of the automated lock, the blinking light changing from red to green, this is more than confirmed. There isn't a moment of pause. Before the light has a chance to shift back to red, he gives the handle a firm tug and pulls open one of the glass doors.
Roy doesn't bother waiting for Adriel. He enters the room in a manner that is both slow and determined, gazing at his surroundings as motion-activated lights flicker to life. For a full thirty seconds Roy doesn't move. He simply observes. Besides cobwebs, dust, and display cases blanketed by grime, there is absolutely nothing in here. Several sections of the walls contain plaques and posters, but much like the display cases, they are indecipherable due to buildup of dust.
Several moments pass, and eventually Adriel joins Roy. The ponytailed man looks around in a blank, emotionless, manner, as if uncertain of what to do from here. Due to what appears to be an unkempt area that lacks items that hold any sort of value, the redhead is currently experiencing similar thoughts. Even so, he doesn't voice them. Taking a step toward one of the enclosure's many display cases, he reaches out an index finger and carefully runs it across the glass. Particles of dust take to the surrounding air as Roy does this, causing him to unleash an echoing sneeze. As a result, the remaining dust flies off the display case to reveal a vast assortment of rocks.
Upon seeing the contents of the case, the archer raises a skeptical brow. Some rocks are rough, others are smooth, and they come in many different shapes and colors. Even so, this doesn't impress him. How could it? They're rocks.
Turning to face the man, Roy speaks to him sounding inquisitive as much as doubtful.
"Rocks? This whole exhibit isn't actually about rocks, is it? If it is, I see why it closed down…"
When it happened, Roy doesn't know, but Adriel is no longer standing beside him. The man loiters several feet away from the nearest display case, facing a series of plaques and posters that are attached to the stone walls. Upon hearing his frustrated remark, he turns away from the wall hangings while laughing light-heartedly. Adriel's eyes were gray only seconds earlier, but all of a sudden, his irises have shifted to red.
"What's so bad about rocks? Personally, I think that rocks are fascinating. For all you know, Black Shadow could have that same opinion. These rocks are from planets all over the galaxy, after all, so maybe there is a mineral in one of them that he needs to help stabilize his machine."
Roy opens his mouth partway, prepared to counter the argument. However, it comes to his realization that Adriel makes a fair point. If these rocks come from other planets, then Black Shadow actually could be after one of them. Who knows? Maybe metal from alien rocks can keep the rifts made by his machine open longer than metal from Earth rocks? Now that the archer considers this, it is a definite possibility…
Furrowing his ginger brows beneath his sunglasses in thought, Roy makes an inquiry.
"What planets do these rocks come from?"
To the archer's befuddlement, the ponytailed Dabnodian doesn't answer immediately. He walks in a swift, nonchalant, manner toward the double doors. Upon reaching his destination Adriel tugs them shut, the room's only exit locking with a firm click. This alarms Roy to no end, his mouth hanging agape as the alien turns to face him. Unfortunately, Adriel doesn't give the boy time for protesting. He replies to his inquiry with an easy smile and cherry red eyes. Of course, as always since this morning, his spine is rigidly straight.
"The rocks in this room come from a lot of planets. Cintari, the Drynthax moons, Tamaran, Earth, and of course, Dabnod." Posture turning all the more severe, Adriel saunters in his direction. "She told you, didn't she? I could tell from the moment you walked into the studio that she told you. Perhaps not Cyborg, but you."
Obscured emerald eyes widening to the size of disks, the redhead gawks. Whether he is feeling surprised or fearful in this moment, Roy isn't sure. Though, he definitely feels something of the sort.
On impulse, the archer untucks his bow from the inside of his sweatshirt in a single, fluid, motion. During the same motion, he removes an arrow from the civilian backpack that acts as his quiver. Loading the arrow into his bow in a span of time that takes less than a second, Roy draws the string and aims it at the man. The string does not get released, but one wrong move on Adriel's part, and Roy will not hesitate to open fire.
"Yes, Leila told me! Do you have a problem with that? You locked us both in here, so you probably do."
Adriel continues moving toward him, seemingly unaffected by his actions. Grimacing in a dense combination of fear and anger, Roy pulls the string of his bow back farther while increasing in volume.
"I'm warning you! Try something, and I'll shoot! Smile all you want. Either way, I know that you didn't lock the door for nothing!"
It is only when Adriel is three feet away that he stops moving. The man no longer wears a lighthearted expression, neither are his eyes cherry red. They have regained their color of stormy gray, and somewhere in the process, his smile morphed into a small, lingering, frown. Somehow, that frown is all it takes to cause Roy to falter. It isn't anything menacing, scheming, or even angry. Rather, Adriel's frown is one filled with despair.
When the Dabnodian man speaks, Roy unsheathes the arrow from his bow completely. The weapon is still firmly in his grasp, but nevertheless, he finds himself staring at Adriel in curiosity along with leeriness.
"I didn't lock us in here for the reason you think. No fighting, no weapons, no disagreements; I don't want any of that. The only thing I want is a chance to talk to you."
Anger never leaves his tone. Although, mingling with anger is interest.
"Why do you want to talk to me? Are you afraid that I'm going to tell Leila's secret to the other Titans, or that I have a perverted human fetish for alien women? If this is what you're thinking, then you're wasting your time. I'm not about to tell anyone that Leila is a Dabnodian, and I have no intention of seducing her. Save yourself the lecture."
It is at this point that Adriel sighs. The stormy gray of his eyes darkens to smoky gray, and his frown intensifies.
"You're like every other person I've ever met. Always jumping to conclusions." Crossing his arms over his chest, he sighs once more. "I don't want to lecture you. I want talk. There's an enormous difference between the two."
While the archer is still livid, not to mention wary, he manages a puzzled frown. "Talk about what? About your planet? About Black Shadow? About Leila? You're not making sense."
Smoky gray has darkened completely to black, the Dabnodian's voice flowing with despair.
"Of course I'm not making sense. What I'm saying isn't going make sense, but it will eventually." Adriel moves a step closer, his expression growing more somber with every passing second. "I just wanted to say, Roy, that Leila trusts you. When we met back up a few days ago, we had a lengthy conversation about the Teen Titans. Out of every member of the Titans, she trusts you the most. Leila didn't give an outright confession, but she didn't have to. Even when complaining about you, she says your name fondly. I don't think I can ever recall Leila trusting someone as much as she trusts you."
Roy's bow and single arrow become lax in his grip. Very suddenly, the archer is no longer so leery. Adriel's words strike him like a punch to the gut, causing his emerald eyes to widen.
"Leila trusts me? Are you sure you're not exaggerating? There's no way that she can trust me that much."
Adriel, while his eyes retain their color, manages a small smile.
"I'm not exaggerating in the slightest. Somehow, during the short time that you've known each other, you've earned her trust." Smile vanishing, he continues. "To be honest, I don't think that Leila herself realizes how much she trusts you. All Leila is focused on right now is the happiness of feeling attachment. The trust is there, though, and it is much deeper than she thinks."
The weapons never leave his grasp, though they remain dangling loosely at his side. For a long moment, Roy doesn't look at Adriel. His emerald gaze rests on the locked double doors. When he shifts his concealed eyes back to the man, they are narrowed in befuddlement.
"I understand that she trusts me. True, I don't think she trusts me as much as you say she does, but I know that it's there. What I don't understand is why you would lock both of us in here to tell me something so simple."
The onyx color of Adriel's eyes doesn't lighten by as little as a smidge. Expression darkening more than before, the man closes his color-changing eyes and takes a deep breath. He doesn't appear to do this from frustration, but rather, does it to collect himself. It is only after performing this action that he responds with a heavy tone.
"The information I'm sharing is far from 'simple'. It doesn't seem like it right now, but the fact that Leila trusts you means everything."
From here Adriel doesn't say a word. The Dabnodian saunters away from Roy in a bizarre, dejected, manner, his waist-length ponytail swaying with each individual step. Where he is heading, the redhead isn't certain. The only thing he can do is follow Adriel with his eyes. For some odd reason, he ends up in front of a display case that is concealed by a white sheet and a thick layer of dust. The man stares blankly at the hulking object, motioning for Roy join him several seconds later.
Roy briefly remains where he stands, feeling more than puzzled. Nonetheless, with his ginger brow arched, he walks over to join the Dabnodian. Once Roy begins moving, Adriel continues from where he left off. In the process, he tugs the sheet away from the display case to reveal a single stone. The stone is smooth, round, and gray with a pink cast to it. However, the pink is not the factor that makes it unique. Carved boldly into the rock's center is the shape of a waning crescent, the crescent filled in with a type of unearthly mineral similar to obsidian.
As the young Titan observes the stone, a sinister feeling leaks into the surrounding atmosphere. What Adriel says to him only adds to the room's growing eeriness.
"Listen to me, and listen carefully. Something is going to happen to Leila. What happens to her isn't going to be small. It will be big, and it is going to shake her to her core. Everything Leila has ever believed to be true is going to come crashing down around her. Reality is going to slap her across the face, and it is going to hurt."
Roy's mouth hangs agape at Adriel's comment. In all his life, never has he heard a person say anything that sounds so bizarre and so foreboding all at once. Pointing his gaze away from the stone and toward Adriel, he furrows his concealed brow while making an inquiry. The entire time his fingers tighten around his bow yet again.
"What do you mean 'reality is going to shake her'? What the heck are you talking about? You say that everything you're saying is going to make sense at some point, but is it really? Right now, it sounds like you're spouting off a load of crap!"
Adriel, who'd previously been staring at the rock, turns to face him. Despite Roy's rather intense reaction, his response is calm. Even so, the obsidian of his irises isn't missed.
"Whether or not what I'm saying sounds true doesn't matter. Eventually what I'm saying will prove to be factual."
The man takes a deep, lengthy, breath prior to continuing.
"The only thing that should matter to you is the only thing that matters to me, and that's Leila. When she is shaken to the core, she is going to need a pillar to hold her up. I'm not going to be able to serve as that pillar for a variety of reasons. Because of this, I'm entrusting her wellbeing to you, Roy. A person never truly knows what is at their core until their entire reality comes unraveled. Only then is it discovered if, at their core, a person is self-serving or self-sacrificing.
"When Leila's reality comes unraveled, when she discovers what is truly at her core, be the pillar for her that I cannot be."
Roy's grip tightens around his bow so intensely that the knuckles of his hand become white. The atmosphere of the room grows eerier with each second that passes, feeling so heavy that the redhead almost struggles to breath. More than anything, he wants to say that this belly dancing man with the ponytail is talking nonsense. Adriel does strike him as a strange individual, after all, so why wouldn't his words be nonsense?
Yet, despite his use of logic, a sinking feeling strikes. Even if the man's warning never comes to pass, the expression on Adriel's face is all it takes to cause the redhead to second guess himself. Never has a man appeared more serious or more in despair.
Taking a breath of his own, Roy makes an inquiry. The grip on his bow never loosens.
"If something is really going to happen, what is it? And how the heck do you know about it?"
Adriel turns his gaze back to the display case, eyes locking onto the rose-colored stone bearing the crescent. His already visible frown deepens.
"As much as I would like to explain everything, I can't. It will explain itself soon enough." He takes a lengthy, nearly endless, pause prior to continuing. "When it happens, you and Leila are going to wish it hadn't. Even if you aren't a Dabnodian, know that it's going to shake you as much as it does her. That's why I'm giving you forewarning; so you can brace yourself."
Emerald orbs narrow beneath Roy's dark glasses.
"If this 'future event' you're telling me about is so intense, why don't you just tell Leila? It sounds like she needs to be the one bracing herself. Not me."
Shutting his eyes in a pained fashion, Adriel gives a dry, humorless, chuckle. "Why do you think I'm telling you instead of Leila? Nothing I say could ever prepare her, Roy. Dabnod was Leila's home. It was perfect in every way, even if it was her prison. Not once did she notice that everything she called 'reality' was only an illusion." Chuckling once more, in a fashion that could only be called traumatic, the Dabnodian adds, "Saeran never noticed the illusion, either. The only one who saw through it was me."
He doesn't make eye contact with Roy. Yet, the liquid that gathers in the man's charcoal eyes is still visible. An expression of undiluted agony overtakes Adriel's face, silver tears streaking down his cheeks and trailing to the bottom of his chin. Adriel stands tall, doing what he can to keep his composure. Even so, his gait shudders. It is only after seeing this that Roy loosens his grip on his bow. Somehow, although he has every reason to doubt this man, the redhead finds himself doubting him less than before…
Frowning, the redhead looks from Adriel back at the rock. What exactly this rock is, the Titan isn't certain. Neither does he know why Adriel lead them to it. Thus, Roy's next inquiry.
"Adriel, out of curiosity, what is that rock supposed to be?"
Drying his tears in a swift, haphazard, fashion, the man explains calmly. "This rock is called rose stone. It was very common on Dabnod. Many civilian homes were built from it, and so was the Dabnodian Palace. This specific stone was crafted by some friends of mine. They carved the waning crescent and inlaid it with onyxrock shortly before the destruction of our planet."
Roy takes another moment to glance the rock over, far more intrigued than he should be. Curiosity peaking, he asks an additional question.
"Why a crescent? Couldn't they have carved something else? Like a star or an animal?"
"No," says Adriel bluntly. For some odd reason, his eyes glaze over in a detached, emotionless, fashion. "The symbol they carved had to be a waning crescent. It couldn't have been anything else."
Concealed, ginger, brow furrowing in perplexity, he queries simply, "Why not?"
"A waning crescent was the Dabnodian symbol for sacrifice. Toward the end, it was becoming very popular."
The redhead turns his gaze to the stone yet again, his interest intensifying. By now, Roy doesn't know whether he should feel sympathy for Adriel or if he should believe that he's crazy. The man is obviously in pain, and over more than the loss of his planet. What exactly this pain stems from, though, he isn't certain. At the same time, however, Adriel speaks of the future. He gave Roy an entire lecture about things that haven't happened yet, saying that they are going to happen, that they're going to be bad, and that he and Leila need to be prepared. If a person tells a complete stranger about the future and expects them to believe what they're saying, then they must be crazy on some level…
Before Roy has can consider these thoughts for a moment longer, however, something occurs to him. It hits the Titan like a bolt, causing his grass-colored eyes to widen. On multiple occasions during their conversation, didn't Adriel call him "Roy"? He never shared that name with him!
Not certain of whether to feel frightened or surprised, he turns to face the Dabnodian. How does he know Roy's civilian name? Maybe Leila used "Roy" instead of "Speedy" in front of him at some point? That has to be it.
Unfortunately for the redhead, the time to inquire about it doesn't come. From the room beside theirs, a thunderous crash is heard. The wall separating this exhibit from the one that Leila and Cyborg are searching collapses, a cloud of dust filling the air. The entire conversation that was just shared with Adriel is immediately forgotten. Tossing his sunglasses aside, Roy reaches into the side pocket of his backpack and removes the black and white mask. It takes less than an instant for him to securely attach it to his face, the Titan boy leaping into a fighting stance. Adriel takes on a fighting position as well, several of the rocks from the collapsed wall rising from the pile following a short series of arm motions.
Roy is not surprised by the man's rock-using abilities, and if he was, there would be no time to elaborate. The dust settles, revealing a large, dragon-like, creature with three heads. The creature is black and has six piercing red eyes, immediately telling Roy where it comes from. When familiar laughter resonates throughout the now combined rooms, his suspicions are confirmed.
The dust clears farther, revealing a disheveled Cyborg and Leila on the opposite side of the rock pile. Cyborg appears as himself rather than Victor, his arm cannon activated and aimed at the villain's shadow creature. Leila's brown curls already appear wild and tousled, a flaming whip at the ready in each hand. False green eyes burn with determination.
When Cyborg shouts to him loudly, it couldn't be plainer that this mission just took a dire turn.
"Speedy, help us beat this thing so we can find Black Shadow! He got away from us twice already! He isn't escaping again!"
It never ceases to amaze Damiana how everything can be calm one minute, and an instant later, the world seems like it is falling apart. Approximately twenty minutes ago, she had been one-hundred percent certain that their search of the basement level would be uneventful. The room that she and Cyborg had wandered into, aside from a scant few display cases and the occasional plaque, was empty. Upon clearing layers of dust and several white sheets from the glass cases, Damiana's suspicions seemed all but confirmed. The only thing seen within the cases were chunks of metal, much of it varying in size, color, and texture. Red-tinted metal that was smooth, bluish-gray metal that was rough, orange metal spotted by specks of black, this was all Damiana came across.
Meanwhile, as Damiana searched dust-coated display cases, Cyborg was transforming plaques and posters into more decipherable condition. It took much clearing of grime, as well as some quick polishing, but eventually the words and pictures could be made out clearly. As Cyborg looked them over, the girl assumed that it would only be fifteen minutes until they were ready to move on. Once the metal man spoke to her, however, Damiana immediately learned that her initial estimation had been wrong.
"You should come over here and take a look, Leila. I think we found something."
At that moment, Damiana had been gazing into another display case. One that, peculiarly enough, was empty. Raising a brow at her robotic teammate's words, she sauntered in his direction while sporting a concerned frown.
"What did you find? Hopefully not step-by-step directions for crafting an infinite power supply."
The girl saw as he narrowed a single hazel eye in apprehension.
"Not exactly, but it might as well be. Look at this poster! It explains the types of metal that are in this room and what they can be used for. Most of this metal isn't from Earth, and if it is, it's not common. A lot of this stuff isn't even on the periodic table."
Once at his side, Damiana's eyes trailed to the poster that he was looking at. Certainly enough, it contained a detailed chart of each of the metals seen in the display cases. Exactly as her robotic teammate claimed, the vast majority of them were not from Earth. Some of them were native to the Drynthax moons, others to Cintari, some to the dimension of Azarath, and one was native to Tamaran. Only a couple of the metals were from Earth, and much like everything else on the chart, Damiana had never heard of them. Of course, unfamiliar or not, this doesn't mean that there wasn't something that caught her eye.
Toward the very bottom of the chart, the smallest portion of the poster with a minuscule description, was a photograph of a brown-colored metal with a tint of green. By this point Damiana had already looked inside each display case. Out of all of them, she hadn't seen the smallest trace of this metal anywhere. Curiosity peaked because of this, she'd allowed her eyes to rest there and read the metal's description. Merely a brief three sentences ensued: "Zenotrum: A rare Earth metal mined in the late 1700's. Noted for its malleable yet hardy properties. In the modern day, is considered a reliable source of long-lasting energy."
Damiana furrowed her brow and read the description a second time. Specifically, she'd read the final sentence. …a reliable source of long-lasting energy… False green eyes widening in realization, the girl glanced back at the most recent display case she'd searched. Empty. It wasn't by chance that she hadn't noticed Zenotrum amongst the other metals. Zenotrum was missing.
Shifting her gaze from the empty display case to Cyborg, Damiana relayed her thoughts in horror. Cyborg's single hazel eye was frightened to say the least, telling her that the robotic man already understood their situation.
Nodding, first at the poster and then at the display case, she spoke in a whisper. "Cyborg, I don't know for sure if you've noticed, but Zenotrum is gone. That case over there doesn't have anything in it, and Zenotrum is the only metal on the chart that I haven't seen. It isn't here."
Her teammate didn't follow her gaze. He kept it locked on her face in a mixture of fright and comprehension. His own voice quiet, he replied to her sounding particularly concerned.
"I know. When we first came in here, I scanned the room with my sensors. Traces of Zenotrum were found around that case, but the metal itself isn't here. It used to be here, though. The fact that it used to be here and that it isn't now…that's a bad sign. I doubt the museum staff took away a long-lasting power source to polish it."
It was here that Damiana nibbled her lower lip. Shivers made their way over her skin as she ran Cyborg's words through her head. As the shivers dissipated, dread took their place.
"If what Black Shadow is after is already gone, then what are we going to do? Black Shadow is probably long gone by now! He could be here in Metropolis, or in another part of the country! What are we supposed to tell Robin? That Black Shadow got away again, and that this time he has a long-lasting power source plus the schematics to the machine?! Things are going from bad to worse!"
Damiana didn't realize it, but in that moment, the corners of the room darkened. Neither did Cyborg notice, because he gave the girl a downcast response.
"I know we don't like it, and Speedy won't either, but we have to tell this to Robin. He's the leader of our combined teams, and he needs to know. If we don't tell him, then we have even less of a chance of stopping Black Shadow."
The corners' shadows thickened more so, the overhead lights toward the edges of the room beginning to flicker. Although, this occurrence was subtle. Therefore, it was easily missed.
"Don't worry. I'm not seriously suggesting that we keep this a secret from Robin. I'm just worried. Who knows how much damage Black Shadow can do with Zenotrum?!"
It was only after Damiana's panicked words were spoken that the room's oddities caught the Titans' attention. The shadows grew to such a thickness that they began pooling toward the deserted exhibit's center, inky black clashing with dust-covered white. Every available light began flickering along with the shadows' growth, bathing the area in a dim glow.
Cyborg and Damiana were immediately pulled from their conversation as a result. The duo hardly had the opportunity to process their movements. They moved closer to each other as if on autopilot, Cyborg's arm instantaneously morphing into a cannon. During the same moment Damiana brought her fire whips to life, the girl taking on a solid stance while facing the shadows. Very suddenly, she realized that they wouldn't have to worry about reporting Black Shadow's whereabouts to Robin. He'd been lying in wait for them, probably for days by this point. Lying in wait, waiting patiently for the Teen Titans to show up so that he could see them fail once more.
When Black Shadow spoke, his voice sounding amused, Damiana's suspicions were confirmed.
"Don't overreact, dear fire goddess. The amount of Zenotrum in that case was scant. Hardly enough to stabilize a single one of my machines. What I took was merely the sample. I will be needing much more." Chuckling, he adds, "Not that you Titans would be able to stop me either way. How long did it take you to figure out what I wanted from this place? Three days? Pathetic by hero standards. It would take you longer than that to stop me from getting more Zenotrum. First you have to figure out where I'm getting it from, and then you have to come up with a plan. By the time you finally have a chance, I'll be able to open a rift big enough to split Earth in two."
Damiana took a step away from Cyborg and lengthened her fire whips, glaring around the room. The robotic man, too, scanned the area for traces of the criminal. Unfortunately, his precise location was impossible to decipher.
"You think the Titans are going to sit back and let you get away? I'm telling you, man, it's not happening! We'll stop you no matter what it takes!" exclaimed the metallic Titan.
The disembodied voice unleashed another chuckle. "Spoken like a true hero. Determined to stop the criminal, completely disregarding the momentous obstacles that stand in your way."
It was the alien girl who spoke next, venom in her tone. "Instead of taunting us from the shadows like a coward, get out here and show yourself! While you're at it, give us a hint about where you're looking for the Zenotrum! If the Teen Titans are as pathetic as you claim, then we shouldn't be a threat to you even if you gave us a map!"
The villain no longer chuckled. He laughed openly, sounding content more than anything.
"It gives me such pleasure to see you, fiery death goddess! You're a permanent member of the Titans East now, right? I look forward to seeing more of you during our battles." Contentment vanished from his voice, being replaced by menacing. "Anyway, as much as I would love to give you Titans a map, I'm afraid that I can't do that. I shouldn't even be talking to you, really, but curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see how long it would take you to discover that the Zenotrum was missing. Now that my curiosity has been satisfied, it is time for me to leave. Even so, I leave you with this parting gift."
Though Black Shadow's voice was no longer heard, the shadows in the room remained thick. The lights continued flickering as well, making it plain that the villain was still present. Damiana eyed the room carefully, wishing to figure out where in the walls the shadow-using criminal was hiding. Of course, an instant was all it took for the girl's efforts to come to a halt.
Rising from the puddle of inky black on the floor was a three-dimensional blob. For a long few seconds the blob was shapeless, appearing as nothing more than a mass of dark mud. Once it grew longer, however, Damiana learned that this wasn't the case. As it lengthened charcoal scales began sprouting, along with four legs out of the bottom, a tail out of the rear, and three heads out of the neck. Each head contained piercing red eyes, giving the creature a demonic sort of appearance.
False emerald eyes wide with a combination of shock and fear, Damiana leapt backwards by several feet. The creature observed her with six narrowed eyes, pointed teeth on display as it snarled at her violently. By now Damiana's fire whips had a similar circumference to an adult python and they could span half the room. The entire time she made eye contact with Cyborg using her peripheral vision.
"Uh… Cy? What the heck is that thing? Can Black Shadow actually do that?!"
Before answering, her metallic teammate shot at the monster using his arm cannon. It unleashed a dragon-like roar in response, causing Damiana to wrap her flaming weapons around it's torso and toss it backward by several meters. Its roar intensified, the alien girl extinguishing her whips and launching fiery blasts at it using her fists. The entire time Cyborg set the space aglow with the light of his arm cannon, firing rapidly.
Meanwhile, he managed a response. "That's one of Black Shadow's shadow creatures. He learned how to make them during his year in solitary confinement. This is only the second time I've fought one of these things, but let me warn you, they don't go down easy!"
Holes started to form in the thin, shadowy, skin of the three-headed dragon, but somehow it grew back together amid their attacks. Less than a minute is what it took for it to repair itself. Once in prime condition, the creature screeched in a manner that sounded more like a banshee than a dragon. So ear shattering was the noise that several stones in the wall closest to it to came loose. Damiana took a moment to cover her ears, cringing harshly until it ceased in its wails to charge them.
More irritated than frightened by this point, Damiana leapt boldly in the monster's direction while bringing both hands together with a particularly large fire blast. The blast managed to knock it back to its previous location near the wall. When Damiana followed the flaming blast with a massive exhale of her fire breath, the creature screeched once more and was knocked through the wall completely. Falling rocks and a dense cloud of dust hardly fazed her. Shoving a tousled lock of brown behind her ear, the girl grumbled her frustrations to Cyborg.
"This is exactly what Black Shadow did that time I fought him with the Titans East! He taunted us, gave us something to fight, and hid like a coward! How does he have enough guts to call the Titans pathetic?! He couldn't even figure out how to make his doomsday machine without our help!"
The dust from the collapsed portion of the wall cleared, revealing an intact three-headed dragon, and a ready-to-fight Speedy and Adriel. The only reason Damiana uses Speedy instead of Roy is because, for the first time in days, his bow is in hand and his mask is in place.
Apparently Cyborg sees them, too, because he shouts loudly.
"Speedy, help us beat this thing so we can find Black Shadow! He got away from us twice already! He isn't escaping again!"
A/N: That's it for now, everyone. I really wanted to finish the fight with Black Shadow's monster in this chapter, plus have Saeran destroy Speedy, but alas there was not enough room. Both of these things I will include in the next chapter. I really can't wait to have Speedy meet Saeran! I was so sad that there wasn't enough room in this chapter to include it. :,(
Also, so all of you know, Part Three will probably be over in another 3-5 chapters. If you haven't caught on by now, this story is about conflict between Dabnodians and other Dabnodians rather than conflict between Dabnodians and Tamaraneans. Starfire will still get involved, just not in the manner everyone was expecting. Hopefully the inner conflict that happened on Dabnod is just as interesting to everyone :).
Anyway, thank you guys for reading, and thanks again for the reviews! I'll try and shove fatigue aside and get another chapter out during May. I've never worked two jobs at once before, neither have I worked 10-12 hour shifts, so this is definitely an adjustment for me. You have no idea how much I appreciate your patience! Until next time, all! :D
Forever and Always,
OCQ