Disclaimer: By this means, I rightfully claim ownership to this fanfiction story and my original character within it, by my trademark signature T.M.O at the conclusion of every update. Any other characters that may appear in this work and are new, these are the rightful properties by their creators as well and cannot be reproduced, or duplicated without their individual consent. I do not own anything within the DC Universe, from Warner Brothers, or on Cartoon Network. The only original character and the name that I created for him; that I accept half ownership on is Falcon from this telling. Scififanfreak222 owns the second half of him as well, for drawing him upon a collaboration of various new designs and sketches within the year of 2010; and cannot be knowingly placed into another literary document, writing community, comic book series, and or televised broadcast without either of our written or verbal consent in front of legal consultants. TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne, Scififanfreak222, xSaffire55x, Novus Ordo Seclorum, and RavenxIsxAxBlackxRose; each of these fellow writers have helped me to press onwards with this story, every-time I have come across writers block. Without their outstanding guidance, the updates would have taken me even longer to complete.
Chapter 14 is in! Beast Boy looks into his heart, a young girl talks to her role model, as the climax of Red X and Slade's debut is finally reached. "Men willingly believe what they wish."-Julius Caesar-
Chapter 14 - Conflicting Paths
The muscular giant was now standing out from the field of tall grass, and the person continued to peer even harder at Beast Boy, locking their cold and faceless gaze onto the changeling's emerald eyes. Segments of his broken speech had escaped beneath his suddenly heavy breathing.
The darkness of the lonesome valley, along with the smoky mist concealed their face and chest behind the long robes of the gray cloak. There was blackness beneath the hood, but the void quickly revealed burning red demonic eyes, that peered forwards.
The mysterious greeter was rigid, they were very tall and the physical body shape was of formidable muscle and absolute strength, where Beast Boy was a string bean.
For an agonizing three minutes, these two remained looking at each other where the hero was stunned with everything that had happened, and slowly it started to sink in. He was not at the dam, Raven had gotten to him and Terra, he was somewhere else. Yet as he put these things together, the truth of his whereabouts haunted him, as he could never believe what he was actually seeing.
"So then, this is all in my head." Beast Boy stroked the back of his neck, before spreading his arms out like they were wings. "Why here, why now?"
The concealed stranger did not answer.
The changeling briefly chuckled; "Wow. This has got to be one of the strangest dreams I've ever had."
"This is no dream. All of this, everything you see around you is not a fantasy." The emissary replied in a deep and gritty male voice.
"First of all;" Beast Boy let his mouth hang agape as he pointed to the unidentifiable person. "What is going on here, and secondly, who are you?"
The shadowy figure clasped his sleeves over his hands, as he interlocked them in front of his abdomen. He carried himself like a priest or monk of an ancient peaceful order, and then he stepped around the Teen Titan as the shadows of light mirrored behind him.
"You always ask the obvious right away." He thought for a moment in silence. "Of course, I should know better, shouldn't I Garfield?"
Beast Boy's eyes immediately expanded, as a sense of terror gripped his heart. Now, only more questions fizzled and bubbled to the forefront of his thinking.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa . . . hang on." Beast Boy stammered while he kept his attention glued to the hilltop messenger. "Who are you?"
"Come now, you already know this." He pointed his right index finger by his head. "Just look around you, the blades of wet grass, the stars in the vast sky, the rolling hills, even me. All of this is just a construct within that ingenious skull of yours."
"Huh." Beast Boy spun like a top, twirling and staring upwards. "But I thought you said, that all of this was not imaginary?"
"It is very real. The brain is a powerful tool, and each living creature has their own creative depths within themselves." His eyes suddenly flared.
The changeling swallowed a bit of saliva before speaking his turn. "So then, I really was shot."
The emissary did not speak or step forwards, the wind was the only thing that rattled his long attire. Beast Boy closed his eyes, he squeezed his fists as he tried to force himself awake.
"It won't work." The envoy replied.
"How do you know?"
He sighed; "Go ahead then, try it. After your futility of this entire pointless nonsense, then we can get down to what the real problems at hand are."
Beast Boy slowly squinted his right eye open, then he shut it closed as he gritted his teeth. He allowed his entire body to become stiff as a board of wood. For two long minutes he just stood in place, trying to break himself free of this bizarre world he had awoken in.
In frustration, the shapeshifter threw his arms up into the air, and he howled at the moon. "Why are you still here?!"
The gloomy figure walked forwards, and he placed a hand onto Beast Boy's left shoulder. "You are here because of the events that happened."
"But why can't I wake up?" Beast Boy's voice trembled.
"You are fearful of the situation, that is normal."
"If this is all happening in my head, then, shouldn't I be able to control what the heck is going on?"
The tall guide removed his hand, and his gentle touch felt soothing to the young lad. He walked a few paces away and kept his back to the hero. "You cannot yet return to your world, because the wounds you sustained were terribly severe."
Beast Boy tilted his head. "I do remember a few things, the rest is a bit choppy though."
"It will take time, to put the rest of this story in order."
"Hey, if this is all in my mind. Then that must also mean-"
"Go on."
"Raven said something about this place, about running into someone." Beast Boy squinted his eyes. "Something about one of my emotions manifesting and talking to her. Was that . . . you?"
"Unfortunately no." The entity answered.
"Well then, that's just great." Beast Boy's voice rasped with sarcasm.
The greeter moved his attention back to the stars that shined through the clouds, only to watch them become swallowed by the spreading fog once more. "There are trials we must all face, we make our own footprints in life, while the waves of time come crashing in around us."
"I've heard that quote before." Beast Boy took a step forwards. "But I can't recall a face or the sound of the voice of who said it." He took another step. "But it is there, buried deep within, calling to me."
The reluctant cicerone that the changeling knew to be one of many constructs, of one of his emotions, bowed in silent obedience. The hero understood everything around him was artificial, and that this man, this entity was a piece of himself that he was talking to, but he was unclear of which part he was having the discussion with.
"You know many things, yet you decide to play the part of the fool in front of the others. The truly loud and full hearty jester of your friends."
No, he's not humor. "I think you give me too much credit." A cool and prickly sensation worked up Beast Boy's back after he said this.
The manifestation lightly chuckled. "There is great strength in you."
With his firm beliefs and stance of not backing down, he doesn't seem like fear to me. The hero said to himself. "Thanks for the kind words, but what is it you are here for? What do you want?"
"You are on the path of a great and powerful discovery, a journey which most people can never obtain, yet here you are."
"Lucky me." The changeling replied sarcastically, then he glanced to the landscape before continuing; "What is going to happen now?"
The guide began walking in a circle around the young superhero. "You are a rising star, turning your true potential to the tasks at hand. It is noble, respectable, but above all else it is humbling. You've come a long way since the team formed that cold winter night, now nothing more but an obscure footnote of your past."
He's clearly not my lazy side, and it's obvious through the way he talks, that he is wise. Beast Boy squinted. "That was like ages ago dude."
"You formed a bond with people of different backgrounds and troubles." The shady figure instantly stopped. "Where the others wanted to depart, yet you saw an opportunity to mold something far, far better than anything the whole lot of your friends ever thought possible."
"Why are you bringing this up?"
"If it were not for your stubborn instincts then, as you have now-"
"Yeah, yeah. Who knows where we would have ended up." Beast Boy shrugged his upper torso. "Time sure makes us notice things change though."
"But not the people." answered the guide.
"Hmmm, you know I never really thought of it like that." The changeling's squeaky voice slowly trailed off. "Come to think of it, I can't recall any differences from my friends from day one of our meeting."
"And this surprises you?"
"No, not really." The green skinned superhero revealed another smirk; "But then some things have changed."
"There is a flow to all living things, and the bonds we hold only weave their own patterns. Like an orchestra."
"Huh."
"The tiniest of notes, the most simple spectacles we preform day to day generates a power far beyond reasoning."
Beast Boy bit his lower lip before speaking. "It's just that I never expected things in my own head, to be so darned cryptic."
"You should give yourself more credit Beast Boy, it is unwise to lower yourself."
"What do you know about it?" The hero said in a snarky tone.
"It is of very poor taste, to constantly berate yourself." The cloaked figure walked ahead. "You will never learn, or grow to become greater if you always cast yourself down."
Beast Boy turned away, he opened his mouth but no words escaped. He felt a hand upon his shoulder again, and he merely looked at it. This discussion was like one he carried with Elasti-Girl, during his years with the Doom Patrol,
The hooded figure continued; "You worry about more things every day, the anger riles deep within, honing your judgment with swift consequences."
The young hero clenched his fingers and raised his shoulders. He knew a conversation could open some doors but this was completely unexpected, or wanted.
"If you are a piece of me like you say that you are, then you already know everything about me. Isn't that right?" The teenager asked, while turning around to confront the guide.
"Yes."
"We are one and the same. I don't know how I knew it when you first came across this field, but I knew." The changeling's eyes trembled.
"You called out to me." The guide softly responded, "Like in all your moments of doubt or peril, I am there, to carry the weight that holds you down."
"To lighten the burden."
"To make you see through the lies, the deceit and pain that you trudge through, where I am a fresh sense of clarity, in a very hostile and unforgiving world."
No. Not him, it cannot be him. Beast Boy took a step backwards as the realization of what emotion he was talking with, was now becoming much clearer. "I get it, but at the same time I am afraid. Terrified of what I will become."
"So do all men." replied the robed eccentric figure . "You need not fear me."
"No?" Beast Boy spoke above a whisper. "My hands are trembling, why do I have this desire to keep you away and locked up, buried deep down where you will never see the light of day?"
The emissary approached at a gradual pace. "What I am, is pure unbridled strength. I have only become more predominant in your life because you are constantly pushed into situations of bleak outcomes, and the voice of reason is stifled at every turn."
"It's just . . . I don't understand you. I never have and I am afraid. Afraid of the things you are capable of doing."
"The trees give you air to breathe, the fresh water sustains a balance, to drink and harvest plants to eat, while being part of you, I am just as vital."
"Yet you can take over." Beast Boy shook his head. "Like what happened on the rooftop, to save Raven."
"You see, you are not so different from your friends as you originally thought. As an emotion contained in all living things, the perspective I carry is one out of a passion to survive, to be correct and to make you stronger."
"So what you're telling me, is that you, my anger knows how to balance things?"
The cicerone nodded in agreement.
"Nobody likes to get angry. Well, I know I don't." Beast Boy stayed his ground.
"Tragedy is a part of life." said the chaperone. "To live, to truly get the best of everything a person must rise to the struggle at hand."
Beast Boy was puzzled. "I don't believe that life is built off of suffering only."
"Have you forgotten who you are? Have you cleaned your mind of the difficult paths you've already crossed? Have you erased the faces of all those you've seen come and go?"
"Of course not!" Beast Boy exhaled a bit of air through his nostrils. "I've moved on from those things, but I never forget, I still remember."
"Do you now?" The guide turned to face the young lad.
"Yeah."
"To suffer from the betrayal of unfathomable depths, by a girl you thought could bring more happiness than ever, to have left this wound open as she is once again thrown back into your life." He tilted his head. "Then, there is of course a friendship with your teammates that is now mired in doubt, where another possible romantic interest is still giving you the run-around. On top of all of these things, your team's worst enemy has come out of hiding and he has targeted you in particular."
Beast Boy said nothing.
"I must say;" continued the manifestation. "that is a lot for any one person to grasp."
The changeling felt tears forming, ready to cascade down his cheeks but he held them back, while his voice was choked up. "Okay, so there are a few things that hurt, but I am not going to let it block my path, with what needs to be done."
"I have been with you, your entire life."
"I know."
"I have watched and observed, I have studied you become the young man that you are today." The considerate manifestation was now very close to the hero, where his physical body towered over the teenager. "You are at a point in your life, where this time there is no backing down, no time to surrender to your distractions or vices."
Beast Boy swallowed a bit of saliva. "So then, it really has come to this."
"You're mind is fractured, you can no longer move forwards as these things of your past have you frozen in place. You know this."
"Hmmm." Beast Boy sheepishly replied. "I guess it would take my anger to confront my own self-doubts about things."
The cloaked emissary gave off a vibe of self-confidence while he stood. "You know what must be done. Your friends have grown restless, while your first romance is back in the picture. Allow me to guide you, in this time of such uncertainty."
"I'm not going to cut them away!" Beast Boy slashed the air in front of him with his right hand. "And with Terra, I'm going to get to the bottom of her story."
"Of course you should." His red eyes appeared to sparkle for a brief second. "But that is not all of it. What has been keeping you up at night, and what has been forcing you to question everything about your past?"
"Raven." The shapeshifter whispered her name, while he glanced to the many hills. "What about her?"
"To be so naive, so oblivious to the things that are clear and right under your nose, that is a difficult truth to grasp."
"Truth, what truth?"
"You have much in common, where the darkness within her can take hold, and she fights it just as stubbornly as you."
"I never . . . saw her like that. Well, to a small degree I guess." Beast Boy stroked his chin with great care. "But what has any of this stuff, got to do with me?"
The unique guide stepped around the hero, and he became transfixed looking at the moon high in the heavens. The wide craters and deep ravines could be spotted quiet clearly, as the white sphere shined brightly through the parting fog. "You seek my guidance, where the ultimate decision is and has always been, yours to make."
"Ah, so it's the old hero's cliche. Of the daring and intrepid adventurer finding his true path, in a perilous journey." Beast Boy slapped his left knee with his hand, vigorously.
"Garfield." The stern voice coming from the gray cloaked greeter, caused the skinny hero to cease his banter, to become solemn. "This task may seem difficult, impossible even, but it has only been getting more intense. It can still be overcome."
"You're right." Beast Boy approached the manifestation and stood alongside him, staring at the bold object with him. "Why do you keep calling me that?"
"Garfield was the name given to you at birth. Your mother was hesitant on picking what was best, while your father had his own intentions on the matter."
"Huh." Beast Boy grinned. "I never expected you, my emotion of anger to be lecturing me on these things. Still, I left that part of my past long ago."
"Because you moved half-way around the world, you altered your alias, and you buried your pains deep in the back of your soul, I have always been there, to find what you wished to be lost."
Beast Boy turned his head in bewilderment.
There was a lingering quiet moment, and then the hooded figure continued speaking; "I am more than an observer, I have been with you ever since your days in Africa with your parents, since the treatment that saved you but brought about the big change. I have been with you through it all."
The changeling squeezed his fingers into tight fists, he desperately wanted to awaken from this uncomfortable moment. "There is a place in the respective times for your help, I am not arguing that fact." He looked up and felt a roaring flame burn within his heart, it was a passion to prove his point. "But I won't allow you, my rage, to take over every decision!"
"It has been many years Garfield." The guide stretched his hand out to comfort the boy, yet he pulled it back. "It is time that you embrace what has already happened, that their passing was not your fault."
The lingering hush between the duo brought further resentment, from the changeling against his own rage.
"Shut up!" Beast Boy fired back harshly, as his normal raspy pitch returned. The image of the upside-down boat in the water, the sloshing of the current with no signs of any people came spinning back. He had become an orphan in the blink of an eye. "Just, stop."
"A blind man cannot have his vision returned when he wishes it, yet a person that can see, demands to become blinded when their world is turned upside down." The guide bowed his head. "It was never my intention to make this hard, that has never been my purpose."
Beast Boy released a groan of annoyance. "Yet it sure seems like that though."
"The conflict you called out for guidance with, should be clear as the moon you see before you."
The changeling felt a lump within his throat move, as his best intentions were driving him down a rabbit hole.
"Let me guess here." Beast Boy pondered over this riddle briefly. "You know that I care about my friends."
"Go on."
"That I have wanted to have something more, and to build something I never fully could."
"Choice is never that simple." The guide slightly turned. "You are at the crossroads, I can only show you the path where you have to decide, what the outcome shall be."
Beast Boy was stunned into not speaking right away, he could never fully hide his feelings from himself but for the emotion of rage to be so poignant with him, he had to come to terms with what he desired.
"Raven said something about a test." The changeling finally spoke up. "She never went into much detail about it, but I think you know something about it."
"I was not the one who spoke to her." replied the guide.
"Yes, I know. You already said that." Beast Boy scratched the back of his head quickly. "But here's the thing, you are aware of it. Aren't you?"
The chaperone's cloak swayed from a breeze while the sparse glow from the stars broke through the mist. The color of the grass was suddenly more visible, and the changeling felt the dampness of the cold against his legs.
"My past, the present, all of these things are part of this supposed test, aren't they?" Beast Boy questioned.
"You have formed a connection, a bond deeper than anything possible before me, to an outsider." The manifestation replied. "While the girl you first fell for, a relationship can be rekindled but are you prepared to go through with it?"
Beast Boy said softly; "I don't know."
"You must come to a decision." The gray cloaked figure answered. "Things are only going to grow more complicated the longer this drags out. Whatever you decide, this is the test you are faced with."
Beast Boy interlocked his arms while he stood. Now he was beginning to understand why Raven had such a difficult time in explaining what she had uncovered. He could not force himself to awaken, no matter how much that he wanted to.
He was trapped within the deepness of his mind, where his anger that manifests itself as The Beast, was the only emotion to offer any solace.
Resting with her right arm across a small table within the food court, inside Saint Mary's Critical, Elizabeth Saffire Spears was fast asleep. Her late night coffee at the Jump City Diner had finally left her system.
Aside from a few stragglers eating their morning breakfasts at the other tables, the only other person in the room was a custodian moping the white enameled floor. The noxious odor did not bother her too much, where the heavy usage of cleaning chemicals to sanitize the building was a scent that she had grown quiet accustomed to dealing with.
Her entrancing blue eyes were not open, as she found a comfortable and quiet niche to recharge within, as the long windows allowed the morning sun to enter the room, and to bring in the warmth from outside.
Her black spaghetti Tank Top had blood smeared across the front, obscuring the logo of the red phoenix. Her dark blue hair was tied in a bun, yet a few strands dangled by her face across the table.
Her face became a bit wrinkled as she cringed, when the very recent images played across her mind. The train station was destroyed, caved inwards as debris and rubble had splashed across a vast area, while a growing fire from the nearby gas station raged on. Someone was inside, somehow alive but trapped and pleading for help, where she answered the call.
The trail of blood snaked towards the exit, as she and her reluctant helper John the bank teller, carried the broken and mangled body to safety. The nauseatingly harsh cough from the teenager was grim to recall, where it made her become discomforted and begin to squeeze her fingers.
The bloodied and unknown young man she had rescued was now on the operating table, somewhere in one of the many rooms of the hospital. There was nothing more that she could do, gradually she woke herself, and she stretched her arms over her head.
The intern had carried out her oath, she had preformed admirably and in the face of incredible odds, she had gone well above and beyond the call of duty. Her black shoulder bag was slung across her seat, and she briefly opened the flap to find that she still had everything.
After rubbing her eyes to get the drowsiness out, her parched throat made her instantly thirsty. Once she was finished yawning and scanning her surroundings, she noticed a nearby water fountain and she approached the source.
The sound of scuffling feet began to pick up, nurses, doctors, security staff and patients with various members of the general public looking for loved ones began to envelope all around her. She realized that the task she had undertaken was a bit much, and she never liked pulling all-nighters.
The teenager released a soft sigh, as she wiped her lips to soak in the new morning.
With her dark purple sweatshirt having been used as a blanket for that strange young person in the ruins, she felt a little cold as the air conditioning from the vents, made her shiver while she stood nearby a window.
It was something she could have demanded back, but with it being used to keep his crushed body warm, in all likelihood it was drenched with his blood, partially like her tank-top. She leaned against the wall, as her head rolled forwards.
The echoes of strangers bounced around her but she did not turn, she simply stared through the glass, to notice the beautiful garden and trees swaying against the wind. Elizabeth would be heading home, where her father was around somewhere and assisting the other doctors, and she desired to speak with him.
It was a tough relationship for them, as his work had him going to all sorts of places across California. Some hospitals required that he stay put for a week, others needed him for at least a solid month, to go over various procedures and delicate cases of great care.
While his primary residency was at Jump City Central, various medical chiefs sought him out, his knowledge in medicine was extensive, and so he would constantly transfer himself from hospital to hospital, doing what he could until things were back to the up-to-date standards once more.
The staff paid little notice to the girl as she leaned against the wall half asleep, as the faint sounds of sirens coming and leaving encompassed her, while groups of people talking and fading away, echoed throughout the entire building.
The hard working fourteen-year-old nursing trainee glanced to her hands, and she briefly smiled. As much as she enjoyed reading through medical text books in the quiet solitude of a library, actually putting her knowledge to use in order to heal the sick and dying, was a force unbreakable to her.
Elizabeth had always dreamed of working in the operating room, yet she was far too young and unauthorized to actually preform high-level surgeries. Still, she observed from special balconies alongside the other interns, behind glass barriers to watch the true heroes preform miracles.
Her mind was drained like her physical body, as she utilized every scrap of her knowledge and craft to keep the stranger alive in the helicopter. She did not have to travel with him, she could have left him so she could return to her apartment, yet there was a piece of her that needed to see this job through to the next step.
And, it would also look good on her resume that she went a little further than others, for her young age and dedication, she was a rising star.
Doctor Mark Jackson Spears was a remarkable figure, and through his various contacts and high-level notoriety, it allowed him to bend the rules a little, to enable his daughter to get a head-start long before most prospective candidates fresh out of college.
Elizabeth did not have a strict rule of parental guidance, as her father gave her various freedoms where she could learn and excel. The tasks and work that she preformed were typical of a Surgical Technician, yet as her parents had instilled in her long ago, to plot even grander goals for her future.
In order to achieve a surgical license, to be eligible to preform in the Emergency Room after going through twelve basic years of school, one had to obtain a degree from college. Pushing yourself beyond six to eight years of the next stage of education, was only part of the task.
A diploma took a want-to-be doctor so far, where filling in part-time as an intern, or enlisting in the armed forces allowed good prospects to getting the much desired permit.
Elizabeth had the best connection an aspiring doctor could ever want, she had references through her father, which was as good as gold. However, because she was fourteen and still technically in middle-school, she decided to get another rigorous portion of the journey out of the way.
She offered her spare time at Jump City Central, volunteering to do things at the senior center and going on ride-alongs in ambulances.
This was her dream, the ultimate goal and drive. In order to really know if she would enjoy it or not, she would have to get her feet wet eventually. So she plunged head-first into the extensive field, as the countless cases and injuries were a plethora of merits for her resume.
"Psst." A young man's voice attracted her attention. "Hey kid, it looks like you had a rough night."
Elizabeth lifted her head to look at the stranger, and she released a bit of stagnant air from her lungs before answering. " . . . um . . . oh, I'm fine."
"That was some job you did." The twenty-six-year-old male nurse with captivating brown eyes smiled. "You know, there are just some things that I still don't get."
"Such as?"
"Well, take you for example. You're young, smart and you could go anywhere you desire. Then, in the face of all sorts of regulations and ridged rules, you did what you needed to do and got the patient safely in the helicopter."
"And your point?" Elizabeth asked.
"Why come all this way here?" The gentleman inquired as he put his hands to his hips. "Once you do your part, it's onto the next person's shoulders to carry the day."
The fourteen-year-old crossed her arms in front of her breasts. "Perhaps, but something just didn't sit right with me before we took off." She briefly glanced to the floor, then she met his eyes again; "I don't know if I can explain it. It's like . . ."
"A feeling of the unknown dread, that perhaps you could have done more, even when everything is out of your hands." A second yet much visibly older male voice cut-into the conversation. It was Christopher Malvern as he slunk around the bend.
Elizabeth nodded. "Hey, weren't you on the-"
"Rooftop." The first and younger male nurse cut-in. "Yeah, we both were."
"That's right." Elizabeth grinned, "So you're-"
"Jefferson Stims." He shook her hand with a beaming grin across his face, as her expression changed from one of joy to overwhelming confusion. "And that old goat over there, is my co-worker Chris."
"Pleasure to meet you." Elizabeth shook the second man's hand.
He stared at her for a very long time, then he backed away slowly. "Working in the field of medicine is no cake-walk."
"I know what you mean."
"You're pretty young, say what . . . about thirteen?"
"Fourteen." She angrily retorted while squinting her eyes. "Just because I'm young, it doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing!"
"But you still lack experience." Christopher Malvern brought his hands into his front pockets. "In any case, whether you were right or wrong in coming all this way, what you did . . . it got results."
Her expression changed from building frustration into relief. "So he's alive then?"
"He's in critical condition." Jefferson Stims interrupted them.
"Basically, his vitals are back to sustainable levels, but he's out cold." Malvern continued. "Alive and still breathing, but he'll be in a medically induced coma for at least a week."
The teenager brushed a hand through her silk smooth hair, allowing a few strands to cascade across her forehead, then she sighed.
Jefferson decided to ask; "So . . . what are you going to do now?"
Elizabeth moved her focus from the two male nurses, back to the world outside the window. The warmth poured into the room and encompassed these three, where a lingering silence brought a calm sensation once more.
"First, I was waiting to receive news about that boy." The aspiring medical doctor grinned, as a much younger girl in a wheelchair, donning a headscarf was rolled to the entrance. "And secondly, I've got some unfinished business to deal with while I'm here."
As Elizabeth grabbed her pack and slung it across her right shoulder, Christopher grabbed her arm, causing her to face him. His sailor-like haggard ocean eyes pierced deeply into her attractive blue pair.
"Kid."
"It's Elizabeth."
He blinked. "Why did you do it, go through all that hassle and wind up in a totally different city?"
She tugged at her pack and broke free of his grip. "I don't know really, it was not even a question, I just decided to come."
The two male medical helpers stepped aside, as the teenager made a bee-line to the exit. As she drew further away, Jefferson revealed a large grin.
"Jeez, she sure is the persistent type, isn't she?"
Christopher did not break his focus away from her back, as she walked out of sight. "Yeah." He replied stoically. "I wonder where she gets it from? Don't most girls her age have other things on the brain?"
"Like boys?"
Christopher rolled his eyes, and he remained silent.
"I know, I know. Still, she has a determined spirit, that never fails to uphold true values in the face of never ending odds." Jefferson interlocked his arms while he stood, then he padded his friend on the back.
"There is one thing I can agree with you." Christopher squinted his eyes. "With an attitude like that, I pity the poor fool who stands in her way."
Elizabeth pushed open the door and the air was refreshing to her, as she tasted and sniffed the outside with her nostrils and mouth. Everything last night was so cold and damp, yet the sun had risen and brought a new day.
The teenage girl squeezed the strap to her bag, and then she continued on her journey yet was halted by the affectionate call from the little six year old in her wheelchair, waving her arms as she caught sight of the wayward visitor.
"Lizzy!" cried the adorable little child with the headscarf.
Elizabeth turned and walked over. "It's good to see you too Gretchen." She knelt down and took her hand.
"You know, I was out early today just before the sun came up."
"You were?" The nursing intern with blue eyes unveiled a smile.
"Yup." replied Gretchen. "I saw a helicopter come from far away in the distance and thought, you had to be on it."
Elizabeth shook her head with a grin spreading. "You have quite the eyesight, don't you? How did you know I would be on it?"
The six-year-old paused to stare at her feet; "I just knew it. I knew you would come back and see me."
Elizabeth Saffire Spears took a deep and collected inhale, and she rose to her feet. "It sure is a beautiful day."
Gretchen, the young cancer patient coughed. "Yes. It is." Then she coughed a few more times only louder, while putting a hand to her lips.
Elizabeth's expression of happiness was overtaken by one of immediate concern. She turned to look up at the aid Mr. Kennedy, who watched over her, and he pushed the wheelchair. The young white man in his early twenties, had long and brown hair tied back in a ponytail.
"No." Gretchen sputtered as she held a hand up. "I'm fine." A warm and beaming smile spread across her face, as the hacking came to an abrupt end. "I have something for you."
"For me?" Elizabeth's blue eyes drew open even further.
The six year old nodded, as she pulled the blue blanket over her torso to keep warm.
"I'm not sure I understand." The fourteen-year-old clasped her hands together, as she knelt down. "Why-"
"I made this for you." Gretchen pulled out her concealed left hand from beneath the thick and comforting blanket, and she grasped Elizabeth's palm to place a Japanese Crane Origami into it.
"My goodness." Elizabeth gasped. "You made this f-for me?"
The kind-hearted child tilted her head. "Remember that book you gave me."
"About the girl in Japan, determined to make one thousand paper cranes to get a wish?"
Gretchen blushed a little while she lowered her head.
"She really has taken the task to heart." chimed in Mr. Kennedy as he leaned forwards.
"I . . . I need to do this." Gretchen rasped. "I want to."
Not understanding what else to do or say, Elizabeth hugged the child in the wheelchair. There was a pain in her heart, in knowing that the last time she saw little Gretchen she had long braids of hair in golden locks, and she was on the gymnastics team and was very energetic.
Elizabeth did not truly know what to expect, when she first spotted her from the hospital kitchen window, that overlooked the garden. But the face, despite the paleness and the scarf over her now bald head, or her frail frame having gotten much skinnier since they last spoke before she underwent her intense treatment, there was no mistaking it as she remembered the child.
A tear quickly rolled down Elizabeth's cheek, as she gingerly embraced the astute little girl. The dampness was felt on both girl's faces.
"Thank you." Elizabeth whispered in her ear, and she slowly backed away to wipe the waterworks clean. "You know . . . if you are trying to reach a thousand, I think I can help."
Gretchen pulled the sheet up higher. "This is something . . . a journey that I must do myself."
"No offense Ms. Spears." Mr. Kennedy chimed in from left-field. "But she is really adamant about doing this project all on her own."
"Like the girl in the story to have any wish come true, I must be totally committed. I can be the only one to do this, it has to be me."
Elizabeth stood up once again, where she then chuckled. "You are one of a kind."
"You are pretty amazing yourself Lizzy."
"Oh . . . I don't know about that."
"And when I get better, I want to grow up to be just like you!" Gretchen lightly coughed three more times, interrupting the peacefulness.
"You will Gretchen." The teenager encouraged her hopes. "You will get better. The things in life such as this, they are stumbling blocks that only make us grow stronger and brighter. We get to grow in the world through the harshest of times, when we are at our lowest. It is only through pain like this, that we can truly appreciate the rare good days even more."
The six-year-old nodded with her chocolate brown eyes shut. The words were comforting, but it still was a stinging wound that the child wanted to have explained a little further.
While the doctors and even her own parents did not fully endure this sort of crisis, Elizabeth Saffire Spears was different, and she had pains of her own past that made this young girl realize, if she wanted to go places, if she wanted to get better, she would require her time and energy on all kinds of projects, to keep the daily things less boring.
Intentional or not, the work ethic and outlook of life was imprinted from the older girl, who took the role of a loving sister.
The slender shadow inched their way ever nearer towards the disconsolate Red X, while he rubbed his many bruises. Blood from his left shoulder dripped, the shrapnel caused by the briefcase bomb had forced a rather nasty wound, and he tried soothing this severe injury by placing his right hand over it again.
Parts of his arsenal were scattered all over the confined gladiatorial arena, where fragments of his heavily damaged X-Wristblade had broken off from his right arm, and a piece of his helmet was chipped, as tattered remnants of his once boastful and impressive armor offered little protection.
Bright purple orbs remained glowing from the newest arrival's clenched fists, as the beautifully long black hair was swaying by their right shoulder, as the eyes of the newest attacker mirrored the same purple glow.
Red X could not help but begin to laugh hysterically, upon noticing the newest contender, now stepping into the distraught room. In hearing this unsuspecting chuckle from the wounded opponent who would not give up, Slade released a frustrated glare from his single brown eye, burning at the young lad with a volcanic ire erupting within him.
"So." Red X wheezed while he looked up from the floor. "How many foolish goons do you have up your sleeves still?"
"It is finished." Slade deadpanned, where his harsh tone reverberated about them. "You are beaten, it is useless to resist!"
The figure that had blasted him with the purple energy-bolt slowly inched forwards. The trim figure and curvaceous hips revealed that it was a female.
A fourth bodyguard? Red X spoke in his head. He really does like to keep all his best cards for last, doesn't he?
While the ex-hired help slowly got back to his feet, his eyes quickly expanded much more open, as dozens of purple explosive orbs were tossed at him!
"Looks like I'm not out of this one yet!" Red X mocked the girl, as he rolled left and right, evading the horrific onslaught.
"Stand still you pest!" The attractive girl shouted in defiance.
Red X dashed across the battlefield like a caged tiger, still full of a furious temper and unleashing everything in his suit to fence off any would-be-hunters. "Let's get up close and personal!"
As the oncoming combatant steamrolled ahead, he leapt into the air while shouting a bone-chilling battlecry, landing a right-hook from his leg into the left hip of the super-powered bodyguard. She gasped like a fish as the air was blasted out of her lungs from such a forceful strike, and she winced from the sting.
"I was always the kind of guy to use a touch of trickery, but this-" Red X glanced from his wounded extremity, swiping up a tiny river of his blood into his fingers. "This is something else entirely."
"Well then, allow me to enlighten your dilemma." Slade's voice rasped from behind him!
The Xenothium Bandit turned to block the bo-staff with his right arm, as it cut through the air and while it was a successful attempt, he was distracted. A purple glow expanded from the corner that the attractive young woman had crashed against, and Red X felt a sweltering explosion hurtle him to the other end of the building!
The master thief cracked his head against the wall, luckily his helmet absorbed most of the blow, but and his body immediately went limp. The world began to wash in and out as the throbbing headache overtook him. Everything was going dark, there was nothing but a void, as the last thing he observed was the girl standing up and steadily approaching him.
-Flashback-
"I don't know what clouds your judgment worse?" The young man slowly rose, pointing the deadly firearm at his target. "Your guilt . . . or you're antiquated sense of morality?"
The cool chill of Gotham whipped around The Red Hood, as he stood in the room with busted windows and holes visible through the run-down walls. The scent of iron and chemicals being pumped into the atmosphere only darkened the night sky further.
It was a long week, he had confronted many opponents and bargained with hoodlums and gutter rats to get to his real objective. The Black Mask was the only one with the deep pockets, the arsenal of weapons, and the army of lackeys that could bring The Clown Prince Of Crime, out of Arkham.
The bamboozled and concocted scheme worked to almost near perfection, except for one minor hiccup.
"Bruce I forgive you, for not saving me." The black haired, green-domino masked vigilante slightly lowered his forty-five caliber handgun. Then he looked back up, and his tone of voice became heated with vehement anger. "But why. Why on God's earth-" he kicked the door to his right in, splintering the wood into fragments. "IS HE STILL ALIVE!?"
The figure in the locked closet gradually raised his bowed head. As the captive listened to the voices, his mood instantly changed. "Eh-Ah-hahahahahaha!" The Joker cackled with obvious pleasure, with a bit of blood smeared across his ghostly pale face. "Gotta give the boy points!" He hopped in the chair propelling himself forwards, as his body was tied down. "He came all the way back from the dead, to make this shin-dig happen!"
The mood in the room was terribly silent. Batman was standing in front of the window, stoic and firm as always, while directly across from him the deadly assassin and old friend, who pointed the gun at him, remained unmoved and completely determined to finish this story tonight.
The Joker glanced behind him to observe the young man. The grin spread even further as the spectacle was something he could never have expected, and needless to state, he greatly enjoyed surprises.
"So, who's got a camera?" The insane villain asked. "Ooh-ooh, get one of me and the kid first. Then you and me, then the three of us." He closed his eyes, not realizing the person who kidnapped him was raising his hand with the firearm. "And then one with the crowbar. Then-"
The Red Hood unleashed a heavy slap of the silver gun against the vile monster's skull, and he sent him across the floor.
"You'll be as quiet as possible, or I'll put one in your lap first." The lone wolf whispered in his ear, just barely audible for The Dark Knight, as he pointed the barrel of the gun to The Joker's noggin.
The Joker glanced up. "Party pooper. No cake for you."
The gray clad gunman slowly rose back to his feet, taking careful aim at his old mentor. "Ignoring what he's done in the past. Blindly, stupidly disregarding the entire graveyards he's filled! The thousands who have suffered! The friends he's crippled! You know I thought . . . I thought I would be the last person you'd ever let him hurt." His voice trembled a little, only to deepen with rage once more. "If it had been you he had beaten to a bloody pulp. If he had taken you from this world, I would have done nothing but search the planet, for this pathetic, pile of evil death worshiping garbage! And SEND HIM OFF TO HELL!"
"You don't understand." Batman replied in his calm demeanor. "I don't think you've ever understood."
The young man tilted his head to the side, as the white lenses of the mask concealed his eyes. "What?" He rebutted. "What your moral code just won't allow for that? It's too hard to cross that LINE?"
"NO! God all mighty, no. It would be too damned easy." Batman squinted his eyes, as he turned his focus onto the broken and bloodied maniac laying across the ground. "All I've ever wanted to do was kill him." His brooding voice rattled across the room, as he moved his eyes that burned with a potent hatred towards The Ace Of Knaves, back up to his second apprentice. "A day doesn't go by when I don't think about subjecting him to every horrendous torture that he's dealt out to others, and then . . . end him."
The Joker's crooked grin spread more wildly, as he kept his attention up at his most conflicting and yet enjoyable rival he loved to toy with. "Awe, so you DO think about me."
"But if I do that." The World's Greatest Detective continued, as his tone became softer. "If I allow myself to go down . . . into that place, I'll never come back." The white lens material over his eyes narrowed, while he peered at the gunman, trying to reason with him.
"Why?" The Red Hood asked. "I'm not talking about killing Penguin, or Scarecrow, or Dent." He pointed the semi-automatic that he gripped tightly, down at the criminal still tied to the chair. "I'm talking about him. Just him." Then, his green outlined eye-mask rose to meet with The Dark Knight's black cowl once more. "And doing it because . . . because he took me away from you."
There was a strange moment of silence, prior to anything happening. The rainwater outside could be heard pitter-pattering against the roof of the apartment.
"I can't." Batman deadpanned. "I'm sorry."
The Red Hood clenched his teeth in rage. He was disgusted in hearing this, there was no turning back now. The ire boiled his crushed spirit, and it fueled the void of a much darker nature to consume his very soul.
"That is so sweet." The Joker broke the stillness, turning his head to relish in the moment as he made sure to show his infamous smile, towards his captor.
"Well you won't have a choice." said the gunman as he cocked the hammer back, and he continued with his next phase of the plan while giving a much more vile frown, directed at the stubborn defiance upon his old guardian.
After pulling out a duplicate forty-five caliber silver polymer handgun from the back of his belt, The Red Hood tossed the weapon towards The Dark Knight who caught it. Batman looked at the deadly tool used to end lives, just resting in the palms of his hands where he squinted his eyes again.
Firearms were something he had respect for, yet there was also the side that strongly disliked them, as they brought up deeply sour memories of his now dead parents, gunned down in the dirty back alley of a movie-theater. Batman was a symbol, the bringer of justice and the protector of the innocent.
"I won't-" Batman was cut-short in his desperate plea, as he resumed his focus onto his ex-crime fighting partner.
"This is what it's all been about." Jason exclaimed, using his previous identity as the second Robin with the green domino-mask, yet all parties in the room knew by now who The Red Hood really was, where he wore it for sentimental value, believing that he was still doing the world good by eradicating evil on his terms. "This. You, and me, and him! Now is the time you decide!"
The young man stomped onto the back of the wooden chair, allowing the ropes about his captive prize to fall away, and he hoisted the vile creature who had destroyed so much, and brought about total misery everywhere he went.
The Joker became wide-eyed from all of this excitement, as he observed the events with his devious smirk spreading, as a dribble of blood trickled down his lips. It was caused from a crowbar, payment for what he had unleashed long ago.
"If you won't kill this psychotic piece of filth-" The young man aimed the muzzle to his hostage's temple with one hand, as his other tightly clasped around the enemy's throat. "I WILL!"
Batman scowled in silence, allowing the tension to build.
"If you want to stop me, you're going to have to kill me!" The young man unloaded his ultimatum, while their shadows were mirroring their actions around them.
"You know I won't-"
"I'm going to blow his deranged brains out!" The deeply offended ex-hero shouted, while the darkness consumed any traces of the goodness within. "And if you want to stop it, you are going to have to just shoot me. RIGHT IN MY FACE!"
The bloodshot eyes of the prisoner were shifting back and forth between the old partners that his tactful meddling had torn apart. His massive smirk refused to retreat, as a looming laugh was building. "This is turning out even better than I'd hoped."
After taking a moment to rationalize and calculate his options, there was nothing left to be spoken. Only one alternative brought the most sense, where Batman dropped the handgun, he showed his backside to his ex-partner, and he began to depart.
This entire dilemma had deviated all things, the failure of the past, the torture which had transpired for Jason Todd was enveloping him, encircling every corner of his mind. The final solution to avoid bringing further bloodshed upon his hands, The Dark Knight decided to simply walk away.
"It's him or me!" The Red Hood demanded an answer. "You have to decide!" He squeezed the firearm's handle, and he shifted the cross-hairs from The Joker and took aim at The Caped Crusader. "DECIDE NOW! Dot it! HIM OR ME! DECIDE!"
Batman stayed his course, moving towards an open window as the gunman glared from behind. Quietly and unnoticed, he pulled out a lone batarang from his black gloved right hand, he was preparing for the eventuality of the situation, as this could only lead to one more unpleasant truth.
Unable to take the lingering silence any longer, the trigger was pulled as all the world became slow and deaf except for the noise of metal within the pistol clicking. The hammer slammed forwards, and then the bullet shot out of the barrel.
The Dark Knight heard these things within nano-seconds, and he ducked to avoid the shot, while throwing his concealed batarang into the muzzle of the handgun! The tiny tool became jammed, where without noticing it The Red Hood pulled the trigger again, forcing the next round to become blocked and explode!
It broke his wrist and two fingers of his hand, as they bent backwards in a most unnatural fashion. He screamed in horror after dropping his captive, and clutching his injured limb.
"Ha-ha . . . HAHA . . . AH-HAHAHAHAHA!" The Joker's insane cackle finally burst to the surface. "I can't believe you got him!" His head now lifted, as he looked upon The Dark Knight with ample delight. "You expert, rootin-tootin eagle-eye goths-loving-marksman! Oh how I love it, you actually managed to find a way to win. AND EVERYBODY STILL LOSES! EH-eh . . . HA-HA! He-HA-hahahahaha!"
The Red Hood had seen enough of this spectacle. With a glare of repugnance focused on Batman, he pulled out a detonator from his pocket and pressed the red button. Immediately, a countdown timer for 20 seconds was heard chirping, and the Caped Crusader turned to notice the stack of dynamite hiding inside the fireplace.
Wasting no time Batman raced over to stop the device, where The Joker tripped him and the two tangled in a pointless brawl. Now, The Joker clasped his hands around The Dark Knight's neck, trying to strangle his arch-rival as the wounded gunman slumped down in the corner of the kitchen.
"No, don't spoil it this is better!" The Clown Prince Of Crime exclaimed with the utmost of glee he could muster, the entire event he had witnessed brought boundless enjoyment, while his grip around his antithesis's throat only tightened. "I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO IS GOING TO GET WHAT HE WANTS TONIGHT! YES! Bing, bang boom! We all go out together, don't you just LOVE a happy ending? He-HE-HAhahahahahahaha!"
The Caped Crusader found an opening during this obnoxious rant, and he punched the villain that he loathed so much square in the jaw, knocking him off of him! With barely six seconds remaining, Batman hurried over towards the counter to grab the young man he had thought for the longest time was deceased, and to recompense for what his second pupil had become. He reached out to grab his collar, to pull him to safety.
KA-BOOM!
A bright flash of white expanded about the entire room! The violent eruption knocked the superhero into a wall, as a thick cloud of smoke hovered about everything.
When Batman finally regained consciences, apart from the ringing in his ears, the dreadful sight of total destruction was uncovered. He was certain that he had grabbed the young man, he specifically recalled reaching out to him before the blast.
Turning over rubble and toppled furniture, the steady snickering was let free from the psychotic clown, mocking The Dark Knight in his efforts. Any traces of the third person were nowhere to be found.
-End Of Flashback-
Red X suddenly blinked and found himself laying flat on his back, inside The House Of Mirrors. He had survived one horrific ordeal following another, this one seemed like all the rest. Something was different however, and as the blurs and blots subsided, he placed his left hand, over his head.
"Time's up." said the girl, where the bright glow of energy in her hands illuminated things. She pointed her right hand at him, and the energy became more intense.
Red X blinked lazily, with what effort that he could give, the finite energy he possessed motivated him for one final offensive strike. He had been able to catch his breath, the lapse of time felt like years as the unpleasant memory in Gotham had faded away.
The Xenothium Bandit roared a fierce battlecry while leaping forwards, as he gripped his left arm to swing the wounded limb, that carried the blade! This erratic movement had taken the black haired girl by total surprise as she backed away, trying to evade the oncoming swipes of the deadly weapon.
One wrist blade was gone, but he still had the other where he utilized it with a complete finesse and masterful tact. He gripped his left forearm like it was a baseball bat or the handle to a sword, as his most recent challenger swerved this way and that, dodging the oncoming swipes.
"It's a shame really, that you should be fighting me." Red X goaded her, as she hopped like a bunny to avoid the near fatal swipes.
"What do you care?" asked the unknown girl, and she threw down five of the exploding purple orbs, that forced a bit of smoke to rise about them.
He lunged in really close, nearly grazing her left cheek as the expression of concern was unveiled by her.
"What's the matter sweat-heart?" Red X teased this aggressive girl, where in his mind the prey was now chasing the hunter. "I thought you would like to tango."
She growled as she hovered in mid-air, and she suddenly tossed down twenty more concussive purple energy blasts all around him, forcing him to evade this counter-measure. Their bout was like a sensual dance, the person leading was always shifting and their movements brought a strange vibe between the pair.
"Well now, ain't this a lovely sight to behold." Red X gasped, as he was partially hunched over.
"Don't flatter yourself." The other warrior countered him. "You could never keep up with me!"
As she nodded her head Red X took notice to this subtle motion, where he spun and caught the the end of Slade's staff between the blades on his left wrist! The sound was sharp and body cringing, while the warring parties locked their attention upon the other's mask that concealed their face.
"I hope you don't mind me cutting in." Slade spoke with a pinch of enjoyment in his voice.
Red X grunted as the two held their ground, their footwork was firm and they pressed their weapons tightly together. "Damn, you really are stubborn!"
"Pity things had to turn out like this." Slade retorted, as he spun around and preformed a magnificent display of his martial arts craft. "But there is no room for error, where cleaning you out is the final hindrance to completing my greatest masterpiece yet."
The two warded off from one another, their fight that stared off sporadic and with ease had become a terrible slog, where the utmost of brutality took over the art form as it dragged on for way too long.
Both sides could feel that it was nearing its end. Red X tilted his head upwards after cracking a strain in his neck, as the disturbing popping noise reminded his greatest adversary that they had some similarities.
The master thief's eyes were shifting back and forth, from the one-eyed master deceiver clashing his deadly weapon against him, back onto the pretty girl that was now watching from the sidelines.
Another switch was coming, the tag-team trickery was rather underhanded, but Slade made his own rules in combat. It was not a dance, it was a battle to the death. Everything was fair-game, and nothing was off limits.
Red X still had some slick moves, and his suit while severely hampered it still contained Xenothium, enough for a final push he had been working towards.
"Now you see me." Red X winked at the girl, where The Master Criminal glanced over his shoulder. "Now you don't!"
It happened so quickly and out of place, that Red X pressed the center clasp of his belt and he vanished right in front of them! It was something that the great Harry Houdini's audiences would fawn over. He was right in front of Slade with his weapon blocking the bo-staff, and the next instant he faded out!
Poof, without a solid trace of physical evidence, Red X was nowhere to be seen.
The attractive girl did spot something out of the corner of her eye, as a shadow of something not supposed to exist, now ran past her like a mirage.
"Think that level of trickery wouldn't work on me, guess again!" She hissed and clasped both hands together, where she unleashed a massive beam of purple energy, and she grinned a wicked smile.
Red X was hit, his cloaking shield had evaporated and he was blasted clear through the wall, where he tumbled and rolled outside the House Of Mirrors! His body was thrashed from the potent energy beam, and the force only propelled him down a hill.
The scent of the salty ocean sifted upwards, as the attractive black haired girl continued the pursuit beyond the confines within the dilapidated building. Before she hovered during the battle, this time she decided to walk and feel the blades of grass beneath her heels.
Her appearance from the darkness and mist, was much easier to take notice of now that she had stepped into the light. She had a black tank-top where her skirt was of the same material and color. She wore sleeves that ran up to her wrists, as long thigh high black boots covered her lower half.
Bits of electricity zig-zagged across the damaged suit, where Red X groaned. "So much for that plan then."
As he looked up, he was far too vulnerable to counter the multitude of bright energy bolts being unloaded at him, and he crossed his wrists to form the shape of the letter 'X' to make a shield. It had no effect, where he was pushed even further back, and his body rolled and tumbled down a slopping plain.
When the smoke cleared, the cowering body had disappeared once more. With her heart racing, as she feared that he had tried the same trick twice, the aggressor raced after him and found herself standing upon a ledge!
A bit of dirt crumbled as it sprinkled into the sloshing and crashing white-caps below. A pair of black gloved hands was clinging desperately onto a patch of earth, as she looked over to observe the outcome.
"Where do you think you're going?" She asked while tilting her head, as her shoulder-length hair swayed behind her.
"Good form, truly I had my work cut out for me, but you-" Red X groaned suddenly from the stinging wound. He glanced from his bleeding arm, to the water below him, and back up to the girl."It doesn't look like there is any more room for this dance to go on my dear."
"That's quite alright." She smirked. "I wanted to get some fresh air anyway."
"So did I."
She turned to look behind her, but saw no-one.
"Tell me." The Xenothium Bandit's synthesized voice grabbed her attention once more. "If we all serve a driving nature within ourselves, and mine is simply to acquire a means to power this suit . . ." He squeezed his fingers, "What are you after?"
"Why do you care?" She asked while peering over the edge.
"Consider it, as my last request."
There was a long pause where the only sound came from the waves colliding into the rocks and maw of the cove.
"Oh, I get it now." He chuckled as his arms grew increasingly sore. "That rage, the look in your eyes, the way you carry yourself."
"Explain yourself!"
His grasp upon the slope was getting much harder to preserve, he could feel himself slipping meter by precarious meter. This was the end, and both combatants knew it.
Red X quickly shook his head, as droplets of sweat began to pour down his face, confined within the helmet. "I see it now."
"What?" She fired back. "What do you see? Answer me!"
"It's always a messy occupation, this path we have chosen for ourselves." He squinted his eyes, to add into the effect of his reply. "Revenge may seem like the sweet dessert you crave, but it really is quiet tragic. If there be a different road, I'm afraid I don't know it."
He gave her a wink, where the right lens upon his skull-faced mask made this gesture. As she let this sink into her brain, he allowed himself fall to the watery depths below!
She gasped and tried to grab his hand, but he spread his arms apart while falling. Red X plummeted down, the air rushed by his ears like a sharp whistle. There would be nothing to protect him as the jagged rocks and frightening cave opened itself, while the tide was brought out.
Mere seconds before it appeared that he was to smash himself against the sea bed, an enormously potent wave with a foaming crest tumbled into his exact location, swallowing the injured mercenary entirely!
The surf slammed into the cove, then it retracted itself back out to the Pacific Ocean, taking with it all sorts of debris and strewn garbage from the metropolis. The sun's rays glistened across the vast and open space, where there was nothing but the cool blue water that sparkled.
For a person to hit the shallow depths so suddenly would inevitably break bones, and it was rather comparable to a person leaping from a moving car, to slam onto the pavement at sixty or seventy miles per hour.
As the triumphant challenger remained fixated about the drop itself, she understood the laws of inertia and gravity, where this cliff was much too severe and steep a fall for anyone to survive.
"Is it done?" Slade's voice caused a new shiver to tickle her back.
A rush of wind blew a few strands of her silk smooth hair, in front of her face.
"Blackfire." Slade deadpanned. "Is it finished?"
"Yes." The Tamaranean Exile whispered. "Consider it ended."
"Hmmm." Slade murmured as he clasped his hands behind his back. "It's quiet the thing to kill a man. You take away all he has, and all the things he was planning to do."
Blackfire peered her attractive eyes at her devious ally, then she glanced over the ledge to where the evasive Xenothium Thief met his demise. "This partnership of ours was built for a common goal."
The Criminal Mastermind stepped forwards, his hostile shadow was right next to hers. "With Red X disposed of, you have proven your loyalty to me. Still, there is something else I need of you, before we can begin phase two."
The shimmering glow bouncing from the surface of the 'T' shaped structure in the distance, it captured the fierce warrior's complete attention. She squeezed her fists and glared at the building that her sister and teammates lived in. That building and its inhabitants were burned into her brain, and her desire to see them destroyed was written all over her face.
Blackfire felt the anger seethe within, and for the first time in many months, her chance of settling the score was near. "I'm coming for you little sister, and your friends."
{{ End Of Scene }}
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Reviews for the previous chapter:
Shac89: "Oh I just love cliffhangers; I can't wait to see what happens next!"
~~Cliffhangers in my opinion; draw the readers and audience into a state of never ending wonder. Keeping the ideas for the creative minds rolling; always thinking of what is to come? The waiting game is never an easy thing, but it sure keeps you hooked on for an enjoyable ride to the very finish. In my belief, that is a superb way to write a great story.~~
Elements of Disharmony: "Wow! This is an amazing story! Ya know what? Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it! Btw, happy early b-day! :D"
~~Thank you for the birthday wishes. I have a few ideas as where things will go, but for the most part I am letting the characters take the reins.~~
Gabrielus Prime: "Is Beast Boy going to meet the Beast? Or his emotions? Or, (Cue ominous music) a ducky?"
~~The main thing I am wishing for, is that this chapter and others, allow my interpretation of The Beast to be considered cannon and natural to the actual show, and the plot. Being the very emotion of rage seemed like an interesting angle to go off from early on; so when the changeling is pushed beyond his limits, and when he is in very dire straits, he transforms into the werewolf animal we all know and love. A duck would be quiet the funny sight to reveal itself. {X-D} I'm guessing the Aflac duck.~~
bk00: "wow. just wow. Literally stunning! X's battle with the big three was so well written (as per usual with you) Your Red X really handled himself well! I loved how you had Cinderblock mention BB! Later down the line, with Cyborg and Robin, you really made their bro-ship shine! I loved how you had Cy handle Robin's news on Falcon's 'death' that was very in character for both the Boy Wonder and the Techno Titan! Though I have to say, my favorite part of this chapter was the sisterly talk between the two Titan girls."
~~I write things out with such depth and emotion, because to me I enjoy reading stories like that. It generates a powerful connection from the reader, to the story. The duel was pretty big, but on how things ended for Red X after this update, it is simply mind toppling in my belief. {:-O} Blackfire has returned! Aaand, Robin and Cyborg are sort-of on good terms; it is a calm before the growing storm, as the future is bound to get rocky for each of the intrepid heroes. Thanks for hanging on for the ride; however there is still plenty more chapters to be cranked out . As long as the story is fun to read, I'll keep on with the writing. ;-)~~
Linzerj: "WHO'S THE "NO IT CAN'T BE" PERSON? I GOTTA KNOW! Ahem … this was awesome, I couldn't stop reading it! I cannot wait for you to come out with more on this awesome story! :)"
~~I hope this chapter was just as suspenseful as the last one. {;-D} Well, The Beast is back! Funny having the changeling run into him again, I'm sure their discussion is bound to get even more interesting. A story can mean many things, but each person interprets all parts of the telling differently. Well, that drop-off was a tough one for Beast Boy; I ponder how I did for Red X this time around?~~
Scififanfreak222: "Wow, Red X is, and always will be my favorite male Teen Titans character next to Beast Boy. Your fight scene was awesome, and all of his gadgets… how he talked, Amazing! Poor Robin :( He's being too hard on himself as usual. I can't help but feel a little angry at him, as well as sorry. Cyborg and Robin's scene was amazing. I love how you dragged it out between these two, and I'm loving their arguments. Cy has a temper! XD I like that. Poor Robin though. Poor Cyborg too! Raven and Starfire's scene (as I expected) was magical! BB may never walk again? D'X Speaking of BB … Raven likes him! Well, we all knew that, but she LIKE likes him! 3 Go Star! Thank GOD she told Rae the obvious! Someone had to! I understand how Raven got so pissed. I hate Terra too, Rae. Even if she redeemed herself in the end, how she hurt Beast Boy will never be forgiven. AND THE CLIFFHANGER! Damn it, T.M.O. You know I hate waiting for things. ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE GOOD! : ( I thoroughly enjoyed this chap, it was awesome."
~~Your feedback continues to bring many a big smiles to my days Scifi! {:-D} The fighting between Red X and the lumbering trio of juggernauts was fun to do, but I was struggling for a full week on that main part with dialogue, for him and Slade. The equipment I wanted him to use; was mostly all of his gadgets from the show. I hope his ending in this update now; wasn't too tragic to read for he is truly one cool dude, but this is how I envisioned the deceitful meeting to come to a close.
The struggle of any hero is hardest, when the team is fighting itself. {:-O} Robin and Cyborg's friendship is greatly being pulled, another thing to worry about is how much more of this can the team take? Yup, Raven and Starfire came to basic terms that Raven does have feelings for the grass stain! Even if the Empath is in denial still, we all know it's there. That scene was by far, my favorite part on that chapter to craft out. While these things are going on in the real world, Beast Boy is being led into quiet a tough choice. His leg is badly damaged but the chances are still rather positive, that when he awakens things won't be completely hopeless for him in recovery.~~
A/N: Thus ends chapter 14. Well, that sure is a whole lot on your plates, it should keep your creative minds churning, with struggles bound to come. However, a vast melancholy and dismal shadow; has been cast over my heavy heart with the chains of a lasting anguish. I never wished to take as long as I have on this update alone, for that I am truly sorry. Remember though, if I rush the chapters out, then I will be making past errors where I only want to strive forwards; and not fall into steep pitfalls that turn a good story, into a poor one.
~~T.M.O~~