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 31 is ready! Terra puts all of her cards on the table, Elizabeth makes an unlikely friend, while Blackfire enters The Ace Chemicals Plant. "One who waits for chance, may wait a year." -Yoruba/West African saying on opportunity-
Chapter 31 - Uneasy Confrontations
"WHOA! Thanks Cyborg!" Beast Boy's crackling voice was heard, as the boisterous cheers and laughter bounced all about the birthday boy after he opened his first present. "This is so awesome!"
Cyborg beamed his typically large smile. "No problem BB. Besides, it's not like you weren't dropping hints like crazy during the flight from Tokyo when we came back."
"Was it that obvious?"
"You got him that?" Raven's voice was heard as she raised an eyebrow with suspicion in the corner, while she put down her tea. "After what happened last time, please tell me you aren't going to let him install it into the Tower's mainframe."
The wrapping of the paper was left in a heap on the floor by his wheelchair, and the gift given to him was the video-game 'Mega Monkey 5', where the crafty green hero tried to install an illegal copy of 'Mega Monkey 4', into the computer of Cyborg's room.
This action caused a nasty virus to ruin their day. When the Tin-Man had tried to charge his suit and run diagnostics on himself, and he was hit by the corrupted data. The destructive code took control of the larger than life teen, and it required an entire days work just to stop him from destroying the entire city.
Cyborg rubbed the back of his bald head with a guilty expression evident on his cheeks. "Don't worry, it's totally legit this time. The real deal, not a dangerous copy downloaded from God only knows where."
"Heh-heh." Beast Boy shrugged his shoulders, it was very apparent that he had not forgotten that unfortunate mishap either. "Thanks Tin-Man."
Beast Boy smiled at his best friend for the very thoughtful gift. "I can't wait to take you down in our versus match-up!"
"You're so on!" Cyborg replied while pumping a fist into the air.
"Ugh, boys and their video-games." Raven rolled her eyes while saying this.
Starfire clapped her hands together in glee, while she enthusiastically watched the celebration she had planned for the past few days, finally come to fruition as the youngest of their group opened his presents.
"Alright, who's should I open next?" the changeling asked while he looked about the room.
"Oh-oh!" Starfire raised her left hand high into the air while nearly leaping out of her seat. "Please friend. Open the gift that I have as my offering, to honor the day of your birth!"
"Alright then, Starfire's it is." Beast Boy rasped.
"Happy birthday friend." The attractive redhead said, and she handed him his present.
He lifted the large golden wrapped object with his left hand, while his right that was in the cast, could barely clasp onto the ovular shaped container. It was neatly tied off with a black bow.
"I wonder what it could be?" asked the injured green shapeshifter.
"It sure isn't a pet hamster." Press chimed in while standing alongside Raven and his silver haired teammate, as he rapped his fingers along the head of his trusting cane. "He can transform into any creature imaginable, so it clearly isn't that."
Delphi elbowed him in the gut, it was apparent that he was trying to pull a fast one, and she did not like his tacky 'dad-jokes', where to her, they felt more like 'grandpa jokes' instead.
"What?" Press stuttered.
Raven revealed a slight smirk. These two clearly had a bit of history between them, and their small banter reminded her of her own times with the green hero.
Beast Boy rolled his eyes after this statement was made, and he tore up the paper into tiny pieces of confetti. Upon his lap, a long wooden surfboard was uncovered. It was well designed, the sturdy material and the smoothness of the object was very impressive.
Intricate details about it revealed that it required a great deal of care to produce, and that the board was built in a way to help the surfer cut deeply into the waves when standing on it.
"Wow!" The changeling said with excitement. "I have wanted to do this for the longest time, and I never had the chance before. This is GREAT Star!"
The Tamaranean Princess blushed. "I had assumed that you would like to partake in the festivities of the sort, where the board of surfing was obtained on our stop in the Hawaiian islands, just before our return journey home."
"Oooh!" Beast Boy slapped his forehead. "You know, I was wondering where you ran off to, as we just made a little pit-stop for a bathroom break. And there you went, getting me a birthday present. Question is, how you managed to sneak it back without me or anybody knowing?"
The room was silenced while the green hero stroked the slick material with his unimpeded arm. It had a glossy sheen to it, and it reflected all of their faces.
"Well, I don't think I'll be learning to surf anytime soon. At least not until my injuries heal." Beast Boy spoke up to end the silence that lingered. "But thank you for the gift Star. It means a lot and I can't wait to cut through the waves!"
She hugged him and the chatter of independent voices started up again. There were still two more gifts near the table, and Beast Boy frowned while he glanced to who else was missing from the party.
Just then the central elevator door 'whooshed' open, and in walked Robin alongside Terra and Kimiko.
The gathered heroes turned after the familiar noise caught them off-guard. They watched as Sibs the German Shepherd, trotted forwards while Kimiko approached Avatar. Robin and Terra headed towards the curved sofa.
There were conflicting emotions directed at The Boy Wonder, and the blonde girl in the wheelchair. Some of the teenagers were happy to be reunited as a team, but two people were clearly harboring frustration and resentment.
Cyborg was still having a difficult time with accepting Robin in the leadership role, despite having been rescued by him in the tunnel. He knew that the bigger picture was about bringing Slade in, and that this task required a concentrated effort that was on the brink of a knife.
This was also the first time that Raven was coming face-to-face with Terra, after so long. They had not crossed paths since she had brought Beast Boy and her to the hospital from the dam.
The two females had arrived separately at Titans Tower, where they had been secluded from all of the others.
Raven took a hot shower and immediately headed to her room to meditate. Terra had gone to the shore, to soak in the warmth of the sun after being cooped up within the local hospital, and to clear her mind on recent events. She plotted to do something, yet she could not even leave the tiny island in the middle of the bay.
The Grey Sorceress bit her tongue and she frowned, she wanted to say something, she had to but felt it was best to hold back any remarks that were unsavory. At least until it was just the two of them.
"Welcome back guys." Beast Boy was happy to see these three, and regardless of the awkwardness, it was best in his mind to put a positive foot forwards for everybody. "I'm opening presents and I'm glad you guys are finally here!"
"BB was just about to open yours Robin." Cyborg cleared his throat.
Beast Boy held a rectangular and somewhat flat box. The blue wrapping and the simplicity of the paper was very much The Boy Wonder's style.
"It was hard." Robin spoke with his arms crossed over his chest. "Not having much time to really shop around, while everything was going on but, it was something that you don't have. And so, and I figured it was about time."
Beast Boy looked at his leader, then back to the blue rectangular present. "Thanks Robin."
The changeling tore opened the gift, and a large nicely crafted picture frame with the photograph of the heroes was in his hands. It was taken earlier in the week, where the red cloaked wanderer known as Falcon, he was noticed as well. The Necromancer was leaning off to the side, and everybody else was posing for the camera.
Robin was right, this was something that Beast Boy did not have.
It hit him deeply and it rippled across his brain, as he was torn-up with having been considered a mere pawn, in a larger game on behalf of his friends. To look across the smiling faces in the photograph, and then to see those very happy expressions here with him now.
It brought out a truth that they did deeply care for him, and that they were a family. His family.
Despite the faults and failures of the past, even the struggle that had taken place this past week, yet that was where the pitfalls belonged. Not forgotten, never forgotten but it was not something to hold ones attention throughout the entirety of moving forwards into the future.
"This is really nice." The changeling stroked the glass before looking up. "I mean it, thank you Robin."
The Titan's Leader cleared his throat before responding. "I know that things have been hard. But we will get through this."
Terra inched herself to a corner away from everybody, she did not feel entirely comfortable and she had no desire to create ripples that would upset the good mood. She sensed Raven's eyes were focused very intently onto her, and that dread she feared while down by the beach, it came flooding back.
"That leaves the final present . . ." Beast Boy held up the small box wrapped in green paper.
Raven's simply looked away, in her cold and emotionless manner. For a moment, Beast Boy thought he saw a slight color alteration in her cheeks, but there was no way to be sure. The Grey Empath had thought long and hard about what sort of gift to offer, and then it came to her while she and Starfire were busily baking food and delicious treats for the party.
"Raven, you really aren't one for parties." Beast Boy smirked.
"No." The Empath rasped. "But its not about me today."
"Well, go on then." said Cyborg.
"Open it." Starfire chimed in.
Delphi placed her cup down onto the glass plate, and it clinked a little.
Beast Boy took a final observation about The Common Room, from his teammates faces and even towards the Titan Squadron superheroes. After what felt like an hour, he tore into the wrapping like a hungry lion, digging into its main course on the African Plain.
Once the small box was opened, an elegant wrist-watch with a black outer casing of a FOSSIL brand was uncovered. The numbers were painted in Roman Numerals, where the hands steadily ticked away.
"Raven, I - I don't know what to say?" The green hero was totally mesmerized by the wrist-watch.
"Turn it over." Raven stood next to him and leaned forwards, and she unclipped the buckle that held it inside the box.
It had the initials of G.M.L. representing his birth name of Garfield Mark Logan, engraved on the back silver side.
"This is . . . this is too much. It must have cost you a small fortune to have gone through that process of having it engraved. How did - how did you find the time?"
Raven shook her head while she rubbed his left arm. "The others all contributed something of value, and for me, this was not too much. In fact when I came across it, it just made sense. I mean, I thought you would-"
Beast Boy held up his hand. "Raven. It's perfect!"
"Dang Raven." Cyborg's voice was heard from the edge of the sofa. "That is a fine watch."
Raven lightly sighed. "Well, everybody seemed to have an idea for what to get you, and I knew that this was something you didn't have."
Beast Boy turned the wrist-piece end over end, examining the intricate details and the elegance of the very thoughtful gift. The brown leather for the straps was a fine touch, and it brought everything together.
"Thanks guys. For everything." Beast Boy closed his eyes as he felt overcome with emotion.
It was like a roller-coaster ride, up and down and all of the Titans had been dealing with various issues.
"You are more than a friend BB." Cyborg walked forwards while he placed his arms around Raven and Starfire. "We are family."
"This is . . ."
"What is wrong?" Starfire asked while she kneeled alongside him.
The spiky haired shapeshifter rubbed his elbow. "You guys didn't have to go that far for me."
"Beast Boy." Starfire smiled at him. "We have gone through a great deal together, and this is our way of showing our gratitude. For everything you have shown us."
"Happy Birthday Beast Boy!" The many voices cheered while raising their cups to toast the green hero.
Beast Boy felt his head sink a little, he was overcome with happiness. This was all so comforting, and they were home together. Soon the teenagers backed away and they began to form little groups.
"Let's get some music pumping!" Cyborg bobbed his head while he switched on the surround sound, and a thumping tune of hip-hop vibrated about The Tower.
The fact of Slade still plotting something nefarious, of the things that took place today alone were incredible. For now, they were safe and could rest in the comfort of their home.
Avatar, Robin and Starfire wandered off to their own corner to discuss things. Beast Boy noticed the brunette lay a sudden punch into his left shoulder, and Starfire giggled as these three chatted. How Robin and Avatar knew each-other, that was a story all on its own and he was curious to learn about his commander's previous time in Gotham.
Cyborg was dancing in the middle of the room, where he held out a hand to Delphi the silver haired seventeen-year-old.
"Come-on." Cyborg encouraged her. "I could use a partner."
"Uh, no. I'm not much of a dancer." Delphi took a sip of her tea.
She reminded him of Raven.
"Oh don't be such a stinker." Press interrupted his teammate as he leaned over the sofa. "Let's loosen up a little. Besides, life is meant to be fun. What are we fighting for, if not for moments like this?"
" . . ." The Azrael Knight was bamboozled by this phrase, and she looked to Raven or Kimiko for some back-up while these two females stood near the wide window, overlooking the city.
It was clear that Press had a flirtatious side towards Delphi, where it may have been hidden behind his Rorschach mask of shifting black inkblots, and the long trench coat with a fedora hat. Yet Raven of The Titans picked up faint traces of happiness in them both.
Press was pushing the limit to see how far he could go, where Delphi seemed to shrink a little under the intrusion.
What kind of a name is Press anyway? Raven thought to herself.
"Don't make me beg Del." Press spouted her nickname.
"Don't call me that." Delphi retorted while standing up. "You know how I hate that nickname."
"Come-on." The masked teenager continued to plead.
"Well, if you're going to twist my arm about it . . . fine."
Cyborg was dancing all by himself, and now Delphi alongside Press began to dance and sway their hips in the open space behind the curved sofa. A multitude of colors from reds, greens, blues and yellows spun and expanded from the descended party light, and the rhythmic beat kept going in the background.
Raven took a final sip of her beverage for courage, and to calm her nerves.
This is it. she said in her mind. I am going to ask him to come with me for a minute, somewhere we can be away from all of this noise, and . . . and I'll tell him. I've got to tell him.
She put her drink down, and she started to approach Beast Boy when suddenly, out of the corner of the room Terra in her wheelchair rolled herself over to him.
No. no, no, no! Not here, not this!
Kimiko released a soft sigh, forcing Raven to spin around.
"We haven't been formally introduced." The female shinobi warrior held out her hand. "My name is Kimiko, you're Raven . . . right?"
Well this is just perfect.
"Yes." The blue cloaked teenager's gravelly voice trailed out of her finally. "What is it?"
For a moment the other girl blocked her view, and Raven's destination of walking over to the two wheelchair teenagers was halted. The timing of events was not on her side today.
The red veiled sixteen-year-old teenager, clasped the Empath's smooth right hand, and her attractive blue eyes locked onto Raven's amethyst pair.
"Robin wanted me to talk with you."
"Oh? About what?"
"See, Terra is in a tough spot at the moment. That's what him and me talked over, before heading back here to the party. Currently, she can't just leave; there is a part of you that knows that, and with what went down at the hospital, it could be worse if we let her head back home."
Raven glanced to her commander, where The Boy Wonder nodded his head in silence from across the room at her. He was trying to ease the uneasy topic for her to grasp. Yet he was not the one breaking it to her, and she felt like this was a cheap move on his part, to avoid the drama that would inevitably unfold.
Dang it Robin! Raven said in her mind. You always have to keep your nose in things, yet you don't want to get your hands dirty. I am beginning to see what Cyborg does and I AM SICK OF THIS!
"It will be okay." Kimiko's soft voice brought the Empath back into the room.
"Wait, hang on just a minute here." Raven slowly backed away as her long blue cloak swayed about her attractive figure. "After all that happened, this can't be what I think you are implying. No . . . oh-no."
"I'm not implying anything. This is coming straight from Robin, your leader."
A flash of ire was felt in her gut. A pang ran through her heart, like an arrow had pierced it. Raven did not like this, not one bit.
"If Robin wants to talk about it, then he should tell me directly!"
"Raven." said Starfire as she entered between them now. "You must understand the gravity of the situation."
The Grey Sorceress found her attention fixed onto Beast Boy and Terra, where the two had their backs to everybody and the thumping music canceled most conversations that were too far away to be eavesdropped on.
Starfire placed her hand onto her sister-teammate's right shoulder. "Terra cannot go to her foster home. Not until this crisis is overcome."
"I knew it!" Raven's voice erupted, and her calm demeanor fell away. "She CANNOT be allowed to stay here. Not after everything she did!"
Beast Boy glanced over his shoulder, as the shadows covered Terra's face. It was no longer a privet conversation between three, everybody else heard this sudden outburst.
The Empath turned away, as unpleasant memories gnawed at her insides.
No, this is NOT what I wanted to happen. Raven prattled in her mind. How could this be? Why? Why now? Why here?
She felt nauseous.
It was a very uncomfortable position she was backed into. Her teammates were going to put up with this, and what made the matter worse, was that not even the mentioning of a vote, to decide if the blonde could stay had been offered. The Empath looked to Cyborg to see if perhaps he would agree with her, but he was too busy gorging himself with food back in the kitchen.
Raven interlocked her arms across her breasts. "You've GOT to be joking."
"No." Starfire said in her soothing voice. "This is not a joke, or a prank. This is very serious."
"Yeah. Serious enough that apparently, everybody just forgot what she did!"
"Raven, please calm down."
"No, you listen!"
The very moment felt compunctious, and suddenly out of her control. Raven's plan was to go to Beast Boy, and then before she could talk privately with him, Terra was there. The blonde had been such a devastating force in their ranks, and nobody seemed to remember the past as she did.
Raven's path was blocked by these two female warriors, and The Empath wanted to make things subtle, yet now it was apparent that her raised voice was turning heads. It was making matters much worse, because a plan had been orchestrated while she had meditated in her room.
During this delicate time, Raven was left out of the discussion, or if there had been a vote, she did not have a voice in the matter.
So that's what it feels like.
"Forgive me. I . . . I need to meditate." Raven walked towards the steps after saying this, past the blue sofa where Beast Boy and Terra were, and she headed for the main exit.
"Didn't you just-" Avatar said while standing next to Robin, only to quiet herself as the serious glare in the Empath's eyes was leveled at her.
"Raven, wait!" Starfire called out to her sister teammate.
There was no stopping the blue cloaked heroine. The door slid open and in the next instant, she was gone.
"It's alright Star. Let her go." Cyborg said as he approached The Tamaranean Warrior. "It is a lot to digest."
"Cyborg, you must eat smaller portions. You will get a stomach ache if you do not."
The Titan's Technological Expert looked at the sandwich in his free hand, and he scratched the back of his neck.
Starfire gave a befuddled look before speaking again. "But the food was plentiful, and the order of baking methods was followed as the directions instructed."
"It's not the food." Robin consoled his girlfriend.
"I'm sorry." Terra's rasping voice caused everybody to turn and look at her now. "I knew that coming back here was a bad idea."
"No, Terra it is not your fault." Beast Boy pleaded with the injured girl.
"It is only temporary." said Robin. "Slade has been getting more bold with each attack against us. We will get to the bottom of this." he slammed his right fist into his left palm. "We will bring him to justice."
"That's why we are here." Avatar cut-in next. "My teammates and I will help you guys to defeat this menace."
"That goes double for me." Press raised a cup to toast their alliance.
Delphi nodded her head without speaking a word.
Beast Boy looked to his friends faces during the lingering hush, and then his attention focused onto the variety of gifts.
The photograph that The Boy Wonder had given him, with Falcon in their midsts the day that they were at yet another celebration caught his eyes. The smiling and cheerful picture caused him to deeply ponder, over all of the hardships and trials, which his family had been through.
Today was no different, and while he had been through an exhausting ordeal, he did not have to get involved in another uncomfortable quarrel.
However, he knew what he had to do.
(~)
Elizabeth was sent back to the principle's office, to be isolated and to be kept away from her fellow classmates.
The main rule of thumb by the teachers, was to quickly separate the students that got into fights. It was a primary form of discipline implemented to keep the situation from getting any worse.
Grudges tended to be a difficult thing to stifle or overcome, and inevitably the conflicts would arise again and again, between two warring parties. It was a vicious cycle, round and round where the problem was never resolved. Instead they were dropped into the laps of other people, in positions of authority to deal with.
The early evening had already begun to encroach, the sun was starting to set on the West Coast and Elizabeth had just been picked up by Mark Jackson Spears.
The drive home was uneventful, and the teenager felt disconnected while looking out the window of the passenger side, to what her step-father was speaking. His lips were moving yet she did not hear his words, she was in a strange place mentally.
It had been a very long and irritating day, but from everything she was just tired. Her homework was finished, and she really only wanted to go to her room to lock the door. To shut-out the whole world.
The fourteen-year-old had been handed a two-day suspension, in order to maintain her record from getting any more demerits caused from other incidents in less than a single day's time.
The faculty knew very well who her step-father was. The very same teachers also recognized who the bullies were, but their hands were tied when it came to carrying out a deeper investigation, and anything that could be looked at for carrying out a balanced judgment, to be set against the antagonizers was all but ignored.
The primary reason was because Amber Rey, Kimberly Nox, and Sasha Bee were three of the school's rising scholars, who's parents were very affluent members of the city and also on the board.
As the saying goes; power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Elizabeth whispered in her head.
With her own firsthand accounts of the gritty truth to how these three bullies behaved, Elizabeth was disgusted with no more punishment on their ends, for starting fights with not just her, but any unfortunate victims in their school.
Their mess would be swept under the rug. So long as the bullying was kept to a minimum, then the district would not be alarmed. Any incidents were doctored to keep up the school funding, for a better overall show to outsiders.
Regardless of the reasoning, her suspension would lead straight into the weekend. The blue haired teenager did not feel bent out of shape over it, where her time away from the school would give her a refreshing opportunity, to be someplace she actually wanted to be in her future career, the hospital.
She clutched at her bag tightly, while she stared out the window.
(~)
-Flashback-
"Hey. You dropped this."
The soft-spoken voice from the brown eyed dark haired teenager, tapped her on the shoulder, as he held out her journal.
She was suddenly awakened from the nap she took. The girl was sitting with a hand propped below her chin, as she waited in a nearby conference room within the main office.
It was the second time she had found herself here today, and the receptionist was not happy to see her either. Somehow this boy had wandered in, and it caught her by total surprise.
"Wha? How did you get in here?" Elizabeth stuttered, as she nearly leapt out of the chair.
"Oh, that was easy. I know my way around this place, as I am on the chess team. We meet up after school on certain days, today is one of them."
"Really? So you just so happen to sneak into the principle's office, you manage to slip past the receptionist at the main desk, and you come to talk to me. Why?"
"Well now, I can't give away all my best moves. Secrets are best kept . . . you know, discreet." he chuckled as he cupped his hand by his face.
"Wait a second. Is that my notebook!?"
The fifteen-year-old handed her the journal. He did not say a word but his grin became larger.
Elizabeth was stunned as she enthusiastically flipped through the pages. Everything was as she left it, all of the pages were still intact, and nothing seemed out-of-the-ordinary.
"Where did you - how did you-"
"After the fight. You scurried out of there in quiet a hurry. I wouldn't blame you, heck Mr. L. sure isn't the kind of guy to overstep any boundaries."
The blue haired fourteen-year-old freshmen glanced to the table. The rest of her belongings were with her but she felt perturbed, as the notion of losing this important item clung to her like her shadow.
This is the LAST time I bring this with me to school.
Now it was back in her possession, and an elation of gratitude swelled within her. It was a very rocky day, and for a while things went from bad to worse, however there was a break in the distress that plagued her.
Elizabeth smiled while turning to look back at him and she said; "Thank you."
"No problem."
Silence.
"Your name is Andrew . . . Andrew Stilton, right?" Elizabeth asked while she raised an eyebrow with inquisitiveness.
"Yup. That's me. Although I would have chosen anything else if it were up to me."
"Andrew. Huh, well it has a nice ring to it."
"Now you're just saying that."
The two chuckled.
"So." Elizabeth put the missing item in her bag, and after zipping it closed she returned her focus onto the kind-hearted boy. "What compelled you to bring my notebook back to me?"
He shrugged his shoulders before responding.
"I guess you could say, that if it had been me, I would want my property returned. See, you were told to leave rather abruptly, and I couldn't just hand it back right away as the commotion was coming to a close. I had other classes to go to myself. Somebody else could have picked it up, and I figured you would be here at the end of the day, and so . . . here I am."
"Thanks Andrew." Elizabeth patted him on the shoulder. "I'm not just saying it to say it - you know?"
He rubbed the back of his neck before responding with; "Eh. It was no big-deal."
"It is to me."
"Funny." Andrew looked over his shoulder while pointing backwards. "I thought you would have been in the detention room with the others?"
"Right. See, the thing is - I think you should get going where if old Mrs. Gestapo in there finds you talking to someone who got kicked out of detention, for being in another fight . . . it might not be a good idea seeing you hanging around me."
"Yeah, that's a good point." Andrew chuckled before replying with; "Wait, did you say that you got involved in another fight?"
Elizabeth face-palmed. "Will you hurry up and get out of here! You are going to get me into even more trouble!"
"More trouble?"
His smirk beamed very wide while he was being led to the door. No, shoved was more the appropriate terminology.
"Now that sounds like it could be interesting." he prattled on while waving a finger.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
Great. This joker really seems to like getting under my skin.
-End Of Flashback-
(~)
The petite blue-haired teenager blinked her eyes, as she found herself sitting back inside of the car. She had zoned out for a moment, and the white dashed lines across the road continued to flash by.
The entire ride back to their apartment, Mark Jackson Spears was talking to her. His words became like static to her ears, as she had tuned him out.
She was certain that when he came to pick her up, that he would be upset about having to leave his work. After getting notified as to the conduct of things with his adoptive child, Mark was frustrated that the teachers did not intervene, to prevent further aggression against his daughter.
She smiled at the memory of meeting her fellow underclassman, and his stubborn quirky-side caused Mark who was driving to notice this.
"So then, I take it that the busted lip isn't too much of a pain? What's so funny?"
Elizabeth licked the wound, tasting the dry blood over the cut she had been given from her peers, in the detention room.
"It's not that I don't feel it. It stings but . . . it was . . . eh never mind."
Their car that was cruising at a good speed began to slow down as the traffic light changed to red, and the vehicles in front came to a halt. Mark fiddled with the air conditioning unit for a bit, turning the vents across the console and he sighed.
"Care to tell me what is bothering you? Aside from the fight."
Without shifting her focus away from the view outside her passenger window, Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders before responding in a most nonchalant manner.
"No."
"Listen. I am not mad about you defending yourself back there. Sometimes the only way a punk learns their place is when somebody stands up to them. I just wish the teachers could have intervened to . . . somebody could have spoken up for you and-"
"I know."
Mark placed his left hand under his chin, while his right hand stayed on the wheel.
"You have a future to look forwards to. A bright and unknown expanse with the possibilities at your fingertips. All you have to do, is decide on what path you want to make for yourself."
The traffic light switched from red to green, and the other cars began to move.
"I know." she repeated without changing her tone.
"What I'm trying to say is . . ." he bit his lower lip before continuing; "I know this was out of your hands. Heck that's how most things in life go, we get all of these issues and problems dropped in our laps when we are not ready or looking for trouble, and we have to make sense of it."
"Uh-huh."
"Kind of like the metaphor for having a puzzle, and all of the critical parts are missing. Like you know how it is supposed to go in your mind, but something is still missing."
"You and your analogy's." Elizabeth said while shaking her head.
The pair looked at one another and both started to lightly laugh.
"Fair enough." Mr. Spears nodded in agreement. "I understand that so many things have been unfair for you. I see that deep passion, that desire is very strong and real. It is such a focus in you to keep on your goals and this path with becoming a doctor was in you, long before the . . . well you know how it is."
". . ."
"You know that I only want the best for you. That I strive to give you all of the encouragement and guidance that I can, as your parent because that's my job. So you know why I let you hang around the hospital, and to broaden your mind on the field."
The fourteen-year-old slowly moved her head back, and she looked at him before speaking.
"What is this? Some sort of speech about with great power, that there is an even greater responsibility? Or something along that comic-book line?"
Mark tapped the rim of the steering wheel. "Perhaps a little."
"What happened at school was unfortunate, but I'll deal with it." Elizabeth focused on the buildings and apartments around them.
"Yeah. I know. I just want you to understand that I am here for you, that you are not alone and I am willing to listen if anything is bothering you. You just have to ask for help, and I'll help you."
He pressed a button on the back of the visor, and the garage door opened. The car pulled inside as the glow of white shined down onto them.
"Thanks." Elizabeth said as she opened the door. "I'm just glad that this day is finally over."
"Elizabeth." Mark called to her from the driver's side. His stern voice forced the teenager to stop in her tracks. "Look, I know that today has a certain significance for you, and that you have every reason to want to forget it. To put it behind you and to let things fade away."
She clutched at the strap to her bag, not saying a word allowing him to continue with her back facing him.
"From what I have gone through since her passing, that what I did was not a healthy way of dealing with it, by hiding from it. It only festers and causes a rot deep within. Some look to their work, some bury themselves into anything but the issue that is causing the pain. I know this because lately, that's what it seems you have been doing too."
Elizabeth partially turned. "I get it. But this is different."
"Oh?" Mr. Spears questioned as the memories of his wife came to him. Of her soothing smile and long dark hair. "We all have dealt with loss Liz. Is it really justifiable to simply put me in a different category because . . . despite us not being blood related, you ARE my daughter."
She looked to her converse sneakers and sighed before speaking. This was a deeply thought-provoking topic, and she was feeling the gravity of his words.
"I never thought of it like that." Elizabeth said quietly.
"Then what is it?"
Her formidable defense to this line of questioning was gradually being chipped away. It felt unpleasant, and she did not fancy the potential outcome.
"I know what you are trying to get me to accept." Elizabeth deflected his question. "There is something that has been bothering me since last night. And don't speak like that, of course I see you as my father."
He stepped out and then he placed a hand upon her shoulder. "You know that you can talk to me. What is bothering you?"
"I'm tired." she brushed aside a strand of hair in front of her face, and she then walked towards the door. "I - I just need to clear my head."
The high-schooler stared off in the distance for a very long minute, and she thought of various things. Yet of everything, from the brawls at school, to the displeasure of knowing that today was the anniversary of her brother's birthday, and even the mentioning of her step mother came rushing back. Through all of these things, it was the face of the unknown boy in the ruins of the train station that had the strongest pull.
"Elizabeth."
The teenager was brought back from this somber moment.
"It's nothing. I'll see you in the morning."
"Sure."
(~)
The Ace Chemicals Plant was a grotesque and unnatural eye-sore of a building, that stood out like a high tower among the numerous factories and smokestacks. It had a very bright neon green symbol of a beaker over the top, where the company brand was across the front for all eyes to see.
A brownish red plume of toxic vapor ascended upwards, where the waste and bile of the byproduct was let out from the vents and chimneys.
It mixed into the atmosphere along with colliding smoke from the nuclear plant, and the waste treatment plant forging a nauseating, iron-like smell. It was so potent for anybody visiting for the first time, yet the residents who lived here called it 'rustic air'.
There was so much to experience and to see for any first timer that came to Gotham, yet these places in this industrial part of the city were not a tourist destination.
Places like Wayne Tower, which was at the very heart and center of the gigantic city. It was open to the public, where the billionaire playboy philanthropist Bruce Wayne, donated through his charitable foundations the means to keep the city operating in a positive light.
Other very wealthy do-gooders with rather shady dealings, men such as Roland Daggett, Rudolf Moehler, and Simon Stagg paid the Mayor Of Gotham Quincey Sharp off, in order to keep their 'side-dealings' off the books and below the radar.
There was the ancient library, the famed silver bullet monorail that zipped across the metropolis for a quick and easy form of transportation, for the poor that lived about the many burrows.
The Solomon Wayne Courthouse was iconic with its form of justice as it was in appearance. Arkham Asylum was on its little island far in the bay, while Blackgate Prison that could not hold the truly insane housed the gang member, and petty criminal offenders.
The massive Pioneer's Suspension Bridge connected the old and new parts of the city, while The Botanical Gardens and The Iceberg Lounge were very monumental landmarks at the complete opposite end near Bludhaven. These places also had deep roots in the gothic place, while Wonder Tower stood in the very hub of Sheldon Park.
However, nothing was more disgusting or unpleasant enough, than a person having to hold their nose to just stroll past The Ace Chemicals plant. Its reputation was preceded by decades old scandals and 'accidents' to its employees and unfortunate bystanders.
This building had a deeply unsavory reputation, not only from the hazardous waste it spewed into the harbor, or the chemicals it poured up into the atmosphere. The owners switched hands so many times that any records of its misgivings were covered up through corruption and bureaucrats, people in power that were paid handsomely.
Only recently was it discovered to be under control of Rupert Thorne, the very man that Blackfire was on a mission to meet with.
The things its mysterious concoctions did to people, who were exposed to it over long periods of time had to have checked off numerous health hazards. Cancer, Leukemia, Mesothelioma, tumors, and other ailments on the list of medical concerns went on and on.
Most of the workers in this facility had no other choice, and while it was hard work, it was a job that offered a weekly paycheck. Everything had some unsavory history behind it, and this place, this haunting facility had a dark truth that the workers tended to try and forget.
The Clown Prince Of Crime had been created within this very building, after falling over the railing from the top catwalk, tumbling head first into one of the many open vats down below.
While it was unclear at the time, Batman had tried to reach out and grab The Red Hood. The story that was spread however, was he dropped the poor down-on-his-luck comedian intentionally.
Gigantic metal mixers stirred the green and blue liquids, where the valves would be turned and the chemicals would be funneled to a distilling portion of the plant, to be cooled and extract the core product. The waste was disposed of like any other run-of-the-mill factory from the turn of the nineteenth century, by it simply flushing the garbage out to the harbor.
Blackfire had entered the factory through an open window in the roof. She was standing over the uppermost metal pathway that overlooked many vats containing a stew of chemicals.
The Ace Chemicals plant was a manufacturer of beauty and health-care products, yet it also dabbled in weaponization projects for the government, discreetly paid through military contracts as well.
Surprisingly, the place was still in operation after everything about it was exposed. The dark and gritty reality by the newspapers and the press told things without having to spin the truth too much. Like most businesses in Gotham, it was used as a front for the general public, but the back-door contracts also allowed it to test a variety of toxins for the armed forces.
Corruption was rampant everywhere, Gotham City was a true swamp of deceit and lies, built upon the backs of the innocent.
Tentacles of bureaucracy could never fully unweave the evils that made the people in power rich, and those trying to change the system for the better, most honest and decent folks had two choices. They were either consumed by the evil in the end, or they were never heard from again.
The glow within the many large cauldrons on the ground level revealed a horrible byproduct, that was being channeled from one room to another. It smelled utterly foul in more than one way, and Blackfire was very astute in knowing a corrupt operation when she came across it.
It was a legal place of business on the surface for any prying eyes, where the health inspectors would be paid-off or those that could not be, had unfortunate 'accidents' that took them off the case.
Eventually enough pressure and sleuthing investigating on behalf of The Dark Knight, this pushed a legal precedent that The Police Commissioner James Gordon had ample evidence to bring a supreme court case against the owner.
The Ace Chemicals Plant was slated to be shut down for good years back, yet there were multiple people who did not want to see that happen.
From the corruption at the upper levels of the city being The Mayor himself, to the factory workers who carried out their tasks because nobody else would and they just needed a steady job despite the health hazards. Nobody would speak out because their lives depended on the very system of corruption that kept them all employed, and the money flowing in.
In short, various people's livelihoods depended on this dangerous work, so naturally the plant was going to be operating for years to come.
All of this, plus the fact that the ownership changed hands to Rupert Thorne was a guaranteed bet that the overweight man made sure to keep the building running at some capacity.
Nobody crossed him, and everything that revealed evidence to bring a lawsuit or to close any of his businesses and bring him to justice, these things only caused a brief shut-down while the more nefarious works were buried, and the documents had been destroyed.
Batman worked outside of the legal system, and everything he brought forwards to the police and the district attorney's office was mired into deeper webs of controversy.
It was like an elegant wack-a-moll game, Batman and his crime fighting partners would put a stop to things, but new trouble would arise. Rupert Thorne had his own people on the inside and under his payroll, to further his meddle in things.
The Tamaranean Exile noticed an office of some sort at the end of her path, and the yellow glow shining through the windows revealing dark outlines of people inside.
She hurried along the catwalk, and her feet lightly echoed against the metal decking. Her instincts were leading her over the many hazards of this place, and so far she was unscathed.
It was the stench that made her stop, and she squinted her eyes while holding a hand to her nose. The foul odor was like burning rubber mixed with rancid milk or eggs.
"Oh yuck!" Blackfire stuck her tongue out. "To hide inside a place such as this, it really does burry ones illicit dealings within filth."
Something sinister was brewing and it had nothing to do with Slade. The facts she did have about this facility and the old man Rupert Thorne himself, these things only made her ponder deeper troubles that would arise.
She shivered at the thought of an army of Joker's, running mad about Gotham. One Ace Of Knaves was more than enough for The Batman to handle, untold thousands if not millions being unleashed, as a push for chemical warfare was the greatest mark of evil. It caused her to gag a little, where she shook her head as this was unbelievably disgusting.
The Iceberg Lounge was chilling to wait inside, yet the posh nightclub had an assortment of amenities and it did not stink like here.
Within Penguin's Pristine Night-Club things were more subtle and smooth. Inside The Ace Chemical Plant however, it was all in your face and one slip-up and a person would wind up looking like The Joker, if they survived the fall that is.
Everybody's luck runs out sooner rather than later. she mused to herself. Perhaps my luck will not be so misgiving.
Open vats of gigantic cisterns held bubbling smoking green and blue liquids. As she leaned over the railing to get a better glimpse at what this exact operation was. She hadn't the faintest idea but whatever the brew was, it was very dangerous.
The frightful reality being that this toxic bile was not healthy in any regards. Rupert Thorne was a very meticulous man, and just standing here made her pick up a faint vibe of her handler Deathstroke.
However, no guards and a complete lack of even the basic security features made her begin to doubt that feeling in her gut.
The oder of things here, was that every large vat in the rows would boil and churn the mixture of chemicals, thus the next one connected to it through pipes would funnel the slime further down the line and mix other ingredients.
"Huh. I wonder where all the workers are?" Blackfire looked around after saying this, where not even a single scientist or engineer were mulling about.
Shadows started moving about the main office to her front once more, and the time on her communicator along with the setting sun reminded her that the hour was late.
"What are you doing here?" A stern voice called to her.
A stiff object was jabbed into her back, and she immediately awoke as the thought-to-be security free area had a few surprises yet.
Uh-oh!
She clutched at the railing tightly, the Exile had no idea as to how this person got the drop on her so swiftly, and her instincts were telling her that she could fight him, but that was not her mission for being sent here.
"Well now, it looks like I took a wrong detour from the group I was with." Blackfire chuckled with a smile. Perhaps if I bluff, this could buy me time?
"Very funny." He mocked, shoving the hard object deeper into her back. "There are no tours that go through this place at this hour."
Crap. I thought that could work. she rasped in her mind.
He cocked the hammer back where the clicking mechanism was heard. The object was clearly a firearm, and it was pointed directly into her spine. She slowly released her hands over the railing and raised them over her head.
"Turn around." he commanded. "Do it slowly, with your arms raised and keep them over your head!"
Blackfire sighed before speaking. "Very well. I did not come here to cause trouble."
"Oh no?" The guard asked in his deep baritone voice. "Then why did you sneak in through the roof? Listen, there have been a number of prowlers causing problems for Mr. Thorne. You being here now, at this hour leaves little to the imagination for what your intentions are."
"True, very true indeed."
The man towered over and he was built like a wrestler, dressed in a very pricey black suit. He had sharp blue eyes with a deep scar going down his left eye and his hair was dark brown.
The two studied one another for a moment, and he squinted his eyes while trying to gauge her intentions.
"What is your reason for being here kid?"
"I'm here to speak with your boss." Blackfire answered cooly.
"Nobody speaks to Mr. Thorne. Not without Miss Candice saying so."
Blackfire rolled her eyes while saying in her head; Great, another form of bureaucracy that I don't have time for.
Two more goons walked out from behind a side door, one drew a switchblade as another carried a baseball bat and he tapped his shoulder with it.
The guard with the knife was African American and very plump, while his hair was balding, as the guy with a bat had blonde hair and he was less muscular than the first goon.
"Boys, this is all just some big misunderstanding here." Blackfire shrugged her shoulders after speaking, hoping to ease the tension.
"Who's the dame?" The knife wielder asked.
"The name's Blackfire." she answered.
"What does she want?" the guy with the major league baseball bat questioned next.
The Tamaranean Exile glanced from each of the three much older men's faces. They were getting annoying but she remained very calm after exhaling to recalibrate herself.
"Look." Blackfire started speaking. "I know that your boss doesn't like uninvited guests just dropping in. While he was probably totally aware of the meeting that took place earlier today at The Iceberg Lounge, yet he might not know of the finer aspects of what was being talked about."
"Spill it kid." The bodyguard with the the bat jumped in.
"We can take the message to him." said the goon with the gun.
"Or we'll just have to spill you over the edge right here and now." The guy with the switchblade said next with a snicker.
The guard with the firearm made a motion of crossing his index finger over his neck, to imply the 'you're dead' trademark.
"I don't have time for this nonsense." Blackfire lowered her hands.
There was an uneasy pause in their conversation that lingered, and then she tapped into her rage, causing her eyes to glow purple, as the star bolts formed in her hands giving off the exact color of her eyes.
"Three on one, you shouldn't have!" The Exile snapped at them while forming an attack stance.
"HOLD IT!" A voice echoed from the office. "Boys, now is this any way to treat a lady?"
Everybody turned round and looked at a very attractive woman in her late twenties, dressed in a red skirt and high heels. She had a hand over her hip, and she ran her other hand through her long black hair.
She approached the group and studied the teenager very closely. The perfume she wore was very alluring, and her red lipstick added to her attractiveness.
"Will you be a good girl and not cause a fuss?" The Henchwoman asked.
Blackfire relaxed her stance a bit, and her normal eye color returned as her powers were deactivated.
"She came in through the roof." The guard with the gun pointed at her.
"Well aren't you the genius." Blackfire chided him.
"Can-it kid!"
"Hey!" The secretary scolded her handlers.
Everybody became quiet and Blackfire swallowed a lump of saliva in her throat.
"While I don't like the reason for you prowling about Mr. Thorne's factory at this hour, but you are here now. Care to explain your reason for being here?"
Blackfire bit her lip, and she felt it was all pointless. Then the image of Wildfire flying through space caught on the satellite image in The Clocktower came back to her, and she was determined once again to press ahead in the mission Slade had sent her here for in the first place.
"I didn't want to have to deal with more bull-spit of going through goons and lackeys, and I just wanted to cut-to-the-chase. I noticed the office was over there, and I decided well, I might as well just make my move."
The three armed men were poised for a fight. The situation was tense once more.
"Oh?" The secretary in red asked. "Bold and ambitious aren't we?"
"I'm sorry." Blackfire continued her plea. "I am kind of running on a tight schedule, and the more time it takes to go through checkpoints, goons with guns and what-have-you . . . well, lets just say that my employer is very precise in what he wants. When he wants it done."
The attractive woman smirked while nodding her head. "I understand. My employer works in a similar fashion. Time is always a critical juncture, and he does not tolerate a minute of things to be off schedule."
"Punctual, and to the point."
The three bodyguards around her inched forwards to say something, but she raised a hand to silence them. The armed soldiers parted allowing Blackfire to be lead out of the encirclement.
Slade said not to use violence as a means to get Thorne's help, but damn, these useful idiots were really forcing my hand.
"So you came all this way, to meet with my employer. Is that the story then?" The woman in red asked while they walked. "Why shouldn't I have let his men take you for a dip, if you catch my drift?"
Blackfire looked about her surroundings with wonder, as her guide clasped her hands behind her back.
"Yes." Blackfire finally answered. "I understand what you are getting at but if I wanted to, well . . . I don't think getting captured was part of the plan."
"Not using the front-door. Clever. Not the brightest idea, but you have guts girl, I'll give you credit for that."
Blackfire scowl deepened a little. I am getting rather tired of hearing that whole 'kid' routine.
"Hey, Candice!" The lackey with the gun called out. "Are you sure you can handle this?"
The stunning female in heels glanced over her shoulder while saying; "You boys just get back to your posts. We don't want any more uninvited guests thinking that this is an open house, for anybody to just drop in again."
The trio of bodyguards dispersed, grumbling angrily beneath their breath as they disappeared from view.
"So, Candice was it?" asked Blackfire.
"That is my name. And yours . . . ?"
"Blackfire."
"Ah, a pleasure to meet you young lady."
"Thanks."
The two black haired females reached the end of the catwalk, the rising steam from the open vats below still sifted upwards.
"Ugh." Blackfire groaned. "How can you stand this stench?"
Candice smiled. "Well, why else does one wear so much perfume you might ask? To mask the scent."
The Tamaranean Exile nodded her head, as she watched her guide tap her nose.
"That." The attractive chaperone continued; "And after dealing with this place for as long as I have, you kind of just ignore the smell."
"I don't know if anyone could ever stand it. How you do it, well it's beyond me."
The long windows across the main office revealed much more clear silhouettes from afar, and the front door was closed.
"So girl-"
"The name is Blackfire." The Exile interrupted.
"Alright, Blackfire . . . if you wanted to gain an audience with my employer Mr. Thorne, you are in luck. He is in a very generous mood today, and with his other dealings wrapped up, he is more than willing to talk to visitors today."
"But I wasn't invited."
"No. But here we stand, and between you and me, those guys wouldn't have stood a chance, would they?"
Blackfire smirked. "Well now, I'm just a simple messenger who is here trying to do her job. Of course getting into fisticuffs with your bodyguards would only impede my intentions."
"Sure, sure." Candice smiled. "A girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do."
"Let's just get this over with then. Shall we?"
"Fair enough."
Candice opened the door, and the two walked into the main office.
It was a very large room, there was a tan sofa to the side, a towering case of rusted metal filing cabinets were along the left side, where to the right many long windows revealed the factory in full view.
Security cameras had in fact been installed about various levels within and around the perimeter, where the feed was funneled here. In the office, a tiny man with large round glasses and a nice light blue suit of his own turned in his chair, as he watched the two ladies make their entrance.
There was a stuffed Grizzly Bear that towered over everybody, while to the back of the room a long and expensive desk stood out. A pool table with a few of the 'hired help' were busy playing a game, as one of the men with a toothpick in his mouth took aim. The clanking of the white ball smacked a few of the striped ones into a corner pocket.
The guy stood up as he used the little box of chalk to rub into the end of the stick. He shifted the toothpick in his mouth, and he stood upright as the woman in red led the teenage girl beyond him and his pals.
It was an unsavory lot, Blackfire had seen a wide variety of characters inside The Iceberg Lounge and here in the main office of The Ace Chemicals Plant, yet another level of thugs and miscreants were starring at her.
Oh boy. This job just continues to get more interesting. Blackfire rolled her tongue into her cheek as she thought this.
"Come on hon." Candice waved her hand. "You best not linger too long, it isn't polite for a lady to stare."
"Oh. Right, my bad." Blackfire rubbed her left elbow. "I am not from around here and everything is all so-"
"Intimidating." A deep and captivating voice came from the back, behind the sturdy wooden table. A mysterious large man was standing while he wore a very elegant black suit, fitting of a man running a business or multiple enterprises.
"I was going to say interesting." Blackfire started moving closer again.
"You wandered in here, into my place of business sticking your nose where it doesn't belong." The very plump man shrouded in darkness smoked on his thick cigar. "But you did not wander in without a purpose. No, you had a message to deliver to me. You came because you wanted something, no, you were told to come here is that it?"
"Both actually." Blackfire replied as she stood in front of the table, and then she sat in the comfortable chair.
He puffed on his thick cigar while keeping his back to her. The burning red embers flared, while the reflection of his office revealed her face to him in the glass he was staring out of, without her the ability of seeing his. The wisp of smoke billowed around the very chubby man.
"The meeting with Penguin went as I suspected it would. And here you find yourself, clawing for more resources and a means to get a job done." He turned, and his features were exactly as the picture she remembered seeing him was.
"Wait, how did you-"
"Word travels fast little lady. I have ears in every establishment around this crumbling eyesore of a city, I knew about your petty mission long before you set foot inside of The Iceberg Lounge. If you think Penguin's establishment was the one place I would avoid, and with word on the street of a meeting taking place between some of the key players in my town, then you must be a damned fool for not knowing how I operate."
He walked towards his desk, as the clanking of billiard balls ricocheted in the background. It was very apparent that he did not mind having his bodyguards around him when he was grilling anybody.
Great. Slade sent me here and if he already knows this, then how in the world am I supposed to get this guy to side with my cause, if he only seems to be toying with me?
This was not going to be easy. She would need to sway one of the biggest criminal kingpins known that rivaled countless others, to side with her when he had every reason to resist and refuse her. The troubling thing was, if Thorne was already aware of the meeting that took place, Blackfire was really discomforted in what she could offer him.
If a man like Rupert Thorne did not desire working alongside The Rouge Gallery Of Villains from Penguin, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Bane, Killer Croc, The Mad Hatter, Victor Zsasz, or Catwoman, if an offer of solid gold bars from Slade could not sway him, the treasure trove being something of value would be next to impossible to uncover.
"Rupert Thorne." Blackfire hissed his name.
"And you are Blackfire." The white haired Kingpin tapped a few ashes into the glass tray on his table.
The Tamaranean Exile looked left, and then right about her new surroundings and she smirked.
This endeavor was the most critical juncture in her mission in coming to Gotham. She may have had an unsettling emotion deep inside of her when she first arrived, with how to fully grasp the situation she was blindly walking into. She had never before played poker, but a bluff of some kind would need to be initiated.
To the teenager, nothing else mattered and she was exactly where she had to be. Everybody could be coerced, there was some form of leverage on everybody.
Rupert Thorne may have thought everything was working in his favor, but he had never encountered the Tamaranean Exile before. The teenager's unexpectedly wicked smile caused him to sink back in his chair a little, and Candice exchanged puzzled glances with him.
For better or worse, Blackfire could not leave empty handed. There would be no way to slink into the shadows this time, everything was at stake and she started to chuckle before speaking further.
"Right, let's get down to it then."
{{End Of Scene}}
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Author's Note:
This marks an anniversary since I first posted chapter one, many years ago. It is a milestone of itself, and it is rather difficult to see when one is in the middle of doing so much, but I think that the story has gotten better. I feel proud, and I am humbled for all that I have overcome. Remember, it is also in large part because of you, the readers and fans that has kept this story going. Thank you!
For those who did not know, Candice was in Batman The Animated Series, and I plan to give a her a little more depth in the future chapters. (Well, for as many characters that I can anyway.) Thank you to everybody for your continued support! Doing this is the best, and I am just as eager to find out what happens next along with all of you guys.
Hopefully the situation improves for The Teen Titans, where I get the feeling that a lot of readers want to see things hurry up, and that perhaps the depth is too much of a slog to read through? The plot with Blackfire seems to be getting even more intense, and the coming battle is going to take a lot of work for sure. Leave some feedback in that box at the bottom, otherwise I don't know how I am doing. I might have to do something drastic in the next cliffhanger.
~~T.M.O~~