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 33 is ready! The long awaited night has come, heroes from near and far find a much needed rest, as pieces are swiftly taken off of the board. "Nothing is easy to the unwilling."-Gaelic proverb-
Chapter 33 - Vexed Promises
A mechanized sound of a door 'hissed' open, where this simple movement brought the illumination of the inner sanctum, to cut through the darkness of the hall.
"Huh. Home sweet home." Terra said sarcastically as she wheeled herself in. "It's just for a short time, I-I can do this."
The wide and spacious area was just as she remembered it when she last went inside. That was the day when Beast Boy brought her back to The Tower, when The White Monster had attacked him and his friends.
It was the day when The Teen Titans had returned home from Paris. They had defeated The Brotherhood Of Evil, and once they had arrived back, they noticed that a great deal had changed across their city. So much had become altered, from the numerous places and shops they frequently visited, as well as within themselves.
While the heroes were out exploring, The White Monster attacked and the team of supers were searching for the deadly shapeshifting creature; by the strangest of circumstances Beast Boy had located Terra outside of her school, and he had somehow managed to convince her to come back with him. While she felt it was awkward then, a part of her wanted to help ease him out of what-ever funk that he was in.
As the door closed behind her with its strangely familiar sound, she felt for the first time since her seclusion by one of the many beach fronts across the island, that she was all by herself. Kimiko Musashi had wandered down to clean her duel katanas in the water, and to keep an eye on the injured girl.
Then Robin was next to meet her, and the birthday celebration had caused her to be surrounded by more people. Even now as she sat in silence, there was a part of her that felt she was secretly being monitored. She shivered as this unpleasant experience was nothing she had ever wanted to be stuck in, and yet here she was.
The red scarf-faced shinobi had given her bit of advice, and Terra made it abundantly clear while sitting on the beach, at the hospital before Beast Boy and Delphi had dragged her out, and then again at the party that she did not feel comfortable about any of this.
"This is going to be a long night. And I don't even have my phone with me!" she moaned.
The skinny blonde sitting in the wheelchair, she soaked in the silence of everything. Her old quarters had not changed, it was locked away and she never thought she would find herself back here. It was comparable to a college student or a military veteran, returning to their childhood bedroom a long time after leaving, trying to find something of the past to desperately cling onto.
A familiar scent caused her to remember many things, and she sighed while moving about her old quarters.
There was the wide bed, the old desk and a dresser with a simple lamp tucked to a side. She did not have any pictures on the walls, or posters of any kind. There were no books or any amenities, everything she owned was at her foster home.
The journey through life makes any person understand how far they have come, and what has been lost. After glancing to the desk by her bed, the moment of her betrayal she had a hand in when she contacted Slade about deactivating the security, this caused tears to form in her eyes.
She took a slow and steady breath to calm her nerves, and the images quickly faded, like the reel on a black and white film turning off.
No. she heard her own voice from inside of her head. That is not me. I - I have changed.
As her eyes caught her image in the long mirror along her dresser, the memory of seeing her reflection in a store window of downtown Jump City was recalled. It seemed like she was going to meet up with somebody, as she noticed herself wearing her school uniform.
Where is this? Who was that old man? Why would I divert from my normal routine to head straight home after school to go . . . where? Where did I go? Who did I meet with and why?
She turned and glanced out the long block-like window facing the majestic city, and she wheeled herself closer to observe the remarkable view. Large steel towers and cranes dotted across the skyscape, the numerous suspension bridges were further to the back of the harbor connecting both east and western halves of the city.
The stars were visible high above, where the windows from the vastness of the apartments and office buildings, they shined their golden electrical glows about the densely populated metropolis. The moon was half full, and it was a clear Californian night with barely a cloud to obstruct anything from above.
The walls around her room carried the same desert canyon color base, wrapped around the lower level that she remembered, as a nearby cactus was resting upon her dresser. The ceiling was a dark purple, and there were little white dots that represented the stars, painted across the ceiling.
As Beast Boy had told her that she liked being outdoors, and camping.
"I told him, I told all of them that I-I didn't want to be back here." Terra whispered, and the soft sound of her voice was soothing. "Yet they still are offering me my old room, to put me up for a couple of days until this ordeal with Slade is resolved. God, I feel so . . . so-"
A few solid knocks rapped on the door.
"Yes?"
"It is Starfire, I have brought a few of the things to accommodate you, for your stay." The Princess's voice was heard from the other side. There was a short pause and then she continued with, "There are also things that you left before . . . um . . . before your time of absence. Would you permit me to enter?"
"Just a second." Terra paused as she realized she was only wearing what she came with, and she was a little chilly. "Alright, you can come in."
The door slid open and there standing in full view was Starfire, holding a large cardboard box with the name 'TERRA' in bold black letters over the four sides of the crinkled brown container.
Terra took the box and she wheeled herself to the bed, as the Tamaranean Princess stood alongside her, watching and being patient as always while the previous sixth Titan began to sift through her items. She started to lay things out on, everything from her clothing, some books and undergarments were neatly stacked, and a smile formed as she was grateful to have these things.
"You kept all my stuff, why?" Terra spoke and she looking up.
"After the um . . . the time of our departure of your company, well, you were no longer with us. It was in fact friend Beast Boy who had decided, that it would be most suitable to put your things away into storage."
"He - he did?"
"Terra, these are your belongings. It is only proper that they should be handed back." Starfire clasped her hands by her hip, and she blushed. "So, while your room is as it was on your last day, it only made sense to pack the items after what had happened, for safe keeping of course."
The Geomancer began to rearrange her jeans, spare socks, and an assortment of tops that she had. Some even had the famous gold letter (T) in the middle. The old yellow walkman and headphones were neatly tucked inside, and the music she had in the tapes, all of these things were still saved.
Even her brown beat-up backpack that she traveled with for years, all of these things had been left behind. Lost, but not forgotten. There was even a prize teddy bear that she had won at another carnival with Beast Boy. She held it and the soft echoing of laughter, and images of the team eating pizza and practicing in the obstacle course raced from one joyful instance to the next.
The day when The White Monster attacked, Beast Boy had found her and Terra decided to let him guide her around, and to prattle on and on about the 'good-old-times'. To the ex-Titan, there was very little good in the past, or happiness and she placed a teddy bear down next.
She wanted to pretend to be somebody else, yet she had to have some closure. Being back again, the sad memories were more prominent than anything.
"Starfire, how would you guys know if I was coming back at all?"
The Tamaranean leaned in close to place a hand onto her shoulder for comfort. "We understood that while there was . . . well, a great difficulty in coming to terms with what had happened. Nevertheless, we all agreed it was for the best to hold onto your things, for when you would return."
"But I was gone, remember? After the whole ordeal with Slade. There was no way anybody could possibly know."
"Trapped in stone, frozen in time yes." Starfire nodded in acknowledgment. "But then you were freed, and then Beast Boy found you again."
Terra sighed. More of that pain was resurfacing like a continuing ripple effect, and while the green shapeshifter had brought her to The Tower, things did not go so smoothly.
Before The Titans left for Tokyo, Beast Boy continued to put emphasis on what they had between them as amazing, and she just wanted to forget. She wanted to move on, and then without fully realizing what was going on, he tried to see if her powers would work.
As that night crept in, they found themselves standing out by the shore. During the silence, he hurled a clump of mud into her face, as a test to see if she could tap into her abilities.
All that happened was a angry discord that forced the girl to walk away.
"I don't get it." Terra rasped, shivering away the bitterness.
"What is it that do you not understand?"
"Why didn't you just get rid of all of this stuff? Burn it. Why keep my room the way it was, why, well any of this really?"
The Tamaranean shook her head in disagreement prior to saying, "Friend Beast Boy was very adamant about not changing things as they were, when last you were with us. You were a Titan Terra. And you are our friend."
Terra became flabbergasted as Starfire wrapped her arms around her, embracing her in a warm hug.
"Starfire-"
"It does not matter the time or the difficulty in what transpires for us to forge the paths that we do. Things were kept the way they were, as they are, as a reminder of the past. But the past is not now, and the future can be what we wish to make of it."
He held onto all of this . . . for me? Terra questioned in her skull.
The Geomancer felt her head sink, and a pang ran through her chest. She was grateful to him, to The Tamaranean for being so welcoming and continuing to offer compassion. Now there was yet another tug in her heart, as she reflected on more stress which she had caused.
The kiss from the hospital caused Terra to blush, and she was hoping it would have been Beast Boy with her now so they could talk some more.
"Were you able to contact your next of kin?" Starfire asked, breaking through the silence.
"Oh, uh yeah. Sort of." Terra awakened from the trance. "They were pretty worried about me, and upset, but in hearing my voice and knowing where I am, it put them at ease a little. But it was strange though, like they were not themselves and they couldn't meet me here. When I asked what was going on, they really didn't give me a solid answer."
Starfire turned slightly away in shame.
"I-I know that I messed things up, and I got hurt. While they are not my parents by blood, they are still my parents." Terra strummed her fingers on the armrests before looking up again. "I just want to see them, but I can't. Why?"
"That is because Robin had the authorities put them into into a . . . witness protection program." Starfire rubbed the back of her neck prior to continuing with, "There is a great burden that has been brought unto you, and your family. For that and on behalf of our family, please allow me to extend a most sincere apology, for this situation that you are in."
"Witness protection?!" Terra's eyes became wide, and her heart beat rapidly. "That should mean they should be here, right? Why can't I see them Starfire?"
"It is standard procedure, as it is best for none of us to know where they are."
"But this is Titan's Tower!"
"Terra, please do think of the situation that you are in, that they were brought in through actions out of their control. While it would be an idea for them to be here at Titans Tower, the best course of action was keeping them out of the city."
"It doesn't make sense though." Terra pleaded. "Why not just let them stay here?"
"There was a vote, and it was agreed that this was the best option. I am truly sorry."
The blonde was shaken by this, her hands clenched the armrests tightly as she squeezed the plastic material tightly.
Terra frowned and said, "It's not like I had a choice in the matter anyway. But they had nothing to do with this! How could you guys just go ahead and vote on this, without even talking to me about it!"
The ex-Titan's mind raced back to when The Titan's Captain met her by the shore. Robin played his cards close to his chest, and he had exposed nothing about this at all when he could have. It made Terra's blood boil.
"These are dangerous times." Starfire said, and she walked towards the window as her reflection bounced back towards her. "Slade has targeted us, and he has brought us close to the brink of defeat. We do not know his ultimate motives at this time, I am deeply sorry, but there was no other way."
"Where I and my parents just so happened to be, caught up in the middle of this whole mess!"
Starfire blinked, "If they were to come here, there are other problems to sort through. Understand, this is only temporary, and this is the only secure measure to ensure that no more people need to become victims, while we do what we can to carry on."
Terra nodded in understanding, after hearing the gravity of the situation.
There was a long silence that lingered, it was starting to become a little uncomfortable and the two teenagers found themselves struggling over the recent events.
"You must understand, that I would do anything for my friends." Starfire finally spoke up. "And despite the things you may think, a lot has changed since you left us."
"I kind of got the feeling about that."
"There are many who plot to deliver a great deal of malice, and for deceit to befall us and Jump City. Much has been sacrificed already. Understand that the situation you and your family are in, this is only a temporary one."
Terra felt her head sink a little lower, it did not sound like the typical up-beat and cheerful red-headed alien princess that she was so accustomed to being around. Something was seriously unsettling about this new topic, and the blonde felt like she was more of a burden.
"You guys have given up so much." The blue eyed girl squeezed the sides of the wheelchair, where her knuckles turned white for an instant before turning back to the normal pigment. "I get it, and I don't like this but . . . I won't cause trouble."
"Terra?"
"Starfire?"
The red-haired female partially glanced over her shoulder. "Why were you at The Jump City Dam?"
The blonde felt her left eye twitch. "I - I don't know?"
Both parties waited in silence, as this little reunion was quickly manifesting into an interrogation. The flashes of Robin pressing topics on even his close friends burned the back of Starfire's memory, where she was somewhat startled to be doing this herself.
The circular object being The Titans Communicator was gradually noticed, stashed beneath a layer of shirts. Terra picked up the object, and she felt the texture of rubber and metal in the palm of her hand.
"My spare communicator!" The Geomancer gasped while clutching the device with both of her hands. "But this . . . this isn't mine anymore."
The original one she had was lost, and each of the Titans had a second one stashed away.
Starfire smiled. "Everything in that box is yours."
"I thought you guys only gave these things to your teammates? To your friends?"
"True." Starfire walked back, she bent forwards and placed a hand onto the other girl's shoulder, causing Terra to look up once more. "You were with us before. You overcame that darkness of the past, and you are here with us now. Perhaps the path you are on, has always been destined to lead you back to us?"
The revelation of her actions, of turning the tide against Slade last minute had been blanketed her over with nothing but grief, over everything else she had caused. The injured girl had ignored her sacrifice to save the city, and her comrades. She was imprisoned in stone deep in that cave, to stop the volcano from destroying the city where she tapped into her powers one last time.
"Beast Boy told me that I-I saved him. That I saved everybody."
"It is true."
Terra's deep blue eyes slowly drew back into the palms of her hands, to the device and she revealed a blank stare. Memories were there, both the good and the bad where it made her squeeze the communicator.
"I don't deserve this, you should keep it." Terra held it out for the other teenager to take, yet the Tamaranean refused.
"It is as it has always been. Yours."
"But I'm not a member of your team."
Starfire smirked. "All of these things are yours, and if something happens you can contact any one of us, at any time be it day or night."
The voice of Beast Boy telling her something eerily similar, when she stood with him in the hallway of the Murakami High School rattled across her memory. She stared at the device, and a sudden shiver was felt riding down her back.
Starfire began making her way towards the exit, then she suddenly stopped and partially turned before speaking. "You have been through a lot. You may feel like an outsider, and I know this exact feeling."
"Do you?" Terra looked up, she gulped before saying, "After everything? You really mean that and it's not some wishy-washy promise?"
Starfire's heartwarming smile became a little wider. This gesture was so kind and almost impossible to grasp for the blue eyed girl, that she fell back into the conflict that still burned inside of her.
"It is the truth." Starfire finally said.
Terra rubbed the material between her fingers and she replied, "You have been so very generous towards me, and I-I don't mean to be so distant with you where it is just a lot to take in. After everything, ya know?"
"The actions of what transpired happened. This cannot be denied or forgotten." Starfire replied in a most calm and steady manner. "But what is also true, is how much you have grown."
Terra felt tears forming in her eyes. The Warrior Princess was still making gestures of good faith towards one, who was still deeply torn with so many doubts and issues.
Starfire's shadow was overlapping the other girl's on the floor. "Terra, You are never alone."
"It's been forever since I've held this thing. Does it still-"
Just then The Tower's alarm went off, and the communicator that the previous Titan was holding, it started to vibrate while the famous (T) symbol from the cover began flashing red!
(~)
"Why did we came here, of all places?" The gentle voice of a small man with round glasses cut through the silence.
"Yeah doll-face. If I wanted to freeze my keister off, I might as well have stayed in that stink of an old ice-box back in Gotham!" Scarface said next while the tiny ventriloquist was holding his puppet, who was dressed in a pinstriped slick suit.
"And yet you still came?" jeered the fat little man with a nose that looked like a bird-beak who the underworld knew as Penguin.
"Quiet! All of you!" Killer Frost scolded the gathered criminals. "You lot made your pledges, now shut-up and be ready to honor your parts of the deal."
Some grumbled, and others whispered to one another in the background. This was a strange arrangement to things, and the journey was already off to a rocky start.
There was a plethora of fiends and villains, murderers and monsters that had agreed to the task. The slick jet had been offered-up by the kingpin Rupert Thorne, and it had just arrived in a secluded hanger bay.
The Tamaranean Exile had convinced the larger than life crime-lord to lend one of his vehicles for a hefty fee. The bargain of gold was good, and it carried incredible value for why these criminals had joined forces.
The contingent of evil-doers had departed from Gotham a few hours ago. It was a short detour, and the city they had arrived in was close to the eastern seaboard. Upon landing, the jet engines were quieting down and most of the passengers were still seated; looking out the windows, as others got up and began to mingle.
It was dark when they left, and many had no clue as to what the next phase was, when they were supposed to be arriving out in the West Coast. A place of warm beaches, interesting sights, a destination of palm trees and a refreshing metropolis out in sunny southern California.
Disappointment was clearly the mood for most right now, and moral was low.
"Hmmmm. Perhaps we should have stayed back with Falcone, eh Alice?" The little man with orange hair, and a large green top hat sputtered. He was seated next to the blonde, who was dressed in her famous silk blue dress.
The girl said nothing. She was looking off in the distance, unresponsive and cold, transfixed about something, but totally stuck in some sort of trance.
"The old Roman is not one for this sort of task. Heck, he's more determined to uphold what little of his image there is left." Penguin squawked, while he puffed on his long cigarette that protruded from his lips. The smoke swirled about his plump little figure, as Lark and Raven were seated on both sides of him, chatting to themselves.
"Perhaps he did not like the game?" Alice whispered, still in a dazed state.
"True, very true my sweet. But then, when does an opportunity come like this?"
"Hey Hatter . . . would you mind telling me why you bring that girl with you, everywhere you go?" Poison Ivy asked, in the seat just ahead of the mind-controlling hypnotist.
Jarvis Tetch shook his head back and forth while wagging a finger. "Questions, questions, questions! Always with the pestering and festering, the meandering and bumbling questions!"
"Oh Jarvis, why do you have to be so haughty?" Catwoman twirled her whip as she kicked her legs up.
"Ooooh! What a feisty little minx, isn't she? Isn't she Alice?"
Again there was an unintended lull, nobody spoke and the famous female burglar dressed as a proud feline in black, she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
The coin flipping from the once honorable district attorney, Gotham's White Knight cut through the banter now.
"This is all a waste of time if you ask us." Two-Face gravelly responded.
"Tell me Harve, is it the coin that is the brains of your operation, or just a gimmick?" Victor Zsasz jeered, while he poked his knife into his left index finger.
The silver half dollar that was tumbling in mid-air was caught, as it was flipped by a disfigured and burnt left hand. The bi-polar schizophrenic criminal who went by the title Two-Face, he was easily aggravated by this jab.
"Watch your tongue Zsasz, or we will cut it out of your throat!" Two-Face rasped in his harsh voice, turning his head and revealing why this title was everything.
The horrible burns and revolting scars across the left side of his head, the receding white hair on this side, and the texture of inner flesh caused The Exile's stomach to tighten.
Blackfire breathed through her nose, aware of the chatter yet ignoring their never-ending incipient questions.
Puffs of white smoke sifted around the aircraft, as the criminals remained inside. The landscape about the runway and across from the jet was a vast area, mostly dominated by smokestacks and chimneys.
The noises of trucks and cars driving along the highways, of trains tooting their horns, from the sound of sirens flaring and engines humming in the distance reminded all of them, that they were in a densely populated city.
Thick black soot was constantly rising into the night sky, it was like they never left the gothic town of gargoyles and high-rises. Gotham was covered in skyscrapers, while here more of this city was built in iron works, and manufacturing warehouses.
"Hey girly!" Scarface barked. "What gives?"
"Yeah." Killer Croc snarled as he squeezed his fists. "I signed up for some action. Where are we?"
"Would you all just quit your bellyaching already! We only just landed!" The blue haired assassin who went by the title of Killer Frost, she was quick to put and end to the drama once more.
"We are here, because Slade told us to come here." The Exile finally rasped, not turning to look behind her. She was seated at the very front of the plane.
"It is all wrong I'm afraid." The burlap-hooded man who called himself Scarface answered. "These are more than simple orders, where I do see this as only a delay in the larger prize."
"Speaking of, where is the gold we was promised?" Scarface piped back in with his Brooklyn accent, purposely butchering the English Language.
"Yeah!" exclaimed another voice.
Blackfire blinked her eyes prior to standing and saying, "While it is true, the larger objective we seek is ahead of us, this is also part of that mission."
"Pardon me dearie. . ." The Mad Hatter raised a hand, and he pulled out a gold pocket-watch that was attached by a chain from his vest. "But this is going to make us incredibly late, late, late! We must keep to our schedule, the time is of the utmost of importance!"
"Have patience Hatter!" Blackfire hissed as she stared at him directly. "Look, I know about the importance of limited time here, but this is just how it has to be."
"But-"
"No!" Blackfire snapped while spinning to face him, then she scanned the rest of the faces about the cabin. "I can understand why you and everybody here think this is all a big waste of time, and believe me, I want nothing more than to squash my dear sister and her teammates beneath the heel of my boot!"
"But as my esteemed reptilian friend pointed out, why are we here?" Scarecrow threw in is question next.
"Why stop in this cold and inhospitable climate, before going straight for Jump City?" Jervis Tetch asked.
"You notice that there are more than a few measly Teen Titans awaiting for us out there, right? That they have been reinforced over the course of a day without any warnings."
"Go on." The fear based hallucinogenic drugging villain, known as Scarecrow whispered.
"What does this have to do with our objective?" The bald headed man Victor Zsasz with dark bags below his eyes chimed in, his voice was equally as disturbing as the last person. His bare upper chest revealed countless tally-marks that he dug into his own flesh.
"Fools! All of you." Two-Face barked.
"Ah, Harvey gets it!" The gigantic and terrifying figure known as Bane finally spoke from the tail end of the aircraft. "Pity that these weaklings do not though, pathetic!"
"Sorry meat-head, but I didn't agree to sign up for some sight-seeing excursion, when all I want, is to get my fair share of the prize!" Pamela Isley retorted.
*Gentlemen, please. There is a reason for why you were sent to this city.* The voice of Slade interrupted the group, and Blackfire looked to the front of her seat.
It was here that the video monitors of all the backs of the comfortable chairs had Slade's feed playing before them. Like most gadgets of today, touch screens were everywhere.
His formidable and truly memorable image, was blocked by shadows and the widening mist of his sanctum. The hidden man was noticed sitting upon his iron throne with a hand below his chin, as his left eye was the only feature of his face that could be seen.
"It's him!" Killer Croc snarled.
"Thanks, Captain Obvious." Frost crossed her arms over her chest.
The giant reptilian with green scales for skin looked at her with disgust. He did not like it when he was mocked.
*There is something that I need you to understand.* Slade deadpanned in his famous rasping tone. *I am the one calling the shots here, and the incentive by carrying out the assignment that I have here, once this is done, I will transfer the coordinates for the next location to the pilots, and then shall you receive half of the prize.*
"Half?" Penguin sputtered.
*Come now Cobblepot, do you take me for a fool?*
There was a low groan from the iconic bird-beaked chubby man.
*The rest of the treasure will be granted, after The Teen Titans are history.*
"Alright. Now I'm listening!" Interrupted the cocky little puppet.
*Look to east, towards the area by the waterfront. Far beyond the rustic city and smokestacks that are across the skyline like weeds.*
Everybody paused and glanced from one another, some shrugged their shoulders as others walked towards the right side of the jet. Out in the distance, the outline of a T shaped building was noticed. The long blue windows and the impressive structure stood out against the cliff, and it was captivating to look at.
"Titan's Tower!" Killer Frost said in a confused tone.
*It's The Titans East Tower, to be more specific.* Slade corrected her.
"So then there is more than one group of kiddie superheroes, big whoopdy-freakin-do." Scarface jabbered. "I signed up to take down those lamebrains in Jump City, nobody told me about coming to Steel City, nah-uh!"
"What's the matter, afraid of some two-bit backups to the main goal?" Two-Face chuckled. "Hah, it doesn't matter to us really, and to anybody that stands in our way, they are as good as dead!"
"But why here? What is the reason behind us landing here?" Scarecrow asked.
"By taking out this lot, it cripples their efforts to impede with the larger goals." The masked behemoth Bane answered in his heavy Mexican accent. "Isn't that right?"
There was an unsavory lingering pause, as the gathered forces studied the increasingly hostile atmosphere of the far northern city. It was surprisingly chilly for this time of the year.
A devilish grin quickly formed across the lips of the Tamaranean Exile, and she turned to the gathered villains.
Penguin sneered as he took a deep puff. "You are quite correct Bane. Why, I would like nothing more than to unleash a total war, on that pitiful band. The opportunity here, in this city is but a stepping stone."
"A stepping stone?" Cheshire asked and she tilted her head. "I thought we were tasked with taking out The Teen Titans?"
*You all have something that you want.* Slade's voice caused them to look back at him in the screens. *So do I.*
"Told ya." Killer Frost elbowed Catwoman in the seat alongside her, it was a joke between the two since they had left Gotham.
*I want to make one thing as abundantly clear as possible. You are to cause as much mayhem, destruction, and chaos as you wish to, but I want them taken alive. Do you understand?*
"Um, why should I care if they live? You wanted us to do a job, right?" Victor Zsasz brought up the elephant in the room.
"Yeah!" Scarface jumped in next. "What gives?"
*I want them taken alive gentlemen. Go. Once this band of enemies is captured, and their hope is crushed . . . it will only lead to deeper confusion in the ranks for those dashing heroes of Jump City. I have left instruction, data on the core members that call Steel City their home.*
"Alright! Some anarchy and mayhem. My kind of night!" Killer Frost pumped her arms up in the air with enthusiasm.
Blackfire glanced around her, each of the passengers on the privet jet started to scroll through the info on their targets, that appeared on the screens. Images came up, statistics and abilities from the superheroes of Titans East, and of the fortifications of their home base.
The Exile leaned in close to her monitor, and she whispered not to be overheard. "So, is the deal still on then?"
Slade's brown eye narrowed and then his feed went dark, revealing only the data on the superheroes that they were embarking to hold as hostages.
"Ugh, I don't think I'll ever get used to this partnership. Great." Blackfire squeezed her fists with a hot ire bubbling within her. "This deal just keeps on getting more uncertain within the hour."
(~)
"Uh guys, if you keep on at this then I'll never understand a word!" The archer Speedy was standing with his arms spread far apart.
In one hand his prized bow and in his other, another arrow he had just drawn from the quiver. He had finished taking a shot at the target at the far end of the room, and it was a solid bullseye.
Mas Y Menos began to chatter back and forth quickly in Spanish, while they were engrossed with a video-game. They stuck their tongues out and made gestures with their hands, directed at the famed orange haired seventeen-year-old.
He rubbed his face in aggravation, as did not understand a single word they were trying to talk to him about. The Titans East had been together well over a year, but he still struggled in deciphering this dynamic pair.
"Ugh! Why don't we just ask Cyborg to create a voice modulator, to translate what they are going on about?" The famous archer grumbled to the upper balcony.
The two touched their fingers, and they instantly zipped out of the lower room, dropping their controllers.
"Well then, they may have a lack for words . . . but they sure know how to leave an impression." The older teenager smirked.
He loaded his arrow, took aim and released his shot. It was a direct hit in the center ring again, obliterating the arrow in front of it to nothing but splinters.
"Speedy!" A stern voice called out from the upper balcony of The Common Room. "What the heck did you order?!"
The famous archer rolled his eyes behind the domino mask. He turned his back while saying, "What? You wanted me to order dinner. So I did."
"FISH TACOS! WHY?!" The black haired Atlantean moaned, as he held the bag high into the air. "You know that I don't eat fish! They were probably aquarian life I knew!"
The two fast talking, and even faster moving twins had slithered behind Garth, they jabbered on and on at an alarming rate yet with the mentioning of their favorite food, two joyous smiles were noticed on their faces. Any Mexican food brought happy memories of their beloved native country, and their moral soared.
The pair donning their famous white suits quickly bolted around the table to take their seats, and they grabbed a number of bags for themselves. The only words anybody understood coming out of their mouths, was the word, 'taco'.
"Uh . . . I think I'm going to be sick!" Aqualad's face turned a pigment of green, and he gave a look of unpleasant disgust at his comrades devouring their meals.
"Yo!" Bumblebee, the leader and proud captain of their team entered from a side door. "What is with all the bickering happening around here?! Remember what Sparky said, about being a team?"
"What did the tin man say?" Speedy said as he walked up the steps, swiping a taco from the two speedsters as they were sitting, and he took a big bite. He had only partially heard some of this conversation, the rest was not even noticed.
"What did I tell you about badgering the twins?" Bumblebee interlocked her arms as she tapped her right foot.
"What?" The orange haired teenager shrugged his shoulders. "They started it."
The twin Mexican brothers quickly swiped another four tacos, and they stood on top of each-other like a fancy totem poll. A crunchy and delicious shell was in each of their hands.
"Did they now?" Bumblebee cooed, as she played moderator between the two parties.
She walked forwards holding two bags of food she had picked up, then she sat at the far end of the table. Her seat was always with her back to the long windows, everybody had their spot and they tended to heckle and pester one another when there was any down-time.
"Here Garth. I figured they would mess up the order again, so I went and got you this." The Titans East commander handed him a bag of fast food, and he took it while going to his spot.
It had a hamburger design on the front, and the smell of French fries and a steaming grilled cheeseburger caused the twins to salivate near him.
"Thanks." Aqualad took out his meal, he unwrapped it and he took a bite.
They knew each of their strengths and weaknesses, the hopes and dreams that they carried, and even their backstories. While they understood The Atlantean did not like fish food, Bumblebee understood the way to overcome that after all this time, was to get him a separate meal.
While the late hour of night meant only certain establishments were open, Bumblebee did not mind going to the far side of the city to bring home something for her picky teammate. With the specific preferences that he had, Aqualad reminded her of Beast Boy's tofu-only meals that Cyborg prattled on and on about.
As the heroes took their seats, they were engrossed with their dinners. The Team Captain smiled as she scanned their faces, she was home after making an appearance at the local hospital to cheer up some of the sick patients.
The Titans East may not have had as much of a track-record like their more famous and well known allies in Jump City, but they did feel a bond that only drew them closer together. The locals respected them, and their notoriety began to soar.
Following the events with The Brotherhood Of Evil, they had even picked up a bit more of a celebrity status amongst the press. Still there were articles and gossip that was only about spreading rumors, of who was dating who on their team, and the rankings of which of the teenage supers that the public viewed as the strongest.
The heroes focused on the good they could do because it was their job, not for fame alone. Still, having bragging rights in any regard was something that they badgered each other with, and it was a close toss up between Aqualad and Speedy as who was more heroic, yet all the fan girls still claimed that Garth was the more attractive of the two.
"Well, you know how it is." The red suited archer took a bite, and the crunch reverberated a little. "Someone has to remind them about the order of things around here."
Mas Y Menos grumbled something totally inaudible, then they pointed at their rival and the twins prattled on with more Spanish.
"So, did he make contact?" Aqualad asked, while keeping his eyes on their leader.
"Sparky is all kinds of busy." Bumblebee answered, as she took a bite.
"No doubt." The Atlantean retorted, then he continued with, "But I wasn't talking about Cyborg and his team."
There was a palpable silence that lingered. Speedy, Mas Y Menos, and Bumblebee looked from one another as Garth shook his head in disgrace.
"I'm talking about Kid Flash."
There was a frustrated disappointment in his tone, where the lack of coordination between the two groups across the country made him feel that they were in a vulnerable state to be easily exploited. A team divided would never last, and the potential for new recruits was always a good thing, but lately they had their own problems to contend with.
Ever since The Flash called his protege Wally West back to Keystone City, things were unhinged. Jinx soon left their group, and Kid Flash had yet to report back to his new squad, The Titans East.
"He hasn't made contact in a few days." The proud and honorable Team Captain put her food back onto the table. "Wally cam handle himself."
Mas started speaking, and Menos finished his brother's sentence.
"By tomorrow, it will be another week."
"For a guy who is so dang stubborn about being the fastest teenage super alive, he sure has a strange sense of urgency, when it comes to the really important things." Speedy quipped while taking another bite of his taco.
Mas Y Menos jabbered quickly to rebut this, as they felt like they were faster.
"I know, right." The archer nodded in agreement.
It was becoming abundantly clear that Bumblebee had lost her appetite, and the new discussion had been bothering her for the past few nights. She still had to organize things about The Tower, from the rigid training schedule, to keeping Steel City in order, to maintaining a proper presence among the public.
This was a lot on her shoulders, and if she felt it she rarely showed it to anybody, least of all to the television reporters or her squamates. However, Aqualad was an astute young man, and he picked up that she was letting them all believe one thing, while harboring deep regret.
This splintering of their forces may not have seemed like such a serious matter from the outside, but still Kid Flash had to leave and they did not stop him. To try and convince him to bring them along was foolish, and there were a number of struggles that they had to maintain in Steel City.
Bumblebee's group had the superhero twins of Mas Y Menos that were capable to move at lightning fast speeds, Speedy was always training to improve his craft with archery, and The Atlantean helped in areas that required a great deal of tact and planning, while his superpowers to manipulate the water and control the aquatic life were only more perks on his already boisterous resume.
Regardless of how they balanced off of one another, they did hope to have a few more people in their ranks. Jinx added that extra element into their midst, not to mention having another female on the team brought more comfort if Bumblebee needed some 'girl-talk'.
"Kid Flash left, shortly following their messy fight in this very room because his mentor needed some help. Still he refused to contact us, I honestly don't know if he is in Keystone City, Gotham or who knows where?" The proud archer took the last bite of his dinner, and the crunch reverberated a little. "It's been a ridiculously long time for his communicator to have been left off."
"Has it Speedy?" Bumblebee hissed. "Think I hadn't noticed?"
"No, but I-"
"Give the guy some slack." Aqualad interrupted. "He'll return when he is ready."
"Ha! Like a dog with his tail between his legs, that is IF he decides to come back." Speedy threw his arm down.
"Oh, and you are fine with one of our own, just quitting on us without a word, a farewell or anything?" The African American girl leaned forwards. "What would you call that?"
"It's certainly not loyalty." Garth leaned back in his chair.
"No. It isn't." she agreed. "But we are Titans."
"But Wally has other responsibilities." Aqualad replied. "The Flash is his mentor, as Aquaman is for me, while Batman is for Robin, and The Green Arrow is for you Speedy. If they need us, we have to answer their call."
"Jinx was a wild-card we were dealt, where we have to remember that Kid Flash decided to be on our team on his own accord, he can come and go as he wants." The archer chimed back in.
"What strength is there in us, if we cannot even keep the group we have going?" The Team Captain tossed the question out for them to answer.
"Speedy is right." The Atlantean nodded. "Kid Flash having to leave was one thing, but Jinx is a mystery that I'm still trying to piece together."
"We were always just . . . us anyway." Speedy pulled his arms behind his head. "And I never thought much of those two, other than a possible expansion in our ranks. Its not like people can't join to fill that need."
"Kid Flash is still on the team!" Bumblebee glanced to her bag of food before answering, "Where I'm sure he will come back. That they both will."
The superheroes reflected deeply upon the recent events. They heard rumors and reports from the West Coast, that the grey-skinned goth girl, with her pink devil-horned hair had fallen back her old schemes and trickery. Jinx had agreed to fight for the heroes in Paris, but her allegiance to The Titans East was still on shaky ground.
God, what happened?
"You told him something, didn't you?" Aqualad harrumphed.
Footage of a battle on The Jump City Bay Bridge was observed on the local news feed days ago, and they all watched when Starfire battled the Hex Girl, as the duel commenced and smoke spread. In a similar fashion as Kid Flash, Jinx had neglected to tell any of them of where she was going. When they noticed this on the tv, they figured she was revoking her membership to their team.
"Sure. They may come back to us, but that girl has some serious issues if she went back to her old ways." Garth tapped said as he looked about the room. "I didn't trust her then, and I sure won't be able to now, if she decides to re-emerge."
"Plus, she's a wanted criminal now. I don't think she will eagerly turn herself in, when even Robin and his team are searching for her." Speedy added.
Bumblebee rubbed the back of her neck as she realized there was no leash she could put on her, and the Hex-Girl may have been given a new place to live, but deep down she knew, she felt in her bones that her home was always back in Jump City.
It was very unusual when the ex-villainess had decided to walk out on The Brotherhood of Evil, to betray her old squamates in Paris as the Last Battle waged. Jinx had turned over a new leaf, it was a beginning to so many things and yet, there were still things haunting her.
What was even more unnerving, was how quickly she had decided to walk out on her new family, The Titans East. Bumblebee had agreed to let her join, where Kid Flash was currently a member of their group, and it was apparent that she signed on to be with him.
It was complicated business, and the ambitious leader had garnished a lot of respect for Robin for the way he put together his team.
How do you do it Robin? she thought to herself.
Suddenly, The Tower's alarm blurted interrupting the meal.
"Trouble!" Speedy immediately stood up.
Mas Y Menos looked up at their family with perplexity, and they quickly zoomed towards the large Jumbotron by the front of the room.
"I'm on it!" Aqualad dashed towards the console, and he began typing feverishly on the keyboard to expose the threat.
"What is it?" Bumblebee asked, as she placed a hand to her hip.
The image on the screen revealed multiple figures approaching from various angles around their base. Soon explosions rocketed the ceiling, as the bombardment caught them by complete surprise.
The building began to shake, at first it was like a minor tremor that quickly became a barrage. The heroes struggle to stand, while all around them a great deal of panic quickly took over.
"Magnify." Bumblebee ordered as she raced for the main console, and she held onto the railing for support. "I want to see their faces!"
As the camera zoomed in, a sudden gasp emerged from the entire team!
In one screen, Killer Croc had emerged from the water and had entered the lowest section of the Tower. Then, another box revealed Catwoman and Killer Frost having landed on the roof, while a third split-screen revealed the green kimono donned Cheshire, and the villain expanding her concealed wrist-mounted metal claws as she arrived at another entrance point.
"This is not good!" Speedy grabbed his bow.
"We're surrounded! The communications tower is destroyed!" Aqualad said with panic in his voice. "Great, our long distance calling to The Titans in Jump City is lost!"
"Get it together team!" Bumblebee shouted. "We can take them."
"How did they get passed the outer perimeter so fast?" Aqualad demanded while the defensive measures were initiated.
"I told you two to get those sensors in place, what the heck happened?" Bumblebee pointed at the twin speedsters.
They raised their arms as one tried hiding a video game controller, and another hid a comic book.
"Ugh . . . I'm really starting to think Beast Boy's laziness is starting to rub off onto you guys."
Mas Y Menos began to bicker back and forth, where Speedy pulled them apart.
A rocket slammed into the wall, blasting a massive hole in the building, where the group coughed as they got back to their feet.
"We can sort out the blame later." The archer cut-in.
"Speedy's right." Aqualad agreed. "We need to go on the offensive!"
"Fair enough." The Team Captain nodded her head. "We got this, remember this is OUR home, OUR turf!"
BOOM!
"What the-" a collective sound of their voices said at once.
The main doors burst inwards, and a long green stem like a winding, twisting massive root had emerged! A flower that was enclosed suddenly bloomed its bright purple petals, revealing a red haired plant conjurer known to the world as Poison Ivy, sitting in the middle. Without wasting a second, in marched Penguin as he unfurled his umbrella and he smirked.
Victor Zsasz was fast behind him as he twirled with his blade, with Cheshire in her green kimono and famous mask standing alongside Killer Frost. Next came Bane who crackled his knuckles, and he strolled in alongside Two-Face as he flipped his famous coin.
"We can take them!" Bumblebee unhooked her B shaped stinger weapons from her belt, and she charged them.
"Oh, you hear that lads, she thinks she can take us? Well, isn't that a barrel of laughs!" Penguin sneered.
"You are all from Gotham, what are you doing here?" Bumblebee tilted her head. "No matter, if it's a fight you wanted, we will make you pay dearly for that!"
"Oh, I don't think so." Bane tilted his head after saying this.
CRASH!
The Titans East cowered as the main window behind them burst open! A large section of the panel shattering to thousands of pieces, and in flew Blackfire. Her eyes were burning purple, as the anger within her seethed and it radiated off of her, and it had at last erupted in a berserker like fury.
"Now what?" Speedy raised his bow aiming it back and forth at the countless targets, and the outnumbered superheroes formed a tight-knit circle in the very middle of their home.
Killer Croc snapped as the Atlantean tried to enter the water, to slowly head back up the steps. They were surrounded and out-gunned on all angles, where the enemies they faced tonight were no ordinary run-of-the-mill bad guys. These were some of Gotham City's worst, most feared and deadly criminals.
Even without The Joker present, the numerous opponents were a threat not to be trifled with.
Bumblebee raised her right arm, pointing in the direction of the door to the massive group of enemies that slowly inched their ways closer.
They could not call for backup, they could not escape, they were trapped.
"Titans, GO!" Bumblebee shouted, and her team leapt into action.
{{End Of Scene}}
Hit Counter: 20,911 views!
Reviews From The Previous Chapter.
Cloudkid: "Loved the update! Beast Boy and Raven are finally getting there haha, I waited a long time for Raven to come around ;)"
~~Thank you. Yes, that moment between these two did take a long time, and there was a part of me that was considering holding that particular element, between Beast Boy and Raven out a little longer, but I am glad with how it came together. I hope that this chapter was just as entertaining as the last one.~~
~~T.M.O~~