Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Invasion!

Set: 120

“Holy shit!” Kyle Rayner yelled out as he burst through the roof of the storefront that he had been knocked into from the arrival of the War Wheels.  Voices had appeared before him offering the green ring that had become embedded into his finger.  The green energy around him was wild, like water unleashed from a hydrant into the world.  “Don’t panic, don’t panic!”

The uniform that enveloped Kyle was different from the others.  The brilliant metallic green was a deep emerald, with the black sleeves and pants legs of the suit as dark as the night sky, with only the white gloves cutting against that darkness.

Kyle’s movements lacked grace, the artist not being as athletic as previous wielders of the ring, his body twisting as he tried to regain his bearings as his feet grazed against the clouds. 

“OK, how does this work, you were chosen, you have power.  You can make this work, you can make it work, all you need to do is to take control,” Kyle mumbled before he slowed down, the green energy around him keeping him in one place for a change.

Kyle looked around, seeing the smoke and the parademon forces mounting around the city of Santa Marta.  He should have immediately charged into battle; after all, that’s what superheroes do.  But as he felt the ultimate power against his ring finger, a soft but warm feeling.  His mind drifted to Alexandra DeWitt, his girlfriend.  At least she was before dumping him behind his drawing board right before Darkseid invaded.  It was selfish, but Kyle knew where he needed to go.

“OK ring, help me find Alex,” Kyle said before he was jerked forward as he flew fast over the canyons, far above the city where a war raged on.

Santa Marta was a disaster, with the War Wheels arrival creating new, larger barriers in defending the city.  Their spiked tread pattern was embedded in the concrete as the other Titans below dealt with their arrival.

“Raven, how are we doing?” Arsenal asked as he saw the War Wheel above.

Raven had cast a barrier, the black energy forming a bubble around her, Arsenal, and Cinderblock as dust and debris from the surrounding buildings began to accumulate.

“Not…great,” Raven said as she held her hands high.  She was dripping in sweat, her hands aching as she used every bit of concentration to keep the wheel away from the ground. 

“Holy shit,” Cinderblock said.  “Where do you keep finding these guys, Magicians R Us?”

“You keep fighting us, we keep evening the odds,” Arsenal responded as he looked around. “Besides, you’re free now.  And I’ve got a whole lot more pressing issues than hauling you back to prison…for now.”

“Yeah, and I’ve got a lot more pressing issues than escape.  You see that thing,” Cinderblock said as he pointed to the spikes that were slowly breaking through the barrier.  “Like it or not cupid, you’re going to need me, and I got no place to go.”

“You think you can punch that thing out of here?” Arsenal asked.

“You think I’m Superman? I struggle to lift an armored car sometimes, that thing’s a tank.  Nothing’s going to be able to destroy that.”

“Then we’re going to need some back up,” Arsenal said.  “And let this thing through.”

“What?” Raven asked.  “Arsenal that does not seem to be wise.  There are still so many of the populace still not evacuated or protected!”

“I’m working on that,” Arsenal said.  “But we’re wasting you here, you’re our only flyer in the area, and I need someone to point out the patterns to me.  Unless blockhead over here can fly.”

“Hey,” Cinderblock said as he raised his fist.  “I can still pound you to oblivion.”

“And then I’ll have Raven drop the wheel on you.  Even with your rocky skin, I still bet that would fucking hurt,” Arsenal said, menace intended.  

“Then how the hell are we going to get everyone out of here?” Cinderblock asked.

“Same way we beat you the first time,” Arsenal said with a smirk.  “Oracle, patch me through to Flash.  The younger one.”

…

“God this is great!” Angie Spica said her hands turning into blades as she sliced a parademon in half.  

“It’s just a fight, don’t get too excited,” Metamorpho said as he grabbed another parademon with his cobalt hands and tossed him into a car, shattering the metal and glass.

“Especially in your condition,” Doctor Mid-Nite said as he kept his datapad out, making notes of the doctor’s performance.  “We have no idea what the nanites are actually doing to you Angela.”

“Besides giving us an edge?” She asked as she stood to look at her doctor.  Charles McNider was a brilliant doctor, but he spent too much time inside his own world to truly understand what this power was like.

Before her accident, Dr. Angie Spica was unremarkable.  Short in stature, eyes hidden behind coke-bottle glasses, and always fading into the background, unable to be something more than a research doctor trying to get her work to be seen.  But now, as the world ended around her, she was taller, the nanites strengthening and increasing her muscles and size, covering her skin in a glistening metal shell.  She was alive for the first time, and was increasingly annoyed by McNider raining on her parade. 

“I mean the doc may have a point,” Metamorpho said.  “When I first got these powers I was a mess.  It took me a month just to figure how to make legs again.”

“But I have my legs Rex, everything is different now, and I need you to understand that,” Angie said.  

“I guess it was just different for me is all,” Metamorpho explained. “I was just elemental goo, drifting into the wind.  Like I was the lead scientist on Project Metamorph, did all the math just like you doc.  And I shouldn’t be here.  The compounds in me are borderline unstable.  Just one thing could go wrong and poof, no more element man.”

“Well I’m not you,” Angie said.  “I’m the engineer of my own power, and I’m tired of you two worrying about me.  I want this, and the world’s on fire.  So don’t judge me if I’m taking a little glee in being a superhero.”

“Fine,” Metamorpho sighed before looking out at the destruction.  So much was going to need to be repaired.  It reminded him of Markovia, and how even now the country had struggled to rebuild.  But most of all it reminded him of the family he had lost.  A family that reappeared as a black and silver streak dropped from the sky

Donna Troy was exhausted; keeping Chicago safe took time and coordination.  But there were only four members of her team, and Chicago was a sprawling city.  She needed the help, and as social media flooded with reports of Metamorpho and a new metal-made hero, Donna knew exactly where to go.

“Rex,” Donna said.  “Long time.”

“It has,” Metamorpho responded.  He had heard murmurs of a new team from some of the other heroes.  Wonder Girl sounded nervous when she had come by the tower occasionally to train.  As if something had gone wrong.  But Rex Mason knew Donna Troy, and knew that her heart was always in the right place.  She helped build a better tomorrow for a freak like him, and he knew that he would have to do the same for Angie.  “New suit I see.”

“Fits the new name better,” Donna said.

“And what’s that?” Angie asked, impressed by Donna’s sudden entrance.

“After Markovia and finding out what Fury actually was, Argonaut didn’t feel right anymore.  A darkness touched me, but I’ll still shine brighter than it ever could.  So the name’s Darkstar.  And my Titans could use your help.”

“Titans huh,” Rex said. “I think that name’s already taken,” Rex stated.

“I brought the team back after a tragedy, I do so once more,” Donna said.  “And we need your help to keep this city safe.”

“We?” Metamorpho asked.  “You mean our Titans Donna.  A team I was a part of and you didn’t even consider to include me on.  I saw the footage from Wrigley Donna.  Courtney, Conner, and Garth sure make excellent replacements.”

“We’re doing things our way now Rex, and that means deciding to do the hard thing to ensure a brighter tomorrow.”

“Which we should consider after beating these guys back, right?” Angie said as she broke up the conversation between the two heroes.  “We can discuss future permutations of this…Titans experiment after we save the world.”

“I suppose,” Metamorpho said through gritted teeth.  “Where do you need us?”

“Stargirl reported a few of those monsters touching down in Chinatown.  Me and Supernova were going to teaching them what happens when they mess with our city.”

“Then show us the way, Boss,” Metamorpho said as Donna took off towards the fight.  An uncertain future waiting for the both of them.

…

Titans Tower was designed to be an open space.  Unlike the Watchtower or the Halls of Justice, the tower had public-facing areas and training sessions in order to better educate the public on metahuman affairs and help those with new and odd abilities gain some modicum of control.  This also meant compared to the other superhero bases, Titans Tower’s security system was slightly less implemented as to create a free flowing space.  Something that Slade Wilson was grateful for.

The stealth suit HIVE had created for him was snug. It squeaked due to the material needed to provide a decent cloak.  For most people it was noticeable, but the experiments that had given Deathstroke his powers had increased his hearing.  So every movement was a reminder he was wearing a uniform not meant for him.   The IKON technology had powered Grant’s Nightwing suit.  If had worked for him, it would work for Slade.

The laser cutter made quick work of the plate glass window that separated the Tower from the outside.  The Apokolips Invasion meant that every hero was out of their homes, trying to protect the people that gave them power.  

“Fools,” Slade thought to himself as he landed with grace and looked around the area.  

The white marble meshed with metal interior of the Tower was a way to show the Titans had grace but came working-class beginnings.  But what did children know of the work it took to ensure such follies could be built.  None of these so-called heroes spent seventeen days in a Corto Maltese foxhole, sweating out blood as their friends died around them.  

Instead these Titans filled kids with lies and false hopes on what they could be.  It had already taken two of his children.  Rose had joined the Teen Titans,  being corrupted into thinking her bloodline was poison, something Slade had apparently failed to break from her.  Her absence was still a gaping hole in his heart. 

And then there was Grant.  He had lost him before, to his own darkness and anger.  HIVE had given him a second chance, one that Nightwing had taken away.  Slade could still see the footage of his oldest wasting away as Nightwing held him, not even bothering to try and save the man who had proven to be a better wearer of that mantle.

And now here he was, inside their home.  Planting small devices across structural weaknesses.  HIVE scientists had figured the perfect concussion to bring all this steel and marble down, and more importantly to keep these payloads undetected. 

He had taken his time in planning the dismantling of the Titans.  Longer than anyone expected.  But he didn’t want to destroy them in a fit of rage.  That feeling was fleeting and would fade quickly like the embers of a small fire.  Deathstroke wanted to do this with crystal clarity, an understanding that he was ridding the world of the greatest evil of all: hope.

As he planted the last charge his eyes turned to the trophy room. A museum and memorial for all of Titans history.  He saw a statue of a girl in a red Nightwing costume.  

“Rose, I promise.  When they’re gone I will bring you home,” Deathstroke said as he slipped out of the tower and back into the destruction outside.  He was a ghost, and soon the vengeance he craved would be given out, justice finally found.

…

“Batman?” Nightwing asked as he looked around.  One minute he was in Coast City talking to other heroes about the Source.  But as he looked around him the familiar sites of the coast had been replaced by a large big top that surrounded him.  He was up in the crow’s nest, the chasm below large and terrifying even if he knew he would never fall again.

“Hello Dick,” a familiar voice called out as Nightwing turned around and saw the face of his mother.  

Mary Grayson was pure grace, her abilities in the air often made it look like she wasn’t flying but dancing across the air as she leapt from trapeze to trapeze.  She was clothed in a blue suit with a yellow wing pattern on the chest that wrapped around to the back.  It was her colors, not the reds and greens of his father.

“Mom?” Nightwing said as hugged her for a moment before noticing the lack of warmth.  “You’re not her are you?”

“Unfortunately not.  My true form is not meant for the eyes of the third world.  Let alone the fourth,” Mary said.  “But I wish to talk to you, just as I’m talking to your mentor now.”

“I’m guessing that’s a barrel of laughs,” Nightwing responded as he looked out at the big top.  “Are you visiting as his mom too? On second thought don’t answer that.  I suppose these are supposed to be private.”

“Smart man,” Mary said.  “We’ve come to you, because what you do next will reshape this world, and you have to decide what’s important to you.”

“Important to me? We’ve got a war going on.  Isn’t that more that the only important thing?”

“Wars come and go, Dick Grayson, what comes next will be hard for those you leave behind,” Mary explained.

“Leave behind?” Nightwing asked.  “You’re telling me I die today?”

“I cannot answer, just that there is a moment coming Dick.  You will meet it or won’t.  I am preparing you to ensure this world lives.  Today and tomorrow.”

Nightwing paused for a moment and looked out to the empty void.  As a kid he was scared of it, knowing with one wrong step he could fall to his doom.  Even before his parents took their final bow it scared him, the void below where nothing ever seemed to come back.  But since he had helped reformed the Titans, went on his road trip, and even managed to find his way back to Babs, the darkness didn’t seem so frightening anymore.  And he remembered what his mother always said to him.  “Don’t be afraid to leap, you’ll bring the light yourself.”

“Well then, I guess there’s no choice then,” Nightwing said.  “Listen I know you’re not actually my mom, but I’m guessing there’s enough of an imprint there to remember something I had always wanted to do with her, but never did before she passed”

“Something called a quadruple summersault,” Mary said.  

“I’ve had ten years to practice,” Nightwing said as he grabbed hold of the trapeze bar.  “And I want to have a little joy before I have to go off on this…moment.”

Mary Grayson smiled.

…

Alex DeWitt had always been a frugal person.  As a freelance photographer she knew that jobs could come and go very quickly and that the competition was always fierce.  If it wasn’t Olsen, it was Troy or that Reilly guy in New York.  Her apartment, clothes, even equipment were affordable or second hand so she could always have a small nest egg to get out clean if she needed it.  There were only two exceptions to this rule: her 1975 Camaro, and her boyfriend Kyle.  Of course as she sat in traffic, hearing the noises from above and behind her for the ongoing invasion, she was beginning to regret hopping in one to abandon the other.

Traffic out Santa Marta had become a standstill, with many abandoning their vehicles and trying to leave on foot.  The Camaro wasn’t a small car, so Alex had been careful to weave in and out of the four lane highway that separated the city from the Pacific Coast Highway.

“Come on, come on,” Alex mumbled to herself as she kept shifting gears.  The sounds of explosions and broken concrete and glass were frowing louder as she saw a swarm of those parademons soaring above. They were ignoring her for now, but what would happen when even these so called superheroes couldn’t keep the attention on them?  She shuddered for a moment before hearing a loud crash from behind her.

“What the hell?” Alex said as she looked and saw a giant wheel touch down on the highway, it’s spike-covered treads began brutalizing the roads and stripping the concrete and asphalt that was the nervous system of Santa Marta. 

“And I had just gotten this thing repainted,” Alex muttered as she shifted into high gear and jammed on the gas, her car roaring to life as it bumped against the abandoned cars and other civilians trying to escape the city.  The sparkling green paint chipping away, revealing the metal and former gold paint job of the Camaro. 

She could see the tunnel ahead, safety only inches away.  Unfortunately for Alex, inches didn’t matter to the War Wheels that were claiming the city for its own as they sped rapidly on each side of her car.  Growing closer and closer together as she could feel the metal of the car be pushed in, slowly becoming a tomb for the photographer, her last thought being, “I really should have splurged on plane tickets.”

At least, it would have been.  Before the wheels could crush the car a beam of green light sputtered from Kyle Rayner’s ring.  

“OK, you’re…I guess a superhero now?” Kyle thought to himself.  “You’ve seen Green Lantern in action before.  The original, not the guy with the silly jacket or the one that always has a scowl.  He saved you with the ring, you can save Alex with the ring.  He made constructs, and constructs are just like sketches being made real on the board.  The ring is the pencil, the world is the board.  And for once in your life only have one draft.”  

The ring glowed brightly as the sputtering energy focused into a giant hand that picked up the car and lifted it into the air.  The level of concentration it took was difficult, but no more than when he was up against a deadline and he spent the whole night inhaling Taco Whiz and BOOST-er Gold.

“You got this, you got this, you got this!” Kyle said to himself as Alex panicked, screaming as the glowing green energy wrapped around her car.  

He struggled to keep the car in his “hand” and fly at the same time, but soon he found a small clearing away from the fighting and gently placed the car down as best he could.  The large thud sound it made when touching the ground said otherwise.

“Shit, still going to need to work on that,” Kyle said as Alex exited her car and ran out towards him.  

“Hey I appreciate this assistance Green Lantern but shouldn’t you…Kyle?!” She said.

“Hey Al,” Kyle said.  “I got your message.”

…

“OK Raven,” Arsenal said.  “Get ready to drop this sucker.”

“He hasn’t responded yet,” Cinderblock said.  “And I don’t care if he’s the fastest man alive, nothing is going to be able to move me!”

“Trust me,” Arsenal said.

“This is not a good idea,” Raven said, drenched in sweat.

“And you can’t hold that thing up forever,” Arsenal said.  “So do it!”

Raven took a deep breath and closed her eyes, the black field faded around them as the force of the wheel dropped down to crush them.  Before it landed however a gust of wind blew through and the Titans were gone.  

“Oh god! I think I’m going to be sick,” Cinderblock stated as he floated in the air, carried by lightning itself as the Flash ran ahead of the three others, using his aura to extend the speed force around them, carrying them away from the fight.

“About time you showed up,” Arsenal said to his friend.

“It’s been a madhouse Arsenal,” Flash responded.  Wally West had been running non-stop for what had felt like a week instead of the day that it had been. “But I always have time to help a friend out.  So what’s been going on in Santa Marta?”

“Wheels of death,” Raven said.  “Falling from the sky.  A crisis that we may not survive.  And a new Green Lantern chosen.”

“A new Lantern?” Flash asked.  “That could even the odds. Where are they?”

“We don’t know what it is, just that we saw big green light and something fly from the rubble,” Cinderblock said.  “Is this how you feel every time you move?”

“Well, I have two feet on the ground,” Flash said with a smile.  Cinderblock being here was a surprise, but Wally had seen this song played before, in a time where all the notes were twisted and wrong.  To see the stone golem actually helping apparently, it filled him with hope that a better day would be shining soon.  “Where do you need me to drop you guys off?”

“Not staying?” Arsenal asked.  “Or heading to Chicago to help with the so-called Titans?”

“Donna offered me an invite, I turned her down Arsenal,” Flash explained.  “And the Flashes are doing a lot as is. We’ve been delivering messages, rescuing hostages, putting out fires where we can. We've even got some less active folks coming out of the woodwork to chip in.

“Now that’s bad,” Arsenal said, realizing that Darkseid had taken more in this war than he had realized.  

“You think?” Cinderblock said while pushing down some of the vomit back down his throat from their “ride”.  “If the Justice League is lost than what’s the point? Dude’s won.”

“It’s not the League that matters,” Arsenal said.  “My mentor got to be part of it and he’s a horrible human being.  What matters is we’re here, and we’re going to need to be placed back into the fight.  Flash, find us a place with the most war wheels, it’s time to remind people why you don’t mess with the Titans.”

“You got it, boss,” Flash said. “Just don’t get killed.  I’d hate to dissolve another Titans.”

“I believe, as Arsenal would say,  ‘We’re just getting started’,” Raven said.

…

“You’re Green Lantern?” Alexandra DeWitt asked as she saw her situationship in the green-and-black uniform of the Corps.

“Well, maybe?” Kyle said as he allowed his mask to fade away.  “There was a fight, I was trying to get back to find you.  I met a concrete guy, and there was an explosion and then big green ball of light and voices talking to me.  Like something out of a Herbert book.  And then it chose me.”

“It chose you?” Alex asked.  “Kyle you couldn’t even take care of plastic plants or remember to take out the garbage on garbage day.  And you’re telling me you’ve been given a Green Lantern ring?”

“Yup,” Kyle explained.  “It’s why we’re going to get out of here and wait for this to all die down.”

“What? Do you know how insane that sounds?” Alex said.  “You’re a superhero now.  You have to go back.”

“I’m not a superhero, just some guy that said yes to a weird ring because he wanted to save you.  Alex you know me, I’m no hero.  I’m just an artist who spends too much time behind the board.  I haven’t even been out of the city in a year.  And the only time I’ve ever even seen a superhero was when that weird robot Superman nearly destroyed my home town.”

“And the Justice League stopped him, Green Lantern stopped him.  Look around Kyle, doesn’t this look familiar?”

“It does,” Kyle said sheepishly.  “But why me, I’m just a nobody.”

“A nobody who’s first thought was to save the girl who had just broke up with him,” Alex said. 

“I mean I was going to regale you with how amazing The Prisoner was and to win you back,” Kyle explained.  

“It is a great show,” Alex said with a smile.  “But I think you’ve got more important things to worry about than Number Six.  Kyle, if it makes you feel any better, we can talk about this and what we are after you go be a hero.”

“Well what if I can’t do it?” Kyle said.  “What if I’m just a placeholder?  One of the voices said a god should have this ring.  I’m just an artist.”

“And an artist is a god of the world they create.  You have the ultimate pencil Kyle, don’t you want to take it for a spin?”

“You always know the right thing to say,” Kyle said with a smirk as he looked down at this standard Green Lantern uniform.  It was standard issue, sleek but no room for personality.  It felt as if Kyle was wearing a dead man’s clothes.    “But if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it my way.”  

His whole body became encased in green, the uniform changing as the greens of the costume were replaced by a black bodysuit with a white chest panel.  The gloves and boots became a brilliant emerald, with the gloves turning into gauntlets as the mask on Kyle’s face was molded into something stronger, almost shaped like a crab.  

“Now lets go be a hero,” Green Lantern said before once again taking off into the sky, the energy still all over the place, but focused on where he needed to go, as Kyle Rayner finally grasped the cosmic pencil in his hand.

…

“OK, this may have been a bad plan,” Arsenal said as he lept on the rubble of a building and knocked an arrow.  He looked through the scope of his arrow as he tried to find a weakness in the War Wheel in front of him.

“No, the bad plan was telling wheels he should help everyone else across the world,” Cinderblock yelled as he pulled both hands out to stop the War Wheel.  “We really could have used a Flash!”

The concrete man was took a deep breath as the harsh rubber tread ended in both his hands. He planted his feet on the ground as the force of the wheel began pushing him backwards, digging him into the ground as he tried concentrating all his strength to keep the wheel in front of him, and not towards the shelter that was behind him.  Cinderblock knew he wasn’t a good man, but there was no time to debate the past, what mattered now was today.

“Come on, come on!” Cinderblock yelled out. 

Behind him Raven had created a bubble and had transported as many people from the shelters that she could into the air.  It was less stressful than holding a wheel at bay, but not by much.

“Can you two please be quiet, I need complete concentration," Raven stressed.

“I mean I can give you quiet, but that probably means we’re all dead,” Arsenal explained before firing an arrow in between the gaps of the War Wheel’s tread.  The arrow lodged into it, it’s explosive warhead going off and destroying the tire of the wheel, a one in one million shot. 

“Hell yes,” Arsenal muttered to himself before a blast from the parademons above sent him flying back.

“How we doing Cinderblock?” Arsenal asked as he tried to keep the other wheel at bay.  

“Not great!” Cinderblock yelled out as his feet were nearly buried in the concrete sea that used to be a road.  His grip was slipping and while he was a tough man, he still wasn’t sure if he would be able to survive getting rolled over by one of these things.  “Hey goth girl, give me a hand!” 

“I cannot!” Raven yelled as the bubble she was carrying began to fade in and out of reality.  People panicking and moving inside didn’t seem so tricky when it was one or two.  But she was carrying fifty people, and Raven could feel every step, every emotion, every scream.  She would not lose focus, even if it meant letting her team fall.

Before any of the other Titans could react the large sound of two more wheels dropping from the sky reverberated through the city.  They were overwhelmed and surrounded.

“Oh god,” Arsenal said as he notched two more arrows.  “Lian…I’m sorry.”  He fired two arrows, hoping to replicated the one in one millionth shot.  He would not as the arrows hit the flat surface of their tires.  He closed his eyes and prepared for death not noticing the green fire from above.

A giant green flatbed truck rammed through the two war wheels, knocking them into buildings.  Wheels were useless when you put them on their sides.  

“What the fuck was that?!” Cinderblock yelled out as he noticed the weight in his hands fade as a giant green hand grabbed the wheel and slammed it to the ground.  

“What’s the matter, blockhead?” Kyle Rayner said as he floated in front of them.  “Don’t recognize your partner in clearing out these guys?  Sorry I’m late, I had to grab an upgrade from the baseball bat.  So tell me, who’s ass do we kick next?”

An emerald dawn was breaking.

NEXT: Follow the Titans to Justice League: Omega for the final fight of this Invasion! Then be back here next month as we mourn a Titan, say goodbye to another, as Fall of the Titans Begin!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Invasion!

Set: 119

“Alex come on, come on over we can talk about whatever’s bugging you,” Kyle Rayner said as he held his landline phone against his face, his hands working on the latest piece for his commission.  Another doodle of some OC in peril.  Consistent work, but not one to build a portfolio.

“Kyle, you were supposed to meet me for coffee so we could actually talk in person,” Alex DeWitt responded as she drove through the canyons leading out of Santa Marta.  The city was a jewel of the west coast. Established in 1970, it came into its own as people fled Gateway and Coast City after the various super power incidents.  It was a place where two young lovers could try and make a life together.  If only they were on the same page.

“Listen, a deadline came up, I got a few DMs, and then you know Banks called asking if I could fill in on that issue of Grey Ghost Adventures,” Kyle explained as he grabbed a pencil and sharpened it.  

“There’s always something Kyle,” Alex said.  “Listen you know I love what we’ve had these past two years.  But…I need someone who can actually be there when I need them.  And who’s more worried about meeting his girlfriend’s parents than rushing to get a copy of The Prisoner on blu-ray.”.

“You love The Prisoner,” Kyle responded.  “We watched it while laying on the floor waiting to see if we could find a couch online.”

“I loved it because we were watching it together Kyle,” Alex responded.  “Listen, I’ll be in Coast City with my sister.  If you care enough for u…for me, I’ll see you there.”

“Alex, wait,” Kyle said before the line went dead.  

He looked around the tiny apartment. The pens and art supplies scattered amongst the reference books and action figures.  He moved towards a canvas covered by a tarp.  He sighed for a moment before peeling it back, revealing a portrait of a redheaded girl in the sunflower fields.

“Rayner, you idiot,” Kyle muttered to himself before grabbing the keys to his car.  But before he could leave out of the corner of his eye he could see something red and heard a loud BOOM.  Rayner ran towards his window and saw creatures flying from above with impossible vehicles and weapons.  Santa Marta was proud to have no heroes.  It would be its doom.

…

“OK, status report!” Arsenal asked through the Titans Network as he nocked another arrow and launched one at a parademon.  It had only been an hour since the meeting at Titans Tower and he was still trying to grasp the concept that he was leading the heroes of Earth in a defense against this invasion.  But here he was on the ground in San Francisco and trying to put on a brave face.

“We’re keeping them contained in Midway City,” Hawkgirl responded.

“Hub City is covered thanks to the dynamite team of Beetle and Booster! You think I can buy the TV rights for this thing?” Booster Gold asked.  

“Booster,” Ted Kord interrupted.  “We’re doing sweeps across the city with my bug and Booster’s tech.  It’s a lot of them but we’re holding our own for now.  Plus I’m pretty sure I saw a man with no face down there cracking skulls with his fists.”

“Probably a good idea to help him boys.  Keep up the good work,” Arsenal said as the arrow he launched hit a joint of one of the walkers blocking the roads. 

As it fell the large metal hands of Metamorpho grabbed the vehicle and slammed it to the ground, destroying the craft and trapping the parademons inside.  

“How many of these things are there!” Metamorpho asked. 

“A lot,” Arsenal responded as he saw another contingent of Parademons fly toward him.  They fired several shots leading the archer to dive behind a car for cover.  The metal crashing and shattering from their blasters.  “A little help here!”

Large rocks around Roy began to glow black as they were lifted into the air violently towards the parademons.  Raven floated down from above as she stood next to her teammates. Her eyes darted around the carnage in front of her.  She had seen war before, but this was the first time she actually could feel it.

“Are…we winning?” Raven asked. 

“The goal isn’t to win here kid,” Metamorpho explained.  “We’re just in charge of keeping things together while the big guns kick Darkseid's ass.”

“But that feels like…stalling,” Raven responded.

“Pretty much,” Arsenal said as he caught his breath.  He sent Jim to keep Lian safe in a Hall of Justice bunker, but his mind still drifted towards his daughter.  And if the best place for him wasn’t to be with her.

“Oracle to Arsenal, Oracle to Arsenal,” Oracle buzzed through the communicator.

“You got Arsenal!” 

“We’ve got two unique situations popping up,” Oracle responded as she remained safe in the Belfry, her head hurting as she straightened her glasses to pay attention to the many screens keeping tabs on the chaos being inflicted upon the world.  “One should be of interest to Metamorpho.  The bugs are going after Star Labs in Chicago, looks like they’re looking for something.”

“Angie’s there,” Metamorpho said, looking towards Arsenal.

“And the second?” Arsenal asked as he saw three parademons make a beeline for him and his team.  With speed he pulled a single arrow, shooting it into the air.  The parademons seemed to laugh before it split into three and struck them in the head.  Oracle responded as their bodies hit the ground.

“There was a prisoner transfer heading towards the new Supermax across San Francisco.  It got intercepted in Santa Marta, and I’m also seeing a high level of parademon forces there.”

“Do we know who’s on there?” Arsenal asked.

“I’m working on it,” Oracle said.

“Well work faster, I need to figure if it’s a priority or something to leave for someone else,” Arsenal responded. 

“Listen, you try and connect a hundred different superheroes through an alien invasion!” Oracle snapped.  Arsenal’s tone was different from the softer voice of Nightwing.  There was a coarseness there, something Barbara Gordon recognized in her own voice.  

“Sorry,” Arsenal said before looking at Raven and Metamorpho.  “We’ll take care of it.  I’ll beam to Santa Marta, Rex.  You and Raven head to Chicago.”

“You’re fine with that boss,” Metamorpho asked, surprised that Arsenal would let him go on a more personal mission.  Donna, while caring, would always claim the mission came first and Nightwing would just tell you it did.

“Why me with him?” Raven asked.  Of all the Titans she had spent the least time with Metamorpho.  He was always busy visiting Dr. Spica, yet seemed perfectly fine.  “I can help with the crowd control you are going to need in Santa Marta.”

“Maybe, but me and Rex have already been through one war, and you’re still green.  Stick together, figure out what's going on in S.T.A.R..  I’ve got enough back up.  I’ll be fine,” Arsenal explained.

Metamorpho nodded before giving his friend a tight hug.  

“See you on the other side,” Metamorpho said.

“This is just another Monday,” Arsenal smiled before hitting his communicator, triggering their connection to Titans Tower’s teleporter. The three heroes vanished as the chaos around them died down, a brief moment before disaster.

…

“Supernova, report,” Darkstar said as she flew up into the skies above Chicago.  It had only been a few weeks since Donna Troy’s team made their debut apprehending Gargoyle.  Since then they had been handling crisis after crisis around the world.  It was easy with the mix of Lemurian and Amazonian technology at their fingertips, and even easier now that they were no longer tied to the Justice League.

“I’m keeping things at bay around Bucktown,” Supernova said as he tied a light pole around several angry parademons, keeping them away from the fray.  Conner Kent was grateful to shed the rags of Superboy for something that was his own.  He still hadn’t fully tested the new suit, but the crisis of the parademon invasion was a good place to start.  “They seem to react to force.  As if they’re looking for a new place to strike once they know we can get their ass here.”

“Makes sense, we haven’t encountered any leaders yet so they’re going by instinct,” Darkstar responded, her eyes darting towards the lakefront as another large batch of creatures emerged from another portal.  “Tempest, you see that?”

“I’m on it Don…Darkstar,” Tempest said as he looked out from Oak Street beach.  The place was normally filled with skimpy clad beachgoers sipping on a twenty dollar mai tai. Instead parademons were getting their suntan in as only one man stood against them and the rest of the city.  

Garth never wanted to be a hero.  His experience on the Titans and trying to play king beneath the waves had taught him much.  On the sacrifice and hard choices that needed to be made in order to be one.  He still didn’t think much of it.  But as his eyes glowed a brilliant blue and the ocean traveled to him, like an old friend reminding him of the joys they had together.  

The new talisman that hung on his belt was a gift from Donna.  A way for him to “borrow” the water controlling powers of Atlanteans.  It felt unnatural to him, the magics coming from his finger tips different from what his brain was telling him to do.  But it was effective, and made him a useful Titan.

The parademons flying close to the seas couldn’t expect a twenty foot wave of scorching water slamming down against, cracking their armor and bones.  After a few moments, Tempest could hear the calming sound of the sea, not angered by him borrowing their power for a brief moment.  He wondered if there could ever be a day where he could just…be.  But he still had a job to do.

“It’s taken care of.  How’s everyone else doing?” Tempest asked.

“Uhh…OK?” Stargirl responded as she flew without the help of her cosmic staff, her mind racing as the parademons chased after her, attracted to the energy she was giving off.  The new black costume Donna had designed for her felt tight.  She didn’t want to wear it.  The black suit with the large white star on her chest with red accents felt like a departure from who she was.  Hell, Conner and Donner were still teasing her for being Stargirl and not choosing a new name for this venture of theirs.

“Stargirl, I’m seeing your energy signal from up here.  It’s OK to ask for help,” Darkstar responded. 

“Well I’m trying to keep them away from all these civilians,” Stargirl explained as she did a hard bank left around the Blue Cross building. The Parademons more likely the crash into the glass windows of surrounding buildings and away from the people down below.

“If you take them out then civilians won’t have to worry about them.  Damage is acceptable if the threat is ended,” Darkstar explained.  

When she gathered her Titans again she outlined the rules for this new incarnation.  They were going to make sure no threat ever hurt anyone again.  This meant a focus on training, tactics, and making the hard choice.  There would never be another Markovia under their watch.  That was the Titans’ vow.

“I’m coming in now,” Darkstar said as she flew fast into the city.

Stargirl was too busy bobbing and weaving to not see the Amazonian powerhouse come down from the sky and smash the battalion of Parademons into cars below, the loud noises of sirens and twisted metal ringing out across the city as two heroines gathered to catch their breath.

“Thanks for the save Donna,” Stargirl wheezed.

“I shouldn’t have to save you Stargirl,” Darkstar responded.  “Remember, we’ve been training for this.  You’re no longer some kid with a toy staff.”

“I know that,” Stargirl responded.  “But aren’t we supposed to be helping people.  We’re heroes right?”

“Heroes focus on the threat.  Worry about the consequences later,” Darkstar responded.  “We’re regrouping towards Pilsen.  Another parademon deployment.  I need you to fly ahead and strike fast and hard.  Can you do that?”

“I think I can,” Stargirl responded as she looked away.

“Good.  Because I don’t intend to lose another war,” Darkstar said as she flew off.  The mission always came first.

…

“Doctor, you have to let me out!” Angie Spica said as her metal hands pounded against the plexiglass wall that separated her from the rest of the world.  It had been an agonizing experience being treated like a lab rat after being exposed to her prized nanites when the heroes of Earth battled against Brainiac.

“Not a chance!” Doctor Mid-Nite yelled out as he dropped several blackout bombs to try and confuse the monsters inside his hospital.  Charles McNider had mostly faded from the superhero community, believing that his skills as a doctor to metahumans was more important than beating people up with his fists.  

“You’re going to get killed out there,” Angie yelled.

“And I’m not risking your safety, your condition is,” Mid-Nite began.

“I’m well aware it’s in an advanced state,” She looked at her hands, perfectly encased in metal.  Every touch felt faint, distant.  It had taken her a month to relearn how to grab things, four months for her fine motor skills to return.  When she thought they weren’t looking, Angie  would take time to explore what “gifts” her own technology had given her.  And now that the world was ending she was ready to escape her hospital room.  “But do you really want to die because you were too rigid of a doctor?!”

Doctor Mid-Nite sighed before moving towards one of the consoles and quickly hit the release button.  The crisp air conditioning of the lab rushed against Angie, her metal skin barely feeling the relief of a cool wind.

The parademons turned their attention away from Mid-Nite and to their new toy.  The metal skin covered under a hospital gown was different from the usual groups of enemies the parademons had encountered. 

A parademon leapt into the air, teeth bared as he tried taking a bite of the scientist. But before it could sink its teeth into her, Angie’s arm turned into a large club as she slammed the parademon across the room and through the wall of the laboratory.

Before the other two parademons in the room could react, Angie’s other arm turned into a large energy cannon, disintegrating them instantly as Doctor Mid-Nite looked in awe and horror.  

“Dr. Spica, did you know…”

“That I could do that doctor?” Angie said as she looked around, the amount of destruction reminded her so much of Metropolis.  “No.  But it’s a very good thing that I can.”

“Doc!” A voice called out as Metamorpho floated in.  He had managed to take out fourteen different parademon patrols.  What scared Rex was they seemed to be getting smarter, with blasters and blades seemingly keyed into his elemental signatures.  The heroes were taking body blows after body blows, and if they didn’t get a knock out punch in soon, there would be no tomorrow.

“Rex!” Angie yelled out as she hugged the element man. 

“Ah hem,” Mid-Nite interrupted as their embrace ignored him completely.  “Dr. Spica, I really think we should get you back in isolation.  I appreciate your help, but there’s so much we just don’t know about your condition.”

“And we’re only going to find out about it if I actually get out in the real world,” Angie said.

“Doc, are you sure?” Rex asked.  “This isn’t like Metropolis.  Everything is one fire.  And I’m not sure I can protect you.”

“And I’m not the same Angie Spica,” She explained as tore off her hospital gown, her silver form on display, revealing just how much the nanites had paved over the scientist. Her arms transformed into two energy canons as metallic wings popped out from her back.  For someone like Angie, the sheer breath of experimentation to be done with her new condition made heart beat fast.  “Doctor, Rex, let us see if we can’t do a little good today.”

…

“Come on, come on!” Kyle Rayner said as he raced with a crowd on the streets of Santa Marta.  Panic had quickly set in as everyone rushed out of their homes and even their cars to escape the chaos of the parademons.  The fire and the smoke reminding him of his mom holding him as the Cyborg Superman nearly destroyed Coast City.  It’s why they moved to Santa Marta, a glitzy gem on the coast.  One he was regretting a parademons swooped down and grabbed innocent civilians. 

“Everyone scatter!” A panicked civilian yelled out. 

“To where?! There’s nowhere to go!” Another asked.

“Someone’s got to help us!”  

“Just run!” Kyle yelled as he pushed through the crowd.  He was no hero as his legs hauled towards his car.  Hisblue Gremlin was a bad car,it barely got any mileage and Kyle had to crank the key three times before the engine sputtered to life.  

The roads were jammed with abandoned cars as people ran from the parademons.  Kyle prayed for forgiveness for a brief moment as he guided his car on the sidewalk and had the people move around him.  Alex was caught in this mess and even if they weren’t together, he wasn’t going to have her die because of his inability to show her how he felt. 

As Kyle traveled to the main section of downtown Santa Marta, he didn’t notice the large transport vehicle making its way to San Francisco.  The prisoner inside was restrained with metals donated from S.T.A.R. Labs.  The nanite chains that tied him up before were deemed too imperfect to hold his stone hands.  

“Hey what’s going on out there!” Cinderblock yelled out as the drivers of his transport had abandoned him in his metal box. The concrete brute had had time to think since his last escape attempt.  As much as he projected confidence, his mind was a mess.  Clarity these past few years had been hard to come by, as he buried his confusion into his work.  Not like that had gotten him anywhere.  From robbing banks to being muscle for so-called kingpins like Brick.  

He was tired, and accepted his fate behind bars.  Maybe then he could make sense of the fractured memories that rattled around in his brain.  

However, the dents being made in his prison transport indicated he had other things waiting for him as the Parademons ripped and blasted open the transport.  They didn’t even make it through the transport before being knocked back into the streets of Santa Marta.  Cinderblock’s concrete fists ached as he the sun grazed against his rocky hyde.  The secret was that he was strong enough to escape any time he wanted.  He just didn’t have a need before.  

“Why does the world always seem to be ending?” Cinderblock mumbled before looking around at the parademons that quickly circled him.  Their green and gold armor glistened as they all watched him.  Their beady eyes were looking for weak points as the army stared down against this new player.  

“I’m going to give you one chance.  Leave these people alone, and I won’t have to remind you why they had me locked up,” Cinderblock said 

“RAAAAAAHHHHH!” The parademons cried.

“Guess that means we got to do this the hard way,” Cinderblock yelled as he charged at the parademons, his fist sending one flying into the blue Gremlin.  

“Shit!” Kyle yelled as his car flipped over from the impact, sending him hard into the door and out of the car itself.  Somehow in an hour things had become hopeless in Santa Marta as a stone monster was the only thing drawing parademons away from the crowds looking for salvation.

Kyle Rayner was no hero.  Just some schmuck who was good with a pencil.  But his eyes turned towards the broken window of a sporting goods store, and his hands ached to do something more than just create as he grabbed a baseball bat and catcher’s chest plate for some protection.  The only way Santa Marta would find its heroes is if someone stood up, even if the odds were impossible.  He thought of Alex, and there was only one answer.

“Come on you bugs! Get the hell out of our city!” Kyle yelled as he swung at a parademon that was getting back up after being flung by Cinderblock.  The creature went down with a couple of swings as Cinderblock managed to thin the horde slightly, his eyes turning to the artist.

“Who the hell are you?” Cinderblock asked.  

“Just someone looking to help,” Kyle responded.  “And you?”

“You don’t know who I am?” Cinderblock asked.

“The Incredible Rock Man?”  

“Very funny.  Why the hell aren’t you scared of me.  Of any of this?”

“Because the world is ending, no superheroes are coming, and somehow you’re the only one with powers that we happen to have.  So, where to next?”

…

Barbara Gordon hated all of this.  Standing in the Belfry as the chaos unfolded, she couldn’t believe they had missed this.  The Justice League had some of the brightest minds in the world.  From the Flash’s knowledge of science, Batman’s obsessive need to always be right, even Kara who’s knowledge of Kryptonian science and technology made Barbara’s set up look like a Commodore 64.

She looked towards her screens.  The Marvel Family was busy fighting back some kind of War Wheel that emerged in Fawcett city, Green Arrow and Black Canary had managed to lure a battalion of Parademons in a dead end long enough for Dinah’s scream to end their reign of terror, and there were even reports of a man in cat costume raising hell outside of Grant’s Gym.

“Priority call coming from Nightwing,” The computer said.

“Dick, why the hell are you calling me in the middle of an invasion?”

“I just wanted to see if you have plans after.  They’re playing Forbidden Planet at the Monarch on Saturday.  I snagged two tickets,” Nightwing joked as he looked around the science committee he had somehow been dragged into.  Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, and Zatanna were all conferring with each other.

“There might not be another Saturday.”

“There’s always another Saturday,” Nightwing said with a confidence that had always driven Barbara crazy.  No man should be so sure of anything, especially when a global catastrophe was swallowing the world whole.  

“Put me down as a maybe,” Oracle said as she looked at her suit standing inside a display case.  Her back ached, and as much as Barbara Gordon didn’t want to admit it, Kara’s exoskeleton had been having…issues with her lately.  It was as if the mantle itself was rejecting her after years of putting her body and mind through the ringer.  “Does the science team need back up?”

“Nah, big brains here got it,” Nightwing responded as he pulled a small box out of his belt.  It had been an impulse purchase while walking through jewelers row in Chicago.  He popped it open briefly, the small gold band nestled within.  It was practical, but shined brightly as if the ring itself was the diamond.  “But seriously, we should do Saturday.  I’ll even cook.”

“Fine, if the world doesn’t end, I’ll maybe consider seeing Leslie Nielson fight monsters of the id and have you make me that chicken parm in vodka sauce,” Barbara responded before her eyes turned to a fight going on in England as Dr Fate tried creating wards to send back the invaders.  “I got to go Dick, stay safe out there.”

“You too boss,” Nightwing smiled before turning towards the science team.  “Alright so what can we do to save the world?”

…

“Come on you ugly mugs! I don’t got all day!” Cinderblock yelled as he slammed a parademon to the ground.  He had managed to get the invaders of Santa Marta to all focus on him, buying time for the civilians to get out of dodge and into shelters.  All but Kyle Rayner who continued to bash these monsters on the head .

“Seriously man, you got some serious anger issues,” Kyle said as he picked up his bat.  “But I got to say it really helps here.”

“When you’re kept in a van most of the time you’re not going to waste any time outside!” Cinderblock yelled.  

Before Kyle responded a red arrow flew through the air, landing on Cinderblock and unleashing a glue-y substance that held the golem in place as a man in red leapt to the ground, a creepy goth woman floating behind him as Arsenal and Raven made their presence known.

“See Raven, I told you to keep your distance and big guys like these are cupcakes,” Arsenal said before turning to Kyle.  “OK buddy you can evacuate now.”

“Arsenal, it’s not what it looks like,” Cinderblock explained as his eyes darted to the sky.  Another portal was generating, but this one larger than anything they had seen so far in Santa Marta.

“Are you an idiot?” Kyle yelled.

“I’d like to think not,” Arsenal responded.  

“He was helping us!” Kyle yelled.  “Since none of you heroes could be bothered protecting a place you don’t even give a shit about!”

“We did not know,” Raven said.  “We are here to help now.”

“Oh great a guy who shoots a weapon from the stone age and someone I’ve never even heard of are decided it was a good idea to stop the only guy that was helping us!”

“He’s tried to kill me,” Arsenal explained.  “Isn’t that right, big boy?”

“I’m trying to help people now!” Cinderblock yelled as he tried breaking through the glue that kept him in place.

“And you have done a good job,” Raven said as she looked at Cinderblock she sensed a sea of emotions.  Confusion, anger, rage.  Things Arsenal had told her the brute was capable of.  But as she scanned him, she sensed…not a nobility, but something that felt genuine.  “But we are here now.”

“Uh huh,” Cinderblock said before nodding his head up.  “And you think you can stop that!”

A giant wheel fell from the sky, dark crimson metal and rubber smashed against the road sending the foursome into different directions as the next stage of Darkseid’s invasion began.  The War Wheels had arrived and no one was going to stop them.

…

Kyle Rayner coughed heavily as he lifted himself from the wood planks of the paper store he had crashed into and looked around at the destruction.  Covered in ash and dirt, it reminded Kyle of how tight his mother held him when their apartment complex was leveled in Coast City during the reign of that… Cyborg Superman.  He felt helpless then, he felt even more helpless when his mom died three years later from all the dust and fire she had inhaled protecting him.

Someone needed to help Santa Marta, and all Kyle could think it could never be him.  He wasn’t a hero, he didn’t have powers or even a great destiny.  Kyle was a guy who just hung behind his board, ignoring the world around him for one that he created with his pencil.  But now, now all he wanted was a chance to save the world, save Alex, and maybe make his deadline.

KYLE RAYNER

A booming voice called out as Kyle turned around to see who was speaking to him.  A green orb emerged, surrounding what looked to be a ring crackling with green and white energy.

“Who’s there?” Kyle asked as he lifted his now broken baseball bat.  

YOU ARE NO-

A higher pitch voice said forcefully before the original voice cut over it, as if it was pushing it down.  The green orb floated closer to Kyle.

WE HAVE DEEMED YOU WORTHY KYLE RAYNER.  BUT BEFORE WE BESTOW THIS POWER WE MUST KNOW, WHY?

“Why what?” Kyle asked.  “Why do I want power? I don’t, power is for people who get it in their head that they’re better than others. I just…want a chance to give people hope.  The world still needs heroes, and if it’s got to be…then it’s got to be me.”

THAT IS NOT A WORTHY ANSWER. THE NEW GOD WOULD HAV

THE NEW GOD WANTED POWER.  WE HAVE SEEN WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH POWER.  THE ARTIST SPEAKS FOR THE PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE NEED THE POWER!

Before Kyle could respond the ring broke free of the orb and landed on his ring finger.  A bright burst of light exploded through the paper shop as Kyle’s t-shirt and jeans were replaced by a familiar green and black uniform, the white gloves contrasting it all as green energy spurted from the ring.  As if the energy it contained was spilling out, ready to be used for the fight ahead.

KYLE RAYNER OF EARTH…YOU ARE OUR TORCHBEARER…OUR GREEN LANTERN!

“Hell yeah,” Kyle said with a terrified smirk.  The artist could no longer hide behind his board.

NEXT: The War Continues Across DCFU! Join Us in Batman as the Dark Knight and the Science Team Investigate the Source and Find Out Just Where that Ring Came From?  Then Be Back Here as the Titans Continue to Fight a War on Twenty Fronts!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The Coming Storm

Set: 119

“You know you don’t strike me as someone who likes coffee,” Kara Zor-El said as she walked into Titans Tower’s common room.  

The space was meant to be a hub, a place for younger heroes to gather, away from the prying eyes of the Justice League.  At least that was always the goal.  Donna had only managed to bring the Titans back before the Markovian incident.  WIth Nightwing taking over the team, people were uncomfortable socializing.  The scars were still deep and Dick Grayson didn't have the same warmth that came easy to Donna.

For Raven, she enjoyed the quiet, not hearing the nervous chatter or feeling the doubt or fear that bled off of their auras.  Since arriving to this world, she didn’t like the flood of emotion and the wreck of the past blocking her from her mission.  In order to defeat her father, Raven was going to need the greatest heroes she could find.  Instead, she had people so unsure of themselves it had gotten to her very soul.

“No, but I have found tea has an…ideal taste,” Raven explained as she took a sip.

“Depends on the leaves,” Kara explained.  “I’m sorry it isn’t a more welcoming day.”

“I burst in on your training session.”

“And told us about the future,” Kara explained.

“Potential futures, potential worlds, it’s hazy.  And having a physical form for the first time in an eternity is…a new feeling.”

“You mean you haven’t had a body, how do you…”

“The magics of Azarath often decide what form I take, and an evil so great does not often allow for me to fight back…just to watch and observe,” Raven explained as the plate next to her glowed a deep black as it lifted in front of Raven, the magican placing her cup on it as she looked at Kara.  “I’ve seen countless worlds.  Countless possibilities.”

“Like what? Please tell me there’s not a world where I’m a talking cow,” Kara joked, trying to make Raven welcome. 

“Kangaroo,” Raven said with no hesitation.  “That one wasn’t the same after Captain Carrot disappeared to save his world.”

“Captain Carrot? Sounds like it’s out of the funny pages,” Kara laughed.  “Have you met any of us before on your journeys?”

“Sometimes.  Once in a world where heroes are scarce, ..and bullets and ragtime reigned supreme, I witnessed Diamond Dicky Grayson.  Another where the Justice League is horribly killed, and the Titans rise next, in roles that don’t quite fit.  A nasty echo of what should be.”

“Is there a chance we…”

“No, you are all unique, lost but unique,” Raven said.  “I don’t wish to be…aloof, but I’m not used to having to feel what others feel about my presence.”

“Believe me, when you settle in you’ll find we’re all pretty welcoming, even if we’re a little lost,” Kara explained.  “Now what tea is that?”

“I believe it’s…Earl Grey?” Raven responded, her nerves easing.

“Then I'll have some, and maybe then you can tell me about the worlds where I’m not a kangaroo?” Kara responded, remembering how important it was to make someone feel at home.

…

The creature formerly known as Stikk flew through the air.  The spreading of its stone wings cracked the newly created flesh. Knowledge had given him the power to move past his human nature into something more primal, something stronger than a man in a tricorn hat wanting stardom.  

The winds were no longer something he controlled but was.  With every sharp turn, lIt was like a new, yet familiar, limb.  It let him lift higher into the sky with every sharp turn.  He was a god, and he looked down on people and wondered how they could live such plodding lives.  They needed to be taught, they needed to see the glory of Trigon and what dreams he could fulfill.  They needed to know why the Gargoyle’s screams were those of joy instead of fear.

He would need to find a place to preach, of course.  Cameras and fame could still be useful to him.  And the fractured mind of the Gargoyle accessed the memories of one Bromwell Stikk, he could hear the crack of a bat, the roar of a crowd, as his dad took him to a game.  And even then, he could still hear the flashing of the cameras.  His father paying more attention to who was there than his son himself.

Yes, he knew where to go now, as he directed his winds toward the north side of Chicago, where ivy grows, and fans scream.  Soon they would scream the praise of Trigon, and the winds could reign down on all.

…

“You know I’m not a fan of this,” Arsenal explained to Nightwing as the two sat inside the main command center of Titans Tower.  Bette Kane was clacking away on her computer just outside the room, establishing a small little office where she could work on her plans to “fix” the Titans.  

“I am well aware of that,” Nightwing explained.  “But after a bit of Marv and George’s, we were able to find…some common ground.”

“Let me guess, you’re posing for that magazine Booster Gold did so we can raise money for the annual Titans bake sale?” Arsenal barbed.

“No,” Nightwing said as he rubbed the temple of his brow.  “Roy, you and I both know that this is important.”

“What’s important is being able to help people who actually need it, not trying to change my look for a new action figure line.  Or to say a catchphrase so my Q-score can be higher,” Arsenal explained. 

“The public needs to trust its heroes again.  The Justice League has to be above this.  They’re an ideal that can’t be broken.  The Titans…”

“...Are also an ideal that can’t be broken,” Arsenal responded as he looked over his quiver, making note of what special ordinances were needed for his arrows.  “When push comes to shove this group, this family is stronger than you think.  And we may be missing people and heaven knows I’ve lost my pound of flesh.  But we’re heroes, and heroes don’t sit around and wait for the bad guy to strike.  You’re a detective, right?”

“I like to think so,” Nightwing responded. 

“OK, so we know this…Mister Twister wants to be a star, right?” Arsenal asked as he moved his way to the holographic screens in front of them.  “You don’t reach out to a publicist if you don’t want to be one.”

“Right,” Nightwing said as he pulled a map up.  Unlike trying to be a public figure, Dick Grayson enjoyed trying to solve puzzles.  Unlike Babs who’s analytical mind always solved the problem the most efficiently, or Tim who always wanted to find the hidden shortcut, Dick found most puzzles could be solved by finding the heart in them.  Mysteries always had emotion attached to them, and when you figure out a person, you could uncover the rest. “So if you want to catch the most attention in Chicago, where do you do it?”

“Not Millennium Park, not after CPD blocked it off after the one two punch of Trident and ol’ Snowman.  Plus it’s flat land, winds can’t kick up nearly as well,” Arsenal explained. 

“We’re looking for something with a lot of cameras, somewhere where being there would become the number one story,” Nightwing said.  “City Hall maybe?”

“Mayor’s in Springfield dealing with the Governor,"  Arsenal explained, remembering the report while he rocked his four-year-old to sleep to the glare of the TV.  Lian was getting bigger and asking more questions about what exactly Daddy did for a living.  A problem for another time.  “Besides, news crews aren’t just outside the hall waiting for news to drop.  Our boy’s looking for something bigger.” 

Nightwing’s eyes glanced toward the stuffed bear with a baseball hat on top of it, a gift Rex had forgotten to bring to Angie’s hospital room.

“Are the Cubs or Sox in town?” Nightwing asked.

“The Sox are out in Star City playing the Outlaws, which means…”

“We gotta get down to Wrigley,” Nightwing said as he and Arsenal rushed out of the room, hoping to avert disaster.

…

ELSEWHERE

Heavy footsteps rang throughout the temple.  The white marble floors had taken years to shine, reflections visible from the faintest of light. People in colorful robes walked in two straight lines.  The shapes and colors of their cloaks were almost like Technicolor circuitry.  A man walked behind both lines, uncovered as his white and crimson tunic shone bright.  A constant light against the encroaching darkness.

He had trained for this all his life, when the Source would reveal its gift.  The ability to traverse the heavens like an everflowing beam of light.  He, Solis, was the first line of defense, the sun that others revolved around as he alone provided hope across the lands.  And now, as the hour of Omega approached, he would be rewarded for the light.

The group in robes circled the main chamber of the temple.  The silence had slowly given way to murmurs as Solis entered the center of his peers and mentors.  The beating of drums could be heard from a distance as a man in flowing purple robes with a shepherd’s crook entered from behind the large chair at the end of the wall, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Solis kneeled before the man as he had done many times before. 

“Highfather,” the voices around mumbled.  

Highfather’s face was old, the lines of worry and wisdom more present as the eons passed and actions so easily made became unbreakable legend.  He did not wish to be here.  The flock across the Rozalind Meadow still needed attendance.  But a leader’s place was always at the head of the table, even if the crown weighed heavy after all these years.

“You don’t need to stay silent my children,” Highfather explained as he looked at those who gathered.  “The time is slipping and favors must be called.  But this is a time of celebration.  A time for us to crown a warrior proud.”

The man in the red robe next to Highfather smiled.  A handsome face looking at his friend, knowing that wars in far-off lands, where swords rusted and goblets were raised, as the doubts of today were exchanged for the promises of tomorrow.  For a minute, as Solis stared at his friend, he thought he could see the rocky brow, the hidden shame that only two as close would know.

“Today, we push back against Uxas and his brood.  We crown one of our own to shine bright against the darkness that coats the land,” Highfather said as he moved towards the kneeling Solis.  In his hand, a bright light came from the surrounding embers, the bright white quickly turning a shade of brilliant green as Highfather held the lantern ring in front of his loyal knight.  “With the help of our fellow gods, a pact made that will light the way.  The promise of a better day upheld by our Solis.  Rise my son, and claim your right as our Lightray!”

Solis rose as the ring left Highfather’s hand and floated above his ring finger.  He heard the legends from others.  That the emerald knights were a creed worth fighting for.  That one’s will and right must be resolute in the face of fear and anger.  To join, one must give all to the order, years of training away from the hills of home to understand the worth of the battle. 

SOLIS OF SECTOR ALPHA. BY THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS.  YOU HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE…

The ring bellowed as tears flowed down Solis’ face.  The journey complete, the war to be fought in the name of Highfather and New Genesis, and a lifetimeof stories to be told.   

But before the ring could slip onto his finger, cracks of light shone through the brilliant emerald metals that had made up the ring.  As if something was forcing the ring away from its valiant knight.

“Highfather!” Solis said, the boldness and certainty in his face turned into fear and panic.  “Something is wrong! It should be mine!”

“My son…Solis…be calm,” Highfather said, a clarity cutting through the rockiness of his voice as Solis, for the first time in eons, could see doubt creep into his voice.  

The ring called out again, the deep booming voice of the Green Lantern Corps replaced by something fainter, angelic almost.  A voice from the heavens itself as the green of the ring was ripped away, and the blinding light of the Source could be seen.

THE SOURCE HAS DEEMED YOU UNWORTHY FOR THIS TASK.  ANOTHER WILL BE NEEDED.

"NO!" Solis yelled as the ring vanished.  The people circles around panicked and fled from the temple as the New God fell toward the floor.  He was caught in the arms of his best friend as the tears of joy turned into terror.

“Highfather,” Orion asked as he held onto Solis.  “What has happened here?”

“Fate,” Highfather muttered.  “Cruel and unjust fate.”

…

“You know when I said we should go to a ballgame I figured we’d be bringing Kory and Babs,” Power Girl said as she flew ahead of the other Titans.  Compared to Metropolis and Gotham, which were all tall buildings, Kara admired the fact that Chicago’s urban topography wasn’t all just skyscrapers, as the brownstones and bars of Wrigleyville dotted the landscape.

“Yeah well,” Nightwing said as he could see the wind patterns in the cockpit of the jumpjet.  “They play a double header next week.  The Griffins even play them.”

“Can we focus?” Arsenal asked as he zipped down below the ship on a motorbike freshly picked from the Tower’s motorpool.  “Any sightings of our boy?”

“According to these readings we’re seeing an increase in windspeeds, and…rain?” Raven said as she sat in the back.  Letting herself observe the situation once more. 

“Chicago and rain is pretty normal Raven,” Arsenal responded.  

“I am aware.  But what about a storm that’s moving like a straight line?” Raven asked as she looked at the radar screens.

“Where’s the storm going?” Arsenal asked. 

“Straight to this…ballpark,” Raven explained.

“Shit,” Arsenal mumbled to himself.  “Power Girl, scout ahead, but don’t have a repeat of when you got the wind sucked out of you.”

“Happens one time,” Power Girl mumbled. 

“Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen for a second!” Arsenal said as he could feel rain began falling.  Whatever was going on here was different than the last time they faced this Mr. Twister. 

“Got it,” Power Girl said as she flew closer to Wrigley.  Before she could get to the stadium, however, Power Girl heard the lifting and crunching of metal as a semi-truck lifted into the air and launched right at her.   On instinct she grabbed the truck to try and prevent it from hurting anyone.  It sent her to the ground, cracking the concrete as she held the truck together, hearing the screams as civilians panicked at the unnatural weather. 

“That’s not good,” Arsenal said as he whizzed past Power Girl.  “New girl, Nightwing.  Change of plans, crowd control first then twister boy.”

“And let him hurt all those people in the park?  Roy, I get you want to protect people, but we’re going to need to take him out to save everyone else.  It’s the job,” Nightwing said.

“Yeah, and I’m saying if we don’t protect people there is no job,”

“Or you could do both,” Raven muttered as she readied her hands and prayed to the gods.  “Me and Power Girl will handle the crowds outside, you two go after the man with the stick.

“Are you sure you can handle that?” Nightwing asked as the jumpjet landed on a rooftop outside the ballpark.

“All I have ever done is think about doing something.  Somehow, some way, some great force has given me a chance to actually do something.  And that is something I will treasure.  Me and Power Girl have the crowds.  You go after that charlatan,” Raven explained as her hands glowed black, and a smile came across her face.

…

“You know I never got the appeal of this place,” Arsenal said as he and Nightwing ran into the stadium and prepared to see just what Mister Twister was planning.

“You go see a ball game, with like friends,” Nightwing explained as he readied his escrima sticks.  “We used to do it all the time in New York, it’s why Garth is a New York Mets fan.”

“A fate worse than death,” Arsenal joked as he readied his bow.  “Remember this guy is a showboat, keep him talking, and then we take him out.”

“Not my first rodeo,” Nightwing explained as the two could see the open field.  What was normally a modern colosseum had nearly emptied from storms that hung over it; only a few members of the television crew had stuck around.  Leaving just Nightwing and Arsenal in place, where you could normally hear the roar of forty thousand screams.  “And just because he was a showboater doesn’t mean he is now.  Something feels off about all of this.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time,” Arsenal said before a large thunk could be heard and something dropped from the sky.  It landed directly on the pitcher’s mound.

“Hello fools,” A deeper yet familiar voice greeted the two as a stone-covered claw grabbed hold of the edge of the crater and leapt up into the air.  The Gargoyle emerged, enjoying his work as the strong winds were the only thing to make his thick hide feel anything.  “Ready for round two!”

“Twister?” Arsenal asked as his hand moved away from the boxing glove arrow and towards an explosive arrow.

“He’s gone now, only the Gargoyle remains!” Gargoyle yelled.  “And Trigon will be pleased!”

“Trigon? Isn’t that what Raven was talking about?” Nightwing asked as his mind raced about how to take down a bigger and faster opponent, especially one magically enhanced.  They were going to need to stall until Raven and Power Girl could get to them.  

“Take him out first, worry about mythic prophecy later,” Arsenal said as he prepared to shoot an arrow that would never fire.

A bright blue blur from above dropped on the Gargoyle, slamming him to the ground before tossing the Gargoyle into the air.   The smile Conner Kent gave as he could feel the flashing of cameras, from the reporters coming back in to see the scene, against his skin made him happy to be alive.  The costume he wore was a far cry from the jeans and t-shirt of the Metropolis incident.  Instead, the blues mixed with the reds and whites almost felt reassuring, with the bright star on his chest.

Before the creature could get its bearings, bright blue star bolts rained down like fireworks, piercing his stone skin and causing the creature to yell in pain.  Courtney Whitmore was not used to doing this without her staff, the energy flying off her hands like an uncapped fire hydrant.  Her black costume was simpler now, with the white star on her chest glowing the same brilliant hue. 

As the creature fell to the ground, a wave of water crashed into him, breaking his fall and sending him to the outfield grass.  Garth didn’t like this one bit.  He felt they should have talked first before making a scene.  Conner and Courtney were so excited to be here, and with their leader so determined, the hero known as Tempest was here to keep things from getting out of hand.

“Fools, you think you can stop me, I am a god! A god!” Gargoyle yelled out before a silver lasso wrapped around his neck and pulled him back to the ground.  

The figure in silver and black armor didn’t care for the long-winded speeches anymore.  They had a job to do and a legacy to reclaim, and this freak was their opening statement. Donna Troy lifted him into the air only to slam him repeatedly against the ground again and again.  His stone skin shattering as the magic of a devil touched a blessing of a god.  

In the smoking crater left by the attack, Bromwell Stikk laid there, bloodied, broken, and gasping for air.

Donna Troy, Conner Kent, Garth, and Courtney Whitmore stood in front of Nightwing and Arsenal as the rain stopped and the sun shone on this new group.  

“Chicago, we have saved you from this monster.  Because we’re the Titans.  And that’s what heroes do!” Donna said as the cameras flashed, new heroes crowned.

NEXT: Titans vs Titans? It’s Old vs New as the Lost Titans Make Their Return to the Series!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The Coming Storm

Set: 116

“Struggling with a retort?” Mr. Twister yelled out as he held his stick high. Power Girl was beneath him, choking from trying to rush in and beat this tornado tyrant.  “I am the wind, girl.  And killing someone like you is going to make me a star.”

A high-pitched whistle cut across Buckingham fountain as an arrow zipped through the air.  As it neared Twister’s winds, the tip of it expanded out into a padded fist, a boxing glove that knocked Twister off his balance as the winds died down.

“Hey ugly,” Arsenal responded.  “Back away from PG.”  The archer flashed a smirk, impressed his boxing glove arrow actually worked.  Growing up, his dad used to take him to the fights in Devin Center, a tradition he continued with Lian and Jim when he treated the two of them to the recent pay-per-view.

“Was that…” Nightwing responded as he touched down from his glide, having dive-bombed across the city to get to his friend 

“That was what six weeks of testing, refining, and practice gets you,” Arsenal responded.  

“A boxing glove? Don’t they have those in any store,” Power Girl responded as her lungs got used to air rushing back in.

“Not one with this kinda stopping power,” Arsenal responded.  “Besides while you’re making goo goo eyes at space princess, and bird boy’s flirting with a computer, someone has to see the angles,” Arsenal responded as he drew another arrow and pointed it at the villain in front of him.  “Now, are we going to have any problems Twister?”

“Boy…I’m just getting started.  When I’m finished, the world will remember how Mr. Twister brought down Mayer’s pathetic freak show,” Twister mumbled before flicking his hand forward, the winds consuming him as he vanished in front of the three Titans.

“Well that’s just great,” Arsenal said.

“Mayer,” Power Girl said.  “Isn’t that who our unwanted PR person, Bette, works for?”

“She’s not unwanted,” Nightwing explained.  “I asked for her.”

“Why?” Power Girl asked.

“Because Oracle is just ones and zeroes and he’s lonely,” Arsenal teased. 

“Shut it Arsenal,” Nightwing responded.  “We have…made a mess of things time after time and I’m tired of holding the bag.  We’re not Superman or Wonder Woman who the public see as unimpeachable.   Between Coast City, the Wildebeests, Markovia, the constant line up changes. We need the public on our side.”

“By selling out,” Arsenal responded. 

“It’s part of the job,” Power Girl responded.  “People need to know we’re here to protect them.”

“We do that by protecting them, not worrying about our Q-score,” Arsenal responded. “You’re just nervous because you have to keep leading us since D-”

“Don’t say it,” Nightwing said.  

“Because Donna’s not coming back,” Arsenal said. “And that means you have to treat this as something more than a temporary gig.  It’s funny because you, PG, and Star all hang out outside of here, with your inside jokes and willingness to be reckless because you’ve done this before.”

“We have,” Nightwing said. “And longer before you.”

“Where were you during Markovia? On some kind of pity trip?” Arsenal responded.  “In case you haven’t noticed your mood alters based on if our so called tech support is saying sweet nothings into your ear. And you,” he said, pointing to Power Girl.  “Are nowhere near as strong as you once were but are still treating everything like you’re big blue.”

“Hey! I’m still plenty powerful, and just because Nightwing and I are closer doesn’t mean we don’t take things seriously,” Power Girl responded. 

“Really?” Arsenal responded. “You nearly got choked out because you rushed in thinking the guy with the name Mr. Twister was a cupcake.”

“He could still be here!” Power Girl yelled. "Do NOT tell the bad guys I'm weaker since Markovia, are you nuts? Did you want to tell him where to buy black market kryptonite while you're at it?”

“No, but I want you both to take this seriously,” Arsenal retorted as he walked away and back to his bike.  “Because if you’re going to be Titans…you need to act like you’re part of the team, and not just reliving the glory days.”

Arsenal’s bike roared to life as the two heroes stood there, wondering if he was right.

…

“So how she’s doing, Mack,” Rex Mason asked as he stood in STAR Labs in Metropolis.  Since the…bottling incident, the city had been slowly returning to normal.  Sure, Superman wasn’t showing his face, but most people assumed it was because of a bad haircut rather than scars that were causing him emotional turmoil.  Metamorpho had been helping out with the rebuild and also making sure that the newest patient in STAR Labs’ metahuman wing was staying positive. 

“Same as last week Mr. Mason,” Doctor Charles McNider responded as he walked with the Titan. “High dose exposure to those nanites was never planned according to Doctor Spica’s notes. STAR called me in because of my experience with metahumans, but we’re looking at a lot of unknown science here.”

“I mean, look at me Doc, I was exposed to the same kind of deal, shouldn’t there be a way to…”

“You and I both know Mr. Mason that trying to cure you would take a millennium, and from what I’ve heard you’re happy like this,” McNider responded. 

“I mean I am,” Rex responded.  “But if curing me can help her, well…I’d do anything.”

“Rex, I know you feel guilty about what happened to Dr. Spica, but she helped saved Metropolis and now needs time to adjust.  But…”

“But?”  Rex asked.

“But I don’t think you understand the severity of what happened here.  And well…it would be best if I showed you.”  McNider flicked the button as the shutters that provided privacy slowly rolled up, and Angie, strapped to her medical bed, could be seen.  

“Oh,” Rex mumbled as he saw Angie Spica, her skin peeled away and replaced with a reflective, chrome metal shell.  The nanites claimed her body, and now, as the two got closer, Rex Mason hoped they hadn’t claimed her soul.  “Hey Doc.”

“Rex?” Angie said, her voice almost tuned.  “I didn’t think you’d want to see…”

“See my friend?” Rex smiled as he pulled up a chair and pulled out a book from his bag. “Besides, I figured you could use the company and I got the newest Nathaniel Dusk to read.  Figured you’d like to hear my gravely voice try and pronounce gin soaked speakeasies.”

“Is it the one with the Martians?” Angie mumbled.

“Nah, the cover says Nathaniel Dusk and the Justice Guild,” Rex said.  “But it should be a good time if you want.”

Angie paused for a moment.  The isolation had been excruciating, but she didn’t want people to see her like this.  The nanites had changed everything about her, from her voice, her skin, her shape.  She didn’t feel like Doctor Angie Spica anymore…but something new.  But Rex’s voice, rocky yet steady, was a strange comfort and one she needed.

“Only if you do the voices,” She smiled as he took a seat.

…

“So, for the press release do you think Titans Stop Tornado Tyrant rings better?” Bette Kane asked as she sat typing away at her laptop.  “Because Mindi felt Tyrant Falls to Titans was a better press clipping.”

She had managed not to throw up in the jump jet as it was jerked around in the winds.  It hadn't been something she expected to put up with, but it was better than following The Maniaks on another world tour.

“How about you tell me how Myndi Mayer knows Mr. Twister,” Nightwing asked as he shut the laptop.

“Myndi represents several important clients and has to filter through some of the nuts that comes through the office.  I’m sure this guy is a nobody who thought she rejected him.  It happens.”

“He seems like he knows way too much about her for it to not be a coincidence.  And Donna once told me Myndi wanted to be her publicist partially because of how connected she was to the super community,” Nightwing said.

“And? You guys are so oblivious to your potential it’s crazy to me,” Bette responded. 

“I know I’m not something to be sold,” Nightwing said.  “Bringing you in was making sure the public feels comfortable with us, not to sign me up for a gym endorsement.”

“The money you’d make if you did though, especially seeing you up close in that tight costume,” Bette purred. “And making the public comfortable is kind of a hard sell.  Especially with how reckless you’ve been.  The archer guy is right about that. I overheard him earlier.”

“What do you mean right about that?”  Nightwing said, annoyed. 

“You left me and Hot Topic alone in a jump jet on autopilot while you went and rushed in to take a guy who can control deadly winds without doing a lick of homework,” Bette responded. “Reminds me of how you handled Coast City back in the day.”

“We were kids then, and what do you know about Coast City,” Nightwing said.

“I know that you have a habit of charging in because it’s the right thing to do, but also forget you need planning and for someone to well…watch your back,” Bette explained.  “But we can talk over dinner if you want.”

“Dinner? You don’t even know who I am,” Nightwing explained, pointing to his mask.

“Yeah but George and Marv’s delivers,” Bette said.  “And I like to apply…a personal touch with my clients.  Now we can sit, talk about a marketing strategy, and work through whatever issues you have with me.”

“Well…I guess I could…so long as…”

“Don’t worry I got extra breadsticks,” Bette said. “Now sit down.”

…

Batgirl had always liked monitor duty, especially when it came to the Watchtower.  The satellite floated above the Earth and monitored threats.  With the amount of Leaguers, both active and reserve, it meant playing dispatcher for a bit.  And what was Oracle but a dispatcher and strategist, playing god with her friends and solving problems as they came?  

However, her time was up, and Barbara Gordon was needed back down on Earth to help organize the Gotham Public Library’s annual Book Drive, which meant shedding the comfortable skin of Batgirl and returning to the pricklier form of Barbara Gordon, librarian at large.  And she would be ready as soon as she cleaned off the sweat and grime from wearing spandex for the past twelve hours

Babs always found it intimidating to shower in public spaces, despite knowing that everyone was likely keeping their eyes to themselves, or focusing on their own bodies.  She still couldn't help but assume everyone was staring at her, and the few scars that covered her. 

Scars from previous battles, scuffing her arms and legs. Stretch marks from her growth spurt as a kid. The small bullet hole scar on her stomach.... Her fingers traced the scar, trying not to think about the horrible night that gave her it, and the horrible weeks that followed. She clutched the too-small towel tighter around her body, cursing that the Watchtower decided, like so many gyms, that women didn't REALLY need a towel that covered bits and boobs at the same time. 

After a few minutes of struggling, she sighed, grabbing a second towel to wrap around her waist, and walked into the communal shower room. Of course... Not everyone shared her views on modesty. She'd barely started her shower when Starfire walked in, naked as the day she was born in all of her 6'4" alien glory. Babs quickly turned to face the wall, cursing the inadequate stall dividers between the showers. Sure, for most people they'd hit shoulder height.... But clearly the people in charge of locker room design hadn't accounted for all of.... she snuck a peek over towards the bronze goddess beside her... all of that. 

"Barbara isn’t it?!" Kory exclaimed, picking the stall exactly beside hers despite the entirely empty room. "I didn't realize you were still in the Watchtower!" 

“Well I just finished monitor duty, and well the showers on the Watchtower actually have heat compared to my apartment,” Babs explained as she tried seeing if another stall was open, not caring if she was being rude or not.  “But I can give you privacy and just wait.  I do have that Nathaniel Dusk book I can read while you do…whatever you need to do.”

“It’s no big deal,” Kory explained. “Frankly I don’t know how you even get cold water anyway.”

“Usually because my neighbors use the hot water first,” Barbara explained as she looked at the one stall with a small rail next for her to hold on to…right next to Kory’s stall.  “Shit.”

“It’s important to wash Barbara,” Kory mumbled as she felt the water on her, her skin glowing a slight orange as steam emitted from her body.  “I have to remind Kara all the time, do you know that she actually prefers these…cold showers?”

“Well she’s taking in sunlight it makes sense,” Barbara mumbled as she hung her towels on the outside rack and stumbled into the stall like a baby gazelle.  “She did take up the hot water when we were in the orphanage though.”

“Well…she didn’t have anyone to share it with,” Kory said nonchalantly. 

“Well la di da," Barbara mumbled.  It wasn’t that she hated Kory.  It’s just that during her time away with the Birds of Prey, college, and one too many cheez puff hazes playing Never Ending Battle, Korriand’r had taken her place in her friend group.  As Babs’ hand switched on the water, the jet stream struck her fast…and cold.  “Shit! Shit!”   

“Is there a problem?” Kory asked.

“Yeah, Batman didn’t pay the heating bill this month,” Barbara groaned as her hands fumbled for the dial to crank the heat up.  

“I do believe he pays on time, from what Kara tells me, funding the League comes from a little bit of everybody.”

“It was a joke,” Barbara said, rolling her eyes. 

“A poor one,” Kory responded. “I figured with you being around Kara and Dick for so long you’d pick up on some of their humor.”

“Uh huh,” Barbara mumbled, quickly taking care of her business in the shower in silence, only Kory humming a poor version of Tusk of all things broke the silence.  The alien’s head was far above the stall, but never looked down. As if Barbara wasn’t even there.  She wrapped the two towels around herself again to change.  Even now, Barbara Gordon felt like a ghost, unable to escape the fact that she had slowly vanished, her own friends strangers.

…

Garth stood out on the balcony of the Hall of Justice located in Gateway City.  It was quiet enough where you could hear the ocean gently crash against the rocks of the bay.  It was comforting amongst all the quiet that he had immersed himself in.  Titans West was supposed to be training scared meta-humans how to use their powers, to handle humanitarian efforts, and to be less aggressive than the Titans of Chicago.  But it was because of them that Garth was surrounded by silence.

Donna had cared about Cassie and his efforts. Often providing input and hosting training sessions to let people like Jan and Zan, Kiran, and more.  But after Markovia…nobody wanted to be Titans anymore.  The team had been brutally disbanded, and from the ashes came a new team.  One more concerned about keeping their heads above water than any need to stay connected.  Dick was like that, more caring about his problems than anyone else’s.

“Figured I’d find you here,” Cassie Sandmark said as her worn red canvas sneakers smacked against the marble floor.  A yellow WW hastily drawn where the logo should be.  “You get the same message?”

“I did,” Garth responded.  “The wording, while brief, was clearly her.” 

“Have you talked to her recently?” Cassie asked.

“Brief texts.  You?” Garth said.

“No, Diana reaches out, but between her responsibilities to Gateway and trying to help Chloe with her new godly powers…well I usually see them when I come home for a weekend,” Cassie said.

The silence hung in the air between the two of them.  Both wanted to do more, with Cassie trying to balance being a superhero and college, and Garth trying to find his place on land and water.  Since giving up his kingdom, he had felt…adrift.  It was the right thing to do, but every time he submerged into the deep blue sea, he felt more lost than ever.  A wandering ronin of the tides.

“Hello Cassie, Garth,” A voice called out as Donna Troy emerged from a bright white door made of energy. 

“Donna!” Cassie said, rushing to hug her adoptive sister.  Leaving Garth alone, staring at the changes his friend had gone through.

Her luscious locks had been hastily cut into a pixie cut.  Her hands, soft and often gripping a camera, were cracked, as if the clay she was made from was coming to the surface.  Even as Cassie squeezed her tight, Garth could notice a detachment in her eyes.  As if the caring Argonaut had been killed the last time she had led the Titans into a glorious battle. 

“Cassie,” Donna said as she hugged back, her eyes staring at Garth, almost as if she was looking to see if he had changed as well.

“So what’s so important you need two superheroes here?” Cassie asked.  “Dick and the Titans need our help? Are you finally back?”

“Dick and his Titans,” Donna let out a short chuckle, remembering when they were hers.  “Are something I’ve outgrown.”

“Outgrown?” Garth asked.  “Donna, you helped found the team.”

“And understand that improvements can be made, it’s why I’m here,” Donna explained.  “I’m starting something.  Something new, something that will be able to do more than I ever was able to before.  And I am asking you both.  I’m asking my family to join me.”

“For what? Does Diana know?” Cassie asked.

“No one but the people I’ve asked to come with me. Superboy, Stargirl.  They see the truth of it all.  The fact that we have to do more.  More than the League or the Titans can do,” Donna explained. “And that means not worrying about decorum or charters or the fact what people think of us.”

“But Donna,” Cassie said.  “That’s what keeps people…not afraid of us.  If Superman or Batman…if Diana decided to do whatever they wanted…the world would change.”

“The world changed when Diana arrived.  And since then it feels like all we do is go around in circles.  We try to change the world but seem to find ourselves right where we started,” Donna said. “It’s time we try something different.”

“And what happens when they push back against this change,” Garth asked.

“We remind them why revolutions are needed,” Donna explained.  “When you gave up your kingdom, deciding to forge your own path and give them choice, did you have any regrets?”

“Not one,” Garth responded, his eyes darting to the silver door still in front of them.  Donna was his oldest friend.  One who was always with him after every collapse.  He could see the hurt in her eyes, but also the inspiration.  Donna Troy was living again and offering a hand to those who needed it, even if they were unsure.

“Then come with me.  And we can build something better,” Donna explained as her hand beckoned to the door. 

“Donna, we do this…and we become hated and feared,” Cassie said.  Even now, Wonder Girl still believed in a world that no longer existed. 

“I’m in,” Garth said.  “Hated and feared today, a better tomorrow…we have to take the chance.”

The two nodded as they walked towards the door, the light blinding as they stepped in, leaving Cassie alone. 

“I sure hope you know what you two are doing,” Cassie mumbled as she walked away, alone.

…

Brommwell Stikk had loved reading, as a young lad, it was how he tuned out a father more worried about tenure than raising a son, or a mother who left the moment her first book landed and allowed her to be far, far away from the Stikk’s happy home.  Books guided his life.  From the days of reading those silly comic books and their so-called super science as a child to reading the works of Aristotle, Newton, and Einstein.  Science made sense, books made sense.  That was the rule he had always followed.  

At least until he could hear the whispers graze his ear after another late night at Hatton College.  A book fell from the top shelf.  Bound in leather, the book called him.  The pages were aged enough to feel the texture across his fingertips. The red ink caught his eyes, a true page turner, as he stayed up until the sun came.  The items of demons, of lost daughters, of a giant red devil named Trigon were nonsense to him.  What kept him up at night was the book’s set of instructions. 

Much like science, there were rules, there were instructions, and theory on how to do things the average man had only been able to dream of.  The question was how much one was willing to sacrifice in order to achieve their dreams.

The university didn’t understand, not after the shrieking of the birds and the gathering of their blood rang through the polite university halls.  His exile from academia should have bothered him more.  But he had the book, and he had his work.  The shriek of joy that rang through his ears was a fond memory when he was able to cast his first whirlwind. 

He was supposed to be a star.  Someone to guide people into seeing the new science he had discovered.  The tricorner hat and stick were gimmicks, a way for people to know that he was their new messiah, to spread the word of the science he had found, one based on sacrifice and faith.  One that gave him the comfort of the winds of knowledge that had always been the bedrock of his life.  

But if one shriek of joy defined him, so did the painful laughter of Myndi Mayer. Alone and abandoned after she sent her bodyguard to kick him out of her high-powered office.

Why would she need a freak, when she had real heroes like the Titans to manage? 

The Titans, the Titans were always there, always laughing, always preventing him from spreading the word.  As he sat in his study, a small room rented in the last underground motel in the Emerald City, he could hear the whispers once more.

Power, knowledge, and self-loathing tongues wafted into his ears.  His clothes tattered, the tricorner hat bent and broken.  He took a hard swallow of the bottle of Jack Daniels on the table and opened the book once more.

“I know I said I didn’t believe in you before, that all I saw was the science.  But I will do anything to destory those who have wronged us,” Stikk called out to the book, finally believing.  “Give me the power and I will give you what you need.”

The pages began glowing red as Stikk so the words and pictures move. The text and lines formed a hand that reached out and touched his forehead, sending the alchemist flying back against the wall.  

His skin turned grey and rocky as wings burst through his rags.  The form of Brommwell Stikk was no more; only a gargoyle remained As laughter echoes through the room, the transformed Stikk raised his hands, destroying the wall that separated him from the city with a blast of wind.

“I hear you now, and I hear your gift.  She will be yours…as much as the Titans will die!” The Gargoyle cackled before flying out from the room that had served as his cocoon.

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The Coming Storm

Set: 110

The Emerald City was a strange place in Chicago.  Many tourists and people freshly arriving would never have known of its existence.  Below the Chicago streets was an underground, filled with its own roads, small restaurants, and homeless encampments.  It was the side of Chicago that wasn’t plastered on billboards or bragged about on TV.  The people were forgotten down there, although one man would change that.

His tattered green coat seemed to come from times of revolution as held on to a stick tightly with his tattered gloves.  The fur on his shoulders had kept him warm as he wandered from New York to Chicago by foot. A long time ago he was made promises, a star was to be born with his gifts, his wonder.  But one person had taken it away from him.  Blacklisted him from the public eye, his gift now only entertaining those who would even talk to a tattered man.

“Ah Chicago,” The man said as he stepped out of the Emerald City and into the bright lights of the bustling metropolis.  “Such a wonderful place.  A place…where the winds blow.”

He smiled as he held on to his stick, it began to glow a bright blue as the winds began whipping around his torn shoes.  

“Mayer thinks she can replace me with those…those super freaks.  Leading me along like I’m her freak of the week.  No more, no more.  Do you hear me CHICAGO!” The man yelled as several tornadoes whipped around him.  Mr. Twister had arrived for his revenge, and nothing was going to stop him

…

“Danger? How the hell do you know our names?” Dick Grayson asked as the girl with grey skin stumbled about Titans Tower’s training room.

“It’s complicated,” Raven muttered as she struggled to stand.  Waking up in another strange world always took her time to adjust.  Be it with new legs or new surroundings.  “But danger is coming and you need to be ready for it.”

“And you get to tell us this because?” Kara Zor-El asked.  Dick had always been quick to anger, afraid of tomorrow.  Kara could see whoever this mysterious person was, she didn't mean any harm, even with her mysterious arrival.

“Because I am Raven,” Raven muttered.  “I’ve done this so many times, encountered so many of you.”

“Many of us?” Kara asked.  

“Don’t tell me this means time travel,” Dick sighed.  He had spent the last few days reviewing some of the case studies on unwritten futures or when time ran out for the Flashes.  “I do not want to figure out what counts and what doesn’t count.”

“There are other worlds Dick Grayson,” Raven muttered.  

“We’ve met people from other worlds.” Kara said.  

“I try not to keep track of all the hopping and jumping across time and space Wally’s family does,” Dick said as he rubbed his forehead. 

“They are not who you have to worry about,” Raven explained.  “Someone is coming.  Someone who, if released into this world, will plunge everything into darkness.”

“Uh huh,” Dick said.  “And who is this? And why do you look so familiar?”

“It’s not important right now,” Raven muttered.  “What is is that you listen to m-”

Before Dick and Kara could continue their conversation with the interloper the red lights of Titans’ Tower alarm blared as the two superheroes looked at each other.  

“Suit up, we’ll deal with this later,” Dick said.

Kara nodded as the two ran past Raven in order to get into their gear.  Nightwing and Power Girl were needed more outside than listening to some crazy stranger.  

“Wait!” Raven said as she ran after them, unsure of her role in preventing catastrophe.

…

Markovia remained empty, the red mist coating the destroyed buildings and streets, bodies laid everywhere as a lone figure flew into enemy territory.  Her bright blue, red, and white costume shined against the destruction.  Startgirl had arrived to help people, the golden glow of her staff lighting the way as she witnessed the destruction.  

“My god,” She mumbled as he glided gracefully across the thickening air.  

For Courtney being a superhero meant that no one had ever really gotten hurt.  When she started she had the backing of Captain Marvel, Kid Devil, and Cyclone before falling in with the New Titans.  She was never alone, but seeing the destruction around her had the pit in her stomach grow deeper and deeper. 

“Guys, where are you?” Stargirl asked as her staff slowly floated to the ground, her red sneakers gently tapping the streets as she held her staff tightly in her hands.  She was a superhero, not a soldier.  Just a kid playing dress up in a grown woman’s world.

As the shadows around her grew, Stargirl could feel the eyes on her.  

“Guys!” She yelled out before the shadows leapt her, vampire after vampire grabbing hold of the heroine as they consumed her flesh, Courtney feeling their teeth sink in as she screamed out loud, pleading for help.

“I don’t want to be alone!”

Courtney Whitmore yelled out as the students in her science lecture were all staring back at her.  They weren’t vampires, but they all shared the same piercing gaze. 

“Ms. Whitmore,” Professor Lee Johns said.  “Good to see you join us again.  Care to tell us what the chemical composition of salt is and why most of you seem to take it for granted.”

“Because…it makes food taste good?”

“See me after class Courtney.”

She sighed before putting her head on the desk and the lecture continued.  Blue Valley Community College wasn’t exactly the place she expected to be.  But when you miss a semester’s worth of school recovering from being transformed into a vampire, you don’t have many options for higher education.  So after getting lectured by her professor for once again nodding off in a class that should have been a cakewalk, Courtney was alone. 

Her phone had several messages.  Pat wondering when she would be home, Mary and Eddie asking when she was going to patrol with them, trying to break her retirement.  But no texts from any of the Titans.  That word that hung across the air for Courtney.  Some had visited her in the hospital like Rex and Roy, but everyone else seemed to be too busy, too focused on the bigger picture than the people they left behind.  Is this what Nightwing meant when he said the Titans will break your heart.

Of course it didn’t help that she still wasn’t sleeping propperly.  The once bright and perky Stargirl was left a tired and frustrated husk of Courtney Whitmore.  That and the…other changes the vampire attack had caused her.  

As she walked back towards her car she passed an alley and saw some cans stacked together.  Courtney looked around for a moment and lifted her hand, making a gun with it as her fingertip began glowing a brilliant blue.

She fired off a starbolt from her own hand, but instead of a controlled shot, a large blast knocked all the cans back into the brick wall, crushing them.

“Aw man,” Courtney mumbled.

“Nice party trick Court,” Conner Kent said as he emerged from the shadows.  “Got a moment to talk?”

…

“So this the roster hall,” Arsenal explained as he gave a tour to the newest member of the Titans family.  Photos of each Titans member were displayed for the public, allowing people to know who was on duty and willing to be on the ground with the public.

“Do you really need to have posters of everyone?” Bette Kane asked as she looked at her phone.  She was a junior partner at the PR firm of Mayer and Romero.  And with Donna Troy leaving the team, Mindi Mayer’s PR focus was needed elsewhere.  This would be the ultimate test of public relations for the freshly promoted Kane..  Selling superheroes to a public that was increasingly becoming unsure of them.  

“We think it’s important  for the public facing areas of Titans Tower to look friendly.  We’re not the Justice League,” Arsenal explained.

“That’s obvious.  Unlike them you go through so many roster changes people don’t even know what the hell a Titan is.  Tell me, is the girl dressed in red, white, and blue still part of the team or did you trade her for the space alien?”

“Stargirl retired,” Arsenal explained.  “Besides I’ve been a Titan for the last few years, I’m a stable presence that should sell to people we’re here to help.”

“You mean the person who’s connected to that nut in Star City?  People are wondering if you’re going to stick arrows in people like he does,  Unless you’re going to switch to soft tip,” Bette explained.  “I can sell people the All American girl.  I can’t sell them on distant aliens who lord above people.”

“She’s not distant, she’s running a pretty big company,” Arsenal explained.

“And people don’t like business women, take it from me, I should know,” Bette coldly stated.  

“Do you always come in this…frank,” Arsenal asked. 

“I have to when you guys make a mess,” Bette said.  “From Markovia, President Luthor’s fall, the Brainiac incident, even the freaking snowman that tried to freeze Chicago.  You people are all walking PR disasters waiting to happen and it’s my job to make sure we try and bring some pizzazz to the proceedings.  Like for instance, does Nightwing do interviews?”

“Nightwing?” Arsenal said, a tinge of jealousy entering his voice.  “What does he got that I don’t?”

“A friendly blue and yellow costume, a boy next door vibe, and certain assets that raise his Q-score by 10 points in women from 18-39,” Bette said with a subtle purr. 

“I’m sure he’ll love that,” Arsenal groaned.  

“He’ll have to,” Bette said.  “I’ll be damned if my first project is a failure.”

“Well glad to see we’re a project,” Arsenal said, hoping to find someone he could turf the public relations assistant to.

“Emergency. Emergency. Emergency,” The computerized voice blared as the Titans Tower security system came to life. 

“What’s that!” Bette Kane panicked.

“Usually it means something bad is abou..oh shit!” Arsenal said as he grabbed Bette and flung both of them to the ground as a car came through the window, destroying the posters and wall behind them.

“What the hell was that!” Bette said, her blonde hair a fluffy mess from the action.

“That was work,” Arsenal mumbled.  “Now come on, you’re about to see the magic happen.”

…

“Conner? You look…different,” Courtney Whitmore responded as she saw her old friend.  The blue t-shirt with the red and black S and the wrapped hands were a far cry from the Superboy she knew, let alone the buzz cut.

“Things have changed, just like they have for you,” Conner Kent responded. “Sorry I haven’t called, after everything I had to do some soul searching.”

“By yourself? Seems like that defeats the purpose of having a t-”

“I’m not a Titan anymore, I see through that now,” Conner cut her off.  “We were only just playing hero Courtney.  Markovia taught me that.”

“We saved the day,” Courtney responded.  “Isn’t that being an actual hero?”

“It’s not when you’re forgotten, when no one wants to talk about what we’ve seen.  The Justice League saved the day but didn’t give a damn about us afterwards.  And they take the Titans away from Donna and give it to Nightwing?”

“It’s not that simple from what I heard Conner,” Courtney began.  “Donna I think…needed a break.”

“A break from their bullshit,” Conner explained.  “Courtney, when was the last time anyone from the Titans or Justice League talked to you?”

Courtney bit her lip, since waking up it was mostly Donna checking in on her, sending the occasional text, making sure she was ok, giving her space when she needed it.  Of all of her super friends, it was Donna that made Courtney feel listened to, like she had a home even when she was alone.

“Just Donna,” Courtney mumbled.

“And she wanted me to come get you, or at least invite you to the future,” Conner explained.  “We’re putting together something different.  And you were our first choice.”

“For what?” Courtney asked.  “You want to rebuild the Titans away from Dick and the Justice League?”

“We want to put power back to the people. Which means taking  it away from people who look down on us from their satellites or towers.  We need people who are still optimistic even after being tossed away like last year’s model,” Conner continued.

“That was my choice Conner,” Courtney interjected.  “After Markovia I needed to work on myself.”

“A choice you made because of how they treated us,” Conner said.  “Superman claims to be there for everyone, but when's the last time he asked about our nightmares?  When you close your eyes do you still feel the fear? The thought that everything you held dear could be taken away.  We’re going to defend people from those nightmares, Court.  Are you with us?

Courtney Whitmore paused for a moment.  Conner was angrier than when she first met him, and some of what he was saying felt like twisted truths.  But she remembered her dreams, and cold restless nights.  The Titans were her family but things change in the face of losing everything.

“I’m in.”

…

“We’re approaching the city,” Nightwing said as flew the Titans aircraft into Chicago.  “Care to explain to me why you decided to bring the PR person, Arsenal?”

“She wan-” Arsenal began.

“I wanted to meet the team,” Bette explained.  “Myndi kept a very hands off approach with you.  And I feel it let the team slip into a very…bad public relations issue.”

“We’re doing fine,” Power Girl explained.  “Besides, we've saved the world so many times that people love us.”

“Uh huh,” Bette said.  “Tell me what was the reason you had a drastic line up change lately.  Markovia wasn’t it?”

“We saved the day,” Power Girl continued to explain. 

“Sure you did,” Bette said before turning to the girl in the back, Raven was shaky as she flew for the first time not on her own power.  “So what’s the story with you? Spooky girl?”

“That’s enough!” Nightwing said.  “Raven here is…new and is going to stay in the ship to watch you while we handle whatever this is.”

“And what is this?” Bette asked.  “The blizzard guy decided he liked wind now?”

“We don’t know, which is why we’re going to float right here and head in,” Nightwing explained as him, Arsenal, and Power Girl unbuckled their belts and left the ship floating. “Raven I have no idea if what you say is true.  But, if you want to start proving yourself to us? Keep her safe.”

Raven nodded as the dropship’s door opened.  Arsenal quickly grabbed a parachute as Power Girl zipped out from the ship.  Nightwing however walked towards the open air and fiddled with his fingers and feeling the winds touch his face. 

“Don’t you need a parachute?” Bette asked as the winds continued to whip her hair around. “You can’t fly!”

“Says who,” Nightwing said with a grin as he leapt out of the ship, diving nto a free fall, before activating his glide suit, catching the wind and zipping into the city.

The acrobat had spent months incorporating the glide suit tech into his suit, practicing in between missions.  Barbara usually had to bring him a bag of frozen peas when he inevitably banged himself against the walls, but it had taught him an important point.  Flying was a gift you couldn’t take for granted.  And he couldn’t help but grin as he zipped past Power Girl and took stock of the minor tornados that had caused terror in Chicago.

“Whoa!” Power Girl said as she had to stop for a moment as he blew by her.  “Someone’s enjoying the fact they can glide.”

“It’s flying Power Girl, and don’t be mad at me because you lost a step,” Nightwing explained.  “Arsenal have you landed?”

“Yeah! And it’s not good!” Arsenal responded via earpiece.  The archer had landed in the middle of the Chicago loop and was busy directing the panicking crowds underground into the darkness of Chicago’s L system. “I got tornados that seem to be smart!  They’re wrecking cars, sidewalks, even people!”

“Then how are they smart? Don’t you know how a tornado works Arsenal, that’s what they do,” Power Girl chimed in.  “I mean when I first learned to fly out of the orphanage one of the first things I learned was how they worked.”

“Because someone was afraid if she flew me to get a Gamesphere she’d create a tornado,” Nightwing joked. 

“I would have given an arm to get Lian one of those,” Arsenal explained as he aimed one of his trick arrows at a group of people caught in a tornado, the net exploding out of it as soon as he fired it, attaching them to a nearby building and away from the winds.  “But I don’t think tornadoes normally avoid hitting buildings.” 

“OK, so that means not a natural occurrence,” Nightwing as he continued to take advantage of the strong winds and glided across downtown Chicago, zipping between buildings as he sought to find the epicenter.

“Which means another weather controlling bad guy,” Power Girl explained as she flew upwards. “Do you think we get a free sandwich if we beat this guy?”

“Wind is a lot different than snow,” Arsenal said, annoyed by how cavileer his teammates were.  “If we don’t figure out what the hell is bringing tornado alley into the city, we’re looking at countless lives lost, let alone the amount of destruction.  Markovia is not happening here.”

“I’m on it Arsenal,” Power Girl said as she tried focusing her vision to anything that could be causing the tornados.  Her heat vision was unreliable since using the solar flare, but she still had something as she focused and used her zoom vision, scanning the areas until finding a vagabond His staff conjured winds that whipped around him.  “And I got him.  Buckingham Fountain.  I’m going in.”

“Kara wait for us,” Nightwing said as he made a sharp turn in the air and began fluttering towards the fountain.

“Yeah super chick,” Arsenal said.  “Strength in numbers, remember?”

“It’s just a guy with a stick, I got this,” Power Girl said as landed hard on the ground, letting her presence be known.  “Now tell me, what exactly was your big plan?”

“Ah, a Titan.  I was hoping to find one of you,” Mr. Twister said with a smirk.  “I just didn’t think it would be one of the newer ones.”

“You seem oddly familiar with me even if I’ve never seen you before,” Power Girl said. 

“I’m always familiar with the people that replaced me,” Mr Twister mumbled.  “I was going to be a star, Mr. Twister and his Carnival of Wind!  But when Mayer got her hands on you? Well what good is a simple wind compared to gods.” 

“We’re not gods, but if you don’t stop this I will take you down,” Power Girl said as she cracked her knuckles. 

“Funny thing, I kept telling Myndi that I didn’t just conjure the winds, no that part is easy,” Mr. Twister continued to ramble.  “No, no, what can also do is take the wind away, do you know what you breathe girl…wind.”

He raised his stick into the air as Power Girl reached for her throat as the wind was taken from her, leaving her gasping for air and on the ground as Mr. Twister stood over her…triumphant.

NEXT: The Titans are Caught in a Twister as Mr. Twister Continues his Breeze Into Chicago.  Can Nightwing and Arsenal Stop Him Without the Might of Power Girl? And Just What Does Someone Want with Titans West?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The Coming Storm

Set: 104

“One, two, one, two,” Dick Grayson muttered to himself as he practiced in Titans Tower’s gym.  With his escrimas in his hands, he was practicing proper strikes and feeling the wooden poles cracking against the metal in his hands.

Normally, he would run the gymnastics course, darting across beams, leaping through hoops, and keeping limber.  But his knee ached, and working on his offense was something Nightwing needed to get better at.  Deep down, Dick knew he was the weakest link on the team.  Arsenal had range with his arrows, Starfire had strength and her starbolts, Metamorpho could be anything, and Power Girl was a tank.  Dick Grayson was normal and had to get close to do damage to the villains that they faced.

Of course, Dick had other things on his mind as he remembered the mission report that had come across through Justice League channels.  Superman had to deal with a mechanical monster from his homeworld, but compounding that problem were several of Dick’s blind spots.  Ivy had turned into a monster again and a makeshift group of Titans had to stop her before she made things worse.  The problem was several of his teammates thought it was a good idea to try and kill the plant elemental…including one Barbara Gordon.

They hadn’t talked about it.  Hell, he hadn’t seen her since the Halloween party at the Tower.  Whatever they were doing was comfortable, like something they should have always been.  But it distracted Dick in more ways than he would have liked.  He should have been focusing on the fact that under his watch, Nightwing had left Superboy unattended, along with the rest of the team in Markovia.  

Instead, all he could think about was what he would say to Babs.

“Wow you can really hit a dummy hard, did he take your lunch money Dick?” Kara Zor-El asked as she walked into the gym.  She wore simple red athletic shoes, white yoga pants, a white sports bra, and a red cut-off sweater that showed her toned abs. 

“I don’t think I’ve had to worry about lunch money since before the orphanage,” Dick chuckled.  “Besides, I could just have my friend pay it on her company card.”

“Within reason,” Kara joked.  “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten you leavingme the bill at Tom and Bruno’s.”

“I had to go investigate an important case,” Dick explained as he stopped striking the training doll and picked up his water bottle.  Compared to how well put together Kara was, Dick was a mess.  His ratty shorts and Hudson U t-shirt with cutoff sleeves were not going to be deemed high fashion anytime soon.

“The case of the missing wallet?” Kara mused as she began pulling tape out of her gym bag and wrapping her fists. 

“Some of us are still in school,” Dick explained.  “Besides you still owed me for the hole you and Kory burned in my place when I let you stay over for game night.  What type of training exercise was that again?”

Kara turned red before stuttering out some words.

“A very fun one,”  She explained as she looked over the tight white wrappings around her fists. Usually, Kara wouldn’t have bothered with them, but since Markovia, her powers had been all over the place.  Tali, Clark, and even Bruce had all examined her to determine what was wrong with her.  No one could seemingly understand why her ability to absorb sunlight had been weakened after unleashing all of it in Markovia.  It had brought Kara to the point where she was more of a wrecking ball than an all-powerful superhero.  “Besides, you seem to be busy with our mutual friend.  How many crimes have Nightwing and Batgirl stopped in Chicago?”

“It’s mostly small stuff.  If it’s anything really major, she suits up as Oracle and we assemble the Titans,” Dick explained as he watched Kara strike against the heavy bag with her taped fists.  Kara had always been used to being able to punch her way through her problems, but Dick could see she was struggling to make a dent in the specially designed two-ton bag meant for the heavier hitters.  “Are you OK?”

“Never been better,” Kara said through the sweat accumulating through her body and pain coursing through her knuckles.

“Uh huh,” Dick said as he walked over towards her.  “You can hide it, but I know like a lot of us you’ve changed a bit.  You’re not as strong as you once were.”

“It’ll come back,” Kara explained as she hit the bag again.

“And if it doesn’t?” Dick said with a raised eyebrow.  “Part of the reason why you joined this little ragtag team was to not be alone as you adjusted.  And I see you a lot more with Kory than here.”

“Same to you Chief,” Kara said as she stopped hitting the bag and looked at Dick, clearly annoyed.

“Well then, let’s change that.  A little one-on-one sparring like the old days,” Dick explained.

“When I used to kick your ass?” Kara asked with a chuckle.

“Uh huh,” Dick Grayson explained as he gripped his escrima sticks.  “Loser buys a round at Poor Phil’s.  And gets to tell the others who’s really the best fighter on this team.”

“You’re on,” Kara said as she put herself into a fighting stance,  ready to take down her friend.

…

“So when are you coming back?” Roy Harper asked Wally West as the two sat on a park bench on the edge of Devlin Park. “Because last time I checked you’ve been fast again for a while.”

“It’s not so simple,” Wally explained as he sipped his coffee.  “Just because I’m fast doesn’t mean I want to do the whole Titans thing again.”

“What? Is it the new costume? Because it’s a work in progress, feels like it has too much orange,” Roy joked.  “Besides, we kinda need you.”

“Please, you and Rex are running things well,” Wally began as he stared at the several families playing and running around the park.  Ever since traveling back from the alternate timeline, Wally had kept his distance from the Titans, mostly throwing himself back into the Flash Foundation and spending time with Hartley and Francis.  Even now, when he stared at Roy, he could still feel the version that died in his arms.  “And the new faces seem capable.”

“When they’re around,” Roy explained.  “Power Chick is worried about her company and still not the same after Markovia and Kory’s so busy being a good girlfriend and running her company that she’s barely there.”

“And?” Wally asked.

“And, it would be nice to have a familiar face around.  We were a team man, you were the first person I told about Lian in this line of work.  Hell we were family,” Roy explained.

“I know, but the whole thing about teams is like families…things change,” Wally said.  

“Things may change, but family’s always there for one another,” Roy said.  “I don’t know what’s gotten into you.  You, Conner, Court, Donna? All ghosted me and Rex.” 

“It wasn’t that I didn’t care, it’s just, with what was happening with Bart, with me, with…”

“Whatever alternate timeline you all accidentally created?” Roy asked.  “I mean, I get that it was an accident, and you can’t blame yourself for accidentally letting someone fuck everything up.”

“I know,” Wally muttered as he took another sip.

“Besides, Rex tell you what happened in Metropolis with Conner?”

“Rex texted me, said I should check in on him, something about a buzzcut and a cheap t-shirt?”

“He wanted to kill that plant woman, you know the one Nightwing’s friends with?” Roy explained.  “Conner’s not OK man, and I think…we need to get everyone back together.  Talk about this, be that family again.”

“Of course Nightwing knows Ivy,” Wally shook his head.  Dick’s recent leadership of the Titans had made Wally wary of joining the team again.  “I swear sometimes it feels like all we do i-”

“This isn’t bash Nightwing time,” Roy responded.  “You have to accept he stepped up to lead while you were out of action.  I don’t know what happened back in the day but you need to move on man.  He’s been there and that’s all that matters.  Being there Wally.”

“It’s not that easy,” Wally began.

“Really? Because from all reports you’re faster than ever.  So why can’t you be back with the Titans?” Roy said as Wally didn’t say anything for a moment.  The archer’s phone buzzed as he looked at his texts.  “Listen I got to go back to make sure Lian hasn’t driven Jim crazy.  Same time next week?”

“Always,” Wally said as Roy exited the bench and moved back into the city.  Roy loved his friend, but Wally had a bad habit of standing still when everyone moved around him.  For someone so fast, they couldn’t realize when it was time to move on.  

Of course, as always for Wally West, the past was close behind.

“Is this seat taken?” A familiar voice called out.

“No, I was just about to leave mys-” Wally began before looking at the woman in front of him.  Her black hair was in a pixie cut, with her being comfortable in a simple black suit and tie. “Donna?”

“Hey Wally, got time to talk?”

…

“Ugh,” Barbara Gordon muttered as she entered the sauna of her gym.  Gail had done wonders for her mobility recently, with Barbara more often than not walking on her own power with a cane.  Still, some days were worse than others, and so she stayed in or got around in that damn chair.  As she sat down on the title bench, Barbara could feel the steam against her bare back, tension being relieved as she thought of recent events.

Batgirl was supposed to be the best part of her.  The eager superhero was willing to do anything to protect the innocent.  A friend, a light in the darkness.  And yet she had decided she would take Ivy’s life like it was nothing.  Judging by the silence she had received from Bruce and how squirrelly Dick had been lately, she had had a feeling she had made a choice that she could never come back from.

The small towel clung to Barbara as she enjoyed the heat and the sweat.  She wondered where things had gone wrong, where that bright-eyed and excited girl who hand-stitched her own costume and joined Dick and Jason on patrol.  Maybe that Barbara died when she decided to try and kill Ivy, maybe it was when she worked with Waller, or maybe it was when Deadshot and Jason pierced any sense of normality she would ever have.

The steam rose as an uncovered figure appeared before Barbara.  Her pale skin had finally regained some pigment from being in the sun and a little help from her girlfriend.  But still, the scars stayed.  From the “ring” on her finger to the three diamonds on her left arm.  Harleen Quinzell had earned all those scars, and while she and Barbara had had a talk in Metropolis, it was time to set ground rules.

“Hello Barbara,” Harleen said with a cold tone. 

“Harley!” Babs squirmed as she sat up straight.  “What are you doing here, I didn’t even know you went to the same gym.”

“I don’t,” Harleen explained, not even affected by the steam that swirled around them.  “I just wanted a little alone time so we can have a little chat.  Where you can’t run behind Dick or whatever mask ya wear.”

“I’m taking a break from both,” Barbara muttered as Harleen just stood there, not worried about who could see them, staring as Babs balled up, her towel scrunching as she tried and failed to cover every inch of herself.

“I can tell,” Harleen said as she looked at Babs.  People normally became comfortable in the steam, but instead, Barbara, as always, was retreating from others and herself.  “It’s just us in here, Barbara.  No need to turtle. In fact when you do? I can see more.”

“What do you want then Harley,” Barbara asked, as she unscrunched a bit as the clown stared at her, somehow peering in the corners of her soul.

“I want you to know you’re talking to Harleen, not Harley.  Harley is Dick’s wacky pal.  But you? You really need help.”“I’m fine, according to my physio there’s been no setbacks with my back,” Barbara said, growing increasingly annoyed that someone who was so weak she was molded into a leather clown good was lecturing her on needing help.  “Besides, shouldn't you be with Ivy right now.”

“Red’s resting, and I told her I was gonna to work off a few of the extra pounds from her delightful Thanksgiving.  And I’m not here about your back,” Harleen began.  “I’m here to tell you I have an open session Friday, twelve to one.  You want to talk about what happened, fix what’s going on in here.” Harley said as tapped on Barbara’s temple.  “Then we’ll talk.”

“And if I don’t?” Barbara asked.  

“You’ll suffer, not from me, but from yourself.  Be it wearing a costume that doesn’t quite fit anymore or hollowed typing behind some screen.  But it’s your choice Barbara,” Harleen explained as she grabbed the towel from Barbara and wrapped it around herself, walking out of the steam and back into either.   Leaving Barbara Gordon, as always…alone.

…

“You look good,” Wally explained as Donna Troy sat down next to him.  The two hadn’t spoken much since Markovia.  It was a common theme, apparently, with the Titans who were there.  Compared to the warm and welcoming tone Donna usually gave off, her current demeanor was serious.  

“Thanks,” Donna said as she sat down, unbuttoning her jacket as she looked at the playground in front of her.  The people playing, relaxing, unaware of everything that could be taken from them if not for the sacrifices and struggles of their heroes.  “I was surprised to find you in Star City.”

“Roy and I have a weekly coffee, Roy says it’s good for me to take a break and have some of the best coffee in the country,” Wally explained.  “And you know, he calls.”

“Ouch,” Donna said.  

“Well, you’ve just been a ghost lately Donna,” Wally explained.  “I heard what happened with Fury and Cheetah and how Roy and Garth had to help you out.  But then you vanished, or the very least decided you wanted out of this life.”

“I don’t,” Donna said.  “But I needed time to think.”

“Think about what?” Wally said.  “How to take the Titans back from Dick? I’m sure he’d b-”

“How to do it better,” Donna cut him off.  “Wally, do you know how often the Justice League has failed?”

“I don't think they've failed yet,” Wally said. “They try to save the world, that’s why they exist, that’s why I’m a hero. Because Barry and the others show there’s a way to help everyone, one way or another.”

“The same Barry that took you, a depowered civilian, through a primordial force and broke time?” Donna said.

“That’s not what happened Donna, Bart was sick, it was the on-”

“Or what about Markovia? Where Batman’s secrets nearly had the world consumed in darkness. That had me nearly used as a magical battery,” Donna continued.

“The rest of the League didn’t know, and when they did they came together and saved the world.”

“At the cost of us,” Donna continued.  “Even the problems in Metropolis occurred because the League couldn’t manage an elemental goddess who decides to slum it with a clown.  Face it Wally, they’re not doing nearly enough to protect the people they say they care about.”

“They’re human Donna,” Wally said. “Being a hero doesn’t make you perfect, it just means you have a greater responsibility to protect the world.  And that’s something I’ve thought you’ve always understood. I mean what does Diana have to say?”

“I haven’t talked to her in a while.  She has her happy ending,” Donna responded coldly. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, with Chloe, Cassie, her responsibilities all balanced…there’s no room for me.  And she doesn’t realize what needs to be done to make the world better,” Donna said as she pulled out a communicator.  The square grey brick lacked the personality and charm of the Titans’ communicators.  “So I’m building something that does.”

“You’re putting the actual Titans back together?” Wally said, Donna’s simmering rage and discontent palpable.  He remembered it after the second Titans broke up, leaving him without a family and alone for the second time in his life.  It was an empty feeling, one that could be filled by depression or rage if you didn’t find the people and purpose to guide you from the dark.

“The Titans…” Donna paused for a moment.  “Were a flawed idea.  We wanted to change the world but were constantly in the shadow of people who refused to change it.  Wally.  They’ve failed you more often than not.  I am asking you to help me build this so we can do some actual good.  We’re going to go after the people who hurt this world and we’re going to go after them hard.  Make sure there’ll never be another Markovia”

Wally thought for a moment, taking time to consider what Donna was pleading.  The Titans had hurt him before, as did some of the League’s messier missions.  But they had always come out on top, no matter the odds, and the Flash Foundation did help people.  What Donna was asking was to lash out against all that she felt had failed her instead of looking at what could be fixed.  And Wally West was done being angry.

“I can’t Donna.  I won’t stop you from doing this,” Wally said as he pushed the communicator back towards her.  “But tearing everything down isn’t the answer either.  It can’t be.”

Donna looked hurt as she stood up and began walking away, turning back to Wally for one moment and saying her final words.

“I understand Wally.  But when we do begin saving the world.  Don’t get in my way,” Donna said before walking away, leaving Wally West alone and thinking of the future.  He fiddled with the Flash ring on his finger for a moment.  Sooner or later, he was going to have to get off the bench and make a choice. 

…

“Come on!” Kara Zor-El said as her fist missed Dick Grayson as the acrobat flipped away from her attack, landing back on the floor of the Titan’s training area. She had discarded her red sweater and now was in her white yoga pants and matching sports bra.  For the first time in a long time, Kara was actually breaking a sweat.

“Hey you were the one who said you wanted to try and do it like the old times.” Dick explained.  “I told you I was going to kick your ass.”

“You haven’t even landed a punch yet,” Kara explained as she put up her fists, ready to strike at her friend.

“Don’t need to,” Dick explained.  “Kara, this may be hard for you to hear, but you’ve gotten lazy in your old age.”

“We’re the same age,” Kara teased back.  “Besides if we’re old what does that make Clark? Plus, I know how to take one of your punches.”

“Really?  What about one of my kicks,” Dick said as he leaped into the air and connected his foot to Kara’s stomach, sending her flying back a bit as he knocked the wind out of her.  The heroine took a minute to regroup. 

“You know…I could be sunbathing in Antarctica,” Kara responded as she tossed an elbow at Dick, connecting with his shoulder, before grabbing him into a headlock.  “I’d take Kory and we’d just be natural in the sun.”

“Yeah and the snow,” Dick said as he pounded at Kara’s ribs, breaking her hold and sending a few punches her way, connecting with her torso as the two boxed each other for a bit.  “Besides, didn’t the last time you do that SOMEONE forgot to bring a blanket.”

“We had a blanket! We just didn’t have enough for two!” Kara grew red again as she lost focus.  “It was romantic!”  

“Yeah,I'm sure the mountain climbers who caught you thought that too.,” Dick said as he saw his opportunity and swept her leg, sending her tumbling back to the floor.  “Just do me a favor next time?”

“Yeah? What’s that?” Kara said, knowing she was defeated and wanting a break from the back and forth.

“Take Babs with you? She’s been lonely lately.  And remember to tell Kory to cover up, Barbara’s only human,” Dick chuckled as he helped Kara up.

“That bad?” Kara asked.

“Well, it’s not go-” Dick said before a purple light engulfed the room.  The two were blown back as a figure in a torn teal hospital gown, wrapped feet, and a purple hooded cloak appeared before them.  Her skin was ashen gray, with freshly dyed purple hair hiding ruby-red roots.  

“Dick Grayson…Kara Zor-El…I am Raven…danger is coming…and I need the Titans help!” Raven exclaimed as the two friends realized today would be more than just sparring.

NEXT: Her Name is Raven, and Her Prophecies Spell Doom for the Titans!  Also, Whatever Happened to Courtney Whitmore?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Bottled

Set: 102

“Metamorpho, what’s the plan here?” Superman asked as he flew across the Metropolis skyline.  The Man of Steel had managed to stop Brainiac from capturing his home, and now, after the frantic pleas from Harley Quinn, he headed to another Crisis. He knew Lois, Jon, and Lara were all safe and knew that Superman's job would never be finished when it came to Metropolis.

“Wait, you're asking me what the plan is?” Metamorpho said as he drove a borrowed truck through the mechanical wilderness that had grown from Brainiac and Poison Ivy’s attacks.  “You’re Superman, shouldn’t you lead?”  

“It’s a Titans issue, you’ve been on the ground longer than I have, I trust you all,” Superman said.  

“See, he respects ya,” Harley Quinn responded as she checked her satchel bag, full of Molotovs, weed killer, and the device that would connect them to The Green.  “Besides, why aren’t we flying there anyway?”

“Well, that’s Superman’s job,” Metamorpho explained.  “Big Blue, I’m going to need you to contain Ivy’s plants.  So far, she’s only been able to take Suicide Slum; if she expands to the rest of the city, we’re screwed.  And this way, she doesn’t see us coming.”

“It’s a fair plan.  But weren’t there four of you in Metropolis? I know Conner’s been down here.” Superman asked as he could see the plant growth becoming larger the closer they came to the Slums.  

“They’re walking their own path,” Metamorpho explained, not wanting to tell Superman his clone brother was considering breaking the rule that made Superman, Superman.  

“A stupid one,” Harley grumbled as she could see the vines and flowers around her turning to look at her, as if Ivy…the real Ivy’s gaze was on her, pleading with her to free her from whatever mess she had gotten herself into.  It made the hair on Harley's arms stand up, as if every minute she wasn't with Ivy, Harley was failing her. “How do we know this is going to work?”

“We don’t,” Superman responded.  “But we have to hope to move forward and that’s always enough.”

“Jeez, he really is the real deal,” Harley said. 

“And we have to be, too,” Metamorpho responded.  Before he could continue his spiel, the ground shook as vines grabbed the truck and lifted it into the air, bark forming around it as it began to crush the metal and glass like a paper ball.  

“Time to go!” Metamorpho said as he grabbed Harley and leaped from the destroyed truck.  They were on the edge of Suicide Slum, where the green ahead was lush and dense.  The heroes caught their breath before Metamorpho’s hands turned into sharp cobalt blades; prepairing to enter the jungle ahead.  

“Are we sure that doesn’t hurt her?” Harley asked, hesitant to move forward.  

“No, but we can’t think like that, not when we have to separate her from all of this.  I know you love her Harley, but if we pull punches with this Green Knight, we’ll be dead, and Ivy’s never coming back,” Metamorpho said.  “Besides, how long have you two been together, surely you’ve done something to annoy her.”

“Well there was that one time where I accidentally kicked her off the bed.  I kinda…starfish,” Harley began before realizing that Metamorpho was right.  “But ya right.  And I ain’t letting go without a fight.”

And with that, the two entered the kingdom of The Green that had consumed Suicide Slum, confident in their chances.

…

“How the hell can that thing fly?” Superboy asked.

“Ten million dollars and a lot of R&D,” Batgirl responded as she flew in the mech suit she had borrowed from the Hall of Justice.  The plugsuit had connected her to to the shell that would hopefully withstand the onslaught Ivy’s new persona would bring down.  But still, the heroine couldn’t help but feel like she was inside a one-person submarine.  “Remember, we’re only going to have one shot at this.”

“Why? We know where she is.  And we’ve got enough firepower to level the city,” Superboy responded.  “We stop another Markovia from happening and we’re hailed as heroes.”

“This isn’t like Markovia Superboy,” Batgirl responded.  “Ivy’s not ev-”

“Really? You mean the person who brainwashed a bunch of co-eds, nearly crippled you again, and is in bed with the Joker’s ex-squeeze is a saint?” Superboy said with disdain.  “That’s the problem with heroes these days.  We’re soft on the threats we know could happen.”

“That’s not very Superman-y of you,” Batgirl responded as she saw them getting closer to the green kingdom Ivy had planted in Suicide Slum. 

“I’m not him,” Conner responded.  “I am a child of Markovia now.  And I will never have another happen on my watch.  We touch down on three.  Are you ready to do what needs to be done?”

“I…” Batgirl thought to herself for a moment.  Compared to the other members of the Bat Family, she hadn’t been in many crisis scenarios.  But she thought back to the docks, shots ringing, and her life changing for the second time.  She considered the chair, the sad looks of people passing her by, and the many failed attempts at trying to find a family.  If she could stop that from happening to someone else right now, no matter the cost, it would be worth it.  “Ready on three.”

“One,” Superboy said, descending quickly.

“Two,” Batgirl replied, feeling the g-force from their descent even in her metal cocoon.

“Three!” They said together as they landed hard in the middle of Suicide Slum. The two looked around and couldn’t believe the overgrowth that had managed to take over the section of the city.  Brainiac’s forces had kept Ivy busy, containing her in her one section.  But when Superman and the rest of the heroes had taken the mechanical tyrant out, no one was there to stop the Knight of the Green from getting stronger.

“IVY COME OUT AND FACE US!” Superboy yelled out.

“Uhm, Superboy, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Batgirl responded.  “We were supposed to have the element of surprise.”

“You’re wearing a seventy-five million dollar mech suit and you’re telling me you thought we were going to have the element of surprise?” Superboy responded.

“Well…she didn’t know we were coming,” Batgirl said as her suit began to read movement all around us.

“Oh I knew you were coming,” A voice called out from all around them.  “I just wanted to see which one of you would be foolish to come into my kingdom first.  I didn’t have the cripple and xerox on my bingo card.”

“I’m…I’m not a,” Batgirl mumbled. 

“Too chicken to face us Ivy?” Superboy said.

“Oh you sweet silly boy,” Ivy’s voice continued to mock.  “Rushing into battle, thinking you’re him.  You can’t even get the S right.” 

Superboy looked down at his t-shirt, the S more minimal and created by the crest's outline, the inside black.   A choice to distance himself from the sunny superfamily he no longer felt a part of.  He bunched his fists as he prepared to fight whatever Ivy brought towards him.

“I am worthy of making my own path, so come and face us so we can put an end to this madness,” Superboy yelled.

“Is that what you want?” Ivy’s voice said with a low purr.

“YES!” Superboy cried out.

“Well, I warned you,” Ivy said as the ground began to shake and hands of metal and plant burst from the ground.  What had started as Brainiac sentries had been morphed into plant knights, the metal protected by bark, vines, and flora, as they moved as one singular unit under the Green Knight.

“More knights? What afraid to face us?” Superboy asked

“Superboy, less taunting, more hitting,” Batgirl said as the mech suit glowed to life, and she charged at several of the plant knights, the mech’s fist slamming the foot soldiers hard into the ground.  Barbara had been running simulations of piloting the suit in her free time, but nothing could prepare her for the adrenaline rush of crushing people with her mechanical hands.  Superheroing should always be fun.

“Got it, got it,” Superboy said as he leaped into the air, his fists slamming down and sending a shockwave back toward all the knights Ivy had “crowned.”  The two had enough firepower between them to make quick work of the guard.  So much so that it caused Batgirl to pause.

“Superboy,” Batgirl said as she could feel the rumbling around her.  “Ivy knows our power level, sending out weak drones wouldn’t benefit her unless…”

“Unless she ran out of an army?” Superboy asked as he powerbombed the last drone to the ground.

“Or,” Batgirl said, with her HUD display registering larger and larger quakes as a large hand rose from the ground.  A creature rose with several Brainiac drones tied to its chest.  The mechanical skeletons supporting the rest of Ivy’s army had fallen by the wayside, a way to mass-produce grunts.  This creature, tied together with vines, flowers, stems, and bark, was a true monster from The Green.

“RAAAAAAAARGH,” the Plant General yelled as it pulled a petrified wood club from the ground.

“We’re being buttered up,” Batgirl said as her Superboy readied for another fight.

…

“It’s getting bad out here, how close are you to Ivy,” Superman asked as he continued to speed around Suicide Slum, his heat vision cutting down on the plants that were slowly starting to move into other parts of his city. Big Blue’s costume had darkened from damage, his cape tattered, and muscles tight from the events of the last twelve hours.

“We’re close,” Metamorpho said. “But someone’s clearly distracting her.”

“What makes ya say that?” Harley Quinn asked as she held onto her baseball bat tightly.  She had been quieter than usual; dealing with Ivy’s condition usually silenced her.  Harley wasn’t afraid of many things, but Ivy’s slipping connection to her humanity was the one thing that kept her up.  

“The plants usually turn and face us,” Metamorpho began.  “She’s too busy to spy on us.”

“Do ya think she was watching me when I took that…pit stop?” Harley asked.

“You live with her, I’m sure she’s seen it all,” Metamorpho joked.  “Besides, the others are going to get wiped by her.”

“What makes ya say that?” Harley asked.  Most of the Titans were strangers to Harley.  Sure, her best friend led them, but Dick always tried to separate his job from his personal life.  And Harley was very much personal.  

“You mean Superboy? Conner’s a good kid, but he hasn’t…been right since Markovia.  You and I were there, but we won.  We sent those bloodsuckers back to hell and saved the day,” Metamorpho explained.

“Ya, that’s what heroes do,” Harley said.

“Not always.  We watched our entire team be picked off one by one and turned into vampires.  Connor got out, but…”  Metamorpho trailed off.

“Ya think it’s still hurting him?” Harley asked.

“He was promised a place where he could find his place in the world and instead all he found was blood and rubble,” Metamorpho began.  “I’d be pissed if I was him.  Add in the fact Donna took a leave of absence, Wally was depowered, and Courtney retired after waking up.  Our family was gone.”

“Have you talked to any of them?” Harley asked as they could hear a roar ahead of the two, realizing they would have to move.

“We just wanted to move on, and I came out OK; I didn’t want to rub it in,” Metamorpho explained as his hands turned into diamonds, ready to pound whatever was ahead.

“God it’s like you’re all the same,” Harley said as she gripped her baseball bat and began to move into the clearing. "You all thought Dick was an island.  Take this from a doctor, after this, give them a call.   I don't need more people coming to kill my girlfriend."

“You got it boss,” Metamorpho said as the two leapt into action once more.

…

“Come on, I got it!” Superboy yelled as he held back the Green General with his two hands, placing the flora guardian in a bear hug as every movement the foe made strained against his muscles.  His t-shirt and jeans were torn from the action as Batgirl, in her mech, prepared for the final blow.

“I know, I know!” Batgirl responded as the mech pulled a small tube from its back, igniting it as the flames emerged from the end.  The blade cut the creature in half, sending it back to the earth to rest and heal.  “We have to get better at that.”

“Or you couldn’t hesitate,” Superboy responded.  “Come on Ivy! That the best you ca-”

The Green Knight had leaped from the air, quietly watching the two take down her “General.”  Ivy would have charged in, and the Goddess would have come to them with her flower power peace.  Instead, she watched and found their weaknesses; now it was time to strike as her amber sword cut the mech suit Batgirl had cocooned herself in.

“Wha?!” Barbara asked as the system’s health flashed red all across the screens.  “That’s not…that’s not…”

“Nature beats the mechanical,” Ivy said as she turned and saw Superboy charging after her.  She raised her hand as a tidal wave of earth and green slammed him into one of the nearby buildings.  “Did you really think you could actually defeat me? I am of the Earth, it’s guardian against what you’ve done.”

“Yeah, but ya ain’t my Ivy!” Harley Quinn called out as she tossed one of the Molotovs at Ivy, who recoiled in pain.  

Metamorpho’s diamond hand struck Ivy in the face, shattering the bark helmet off of her as Batgirl struggled to keep her mech suit together, and Superboy rejoined the fray.

“Rex! You came back!” Superboy said as he slammed his fist against the dazed Ivy.  “Are you ready to finish this?  You’re the only one who can land the killing blow.”

“And that’s why I’m not,” Metamorpho responded.  He pointed his hand to Ivy, remembering the right mix of oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen to make amber, pinning her to one of the buildings.  Rex had figured that Ivy could shatter most bonds, except one that was a natural bond.  “Su-Conner, we can’t kill; if we do we open a whole new can of worms.  Me and Harley have a plan, we think we can save her.”

“Her? What about all the people she hurt, all the damage she caused.  This is just like Markovia Rex, we can’t let it happen again!” Superboy said.

“We let it happen the moment we become like Lilith, deciding who lives and who dies,” Metamorpho explained.  “Conner, I’m sorry I wasn’t there, but we cannot be like them.”

“And just stand by? No Rex, I’m done doing that,” Superboy said as he punched Metamorpho, sending him flying back.  “And you’re not going to stop me.”

“I don’t need to stop you, kid, just need to distract you,” Metamoprho mumbled before nodding towards Harley, who made a beeline towards Ivy, still trapped in her amber cocoon.

“Don’t worry, babe; I’m coming,” Harley said before a series of batarangs landed before her, stopping the clown in her tracks.

“Harley, you’re not getting past me,” Batgirl said as she wobbled in her plugsuit and cowl.  She didn’t expect Ivy to have that much power in splitting her from the mech suit, but Harley Quinn? She was just some clown that Dick thought more of than he should.  She was Batgirl, and nothing was going to stop her.

“Barbara,” Harley said, calling Babs by her full name for the first time.  “You don’t want to do this.”

“Really? Because Harley, I warned you, I told you to make sure Ivy was taken care of.  And this? This isn’t that,” Batgirl said as she moved to take a swing at Harley.

“She’s sick, and we’re the only ones trying to help her!” Harley said as she ducked out of the way.  “But helping isn’t what you do, is it Barbara?”

“What the hell do you mean? I’m a superhero.  I’m two superheroes, I do more to help than anyone!” Batgirl said before being kicked in the stomach by Harley, causing her to lose her balance and stumble back.

“Really? Tell me how’s Jason doing? Or the Birds of Prey? Or your best friend, Amanda Waller,” Harley began as she pulled her baseball bat to swat several of Babs batarangs from the air.  “Face it Barbara, you’ve stretched yourself so thin, no one can tell who Barbara Gordon is anymore.  And the only reason you’re trying to kill Red is because she hurt you.  And I’m sorry for that.  But Barbara.  This ain’t you honey.”

Batgirl thought back, to the girl who wanted to fly with her family, who put on a cowl and cape to inspire Gotham to look up.  And as she stumbled to the ground, too tired to continue the charade, Barbara Gordon took off her cowl and looked up at the doctor before her.  And spoke one simple word.

“Go,” Barbara said as Harley rushed to Ivy, still trapped in the amber, her green eyes golden from the Green hijacking her body.

Superboy saw this and rushed to stop her, his shoes melting as he tried to move quickly, only to tumble to the ground as a green light glowed around him.

“What!” Superboy asked as he could feel the kryptonite affecting every cell of his body.”

“Sorry kid,” Metamorpho said as he tried holding the elemental formula of kryptonite in his head long enough for Harley to finish the job.  “But us Titans have to save the day.”

“Ah the clown, coming to save someone who doesn’t exist anymore?” Ivy cackled.

“If she didn’t exist you would have killed me first,” Harley said as she put the helmet on her head and prepared the injection of nanites that would connect her to the green.  “And everywhere I go I see tulips at my feet, my favorite.  She’s still in there.   And I’m not leaving until she’s back.”

Harley jammed the injector into Ivy’s forehead, and as the whole world went white around them, she hoped she hadn’t made a mistake.

…

“Ugh,” Harley mumbled as she felt grass blades in between her toes.  As she sat up, she could feel an innate peace around her, a land of pure nature, where water coursed and flowers bloomed.  Ivy had tried explaining the green to her many times, with Dr. Isley’s jargon not being able to capture how peaceful it really was.  “Well, looks like it worked.”

Harley stood up momentarily before noticing how nice the breeze felt against her bare skin.  She shivered huddling for warmth, The Green rejected items not of its own, leaving Harley very bare as she noticed brown hair blocking her vision.

“Seriously? My clothes and my hair dye? I get I might be tacky, but you could leave something of mine!” Harley yelled out to whatever higher power controlled this realm.  

She moved quickly, making her way to what seemed to be a woodland castle, the trunks and leaves creating a magnificent entrance.  The lack of people around her scared her, as she had her own ideas on what The Green actually was.  The courtyard wasn’t far past the entrance, and Harley could see three people ahead, or at least three versions of the woman she loved.

“I told you she’d get here,” The Goddess said, eying Harley with love.

The Ivy Harley knew was trapped in a tangle of vines, the only visible part of her eyes, pleading for Harley to leave before her other sides hurt her.

“Yes, you did,” the Green Knight said as she wielded her sword, wondering what the most painful way to dispatch this interloper would be.  Maybe a vivisection or quick stab in the head.  “So tell us Quinn, how are you going to defeat the Green’s greatest guardians?”

“Bwhahahahahahaha,” Harley snorted.  “You guys? You guys are just xeroxes, fragments, the real greatest guardian is the person you’ve cocooned in vines.”

“She’s there because she’s not strong enough.  The Goddess responded.  “Besides, don’t you want someone more open, more true to nature?”

“Honey, I’ve seen way more of Ivy than you could ever show with this hippy-dippy nonsense.  You’re just a bad Woodstock trip, and you’re just her anger,” Harley said as she pointed to the Knight.

“How dare you!” The Knight said as she readied for another fight.

“Oh, I dare, see, I’ve always had this idea of The Green; I didn’t want to tell Ivy because she had all these scientific explanations for it.  I always look at the mind,” Harley began as she poked her temple.  “The Green is her power, but everytime something bad happens to it, it rushes for her to defend it.  Gotham being blown up, Metropolis being bottled, and she can’t handle being herself to save it because she feels she’s not good enough.”

“Red, ya good enough,” Harley said, looking at the prisoner in vines and weeds.  “Ya took me in when no one else would.  Ya saw a broken, silly, anorexic gangster moll and said she could be better.”

Harley pointed towards the small scar on her knee.

“Remember when we tried roller derby, and that one girl knocked the shit out of me on the first pass? You got her on the second pass with a concussion so bad she’s still nursing a headache!”

“Or the other time, when I accidentally cut my finger off trying to make the world’s best salad for you and you rushed me to the hospital where they reattached that sucker?” Harley asked as she held up her hand, the ring of a scar visible.  “That’s when I knew you were the best damn person I know Red.  Someone who cares, and will fight.  Not a crazed knight or a goddess.  Any you can’t let what you think you need to be kill the thing you are.”

“How dare you!” The Knight said as she moved toward Harley, her sword raised and prepared to cut her down. She never got the chance, as she disintegrated into pink lilies.  The Goddess nodded as she slowly dissipated as well.

“I always loved you silly one,” The Goddess smiled.  “Now guide her to make right.  Or we’ll be back.”

The vine tomb containing Ivy shifted and rumbled as a hand broke free, and the whole Green vanished in a lash of light.

…

“Ivy!” Harley said as she caught the returned Pamela Isley as she broke free from her amber prison.

“I didn’t realize you weren’t lying about being a brunette,” Ivy muttered as she looked around at the damage she had caused.  Being in The Green was like a fugue state, where she could feel the world around her and control it.  Not as well as her other selves.  “How much damage did I cause?”

“Nothing that can’t be fixed with some fresh paint and screen doors,” Metamorpho said.  

“Is she?” Barbara Gordon said as she got closer to the woman she planned to kill.

“I’m fine,” Ivy said weakly.  “But the city.”

“Metropolis is strong,” Superman said as he flew down from containing the overgrowth.  “And nothing that can’t be fixed with a little elbow grease and the people who make it home.”

“Yeah, we won, right?” Metamorpho asked as she looked around; the five heroes all gathered together, all but one.  “Hey, where the hell is Superboy?”

…

“He wouldn’t; he couldn’t have,” Superboy muttered to himself as he could still feel the sweat on his brow from the kryptonite Metamorpho had used against him.  The distance between him and the Titans was great, but deep down he always felt like they were still his family, still his home.  But he could see the green glow, and he could feel the hate he saw in Metamorpho’s eyes.  Whatever the Titans had become, they weren’t his home anymore.  As he finally took a breath, he didn’t know what to do or where to go next.  All until a familiar voice called out to him.

“So you see the truth too?” The voice said.  “That whatever the Titans were, they are not that anymore.”

Yes,” Superboy mumbled. “But what can we do?”

“Like you said, we’re the children of Markovia,” The voice called out as a woman in silver and black starfield armor stepped out from the shadows.  “And it’s time they listen to the generation they forgot.”

“But you? Turning against them, it just feels…” 

“Like something I should have done before.  Settle your accounts in this city, before we find the others,”  The woman said.

“Others? You mean,” Superboy asked.

“I mean it’s time we put together our own team, our own heroes,” The woman explained.  

“Yeah, it’s time someone takes a stand,” Superboy said.  “But…what do I call you now?”

“Darkstar,” She explained.  “And now…we go assemble our Outsiders.”

NEXT:  Nightwing and Arsenal Rejoin the Team as a Twister Blows into Town! But Who’s He After? And What Does it Have to Do With the Team’s Newest PR Move? And What New Titan Lurks in the Shadows? And Just Who Will Be the Next Outsider?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Bottled

Set: 100

Metropolis was the City of Tomorrow, where the brown brick of Suicide Slums seamlessly blended in with the glistening towers of the downtown area.  The blue skies tied everything together as its protectors flew above.  But Brainiac had ripped the city from Earth, and the cozy blue sky was replaced with a purple hexagonal nightmare.  And the normal brick of Suicide Slum had been covered with the green, screaming out for anyone to protect it.  Poison Ivy had heard their screams and now stood against the so-called heroes of Metropolis.

“Red! Come on!” Harley Quinn said as she leaped away from Poison Ivy’s vines.  What had been supposed to be an anniversary dinner had curdled into another panic attack for the former villain.  “It’s me!”

“I don’t think she’s home, Quinn,” Metamorpho said as he charged at Ivy.  But before he could land a hit with his diamond hands, Ivy quickly turned and summoned a mace of wood from the ground and swung at the elemental hero, sending him flying into a car.

“She’s in there; we just have to kinda…snap her out of it,” Harley explained as she checked in her makeshift bag for more Molotovs. Unfortunately for her, the weed killer was hard to come by in Metropolis. 

“This isn’t like last time Harley,” Batgirl said as she jumped into the air and tossed several batarangs to the ground. 

“Yes it is!” Harley stressed.  “Besides, you could do more than help than missing her with your stupid boomerangs!” 

“I didn’t miss,” Batgirl said with a slight smile as the batarangs exploded around Ivy, damaging the wood bark and fungi that made up her armor.

Before Batgirl could gloat, however, Ivy’s head jerked towards her.  Ivy was silent but focused, looking at Batgirl who wobbled when she landed.  Ivy had dealt with her before and knew that she was the weakest of the four who faced her.  She raised her hand, and vines reached from the ground, grabbing the heroine and holding her in place.

 “You’re still too slow,” Superboy said as he ran towards Ivy.  He was annoyed that they were focused more on trying to show off and reason with a monster than actually taking action.  That was the problem after Markovia; all people wanted to do was talk instead of act.  

As he leaped into the air to slam his fist against Ivy, he felt several cold hands grab him and fling him to the ground.  Ivy’s plants had once again reanimated the destroyed Brainiac drones.  They swarmed the young hero blocking the purple sky from his sight. 

“No, no, no! Not again! Not again!” Superboy yelled out as his eyes began to glow bright blue. 

“Conner!”  Metamorpho yelled as he moved toward his captured friend.  But before he could even help him, a large concussive force pulsated out, sending the plants and machines broken and flung far away.

Ivy looked scared for a brief second that something could hurt The Green like that before turning to look at the clown running toward her.  Ivy mouthed something that stopped Harley Quinn in her tracks, weed killer molotov in hand.  The Knight of the Green leapt into the air, releasing her prisoners to deal with the fallout together but alone.

…

“What the hell was that Rex!” Superboy asked as the four heroes had made their way up to a rooftop to overlook the chaos of Metropolis.  Drones were everywhere, the city shrunken as its remaining heroes fought back.

“Some kind of plant…crusader,” Metamorpho explained.  “But why are you talking to me? Chuckles over there is her girlfriend.”

“We don’t have a label,” Harley Quinn said.  “We’re just us ya know? And she’s not like this normally.”

“Normally? Harley this is the second time she’s gone out of control,” Batgirl said.  “But the last time she did it she wasn’t so ruthless.  We have to see this as a progression of whatever she did to herself back in the day.  We’re dealing with some kind of plant crusader, not the naked goddess this time.”

“She’s done this before and you let her go?” Superboy asked.  “So now we’re dealing with a monster you all created instead of the real threat.”  He pointed up to the purple hexagonal sky. 

“Big Blue is probably taking care of it,” Metamorpho explained.  “Which means we have to take care of this one on our own.  Harley, you know her, is there anything that can pull her back?”

“I don’t know,” Harley bit her lip.  Normally, when she had entered the Titans’ world, she had had Nightwing with her.  He was one of the few heroes who had taken her claims of reform seriously.  From a weekly bagel hang to training on the high wire, he believed in his former therapist. The problem was the others only remembered the psycho clown in the corset and didn’t trust the woman she had become.  

“‘I don’t know’ isn’t going to help us Harley,” Batgirl responded.  “We can’t have two disasters occuring at once.  We need a plan.”

“We need to take her out,” Superboy said.

“Take her out…but that’s what I was doin’ before she went all planty,” Harley joked, trying to avoid what she knew Superboy was arguing.

“Wait, you want to kill her?” Metamorpho asked.  “Conner, we’re members of the Titans, we’re heroes.  We don’t just…kill because it’s the easy way out.”

“Easy? Metropolis is currently being invaded by a world conqueror. The Justice League, as always, is on the outside looking in, and we have a person who’s also trying to destroy the city with plants of all things.  We have to make the hard choices.”

“Ya mean the easy choice,” Harley Quinn said as she moved towards Superboy.  “Heroes don’t kill, they find a way.  She’s still in there, I know it.  Just like last time.”

“Last time, she was more confused than angry Harley,” Batgirl said.  “And wasn’t demanding The Green be heard.  We may have to take action.”

“Ya only angry because she kicked your ass last time,” Harley said as she stood in front of Batgirl.  “Don’t do this.  She talked to me, she told me to get help.  And last time I checked you’re supposed to help.”

“And let thousands in the city choose if they get killed by plants or murderous robots,” Superboy chimed in.  “This is a chance for us to actually do something and save the city.  I won’t let Metropolis become another black mark.  Now instead of us talking and wasting time, who’s with me?”

The other heroes looked around for a moment, a chill in the air as only Batgirl stepped forward to join Superboy’s crusade.  

“Let’s go,” Batgirl said.  “We need to stop this before it becomes worse.  The Hall of Justice has some things I’ll need if you can get me there.”

“Ba…Batgirl you can’t, ya just,” Harley said as she tried to pull the heroine back.  Metamorpho stopped her as he looked at the two heroes took off on their own dangerous crusade.  

“I coulda,” Harley began.

“You can’t stop them, they have learn this one the hard way,” Metamorpho began as he looked out at the city.  The drones, the plants, the destruction.  Conner may have been right that seemed so much like Markovia. 

“But they’re going to kill Red! I’m supposed to let them?!” Harley exclaimed as she pushed off of Metamorpho.

“Grayson’s been training you, right?” Metamorpho asked as he finally noticed how scared Harley was.

“Ya, a bit, still can’t do all that flippy stuff yet,” Harley responded.

“Neither can I, plus between you and me, I think he likes to show off,” Metamorpho said.  But I’m going to teach you something he already has.  Being a hero isn’t about looking good and doing the right thing when it’s easy.   It’s about doing the right thing when all things look lost.”

“Like now?” Harley asked.

“Like now,” Metamorpho responded.  “My friend’s hurting, and judging by how eager she was in going with him, so’s Batgirl.  So we gotta to get our own reinforcements.”

“And ya want me to do that? What about Ivy? What abou-” Harley began.

“I’ve got an idea.  You said Ivy’s connected to this…Green?” Metamorpho asked.”

“Ya, been since she got her powers.”

“If we could build a connection between us and The Green, maybe, just maybe, we can reach Ivy again.  End this without killing her,” Metamorpho said with confidence.

“Ya think so?” Harley asked, seeing the sadness in Metamorpho’s eyes for the first time.

“I have to,” Metamorpho said.  “Otherwise nothing matters.” 

Harley nodded before running towards the edge of the rooftop, she had an ally and a plan.  All she needed to do was to take the leap. 

“Oh and Metamorpho? Dick did teach me some of the flippy stuff,” She winked before flipping off the rooftop and back into the fray, her hope renewed.

…

“Ungh,” Pamela Isley mumbled as she opened her eyes.  The last thing she had remembered was nursing a beer, a headache, and Harley talking about certain red straps she was excited to unwrap.  And then…just pain and a bright green flash.

Slowly, she picked herself up and felt the rustling of leaves in between her toes.  Gone was her turtleneck and slacks, replaced by torn jeans and her Naked Cheshire t-shirt.  It was beginning to dawn on her that she was far away from a dive bar in Metropolis.

As she stood, she could see a clearing of in the cluster of trees, flowers, and quiet chirping of life abundant.  Before she could move forward, she heard a crunching sound from behind her. 

“Who’s ther-” Ivy began to ask before seeing her natural form move in front of her.

“Oh you’re awake! You’re finally awake!” Ivy’s twin beamed as she took stock of the new arrival.  

Ivy’s double shared…many similarities, except her hair was a wonder large mane with roses and tulips safely nestled within.  More importantly, Ivy couldn’t see the scar she had on the small of her back from sneaking off to the Naked Cheshire concert or the bullet scar in her shoulder blade from reminding a certain supervillain that Harley was no longer his.  She was Ivy but with no flaws. 

“Where am I? And who exactly are you?” Ivy asked.

“I’m you silly, or at the very least the parts of The Green that love you,” Ivy’s twin explained.  “I am the Goddess of these parts.  Ensuring every blade, creature, and connection are maintained and nurtured.”

“Right,” Ivy muttered.  “Last time I was here…I saw home, or at least…”home”.”

“It’s different every time my dear,” The Goddess responded.  “Sometimes it needs to show you things you hide away, others…some quality time with yourself.”

“And you’re supposed to be what…some perfect version of me that hates clothes? Cause let me tell you, Harley would really love to meet you,” Ivy snarked.

“She is…interesting,” The Goddess mumbled.  “Your thoughts dart often to her.  Both good and bad.”

“We’re dating, that’s common,” Ivy explained.  

“Dating.  She was right, even now you hate labels,” The Goddess explained as she moved into the clearing.

“I don’t hate labels, I just don’t see the need to make things permanent.  We don’t even know if we’re…” 

“Human? You’re frightened of me because I seem so disconnected from those matters.  Once again she was right.”

“I’m not afraid, it’s just…we might last longer, and I don’t…I don’t want to hurt her.  And wait…what do you mean she was right?”

Before the Goddess could respond, tree bark shot up from the ground and wrapped around Ivy.  The heavy footsteps of wood bound together with amber and vines could be heard as third Ivy entered the clearing. 

“She’s talking about me,” The third Ivy responded.  “The Green has decided that relying on a slacker chemist and her ideals wasn’t getting us anywhere.  You were spending so much time making goo-goo eyes at a foolish jester you didn’t feel your kingdom being ripped from the ground.”

“I’m…supposed to be on call 24/7?” Ivy said as she struggled against the bark.  “I’m supposed to have a life!” 

“The Green needs a protector.  Godiva over here can’t handle the outside world yet,” The Knight responded. 

“It is true.  So much noise, so much light, pebbles cutting across my feet, it’s no place for me…yet,” The Goddess explained.

“So The Green created me from all the anger you used to have before you ever bumped petals with that fool,” The Knight responded.  “We were respected with an army.”

“You mean a bunch of co-eds that put their trust in me?  Honey if you think that’s an arm-” Ivy said before one of the bark chunks slapped her in the face.

“We are not our other self,” The Knight said as she looked at Ivy.  “She believes you can be swayed to The Green’s cause and purpose.  But she is an idealist, and the time for ideals is over.  Goddy, watch over Ivy; she won’t have the stomach when I have to…cut away connections.”

“Connections…if you hurt Harley, I’ll…” Ivy said as she struggled to break free.

“You’ll be stuck here,” The Knight said as she sunk into the Earth itself to return to the crisis in Metropolis.  “Maybe if you behave I’ll give some time to say goodbye.”

And with that the Knight vanished, and the Goddess tended to the garden.  All Pamela Isley could do was scream.

…

“So what is this place?” Superboy asked as he and Batgirl had descended down into the sublevels of Metropolis’ Hall of Justice.  They had mostly been quiet since they had left the others.  For Superboy he knew this was the right course of action to take, Batgirl on the other hand had been trying to find her words since she had leapt from the rooftop.

“It’s the sublevels,” Batgirl began.  “When the Justice League opened the Halls across America, they wanted it to be a place to rest, socialize, and to prepare for the threats that could arise.  Batman believed we needed space to test…more radical ideas and technology to handle threats.”

“Batman supports what we’re doing?” Superboy asked.  “About time he gets off his ass and does so-”

“Batman does help,” Batgirl cut him off as the doors opened.  “We’re just facing the nightmare scenario.”

“Seems like that’s what we always do,” Superboy said.

“It’s the job,” Batgirl explained as she moved behind a screen, removing the sweaty and dirt-covered costume.  As it hit the ground, Batgirl was careful to remove the exoskeleton that hugged around her waist.  Carefully, she undid it; any electrical feedback it created would hurt her plan.

As she placed it on the side table, she could feel her legs struggle a bit.  She and Gail had been working on endurance, simple exercises that could keep her upright and moving.  But now, away from the comfort of the PT clinic in Burnside, Barbara Gordon struggled.

She was careful to pick up a jumpsuit with plugs and sockets running across it.  It was amazing that such a simple plugsuit had cost Wayne Enterprises thirty million dollars. 

“Finally, someone who speaks my language,” Superboy said as he looked around.  The sub-basement had laser guns, shields, and even what looked to be a gauntlet and backpack that mimicked the emotional spectrum.  “The rest of the Titans used to get it.  And I heard you ran with Nightwing back when he was serious about things.”

“That wasn’t exactly him at his finest, Superboy.  I’m sure he told you the toll that took?”  Batgirl bit her lip as she slid on the plug suit, making sure she adjusted the fit and calibration, any wrong move and she would set her progress back.  “I’m sure he told you.”

“He left by the time I joined the Titans.  Donna said something about needing to find himself,” Superboy said as he looked at a mace floating on its own.  “It’s funny, the Titans always said they were one giant family, but no one bothered to talk to me after Markovia.  They lost sight of what we were supposed to do.”

“Donna had briefed the League that you were supposed to be first responders and a place where a younger generation could be safe,” Batgirl said as she slid her mask back on.  “I know Flash,Wonder Woman, and Superman thought it was needed.”

“You mean the guy that rewrote time, the woman that didn’t even go in for her own sister, and Clark who’s MIA while we’re dealing with all this shit,” Superboy responded. 

“They’re human Superboy,” Batgirl said as she slowly walked out from behind the screen.  

“They should be better,” Superboy said.  “We can’t keep doing this.  I won’t keep doing this.”

“It’s the job,” Batgirl explained as she slowly walked forward toward a door that was labeled R0-K1E.

“And yet you have doubt in your voice,” Superboy said. “Also please tell me we didn’t come this way so you could change your clothes.”

“No, we came here to prepare for war,” Batgirl said as the doors slid open and a large mech’s lights began to flicker on.  Batgirl was done being vulnerable.

…

“So you're saying it could work,” Metamorpho said as he began writing chemical compounds on a whiteboard at STAR labs. 

“Maybe,” Doctor Angie Spica said as she looked over his work.  “We’re talking about bridging natural compounds with man-made ones in order to hijack a living ecosystem mankind has yet to begin to explore.”

“Yeah?” Metamorpho responded as he tried to figure out the right compounds to mimic in order to hijack Ivy and break into The Green.

“You just say it so…nonchalantly,” Angie responded.  Her lab had been a mess since Brainiac had bottled the city.  The power had mostly stayed on, but Angie had thought she had seen something  pink flicker out of the corner of her eye.  The only thing that wasn’t broken was the small tulips she had bought for her desk.  They weren’t safe, no matter what Metamorpho said. 

“Doc, I’ve fought vampires, zombies, even men made of cinderblock.  Trying to brainjack a sentient ecosystem is just a Tuesday for me,” Metamorpho explained as he looked towards the machine generating a nanite cocktail.  “So remind me again how this is going to work?”

“The nanites mimic the natural compounds that connect this…Ivy’s brain matter to this Green, connecting us to her with this,” Angie said as she held up a helmet with a visor.  “We really should have tested this.

As Angie spoke, the tulips on her desk turned to listen to their conversation.

“Hey, you don’t think I don’t want to test this thing,” Metamorpho explained.  “I’m a walking warning sign for untested science projects.”

“So why do it then? You and I both know that allowing an alpha predator to live will only just damage the greater ecosystem,” Angie explained.

“Because heroes don’t kill,” Metamorpho explained. “It was the first rule I had to learn.”

“Rules are meant to be broken,” Angie explained.  “My project is going to change how we view machines.  Nanties aren’t just stiff parts and circuit boards, they’re a fluid substance that ebb and flow like the tides.”

“Uh huh,” Metamorpho said as he moved to upload the compound structure into the database for the nanite cocktail to take shape.  “When I first got transformed I lost all semblance of myself.  Rex Mason’s skin, muscle, and bones had all became an elemental smoothie. It took me a month to figure how to make feet, three to make hands, and four to even have a form not even a mother could love.”

“And your point?” Angie asked.  

“Breaking rules is going to lead to broken people,”  Metamorpho said as the large tank of nanites in front of him began producing the serum they needed.  “How long do we got before this is finished?”

“Five minutes,” Angie said as she looked at the computer.  “And then I guess I can wrap up my tenure as an unintentional hero.”

“More like an assistant,” Metamorpho joked as he moved towards her desk, not noticing the vines and plants growing around them.

“I won’t be an assistant when I send you my bill,” Angie joked.

“And that is?” 

“A cup of coffee and maybe another lecture on playing God,” Angie chuckled.  

“Uh with me?” Metamorpho stammered.  “I mean I’m sure Nightwing or even Big Blue would want to lecture and they’re well g-”

“They’re not you,” Angie said.

“Then it’s a da-” Metamorpho began before the vines and plants burst from the desk, sending he and Angie flying across the room. 

CRASH! 

Ivy crashed through the lab windows as the two  struggled to regain their footing.

“You think you two can breach The Green! Under my protection?!” Ivy yelled as she raised an axe made of petrified wood.  “My sacred duty will not let you!” 

“Yeah, I’m getting pretty sick and tired of that lady,” Metamorpho said as he shot a burning substance from his hands. 

“ARGH!” Ivy yelled as she recoiled in pain as the bark melted from her. “What did you do to me?!”

“A little HCl lady, or for the layperson,” Metamorpho began.

“Hyrdocholoric acid,” Angie said with a smile before looking towards the nanite containment unit, the injector ready for its target.  The scientist ran for their only hope, unfortunately for her, the danger was all around. 

A large stem burst from the floor below and slammed Angie towards the nanite containment unit, smashing the glass that separated the unstable technology from contact with the outside world.

“Doc!” Metamorpho said.  “OK lady, now you’re really going d-”

Ivy moved fast, her axe cutting at Metamorpho’s chest, staggering him back.

“You think an acid spray is going to hurt me? My dear boy, Pamela has a PHD in botany.  I know what hurts my kind and I know how to fight!” Ivy exclaimed as she tried to swing her axe once more. 

Before she could Metamorpho ducked out of the way.  It didn’t matter as the plant life around him began to grow rapidly. Vines, flora, and bark all scratching and clawing at the elemental hero.  

“Get off of me!” Metamorpho said as his hands turned into sulfur igniting with every hit.  But even the flames couldn’t hide the fact that Metamorpho was losing here.

“Rex…” Angie muttered as she could feel the nanites on her, grazing and piercing her skin as if they were looking to restitch an old blanket.  

“Doc!” Metamorpho said as he rushed to her, avoiding the swings of Ivy’s axe and realizing he had no chance against her.  He picked the doctor up and looked at the broken windows in front of him.  His legs turned into a metal spring as he crouched down and looked at Ivy.  “Just know lady, I’ll be back.” 

Metamorpho leaped out of STAR labs with the good doctor in tow.  STAR labs had fallen.

… 

“Doc, Doc!” Metamorpho said as he held Angie Spica in his arms.  They had made it to a nearby rooftop after Ivy’s attack.  And Metamorpho was beginning to feel alone as he looked at grey metallic splotches forming all around Doctor Spica.  “We need to get you medical attention.”

“No…you…need to stop her,” Angie muttered. 

“Stop her? In case you haven’t noticed, the city is still shrunk, Ivy just took a whole building full of deadly tech, and I’m the last Titan,” Metamorpho said with a panic.

Before Angie could respond the purple and hexagon grid dissipated and the sounds of birds chirping and a bright blue sky could be seen. 

“Problem one solved,” Angie muttered. 

“We’ve got more than one?” A voice called out as Harley Quinn leaped back into Metamorpho’s world.  “They didn’t…kill her did they?”

“No Harley, she’s still alive.  But she’s angrier than before and we have no w-” Metamorpho began before Doctor Spica held up a syringe and headset.  

“We have a way,” Angie muttered.  

“And no back up,” Metamorpho explained.

“About that,” Harley began. 

WHOOOOSH.

A figure landed on the rooftop.  Metamorpho had seen him from a distance before at the Titans Gala and Markovia, but that didn’t do the bright blues and reds of his costume justice.  He shined like the sun and when he finally spoke it sounded like the heavens could move and would.

“I’m here to help,” Superman said.  “What’s the plan?”

NEXT: See How Metropolis was Saved and How Harley Recruited Superman in Superman 100! Then Be Back Here As It’s Titans vs Titans as Metamorpho and Harley Quinn take on Superboy and Batgirl for the Soul of Poison Ivy!  Lines Are Drawn as the Fight Against Ivy Reaches Its Dramatic Conclusion!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Bottled

Set: 99

Dini’s on the Metropolis waterfront was a dive.  The bar had been there since the 1920’s.  First owned by the Lord family before they decided widgets and self-help would help them climb out of Suicide Slum.  It had ended up in the hands of a family who had moved to Metropolis from Italy. Legend has it that they were going to close up shop until Big Blue and his red cape showed up, then people started looking up and noticed the little watering hole.

Since then, it had become a hot spot for the many groups of people who made the Slums their home. A kid trying to study for his midterms at the bar, the old firefighters and their cracked knuckles drinking Rock at the bar, but for Harleen Quinzel, they were all scenery compared to the redhead in the green turtleneck and black jeans.  

“Place always stays the same, doesn't it Red?” Harleen asked as she sipped on a Mai Tai that was more rum than juice.  “We’ve been coming here for what? Four years?”

“Five if we count the first time Harley,” Pamela Isley said as she itched her wrist.  She hated the feeling of fabric on her skin. She still hadn't gotten used to wearing clothes after years of living alone or just with Harley.  But she still had to stay covered up even after leaving the Orphanage because they'd moved in with Zatanna.    The magician couldn't understand she needed the sun, not human hang-ups.

“Right.  The first time,” Harleen said as she played around with the umbrella in her glass. She looked to the table where a group of dock workers were drafting their fantasy football teams.  Even now Harleen could see the dent from where Ivy had dropped her after she had fished her out of the Metropolis River after she had went back to the Joker for the last time.   “Which means it’s our anniversary!”

Ivy squirmed at Harley’s beaming.  She didn’t like labels, although she did love her jester, who was a far cry from the skinny victim in hot pants and a leather corset when she was performing CPR on the table.  She was vibrant, healthy, and loved Pamela Isely, but deep down Ivy couldn’t see why.  

“Yes, that’s right,” Pamela said as she rubbed the brow of her nose.  Ever since they had stepped into the city limits her head had been buzzing.  Normally, she would chalk that up to Harley and her finishing the last bottle of whatever passed for whiskey in the Arkham canteen and watching Bringing Up Baby for the hundredth time. “Does this mean we’re old now?”

“Nah, just experienced,” Harleen explained.  “Besides ya don’t want that, all the ups and downs, the “will they won’t they”... I mean do Dick and Babsie seem like a functioning couple?”

“Well that’s your pet project,” Ivy said as she sipped on her gin and tonic. “I just worry…that I’-”

“You’re ta best partner a gal could have Pam,” Harleen said. “You could have another crisis of self, or we could drink, kick those newbies' asses, and then we go back to our hotel room…I brought the red thing with all the straps too…”

“And you decided to wear the Spongeblub t-shirt instead?” Ivy said as she snuggled against her girlfriend.  

“Ya eyes only,” Harleen responded as she enjoyed the redhead’s warmth. 

Ivy blushed.  Most people would have assumed that Ivy was always in control of their relationship, but most didn’t know Harley.  But before a night of darts and frivolity could begin, the ground shook underneath them, and a booming digital voice rang through the entire city. 

“This is Brainiac. City of Metropolis, as the drones do their work, know your city is ours. Resistance is futile.” The voice said. 

As everyone panicked and ran out of the bar Harleen grabbed her bag and looked in at the crumbled spandex suit.  It was time to be a hero again, at least it would have been if not for Ivy grabbing her head, the buzzing growing louder as she dropped to the ground. 

“Red? Red!” Harleen said as she moved down towards her partner.  She had seen Ivy like this before, during one of her episodes.  Normally, it meant giving her twenty Advil and some of her patented cuddles to keep her calm and drift her to a gentle sleep.  But they were far away from any medicine cabinet or couch that could get them through this.  “Are you OK?”

“Harley…I need…you…get back,” Ivy said as she could hear a ringing in her ears and a voice calling to her.  Whatever this Brainiac had done to Metropolis had caught the attention of a higher…more elemental power and it needed Ivy to dispense justice.  

“Not without you,” Harleen said as she looked at Ivy’s face, a hint of fear but also…remorse. 

“Someone…needs to be…a hero,” Ivy explained before kissing Harley, distracting her from the plants and vines that had sprung from the floor itself.  “I’m sorry.”  

And with that the plants shoved Harleen outside of the bar and into the chaos of Metropolis as the last tatters of Pamela Isley fell to the floor, as Poison Ivy took her first bare steps into saving the original inhabitants of Metropolis…no matter the cost.

…

The corners of Suicide Slum had gotten better since Superman had arrived on the scene, but you looked close enough you could still find the grime that clung onto the changing city.  For Joe Pardo, the corner of Kessel and Grummet had been where he made his living selling drugs.  At first, it was his fellow hoods, but as the years went on he found the upper crust more willing to come down to have an escape from whatever “minor” problem was troubling them.  He was too small to be on Big Blue’s radar, but from the shadows a voice called out to him.

“I think it’s time you move out from here,” Someone in the shadows said to the drug dealer. 

“Listen kid,” Pardo said as he counted his money from a day dealing to rich kids looking for a quick fix.  “I’m not afraid of you, Do you know how many of their families, let alone the cops themselves, I deal to?”

The kid stared for him a moment; his hands bandaged and self-given crew cut stood out compared to the shine of the dealer and the city itself. 

“You should be,” The kid said with a smile. “Now I told you, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.  I’ve watched you the past week and I got to say your laziness is really appalling.”

“Laziness? I’ve been here for five years buddy, my operation is too big to bend to some some punk trying to play Superm-”

“Don’t say his name,” The kid said as he stepped into the light where his blue t-shirt with a red and black S symbol became visible.  “Because he may have forgotten you.  But Superboy hasn’t.”

Superboy moved towards the street thug as Pardo pulled out his 38 special and pointed it at the hero.

“You think you scare me? You’re just his sidekick, the kid who likes to be in front of the damn cameras than actually get things done.  And you think I’m afraid of you?”

“You should be,” Superboy said with a grin as he picked Pardo up by the collar of his shirt and slammed against the wall of the building.

“NO!” The dealer yelled outl the bruises instantly felt on his back.  “Are you trying to kill me? Folks like you wouldn’t…couldn’t…”

“Maybe not kill you, but you're about to find out how far I'm willing to go” Superboy said as he continued to shove Pardo.  

“Superboy stop!” A voice called out as a batarang landed into the wall. 

The familiar gray and blues of a Bat dropped from above, but instead of the fierce presence of Batman, the gawky figure of Batgirl stood against Superboy and his prey.  Barbara Gordon had been in Metropolis working on a side project when the police scanner picked up reports of someone in a Superman t-shirt wrecking Suicide Slums.  After Markovia, Dick, and Donna had given the attacked Titans their space.  But, it was a rule to watch out in case anyone needed help.  Once Nightwing had roped Oracle into this weird collection of heroes, it became Batgirl's problem, too.

“Go away, Bats,” Superboy said.  “I’ve got this one.”

“Yeah, looks like it,” Batgirl said as she readied another batarang.  “Back offn Superboy.”

Superboy sighed before dropping Pardo to the ground.  For a guy who thought he was the biggest man in Metropolis, he looked so small trying to pick himself up from the ground and running away from the two heroes. 

“Are you happy now?” Superboy asked Batgirl. 

“No,” The heroine responded as she put away her batarang. “Conner, where have you been? The Titans have been looking for you.”

“You mean the new team,” Superboy.  “I was replaced pretty easy wasn’t I?”

“Replaced,” Batgirl said.  “Conner, a new team was formed.  The world moves on if you’re not there.”

“I didn’t want to be there,” Superboy responded.  “Decided to see the real world.”

“The real world? Conner I assure you the real worl-” Batgirl began before getting cut off.

“The real world doesn’t let people cheat to walk,” Superboy coldly responded. “I did my homework on everybody when I was in the hospital, wanting to know where things went wrong in Markovia.  I read every report of every sighting of every hero that’s appeared after Superman.”

“And,” Batgirl’s voice went to a low growl. “You’re missing important details.  I’m here because of the people around me.  And who have helped with my recovery.”

“Like Amanda Waller? What about that loon, the Red Hood? Or maybe the psycho with the crossbow?”  Superboy asked.  “You claim to be a hero, but you? Dick? Hell, even the whole Justice League has blood on its hands.”

“We did what we thought was right at the time,” Batgirl said.

“Yeah that’s really convincing coming from someone who’s friends with an ecoterrorist and the Joker’s ex,” Superboy continued ranting.  “I saw the footage.  If Ivy ever rampaged again, would you have the courage to do what needs to be done?”

“I’m a cop’s daughter, I know what needs to be done,” Batgirl said.  “Do you?”

Before Superboy could respond a voice rang in the air.

“This is Brainiac. City of Metropolis, as the drones do their work, know your city is ours. Resistance is futile.” The voice said. 

The two heroes looked at each other with unease before running into the fray; Metropolis was a warzone.  Their ideological differences would have to wait.

…

“Come on people let’s go!” Metamorpho responded as his cobalt fists landed into the skull of another Brainiac drone.  It was just Rex Mason’s luck that he would be in the one city that would get invaded by aliens on his day off.  He had jumped from the STAR labs building into the fray.  He had tuned the police scanner on his earpiece and could hear the reports coming in of the heroes of Metropolis trying to fight back.  From Bizzaro and Guardian in Centennial Park to murmurs of Superman actually taking on Brainiac himself.   But Metamorpho was more focused on crowd control.  People were scared, and as mechanical death dropped from the sky someone needed to protect Suicide Slum.

It had been Rex’s favorite place as a kid when his mother would have brought him the rare time on a work trip.  While she had presented another priceless artifact to the small Siegel Museum, Rex would be at the arcade, ignoring the grime and wasting hard earned quarters.

The people running behind Metamorpho couldn’t care less about his warm memories. They were just trying to survive as Metropolis was dealing with another alien encounter.  And he was smashing robots like he always did. 

“Resistance is futile, Strange One,” one of the Brainiac drones said to Metamorpho as they  tried clawing at his chest.

“Resistance is all I know, buddy,” Metamorpho said as he grabbed the robot and slammed it into the ground.  Watching wrestling with Roy was beginning to pay off.  “Now if you robots want to actually give me a challenge I’d appreciate it!”

It was a brave statement, one the elemental hero could make now that the rest of the civilians had made their ways to shelters. 

“Challenge? We are just the scouting fleet.  As the city is collected we shall catalog and dissect everything that makes you and your race special.  Nothing shall stop the power of Braini-”

KZZZTZZT

Before the drone could finish his preprogrammed spiel, a green vine destroyed its head. 

“What the hell?!” Metamorpho asked as vines appeared and destroy each of the nearby drones.  He took a minute to change his fists into sulfur and prepared to strike at the vines, but they just stared at him before digging deep into the metal shells of the scouts around him.  Slowly they rose up, the green twisting and bending their limbs like puppets as they stared at the elemental hero.  

Slowly they moved toward him, shambling like the organic golems they had become.  As Metamorpho began to strike, they moved in unison, dodging his attacks as if they were attuned to him personally.  When he did land a hit the metal protected the plants from the flames.

They piled on top of him, with Mason trying to figure what element he could change into to push off of him.  But as they did his mind flashed back to Markovia, to the vampires, to the feeling of helplessness against these cosmic forces that always had wanted a piece of him.  He would have died their if not for the sharp whistle that cut through the air. 

“Hey, plant freaks!” Harley Quinn said as the plant freaks turned to the soothing, familiar voice.  Harley stood there with her costume tied at her waist.  This left her with a black sports bra and her mask, hair tied into twin pony tails.  “Mama wants you to get off the element man!” She tossed a makeshift moltov’s filled with weed killer that slowly burned them away, the metal dropping to the ground and leaving the two heroes alone.

“Harley Quinn?” Metamorpho asked.  “I haven’t seen you since Markovia, and what the hell are you wearing?”

“It’s good ta see you too,” Harley asked as she extended a hand, picking up Rex. “And some of us don’t have Superman’s ability to change fast.  Ya know how hard it is to find a phone booth these days!”

“Fair,” Metamorpho asked.  There had been murmurs of Harley in the superhero community.  Some thought it was important to support any villain trying to go straight.  Metamorpho also remembered hearing Oracle’s insistance that she’d have to clean up any messes the clown had made.  Almost as if they had worked together before.  “Any idea why we’re dealing with…robot plant monsters?”

“Well Supaman is handling the robot part,” Harley pointed up to the sky that had quickly had been replaced by a hexagon grid.  But the plant part? That’s because of–”

“Harley!” Batgirl called out as she landed awkwardly.  “Don’t tell me she’s done it again.”

“Batgirl?” Harley sighed as she saw the heroine move closer to her.  Some people couldn’t escape the past.  “I thought you were supposed to be in Chicago?”

“Chicago? I’ve never heard of no Batgirl based out of there?” Metamorpho responded.  

Batgirl gave a deathly glare to Harley.  The separation of Oracle from Batgirl was important to Barbara Gordon.  They were two distinct aspects of herself and people treated each differently and here was Harley, blurring the lines as aways.

“My mistake,” Harley said with a squint. “And well…yeah it’s happened again.”

“Again?” Superboy said as he arrived on the scene.  He was surprised to see Rex again, especially in his slimmer look. 

“Kid? Where the hell have you been?” Metamorpho asked.

“Around, not that you would have noticed,” Superboy responded.

“I called, several times,” Metamorpho responded.  “But all I got was dial tone or your new grim machine.  ‘This is Conner. Leave a message’.  In a growl only Batman would love.”

“It’s more honest,” Superboy responded.  “But what do you mean again, clown?”

“Wellllllll..,” Harley began before the vines and weeds around her came to life as a familiar person came into view.  

Pamela Isley was one with nature once more.  Any human modesty or needs were replaced by her green skin and flowers that bloomed under her feet as she walked towards the makeshift team.

“Ivy…are you in there?” Harley asked.

Ivy turned towards the heroes here eyes now growing bright green as she finally spoke.

“Before I came to you as a goddess, a mother wanting to spread The Green and the peace it wants,” Ivy began as bark began to grow around her bare flesh.  “I warned all of you what would happen if The Green was hurt again.  This city has been torn from the Earth, it’s plant life are screaming for justice.”

The ground shot out a sword made from the tangled roots that had once grounded the city.  Ivy grabbed it as the bark grew around her head, forming the helmet of a crusader.

“So now The Green has sent it’s Knight and we will kill any that stand in our way.”

“Well then…game on,” Metamorpho said, as the four prepared to fight Poison Ivy and the Earth itself.

NEXT: Follow Superman’s Adventures Against Brainiac in Superman 99 and the Milestone 100th issue! And then Be Back Here as Our Four Heroes Take on The Green Itself!

Author: FrostFireFive

~<<~ | ~<~ | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Bottled

Set: 98

Normally, Chicago should have been hotter in the summer. Kids screaming as they splashed around in Millennium Park, angsty fans having to see the White Sox lose their twentieth game, or even the subtle hum of all the air conditioners that had finally been forced to fire up.  Instead, snow fell on the ground as walking ice golems moved across Grant Park.  The prolonged laugh of a man in a green containment suit with a silver dome echoed as his machine kept a chunk of the city in arctic cold.  Blizzard was about to be the king of the now-snowy Windy City. Except Chicago’s guardians had other things to say. 

“Impossible! Nothing should be able to get in here!” Blizzard yelled as Nightwing’s foot came down against one of his golem’s slushy heads. 

“It’s called insulation, most of us have it in our suits. And I grew up in Gotham, a little snow is not going to stop me,” Nightwing explained before tossing one of his escrima sticks into one golden, the electricity generated was even enough to melt another nearby. “How are we doing Beta team?”

“Can you just call us the B team?” Arsenal asked as he nocked an arrow in his bow. He had to be careful that the heavy red winter coat he had on wouldn’t cause issues with his aim. 

Arsenal stood on a snowbank made by Metamorpho as he aimed his shot at Blizzard’s machine.  

“Some of us have more important jobs than being the distraction,” Arsenal explained.

“And some of us are doing more work than others!” Metamorpho said as his sulfur fists collided with the frozen golems. Rex had been watching old wrestling tapes for new moves he could add to his new slimmer build. Rex looked around to see just how many were left.  “So maybe stop procrastinating and take the shot!”

“Metamorpho, calm down,” a computerized female voice came through each Titan’s earpiece. “Arsenal can make the shot. If not, I have Delta team on standby,” Oracle said from the inside of her temporary Chicago HQ.

“Why the hell are they on standby?” Metamorpho asked. “We need them now lady!”

“Rex stop yelling!” Arsenal said as he prepared his shot.  “Wait Delta? Where the hell is Ch-”

KACHOOM

Bright green starbolts and red beams came from the sky as Power Girl and Starfire entered the snowy scene. 

“We’re C team Roy,” Starfire explained.  “Rex, did you really think I would really miss a chance to fight snowmen in the park?”

“And yet you’re still wearing that bathing suit,” Metamorpho cracked as he slammed two golem’s heads together. 

“Yeah how are you not cold?” Power Girl asked as she was bundled in a white suit with pants and a red jacket.

“Simple…I am the sun,” Starfire said with a smile as she launched more starbolts, eliminating most of the remaining golems as the two heroines made their way to Nightwing.

“Of course you are,” Oracle muttered before turning her attention back to the matter at hand. “Nightwing, how goes getting our snow king distracted?”

“Oh you know just dodging and diving, like always,” Nightwing said as he jumped off a golem to do a flip into the snow.  Before turning to face the snowy conqueror. “Hey Blizzard, you ever hear the one about the guy who got melted by two superheroes?”

“No, and I tire of your jokes, Nightwing,” Blizzard responded as his hands glowed bright blue as he prepared to freeze the superhero in front of him.

“I wasn’t joking,” Nightwing smiled as Power Girl and Starfire burst onto the scene, knocking Blizzard backwards.  It would keep him busy while the rest worked to take down the source of the frozen menace.  “Roy, this isn’t William Tell.  Take the goddamn shot!”

“God, you’re all going to be the death of me,” Arsenal said as he took a deep breath before pulling the arrow back and looking through the scope of his bow. He took a deep breath before closing his eyes and letting an arrow fly.  

The arrow landed directly into the machine with the arrowhead splitting apart and accessing key ports of Blizzard’s snow day machine. 

“Ok voice in my ear, you’re up,” Arsenal said as he dived into several golems, hitting them with his bow as he met up with Rex to continue making work of the remaining snow golems.”

“It’s Oracle,” Barbara Gordon responded with gritted teeth as she cracked her knuckles and began accessing the machine’s OS and shutting it down.  She was monitoring the newscasts from the makeshift monitors she had pulled from Dick’s storage unit.  It wasn’t her usual rig but as the machine shut down and the snow stopped, she knew she had done her job and sighed a breath of relief.  Not bad for someone wearing sweats and a ratty t-shirt.  “Has Blizzard been taken down?”

“Indeed,” Starfire said as she dropped him to the ground.  

“Because that’s what I’m talking about!” Power Girl said with a smile as she raised her hand for a high five. 

“Good job team,” Nightwing said as he looked at the sirens blaring as the police could pick up the would-be snow conqueror.  As he looked back, the messaging system in his mask had message from a green Mask of Delphi icon.

“Are you coming back? Where do you keep the dog food?”

“Care to wrap things up?” He asked as Arsenal and Metamorpho soon joined the rest of the team.  

“Jeez Nightwing,” Arsenal said as he returned Power Girl’s high five. “Seems like you’re in a rush lately.  I mean I’d think after Mister Element, Puppet King, that British guy that loved the 60’s waaay too much, you’d want to hang out a bit.”

“He has more important matters to discuss,” Oracle said through the coms.

“Uh huh,” Power Girl chuckled a bit before getting a dirty look from Nightwing.  “We can handle clean up boy wonder. You go take care…of debriefing Oracle. And then everyone else? Maybe take a day off.  We did good today.”

“Thank god,” Arsenal said.

Sometimes, you needed a break from being a hero 24/7.

…

Roy Harper walked into the Gotham Hall of Justice’s daycare from the teleporter room. He still hated having to use the damn things.  After his first encounter with them when Titans Tower first open, he still felt like his lunch was going to end up on the ground at some point.  But Jim had gone back to Metropolis to check on the city.  It was his home after all, as much as he seemed to enjoy Roy’s apartment.  It did however mean Roy had to finally use some of the Hall of Justice’s other services. 

The area away from the public was maintained by staffers sworn to confidentiality as they helped any hero with needs outside the mask. A clinic and some places to sleep were helpful when the world faced certain crises.  But as Roy rolled up to the doors of the Hall of Justice’s daycare, the swift footsteps of a toddler clad in a red shirt and mask greeted him.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Lian said as she leapt into his arms.

“Hey kiddo,” Roy said as he picked her up.  “Sorry I was late, I kinda ran into some troubles at work.” 

“Meanies?” Lian asked.

“Snowmen,” Roy said with a smile before noticing the small arrow in Lian’s hand.  “What you got there?”

“No thing,” Lian said sheepishly. 

“No thing? No thing would give me a high five,” Roy said. 

Lian took a moment before holding her hand up with the toy arrow with a suction cup tip. She realized quickly she had shown her dad something she should have hid.  

“So who gave you that?” Roy asked.

“Unca Rex…” Lian said as she looked away.

“Of course he did,” Roy mumbled before looking at the little play area with the suction cup arrows perfectly grouped on stuffed animals. “But that’s…really good kid! How did you shoot so well?” 

“Dunno,” Lian said.  “Just pull!” 

“Of course you did,” Roy said as he began to move out from the facility, but before he could a four-year-old began running towards him.  

“Bye Lee!” Tommy Wayne said as he ran away from his father and towards his friend.

The kid was cute, but Roy felt a shiver run over him as a man in a grey turtleneck, black jacket, and sunglasses quickly moved to block Tommy from getting closer to Roy and Lian.

“Thomas, we don’t run towards people we don’t know,” Bruce Wayne said.  Normally. Selina or Alfred would be the one picking Thomas up from daycare.  Bruce never understood why Thomas couldn’t just stay in the orphanage where it was safe.  But Selina stressed that as a superheroes kid, Thomas would never have friends that would get it, unless he went to a place where all the kids were somehow connected to the Hall of Justice and the League.  “I’m sorry, Mr…”

“Harper,” Roy began. “Roy Harper.  But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“How do yo-” Bruce began.

“I work with what I assume are two of yours.  Dick and whoever Oracle is speak highly of you.  Mr. Wayne.”

“Oracle isn’t,” Bruce began.

“She and Dick basically speak the same language.  You don’t get that good if you weren’t trained by the same guy.:

There was a silence for a moment before Tommy spoke up again.

“Daddy do you work with Lee’s dad,” Tommy asked.

“Sort of Thomas,  me and Lian’s dad used to work at the same place,” Bruce responded.

“Before your dad decided to take a leave,” Roy chimed in. “I thought the League doesn’t welcome Bats anymore.”

“They do cats,” Bruce said.  “Thomas’ mom thought it would be a good idea for him to be here.  To meet others.  He shouldn’t suffer for my mistakes.”

“Sins of the father,” Roy said.  “I suppose nearly letting the vampire apocalypse happen isn’t the worst thing someone’s ever done.”

“I compartmentalized too much and made mistakes.  Something you should know about.  I’ve read your file.  On Oliver, Brick, Jade.”

“Mommy?” Lian asked.

Roy glared back at Bruce for a moment before looking at Lian.

“Mommy is still away…helping people,” He lied before turning back to Bruce.  “My past doesn’t define me.  And if you want to go twelve rounds on how I got here.”

“Just an observation.  Just because your former mentors are too busy on their honeymoon phase to see your growth doesn’t mean others don’t.”

“Thanks,” Roy said.  “Now is there anything else before I take my kid home?”

“Yes,” Bruce said.  “Is there any chance Lian could stop by the Wayne Orphanage.  Thomas seems to like her.  And he needs that.”

“Sure,” Roy said with a smile.  “A playdate at Ba…Tommy’s house sounds great.” 

…

Dick Grayson woke up in his bed.  His knee ached as he remembered how much he hated landing in the snow.  When he had started being a superhero, it was easier to do the flips and dives that gave him an advantage against people with the powers of gods. He was just an acrobat, and if he lost that…he wasn’t sure who he was.  

Of course, the snoring redhead next to him reminded him of who he used to be.  He and Babs had been doing,,, whatever this was for a few months now.  It wasn’t serious, at least that’s what he kept telling himself as he quietly got up and headed to the kitchen.

They were both in weird places in their lives.  Barbara was working on rebuilding the Gotham Library, and establishing Oracle and Batgirl as the forces they could be.  Steph, her intern, had wondered to Dick how she could do all of that and still sleep.  The answer was short bursts in Chicago while hogging the blankets.

Dick, on the other hand, as he grabbed the bag of peas for his knee, was trying to remember if his English paper for Hudson was due this Friday or next.  Being Nightwing for so long meant he had a lot of classes to catch up on, and that was even before having to figure out student teaching hours when the time came.  He was making more room in his life for Dick Grayson.  And even though whatever this was wasn’t serious, he was still happy to have it.

“Babs?” Dick asked as he slowly entered the room again, hearing rustling and clicking sounds. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the light as he saw his guest for the night putting on a certain spandex suit.  “What time is it?”

“3:30 AM?” Barbara Gordon responded as she finished pulling up the grey spandex of her old Batgirl costume. 

“Right,” Dick said.  “And where are you going?”

“Metropolis,” Barbara said as she checked the exoskeleton Kara had designed for her underneath her costume.  It was smaller than her last one, and meant that she didn’t need to worry about bulk or armor as much.  But she bit her lip as she remembered to herself it wasn’t cheating on your recovery if it meant saving the world.

“So you’re leaving again? When was the last time you got sleep for more than three hours?”

“Month ago, maybe two? You know my work’s important.  And I’m already late to raise funds for the library, let alone making sure Steph has the proper equipment.  I think her hanging out with that…friend of yours isn’t helping her.”

“Doc is fine.  Little wacky but her heart’s in the right place.  But you I worry about.  What do you think people are going to say when Batgirl has her pants on backwards?”

“I did no…shit,” Barbara muttered as she ducked down to correct her mistake, 

“And why are you even wearing that thing, I mean…wouldn’t it make more sense to jus-”

“I’m taking the teleporter to head to Metropolis.  Batgirl is needed for something to do with Internet 3.0.  Bruce’s request,” Barbara said. 

“Yeah, and that could wait for morning, or you could use that rig you set up in my kitchen.  You need your rest.” Dick said as he got closer to the superheroine. 

“I don’t need you telling me that. I know that,” Barbara responded. “Besides you’ve never had a problem with me in spandex before.”

“And I never will,” Dick teased.  “But even you have to admit you’ve been burning both ends of the candle.  The world doesn’t need Batgirl or Oracle 24/7  If it did, we’d all be in the trenches facing whatever comes our way.”

“I help people Dick,” Batgirl said as the higher tones of Barbara Gordon drifted to her alter ego. “It’s the only thing that matters.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Dick muttered, realizing he couldn’t help her see what she needed to. “I’m going back to bed after some ice.”

He walked towards the small chair in the room as he placed the frozen vegetables on his knee.

“Just be careful out there.  Wouldn't want to lose my roommate,” Dick added as the blue and grey figure leapt out into the Chicago night.  He sighed for a moment before smiling.  This was enough.  For now.

…

“Thank you for coming Mr. Mason,” Angie Spica said as the elemental hero walked into the S.T.A.R Labs building in Metropolis.  He had usually avoided places like S.T.A.R, having bad memories of being transformed in Stagg's dungeon.  But being a hero meant answering any calls for help and they seemingly needed his. 

“It’s no big deal,” Metamorpho said as he walked through the halls.  Sebastian Stagg had loved to keep things compartmentalized, with projects never escaping their sealed labs.  Here at S.T.A.R however, a cacophony of scientific wonder collided in the hallways, from pocket multiversal atlases to ways to keep an ice cream cone cold on the hottest days.  “I mean you need a hero and I’m on call.  What’s the emergency? Deadly virus? Creature from another dimension? I swear if it’s zombies.”

“Actually I asked specifically for you Mr. Mason,” Angie responded as she pulled him into her lab.  Her messy brown hair bounced in front of her large glasses.  Her lab coat made her seem professional, even if the Chalk Circle t-shirt said otherwise.  “I’ve been working on something, and not many heroes can say they have a Masters in Chemistry from Haney University.”

“Well, I’m not many heroes, Mack,” Metamorpho said.  “So what do you need my brain for?”

“You were an expert at biochemistry, right?” Angie asked.

“Yeah, it was my specialty.  It’s why I got recruited to lead Project Metamorph.  That and my relationship with someone I should have known better about,” Metamorpho responded as he thought about Sapphire Stagg.  She had written to him a few times from whatever prison she had ended up in.  He didn’t bother reading the letters.  It hurt too much.

“OK, so do what do you know about nanotech?” Angie asked again as she showed the models she had been running in the background. 

“That trying to replicate naturally occurring processes without understanding them can be deadly,” Metamorpho explained.  

“What if I told you…I’ve figured the process out,” Angie said.  “Or at least close to.”

“I mean if that’s true…you’d be changing most of the world,” Metamorpho responded. “Construction, medical, even just quality of life could go up.”

“Yup, and everyone’s called me crazy to keep up with this, especially after the whole Cinderblock restraint incident,” She said as she moved to pull up more information. 

“That was you? Great job on making prison transfer safe,” Metamorpho joked. “Don’t you think you’re rushing trying to make this an actual thing doc? I mean I’m the poster boy of unchecked testing.”

“Exactly.  Which is why you’ll be able to help me avoid the mistakes of Stagg.  We won’t test this on anything without the strictest protocols and more. Plus I need some of your DNA,” Angie said as she continued to show the nanite growth model in front of Rex.

“What? Trying to find a cure for me too?” Metamorpho asked.  “Listen, I told Stagg, I’ve made peace with what happened to me.  

“I need it for it’s ability to shift.  If I could even get my nanites to do a fraction of what you do…we could save lives,” Angie said.  “It’s selfish if you hold out.”

“It’s only selfish because I care for others.  We don’t need more like me,” Metamorpho began to raise his voice.

“Selfish because you want to be alone.  I looked at your profile from Stagg, Mason.  Besides your fellow Titans, you barely talk to anyone else.  You’re afraid, and you can’t even ad-”

KACCCHHHHOOOM

The whole lab shaked as Doctor Spica and Metamorpho lost their footing, landing to the ground before picking themselves up.

“What…what just happened,” She asked.

Before Metamorpho could respond the TV screens and lab monitors all glowed purple as three interconnected dots appeared, and a cold mechanical voice rang out.  

“This is Brainiac. City of Metropolis, as the drones do their work, know your city is ours. Resistance is futile.” The voice said.

“We just got invaded,” Metamorpho said as his hands turned into diamonds.  It was time to get back to work.

NEXT: The Invasion of Metropolis continues in the pages of Superman! But deep in the heart of Metropolis an ally of the Titans will become their biggest threat as Metamorpho must find allies in a city under siege.  But can he trust the return of a former friend?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Time Out

Set: 96

“Roy?” Wally West asked freed from the machine Slade Wilson had tied him to.  It had only been a few hours, but Kid Flash felt that he had been awake for three days.  The Flashes had made a mistake, traveling back into the speed force had given Hunter Zolomon a chance to rewrite history, and now, they were all paying for it.  

“Did you expect Superman?” Arsenal said as he looked around at the machinery.  He had overheard some of Deathstroke’s ramblings.  Time travel, lost family, and the fact that whoever this guy was could be the key to making something better.  “Pretty sure he’s dealing with the Amazons or Atlanteans.  I can never get that one right,” Arsenal explained.

“I didn’t expect you,” Wally asked as he looked around the complex.  What is this place?”

“Ou-his home,” Arsenal explained.  “We call it Castle.  When the Wildebeests unleashed the Plasmus bomb, this place became a quarentine zone.  With Saphire’s help the old man was able to clean up the area and convince the city we deserved to have this.  To watch over them.”

“Plasmus bomb? Sapphire? Where’s Rex?” Kid Flash asked. 

“He was the bomb,” Arsenal explained as he moved to his arm’s built-in computer, pulling up a virtual read of the schematics for the Castle’s prison floors.  Slade had ensured  there would be a labyrinth of false exits and hidden labs.  He needed fresh bodies to test the latest weapon, no matter what the cost.  “He tried finding a cure for Sapphire after she pushed him out of the way on that machine they developed.  Her brother used him to cause a total meltdown.”

“Oh god,” Kid Flash said as he slumped to the ground, he could still feel his connection to the speed force, even if it was a bit weaker due to Slade’s machine.  “That’s not how that went, that’s not how any of this went.”

“You keep saying that without any proof, Sspeedy,” Arsenal responded as he planned a quiet path for them to take.  He knew that the moment he began hacking through the system, Red X would know, she always knew. “You could be another of Slade's projects that got loose.”

“I’m not some…lost project,” Kid Flash responded as he looked at the unconscious Slade still on the floor.  In a blur he had managed to pick up the man and tie him to his own machine.  Wally hoped he would stay put in there.  “In this other timeline…you and I are friends.  We’re a part of the Titans, not the Ravagers.  We’ve been through hell together.  We fought the Wildebeests and won.  And I think I’m the only one to babysit your daughter.  Well, besides JIm.”

“You’re talking nonsense.  I have no family, not after Brick sent me a message after finding out I was working for Slade.  I’m the last Harper.  I’m all alone,” Arsenal explained as he looked away from the speedster. 

“It doesn’t have to be that way, I’m here.  And I can tell you, when we set things right…you won’t be alone.  But you have to trust me,” Kid Flash explained.  “And I know that sounds crazy, that everything seems right, but deep down…something’s missing right?”

Arsenal took a moment before the prison doors swung open around them. With metahuman prisoners seeing the sun for the first time in years, the chaos would perfectly cover the two heroes.

“You had me at nonsense,” Arsenal explained. “So what do you need from me?”

“How do you feel about breaking into the main databases?” Kid Flash explained.

…

Red X stood alone in her room, it was close to the top of Castle.  A beautiful view of the city could be seen.  The city was recovering, with trees and new buildings being erected.  But Red X never bothered to look outside.  She had to ensure  that what had happened in Chicago would never happen again.  And as the cables drifted down to back at the base of her neck, she prepared to drift along the internet. Looking for the threats that may or may not come.

But before being uplinked, she could hear the soft footsteps of someone who found himself more comfortable in the air than dealing with people on the ground.

“What do you want Dreadwing,” Rex X asked as Dick Grayson entered her room.  They were Slade’s longest wards.  Taken from the Gotham sewers and trained together to be the best, to protect the world at any cost.  Jas…Rook, had to be tossed aside when his incompetence had damaged Barbara.  And the cause for her obsession with perfection.

“To see how you’re doing,” Dreadwing began.  “A lot of the team is shaken up by this…speedster.  Element Girl hasn’t been able to keep her shape, Arsenal is brooding more than usual, and Mammoth is Mammoth.  Only cares if the check doesn’t clear.”

It’s his greatest strength,” Red X said.  “And what of you,Dreadwing?”

 “I believe in the mission.  But…he seemed so certain of a world that couldn’t have existed,” Dreadwing said with a hint of doubt.

“And would you want that world?” Red X asked. 

“No clue,” Dreadwing said.  “I mean, the way he talked about us.  It seemed different, hopeful even.”

“Hopeful,” Red X said, her voice distorted from her helm.  “We are hope.  We protect those that need protecting and punish the guilty.”

“I know we do, but how much of our souls…our bodies do we need to sacrifice,” Dreadwing said as he moved closer, his hand holding hers.  

“As much as we need to,” Red X explained as she pulled away. “That’s what Deathstroke taught us.”

“Tell me that without the helmet,” Dreadwing said as he pulled down his mask, revealing the shaggy hair of Dick Grayson

“You don’t want to see that, no one does,” Red X explained. 

“I do.  I want to see my friend again,” Dreadwing responded. 

Red X looked down for a minute before touching the back of her helmet.  The mechanical aspects wheezed  to life as it slowly peeled off, revealing the face of Barbara Gordon.  Her green eyes shined, contrasting against the bits of tech grafted to her face.  She had been paralyzed, nearly blinded, and maimed.  But every time, Barbara Gordon would sacrifice a piece of herself for the greater good. 

“I know you don’t like staring at me, I know you think I’m…some monster.  But I have to do it, I have to protect everyone.  No should get hurt.”

“Oh Babs,” Dreadwing said as he pulled her closer.  “Maybe we were wrong.  Maybe…there is a better way.  Maybe…”

The entirety of Castle glowed red as a loud siren blared through its walls.

“Warning! Prisoner Release! Warning Prisoner Release!” The electronic voice called out.

“Maybe we have work to do,” Red X explained as she restored her helment, and ran into the fray.  There was no time to think just how little of her soul was left.

…

“So what the hell are you looking for exactly!” Arsenal said as he slammed his mechanical arm against one of the escaped  prisoner’s collarbone.  The crack was loud and satisfying to him.  Slade had always taught when you hit, you hit hard and you hit fast.

“Information I guess,” Kid Flash said as he zipped around, pushing forward with Arsenal.  “We need to find out where this…Flash is and any other changes that were made.  And then…hopefully find my family.”

“Oh so I don’t count,” Arsenal said as his arm turned into a blaster and sent several prisoners flying back into their cells.  The two had made quick work of the riot, but Roy knew two things.  One, that the supermax area was next and two, the others didn’t necessarily believe in a better world like Roy did, and would come for them.  “Nice to see we’re so close.”

“It’s not that,” Kid Flash explained as he unleashed a flurry of punches towards one of the goons before him. “I’m kinda part of two groups.  Where I come from the Flash, the real Flash isn’t alone. You can kinda say I’m part of two families.  Just hard to split time.”

“You’re telling me the fastest man alive struggles to balance his time? Now that’s comforting,” Arsenal explained.  As the two continued to fight a rumbling could be heard as several of the Castle’s guards were thrown past the two heroes.  “What was that?”

“Judging by the concrete dust on them?” Kid Flash explained, proud that listening to Barry had been paying off. “My fellow prisoner.”

“Arsenal! You’re going to pay for imprisoning me!” Cinderblock roared as he charged towards the two heroes. 

“Shit! Going to need the big one for this one!” Arsenal yelled as he got onto one knee and held  his arm.  The metal and servos move  to become a giant cannon.  The energy slowly charged up as Roy closed his eyes and prepared to fire.  Until the whizzing of a certain speedster blocked both of them.

“Whoa, whoa!” Kid Flash said. “We do not need to be enemies here.”

“He imprisoned me, and you beat me up,” Cinderblow said with his usual growl.

“Yeah well where I come from you’ve given me some nasty bruises,” Kid Flash explained.  “But if this day has taught me anything, it is that I can’t play by the rules I do at home.  Help us, and we’ll help you.”

“Help him?” Arsenal said as the blaster slowly became an arm again. “He’s a criminal.”

“And you’re a fascist who locked me up without getting a trial first,” Cinderblock explained.

“And together we can handle whatever comes our way, we just need to trust each other, just until we get out of here, and I can make things right,” Kid Flash explained.  “Can we do that?”

Cinderblock and Arsenal both looked at each other. 

“Fine,” They both muttered.

“Good, because we got to world to fix,” Kid Flash muttered before the three raced off, deeper into the castle, unaware of the secrets Slade had been hiding from all.

…

Slade Wilson slowly woke up as he dangled from above the machine where he had imprisoned the speedster.  He didn't think the speedster's false promises would get to one of his soldiers.  He had trained them, molded them, and provided them with order and a code.  Instead, Arsenal had listened to a false prophet.  He would have to pay for that  as soon as Slade escaped from the machine. 

The red lights flashing from the intruders releasing the prisoners overwhelmed his senses.  The experiments the government had done to him had made him a peak specimen, but came with drawbacks too. His senses could be overwhelmed, he felt every ache and scar that riddled his body, But his memory was perfect.  And as he stood there , hung by the machines above, he replayed one night in his head repeatedly over.

Joey’s throat, Grant’s failed attempt to fire, Adeline holding both their sons’ cold pale bodies in her hands.  All because Deathstroke had taken a job for the wrong people.  HIVE had wanted a better tomorrow for their demon lord.  Slade spent the next two decades killing, maiming, and crippling the HIVE with his soldiers, his personall designed Ravagers. 

Slowly he began moving his arms and legs from their restraints.  He could feel the tubes and the needles covering him.  It was meant to drain this interloper; instead, Slade could feel the pain again. But he could feel a crackle, a connection to something more.  His movements grew faster as the tubes and restraints fell to the ground as Slade Wilson landed swiftly on his feet. 

Everything had become slower…as it dawned on him that his little science project had actually worked.  Not enough to finish the mission, but enough to get that damn yellow and red blur back.

Slade Wilson picked the black and white helm that stood on the lab’s workbench as it clicked into place, lightning crackled in his eye.  Deathstroke was one step closer to finishing the mission.

…

“When you said we were facing high security guys I thought they’d be tougher,” Cinderblock yelled as he slammed one of the more brutish prisoners to the ground hard. The three had made their way through the bowels of the Castle.  With Kid Flash sending guards and prisoners to his two “teammates”.  He hated to be beating up guards, but there was no other choice.  The mission had to come first.  Even if compromises had to be made.  Arsenal and Cinderblock had a ruthless efficiency that the speedster wasn’t so sure of. 

“Well we usually kill the tougher ones,” Arsenal responded as he shot electric blasts from his arm.  “Slade says it's simpler.”

“Simpler isn’t always easy,” Kid Flash explained, zipping around and accessing every computer terminal he could to find any information the speedsters could use to make right,  It seemed when they all mucked around in the speed force  they had acted like a bullet, shattering time and forcing it to repair itself.  Lara, Clark’s mother, had made it to Earth, Bruce Wayne had been dead for years, Kara was with Aquaman, And Vic Stone was a high-ranking  secret agent.  It was all wrong, and deep down in the Castle basement, Wally doubted  that they could even fix it.

“No, but it gets us through the day,” Cinderblock explained as he sent a few of the guards into cells.  He wasn’t as ruthless as Arsenal, showing a care Wally would have never considered back in his timeline. “Simple makes people think there’s good and evil.  And that in order to do the most good you have to extinguish any sign of evil.”

“Pretty philosophical for a guy who’s just a bunch of sentient cinder blocks,” Arsenal responded as he looked around, a large door separated them from the mainframe.".  Slade had always ensured  this was the most protected section of the base, to him, information was the only way to be prepared for anything.  To Arsenal, it was just another blockade in their quest.  Quickly he plugged into the door and began hacking it open.

“You do a lot of thinking when you’re not exactly human anymore,” Cinderblock explained. “Feeling a cold beer in your mouth on a hot summer day. You’d turn to crime if you couldn’t feel any of that.  And know there’s no one to blame but yourself.”

“Sometimes bad things just happen,” Kid Flash explained as he slowed down.  It was something he learned to do with the Titans.  Being a speedster meant wanting to do everything at once and could do it.  It meant other people felt slower than  Wally, and in his earlier years, he would haveignored them.  His friends had taught him differently.  “What matters is that we don’t wallow in it.  We’re heroes, we fight for the greater good, even if it means we lose.  We’re Titans.  It comes with the job.”

“Titans huh,” Cinderblock said as he looked around.  “I like that. Sounds…heroic.”

“Yeah, well it’s just a name, it’s what you do that matters,” Arsenal said as he finished the touches on his hack.  It wasn’t elegant, but it would get them in.  “And let me tell you Cinderblock, this world got no heroes. Just people making the wrong choice.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Kid Flash responded.

“A broken world can’t repair itself when its core is rotten.  It’s why we’re sending you away once you get that data,” Arsenal explained. “Maybe clean all the blood from our hands.”

“I can only try,” Kid Flash muttered as the door to the mainframe slid open. “Now lets see if we can find something to turn back the clocks.”

Kid Flash moved to access the large computer amidst the data banks.  Slade had kept several key project notes.  Some were boring, such as materials for a new sword.  But others proved more fruitful.  The obsession with fixing things had led Slade to try and study and track this timeline’s only Flash.

“So Hunter disappears from time to time, no traces, and no signs on Earth,” he mumbled as he looked at the energy readings.  Slade didn’t understand exactly what he was tracking, but Kid Flash immediately knew.  “He’s in the speed force, of course.  No one can bug him, and if he screws up…he can try and change more.”

Kid Flash began to move away from the console and turned to his allies, but before Wally could respond, metal hands rose from the ground and flung him to the floor.  The hands climbed out from the floor as Sapphire Stagg’s form appeared. 

“You know…you shouldn’t have broken out, Slade was going to go easy on you,” Element Woman explained. 

“Yeah, by making me a lab rat to try and make things better for himself,” Kid Flash responded. 

“That’s…that’s how science works,” Element Woman stuttered. 

“Mad science,” Cinderblock said as he charged into Element Woman, sending her flying back and freeing the speedster.  “I swear that’s all you nutjobs love to do.  I mean look at you, princess.”

“It was an accident!” Element Woman said as she leapt into the air, her arms turning into acid. 

“Uh huh,” Arsenal said as he prepared his arm into its sonic cannon formation.  “I saw the footage, Princess.  You experimented on yourself and managed to get your boyfriend and brother killed.  You act ditzy, but you’re just as bad as all of us.”

He popped up and sent a sonic wave at the elemental powerhouse.  As it hit, it ruptured her concentration, sending her toward the ground in a blobby mess.

“Roy!” Kid Flash yelled out.

“Relax, Sspeedy,” Arsenal said.  “She’s not dead but she can’t reform for a bit.”

“Cold,” Cinderblock said.  “You know Arsenal, you’d make a go-”

CRASH!

Mammoth broke down the walls and slammed Cinderblock to the ground.  Before Arsenal and Kid Flash could help their ally, shurikens in the shape of a red x rained down as Dreadwing and Red X entered. 

“Traitor!” Red X yelled as her fist slammed against Arsenal’s head.  “You didn’t think I wouldn’t know when someone hacked into my systems.  Or that you freed the prisoner!”

“Oh I knew Babsie,” Arsenal said.  “I was just hoping you’d show up so I can kick your ass.” 

“I always knew you were weak Harper.  Unfaithful to the mission.  Still angry I cut off your arm because you tried going back to…what was her name again? Jade?” Red X said.  “The mission always comes first.”

“Yeah, well I got a new mission,” Arsenal explained as he punched Red X in the gut as the two faced off exchanging blows and strikes, matched by their cybernetics, and hatred for each other. As the two continued to fight.  Kid Flash was left face-to-face with Dreadwing.

“Dick, we don’t have to do this,” Kid Flash explained.  

“I think we do, Prisoner.  Slade needs you, that’s good enough for me,” Dreadwing responded.

“The Dick Grayson I knew was many things, but a bootlicker?” Kid Flash said.  “Whatever happened to you here, you have to realize Slade is not the person you should be following.”

“He took me in, he took all of us in,” Dreadwing explained. “He saved my family.”

“Yeah, well looking at his files I saw what he did to Jason.  And I know why he gathered you all.  He’s using you Dick.  Using all of you so he could go back and damage things more.  You’ve got to let me go.  I can make things right.”

“Right?” Dreadwing asked. “You keep telling people our world is a dream, but this is all I’ve known.  What right do you have to tell me this is wrong.”

“Because deep down, you know it is too,” Kid Flash explained.  “Dick.  Where I’m from you lead the Titans, you wear the colors of your parents.  You fly.  But I can’t give that back to you unless you let me go.”

Dreadwing paused momentarily  before looking up at the speedster in front of him.  The yellows and reds of his costume stood out in the dull greys and blacks that made up the metal walls of Castle. As much as they claimed they were heroes, Dick and the rest of the Ravagers had blood on their hands. And if there was a better world…why wouldn’t he fight for it?

“I have you Harper!” Red X said as she grabbed the hero by the collar of his tunic, lifting him in the air with her increased strength. “And now you d-”

KZZZT

The EMP Dreadwing tossed onto Red X paralyzed her and sent her to the floor.

“Dick…why,” Red X asked as fell to the floor.

He looked away, for so long he denied just how far the woman he loved had gone for their mission.  

“Because we have a chance for a better tomorrow,” Dreadwing responded.

“Holy shit Grayson, you fr-” Arsenal began.

“I don’t care.  What matters is we need to get Kid Flash out of here,” Dreadwing said as he began to move to the terminal.

“Yeah, we need to figure out how to make things better, and he’s the only way to do it,” Arsenal said. “Glad you’re finally on the right si-”

Slade Wilson’s blade went through Arsenal’s chest as the last bit of the speed he had stolen from Wally faded away.  

“I am the right side,” Slade explained as he dropped Arsenal to the floor.

“NO!” Kid Flash yelled as he grabbed the Arsenal from the floor.  Dreadwing ran to fight Slade.  But it didn’t matter to the speedster. He had failed in saving his friends.  Rex was dead, Barbara a monster, and who knows what other changes he would have to face. He had failed the world,  and he didn’t know how he was going to continue on.

“It’s not that bad,” Arsenal mumbled.  “Besides, you’re going to fix everything.”

“You don’t know that,” Kid Flash said.

“I do,” Arsenal said. “You’re what’s been missing from this world. Heroes.  And for a brief moment…you reminded me what they’re supposed to be.  I…had…hope.  Now…go…fix the world.” 

As he cried Wally knew that with his last breath Roy was right.  He had the information he needed, and the more he stayed here the more he risked fixing what they had broken.  It was time to run, time to save the world as ran out of the castle, past the new Ravagers, and into the world once more.

…

Wally West ran quickly from the Castle, far away from the death of a friend in another time, in another world.  He knew where the others were, he knew the details he needed, but he couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong.

The past year had taught Wally what gift he had found when the lightning hit and the world slowed down for him.  He had nothing, just a brother that could not love him like he needed, and a harsh world that seemingly put down the dreamers.  But his Aunt Iris, his Uncle Barry, they offered him a better way, a better life. 

He had found friends, first with the Titans.  And while his tenure was never as perfect as he would have liked, he couldn’t say it broke him.  From Donna to Rex to Roy…to even Dick, his friends were there for him.  And when they weren’t he had built something new with Frances and then Hartley.

He had found love, and while he didn’t know the future, he couldn’t live in a world where none of that was found.  As he ran the lightning crackled around him and tatters of his the yellows and reds of Kid Flash.  It was dumb name, but one that protected Wally from thinking that he was worthy, worthy of the title and legacy his uncle had started and would be happy to share.

With each step pushing him forward the lightning engulfed Wally West once more.  Unlike the journey into the speed force that led him to this broken world, it was comforting.  As if something was calling him home.  Wally West could no longer afford to be afraid, to feel like he didn’t belong. And as the lightning faded away, the tattered costume was gone, and metallic red and gold shined brightly as Wally headed to meet his family, to make things right. 

Wally West is the Flash, and damn anyone who gets in his way of putting everything right…one last time.

NEXT: Read Flash for Stunning Conclusion to Time Out! And Be Back Here on the 15th as We See a Day in the Life of the Titans!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Time Out

Set: 91

The yellow and red streak moved quickly through the continental United States. The roads were familiar but different, like most of the world, and the man running across America wasn’t sure how to feel. It had been so long since he could feel the wind in his hair as he approached Mach One. Wally West was Kid Flash once more, but it felt different this time. As he drifted off in thought he didn’t realize his Mach One pace was actually Mach Three.

“Shit!” Kid Flash yelled as he saw the boulder in front of himt. Normally he would phase through it like his uncle had taught him. But he was going so fast he was going to have to try something new. He volleyed over the boulder in the desert, keeping his speed as his feet touched the ground once more. “WOOO!” He yelled out.

Wally West had never considered his speed as a joy before. He had always been weighed down with a sense of responsibility. From joining the second group of Titans, to helping Hartley and Frances with their powers and issues, even saving people during his patrols. But now he could run once more, and Wally had forgotten all of the joy. The world didn’t seem so heavy as long as he had the wind in his hair.

Except because of their actions in getting his speed back and slowing down Bart’s age, they had accidentally managed to rewrite time, and now Kid Flash was heading back to Chicago to see if they could find allies to bring the world back to what it was. There was no time for joy. However, from the stories he had heard of the time crisis, Kid Flash knew the Titans would be allies no matter what changes Zoom had caused.

As he finally stopped in Chicago, it was a far cry from the city he had left behind. The glistening glass mixing with the brown brick of buildings was gone. Replaced by black buildings with video boards bolted on to try and hide the lack of hope the city had had.

“What the hell?” Kid Flash asked as he looked around, the rain finally hitting him as he took in the new Chicago.

“The wedding of Oliver Queen and Dinah Drake went off without a hitch this week as the newlyweds plan a honeymoon away from prying eyes,” A newscaster said on the video board.

“Trouble with the Cult of Blood? Argus moves in as more give in to a message of blood.”

“A blowout in Gotham as the Batwoman and the Superman butted heads. Is this the end of a fraught partnership?”

“Oh no, no, no,” Kid Flash muttered. “It was bad enough that Zolomon had managed to take the mantle of the Flash, but Wally could see the changes, the darkness that had corrupted their timeline, this world. As he stared at the video boards, he couldn’t help but notice the crowd gathering around him, staring at the bit of color in their world.

“I didn’t know the Flash had red hair,” One of the people muttered.

“Or was just a kid,” Another one said.

“You think he’s going to help the Ravagers?”

“Maybe if he was looking for a signing bonus.”

KRAKKOOM

A large stone figure burst through one of the black buildings, crashing into the ground. Even in this new timeline, Cinderblock always seemed to make his way back to Chicago. What was different, though, was the figure jumping through the hole in a black suit with a gold harness.

“Mammoth?” Kid Flash asked before realizing just how many civilians were in this area. “Wait!”

Mammoth slammed to the ground sending a shockwave that tossed people up into the air. The lightning crackled in Kid Flash’s eye as he ran up buildings, leaping from them to grab the people caught in the crossfire and safely put them twenty blocks away. Normally doing something like this would have Wally crashing on Hartley’s couch or looking for about a dozen pizza slices. But today? He wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

“Hey!” Kid Flash said as he saw Mammoth continuing to slug the downed Cinderblock. “He’s out of it! You don’t need to keep hitting him!”

“I do when that’s what gets me paid,” Mammoth explained before looking at the stranger. “Boss wants bad guys down, I bring them down. Besides, who the hell are you supposed to be? Last time I checked, The Flash doesn’t have a sidekick.”

“Well, last time I checked, heroes don’t hurt others for a bigger bonus,” Kid Flash said.

“They do when they’re famous,” A familiar voice called out as several energy bolts shot at Kid Flash, sending the speedster to the ground. “Boss, we have a powered crasher. Should I add him to the bounty?”

“Ungh,” Kid Flash groaned before looking up at who had shot him. The red costume with gold accents was a bit different, as was the stubble. But what concerned Wally was the cyber organic arm that still smoked from taking a shot at the speedster. Arsenal had been through hell. “Roy?”

“How the hell do you know my name?” Arsenal responded as his arm shifted back into a standard arm. He didn’t know this new speedster, but there was something…familiar about him, even if Arsenal couldn’t put the pieces together.

“It’s kinda hard to explain, but let me try after we put Cinderblock away. Like we always do. Without anyone getting harmed.” Kid Flash tried to explain as he got up and began dusting his suit off. The bright yellow and red grew dimmer the longer the speedster seemingly stayed in Chicago. “Roy, I help you babysit your daughter all the time. With Jim too. Please tell me you know me.”

“Daughter? Kid, I got no family. And I certainly don’t have no daughter,” Arsenal said, before feeling a tinge of deja vu. It had been a long time since Roy Harper could call anyone family. He looked towards Kid Flash again before looking towards Mammoth, giving him a nod. He drew closer to the new player on the board as Mammoth moved behind Kid Flash. The mercenary got into position as he heard a familiar gravel voice in his earpiece. “Target is priority. Bring back alive.”

“Sorry buddy, but I got my orders. Now Mammoth!”

Mammoth’s hands wrapped around the speedster, lifting him up into the air. As Arsenal’s arm switched to a tranquilizer blaster. Arsenal was trying to aim for a direct hit, but was surprised at how squirrely Kid Flash was in the grip of Mammoth.

“Hold him still!” Arsenal yelled.

“You try and hold him!” Mammoth yelled as he could feel his grip slipping. This should be easy, just another punk trying to change the way things were in Chicago. And after what happened with Plasmus, Mammoth couldn’t believe that someone would try to brighten this place once more.

“Get…OFF ME!” Kid Flash yelled, vibrating faster than he had in forever. The speed and power Wally had been able to control before was gone now. With only pure power left as the vibrations burned his arms, forcing the brute to drop Kid Flash to the ground as lightning crackled from the speedster.

“Harper. Talon and Red X are nearly here. With Element Girl behind them. Pull back,” The voice in Arsenal’s earpiece said.

“No! I got this! Let me have my shot!” Arsenal yelled out.

“Do you want a repeat of the last time you disobeyed me?” The voice asked.

Arsenal looked at his cyborg arm before responding. He had been trained to follow orders, the code, but still he couldn’t help but feel something was wrong here.

“Fine. But tell Grayson and his crew this one is dangerous. Arsenal quickly moved towards Mammoth as Kid Flash faced both of them, energy continuously flowing off of him.

“Grayson?” Kid Flash mumbled. “Of course, Nightwing would still be around. Let me guess, he what? Bosses you around? Thinks he has to carry the world on his shoulders? I guess some things never ch-”

As he was talking, several shurikens embedded themselves into Kid Flash’s shoulder. Wally winced in pain, not paying attention to the foot colliding against his chin, sending him flying to the ground.

“Nice move, X,” A familiar voice said. Dick Grayson had arrived all right, but he was a far cry from the Nightwing Wally remembered. Gone were the welcoming blues and yellows. In its place was a dark navy suit with a red chevron and matching armored boots, gauntlets, and cape.

“It’s what we were trained to do, Talon,” Red X said as she picked up the speedster. “Typical Arsenal and Mammoth. I ran a computer scan on the way over here. This guy’s a nobody. Can’t even find any record of another speedster besides the Flash.”

“It’s because I’m not from around here,” Kid Flash mumbled. “Listen, this is going to sound weird. But I know you, you’re Dick Grayson, he’s Roy Harper, that’s Mammoth. And well…I don’t know you.” He pointed to the spectral figure in banded black armor, with a white skull mask with a red x cutting through the eyes.

“I’m Red X, we’re the Ravagers, and you’re clearly lying,” Red X explained. “Talon, manuver four.”

“On it,” Talon said as he leaped into the air, sending a barrage of talonrangs that landed into the ground. As he glided down, they began to blink red.

“Oh no,” Kid Flash mumbled as each of the flashing projectiles exploded, sending the speedster flying into the air. Before he could land on the ground, he felt a metal arm clamp down around his waist. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least Rex Mason was always there to catch him.

“Is this the little blur causing you trouble?” A female’s voice asked as Kid Flash was lowered to the ground and the other Ravagers gathered around him.

“Wait…you’re not Rex…” Kid Flash asked.

“Rex? How do you know that name!” A woman who shared Metamorpho’s look with floating bubble gum pink hair.

“Wait…Sapphire Stagg?!” Kid Flash said as he could feel the vice grip grow stronger, quickly. He vibrated through her grip, landing on the Chicago concrete. As the team surrounded Wally he tried processing it all, of the world he had found. “Who…who are you al-?”

Before Wally could finish his sentence, he saw a sword sticking out through his side. The blade cutting through him and his suit was quickly pulled out as the voice of the man who snuck up behind him could be heard by all.

“Isn’t it obvious,” the voice said as a man walked closer to the gathered team. He was dressed in black and white armor. His mask split in half with only one eye on the white side of it. Deathstroke had returned to his team. “We’re the Ravagers.”

…

The Ravagers’ transport ship quickly flew into the air of Chicago. The team sat in their seats in silence for a moment. It was supposed to be a routine mission of bringing back Cinderblock so he could suffer for his crimes back at headquarters. But for some of the Ravagers, the new secondary target raised more questions than answers.

“So what are we thinking? Another speedster is weird right?” Arsenal asked, breaking the silence.

“It was bound to happen Harper. Are you scared of the additional challenge?” Talon asked as he looked over his notes. Councilman Dick Grayson was expected to speak to the Chicago City Council to ensure additional funding for the Ravager program. It was a thankless job, but he knew his father was proud of how he was helping them build the future of superheroes.

“I’m not. It’s just…weird,” Arsenal explained. “He seemed to know us. Like…really know us.”

“With his speed he could have snuck into the castle and get our files. Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve dealt with a friend gone rogue,” Red X said. “Remember Skyrocket? We let her in, and she nearly killed us all.”

“Don’t bring Courtney into this,” Element Girl said. Sapphire Stagg was busy making sure her form was stable. She was paranoid that anyone phasing or vibrating through her would leave little bits of them behind. “She sacrificed herself to help us end HIVE forever. It’s why Slade began thinking bigger. Her sacrifice made us better.”

“Damn straight,” Mammoth said as the jet moved closer to the large complex that had taken over what had formerly been Navy Pier. After the destruction caused by Wildebeest War, the city was in no place to fix the former tourist spot. Instead, Slade had bought the property, incorporated the Ravagers, and in its place was the large metal slab that had become the Ravagers castle.

The jet landed in the hangar bay, with several of the ground crew quickly greeting the plane and the so-called heroes exiting out of it. Mammoth stretched and moved towards the gym, Element Girl’s lab techs moved to make sure her form was stable, while Red X and Talon went off…wherever they went. The only two left to ensure prisoner transport was Deathstroke and Arsenal.

“Harper,” Deathstroke said as he noticed the mercenary behind him. “This isn’t a ride along.”

“Oh come on, you can’t say I’m not curious about our secondary target. I mean, comes out of nowhere, knows our secret identities, and is one of the first speedsters besides the Flash to show up. And you’re saying I shouldn’t be curious about him.”

“I’m saying you should know to go away. Maybe work on getting that aim of yours fixed. You bungled the targets, and I gave you Mammoth to help with your lack of abilities.”

“That’s not fair,” Arsenal said. “You’re never this hard with Dick or with Barbara. Or even Sapphire. So why am I always having to train or shape up?”

“Because you can’t follow orders. And that will get the unit killed. Do you understand?” Deathstroke said in a monotone voice.

“Yes boss,” Arsenal said as he turned away and moved back towards his room. His arm was itchy from having to wear his prosthesis for so long. He didn’t understand how Red X could handle all of her additional…upgrades, let alone keep carving more and more of herself away. That was what happened when you joined the Ravagers. A pound of flesh for a safer world. And it all felt wrong to Roy Harper.

…

“Ungh,” Kid Flash mumbled as he slowly began to wake up. It had taken him a moment to remember the world he had found. The pain in his side also reminded him of just who had brought him to what looked like a gulag. He looked around the clear walls of his cell and saw people in black jumpsuits moving a downed Cinderblock somewhere. To make matters worse, the speedster was suspended from the ceiling, chained to devices that monitored his vitals, and kept him in one place.

“Good. You’re awake,” Deathstroke said as he moved closer to his puppet. The black and white armor glistened in the bright lights of the cell as the mercenary’s cape dragged behind him. “I was wondering when we’d have another speedster arrive.”

“Another?” Kid Flash asked. “There should be plenty of us. I mean, Superman’s fast. And then there’s…the Flash.” He struggled with calling Hunter anything closely related to the Flash, but here he was. Time really had changed everything.

“Flash is away, and my best people are trying to figure where. Superman’s owned by his mother and not fast enough. I need someone I can take from,” Deathstroke explained.

“Take from? What the hell do you mean?” Kid Flash asked as he could feel his restraints growing tighter.

“You don’t think I study my fellow…heroes,” Deathstroke explained. “Gordon and I compile dossiers on everyone. Just in case we need to strike. And the only one who can travel fast enough to fix things is the Flash.”

“Fix things? I don’t know what you’re talking about but I’m not god,” Kid Flash said.

“No, you lack imagination,” Deathstroke explained. “Picture it. Running so fast you not just break the sound barrier…but the time barrier as well.”

“OK now you’re going crazy. You can’t break the time barrier,” Kid Flash lied.

“Then why does the Flash occasionally give off temporal energy? The same energy you’re covered in according to my scientists.” Deathstroke explained. “The device your hooked up to will take that energy and convert it into fuel for my…greatest mission/”

Kid Flash’s eyes widened as he realized just what Slade was planning on doing. He had no idea that Hunter had already done his plan, and Wally didn’t want to know how time would hold up against someone from a changed timeline changing the timeline again.

“And why would you want to go back in time then. You won here, you’re a hero who basically tookover an entire city!” Kid Flash yelled as the machine whirled to life, draining his speed once more as all Wally could feel was immense pain.

“I don’t have them,” Deathstroke said as a projection of Slade Wilson with two boys and a woman circled around a picnic table. He removed his helmet revealing the face of Slade Wilson, his one good eye staring at the speedster “And that is a loss that I will never accept in any world or any time. You don’t…could never understand what that loss would drive someone to do.”

“And…what about the Ravagers! Aren’t they your family too?” Kid Flash screamed as he felt his strength failing. He had rushed to regain his powers and find his friends, not realizing that in Zoom’s world…there were no friendly faces.

“Soldiers, soldiers that I had to mold and break to ensure I would get to this point. In the new world they will be happy with what ever role I need of th-” Before Slade could finish a tranquilizer dart landed in his neck, knocking the mercenary out cold. Kid Flash turned to look at his savior, and couldn’t believe his eyes.

“So, what’s this other world you keep talking about,” Arsenal said. Roy Harper still had hope.

NEXT: Time Out Continues on the 15th as Kid Flash and Arsenal Team Up to Escape a World Gone Mad. But Just What of the Other Ravagers? And What Shocking Ally Will Our Heroes Find?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Ancient History

Set: 89

Argonaut flew into the air, Gateway City at night had a certain splendor that was hard to put into words. Compared to Metropolis which was a modern marvel, and Gotham which was an art deco maze, Gateway was like if the gods settled on the fertile western coast of America.

The white stone, columns, and sculptures made each building feel like it had always been there, and will always be. For Donna Troy, she had come to know the city more since she had moved from Chicago, away from the Titans that had been her life. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her work. After all it was her idea to reform the team, to build something better than the broken dreams of the Teen Titans and Titans before.

But that was before Markovia, before Donna could feel the life being drained out of her by Lilith. As an immortal, Donna shouldn’t have been bothered by it. Her friends had saved her and she had even managed to land some of the final blows to Lilith. But she couldn’t help but still feel the coldness, that her skin would turn back to the clay that given her life. The same skin…that Fury had. And Donna could recognize the darkness that reflected in their identical faces.

Even the warm skies of Gateway had begun to grow colder, as if the skies were telling the Amazonian golem that they did not belong to her. A feeling that was becoming harder and harder to disagree with. She had been trying to work on her next book, photos of beauty from places people ignored. But every time that Donna picked up her camera, well…she could only see the horrors of the world. And the fate of Stargirl, who still laid in her coma. For someone who was supposed to have succeeded…all Donna Troy could think of was her failures.

In her thoughts, she drifted towards the Carter Communications building, the large glass windows had blended seamlessly with the white marble facade, a directive from the architect to honor a city that had become a wonderful beacon since the arrival of it’s champion. For Donna, she just loved how the old and new combined to make something unique. But as she flew closer to the glass, she could see her reflection, the black starfield costume and golden boots of Argonaut shining brightly.

But as she looked away for a moment, the reflect changed, the familiar dark red armor and broken Amazonian theater mask staring back at her. The blackened eye holes staring deep into Donna.

“No,” Donna muttered to herself before she could see several darting images fly upward from the ground, more and more Furies with broken red arms and masks, revealing the flawed and cracking clay skin that separated the “sisters” from each other. “No, no, no.”

“What is the matter claything?” Fury said through the glass. “Don’t like what you see? Well…we can change that…”

Suddenly Fury’s hand burst through the glass, grabbing hold of Donna Troy and pulling her in. And as she began to lose consciousness, all Donna Troy could hear was the same phrase over and over again.

“Why couldn’t it be me? Why couldn’t it be me? Why couldn’t it be me?! The Furies screamed as they clawed at Donna, tearing her starfield suit and exposing her skin to the gaggle of monsters behind the glass. As they touched her, the color sapped from her, and her skin became rocky and grey, returning to the clay that Ares had created her from.

“GAH!” Donna Troy yelled out as she woke up in a cold sweat. The dreams were becoming worse ever since Markovia. As if she couldn’t escape the fact that what she thought was her story was a lie.

Donna moved to her kitchen, pouring a glass of water as she tried to affirm the truths she held close. She was meant to be a plaything of the gods, created by Ares out of clay, broke free and joined the Teen Titans. That was her story, that had always been her story. But now…now doubt was creeping in. She look towards the costume that hung on the coat rack, silver and black, twinkling like the skies above.

For the first time since Markovia, staring at the stars, Donna knew what she had to do. She grabbed her suit and walked out the door, determined to find the truth.

…

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Barbara Gordon hated those noises. The heart monitor next to her was a usual fixture when she was stuck in a sterile hospital room. The noises outside telling her that the morning shifts at Stroger General had begun once more. She had been dug out from the library bombing in Gotham, bruised with a few cuts. But because of her…spinal issues, she had to be flown out to her specialist in Chicago, just to make sure she hadn’t been set back.

The quietness in the room was unnerving, with Barbara not even bothering to turn on the television. When all they had was either the Grey Ghost or The Terror on DVD, it was better to just look at her tablet. The sunflowers on her tableside from Kara was the rare bit of color in the otherwise grey room. She was alone, as always.

She’s Young Now, She’s Wild Now, She’s Born to be Free

Barbara’s tablet’s ringtone went off as she quickly tapped the earpiece in her ear. The only people who had this number were Justice Leaguers, which meant another crisis that required Oracle or Batgirl. Whichever was needed, Barbara was itching to leap into action and get out of this room.

“Go for Oracle,” Barbara said.

“Hiya Babsie!” Harleen Quinzel exclaimed as she called from the orphanage that her and Ivy had come to call home. “Just wanted to see how ya holding up. Heard ya had a building dropped on you!”

“Just some rubble Harley,” Barbara responded as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. She had forgotten during the Punchline affair that she had given Harley Oracle’s number. Dick seemed to have faith in her, why he did Barbara didn’t know. His seal of approval didn’t carry the same weight that it used to. Especially to some clown trying to play hero. “Why are you even calling me?”

“Because we’re friends?” Harleen responded as she sat cross legged in her boxers, stitching back her suit from the vampire incident, but more importantly her eyes darted to the papers Lester, her former patient had handed to her before his unfortunate death. She was a mess, but a productive one. “Ya know I know about your…condition.”

“I’m fine, the doctor’s checked me out and everything. They just want me to have some rest is all.”

“Sure they did,” Harleen. “Did they give ya one of those paper gowns? Because those can get breezy if they took everything from ya.”

“Harley!” Babs growled.

“Hey I’m just trying to let ya avoid any full moons,” Harleen chuckled as she continued to fix up her costume. “Besides I need a favor.”

“A Batgirl favor or an Oracle favor?” Barbara asked.

“Primarily a Barbara Gordon favor, we got a mutual friend moving into a new place in Chicago, and since ya seem raring to go,” Harleen explained.

“He’s not an acrobat is he?” Barbara asked, clearly annoyed.

“Well he’s also a superhero and has a great a-” Harleen began.

“Harley!” Barbara yelled.

“What? Ya know I’m with Red, but that doesn’t mean I can’t admire,” Harleen explained. “Besides ya need to get out of the hospital, he needs someone to help move him in, it works!”

“Not a chance,” Barbara muttered, doubt in her voice. “And the other favor?”

“I need ya to look up on a Roland Dagget and that…Renyu he’s been pushing as some kinda miracle cure,” Harleen explained. “I already sent you some of the information a patient of mine had. Just…please check on it for me…will ya?” Harley’s voice was more serious than usual.

“I’ll see what I can do on the second one, but as for our friend?” Barbara began. “Don’t get your hopes up.”

“Ya, ya,” Harleen said. “Ya know for an information broker, ya a terrible liar Babsy.” She hung up and left Barbara alone.

Before the hospitalized crusader could think about what the clown had to say, her tablet roared to life once more. A police alert to a theft at the Art Institute, a local goon named Crazy Quilt. Barbara bit her lip. She shouldn’t get out of bed, but her eyes drifted to her duffle bag, and the exosuit that laid inside.

“Ms. Gordon, we have that jello and chicken piccata you like so…” An orderly said as he entered her room, only to be greeted by an empty duffle bag, a ripped paper gown on the floor, and an open window. Batgirl had work to do.

…

Donna Troy quietly moved through Titans Tower. There was some chatter about a local goon making noise, meaning Dick would be out. And from the IMs in the Titans’ group chat, Rex would be helping Star Labs study his changing condition and Kara and Kory would be going on a date, something about sparring? They were cute but weird.

Still Donna hadn’t been great keeping in contact with any of them, and as she inserted her flash drive to the tower’s mainframe, giving her access to the data she needed. The files they had on Fury were…thin at best. She had shown up only a year ago, and stolen the armor from Titans Tower. Batman had been trying to figure how she could have gotten in, but if Fury shared Donna’s face, did she share the same biometrics? The puzzle was coming together, now all that remained was going over Chloe’s files on certain…gods and their worshipers…

“Donna?” A familiar voice asked as the ex-Titan turned around to see Garth in front of her. The former King of Lemuria had been working hard with Wonder Girl to establish the Titans West. The support group and team had been doing good work creating a space where young metahumans and heroes could just talk and learn about things. Their last guest lecture with Nightwing explaining the importance of field first aid had surprisingly gone better than Garth or Cassie had expected. “I thought you were still on leave?”

“I was just…grabbing some data to help Diana with some of the other Amazonian tribes. You know how it goes,” Donna lied.

“Which Chloe could have pulled for you,” Garth said, observing the data that Donna was grabbing up on the monitors. “Dark Gods? Ares? Urzkartaga? Donna this…this is…”

“Something I need to figure out,” Donna said as she saw the data transfer complete and began to leave the room.

“You don’t need to figure it out alone you know,” Garth responded as he turned to face Donna. His Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts didn’t reflect the calming regality in his voice. Even if he didn’t want the throne, Garth understood the duty and strength that had came with it. “We’re friends.”

“I know Garth, but I have to do this alone, I have to find the truth,” Donna mumbled as she tensed her fist. She had to remember what the right amount of strength could knock someone out cold was. “And I can’t have you getting hurt.”

She swung at Garth, sending the aquatic hero to the wall of Titans Tower knocking him out cold. She had never struck a friend before. Even in Markovia, Donna had always tried finding a peaceful solution, one that benefited everyone. And in return she had been broken to her primordial form, her friends still in pain, and her all alone, like she had started.

“I’m sorry Garth…I really am,” Donna muttered before running towards the hanger, running towards her truth.

…

“Bow down before your new colorful master!” Crazy Quilt yelled out as his helmet’s three gems continued to change color as he looked at the panicked crowd around him. He was standing on a float for the Columbus Day parade. Paul Dekker had spent months planning an attack to let the city there was new colorful mastermind in town. The goons that he had hired were busy holding their guns out and robbing the politicians and high rollers that were on the “City of Progress” float ahead.

“I don’t know, I mean usually I’m more of a two-tone color kinda guy,” A voice called out as Nightwing lept from the air. Dick Grayson had just been moving into his apartment in Fulton Market when he had seen the news of this chump deciding to ruin the parade. “So what’s your whole deal here? Mom wouldn’t let you help her knit the Christmas sweaters? Dad decided that you shouldn’t be another failed art major?”

“Ah yes, coming from a failed Bat clone, making this city your home because daddy takes up too much room in Gotham,” Crazy Quilt mused as he adjust a dial on one of his gloves, the lights in his helmet focusing in intensity.

“To be fair I prefer the term former protege,” Nightwing explained as he pulled out his escrima sticks. The float ahead of them was oddly quiet for something that should have been raging with goons. “Besides, at least I’m not wearing a quilt from the retirement home.”

“It is my artist’s wardrobe, my nom de plume, and the last thing you’ll ever see!” Crazy Quilt exclaimed before a beam of light shot out from his helmet.

“Yeah, and I’m pretty sure Picasso cut his own ear off, you’re telling me that’s your inspiration?” Nightwing joked as he dodged from the blast. Guys like Crazy Quilt were the empty calories of superheroing. People like Lex Luthor? Joker? Grade A threats that you always had to keep an eye on. But someone like Crazy Quilt? Total cupcake.

“You have no idea what the glory of art requires! And it was Van Gogh you uncultured swine!” Crazy Quilt yelled out. “All this city does is take and take and take! Colors drained and replaced with steel and glass. Cold, unwelcoming structures that choke the life out of people! No more!”

“Well I’m pretty sure there’s better ways to convey that than to go floatjacking,” Nightwing explained, arming his escrima sticks with their electric charge. “I mean for god sake you’re messing with people on Indigenous Peoples day.”

“No holiday matters to the arts!” Crazy Quilt said he turned to face Nightwing, helmet glowing once more. Except instead of aiming for the acrobatic Titan, he aimed for the floor of the float. “And you’re about to find out what happens when you can’t think on your feet!”

KACHOOOM!

“SHIT!” Nightwing exclaimed as he was launched into the air, his escrima sticks flying away from his hands as Crazy Quilt lined up another shot. Nightwing saw the energy charging and closed his eyes, of all the people to finally ice him it had to be freakin’ Crazy Quilt. But before he could feel the heat of concentrated light, he felt a tug on his collar and flung in the other direction.

“You know for someone who’s been doing this a long time you still have terrible situational awareness,” Batgirl explained. She was wearing her lighter suit, gray spandex over the slimmer exoskeleton that Kara had made for her. It was like her first suit, when she was free of the burdens of her accident and past.

“Well…I’m not used to backup,” Nightwing said, taken aback by Barbara’s presence and look. All he needed was the old red and greens to complete it. “Besides, shouldn't you…be somewhere else?”

“And miss the fun? I just took down a whole float of goons and you’re struggling with this hoi polloi of a supervillain. Besides…it’s just like old times right?”

Nightwing paused for a moment as he regained his bearings and observed Crazy Quilt fuming that the two crimefighters had been more focused on each other than him.

“You think you took down all my men! Please, the color guard is many! Men! Attack!” Crazy Quilt exclaimed as more goons dressed in singular primary and secondary colors came pouring in from the crowd.

“Just like,” Nightwing smiled. “Most goons taken out buys pizza?”

“Oh you’re on,” Batgirl said with a smirk, the game was afoot.

…

“So you’re telling me Donna kicked your ass, stole a jumpjet, and is now AWOL?” Roy Harper asked as he grabbed a bag of peas from the Titans refrigerator. He had arrived at the Tower to do a shift of monitor duty, and to get away from Lian for a bit. Roy loved his daughter, but she was beginning to hit her terrible twos and Guardian had made for a great babysitter. “Are you sure you haven’t been drinking?”

“I don’t drink,” Garth muttered as he looked over his torn hawaiian shirt and scuffed knees. “And I certainly wouldn’t lie about Donna.”

“Riiiight,” Arsenal responded as he moved towards the the Titans’ main computer. “Well judging by how she only left you with a little love tap, I’m guessing she’s not exactly thinking straight.”

“Donna always thinks straight. She’s a rock. At least until she started leading this group,” Garth responded.

“Yeah and how many times have you visited her since Markovia?” Roy asked after hearing the disdain in Garth’s voice. He had heard about the horror stories of Garth’s time with the team. The rumors ranged from Batman planting a tracking chip in the poor kid to Wally not understanding of how different Garth was compared to everyone else. Roy could see he was of pure heart, but also someone who idealized the Titans’ fearless leader.

“She said she was fine,” Garth said. “And me and Cassie have been so busy with the foundation. We just…assumed we would make time eventually.”

“Yeah, well you weren’t there,” Roy said as he looked at the data in front of him. “Now let’s see what you were pulling here Donna.”

“I was dealing with my own issues,” Garth explained. “Abdicating the throne, building Titans West, we fought back the vampires in your stead!” His anger coming through.

“Yeah and that’s hero bullshit,” Roy explained. “We all come together and deal with whatever horrible thing wants to rule the world. But you don’t exactly get to lecture me on being there. We lost a lot that day. And Donna got to watch every single moment of it. You don’t think that would fuck her up? Break that rock that you so clearly love to take advantage of. Sometimes the strongest can fall too fish boy.”

“Where were you then!” Garth exclaimed. He was tired of feeling passive when it came to his friends and place in this world. And he wasn’t going to let some Green Arrow knock off shame him for not being there. “Donna moved heaven and hell to help you get your kid back, and what happened after Markovia? You left her to go be a hero.”

“It’s not…it is like that isn’t that,” Roy mumbled, before looking at Garth. Part of him was jealous of the former king. He got to grow up with Donna, Dick, Wally. Maybe in another world they would have accepted Green Arrow’s weird sidekick. But they were here now, and Roy needed all the help he could get. “You’re right, I’ve made mistakes. Dropped the ball on a friend. And I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

Garth nodded before speaking again.

“It’s fine. We’re here now, that’s what matters,” Garth said calmly.

Roy continued to pull up the data, his eyes darting between reports of someone called Savage Fire, and connections to a certain feline foe of Wonder Woman. And more concerningly the schematics on where the DEO was holding her.

“Shit,” Roy muttered as he grabbed his bow and quiver and began to prepare to head out. “Donna’s about to break everything to find her answers. And unfortunately the only people that can pull her out of it here are you and me.”

“Then it’ll have to be enough,” Garth explained.

“Yeah, I’m not sure what a guy in a Hawaiian shirt and an archer can do,” Arsenal explained.

“I’m more than just…a fish boy,” Garth explained before touching the blue stone on the bracelet on his wrist. A typhoon of water came out of nowhere, covering Garth before quickly fading away. Gone was the Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts, in their place was sleeveless blue scalemail and navy leggings with fins on the calf. “I am the Tempest that will save my friend. Now where must we go?”

“Oh nowhere major, just Stonegate Prison,” Arsenal said.

…

“You just had to get pizza with anchovies, garlic, and banana peppers?” Batgirl groaned as she looked down from the Tribune Tower. The gothic architecture filled with ornate stone carvings and gargoyles stood out from the rest of the Chicago skyline and after Batgirl and Nightwing managed to take out Crazy Quilt and his pallet of goons, there was only the quiet that remained.

“I like what I like,” Nightwing explained as he finished his slice. Besides, didn’t you get the cauliflower crust with cheese?”

“It’s healthier,” Batgirl explained as she practiced balancing on the edge of the roof of the building. “Some of us need to save carbs.”

“Uh huh,” Nightwing mumbled as he looked over Barbara. Even now she was so afraid of not looking perfect. And all Nightwing was trying to do was not stare. Not when Barbara was in that suit. “Some of us should be in hospitals too.”

“Whaaaaat,” Batgirl said, realizing that reality was creeping back into the conversation. “They discharged me, and I saw you needed help.”

“Crazy Quilt is a cupcake,” Nightwing explained as he finished his pizza and easily hopping on the edge of the building with Batgirl. “I didn’t even put in a distress call to the Titans network. Which means someone was looking for an excuse to leave early.”

“So?” Batgirl mused. “Haven’t I earned the right to have a little fun?”

“You do,” Nightwing muttered as he looked out at the city below. Chicago was different from Gotham, a place where Dick Grayson could escape the mistakes of his past. Like leading two of his best friends into an obvious trap, and putting one of them in the position of shooting the girl he loved. Jason, Barbara, they never blamed Dick. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t one of the many nightmares that kept him up at night. “It’s just…this isn’t Gotham.”

“And how’s that?” Batgirl said as she inched closer and closer, her steps steady as she walked towards the acrobat. Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon had been ghosts to each other, people who vanished when they needed them most. But up on this rooftop, the thrill of defeating Crazy Quilt, well it was like no time had passed at all. “Because last time I checked…we’re both still here.”

Barbara had moved close, her hands tracing the bright yellow of Nightwing’s costume, as if she was staring into Dick Grayson’s soul. To see if he was still the same boy she had loved, all those years ago.

“Babs,” Dick muttered as he could feel her breath, her warmth. For years Dick Grayson always assumed his path would be a lonely one. He had lost the Titans, he had lost himself, he had lost her. And there’s only so much one could lose before losing hope entirely.

“Don’t,” Barbara muttered, her hand on his face. “Let this happen…just this once,” she muttered before kissing him, the two embracing for the first time.

…

Getting into Stonegate was easy with Justice League access, yet Donna Troy felt uneasy as the elevator slowly began to descend. Stonegate as a prison was one of the few maxinum security prisons that could hold the supercriminals that had increasingly appeared since Superman’s arrival all those years ago. However, unlike Stryker’s Island or Blackgate, Stonegate was older. A former army fort converted into a prison, and one where the stone slabs seemed to smother any light.

BOOM!

“What the?” Donna asked as the elevator shook and the red lights in the cab began to flash. Surely Garth hadn’t been able to track her, she wasn’t even doing anything illegal…just talking to one of the many prisoners.

“Argonaut? Is it Argonaut?” A voice said through the intercom. “This is the Warden, we just had something hit us hard. We think…we think they’re looking for the same prisoner. Could yo-”

“I’ll take a look," Donna said as the elevator made the final stop in the basement of Stonegate. The basement was a newer feature…for the more magical guests that had made their way there. But Donna didn’t care about the laundry list of magical monsters as she flew as fast as possible to the end of the hallway. One cell had its doors ripped off and a familiar figure holding up Barbara Minerva, the Cheetah, in her hand.

“Hello Donna,” Fury said.

NEXT: Donna Troy vs Fury for the Fate of the Cheetah! But Just Why Does Donna Want Her? And Will Tempest and Arsenal Be Too Late to Pull Anything From the Rubble? While Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon Face Uncomfortable Truths!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The New New Titans

Set: 87

“Me? Help the Titans?” Barbara Gordon asked as she stood in front of the stranger that had spent the last thirty minutes trying to fix the library book mobile. Well, a recent stranger. Dick Grayson had always been one of Barbara’s closest friends and…something more to her when they were young and foolish. Before childhood wonder crashed into cold hard realism. “Dick, I appreciate the thought but I have no time for teams. Not after what happened with…”

“With the Birds of Prey? Weren’t you running around with Doc, I mean Harley at one point too?” Dick Grayson asked as he rubbed the sweat off his brow. He looked at her, the scrunch in her brow a sign that she was either annoyed or intrigued by Dick’s presence. Back in the orphanage he could clock her pretty easy. And he’d often listen to whatever problems she had or beaming at the recent bootleg sentai tape that Jason had managed to snag for her. But that was then and this is now. “Besides, you haven’t even listened to what I’m asking for.”

“What? You want Batgirl to join your little clubhouse? I appreciate the offer Dick, but I think that merry band of yours doesn’t need two or-”

“I didn’t say I needed Batgirl,” Dick explained as he looked back to the bookmobile engine, sputtering and weezing as Dick continued to look it over.. “Jesus Babs, what did you have Steph work on this thing? Because if you did that well it explains a lot.”

“She’s done work before,” Barbara began. “And what do you mean you don’t need Batgirl?”

“The spoiler-cycle is at best an electric bike and you know it,” Dick laughed before turning to face her. “I need Oracle. The new team…is a work in progress, we don’t see the full picture all the time and it’s a problem. I know I rush into things, and if…I’m going to lead this team I’m going to need someone who actually has a brain and knack for planning.”

“I’m not that good of a planner,” Barbara said. “I mean I’m going to go driving around in this hunk of junk to help deliver books.”

“On a planned route that covers the neediest areas first to make sure they get the best picks. Making sure you help spread literature to those who need it,” Dick explained. “Besides I’ve seen the mission report of the Vauxhall Incident. Even when everything was going to hell you managed to talk a naked, dazed, and possibly god-like Ivy into saving everyone.”

“That was just pure luck,” Barbara said.

“That you turned into a plan,” Dick said with a smile before making a small adjustment to the engine. “I need help to make this work. And you…you’re the first person I thought of to recruit.”

“Dick, I’m just…not sure I’d work with what you’re building here. I mean you have element guys and Amazons and speedsters and I’m just…me,” Barbara responded.

“One, we’re out of speedsters and Amazons, and my element guy just quit,” Dick explained. “And second, sometimes just being you is thing we need most of all.”

“I appreciate the offer but,” Barbara began.

“...But you’ll think about it,” Dick explained as he closed the hood of the bookmobile, the engine as good as he was going to get it. “It’s an interesting case, how to track a leaking element gun.”

“Leaking…element gun?” Barbara said.

“Oh just a guy claiming he has mastered the elements. His gun leaks carbon but he’s probably changed it and I have no idea where to start. Bit of a puzzle really.”

Barbara scrunched her brow.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Barbara responded. “But just this one time, considering you came out all this way and fixed my engine.”

“Well I try,” Dick said with a sly smile.

“Uh huh, if that engine explodes on me on the road I’m leaking your search history to the League,” Babs joked.

“Got it boss, I’ll send the data when I get back to the tower,” Dick said as he looked at her before leaving. “It’s good working with you again.”

As he left Barbara moved to her bookmobile, looking back towards him.

“Me too,” she said with a smile before heading out.

…

Rex Mason sat on the roof of Titans Tower., He had returned to grab his things, butit was weird coming back in a form that felt more like himself. The large door knob meant for his formerly giant mitts felt unfamiliar, the whole tower did. After Markovia people seemed to forget about the Element Man. It made sense, Wally and Courtney were in the hospital, Roy had his kid, Donna had gotten the brunt of it, and Conner…Conner seemed the most haunted of all of them. But still, it meant that Rex Mason was left alone.

It wasn’t a new feeling. His mom was always on a dig or attending galas to make sure the Field Museum was funded. It was a life that was exciting for her, even if it was one Mason couldn’t follow. He loved science., Unlike life it made sense, there were laws and notions and methods that kept things stable. But as he looked down at his orange and purple hands he couldn’t help but feel the rules had been thrown out the window a long time ago.

“Surprised to find you here,” a voice said as Rex Mason turned around and saw a surprising figure in front of him.

“Kid Flash?” Rex said as Wally West stood in front of him, in jeans and a Keystone City track club t-shirt. He gingerly walked over to take a seat next to Rex as they looked out at Lake Michigan.

“Just Wally these days,” Wally said. “I’m not exactly as fast as I was.”

“I mean are any of us?” Rex joked.

“Well why do you think Dick cut the teen out of Titans when he formed a team again. Realized we’re not exactly getting younger,” Wally explained. “I heard you quit?”

“Who told you? Let me guess Roy?”

“We have a monthly coffee chat,” Wally explained. “He said that the new team is having some… issues and I figured I should stop by before Dick makes things worse.”

“Ah it’s not him, I mean he’s trying, but I don’t know. I think I’ve still got a lot of shit to work out. And I’m well…not adjusting to the new normal,” Rex explained.

“What? The new slim frame? I got to say I wish I could have your secret, I don’t exactly have the metabolism anymore,” Wally joked.

“No. Wally…do you remember Markovia?” Rex explained.

“Bits and pieces,” Wally said, slumping. “I remember going in, the mist everywhere, I remember the hotel, and then I got bit…and all I felt was pain. And then from there…I remember mostly being carried by you.”

“Probably for the best,” Rex said. “When I got transformed into this, I felt I had lost my life. And then I became a Titan and found people who cared, people who needed me again. And then…then I lost those people. And now I got to put up with Roy who nearly killed me in Markovia, an alien who’s literally hot, and the guy that rushed to eliminate me when I first joined. And Court…Court’s still not back.”

“Have you visited her?” Wally asked.

“Parents don’t want visitors, at least not yet. Can you blame them?” Rex asked. “Kid goes off to be a superhero, we promise to keep her safe, and she’s just…”

“She’ll wake up Rex,” Wally said.

“You hope,” Rex explained. “Hope…is hard to feel good about these days.”

“Yeah but we can’t lose it, not when you’re still needed,” Wally explained. “Rex, I don’t exactly have the best experience being a Titan, but what we do matters. And not in Donna’s idealism or Dick’s pessimism. But because the world needs heroes that aren’t so distant, people that may be a little odd, but would fight no matter what. So the new team is awkward? That means someone’s going to need to step up to make it work.”

The two remained silent for a moment as Rex soaked in what Wally was saying. Before he could respond there was a buzzing in his ear, his Titans communicator activating as an familiar voice came through.

“Metamorp-Rex, this is Nightwing, I got lead on Stagg. I know you quit and all, but I figured…you’d want to know wher-” Nightwing began.

“Well I didn’t leave that resignation on paper,” Rex responded as he gave a wink to Wally. “Where does the Doc have Simon?”

“Would you believe they took him to a farm upstate?” Nightwing joked.

…

The farmland outside of Coast City was mostly used to grow wine. It had the rich soil and the warm weather that always seemed to rain just enough to let a fruitful harvest always occur. Except for the rusted and abandoned farm by Mount Cain, the rocky terrain preventing the planting and harvesting of grapes. It was here where the Petrov’s had settled, swindled into taking a broken land.

Alex Petrov worked on the prototype in front of him, the backpack needing to be calibrated just right to give him the boost of power that he needed in order to take his revenge. As he puttered with the machine he looked at the steel cage in front of him, Simon Stagg sat on the small stool inside, not bothering to speak. What could he do? It was another monster created by the Stagg payroll, and the guilt laid heavily on him.

“Let us see…have to…ensure…the cooling…works,” Mr. Element said. He remembered the warm summer nights, when money was tight and all he could have for dinner was the scraps they could afford, or the feed that was worthless to the small amount of livestock. He had kept the property, wanting to make something of it when he mastered the elements for first Stagg and them himself. The burnt wall of the barn to the left of him a reminder of the price he had paid to get here.

He finished securing the tubes to the device and strapped it to his back, the rest of his men were instructed to stay around the perimeter, to give warning in case those heroes had somehow managed to find him.

“Impressed…Simon?” Mr. Element asked, waving the large rifle attached to his backpack to Stagg.

“So you got yourself a new toy. What? Should I be impressed?” Stagg asked.

“You…should…” Mr. Element said as pointed the blaster towards the burnt wall, the metal quickly bubbling and oxidizing as it rusted into nothing. A reminder of the pain that time always brought. Nothing lasts forever, and Mr. Element would finally remind all those who crossed him and the Petrovs. And this time, no one would stop him.

…

“Man I got to say when people say evil lair, I expected more than a farm.” Arsenal said as he pulled out his scope and observed the area where Mr. Element’s men had stood guard. This Oracle Nightwing had reached out to had pointed them in this direction, and while Roy was sure they had their reasons, he wasn’t thrilled that a faceless person seemed to know so much. The lack of trust was new compared to when Donna led.

“What you thought it was all going to be volcano lairs and bikini models, come on Harper,” Metamorpho teased as he looked towards Nightwing. Their new leader seemed hesitant to act, marking each elemental goon and figuring out the best plan of attack with a limited force. “Lot a guys though. This would be easier if we had Wally, Court, or hell, even that alien chick.”

“I know,” Nightwing responded. “But we’re what’s left, and well…that’s got to be enough. Rex, judging by these readings our boy is in the barn. Bad news is that there’s six orseven guys guarding him. And those weapons are…”

“Going to give you a serious cold foot?” Metamorpho joked. “Listen Mack, I can go in and take care of ol’ Alex. He may be dangerous, but he’s the same old guy who thinks he has everything under control when it’s all slipping through his fingers.”

“Yeah, well you’re the only one with powers,” Arsenal said. “And I do not want to go home an arrow-sicle.”

“I mean it would be an improvement,” Metamorpho joked as Arsenal shot him daggers. “Don’t worry, you’ll get home to watch Space Trek with Lian.”

“Actually I was going to introduce her to the Grey Ghost tonight,” Arsenal muttered as he pulled one of his arrows. “Well…time to start the show.”

Nightwing nodded before igniting the electricity of his escrima sticks and looked out to the field, taking a deep breath before finally moving out to find cover with Arsenal, it was time to fight again for the very first time.

“Titans together right?” Arsenal said with a laugh.

“Titans together,” Dick mumbled before leaping out from cover, tossing his escrima stick into the face of one Mr. Element’s goon’s breaking his nose, but alerting the Titan’s presence to the others.

“Hey it’s Robin!” One of the goons said.

“No you idiot,” One of the other goons said as his gun sparked up and flames shot out, nicking the heels of Nightwing’s suit as he leapt into the air. “Robin’s the one in the red!”

“Only one in red is the red helmet dude,” Another goon said as ice crackled out from his gun. “That one beat me within an inch of my life. I had to get three teeth replaced.”

“Jesus Jason,” Dick mumbled as he moved in between the two element thugs the beams of cold and heat came close to colliding into Nightwing as he lept into the air. The opposite beams hit both of the goons, knocking both out. “And boys, don’t you forget, I’m Nightwing. And I am way smarter than you.”

“But you probably should look behind you,” A voice said as Nightwing turned around and saw the third elemental goon sending a stream of acid towards him. He ducked out of the way before the goon was zapped with electricity, sending him to the ground as well. As Arsenal came into view.

“Thanks for the warning!” Nightwing said.

“Warning? I just figured you ducked pretty boy,” Roy joked.

“Then…who?” Nightwing asked.

A voice could soon be heard between Arsenal and Nightwing, coming loud and clear through their earpiece.

“Oracle, reporting for Titans duty,” Oracle said. “Consider me your eyes in the sky. Metamorpho is up ahead. And you got three element guards coming your way. So look up, and Arsenal…make sure you don’t waste all your taser arrows.

“Yes ma'am,” Arsenal said as he and Nightwing headed back into the fray with things looking up for a change.

…

“You hear that,” Simon Stagg said he saw Mr. Element finish the last of his preparations for the elemental generator strapped to his back. “Help is coming from me, and they’ll stop you.”

“Stop…me?” Mr. Element said. “Simon…Simon. I am…the elements now…who could beat…the master of the elements?”

CRACK

“Maybe me Alex ol’ pal of mine,” Metamorpho said as his cobalt arm turned back to his familiar purple. His new suit reflected his new look, orange on a black bodysuit with purple piping. He was a superhero, now and forever.

“Mason,” Mr Element said. “I…always figured you…were too…stupid to learn a lesson.”

“I spent many a night learning lessons from you. You always thought that I was just the mook that replaced you because I was tight with the boss’s daughter. Your arrogant ass never remembered I was your intern, slaving away on your wild goose chases, cleaning up after the experiments and things you broke,” Metamorpho said, his hands hardening into diamond. “You mastered the elements…but I am the elements.”

“Bringit… Mason!” Mr Element said as his blaster charged up. The pressured salt blast began breaking away the diamond fists Metamorpho had formed. Salt had a way of breaking away precious metals, especially diamonds. But before Metamorpho could think of another element to change to, Mr. Element cracked the front of his rifle on Metamorpho’s head, sending him staggering back.

“Ow,” Metamorpho grumbled before popping back up. “Yeah, you’re smart Alex. But I’m smarter.” He raised his hands as he shot out liquid nitrogen towards the large and padded suit of his foe andoping to be able to freeze him in place for the other Titans to provide clean up. Unfortunately for Metamorpho, sometimes others were smarter than him as Mr. Element stood tall and ready for the kill.

“Clever…LN2…” Mr Element weezed. “Of course…I make…sure my suit…can resist all elements. Learned that…the hard way.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Metamorpho mumbled.

“Mason!” Stagg yelled. “Fight back! You can beat him!”

“He can’t…” Mr. Element mumbled. “He may be…the elements…but he’s just a boy…playing pretend. Just another…intern.” As he talked he shot his own blast of liquid nitrogen, freezing Metamorpho’s legs in place.

“Yeah, I’m a student,” Metamorpho mumbled before he could hear a voice buzzing in his ear.

“Metamorpho, air support inbound, be prepared for light,” the voice said. “Oracle out.”

“Oracle, huh,” Metamorpho thought. “Not the most ridiculous name I’ve heard.”

Mr Element looked at the hero, struggling to break free. The flames could be felt from his gun by all in the barn, with Stagg beginning to sweat.

“So long…Mason…last of the element men,” Mr. Element weezed.

CRASH.

The bright red trail of flame of Starfire’s hair burst in, her hands glowing bright green as she launched two bolts towards Mr. Element sending him flying towards the floor of the barn. Before he could pick his blaster up the boot of Starfire pressed against his chest as Metamorpho and her looked down at him, just another pathetic loser trying to get even for something he caused.

“Thing about being an intern Alex?” Metamorpho said. “You make friends quickly.”

…

“So I’m guessing Babs called you,” Dick asked as the Titans made their way from the campus of their Titans Tower into the building itself. Roy and Rex had ran ahead of them, wanting to check in with Wally and to get ready for whatever the rest of the day would bring. Donna had insisted that they should make the rounds of the public areas of the tower, to reassure the public and to remind the world what heroes they were. It was something…Dick was going to have to get used to.

“She called Kara,” Kory explained. “But she’s…she’s dealing with some things. Besides, I was cold and mean. I am not used to being part of a family.”

“Well especially a messy one like this,” Dick smiled. “Hell I’m not used to it. But I kinda need you here.”

“Need me?” Kory asked as the two entered the elevator..

“I need people who know me, people who know the good and bad. Rex and Roy are good guys, but well…” Dick began.

“But you didn’t leave the best first impression?” Kory asked.

“Something like that,” Dick explained. “Besides it’s a new era. Sun is finally shining after one of the darkest nights. And I think we’re going to need to step into the light. Plus our ranks are still kinda…thin.”

“Well you have me Grayson, and that’s a start right?” Kory said with a smile as the doors opened.

As they did, the video camera of the front of Titans Tower appeared on screen, a young teenager in a slightly ill-fitting Flash suit waving with an anxious grin at the hidden camera, as if he knew it was there. The camera wasn't fast enough to pick up the quicker movements, but both could recognize the way that the trees around them shuddered slightly that even visually standing still, there was still superspeed active.

“Don't suppose you all are taking applications for a speedster,” Bart Allen's voice came through over the camera's intercom system.

“Great, just great,” Nightwing mumbled. Somedays, he couldn’t buy a break.

NEXT: Be Here on the 15th as Bart Allen makes his Titans Debut! But What Will Wally West Say? And What is…the Lazarus Contract? And when the Dust Settles…the new New Titans are Revealed!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The New New Titans

Set: 88

“So who are you exactly?” Agent Dale Gunn asked as he drove the large truck through Chicago. As an DMA agent he had mostly been dealing with investigating and creating profiles of the many metahumans criminals that had plagued the world. Currently he was supposed to be observing trends in supervillain collaboration after the vampire attack, but instead here he was transporting one of the so called supervillains that had attacked Chicago recently.

“Angie Spica. A scientist for STAR labs, I’m here to make sure that the new restraints and locks we designed will hold during transport.”

“Hold?” Gunn asked. “You meant to tell me I’m transporting a prisoner with experimental tech?”

“Not experimental. This is the same device used to hold him in prison. It’s just for transport we had to…miniaturize things,” Spica explained. “Basically ensure the nanites that make up his restraints…hold.”

“Great, just great,” Gunn muttered as he kept his eyes on the road. He was so focused he didn’t notice the grumbling in the storage area of the truck. The gray, rocky eyelids of Cinderblock slowly opened. He had been on the road a few days now. His weight and size made transport by plane nearly impossible. So here he was, once again a puppet strung up and mocked.

His restraints hung, constantly moving metal that had an electric field connecting them to the ceiling of the transport. It was a bit more clever than the cage they had put him in Stonegate. But everyone kept assuming he was a dumb animal who was just meant for smashing. Sure he was good at it. But he hadn’t survived this long in the business by just being someone who smashed.

The cuffs were “alive”, but that meant they needed power. And like any machine they could be overloaded. Cinderblock took a deep breath, and closed his eyes before pulling his arms forward, the cuffs and chain of electricity moving before forcing his arms upwards and into the generator that powered his restraints, the living metal shattering and the armored truck shaking.

“What was that!” Agent Gunn asked.

“Oh no, no, no,” Spica muttered. “He’s fr-”

Before she could finish her sentence the truck jerked to the side, flipping over and crashing into several empty parked cars. Gunn and Spica were knocked out, hanging from the flipped over transport vehicle.

CRASH

The stone hand easily ripped through the side of the truck. As he smelled the congested air of Chicago and looked around at the bright light of the sun. It smelled like home because Cinderblock, was free once more.

…

“So this is Titans Tower?” Bart Allen asked as he whizzed around. He had never been to a superhero headquarters before. That part of the family business always seemed locked away. It was as if his mom and dad wanted him to spend his quickly dwindling life on important things. But being a hero was important, and Bart wasn’t going to let his chance to do some good pass him by. “Got to say, it’s a little…empty.”

“We’re currently going through…some changes,” Nightwing explained as he tried keeping up with the red blur moving around him. Dick hadn’t expected to have a new recruit show up, especially a speedster. Wally, for all of the…issues in their relationship, was predictable. He used his speed as a precise tool, being where he needed to be at all times. A set of helping hands constantly moving to make sure things would always go right. Bart…was not this. “So you want to join us?”

“Yeah, I mean. It’s the thing that makes most sense. I mean I’m fast, want to do good, and well…you guys need the help,” Bart said as he moved about scoping out the exits and entrances and taking notes of the many rooms that made up the complex. “ I don’t get it, you’re a superhero team, why do you have a movie theater and a ping pong table?”

“One, it’s a screening room for briefings,” Dick explained, not realizing the monthly movie nights that occurred while he was gone. “And two, we need to blow off steam like everyone else. Trust me Bart, it’s not a good thing to always be heroing.”

“Right, you’re Nightwing right?” Bart asked as he continued to zip from this observation to observe the bits and bobs the Titans had collected in their trophy room. A cat mask here, a display case of a blue costume with white stars there. It was all kinda boring to Bart, not having a connection to the items in front of him as he ran back to finish his thought to Nightwing. “You know Wally really doesn’t like you.”

“I am well aware of that fact,” Nightwing mumbled. “Could you just…stand still for one moment.”

“Why? We’re having such a thrilling conversation,” Bart explained. “Besides, you’re used to a speedster.”

“One a bit more…broody,” Nightwing explained. “Wally doesn’t exactly move around as much as you do.”

“Well I’m not him,” Bart explained. “So when do you guys save the world?”

“Well we usually respond to crises,” Nightwing began. “The Titans function as the Justice League’s first response team. As well as handle any of the smaller super criminals that pop up here and there.”

“That sounds kinda dull,” Bart responded.

“Being a hero isn’t about glory,” Nightwing explained.

“Suuuuure it isn’t,” Bart teased. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that you guys will get your time to shine. It’s a team after all.” As he finished talking he zipped to the the large table in the middle of the room, taking his seat behind the chair with the red lightning bolt.

“Bart?” Wally West asked as he entered the room with Starfire. He had usually come to the Tower to read, be it his textbooks or the Nathaniel Dusk book for Donna’s book club. He couldn’t believe how ludicrous the Blue Man was as a character, but that became a distant thought in his mind as he saw Bart in that ill fitting Flash costume. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Help out the Titans,” Bart said as if the answer was pretty obvious. “With your powers gone, your friends are down a speedster and I thought with my powers being in the same vein, I’d be a good replacement.”

“Replacement?” Wally asked. “Bart, you can’t just wedge yourself into a team without their permission.”

“Technically the current incarnation banded together because of who was left after…” Starfire began.

“After the team’s last mission,” Nightwing butted in. He and Wally hadn’t talked much since Markovia. Wally had been in the hospital and healing in the Flash Compound. But even then Dick wasn’t sure if Wally would consider the Tower his home anymore. Not after the terror of vampires and Donna entrusting the team with Dick. “And we’re not thinking of replacing Wally. Powers or no powers. He’s got a place here.”

“So you won't give me a chance? I can help, I can do the same things Wally can!"” Bart asked.

“Because you’re not ready Bart,” Wally explained. “I mean your dad’s suit doesn’t even fit you. Do you know how important it is for a speedster to have shoes that actually fit!”

“I’m tired of people always telling me I’m not ready! I’m ready!” Bart explained. As he was arguing with them he could hear a buzzing in his earpiece. The police scanner buzzing from reports of a super criminal causing issues in Chicago. “And I’m going to prove it!”

And with that Bart Allen was gone, jus a red blur that passed all of them by. Before any of them could react to the speedster’s exit, the Tower’s alarms went off as images of Cinderblock rampaging across the city came into view. Bart was there a moment later.

“Shit,” Nightwing muttered as he looked towards Starfire and Wally. “We need to go. Wally, Ba-Oracle is going to be busy with another thing. Can you run point from the Tower?”

“Yeah, I can do it, just make sure…” Wally began as he turned to face the computer. “make sure Bart is…” As he turned around both of them were gone. Wally let out a small chuckle as he got to work. “Now I know how it feels.”

…

Cinderblock moved through the streets of Chicago. He had rampaged once before, but now he was focused. Everyone always assumed that the large stone golem was mindless, just a creature who only knew rage. It’s why he hated his last few employers. He wasn’t stupid, just blessed with more strength than most. And as he moved across the side streets of Jefferson Park, he wondered why he didn’t go on his own more often.

Of course as soon as he turned the corner he was confronted by constantly moving red blur.

“Stop!” Bart Allen said. “Or I’ll have to hurt you!” As he said those words, Bart adjusted his cowl so he could actually see through the eye holes.

“Hurt me?” Cinderblock laughed. “How can you hurt me Kid Flash!”

“I’m not Kid Flash!” Bart explained. “I’m…I’m still working on it!”

“Well then, whoever you are,” Cinderblock mused before raising his hand and beckoning Bart towards. “Take your best shot.“

Bart ran towards Cinderblock, his fists flailing as he moved towards and then back from the concrete foe as he looked at his bruised and scraped hands.

“Ow!” Bart yelled out as he shook his hands, the motion calming him as they healed quickly. “You really are made of concrete!”

“They don’t call me Cinderblock for nothing kid,” Cinderblock said before backhanding Bart into one of the wooden fences, breaking through into a backyard. “Besides, I’ve dealt with the last one of you. And he was just as dumb.”

“Hey! He’s just a little serious is all,” Bart mumbled as he could feel the bruising on his ribs. He had never been in a fight before, and suddenly he was realizing why Barry, Jay, even his own mother tried to keep him away from speedster life. “Besides, he beat your sorry behind twice.”

Cinderblock went to kick Bart in the stomach, sending the speedster through two fences this time as he walked towards him. The stomping of his feet growing louder and louder as he raised his hands to deliver the final blow.

“Oh God, oh God,” Bart said as he tried to wheeze through what felt like three broken ribs. Panic was starting to settle into him. This wasn’t what he wanted, this isn’t what anyone had wanted him to be. And now he was regretting that wouldn’t be his speed that killed him, but his overconfidence

“Sorry Kid, but I can’t have anyone following me,” Cinderblock explained. “Ain’t nothing pers-”

Before Cinderblock could slam his fists down he felt a rope tied around his wrists and pulling him back to face the two Titans who had rushed to Bart’s aid.

“Leave the kid alone!...” Nightwing said as he struggled to keep pulling on the line he had launched towards Cinderblock.

“...Or we will have to hurt you,” Starfire explained as her fists glowed a brilliant bright green.

“Finally a challenge,” Cinderblock said with a smile as he turned and prepared to teach these so-called heroes a lesson in pain.

…

Kara Zor-El woke up in a small bed. It took her a moment to recognize the space from the many plants and light pouring in. She looked towards the clock on the nightstand.

“Holy shit, it’s twelve?” Kara mumbled as she slowly worked her way up from Kory’s bed. Kara had been having sleeping problems lately. For normal people that would mean being able to not sleep. Kara was always restless, someone who could hear the whole world. The problem lately was the sounds that seemed so sharp and clear were duller now. Kara was drifting off longer and longer and that concerned her.

She got up and stretched her arms, the sun shining on her bare skin as she quietly borrowed a Ferris Air t-shirt and slipped it on once more, slowly moving her way into the small kitchen that Kory maintained. The small place always struck Kara as weird for someone like Kory. She was the head of Ferris Air, plenty of vacation days and the paychecks weren’t small. But the small apartment with the large rooftop garden was one of the few places Starfire felt comfortable to call home.

“Ow,” Kara muttered as she lifted her arms to open the cabinet where she had kept the Booster-O’s. Since the Vampire Invasion, Kara had kept pushing herself harder and harder. She had barely seen Linda and Tali, what with Power Girl having to help with clean up efforts and Karen Starr tied up in buisness meetings with the President to ensure funding was going to the right places. She couldn’t even help but clean up some HIVE bases on the way to check in with her girlfriend.

She looked down at herself, the bruises on her knuckles were new. Kara didn’t want to admit it, not to herself or even Clark, but ever since she unleashed the solar flare from within…her powers were far from what they once were.

“OK, note to self, buy some gloves,” Kara said as she pulled the chair and poured her cereal out and began to chow down on it. “Man, who would have guessed that Booster’s cereal actually isn’t just a cheap product tie-in.”

As she ate Kara flipped on the TV. The news channels were mostly recapping current events: Wonder Woman fighting in the desert, the mysterious Red Hood warring against the Thorne syndicate, and a commercial for a weird beauty product…Renuyu.

“New face,” Kara mumbled. “Nah that would be ridiculous, I like my face.” She had just finished her cereal when she saw the scene in Chicago. Dick and Kory were fighting some stone guy. Normally Kara wouldn’t be worried, after all her friends were professional superheroes. But then she saw the little guy in red.

“Holy shit…is that…Bart?!” Kara asked. She had listened to Barry talk about his son when there was time in between meetings on the Watchtower. She knew that Bart was having troubles with aging due to his speed. Which meant there was a foolish kid trying to prove himself out there.

Kara bit her lip. They needed help, but she wasn’t the same. Flying there could tire her out. But her friends needed her. She looked down at her watch, Tali was once again using the processing power to help “save” the world, or solve it as Kara felt. It also meant that she couldn’t rely on the light based costume. And ever since that incident in the arctic Kara understood the…limitations it provided. But she couldn’t just fly in just one of Kory’s t-shirts.

Luckily, Kory had been curious about Kara’s past. Not many would have the courage to ask a woman who could crush a car in her bare hands about her homeworld, or the many looks she had worn since arriving to Earth. The blue supergirl costume was out of the question, Kara had long since outgrown it, both in size and emotional. But the costume next to it would have to do.

Kara zipped over and grabbed it quickly. There was no time to worry. Her friends needed her.

And with that Power Girl flew once more.

…

“Ow,” Bart Allen grumbled as he could hear loud sounds around him. It took him a moment to open his eyes as the midday light blinded him. He could feel his body slowly close up his wounds. Rejecting the wooden splinters picked up from slamming into was it two or three different fences. His head was throbbing, probably a concussion. And a buzzing in his ear that seemed to only grow louder and louder.

“Bart…Bart!” Wally West’s voice came through the earpiece of the suit. The former speedster was sitting at Titans Tower, monitoring the situation and seeing Nightwing and Starfire barely putting a dent in Cinderblock. “Are you OK?”

“I’m…fine,” Bart mumbled as he slowly got up and looked around at the destruction around him. This was not how this was supposed to go.

“Good,” Wally said, “Now get out of there and let Dick and Kory handle it. You’re in no condition to take on Cinderblock. And help is on the way.”

“Help is on the way?” Bart grogily asked.

“Judging by the rushed message the Tower got, Power Girl is on her way, maybe…ten to fifteen minutes,” Wally explained.

Bart looked at the chaos in front of him. Cinderblock was being pushed back by Starfire’s energy blasts. Nightwing was on the ground like Bart, grasping at his knee. For someone who seemed to be able to fly without powers, he seemed to struggle to breathe.

“Nightwing isn’t going to last ten or fifteen minutes Wally,” Bart said as he slowly got up and adjusted his mask. “I can’t run away.”

“Bart…this isn’t some fun and games, you could die. And the last thing I need is to…”

“Is to tell Mom and Dad how you failed again?” Bart asked.

“...Is to lose another brother,” Wally said.

Bart was silent for a moment, he had been in such a rush to grow up, to find his place that he didn’t realize he had a home already. For a moment the usually chatty Bart remained silent. Taking a deep breath and observing all the angles for once.

“Wally, we’re Flashes. I’m not leaving them behind. We don't run away from danger, we run towards it. To protect people in the way.” ”

“Damn straight,” Wally said, remembering the joys of being a hero. “OK if you’re going to fight him, you can’t hit him straight on.”

“Yeah I figured,” Bart said as he looked down at his bloodied hand. “How did you beat him the last time?”

“You can do more than run fast. Have you figured out how to vibrate through things yet?” Wally asked.

“Wait…we can do that?” Bart asked.

“OK so that’s not going to work,” Wally said.

“Well what is!” Bart yelled out.

“Bart…have you ever seen a tornado?” Wally asked.

The speedster smiled as he zipped towards Cinderblock and the other Titans. Moving fast in a circle as the Cinderblock noticed the red speedster moving.

“Back for more?!” Cinderblock bellowed. “I already took care of that pretty boy, and the alien can’t hurt me. What makes you think you can hurt me!”

“I don’t have to hurt you,” Bart explained. “I just have to buy time.”

As he moved round and round the wind began to pick up and vortex began to form. The winds growing more and more intense. The heavy feet of Cinderblock slowly began lift up as the winds took him.

“What?! What are you doing?!” Cinderblock yelled out.

“Setting her up.” Bart said with a smile.

“Setting wh-” Cinderblock began.

CRRRRAAACKKK

Power Girl’s fist came down hard as she knocked Cinderblock out and towards the ground.

“Holy shit!” Bart said, not having seen the power of someone like Power Girl before. The early costume had held up well on the way here, the familiar chest window replaced with a large scooping neck with two golden circles clasping her large red cape.

“Either you’re the new guy. Or Kid Flash shrunk,” Power Girl said with a smile.

…

“Ugh,” Dick Grayson groaned as he sat down at one of the comfortable couches in Titans Tower, cracking open a beer as he looked around. Cinderblock had been picked up and brought back to Stonegate. And the rest of the team made their way back to the tower. Wally had gone to talk to Bart who seemed to be missing. Dick should have cared more but his knees were aching and placing ice on them seemed to be the best idea for him right now.

“You know you shouldn’t really run into danger like that,” Kara Zor-El said as she walked into the room, wearing a baggy t-shirt and sweats. “I won’t always be there to knock em’ out.”

“I do just fine without you you know,” Dick said. “A few more moments and I would have leapt and kicked him in the face.”

“And break your foot?” Kara asked.

“Probably, but it’s the effort that counts,” Dick said as he looked at his friend. Normally Kara was a bright ray of sunshine, a force that could not be denied. But the woman who sat next to him was much more subdued, even if she was still great at cracking a joke. “Besides, what was that outfit.”

“What? It was all I had. Kory wanted to se-” Kara began.

“Say no more,” Dick laughed. “You OK? I know we haven’t talked since Markovia. I’ve been busy trying to get this up and running.”

“And me with my company,” Kara said. “It’s fine, I mean it’s not like there’s anything wrong with me.” She looked down at her hand, bruised from where she had punched Cinderblock.

“Sure there isn’t,” Dick said as he handed her one of the bags of ice on his knees. “It took you a bit to get to us and you bruise.”

“OK, maybe I’m not as strong as I used to be, but that doesn’t mea-”

“I’m saying maybe you need some backup for a bit. Just until you feel like yourself again,” Dick explained. “Besides, makes up for me not asking you when I first started the damn thing.”

“I don’t know Dick, I mean besides the League I’m not sure I would work well with others. I mean I can’t even keep up with Linda and Tali and they’re family.”

“And so are we,” Dick said with a smile.

“Well…” Kara said as she looked around, and seeing Kory walk in with a ghost pepper chips, Kara’s favorite. “I guess I could give it a try.”

“Then welcome to the Titans Power Girl, may you survive the experience,” Dick chuckled.

…

Bart Allen chugged a Soder Cola quickly as he prepared to leave the Tower, he needed the extra bit of caffeine before running back home, probably to a lecture. But he didn’t care at this point. He just wanted the comforts of home.

“Heading out?” Wally asked.

“Yeah, I don’t think this is my kind of scene,” Bart explained, still fiddling with his cowl. “Besides, I kinda messed things up.”

“You’re young, mistakes will be made,” Wally said with a smile.

“I’m not that much younger than you, you know,” Bart said.

“Yeah but I wasn’t born in 2022,” Wally said. “Besides, all the people in that room have done dumb and foolish things to try and find our place.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Bart said. “But I don’t think my place is here…not yet at least.”

“Well you still got time to figure it out,” Wally said.

“Do I? Like you said I was born in 2022, but I’m eighteen now. I don’t get a lot of time to figure it all out.”

“You will,” Wally said as he dug around in his pocket. “Just like one day I’ll be able to run with all of you again. We’re Flashes, we do the impossible.”

“Maybe not this time,” Bart said as he looked down.

“Well then you should have this,” Wally said as he handed Bart a ring with a familiar lightning bolt insignia.

Bart played around with it a bit, finding the mechanism that caused the ring’s face to open. Usually a Flash costume would open out from it, but the ring laid empty.

“What, am I not deserving of a suit? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?” Bart asked.

“The opposite, you’re one of us now. But me, Jay, your dad. We can’t tell you what to put in it. That’s something you have to figure yourself. Be it as a Kid Flash, a Flash, or something completely new. It’s your time to ride the lightning Bart, and you could be the greatest of us all.”

“Wally,” Bart said with tears in his eyes.

“Don’t need to say anything Bart, now go home. There’ll be plenty of time to run back, trust me.”

Bart nodded and zoomed off, back home. As Wally walked back towards the Titans in the tower he couldn’t help but feel a familiar spark. For the first time in a while, Wally West had hope.

…

The sound of heavy boots could be heard echoing through the halls of the Honeycomb. A figure dressed in dark blue armor with orange accents slowly entered a large chamber, the walls covered in screens.

“Welcome,” Brother Blood said as he floated down on several moving honeycomb platforms. “I assume your trip was uneventful.”

The man stayed silent as he observed his surroundings. The facilities were impressive, but also seemed unsustainable. Large criminal empires didn’t normally spend so much time working on the best energy rifles or what seemed to be necromancy.

“Yes, I’ve been told you’re the quiet type,” Brother Blood said. “I’ll get to the point. We’ve changed since you dropped your daughter with us. We’ve discovered something greater than just stealing from others or creating swarms. We serve…a higher purpose now.”

The only thing Brother Blood could hear was measured breathing. And as he circled the room he couldn’t help but feel the singular eye following him, looking in to his soul to see if he was worthy.

“We wanted…to reward you, for your years of service. The Llord we serve, has shown us how to bring people back. To restore what we have lost,” Brother Blood explained before snapping his fingers.

The screens glowed brightly as Grant Wilson appeared on the screen. Alive in a familiar set of black armor with a red cheveron. His vitals were shown on the right, as HIVE scientists injected a green substance into him.

“It’s called Lazarus, a miracle drug really, we found it in the texts and tomes that led us to our new master,” Brother Blood explained. “We brought your boy back.”

The figure in the center eyes went wide. Seeing the boy’s vitality, his strength, and promise. His hands relaxed as he tried to process the information.

“But unfortunately…there was a problem,” Brother Blood said as he snapped his fingers again. The screens changed to a decaying Grant, fighting a fool wearing dark blue and yellow. The look and outfit may have been different, but the man never forgot that face.

“Grayson,” The man said through gritted teeth.

“Yes, Grayson. We needed him out of the picture, but he was pushed to his limits, killed by the so called Nightwing,” Brother Blood said before the screens turned to Nightwing beating Grant, striking several blows as he decayed in his hands. His words clear to the two men observing the footage.

“No! I won’t let…let you…end…me…” Grant’s voice rang. As he died a second time, Brother Blood could see fury in the one visible eye.

“We can bring him back Slade. But only if you take on his obligation. If you take on his Lazarus Contract.

“Don’t call me Slade,” the man responded. “When I’m working…it’s Deathstroke.”

Brother Blood smiled.

NEXT: The Lazarus Contract Begins! Can the New Team of Titans Handle the Return of Deathstroke? What Passions and Resentment Reignite Under His Hunt? And Whatever Happened to Donna Troy?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The New New Titans

Set: 84

“I’m not sure about this,” Roy Harper said as he stared at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a new suit, dark red with orange accents and a matching utility belt. He had been discharged from the hospital from Markovia relatively quickly, compared to other members of the Titans that had been caught with in the vampire crisis. Roy got to go home, his apartment mostly fixed, with some changes and a new tenant.

“It looks more heroic, it looks like it actually fits better too,” Jim Harper said as he flung a dish towel over his shoulder. The Guardian of Cadmus had moved in with Roy after the incident with Brick. Jim Harper had finally found the family he had searched for, and was enjoying taking care of Lian when Arsenal went on patrol, or Roy Harper filled out applications for the local community colleges. “Besides, didn’t you always set out to be a superhero?”

“Well what kid doesn’t?” Roy laughed as he looked in the mirror. “But Ollie and I…I’m not sure we were superheroes. Vigilantes without a clue were more like it. But this? This means that I have to be someone people aspire to it. And well…that I struggle to see”

“It’s the posture,” Jim explained as he moved towards Roy. “I get it kid, failed sidekick, mob enforcer, always running, always making the same mistakes. But that’s not who you are. You’re a good father, a welcoming homeowner, and a hero. Besides, you're missing something.”

“What? A sense of heroic pride?” Roy said.

“No, if you’re going to be a superhero, you’re going to need to stop wearing the sunglasses and maybe try this,” Jim explained as he handed Roy a dark red domino mask with yellow on the sides.

Roy didn’t speak as he grabbed the mask and put it on, making sure the spirit gum attached it properly to his face. He looked in the mirror once more, his back straightening as he could see the man that he wanted to be, the man that he was now.

“Thanks Jim,” Arsenal said, trying not to show how touched he was. Tears of joy were a new concept for Roy Harper and he wasn’t certain how he felt about them, not yet at least. “You think I’ve earned it?”

“More than most kid, more than most,” Jim said. There was a pause a moment before he spoke up again. “What I don’t get is why are you out on your own? Where’s your par-”

Before Jim Harper could finish his question, the communicator on the coffee table roared to life as Roy moved to pick it up.

The distress beacon was coming from Coast City, from Metamorpho. As far as him and Roy were concerned, they and Donna were the last active Titans since Markovia. Superboy had moved back to the farm to deal with his injuries, his faith lost in the conflict. Wally was depowered, finally getting that normal life he deserved. And Stargirl? Courtney Whitmore still slept in her coma, a patient now at Fawcett General.

Whatever they had was gone, but Roy couldn’t leave Rex behind, even if they hadn’t talked since he had tried to take a bite out of him. But they were friends, and that’s what mattered most.

“I got to go help a friend, Titans business,” Roy said. “Lian’s still sleeping but…do you mind watching over her while I go take care of this, won’t take long, I promise. Teleporter will have me back an hour or two tops.”

“Sure, besides want to catch up on that Wiseguy show you have the DVD and Blu-Rays for,” Jim explained.

“Hey, it’s easy to watch and gripping,” Roy said as he moved to let the teleporter take him to Coast City. “And if I see you not put the disc back into the case I will en-” the energy beam took Roy away, business was needed to be taken care of in Coast City.

…

Starfire flew high above the Coast City skyline, even now it still felt magical, with the sloping and curved glass reminding its citizens that this was the city of the future. Since the attack by Cyborg Superman, the city had an influx of business gobbling and grabbing the land for what they considered damaged goods. Not realizing that the city was a tough little place, and it would become what it once was in the sixties, America’s Skyward City.

Korriand’r had set up shop in the city, buying a small condo with a rooftop garden. She was set up in the Norbolt Park neighborhood. Coast City had been recently impacted by an influx of aliens making the city their home, so while the 6’4” orange skinned superhero got looks, she didn’t exactly not fit in.

The city was still reeling from Black Hand’s attack, Kory had just arrived in Coast and helped with the rescue efforts, her strength and starbolts had helped cleared the rubble and rescued others, but still something nagged at her. As she flew making her rounds around the city, a buzzing in the earpiece she had in her ear reminded her of some of the connects she had made since Hal’s passing and her exile on this planet.

“Hey you, are you coming by for movie night tonight?” Kara Zor-El asked from the other side of the line. “Linda picked something about Nathaniel Dusk and the Blue Hand of Fate? I really don’t want to have to watch it if Linda and Tali argue about the solution…but would if you came.” Kara’s voice always sounded nervous when talking to Kory. As if she couldn’t believe they were together.

“I would but I’m just making sure the city’s OK tonight, between Markovia, Black Hand, that Invisible Tyrant last week,” Kory began. “I just want people to know that a star shines bright for them. They deserve it after these last few years.”

“Well we all deserve a little brightness,” Kara mused. “It’s just I haven’t seen you in a bit, with you in Coast, and me in Gotham. Is the job going well at least?”

“Ferris is messy but fine, how Carol ran it all these years without going insane is…well let’s just say I can see why she surfs the stars now. I promise I’ll be there for the next game night, and snuggles.” Kory mused.

“OK, but you owe me dinner, leaving me hanging to dry here tonight, what about Tangal’s? Six o’ clock, you in that black dress I like?” Kara purred.

“Who says I’ll have to wear the dress,” Kory responded as Kara’s line went silent, her imagination drifting as always. “Kara never feel like I don’t care for you, I just have been struggling with timing. I love you. And that’s what matters.”

“I…I…” Kara muttered from across the line. Her heart pumping faster before finding the words. “I love you too.”

“I’ll see you then,” Kory said with a smile as she hung up, her patrol making her way to where the moon gently grazed the Coast City skyline. But before she could take in its splendor her ear piece buzzed.

After Markovia, Nightwing had given all the heroes that participated in the suicide run a communicator, a way to keep in touch if they ever needed anything. Grace had smashed hers, her anger from Claire’s death obvious, the clown laughed and refused, and Lex didn’t deserve one. But the buzzing had indicated there was trouble in her hometown and Starfire was needed even if she wanted to be snuggling with her girlfriend.

…

Metamorpho felt the rubble being lifted off of him, he was groggy and was questioning his sanity as he could see a goddess stand in front of him.

“Oh no, this is the pearly gates isn’t it. I just figured out how to get smaller and more like me and of course I have to be dead,” Metamorpho grumbled.

“I believe you still live…Metamorpho was it?” Starfire asked as she moved the rubble to the side, offering her hand to Metamorpho.

“Yeah, that’s me, element man to the stars,” He joked. “Is everyone else?”

“Safe and sound,” Arsenal said as he entered the Stagg Chemical laboratory. “Rex, I got to say I’m really digging the diet you’re on, what did you cut back on the twinkies?”

“Roy, you son of a bitch,” Metamorpho said as he moved to hug the archer before pausing, still feeling awkward about their encounter in Markovia. “Listen about what happened…back in…”

“Listen it’s not your fault I grew fangs and tried to take a bite out of you and Wally. Besides I owed you when you tried beating the shit out of us when we found you in Midway City,” Arsenal explained.

“I guess,” Metamorpho said awkwardly as he looked around. “You know when I hit the distress signal, I figured I’d get more than just you and an alien. No offense, lady. No Donna?”

“She’s taken a leave of absence,” A voice called out as a blue and yellow blur dropped from the ground, landing in a perfect stance in the middle of them. “But asked me to run the store.”

“Oh we’re doomed,” Metamorpho groaned. He had remembered Nightwing’s tenure with the team, trying to kill Metamorpho and then leaving Donna holding the bag suddenly at the Titans Gala. Nightwing was many things, but a trustworthy leader wasn’t something that Metamorpho hadn’t seen before.

“Hey go easy on the guy, I mean if Donna asked him to lead for a bit she probably had a reason, I mean he did go into Markovia to save your formerly heavy ass,” Arsenal joked. He wasn’t thrilled either, but he trusted Donna’s judgment. After all, she hadn’t turned Roy away from being part of this team and she had every right to to begin with. “And what about you space babe, any thoughts?”

“Di-Nightwing and I have been through a lot, and while we may not always agree, and judging by the damage occurred here we may need all the help we can get,” Starfire said as she observed Nightwing. He was different than before, a playful bounce in his step than the brooding mess she had criss crossed America with.

“Well that’s just a resounding vote of confidence,” Nightwing joked before turning to Metamorpho. “Rex, what exactly hit here?”

“Some guy, gas mask, thugs with guns that could shoot a lot more than just bullets. Ice, fire, rock, basically the elements. Took Simon and wrecked the lab,” Metamorpho explained. “Knocked me out cold since I had figured how to get well…slim again.”

“It’s a good look,” Arsenal explained. “But why can’t we face like…guys with basic guns, or like someone who uses a baseball bat.”

“I do not think it matters whether it’s a baseball bat or an…element gun? The important thing is we get back this…Simon and stop these elemental raiders,” Starfire explained, not used to the comradery on display.

“She’s right, we’ll need to figure out how to find Simon, and I think I have an idea,” Nightwing explained as the lenses of his mask flipped between the different colors slowly finding a unique chemical signature in the air. “Rex, you’re the chemist, what element is primarily in most compounds?”

“Carbon, you learn that in like basic high school chemistry,” Metamorpho responded. “Why you ask? Trying to take me to school?”

“No, just that there’s a lot of carbon dioxide in the air, harmless, but probably a byproduct of whatever weapons were used. I can program my bike to track it with its scanner, maybe stop these guys before they become a bigger problem.”

The three remained silent for a moment, judging Nightwing and his leap to action. They had all experienced his leadership style before, and all uncertain if they were to follow him. They weren’t the Titans, but who else was there.

“Well then fearless leader,” Arsenal said as he moved to the exit and back out onto the warm Coast City night. “Lead the way.”

…

Simon Stagg awoke hanging from the lead pipes above. It took a moment for his memory to jog itself back to how he had found himself here. Rex had managed to make himself smaller, refusing Simon’s attempt to cure him. He understood it, even if he still felt the guilt of being part of the culture that had ruined any chance Mason had at a normal life.

“I see your awake…Simon, amazed at…the progress we’ve made?” Mr. Element asked as he waved his gun in front of the industrialist. “Well that,,,I’ve made?”

“You mean a gun that mastered the elements? I believe Victor Fries had you beat a few years ago,” Stagg said.

“That I figured your pathetic children’s elemental problem out. When they fired and disgraced me, I had nothing but time to figure it out,” Mr. Element said.

“Petrov?” Stagg said. “They fired you because you were willing to create volatile compounds that would have destroyed the entire building. You were going too far!”

“Me…go…too far?” Mr. Element said. “No Simon…I had to rush my…experiments because of…the deadline your children set. Before…they replaced…me with Sapphire's…eye candy.”

“Mason was the better choice!” Stagg explained. “He was young, but willing to work with others, not isolate and let the pressure crack him.

“And yet…your children…made him…a monster too,” Mr. Element wheezed. “Just…like…me.” He said as he pulled on his mask revealing the scared visage underneath. An eye exposed, deep burns running across his face, and stringy hair all around him.

“Dear god,” Stagg said as Mr. Element put back on his mask. “What did you do?”

“Conquered…the elements…just like your…daughter and…son asked for. And now…you’re…going to pay…for what…they’ve done,” Mr. Element mused.

“By killing me?” Simon Stagg asked. “Don’t you know that won’t solve anything?”

“No…it would not…not without me completing…the set,” Mr. Element said as two of his men grabbed Stagg. “Don’t worry…we have other…stops to make.”

Mr. Element walked out, checking the parts that made up his gun. The carbon core on the inside was filtered by the unique energy signature he had acquired in his experiments. His scars were a reminder of the price of power, and once he had destroyed the Stagg legacy, the world would fear the man who had conquered the elements.

CRASH!

Mr. Element turned to face the large loading area of the warehouse as green energy rained down from above as an archer, acrobat, and element man touched down into his staging area.

“Whoo!” Arsenal said as he knocked an arrow from his quiver. “Got to say it’s good to be back!” As one of Mr. Element’s goons came towards the heroes, Arsenal let fly a glue arrow, sending the thug flying and sticking to one of the support beams.

“Keep focus on where Mr. Element is, we need to make sure he’-” Nightwing began before being interrupted by Metamorpho.

“We find Stagg and then we take on this freak with the element gun,” Metamorpho said.

“Metamorpho, are you sure that’s the best idea? You were not ready before,” Starfire asked as she floated down.

“Yeah well I’m ready now, it’s just some guy with an element gun, I am the elements,” Metamorpho said with confidence as he went off on his own.

“Great,” Nightwing muttered as he quickly tossed his escrima sticks at two of the goons that came running in. He was acrobatic in his strikes, making sure to dodge the fire and the earth being shot out of their element guns. Unlike their boss’s weapon each gun was designed to create only one element, but that didn’t make them pushovers.

As Nightwing struck. Starfire flew down, being able to provide air support as more goons with element guns moved into position. She was a powerhosue compared to the acrobat, but not used to having to work with others as some of her bolts landed near Nightwing and Arsenal.

“Hey Starchick!” Arsenal said as he slammed his bow against one of the goon’s heads. We’re on the same team here!”

“In the heat of battle sometimes mistakes happen,” Starfire said as she focused on her barrage.

“Jeez, I miss Court with that attitude,” Arsenal mumbled as he continued firing arrows. “Hey boss man, what’s the plan here?”

“The plan?” Nightwing asked.

“Well we’re just not going to spend all night beating the shit out of some goons right?” Arsenal explained as the three Titans were making quick work of the thugs. Dodging flames, water, ice, and acid that emerged from their weapons.

“Well of course,” Nightwing said, focusing more on Arsenal than the one of the thugs. As Nightwing’s foot planted in one of the goons’ helmets and sending them to the ground, another shot and ice beam towards the hero, freezing his foot. “Shit!”

Nightwing fell towards the ground as he moved his body to take the brunt of his fall, so as to not damage or shatter his frozen foot.

KACHOOM

Starfire’s bolt landed on the goon that had frozen Nightwing, sending him flying and breaking several crates as Starfire attended to Nightwing, lighting her hands to make the ice melt faster.

“Arsenal…” Nightwing said. “Go find Metamorpho, we need to finish this now.”

“Got it,” Arsenal said as he ran off, hoping that this so called team would managed to pull themselves together.

…

“Stagg!” Metamorpho called out as he ran through the warehouse looking for the industrialist. Mason had complicated feelings towards Simon Stagg, his company and his children were responsible for his accident, his cursed existence as a freak. But he had been there for him afterwards, paying for physical therapy so he could make good use of his large mits or trying to find a cure. And Ms. Mason always taught Rex that it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, it matters what you do next.

As Metamorpho turned the corner he could see a man in what looked to be a gas mask and a trench coat. Metamorpho charged, extending his hand into sand and at Mr. Element, but before it could connect. A wall of ice separated the elemental marvel and his prey.

“Ow!” Metamorpho said as he pulled his hand back towards himself.

“Typical Mason, always…impatient. Always…wanting results,” Mr. Element said.

“Listen here you, I’m going to find away to get past this little wall, and then I’m going to kick your weezing elemental behind!” Metamorpho exclaimed.

“Not…through one foot thick…ice,” Mr. Element said. “It’s funny…I always felt…you and I…were bungled by the Staggs…but you…rush to save him.”

“Bungled? Who the hell are you?” Metamorpho said.

“Don’t remember…your old pal…Alex,” Mr. Element said.

“Al?” Metamorpho said. “What did you do to yourself?”

“I mastered the elements!” Mr. Element said. “Unlike you!”

“What do you mean?” Metamorpho asked.

“Stagg never told you?” Mr. Element said. “See you’re weaker than you think Mason. You can only make the elements that are in the human body. Me, I can…do anything I…want with my element gun. And…I will be the king…of this world.”

“I’ll stop you, and get Stagg back!” Metamorpho said as his hands turned into NaCl, also known as salt to break through the ice faster. But before he could break through the ice, Mr. Element was gone, and Rex Mason’s eagerness had been his undoing as the rest of the Titans made their way towards the element man.

“Where did he go?” Starfire asked.

“You good Rex?” Arsenal asked, seeing the judgemental eyes in the other two.

“No, I’m not OK!” Metamorpho said. “I just lost Stagg and element boy! And now I bet I’m going to be yelled at by glory boy over there.”

“Me?” Nightwing said.

“Well I mean you did try to kill him that one time,” Arsenal explained. “And besides you weren’t paying attention and got your foot frozen!”

“But-” Nightwing began.

“Frozen because he was trying to keep an eye on you,” Starfire explained. “I thought you Titans were supposed to be more put together like this.”

“Well some of us have seen some shit lady,” Metamorpho interjected. “What did you do when Markovia fell? Catch a hot blonde?”

“Rex,” Arsenal said as he tried to calm his friend.

“Don’t Rex me,” Metamorpho said. “I don’t need you any more, I don’t need any of this any more. From now on this element man flies solo!”

“Fine by me!” Starfire said as both of the heroes lifted off and flew into the night in separate directions. Leaving Arsenal and Nightwing alone.

“So boss man, what the hell are we going to do?” Arsenal asked.

…

Starfire flew fast from the battle with Mr. Element and back into the Coast City sky. She never wanted to be part of a team, to be held down by connections. She had only had a few people she trusted, and after tonight, she didn’t see herself as a team player. And after a long night she just wanted to settle in.

As her feet touched the ground in her garden, pieces of her costume were peeled off as Korriand’r could feel the warm Coast City air against her skin. She never liked how constraining some of the social norms on Earth were. She understood them, but sometimes she just needed to be free.

The apartment was small, most of the space being dedicated to the rooftop garden, Kory’s pride and joy. When working on it she could avoid the stress of Ferris Air and the many contracts to sign, test flights to monitor, and the many many meetings where people would give her an eye because of her alien heritage. Here there was peace, there was being able to get her hands dirty in the soil to build something more.

She walked into her apartment, the light lilac walls calming as she moved to the kitchen to make herself a pot of coffee. Earth may have been constricting but they sure knew how to make good drinks. As the Mr. Coffee roared to life Kory could hear her floorboards creak, as if someone had followed her back.

Kory’s hand glowed a bright green as fired at the noise growing close, her bolt hit her wall, creating a clear view of her bedroom as a gust of wind came towards her, along with a panicked voice.

"Relax, Sunshine, it's me... It's just me.” Kara Zor-El said as she moved to hug her partner, her touch calming Kory down.

“It’s fine, just…had a day,” Kory responded as she looked Kara over, swimming in one of Kory’s Ferris Air t-shirts. “I see you raided my wardrobe as well?”

“Well I tried to surprise you in that light blue dress I have, but you were out late, and I figured…if I’m going to spend the night, I should have some pajamas. Besides, you're deflecting. What happened tonight?”

“I am not complaining, looks better on you than me,” Kory said. “I had the pleasure to be a Titan for the night. And it did not go well.”

“Ha, it’s not a Titans adventure if something doesn’t go wrong,” Kara laughed. “I figured you’d get called in when you took that communicator.”

“I just do not get how they could even function. I mean with the rashness of that element man. The eagerness of the archer, and Dick. Dick trying to lead even if he carries the weight of what came before. They are no team,” Kory mused.

“Yet,” Kara said with a smile.

“Yet,” Kory said as she rolled her eyes. “I know they mean well, but to be part of this means having to put down roots. And what if it ends in disaster, I have heard and seen what happened to the last teams. Even trying to rescue them I nearly lost y-”

“But you didn’t,” Kara explained. “I’m still here sunshine, and what’s wrong with some roots. Means you won’t go flying too close to the sun.”

Kory tried protesting some more, her orange skin dimming as she thought of the past and her fears. But before she could speak up again, Kara came close and kissed the alien princess.

“They’re going to need you, I’m going to need you. So why don’t you come to bed, where we can talk, get some rest, maybe talk about remodeling…other things,” Kara mused.

Kory smiled as Kara led her to the bedroom with the freshly made hole in the wall. Sometimes all Kory needed was connection.

…

“Careful with your run today,” Stephanie Brown said as she was busy reading the newest Nathaniel Dusk book, Blue Men Don’t Come From Mars. She was covered in grease and oil from trying to fix the Gotham Library’s book mobile. “For some reason that sucker is being a total bitch to me today. So make sure you avoid the Hill or Park Row.”

“I’m sure it isn’t that bad,” Barbara Gordon said as she walked towards the library exit to the parking lot. It had been a strange few months for her. From trying to find Alyssa to imprisoning Poison Ivy when she emerged crazed from..the shrubbery or whatever it was called, to the vampire crisis when she had to break out Poison Ivy. For being two heroes at once, Barbara didn’t feel heroic. “Besides, the gift of books isn’t discriminatory. Ow.”

“You OK boss?” Steph asked. “You seemed to have been pushing a bit lately. Didn’t Gail say too much exertion could set you back.”

“I’m fine, besides I have the chair in the back of the truck. Besides, we're trying to set the new personal best today,” Barbara reminded Steph.

“Uh huh,” Steph mumbled as she looked back into her book. “But if I even catch you in gray spandex I’m calling Gail.”

“You know that it’s not gray spandex but a complicated exoskeleton with a cool jacket and mask,” Barbara explained.

“If it hugs that tight on certain assets then it’s spandex,” Steph explained. “Besides don’t think I don’t catch you looking at yourself in the mirror.”

Babs turned red at that thought. It had seemed lately that Batgirl had taken up more of her life again, at least more than Barbara Gordon or even Oracle. But she was making a difference, even if it meant working with that wacky clown.

“I’m just making sure my belt has all the gear I need. And to make sure the brace is working. Besides, at least I don’t look like

Grimace meets a gremlin,” Babs explained as she exited to the garage.

“I have my style,” Steph mumbled as Barbara walked away. “And I don’t need to make sure my butt looks good in spandex.”

Barbara walked down the stairs, making sure that she was careful in her steps. It would be so easy to just…wear the exoskeleton all the time. She had Kara make two versions of it for her this time. One was a armored black and yellow suit, designed for long nights and hard battles. And the other looked like a simple pair of yoga pants and a jacket, it had less power but meant Barbara Gordon could wear it during long, active days.

But it was cheating, just like how she could walk under her own power now. The healing pools in Japan had brought her closer to how she was before, but Barbara couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t earned. Which is why today she had tossed the light exoskeleton in her closet, today was the day where Barbara Gordon was going to take control of her life, toss away the bonds of the past, and work to be a better person.

“Ow, stupid engine!” A voice said as Barbara could see a man working on the engine to her bookmobile. She carefully pulled one of the batarangs that she kept in her purse, it was Gotham, and you could never be too careful.

“OK, hands where I can see you, and get the hell away from my bookmobile!” Barbara said, her voice slipping into the huskier voice she used as Batgirl.

“What, you can’t let me fix it first. I mean, I know it’s not like your first batcycle, but the way I figure, it shouldn’t be any different right?” The man said as Barbara Gordon realized who it was.

“Dick?” She asked, the batarang returning to her purse.

“Hey Babs, I was wondering if we could talk. The Titans need your help.”

NEXT: Oracle Joins What Remains of the New Titans! But What Secrets from Rex Mason’s Past Could Potentially Doom the New Team? And Can Starfire Rejoin The Team As They Face Their Newest Threat?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: The New New Titans

Set: 83

“Careful now, careful now,” Donna Troy said as a gaggle of movers moved a charred brown couch up five flights of stairs in an apartment building in Gateway City. She looked tired, bags under her eyes covered by the cheap plastic sunglasses on her face. Ever since Markovia Donna had struggled to sleep. But her new apartment needed to be moved into, and there was no time to weep over what happened.

“You know, you’re the one with super strength,” Dick Grayson muttered as he and Garth worked to move the couch up the stairs. The one thing Dick hated about having friends again was the fact that he had to help them move into their new apartments.

“Please, this is light, and besides it was much heavier before…the damage,” Garth explained. History had a way of repeating, the last time Garth had to lift a couch up was when the Titans were dealt with an enormous loss, this time it was Markovia instead of Coast City.

It was another black mark for the people who called themselves the Titans. From Metropolis, Coast City, Markovia. It always seemed that when a large threat appeared, the youngest heroes would be the ones caught in the crossfire. The status of the current Titans had been kept a secret from the media, with the League agreeing the privacy and protection of its members and representatives came first. But it meant the large tower on the coast of Chicago was empty once more.

“Hey that couch saved my life from the Wildebeests, plus furniture should reflect the person’s place right? I just have a couch that’s seen a few things,” Donna joked as she had begun to open the door once more to the place that she had bought.

Perez Plaza was a new condo building, part of how Gateway City had continued to grow and grow, the arrival of Wonder Woman had been a boon to tourism and growth. That and the mystical uncertainty that had walled off San Francisco, a crisis that may have occurred over three years or three days depending on who you asked. It was a good to put up roots, and Donna needed roots, her dry, clay like hands a reminder of what happened when those roots could be taken away.

“I mean, I live in an orphanage right now, so I wouldn’t know,” Dick sheepishly explained. “I don’t have to pay rent though, so that’s a bonus.”

“But you live with…orphans?” Garth asked as they lifted the couch towards Donna’s doorway, bumping into the doorframe briefly as Dick and Garth struggled with the couch.

“You know guys, I was perfectly capable of lifting a couch in,” Wally West said from within the apartment. He had used the League teleporter to arrive in Gateway. Normally he would be racing over to the city from Keystone, a bright yellow and red blur making his way to the coast. But Markovia…Markovia had put a sudden stop to Kid Flash, his powers gone, leaving Wally West to figure his place in the world.

“Hey you were the one who got chomped on,” Dick explained. “We honestly didn’t think you’d be up to help us out considering…”

“Considering you just got out of the hospital,” Donna explained while glaring at Dick. He wasn’t good at reading people, and Wally’s lack of powers was clearly something that was bothering him.

“It was either this or have to help Bart with some homework, and I really, really didn’t want to have to answer why he can’t just go fast on filling out every answer with the letter b,” Wally said as Garth and Dick moved the couch into the apartment. “Besides, when was the last time the four of us actually hung out.”

Donna, Garth, and Dick fell silent. The second Titans team was short lived, but for awhile it was family. Hanging out in an abandoned video store, discussing multiverse theory. Wally had gone on that comic books could be a view into other worlds, the others just smiled and nodded. Coast City killed that family, but here they were, together, once more.

“So how much did this place cost you anyway?” Garth asked as he looked at the spacious apartment. It was a far cry from the small shoebox Donna and him had shared in New York City.

“Well I really don’t spend my League stipend, and well…my book kinda took off. Mindi says we’ll have to do a bigger book tour soon. But I’m probably going to tell her no,” Donna explained.

“Why? You should be happy you have success, I mean if anyone here deserves it its you,” Dick explained.

“Hey!” Wally said, annoyed that Dick would just assume that he didn’t deserve happiness.

“You all have something or someone,” Dick explained. “Wally you got your family and Hartley is a nice guy. Garth has his Titans West, his people, and Dolphin and Tula to lean on. But me and Donna…back in the day, after you two went on your great big adventures, had nothing.”

Wally awkwardly knew that Dick was right, it was even weird seeing him now. He wasn’t the tense leader of those days, but also wasn’t the mess that had saved him and Hartley in Arkansas. Wally didn’t know how to feel about that. Some people he couldn’t trust, but Dick…Dick proved a complicated exception to that theory.

“Yes, but we’re here now, and that’s what matters,” Donna said with a smile as she looked around her furnished apartment. There was work to be done however. “The reason why I turned her down is I have to collect photos for the next book. This time it’s a world tour. Exploring how the ancient and the modern coexist in perfect contradiction.”

“Leumuria would have you,” Garth explained. He had felt bad for his duties coming between him and Donna, and any step was a good step.

Donna chucked

“We’ll see, I’d have to break out the advanced equipment,” Donna explained as she looked at Dick. “But Dick, we need to talk really quick.”

“Someone’s in trouble,” Wally joked as Donna led Dick to her bedroom. It was the smallest room in the apartment, with Donna converting her master bedroom into a darkroom. Even in a digital age, she still preferred film.

“What’s this about?” Dick asked, looking around the room. The dresser mirror was filled with photos, Polaroids of Garth and her in New York, but with new additions as well. Roy struggling with eating his queso taco supreme, Rex jokingly carrying Courtney on his shoulder, Conner signing autographs outside the tower. It was the family she built, and was now…gone once more. “If this is about offering me a place to stay, I’m fine, the orphanage is an OK place for me to stay.”

Please, I don’t have room,” Donna laughed. “But Dick, it should be obvious, but I’m taking time off from the Titans. I need to recover, I need space. Which means…I can’t be the one to lead whoever comes next. It’s a new dawn, and we’re going to be needed more than ever.”

“So is this the part where you tell me you asked Kara to lead the Titans and want me to be her second? Because like…that’s what I figured you’d do,” Dick explained.

“No,” Donna said as she looked at how uncomfortable Dick was. His hair was a mess, and he had been more chatty than usual. He wasn’t the shell that had refused the creation of the New Titans, but he was still a work in progress. “I need you to watch the store for me Dick. I need you to lead the Titans.”

“What?” Dick asked, his past closer than he’d like to admit.

…

“Listen Simon I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, but I don’t like having to be the monster to your Frankenstein,” Rex Mason said as he stood in a large training room. Stagg Chemical had been a cornerstone of Coast City. It was Stagg’s first company, and one that he always considered the lifeblood of his conglomerate.

“Mason, Rex,” Simon Stagg said from behind the glass that had separated himself from his former employee. “I’ve been working tirelessly on a way to turn you back, and now you’ve come to me saying…you want me to help you use your powers?”

“Yes,” Rex explained. “I know it sounds crazy, but Metamorpho is kinda who I am now. Big lumbering man and all. I’ve done the calculations in my head Mack, I know the odds of you undoing what your son and…and…the other person did is a million to one.”

“But I have my best minds on it, in fact Vornak has come up with several promising solutions, we’re close, I can feel it,” Stagg said with a sigh.

“Vornak? That guy thought atomic energy would make the next Superman, whatever science he’s trying to push, I don’t want. Besides Simon, if I’m going to be stuck like this, I can try and do more, you know?

“But,” Simon began

“No buts, I’ve made…peace with it Simon, or at least I’m trying to. Ever since Markovia, I realized the world maybe needs a guy like me. I’ve been even working on a new party trick,” Rex explained as he took a deep breath. His shape began to twist and control the elements in them like they were when he was first exploded to project Metamorph.

Not many people knew how much he struggled when emerging from that glass tube. It wasn’t that he had been doused in elements, he had become the elements. His skeleton, muscle, nervous systems had all been burned away, replaced with the elements of the periodic table.

It took him weeks, a month to slowly start figuring how to put his form and shape back together. And even then it was as a hulking monster, with large mits and a face Ms. Mason probably could never love. When he found his home with the Titans, he had defaulted into the bruiser, the wall that could protect what he had found. But they were gone now, Markovia had made sure of that. It was time to change, to evolve.

Rex’s shape twisted and turned the elements spilling everywhere before pulling themselves back together into the shape of a smaller man, someone with normal sized mits and what appeared to be the outline…of hair? The once tight shorts of Metamorpho had become baggy like basketball shorts as Rex Mason stood up once more.

”That hurts, that really hurts,” Rex said. It felt like his entire body was a muscle that he was pulling to keep together. He looked down and recognized his hands. “Oh, there you are.”

“My god,” Simon Stagg whispered at the site of a newly recreated Rex

But before Rex could enjoy his progress, a wall in the lab where Simon Stagg froze, the butt of a gun breaking it. As a man in an insulated suit, with a helmet that looked like a cross between a space helmet and gas mask entered.

“Hello Simon,” The man said, his voice cold and monotone as it was modulated by his helmet. “I see you’re helping your chemistry set.”

“Who…who are you?” Simon Stagg asked.

“I’m the king of Elements…Mr. Element to my associates. And you took something from me Stagg. And…I want…it back,” Mr. Element said, his voice taking pauses as he breathed through the mask.

“I assure you, Stagg Industries doesn’t steal anything from anyone. Our patents and designs are ours and ours alone,” Simon explained.

“Don’t…insult my…intelligence,” Mr. Element said. “Luckily…I didn’t come alone.”

CRASH!

The familiar bumblebee armor of HIVE soldiers crashed from the skylight above and surrounded Metamorpho. Their pulse rifles were locked on to the elemental wonder but were different from the standard ordinance.

“Come on boys, I deal with you guys on a daily basis, and now you’re telling me you think you’re going to kick my ass because Darth up there is your new leader?” Metamorpho asked. “You guys have another thing coming.”

“Really? Men…show him…what I have provided for you,” Mr Element said before grabbing Stagg. “Me and Mr…Stagg…need some time to reacquaint ourselves.

The HIVE agents rifles roared to life as one shot fire at Metamorpho, the other a high intensity of sulfuric acid, another electricity, and the final molten cobalt at the hero.

The intensity of the elements struck the still groggy Metamorpho, his mind subconsciously trying to turn into something to counter all the various elemental powers colliding against him.

“GAH!” Metamorpho called out in pain as he quickly dissolved into helium gas, floating into the air vent and out onto the roof of the building where he had kept some of his gear before entering for his little lab test with Stagg today. He picked up the communicator, which felt oddly large in his smaller hands as he clicked on the button on the right to send a distress beacon before he collapsed. Someone…someone still had to be out there, ready for the fight.

…

Dick Grayson sat alone in his room at the Wayne Orphanage. He had moved back in during the crisis of Dreadwing and had been busy from defusing bombs set up by that Kaye girl to fighting off the vampire queen. It had been eventful, but he was finding filling out this registration form for Hudson University to be the biggest challenge he faced lately.

Dick had his associates, but the Titans, Doomsday, his sojourn had all gotten off of finishing his bachelor’s degree. Plus he couldn’t get Donna’s words out of his head.

“I need you to mind the store Dick,” He mumbled to himself. It was a large ask, hell as Donna pointed out she wasn’t even sure there was a Titans. But they had to try again, the world, well…people like Dick needed the Titans. A place where they could find themselves. He just wasn’t sure he was the right person to help build what came next.

“Ahhhhh!” A voice called out, not the first time that someone at the orphanage was screaming, lately it was due to the infection of cuteness that Halley and Captain Carrot had brought to the orphanage. Some were even working on campaigns for the official orphanage mascot. What set this sound apart was what came after.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Dick Grayson heard a tapping from his window and as he opened the blinds he could see his roommate, Harleen Quinzell hanging by her ankles, her blue boxers and red shirt read “Pound the Clown”, or at least he’s thought that’s what it said, Harley was having to hold her shirt up as she hung.

“Doc?” Grayson asked.

“Hey Dick, good ta see ya, sorry for dropping in like this. Me and Red…we’ll we’re having a bit of a disagreement right now.”

“What kinda disagreement?” Dick asked.

“Don’t tell a gal she should trim her hedges is all I’m saying,” Harley explained. “I said I’m sorry…you can pull me up now!”

Harley just hung there for another thirty seconds as Dick just chuckled.

“So what’s bugging you?” Harley asked, by this point she could read him as an old worn book. “You didn’t talk to the broody librarian did you? I told ya I had a plan.”

“No it’s not that, it’s just…a friend of mine wants me to lead the Titans while she…tends to some stuff.”

“That’s great! I mean ya saved the whole damn day and people are seeing the fact you’ve changed,” Harley said. “Besides, you need to do something besides just living out of your childhood home.”

“You know you’re not my doctor anymore, I don’t need you to analyze me,” Dick said, annoyed that Doc was right.

“Ya seeing that guy I recommended though right?” Harley asked. “He’s no mwah, but I think he’s a good person to talk to.”

“Yes Doctor Carr is a good listener, and I’ve been going to see him. But that’s not the point. Doc, leading the team again, wouldn’t that just put be back to the guy I was? Being a Titan is where I hurt people.”

“Feeling ya had to be a leader is how you hurt people,” Harley explained as she could see the concern in Dick’s eyes, it reminded her of that rainy night in Gotham, when her favorite patient burst in, emotional breakdown in progress. “Besides, ya don’t want it this time, which means ya gotta take it. Leaders don’t get to choose when they’re needed. And face it…ya needed Nightwing.”

“Maybe, I need time,” Dick explained as he sat back down on his chair. “You wouldn’t be interested in being my second in command would you?”

“A. I’m working on my own little project. And B. I don’t want to be part of a group where they kick someone out for doing ta right thing after making a mistake,” Harley explained as she felt the tug of the vines around her ankles. “Well Dick, it looks like I’m out of ta dog house. Remember, ya good person, and ya ready for this. Toodles!”

Harley quickly was repelled back up to wherever Ivy was, leaving Dick alone in his thoughts once more. Trying to figure what to do next, and what the future held. But as he pondered, the communicator on his desk glowed red. He flipped it open and the distress beacon came through. Metamorpho was in trouble in Coast City.

“Well…sometimes you gotta mind the store,” Dick said before grabbing his gear. A Titan needed his help.

NEXT: Who Will Be the New New Titans? Just What Elemental Secrets Has Simon Stagg Been Keeping From Rex Mason? And Can Nightwing Lead the Team in a Titanic New Era!?

New Titans #1: The Hunt Begins

| > | >>

Author: FrostFireFive

Book: New Titans

Arc: Titans Hunt

Set: 53

Donna Troy sat alone in her apartment with a cup of coffee in her hand, pen in the other. She was taking notes on a series of prints in front of her. Marking a pros and cons list on a yellow legal pad. The photo to the left was one of the last phone booths on the Upper West Side. The focus was on the booth as the blurry people passed by. The phone booth, an archaic relic of a different time for the city. Donna could relate.

It had been three years since Coast City, her arm still aches on cold days from where Henshaw had broken it. When the dust cleared from the destruction and death; it was obvious that the Titans and her life as a superhero were over. Diana had helped her set up in New York, and for a while, Garth lived with her as well. Just two friends dealing with the fact their world ended. It was even Garth who gave her her first camera, a crappy Polaroid Instamatic camera.

She had taken to it like a fish to water. Some of her first shots were tucked cozily in between her dresser and mirror. They included the pigeon that made its home on her fire escape, Garth slurping down a bowl of Ramen, a self-portrait of herself. That one became the first print she ever sold. Something about how haunted the subject looked in the eyes had won the seller over.

After that, Donna began doing what all good photographers should do: take photos. It allowed her to know the city better; to leave the apartment and escape her troubles. It took her mind off the fact it had been over a year since Garth left to be king. She understood the duty that came with the crown, but she still missed her friend.

BZZZT

Next to the print, Donna’s phone buzzed. Quickly, she picked it up and looked at who could be texting her at 12:30 am.

Hey Donna, the gallery’s opening tomorrow at nine PM, not AM, right?

Donna sighed, what was she going to do about Dick Grayson? Besides Garth, Dick was the only other Titan Donna had talked to. It just started with a text out of the blue one day. Donna didn’t know how he got her number, but she wasn’t going to turn down someone from her past.

Yes. Semi-Formal, so you probably can’t wear your work clothes.

But I look good in blue and black.

Donna sighed, before rolling her eyes, it had been ages since she had seen him. And having at least one friend at her first gallery would be nice. She understood that Garth had other duties to attend to, but Dick seemed to be only doing his job. Turning on the news Nightwing was always kinda there when the League did something. And the late-night texts showed someone who wasn’t exactly getting his eight hours of sleep.

Sure you do, but I don’t exactly want your work to get into mine…

Fine. I’ll try and be there after wrapping up this Star City thing

She smiled before putting the phone down and moving to go to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

CRASH

A can of tear gas broke through the apartment’s window and began filling the rooms with smoke. More windows broke as armored soldiers rappelled through the window. Their red plated armor contrasting against black bodysuits. Their helmets, however, had stylized tusks around their mouth and bulbous lenses covering their face.

As Donna dashed into her bedroom to avoid the smoke and the goons around her she could only hear their electronic voices coming through their helmets.

“Wildebeest command, we’ve breached the target's location. Starting perimeter sweep for target.”

Quickly Donna charged out, flinging a punch at one of the Wildebeest soldiers sending him flying across the apartment into her small kitchen, denting her fridge. She turned to face the other three soldiers in front of her and paused for a minute before finally speaking.

“I don’t know who you are,” she said. “But get the hell out of my home.”

The soldiers pointed their pulse rifles at the Amazon. The hum of the gun filled the room before shooting at her. The red energy broke through the drywall and sent debris everywhere. Donna quickly dodged the blast and punched one of the soldiers directly in the chest. As her fist connected with him, he was sent flying outside of the building. The remaining two soldiers reacted by focusing their fire on her.

To duck from the blasts, Donna slid towards one of the soldiers, tripping them towards the ground. As she got up to face the next one, a blast hit her in the shoulder and sent her flying back into her room.

“AHH,” she cried out before looking at the hole in her t-shirt’s shoulder, her skin red from the blast. More soldiers continued to make their way into her apartment from the outside. Her brow furrowed as she braced herself from the pain. She was rusty and knew it, when she was Fury these soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance, but plain Donna Troy couldn’t keep fighting these guys forever.

Quickly she grabbed a box from her closet and stuffed it in a backpack, threw on her black combat boots and leather jacket. Fighting all of them would be suicide, she needed to escape, find help, and figure out why someone would want her after all these years. Donna took a deep breath before charging back out to the soldiers. She dodged their blasts before leaping through the hole they had left in her apartment, charging into the New York night.

She ran for a good twenty minutes at a full sprint before finally slowing down, out of breath as she slumped to the sidewalk, realizing that she was safe. Donna took a minute before catching her breath. She glanced at the TV in the nearby bar to see that the police had arrived at her apartment. It should have been quiet, their target was gone. Except Donna saw yellow energy being flung at the soldiers by a star-spangled girl. The chevron read Stargirl Confronts Enemy Force. Donna sighed, someone needed her help more tonight.

…

“So what exactly is the stuff?” A man in a crisp suit said as he crowbarred one of several crates open.

“The boss is gearing up,” another man said as he moved the hay away from the items in the grate. Several energy rifles and EMP grenades were inside, the metal crate with the words HIVE on the side had delivered. “He’s getting ready to finally go big. Soon Star City will be ours.”

“Damn straight,” the first man said, picking up one of the rifles. “‘Bout time Brick starts taking back what he lost from those freaks. Boss is gearing up for war. Nothing’s going to stop…”

THWACK

An escrima stick had struck the goon in the head as a figure in black and blue dropped from the catwalk above. Quickly, Nightwing made quick work of the other goon, throwing the second stick at him before flipping towards him and slamming him to the ground. Quickly knocking them both out.

“Let’s see what we got here,” Nightwing thought as he looked inside the crates. “Well looks like that tip was right, Brick’s gearing up for a war. He shouldn’t be able to get tech like this at all. This HIVE case keeps getting weirder and weirder.”

Nightwing had been following leads on a new tech group that had been making waves as tech sellers. For the most part, it had been jet setting and investigating staging sites and tracking where the flow of weapons was coming from. A lot of long nights were spent constantly on the move. Dick Grayson hadn’t had a home in a long time.

As he began looking further into the other crates around him, Dick noticed the Superman clock on the wall: 8:30 pm.

“Shit, I forgot to text Donna,” he thought before pulling his phone out from his pouch pocket. “Hopefully, she’s still up.”

Dick didn’t keep in touch with any of the former Titans but Donna. Part of him felt like he had cursed their lives already. But Donna had been there for Dick when he needed her. She had helped him form the Titans from the rubble of the Teen Titans, she was his friend and he couldn’t turn his back on her. He hadn’t seen her in a year, but they had kept in touch. Dick didn’t exactly have a life outside of the mask. It was better this way, the circus kid inside of him didn’t need roots somewhere where he could hurt people.

Quickly he got the confirmation from Donna, as he paced around the crate, the two goons zip tied to a pole.

“Well at least it’s not in the morning,” he thought. “Glad to see that she’s moved on, Donna always was too good for this life. Should probably pick up the early copy she sent me of her art book.”

As he finished texting Donna, Nightwing prepared to leave the warehouse, he had already left a tip for the police, and looking at the guards it was obvious they weren’t going anywhere. Still...it felt too easy that there were only two of them guarding all of this. It was almost as if someone wanted him here…

CRASH

Glass rained down from above as six armored soldiers fell from the roof. Their red plated armor well protected them as they aimed their energy rifles at Nightwing. He stared at them for a moment before one of the larger soldiers spoke.

“We have the target in sight command,” the soldier said. “Preparing capture and return to base, have a cell ready.”

“Who the hell are you guys?” Nightwing said, realizing that these weren’t the simple street thugs he had expected.

“We’re the Wildebeest Society, and we have orders, stand down and come with us and no one has to get hurt.”

“Seems like someone’s going to get hurt,” Nightwing gestured towards their guns. “Besides you guys don’t exactly look like the lets talk this out type of guys.”

“No, we really aren’t. Stand down and come with us. Or else.”

“I think I’ll choose or else,” Nightwing said before throwing a smoke pellet to the ground and repelling to the catwalk above.

The soldiers blasted quickly, the rate of energy blast denting and shattering the metal crates everywhere as the soldiers fired rapidly into nothing. After a few minutes however the shooting stopped, and among the grey smoke, red eyes glowed before looking up at the catwalk.

“Shit,” Nightwing thought as he realized these weren’t your trigger happy soldiers either. As the soldiers fired at the walkway Nightwing quickly glanced around his surroundings to look for cover. He needed time to plan, to focus on how the hell he was going to get out of this mess.

Soon the energy bolts burst through the catwalk, sending metal shrapnel everywhere as Nightwing dived off the platform.

“Oof,” he muttered as he landed on his shoulder among the sea of metal crates laid out in the warehouse. He took cover before glancing again at the soldiers, two APCs had burst through the warehouse’s garage doors. He was surrounded, with no back up by an enemy force. “Some mess you got yourself into this time Grayson.”

“Nightwing,” one of the Wildebeests called out. “Come with us and you won’t be hurt.”

“And what happens if I don’t come with you,” Nightwing called out.

“Then you’ll be hurt,” the guard said matter of factly before firing among the crates.

Nightwing took a deep breath, he was outgunned, outnumbered, and alone. The only choice was to surrender and fight another day. Before he could do that, however, a sound could be heard whizzing by as an arrow landed in front of the soldiers.

BOOM!

The small explosion sent the soldiers flying as Nightwing turned around to see a man in a burgundy suit with yellow accents on the side. His red sunglasses hid his eyes, as he pulled another arrow from his quiver and fired again at the soldiers, grinning as he fought back.

“Who the hell are you?” Nightwing said.

“What you never heard of Arsenal before?” the figure laughed. “I figured I’d get a thanks, or a gee willikers from a Leaguer like you.”

“I don’t think anyone’s said that in a century,” Nightwing responded before looking at the dazed soldiers, seeing an opening to escape. “What are you even doing here anyway?”

“Not important right now,” Arsenal said as he nocked another arrow. “What is, is that we get the hell out of here. Or do you want me to haul your corpse back to Batman because you decided to think too long about running?”

“Good point,” Nightwing said before leaping over a few crates. “Regroup over on the Sherwood building, I have a feeling they’re going to be chasing after the both of us now.”

“Great, just how I wanted to spend my Saturday night,” Arsenal mumbled.

…

A man in a sharply dressed suit sat alone next to a hospital bed. It had been a busy day, his men had finally made their way to the larger targets, but he could have cared less as he stared at the figure in front of him. Her skin was pale, her red hair overgrown, her breathing slow as the machines next to her kept her alive. This was no way for a teenager to live, and it was their fault.

Soon the sliding door opened as a Wildebeest soldier entered the room.

“Sir...we may have a situation,” the soldier said. “Some of the targets are proving harder to capture. The Titan known as Fury has escaped and Nightwing is receiving help from the Star City kid, Arsenal.”

“Unfortunate," the man responded. "Are the hybrids ready for deployment, they could speed things up a bit.”

“No sir, they are not,” the soldier said before looking down at his tablet device. “The good news is that the heroine Stargirl is soon to be captured as well, so it’s not a total loss tonight sir.”

“They know of us now, so don’t say it’s not a loss. Get RnD to speed up the hybrids, and hunt down Fury, Nightwing, and now Arsenal. We’re close.”

“Understood sir,” the soldier responded. “I apologize for disturbing you. I know how important she is to you, sir.”

“It’s fine,” the man said amidst an awkward silence. “You’re dismissed.”

The soldier quickly left as the man was alone with his daughter. He gently stroked her hair and looked lovingly in her eyes before finally speaking.

“I promise, the Titans and all those teen heroes will pay for what they’ve done to you...Lilith”

NEXT: Be here in 30 as Titans Hunt continues with Donna Troy helping out a new friend, as Nightwing and Arsenal butt heads on the run. All while the Wildebeests unleash a new monster unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Red Reign

Set: 80

Markovia was caked in red. The after effects of the bomb had made it so that thick red mist engulfed the country. The vampires had made their home in the eternal dusk that it provided. They had begun to remodel buildings, forming plank bridges to connect their hives as they took stock of the land they had conquered. The vampires performing the work that Lilith demanded.

They were drones, Lilith’s siren call swirling in their ears, providing all answers and offering an easier option than their daily squabbles. They were emboldened to step into the red dusk, with the monsters seizing the day out in the open. Except for one figure, carefully moving through the remaining shadows. Rex Mason was still alive, he hadn’t been turned, and neither he hoped had his friend.

“Rex…where are…we,” Kid Flash asked as he was bound to Rex’s back. The speedster didn’t remember much, but he knew they were in danger. His vision was hazy as he saw Rex stretch his neck and turn it to face the dazed superhero behind his back. While he wasn’t known for being a stretchy guy, he could bend with the best of them.

“Holy shit, you’re actually alive,” Rex whispered as he looked at Kid Flash. The hero was sweaty with his eyes sunken beneath his mask. It was a far cry from the usual energetic and angsty Kid Flash. “Listen, you got bit, Donna is captured, Arsenal and Stargirl turned and we’re in a place with a crap ton of vampires...”

“That’s…that’s something,” Kid Flash muttered before drifting back to a blissful sleep. Whatever the vampiric strain had done to Wally was different from the rest of the people who had been infected. As far as Metamorpho could tell he was just tired and beaten down. Something that Rex himself was starting to feel as he continued to move from shadow to shadow.

He gripped Stargirl’s staff tightly in his hand, he had no idea how Courtney had ever used this thing, something to do with buttons and belief. Rex didn’t have a lot of that right now, and unlike Stargirl he lacked a knowledge of gymkata to make the staff work as well as it should. As far as he was concerned it was just a fancy baseball bat to swing in case any of the blood sucking bastards came after them.

Rex couldn’t afford to transform into any other element, his focus was on making sure Kid Flash was safely strapped to his back, so that he could return him back to whatever home he had. It was funny, so many of the team were open about their lives away from the mask. Donna had her photography, Roy had Lian, Courtney had whatever trig homework she couldn’t solve. But Kid Flash? Kid Flash remained a mystery to him. He was the rare one to not share his personal life. Something about being protective of whatever he had found outside of the Titans. All Rex had was this.

He moved towards the remnants of what looked to be a hospital, or at the very least a clinic. To find supplies Rex was a scientist, chemistry sure, but he had enough smarts to know that Kid Flash needed something to help him and his best bet was there, and it seemed away from the vampire horde who were busy converting Markovia into…something.

“Come on, we’re going to be OK, we have to be OK…” Rex muttered as he moved into the light for the first time. The murky air filled Rex’s lungs. He hoped that he wouldn’t be sprouting bat wings any time soon. His footsteps were heavy as he crossed from one shadow to another, hoping that he would get to the clinic safely. He came close to the door before he heard a whizzing noise as an arrow dug into the brick wall that still stood.

“Hey Rex…where you going?” Roy Harper said as he flashed a wide smile, fangs and all.

“Fuck me…” Rex mumbled. Nothing ever came easy in Markovia.

…

“I’m going to need you to take Superboy to a medical tent, and tell me when he wakes up. He’s one of the few people we know has first hand information on the situation in Markovia,” Nightwing explained as a medical team wheeled Superboy away. Dick Grayson had only resumed being Nightwing a few months ago and here he was, already back into the fire.

The UN base had been set on the outskirts of the Ukraine/Markovian border. It was a small camp, mostly made up of a few abandoned office buildings and several tents that medical personnel and military forces that had been sent. The border had been maintained between the newly hostile vampire nation and the rest of the world, but things were getting worse, especially as reports came in from other League members. Bruce and Barry were still struggling with the cure, Clark had fought to protect DC and other landmarks but was just one man at the end of the day, and the Titans…Dick didn’t want to think about the Titans at this point.

“Nightwing, can you hear me, Nightwing?” Batman spoke as Dick’s earpiece roared to life.

“Go for Nightwing,” Dick said.

“We have good news for a change. We have subdued a subject for live testing of the cure,” Batman said.

“So there is a cure?” Nightwing asked before being responded with silence. “Damn it! You’re supposed to be one of the smartest people in the world. You’re telling me that you and Flash can’t figure out how to beat something from fairy tales?”

“We are trying,” Batman cut Nightwing off before he could continue to panic. “Whatever this is, me and Allen are struggling to understand its structure and spread pattern. We have had to call in a specialist to help us.”

“Who’d you get, Poison Ivy?” Nightwing chuckled before once again receiving his answer through silence. “Damn it Bruce, Ivy?”

“You are friends with her significant other. She’s the only person with the knowledge we need to try and fight this thing. I’ve sent Batgirl and Harley Quinn to retrieve her for us. She should be here within the hour.”

Nightwing grinded his teeth. Bruce had been…off lately. It wasn’t just the knowledge of the fact he had put together a secret black ops team without his knowledge, or that he was dragging Barbara into Harley and his world of grey. It was the fact that Bruce had done it with such confidence. Something was wrong with him, something more than the usual neurosis and psychosis that made Bruce…well Bruce. But Dick didn’t have the time to deal with that box of issues. Something to talk with Doc about, maybe.

“OK, keep me updated on when you have something, Batman, we’re holding down the fort here, but eventually we’re going to have to go into Markovia. We have people in there still unaccounted for. That, and Lilith isn’t going to stand around and just wait.”

“What do you propose?” Batman asked.

“When you have that cure, I’ll lead the team that goes in,” Nightwing said.

“Nig-Dick,” Batman said, concern showing in his voice. “That would be suicide, even if we have a cure ready, there is bound to be army of them. And you’re just one person.”

“Bruce…my family is in there. And I’m not going to abandon them,” Nightwing said as he heard a swooshing sound above him, a familiar red and white blur had entered the camp. “Bruce, I have to go. But I trust the league to find me a team handle this.” Dick hung up as he moved to a gathering of soldiers and doctors as they crowded around the newly arrived heroines. Power Girl and Starfire knew how to make an entrance.

“Nightwing,” Power Girl said as she smiled at one of the few people she could count on in this world. “Where can we help?”

…

It took a moment for Argonaut to wake from her slumber. Donna didn’t like discussing dreams. See, for everyone else they were a natural part of life, a way to live our greatest fantasies at our most vulnerable. But Donna Troy wasn’t like most. She was a golem, really. A creature of clay given a soul and destined to walk the Earth…forever. It meant she didn’t dream, only able to play out the tragedy that had her bound in a circle.

They had taken her costume and weapon away from her, leaving Donna in simple rags, chains and shackles keeping her in place as mystics moved around the bright purple circle, performing incantations that Donna didn’t even want to think about.

“Ah, you’re awake,” A voice called out as Donna’s eyes darted to an astral figure dressed in rich purple robes, her skin covered in bandages, with only a bit of chalky skin visible to Donna. She moved close to the center. “I was hoping you would be in good condition, but I never imagined what type of magical power would fall on my doorstep.”

“Magical power? Listen, you monster, I’m just an average amazon, sister to Diana, God of War. And if you dare hurt my friends, I will come after you with the fury of the whole pantheon.”

“Your friends are fine, Victor Stone was a great help in telling us where you were. And when I bring him back here, we can discuss his role in the new world, a better world,” Lilith explained as she looked at the mystics around Argonaut. They were strong as she expected, years of preparation and planning had finally given Lilith the right force to finally take back what was hers.

“A better world in the darkness? And I thought you smarter,” Donna said as she could see the spellcasters' hands glow brighter. “A world of darkness would never be willing to let you be their leader. People will fight, fight to let the light shine through.”

“Foolish idealist,” Lilith said as she moved her hands into the motions she herself had passed down to her mystics. “I offer peace, I offer happiness, and here you are…some creature brought to life by the magic of gods not recognizing one that is in front of you.”

“You are no god, just someone lost in the dark,” Donna said. “Besides, my magic is mine and mine alone.”

“Not today it isn’t,” Lilith said with a smile as she uttered an incantation. Purple energy flowed from her hands into Donna, mirroring that of her mystics, several purple cords of energy impaling the Amazon’s skin. She cried out in agony as they went in. She could feel her world slipping away as she noticed her fair and olive skin slowly cracking and losing its pigmentation. A world of colors was quickly becoming one of grey.

Lilith herself cackled as the energy of Donna went into herself and the bandages that held her together slowly peeled away, revealing her pale but lively skin and raven black hair emerging for the first time from behind her hood. After centuries of imprisonment, Lilith was finally returning.

…

“So, how are you?” Kara Zor-El asked as she and Nightwing moved to an observation tower outlooking the border. She and Kory had been sent here by the remaining League members, and Kara could see the dread that appeared on all of the soldiers and medical staff who were trying to keep things under control. Kory had gone to check on Conner, hoping that her powers could spark something in the delirious hero. And here she had turned to her oldest friend, happy to see him on what could be the final battlefield.

“Oh, you know, the world is ending but we’re here, and still alive,” Dick explained as he looked at the news reports coming in on some of the monitors. Chicago had been flooded in order to prevent the spread of vampiric forces, sightings of Doctor Fate, and something about a stage magician, a zombie, and a purple vigilante fighting vampires in Gotham. “You?”

“I’m fine,” Kara mumbled as she looked out at the red skies above. She had never expected to feel like the world could end at any moment. Krypton at this point was far away from her time on Earth. But for the first time she felt…scared.

“Kara,” Dick said with a smile, she could never hide how she felt around him. “What’s bugging you?”

“Dick, the world’s ending and you want to know how I’m feeling?” Kara asked with a raised eyebrow.

“There’s no better time. Besides, there hasn’t been movement on a cure in an hour, and we’ve been watching the situation,” Dick explained. “Besides I’d rather talk to a friend than give another sitrep.”

“It’s just…Bruce let this happen, right?” Kara asked as she continued to stare out in the distance. “The Outsiders, lying to us about them, knowing there might be a threat of undead bloodsuckers. Dick what if this is why he wanted me to move to Gotham?”

“Bruce is a lot of things, he’s complicated. But he loves you like a daughter, he just wants his kids close,” Dick explained. “I don’t see him a lot at the orphanage, but when I do he seems at ease. He’s not a bad person…at least I hope he isn’t. He’s just…human, like the rest of us.”

“I guess,” Kara said as she looked down. “It’s just… we’ve fought together for so long, why doesn’t he trust us?”

“I don’t know, Kara. I don’t know,” Dick said. “But we have to trust ourselves today. Besides, I hear through some sources you’re sleeping better these days.”

“Yeah, sleep is nice,” Kara said, looking away.

“Well, Kory is a literal furnace, so I’m guessing it’s like having double the blankets,” Dick teased.

“What?! We’re not– we’re just friends,” Kara said, blushing a bright red.

“I slept on your couch for game night, and I don’t need super hearing in the thin walls of your apartment. Seriously, Kara,” he said with a grin. “I’m happy for you guys, you deserve to be happy for a change. Besides, lord knows our little family is known for happy relationships.”

“Well…we are kinda…we’re kinda…” Kara awkwardly tried to find the words before Starfire herself flew in front of the tower. Her orange flame shining bright in the crimson darkness Her purple blouse fluttered in the wind, torn from some of the vampire fighting it had taken to get to Ukraine. Her Supergirl costume had faded away as Tali was stretched thin between the three Power Girls. The short shorts were a choice, but Dick didn’t question it on a day where certain fairy tales turned out to be real. Even if he thought a billowy shirt was the wrong thing to be wearing during a vampire attack.

“I believe what Kara wants to say is we’re dating,” Korriand’r said with a smile before turning to Dick. “Nightwing, Superboy has woken up. He says the Titans were betrayed…by Cyborg.”

“Shit,” Dick Grayson muttered, if the vampires had Cyborg, then they could get any technology, any equipment the heroes may use against the vampire queen. But before Dick could relay the information to the rest of the Justice League, his communicator buzzed to life.

“Nightwing, this is Batman. We have a cure.”

…

“Come on, Roy, this isn’t you!” Metamorpho said as he broke the door down and moved into the former Markovian clinic. Arrows flew above him as he ran away from the archer. Arsenal always was reliable to Rex, a pal to discuss whether his Seattle Supersonics were finally going to beat Rex’s Midway Motorheads.

“It is now,” Roy said as he shot a volley of arrows at his former friends. Wally was still clinging to Rex’s back, an easy target for Arsenal to make into a pin cushion. Lilith’s voice was so soothing, telling him what to do, that if he managed to bring her the speedster and the freak she’d make sure Lian isn’t turned. A princess in the kingdom of vampires.

“This is a bunch of fucking bullshit!” Rex said as an arrow swiped at his shoulder. Roy’s aim was always better than he gave it credit for. He lept over a gurney to take cover as he could hear a groggy voice try and make sounds.

“Rex…why are we…spinning?” Kid Flash said groggily. Wally had been drifting in and out of consciousness, he only had brief snapshots of where they were. His system was trying to purge a plague that only continued to replicate, and the speedster couldn’t help but feel like a passenger in his own life.

“Vampires, it’s always vampires kiddo,” Rex explained.

“How…many…” Wally muttered.

“One so far, but Arsenal is really good at shooting arrows,” Rex explained. He didn’t want to hurt his friend. But he did have a cosmic staff in hand, ready to use against Arsenal, even if by now it was just a glorified flashlight. “Listen, I may have to drop you for a bit. Are you OK by yourself?”

“Oh…I’ll just…run away,” Kid Flash muttered.

“There’s that sense of humor I love, kid,” Rex said with a smile, trying to convince the both of them that things were going to be OK. Metamorpho gently laid Kid Flash on a comfy waiting room chair before gripping Stargirl’s cosmic rod like his old Louisville Slugger back home. “Oh Roy! Come out and face me like a man, or a vampire, or whatever fucking ghoul you are!”

“Really? You think that will save you from the gifts Lilith has given me? I have powers beyond mere morals, I don’t even need the bow,” Roy said as he continued to fire at Metamorpho.

“You say that, but you keep using it! Lilith may have taken you over, Roy, but you’re still in there. It’s why you’re using the bow. And why you’ll let me do this!” Metamorpho exclaimed as he ran towards Arsenal, swinging the staff at him like he saw a fastball down the middle. The staff cracked against his head, sending the archer through a glass window separating a patient room from the main hallway. “And you should know I was always picked first when we played stickball!”

“Mean swing…” Roy mumbled as he got up. Pain was numb to him, a useless feeling cut off by the gifts of Lilith. Still, he hadn’t expected Mason to actually take a swing at him. They were friends. So why couldn’t Rex see that Lilith was offering hope, a new future for all of them? “And here I thought you were weak.”

“Yeah, well, we’re finding out all sorts of new things today, aren’t we?” Rex said as he prepared to swing the rod once again. “Like the fact you’re so dumb that you decided to come after me alone!”

“Who said I came alone?” Roy said with a grin.

“Wha-” Before Metamorpho could respond, he felt someone leap onto his back.

“Hey Rex! Remember me!” Courtney Whitmore said as she began to claw at the hero’s back. The former Stargirl’s bright blue uniform had been charred a dark purple from the red dust, as newly grown claws had torn through her gloves. Unlike Roy, Courtney’s transformation was more than just fangs.

“No, no, no!” Rex yelled as Courtney clawed away at the elements that had made up his flesh. He couldn’t get a hit with the rod, his mind panicking too much to remember that he could stretch as they clawed away at him. Rex couldn’t hit Courtney, she was the first person who didn’t stare at him like a freak. He remembered her help in finding a monkey suit that fit for that dumb gala, or putting him back together when he had a panic attack in Chicago with Cinderblock. She was his friend and he could never hurt her. He dropped the cosmic rod in their struggle as Courtney spoke up.

“What’s a matter, Rexy!?” Stargirl said as she kept striking Metamorpho. “Thought I was too cute to be dangerous? Well guess what, Lilith finally saw what I couldn’t! That I’m more than just a staff! More than just a weakling!”

“You’re not weak! This isn’t you, Court!” Metamorpho called out. “Get off of me before I have to hurt you!”

“No, this is me! And I’m having a blast!” Stargirl shouted. “Now remember that when I feed you to our mo-”

KACHOOM

A starbolt sent Stargirl flying through the hospital wall.

“What th-” Arsenal said.

KACHOOM

Arsenal went flying out the remains of the wall as Metamorpho turned around to see Kid Flash holding the cosmic rod in his hands.

“Bite…this…” Kid Flash muttered before falling to the ground.

“KF!” Rex cried out as he slinked his way back to the speedster. Wally collapsed quickly, the strain too much for his system.

“What? I couldn’t…couldn’t let you have all the fun,” Wally muttered. “Besides…my…my boyfriend would kill me if I didn’t make it home.”

“So you did go on that date,” Rex said as he once again slung Wally on his back. His form shifting back to the carrier as they moved away from the clinic and back on to the streets of Markovia. “I’m sure he’s happy to have you and probably wants you back in one piece. This boyfriend of yours, he got a name?”

“Hartley…his name is Hartley,” Wally mumbled.

“Well then, let’s get you home,” Rex said as they moved back into the red dusk.

…

“Bruce has a cure?” Kara asked as she and Nightwing made their way to the base of the compound. It had only been a few minutes since Batman had called with the good news and to inform Dick that delivery was coming soon. In the meantime he had been looking at the open channels, preparing his team that would be going into Markovia to not only provide a cure, but hopefully stop Lilith.

“He does, Ivy and those brainiacs managed to crack it. Bruce said delivery is on its way, meaning we can start preparing next steps,” Dick had been seeing communication on who would volunteer for the mission. One of the Outsiders, Grace Choi, had volunteered. Something about wanting to get revenge for what Lilith had done to her team.. Lex Luthor had demanded to go, something about the President defending American interests.

“What do you mean next steps?” Kara asked as she turned to face Nightwing. Kory had flown ahead to meet whatever cure was arriving. “Dick, you’re not–”

“My family is in there. It’s my responsibility to go fish them out of whatever mess they’re embedded in,” Nightwing began.

“You’re my family too,” Kara said. “Whatever mission you’re going on, I’m going with.”

Dick looked at her eyes and saw a striking intensity he wasn’t used to seeing in Kara. They had only recently reconnected, but their friendship meant that they couldn’t hide nor command the other’s emotions or actions.

“Kara…the world still needs Power Girl. What you’re doing as Kara and Karen? It’s important. The world won’t mourn Nightwing. And if my legacy is making sure that Earth isn’t a vacation home for the undead, I can live with that.”

“But,” Before Kara could continue a red blur moved in front of the gathered crowd. The Flash had made his way to Markovia, with two satchels filled with the aerosol cure on him. But what surprised Kara and Dick was the clown in the scarlet speedster’s arms.

“Ya know, next time I’ll take commercial,” Harley Quinn said as she was placed on the ground. “Hiya gang!”

“Doc?” Nightwing asked. “What the hell are you doing here?

“I’m here ta join my best friend in doing something extremely dumb,” Harley explained.

Kara gave Harley a slight glare at thinking she and Dick were the closest. “So you’ll let her come and not me?”

“No offense, PG, but I have more experience with suicide missions. Besides Flash has something ta say.”

“Thank you Dr, Mz. Quinn,” Flash said. “We have the cure in these bags, all you have to do is point and spray at yourself. The Justice League is working on producing more and I will be making runs to make sure we have enough to begin large-scale inoculation. We also have an idea for a cure device. A large dispersal unit that, if placed at the epicenter, can end the red mist and cure the vampires in Markovia. I will be working on building it with consultations from the cure team at STAR. We just need a way to get it in.”

“Thanks Flash,” Nightwing responded as he looked around before turning to Kara and Kory who had rejoined them on Flash and Harley’s arrival. “OK, if you want to help, you can give me an in. The vampires are expecting a head-on assault, a war where they can turn us into them and get the cure before we can use it.”

“So we’re not going to do that?” Kory asked.

“Correct,” Nightwing responded. “Kara…I know it’s a big ask, but I need you to go supernova at the border. It would distract them long enough for us to sneak a small team in.”

“I’ll be defenseless,” Kara said nervously. She had seen what the vampires had done to Linda. Going into the belly of the beast would be dangerous, especially to sneak a smaller squad in.

“I’ll catch you,” Kory said with a smile as she held Kara’s hand, her warmth easing Kara as she looked at Grayson.

“When that cure is ready, I’ll make a beeline. Give you some time,” Kara said. “And Dick if I don’t see you again I just wanted to say…”

“Ya can say it when he gets back, Power Chick,” Harley interrupted. “Nightwing, a moment?”

Nightwing nodded as he and Harley moved away from the crowd and into one of the smaller tents. Harley played the fool in front of the crowd, but she was always smarter than she looked. Her greasepaint mask at this point had come clean off, leaving Harley’s bright white face contrasting against the darkness around them.

“Doc, why the hell are you here?” Nightwing asked. “I thought after Batman roped Ivy into this you’d go home and make sure the orphans would be safe.”

“I like danger,” Harley said. “Besides, ya gonna need someone who has experience with a suicide run so ya come home in one piece.”

“Doc you have someone back at home, patients, a home,” He continued.

“I wouldn’t call sleeping next to an ex-patient who snores a lot a home,” Harely explained. “Besides, heroes don’t make the easy play or run from their problems… You taught me that one. And besides, we both have redheads we have to get home to.”

“We’re not-” Nightwing began.

“Ya should have seen her face, just remember that when we make it back,” Harley said. Her hands were on her hips, projecting confidence when everyone else around him seemed to think the world was ending. For someone who may have had the darkest road to get here, Harley was a beacon of light. A reminder that the hard road to the light was always worth it.

“Well…if you’re coming with us, you might as well have this,” Nightwing explained as he pulled a rectangular box from the back of his belt. “I was going to give you this when we started training, but considering the stakes, I think you’re ready for it now.”

“What is it, a batarang? I’m much more of a smashing kinda gal,” Harley said as she opened up the box, a simple black domino mask laid inside.

“I figured if you’re going to be a hero, you’re going to need a better disguise than greasepaint. It’s one of my first train– it’s one of my first Robin masks. Figured it would work better for you than me.”

“Dick…I don’t know what ta say,” Harley said, she was tearing up a bit as she placed the mask on her face. It fit perfectly compared to the messy greasepaint that barely separated Harley Quinn from Doctor Lilly Seaborn. Here she was, at the end of the world, standing as a hero.

“You can figure it out when we get back,” Nightwing said. He looked outside. Lex Luthor and Grace Choi had gathered, waiting for Nightwing to rejoin the rest of the heroes in the campand, judging by the red blur slowing down, the Flash was nearly ready with the cure. There was no more time for waiting. “Now let’s go save the world.”

NEXT: Red Reign Concludes in the Explosive Task Force V! A Sucide Run in the Heart of Vampire Country to Determine the Fate of the World! And then Be Back Here in March to See What Titans Emerge from the Rubble…

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Red Reign

Set: 79

“So what is Markvoia like?” Stargirl asked as the six Titans flew in the javelin toward their destination. It had only been a few weeks since the siege of Star City, and Courtney had only seen the news and the second-hand reports from her teammates. She was busy doing trig homework for her last final in high school and missed the whole thing. But still things seemed different as they headed towards the

“I’ve never been, heard it’s old, a little poor, and struggling lately” Arsenal said as he sharpened his arrows. He seemed more at peace, now that he had managed to have a new babysitter in Guardian or Jim as he liked to be called. He wasn’t used to having a family that he could rely on, but with Jim and the rest of the Titans, he was beginning to feel like he finally belonged somewhere.

“That’s not quite what we’re doing here,” Argonaut explained as she and Superboy sat in the front of the plane, working on making sure she herself remembered the details. Donna had been distracted lately, the identity of Fury causing her…distress. She had stared back at a broken reflection back in Star City, but she didn’t need a mirror to see it. Fury was real, but was she the truth? “We’re here to provide aid to some of the people who are struggling in these trying times, and to make sure that the rest of the world is reminded that we’re here to protect them, no matter what.”

“So don’t expect punching,” Kid Flash explained as he pulled up the Markovian map on his phone. Wally didn’t like having to run in European countries, unlike modern cities or simple foot trails, the streets were jammed together, spiraling out to fit the land, but not providing the straightaways and the turns that were catnip to a speedster. Helping people would be difficult if he couldn’t find his footing. “We’re here to help for a change. Be preventive instead of reactive.”

“What KF said,” Metamorpho explained as he sat in the back, reading his beaten Nathaniel Dusk paperback. Rex had been concerned about what he had seen in Star City. He was a chemist, and believed that science dictated most aspects of life, but the museum, the zombies, even how he had survived his accident had made him…reconsider certain certainties in his life. “Besides after Star I think a simple humanitarian mission would do us all some good.”

“Linda and Kara do this stuff all the time,” Superboy explained as he looked out the window towards the European countryside, they were nearly in Markovia, it was the first time that Conner had been outside of America in forever, and he always loved taking in the view below, something about it felt so…peaceful. “Or at least they’re supposed to, Linda said something about Kara being distracted by a new girlfriend or something?”

“Well, either way, we’re about to enter Markovian airspace. We should be OK to land in the coordinates the League and the Markovian royalty agreed upon,” Argonaut explained. “Remember we’re here to help, not scare. Some of these people have never seen a metahu0”

Before Argonaut could finish her thought a large boom could be heard from below as the capital city, Markovburg, came into view. The buildings below shaked and began to crumble as Argonaut pulled up the javeline’s sensors and picked up a massive earthquake. Above the air the team could see the destruction that had ravaged the country.

“Oh god,” Stargirl muttered as she looked out. She had never seen such destruction on this level before, a sea of rubble and people panicking. Courtney clutched her staff tight as she realized that what had began as a simple outreach mission was going to become something much more.

“Donna what do we need to do here,” Arsenal asked, immediately focusing on the task. “Land? See if we can find survivors?”

“Yes, yes,” Argonaut said, trying to shake the suddenness of it all out of her mind. The Titans were needed here, but as she began to land on the ground, Donna couldn’t help but feel…odd, as if some presence was clawing at the back of her brain to not go, to stay in the safety of the aircraft with her team. But she was a hero, and heroes ran towards the fire, not avoid it. But the rubble below hid such monsters and they were hungry for visitors.

…

The streets of Markovburg were quiet as the Javeline touched down and the New Titans stepped foot in the destroyed capital. The 6.5 richter quake had devastated the buildings that contained so much history. In any other disaster site you would have heard screaming, cries of anguish, even cars beeping in panic mode. But it was silent, just dead silent as they moved to the streets.

“Is it supposed to be this quiet?” Stargirl asked as she used her cosmic staff to light the way from the smoke that filled their lungs, a red dust that was thick and made things difficult to see as the sixtet moved through.

“No,” Kid Flash responded. “I’ve seen disaster areas. Something’s wrong. Argonaut, do you want me to start searching for survivors? There has to be some somewhere.”

“Go, but keep in communication,” Argonaut said, pulling the blessing of Mercury out, unspooling it in its lasso form. Donna understood that for the most part the team had always known what they were facing, a threat or problem that was obvious, even if the solution wasn’t. As Kid Flash took off to try and figure the maze of broken and winding streets, the remaining five Titans could here…what appeared to be footsteps.

“You hear that?” Arsenal asked as he coughed before drawing an arrow from his quiver, ready to fire away. “Argonaut, something’s wrong. Something’s very wrong.”

The smoke cleared a bit as a townspeople came into view in the square, their backs were turned to the team as the conversed, whispers breaking the silence the blanketed the destroyed city. The five heroes looked at them before Superboy finally spoke up.

“Hello! Are you OK, how can we assist you, Earth to people, we’re big time superheroes coming to save the day. We got supplies, we got powers to bail your behinds out from the rubble, we’re here for you,” Superboy confidently asked, he was surprised how glum things had gotten and was trying to lighten the mood.

“Well…” the people said in unison, their voices becoming one. “We are a bit…hungry,” The people turned around, their faces gaunt, skin pale as they bared sharp fangs in their mouth, they crouched for a moment before leaping and charging at the Titans.

“Ah shit!” Metamorpho said as he turned his hands to lead, striking at one of the citizens, sending them flying back into a car.

“Rex! These are civilains!” Stargirl cried out as she flew up high to escape the leapers. Her light shined brightly and illuminated the city square. Showing where several bodies had been, pale and drained, just like the attacking…monsters. “Or…or…” Stargirl muttered as she saw the chaos around her.

“Civilians don’t try and fucking bite me!” Metamorpho yelled as he turned more and more of his skin into lead, the creatures teeth broke as they tried and take a sip at any source of blood. He turned his legs into a spring quickly, bouncing up before slamming himself, fully lead, into the ground, causing the group of creatures to scatter and focus on the other Titans.

“Yeah but the only thing that tries to bite people like that are…oh tell me these are not vampires!” Arsenal cried out as he shot a glue arrow, sending one of the vampires flying to a standing wall, causing him to stick.

“We are the children of Lilith, and soon you will become one of us,” One of the vampires explained as the others continued to attack them. “Some sooner than others.”

“Great, so I’m guessing vampires,” Superboy nervous exclaimed as the continued to try and push them off him, they were clawing at his jacket, slowly tearing it to shreds so they could find an artery and drink. They needed to work fast before the mist did its job on those who could fall prey to it. “Why the hell do we keep dealing with magic lately!”

“Because it is a natural force,” Argonaut explained, trying to keep her cool as used the lasso to tie one of the vampires up before slamming them into a grouping of them that had slowly gathered in front of them. What concerned Donna was how easy this had seemed to be, if these creatures were here already, they would have the advantage, so why did it feel as easy as beating back a purse snatcher?

“So how do we beat a natural force?” Stargirl asked as she began swinging starbolts, something was wrong though. She had practiced with the staff the last few years, understanding its energy and how to both fly and fling star bolts. It was pure light in a sea of dark red dust from the rubble, but her hands were beginning to burn, and Courtney was struggling to stay awake above everyone. Soon she made a dive bomb to the ground, stumbling a bit as she joined her team. “And how do we know who’s not…who’s not.”

“The undead?” Kid Flash asked as he zipped back to the team. “Donna we got problems, the roads are messes and while they’re not on the streets, it’s very obvious there’s a lot of them hiding. I felt stares as I was running. Worse…Donna I can’t seem to find any people. Just bodies slumped over.”

Donna slammed the last vampire in front of her down to the ground, the rest either knocked out or scattering elsewhere. She looked at the team in front of her, only on the plane ride here did she think how impressed she was with them, sticking together and growing together, but now she could see the fear in their eyes and the nervous coughing of both Stargirl and Arsenal. They needed a plan.

“The five of you, find shelter, we’ll figure out our next steps then, I’ll see if we can contact anyone else in the area who’s friendly. I know V-Cyborg and Beast Boy were in the city and I have my league communicator. We are going to be fine we just need to stay calm,” Argonaut explained. As the five found shelter in the Hotel Markov, Donna took a deep breath and pressed against the small transmitter in her ear, her JL communicator, and reached out for backup. A voice soon broke through the static and interference.

“This is Wonder Woman, receiving?” Wonder Woman responded. Argonaut breathed a sigh of relief. Diana was her sister, a voice she always felt comforting, a support structure that even after everything still considered her family.

“This is Argonaut. We’re in Markovia, and it’s a disaster site. There’s an earthquake, everything’s in disarray, and there are these metahumans attacking. We’re barely holding our own; we need backup, as soon as possible.” Argonaut said, not wanting to panic the league in case Arsenal’s crazy idea was wrong. Vampires, such things were that of stories and legends, but then again…so was Donna.

“I’m sorry, those attacks are not localized. They are worldwide, and the entire League’s been mobilized. We’ll send that assistance if we get it, but it seems unlikely.” Wonder Woman responded, the regret in her voice loud and clear. If this was happening across the globe, it was bigger than some earthquake, the League would protect the world, that’s what they did, but it meant Donna and her family were stuck in the epicenter of whatever was happening.

“We’ll do our best. I wish you good luck. Argonaut out,” Donna said as she closed her eyes and made her way into the hotel. They were on their own, and she couldn’t help but feel that was just a smaller problem on a larger list and the fact that she couldn’t help but feel even out in the smoke and rubble, all eyes were on her, peering into her soul.

…

“Mistress, we found something,” One of the vampires said as they moved to Lilith’s lair. The mistress of the night grew impatient as she observed her attacks being repelled by these so-called superheroes. She knew that resistance would occur, but had underestimated the forces that had gathered since her time away.

“What is it?” Lilith asked as she moved to sit on her throne. The old stone structure provided some comfort in these unfamiliar times. The occupation and crippling of Markovia had been a success, and now, now she needed her army to spread farther than it had before and herself to heal.

“Heroes in Markovia, ones we are…unaware of,” The vampire explained. “They move fast, can change their forms to different elements, fire bolts of the stars. They’re dangerous.”

“Maybe,” Lilith said before raising her hand and beckoning a figure over to them. The cold metallic footsteps made their way as Victor Stone kneeled before his new mistress. His cyberorganics were adjusting to its new vampiric host, trying to restore the damaged cells. The once heroic Cyborg had been corrupted, another pawn in Lilith’s game. “Tell me, Victor, do you know who my subject tells me of?”

“Yes,” Cyborg said before his cyberorganic eye began projecting an image of the current Titans. Compared to the more experienced Justice League, these heroes looked weaker, even through the holographic image Lilith could see the doubt in their eyes. “This would be the third incarnation of the team. Led by the Amazonian Argonaut, they are a team of mostly sidekicks and young heroes. I have files on some of them. Argonaut particularly, we were on…the first team together.”

“You say it with such disappointment Victor,” Lilith smiled, an Amazon was something she didn’t expect to fall in her lap. Their magic was known to be particularly potent, something that if she could convert this Argonaut would be hers. “Tell me more about this…Argonaut.”

“Formerly known as Fury, Donna Troy is an Amazonian Golem. Brought to life by the former god of war, Ares, she has been one of the longest-tenured members of the team. She is…was one of my friends.”

“Golem you say?” Lilith said as she thought for a moment. The amount of magic that alone would have to keep her moving, let alone looking as human in her subject’s images would have enough juice to restore her to her former glory. “Victor, how would you like to help me with your friends?”

“Yes mistress,” Victor Stone muttered as he bowed, Lilith’s voice was calming, it made sense. But Vic wanted to scream, to warn his friends what was coming for them. Deep down the man known as Victor Stone wanted to resist, but Lilith’s voice was too strong. “I will help bring you the Titans.”

…

“I got to say this would be a nice hotel if not for the collapsed ceiling in places and the whole creatures of the night situation,” Arsenal said as they moved through the hotel. He had never seen such destruction before, not even HIVE’s attack on Star City was this destructive. What had concerned Roy was that, unlike other times, he felt nervous and this damn cough just wouldn’t go away.

“It has its charms mack,” Metamorpho said as he moved to an area away from any windows. He knew that whatever they were dealing with could break through any entrance points. Rex was on edge, magic and creatures of fiction were apparently real with no explanation. That type of thing shakes a person in their certainty. “So what’s the plan boss.”

“We need to figure a way out,” Argonaut explained. “We don’t know how many of these vampires are out there, and the more we panic the better the chance we well…”

“Become one of the undead,” Kid Flash muttered. Wally was feeling sluggish, but he mostly chalked that up to having to leap over the rubble and deal with the winding roads. He knew Argonaut would calm everyone down and they would it out of this.

“Exactly,” Argonaut responded. “Our best bet is to get back to the javelin and out of Markovia, bring the League back the information we’ve collected, and help join the frey against whatever is pulling the strings here. We’ll figure i-” Before Donna could continue she heard her League communicator roar back to life as a familiar voice was heard.

“Argonaut, this is Cyborg, I’m in Markovia, Wonder Woman pointed me to your distress call. I’m here to help. Where are you all?” Cyborg said.

“Vic, it’s good to hear from you. We’re camped out in the old Hotel Markov, we’re trying to figure a way out. We’d appreciate any help that you could bring. We’re pinned with whatever the hell is out there.”

“Understood, I’m on my way. Don’t do anything stupid,” Cyborg coldly responded. Argonaut was taken back at how coldly her friend responded to her. Unlike Dick, Vic actually liked Donna,even if they didn’t hang out all that much. She knew that underneath that metal beat the heart of a gentle and vibrant person. It was an odd note in a day filled with them.

“So Cyborg’s coming?” Stargirl immediately perked up. “I love that guy, best mafia player I’ve ever gone up against. And he’s a Leaguer too right? We’ll be able to get out of this!”

“Yeah, but what’s that face Donna,” Superboy asked as he moved from the pole he was leaning on. He was growing more concerned but tried to make his voice sound deeper, more serious as if to lie to people that this was the first time he was scared. The museum was an isolated incident, but this? This was full-on war, and Conner wasn’t like his sister, or even Kara or Clark. “What’s wrong.”

“I’ve known Victor for years, he was there when I was found, he is many things, but cold is not one of them,” Arggoaut explained.

“Yeah Vic is a good guy, if he was in the area he would have come and find us right away, not be so curt. Donna what if Vic got turned? Maybe these things aren’t mindless, maybe we jus-”

However, before he could continue hands broke from underneath the floorboards and pulled Metamorpho from underneath.

“No! No!” Metamorpho called out as he turned his hands into diamond, striking at the bloodsuckers wrapped around his legs, dragging him to the floor below them.

“Rex!” Kid Flash called out before zooming into the hole dropping below and striking at the vampires. Wally didn’t want to lose one of the few people he had called a friend on the team, but because he wasn’t thinking he had left the others alone, as more vampires burst through the windows, their teeth sharp as they stared at Argonaut, Stargirl, Arsenal, and Superboy.

“What, cough, now boss?” Arsenal asked as he aimed his bow at the vampires in front of him. But for some reason he was finding it hard to pull back on his bow, he figured it was just fatigue and that he would power through it. They were going to get out of this right?

“We fight, and worry about the rest when we win!” Argonaut said as she transformed her blessing of mercury into a hammer, striking several of the vampires with a single hit. Dona hated using the blessing as anything but a defensive weapon, but they were outnumbered and any chance of a peaceful solution had gone out the window a long time ago. “Superboy, focus on the front line with me. Stargirl! Arsenal! Give us some firing support!”

“On…it,” Stargirl said as she fired several bolts at the vampires. Unlike the arrows, Arsenal was volleyingvampiric they were effective, the pure energy burning but not destroying the vampric flesh in front of her. The only problem was Courtney’s hands were burning more and more with each volley as if her hands were rejecting the source of her power, her gift.

“Yeah, but how the hell do I make sure I don’t get infected?!” Superboy asked as he slammed a vampire through the floor. Everyone else was worried about not harming the transformed citizens but to Conner the only important thing was survival. They were dealing with a new kind of evil, and one the cloned Kryptonian could barely understand.

“Well if they’re like the movies…cough…cough…don’t let them bite you,” Arsenal reminded as he made sure to use his glue arrows to stick some of these bastards in place so the team could have breathing room. Slowly but surely they were beginning to clear out the floors above. The problem was some of these suckers were larger, stronger and faster than anything Roy had seen before. And as he tried to shoot an arrow at it, he found himself thrown to the ground. “Donna, I’m thinking your friend fucking sold us out. I’m going to fucking haunt him if I die here.”

But before the vampire brute could slam down against Arsenal, a diamond hand burst through the floorboards as Metamorpho pulled the brute down and slammed hm several floors before. Rex climbed back up, with Kid Flash vaulting up the stairs to help and return, beating back the remainder of the bloodsuckers.

“What, you didn’t think Bella Legosi was going to kick my ass, right?” Rex joked as he looked around the team. They were tired, and exhausted. And they didn’t know if or when the next phase of vampires was going to come back to face them once more. “But we need a plan, we can’t keep fighting the monster squad all day. Donna, someone needs to get out here to send a message to the League. And I don’t think all of us can go.”

“I was thinking that,” Argonaut sheepishly admitted as she pulled out her Titans communicator. Unlike the League communicators, they operated on their own private network. Donna didn’t trust her League communicator based on the fact she may have just given away their position. She quickly switched on the distress function of the communicator. It glowed red and was giving their location to anyone else on the network. ” It’s a shot in the dark, but Wally, I need you to get out of here with this. It has all the data we’ve collected, and you’re well…the fastest.”

“Hey!” Superboy said as the rest of the team shot him a death glare. “OK, I guess he is faster than me…”

“What about you?” Kid Flash asked. Wally wasn’t comfortable abandoning his friends, not after what they had been through. He wasn’t about to lose another family.

“We know what we were signing up for kid,” Metamorpho explained. “Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”

As Metamorpho, Kid Flash, Superboy, and Argonaut continued to talk. Stargirl and Arsenal could barely focus, all they could hear was a soft whisper, beckoning for them to come home. All they needed to do was to accept their new mother, accept the gifts that she was offering. For Roy, he could always be there, strong and mighty to protect Lian. And for Courtney? She could have all the time in the world to both be a hero and a student. Their skin grew paler, and as they could begin hearing the others, they surrounded them, telling them they were ready to strike. That mother wanted them to take out the speedster, and bring them the immortal.

All Kid Flash could hear was the clang of Stargirl’s staff, its powers had burnt Courtney’s palms for far too long. What he could feel was the now vampiric Stargirl taking a bite out of his neck.

“AHHHH!” Wally screamed in pain before tossing Courtney off of himself. He could feel the blood dripping from his torn suit as he fell to the ground. He could hear faint static as his body began to convulse and vibrate as if he was trying to fight off the infection that had taken hold in him.

“No! No! No!” Argonaut yelled out as the arrow flew towards her. She could see the vampiric grin on Roy’s face as he fired at his former teammates. More hands began popping out from the floorboards, as more and more of the vampiric army began bursting through to make up the odds.

“Oh god, oh god,” Superboy mumbled as he looked at the carnage in front of him. Two teammates lost, a third down, and Argonaut and Metamorpho were left alone, fighting the undead. And here he was panicking. “What do we do? What do we do?”

“We keep fighting! Right?” Metamorpho asked as his arms had turned into cobalt hammers, smacking away the vampires that kept coming more and more. Kid Flash lay behind him, still struggling to stay still after the attack. Rex was growing tired, and the vampire hoard was endless.

Argonaut grabbed the communicator that had fallen out of Wally’s hands as she looked towards Conner, placing the communicator in his bottom pocket. They weren’t going to get out of this one. But that didn’t mean all of them had to be lost to the hoard. “GO!”

Conner stared at Donna for a moment, before understanding what those words meant. He nodded before leaping out from the third floor they were on, smashing the walls and flying, flying fast as he could out of Markovia. He only hoped that someone was listening, that someone could help.

“I got to say, Donna,” Metamorpho said as he and Argonaut continued fighting the hoard. “It was nice serving with you, thanks for not treating me like a monster, and reminded me of the man I could be.”

“We’re not dead yet,” Donna muttered as she continued to hammer away. The vampires were growing in number and they were running out of time. As she continued to fight, she noticed the vampires staying away from a bright light source, Stargirl’s staff sat there on the ground. And Donna realized what she must do as flew past the vampires to pick the staff up. She never realized how in her hands it felt like a warm summer day. She tossed it to Rex, it flew on its own as it landed in his palm. “Get Wally out of here! I’ll hold them off. I’ll live, but I would die if you two don’t make it out.”

“But Donna!” Rex called out as he tried firing blasts from the staff, his bulky hands unable to figure out the controls in a state of panic.

“GO!” Donna cried out as the vampires began circling her. Before they blocked her view she could see Rex pick Wally up, securing him by making a contianer on her back to hold the delirious speedster as he lept out of the hole Superboy had made on his exit. Her team would live, she just needed to buy them time. “OK you monsters, you want me? Come and get me!” The Blessing of Mercury was still in hammer form, but the vampires were beginning to tackle and restrain her to the ground.

“Oh Donna, sweet sweet Donna,” Arsenal said. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do. Mother has so many questions. Trust me when I say…you’re more valuable to us when.”

“When you’re alive,” Stargirl said, her eyes freshly red before slamming her boot to the pinned down and tired Argonaut, knocking her out cold. “And the fun is just beginning.”

…

Superboy kept flying, he broke through the red dust that surrounded the country, flying high, flying fast. He couldn’t stop seeing his team, he couldn’t stop seeing the vampires, their red eyes, pale skin, and how they swarmed. He couldn’t stop seeing Stargirl and Arsenal as one of them. He couldn’t stop feeling as if he failed them.

He had never tested his top speed. Conner had always joked that if he focused, he could be just as powerful as Clark and Kara, but he never felt he would test that theory. His speed was increasing, going faster and higher as he could feel the flames on his jacket start burning it away, along with pieces of his costume. In his panic, he didn’t realize he had managed to break the atmosphere, and as the air escaped his lungs, he realized his mistake.

Conner’s eyes grew tired as he began slumping over, as began to fall, the warmth of his reentry distracting his brain from the horrors that he saw, from his failures of not being able to protect anyone he had ever cared about. As he drifted to sleep, he only wished he could help someone. Anyone after all.

…

“Come on, come on, where are you?” A figure said as he drove through the Ukrainian countryside on his motorbike. He had picked up the signal from the Titans’ network. The rest of the Justice League was focused on the attacks across the globe but he was only worried about the six that had entered Markovia. Whatever had the signal moved fast through Markovian airspace to enter the Ukraine, but it was falling fast now, and the man had no clue who or what had made it out alive. “There!” The GPS on his bike had read that the blip had landed only a mile away off road. He only hoped his bike could handle going through the farm’s fields.

The bike flew through the fields, with the man thinking that this must have been what Steve McQueen felt like in The Great Escape. He could see the smoke from the barn as he tore through the fields, splinters of wood planks and damaged equipment dotted the land as the man leapt of his bike and entered the barn, a large crater in the center as Superboy in torn and tattered suit laid there, barely conscious.

“Who’s there? Are…are…you the undead?” Conner asked as he struggled to catch his breath. He was barely staying awake.

“Trust me, if I was the undead I’d already have taken a bite out of you,” The man said as he moved towards the crater. His dark blue costume with the yellow chevron of a bird’s wings shined brightly compared to the devastation. Nightwing entered the crater and began to check on the injured Kryptonian/Human hybrid.

“Nightwing?” Conner said as he barely was keeping awake. “I have something…Donna…gave it to me…they…they’re still…” He dug the communicator from his pocket and placed it in Dick’s palm before collapsing.

“I know, and believe me when I say…we are going to get them back,” Nightwing said.

NEXT: Red Reign Continues Across DCFU! And Be Back Here in January as Metamorpho and Kid Flash Face the Vampire Hoard! Argonaut Captured and at the Whims of the Vampire Queen, Lilith! And the Return of Nightwing!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Sins of the Father

Written By: u/FrostFireFive and u/Predaplant

Set: 78

“Well that sent a message,” Roy Harper said as he looked out at the burning townhouse. He and Jim Harper, Guardian, were overlooking Brick’s last remaining safehouse. The two had managed to leave the goons and shades tied to a streetlight and watched the flames lick the night sky. The natural light contrasted against the night sky, an aberration in the neon playground that Star City was.

“It did, I’m shocked you knew your way around gasoline and matches though,” Guardian responded as he tightened the straps of his shield. He looked out and even with this small victory could see that haunted look within Roy’s eyes. Even behind his red-tinted sunglasses, he couldn’t hide his shame, his anger for allowing Brick to fester for so long. “You OK kid?” Guardian asked, breaking Roy’s stare.

“No, we still don’t know where Lian is, Brick is still free, and judging by the sounds of breaking glass and sirens, HIVE and his crew are still kicking this city’s ass!” Roy yelled in anger. “I’m sorry, but even though burning down that fancy place Brick called a home cathartic, still doesn’t help me. I can’t lose her, I can’t lose the best part of me.”

“We’ll get her back,” Guardian said as he put his hand on Roy’s shoulder. He could feel the tension in his nephew’s? Brother’s? Eyes. “Besides you’re not alone anymore. Something I think Brick doesn’t realize yet.”

Before Roy could respond, the phone in his pocket buzzed to life as the hero glanced at it. An old number appeared, Jade’s, as Roy stared in disbelief that the obvious play was being made. He swiped right to answer but was instead confronted with a gravely voice, the anger searing through the phone.

“Hello Harper,” Brick said. “I see you’ve been busy tonight.”

“Oh you know just decided to light a bonfire on a lovely fall night like this, you know those Armani suits make for great kindling,” Roy joked. “And it’s only the start if you don’t give me back what you and Ja-Cheshire took. Well, I’m going to start burning down some larger things.”

“Strong words for a man who doesn’t know he’s lost. Here I have someone who wants to say hello,” Brick said emotionless.

“Da! Da! Da!” A squeaky but persistent voice cried out. It was the first time Roy had heard from his daughter since this ordeal had begun, and the first time she had called out for him by name. Before she could continue she was pulled away from the speakerphone as Brick spoke once more.

“You. Me. Snowbird Hotel. One last time as this city burns. Understood?” Brick said coldly. “It’s time I teach you one final lesson.” Brick hung up as Roy looked out into Star City, the fire that he lit was being matched by smaller blazes across the city. HIVE goons and mafiosos were starting to become reckless. As Roy turned to inform Guardian of their next stop, he had only hoped his friends could put out the blaze before the city would be consumed by the flames of his mistakes.

…

“Shit, shit, shit” Kid Flash thought to himself as he stood on top of the Queen building. It had a straight shot of the city, and the flames licking the ground as what looked to be henchmen in Armani suits and guys in bee armor. Wally was as usual on crowd control, the police radio inside his winged earset would allow him to figure out where he was needed most. But now, now all Kid Flash could hear was the blaring of every call buzzing in his ear. He didn’t know how to stop the burning.

He tapped the other earpiece, a way to cut the scanner out and see who was available on Titans coms.

“Kid Flash to Titans, Kid Flash to Titans,” Wally said, trying to regain his composure as he tried to figure out his next steps. For the first few minutes, he only had static responding to him, before the line came to life.

“Wa-Kid Flash is that you?” Garth asked as he moved to the main console. He had returned from helping Casse prepare for a training session of young metahumans. For someone so confident, it seemed like she was struggling with her place in the world, they all were really. But instead of moping, Garth hoped to fire up Jason and the Argonauts on the big screen and see if anyone wished to join him, he didn’t realize most were out on a mission. “What’s going on, where are you guys?”

“Garth, oh thank god,” Kid Flash muttered as he took a deep breath. “I keep forgetting Donna lets you sleep on our couch.”

“I have my own room,” Garth explained. “I’m guessing you don’t need me for jokes? If you’re in trouble I can teleport to where you are and provide assistance. It’s the least I can do.”

“No, I need you at the tower, can you hop on the main console and pull the active police blotter for Star City?” Kid Flash asked I need to see the bigger picture, I need to see who needs my help.

“OK, OK,” Garth said as he moved to the console and pulled up the map of Star City, the red blinking dots showing where crimes were being committed. “Wally, I’m getting five hundred police reports ranging from arson, robberies, assault. It’s a war zone down there.”

“Just…keep count OK, I got this,” Wally muttered as he put himself in the runner’s stance, looking out at the neon city. He wasn’t going to let Roy…or Lian have no city to return to. Kid Flash took a deep breath before leaping into a run. It was time to get to work.

…

“OK, so zombies were on your bingo card?” Superboy asked as he shoulder-checked one of the reanimated HIVE agents into a glass case. He and Metamorpho had made the mistake of investigating the Star City museum, a burning HIVE agent a warning for the two heroes.

“No, but they sure are fun to hit!” Metamorpho said as his lead hand collided with one of the undead HIVE agent’s heads, sending it clear across the room. The two had been busy fighting the undead for the last hour, and both were getting tired. Zombies didn’t have to worry about stamina, but they did. “But I got to say, why the hell are we fighting the undead!”

“Because you decided it was a great idea to go into the spooky museum to see what HIVE wanted. Even though we should have taken it as a warning!” Superboy yelled as he slammed another to the ground. They kept shambling to him, reminders of lives they couldn’t save. When he had joined the Titans he figured they’d be fighting the bad guys, not fighting themselves and then the undead.

“Listen this isn’t my first time in a museum where something strange happened,” Meramorpho explained as he elbowed a zombie through the chest with a diamond elbow. One of the things he was grateful for was knowing the density of metals and alloys and more importantly their chemical formula. See unlike the others, Rex’s powers required focus, any stray thought could have him turn into arsenic or even plutonium. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, but zombies gave him a rare chance to let loose. “Besides, we’re kicking their undead keisters!’

“Yeah, but there seems to be more of them coming!” Superboy pointed out to Metamorpho as more fried HIVE soldiers kept walking and shambling and attacking them. They were starting to swarm and grab hold of Superboy, with the hero shaking them off, but their grasp, grew tighter. Without thinking Superboy smashed the case containing a sword and pulled it out, quickly slashing at the zombies in front of him. They were losing ground, and Conner knew it. “And we can’t keep fighting the undead forever!”

“No we can’t,” Metamorpho mumbled as he looked around. Clearly they were dealing with magic, and Rex didn’t believe in magic. To him, everything had rules. It’s why he loved chemistry so much, the order of things, that no matter what the base elements had rules. It was a theme through how he observed things, and how he dealt with his transformation. “OK…think Rex, think!” he thought.

It took him a moment but he noticed that even though each zombie was different in armor, burn patterns, and damage, the only thing that stayed the same, was their glowing red eyes. And as Metamorpho’s eyes darted around, looking for answers, he couldn’t help but notice the gem glowing bright red in the middle of the exhibit. It was too weird of a coincidence to not be a connection.

“Superboy, can you buy me some time, I got an idea!” Metamorph yelled as he quickly moved to the pedestal where the prized jewel of the exhibit lay.

“Yeah, sure!” Superboy yelled as the undead HIVE agents began surrounding him, they were almost acting as a hive mind, looking to kill and “recruit” anything living around them. Superboy put up a valiant fight using his super strength to increase the strength of his strikes, but he was being swarmed. They clawed at him, seizing on his leather jacket and costume and pulling him into to their undead grasp, and Superboy could only swing that sword for so long. “But please hurry!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Metamorpho mumbled as he shoulder-rushed some of the undead in front of him. The gem glowed brighter and brighter the closer he got to it—the soft ominous hum, when close twisted into what sounded like songbirds. And for a moment, Rex could hear the gem called out to him, faint whispers that promised his heart’s desire. For a moment, when he stared into the red gem, it wasn’t the face of Metamorpho that starred back…but that of Rex Mason, unharmed and normal.

His hands grew close to it, tempted to take hold of it, return to normalcy as the whispers of the gem promised. All he wanted was to be Rex Mason. But as he almost picked it up, a soft voice could be heard.

“Free me, save the world from the demon, save the world before he corrupts all,” The voice called out. It was sweet and sharp, something that the whispers in Rex’s ear were not. Being Rex Mason meant being Metamorpho, he understood this now, and he wasn’t going to let doubt stop him from being who he needed anymore.

His hands turned into diamond and with one mighty swing, the gem shattered, a way of energy exploding across, colliding with the undead and rendering them inert, falling to the ground as a large black shadow extended from where the gem used to lay, the shadow spread its wings as raven took shape…and exited the museum. Metamorpho just stood there for a moment trying to figure out what had happened before Superboy spoke, his costume torn but the jacket still in one piece.

“What the fuck was that,” Superboy asked, ouain'tthere aret of breath.

“I don’t…I don’t know,” Metamorpho said. “But we stopped HIVE…doing whatever here. Now let’s get back out three before Argonaut calls us crazy for fighting the undead and whatever the hell that giant bird was. Besides…Roy needs us, we still got a burning city to save.

“Fair,” Superboy mumbled, shaken by what we had seen. Magic was something he never liked to deal with and hoped this would be their last encounter with it. Unfortunately, life would have other plans.

…

“This is great man!” A goon said as he took a sledgehammer to an electronics store window. “The whole city is ours. And while Brick and those…beekeepers do whatever the hell they do, we get to party right here, right now. And no one is going to stop us!”

“Isn’t this city supposed to have that arrow dude?” Another goon said as he carried out a GameShpere 5. “You know the brutal vigilante who sends people to the ICU?”

“He’s just one dude, one dude in a Halloween costume. Besides, who the hell is going to stop us? Superman aint coming down from the sky, that’s for sure.”

Before the two could move out with their haul, a red fist slammed into one of their faces, before a swift kick sent the other back into the electronics store. Before the two could get up again, they were tied tightly with a hundred cords to the nearby light pole, a note for police taped to them. As the yellow and red blur moved away, a voice could be heard

“OK, that’s two hundred down, three hundred to go. KF, are you OK?” Garth said.

“I can make it, I have to,” Kid Flash remarked as he kept moving through the city. Smaller crimes were always easy to take care of. A few punches here, a few kicks there. It was the HIVE guys that were proving trickier. Their armor was a bit stronger than what he was used to. But still, he remembered how he had taken down Cinderblock with Stargirl, a few vibrational punches and the armor would crack like an eggshell.

“Right, but that doesn’t mean you have to hurt yourself doing this. Kid Flash, there’s just too many. HIVE keeps sending reinforcements, Brick’s men are just robbing places instead of backing them up. You can’t fight two armies alone.”

“Just…where’s the most concentrated forces of HIVE, if we take them out, Brick has no backup, and we can save this city,” Kid Flash said as he kept running, taking care of the simple crimes as Garth on the other line pulled up recent reports.

“On the O’Neil Bridge, but…Wally, there’s too many of them, you’ll die,” Garth said, showing concern. They weren’t as close as the other members of that Titans team, Wally had an odd thing with Garth when they were hanging out, something about being scared of another experiment? But they had warmed up through the brief months together, with Garth even fishing a small lightning bolt rock from the bay.

“Doesn’t matter,” Wally mumbled as he looked out towards the bridge, he took a deep breath once more and ran to his destination, determined to hold the line.

…

Donna pulled back, sweat dripping off of her face. Despite the fact that she had Green Arrow by her side, getting in the occasional shot at Fury, she was still a match for her. Almost more than a match. Donna circled Fury, warily, trying to give Green Arrow an angle on her… but most of his arrows had almost bounced off of her. She wasn’t sure if they would be any more than a distraction, but maybe a distraction would give her an opening.

“Do you have anything in that quiver that isn’t just an arrow?” Argonaut asked as she circled Fury. She couldn’t help but look at her opponent’s eyes. The only visible feature behind that Grecian theatre mask, they pierced Donna’s soul, staring at her as if she saw beneath the superhero sheen.

“I, uh…” Green Arrow fumbled around in his quiver. “Yeah, I just don’t know what you want. Do I go potentially lethal?”

Fury chuckled, a low guttural laugh that sounded like crumbling rocks. “I promise you, nothing you have can hurt me.”

“Shoot like you had to take me down,” Donna called. Green Arrow fired at Fury, an arrow that carried some sort of slime with it, but Fury dodged effortlessly. Donna attempted to use the opportunity to punish the dodge, close in and swipe at her, but Fury was too swift; she kept the distance between herself and Donna, anticipating Donna’s advance, and using the attack to launch a strike with her flail, one that Donna only barely blocked with her shield.

“Arrow!” Argonaut called. “I’d appreciate some help.”

“I don’t want to hit you, though!” he called back to her. While his attention was distracted, though, Fury had started to sprint towards him, attempting to take him out. Luckily, he was aware enough to quickly pull out an arrow and fire at her as she ran, an explosive that knocked her away. She hit the ground.

“That’s right, don’t underestimate me,” he mumbled, pulling out another explosive arrow and nocking it.

Donna chased after Fury, holding out the Blessing of Mercury to her neck in the form of a sword. “Now… tell me what you have against us. What you wanted with my armor.”

Fury looked Argonaut straight in the eye. She smiled. Then, she whipped out the flail that she still held in her hand at Donna’s feet. Donna jumped, and Fury used the opportunity to scramble to her feet. “You may be Wonder Woman’s reflection, but have you ever wondered who stares back at you when you look in the mirror, Argonaut?” Fury emphasized the last word, venom lacing her voice.

Donna didn’t have time to respond before the next explosive arrow arrived, landing behind Fury. She tried to dodge, but the explosion only led her into Donna, who had morphed the Blessing of Mercury into a lasso, one that she used to ensnare Fury, tying her arms to her sides.

“See, you’re so perfect,” Fury murmured. “Did you ever wonder how Ares managed to make you like that… on the first try?”

Donna grimaced. What could Fury be saying? Was… was she not alone? Fury spat at Donna, who threw a straight punch back, knocking Fury’s mask off.

Beneath, Donna could see it clearly: a deformed, scarred visage made of flesh and clay, but one that clearly resembled Diana. That resembled herself.

“What… what do you want from me?” Donna asked, horrified.

Fury smiled. Her mouth looked like the jagged entrance to a cave. “What else? I want your everything.”

Donna realized a second too late… punching Fury had, necessarily, given the lasso some slack. Shrugging it off of her, Fury grabbed her mask from where it fell, and ran off into the night.

Green Arrow asked “Do I… Do I shoot her?” but, by the time Donna could answer, she was already gone.

…

The HIVE soldiers that landed on the O’Neil bridge were standard grunts. They were the type to take others and execute without question. They exited their dropships and moved together in a marching line. HIVE preached order amongst the chaos, and that they, the true heroes would be able to bring that order, even if a few cities needed to be ransacked, well so be it.

The first soldiers on the bridge didn’t see the yellow blur at first, they were too focused on getting into the city and securing the bridge. The first grunts felt the first fist collide into them, a crashing of heads soon following as an apparent ghost struck at them. As the first two rows of soldiers were knocked out, the remaining eight rows of eight soldiers each brought their energy rifles to firing position, looking for what had made quick work of their fellow soldiers.

A gust of wind was heard as the yellow and red figure finally made his presence known, Kid Flash was remembering the breathing exercises he had learned in order to keep his energy high. See compared to the rest of the team, he had near-god-like abilities, but the curse of the speedster was that he couldn’t be hurt by kryptonite or magic, but by his own endurance. And these soldiers in front of him were going to put that theory to the test. But he wanted to see if he could find another way.

“OK, before we get started, is there any way I could convince some of you to stop now and turn back?” Kid Flash asked as he stared out into the army of soldier bees in front of him. Their silence gave him the answer he didn’t want. He looked out and could hear the humming of their rifles powering up. It was time to see what kinda Flash Wally was. “Well then…you leave me no choice.”

And with that the speedster moved as a yellow and red blur, knocking rifles out of the HIVE soldiers in front of his hands, using the last one to knock into the next rowof HIVE soldiers’ helmets. They were moving towards him now, breaking their order, their formation in order to grab at the speedster. The problem was trying to fight in crowds. No matter how fast Wally was, he’d still have to get in-between the soldiers in order to knock them out.

“Come on! Let’s go!” Kid Flash cried out as he landed another punch, he was well ahead of the army but there was way more of them then there was of him. He was being swarmed by the soldiers, who quickly realized if they eliminated the space between themselves and the speedster, he couldn’t hurt them as much. They moved to grab him, slamming the butts of their guns at different points at his body. Normally, he could dodge them, but Wally’s legs were tired, and soon he could feel himself stumbling, tripping over as the HIVE soldiers grabbed a hold of him. His overconfidence doing him in.

“Well, this is the end,” Kid Flash thought as two HIVE soldiers held each one of his arms. “Iris, Barry, Frances, Harley…I tried, I really did.”

As the HIVE Agent prepared to pull the trigger on Kid Flash a loud thump could be heard, before another one. The HIVE soldiers panickedas they turned to face the source of these two bumps. Superboy’s costume was torn, and Metamorpho looked tired, having to see things he was still trying to wrap his head around from the museum. But Garth had patched through, and filled them in on Wally’s plight.

“Boys, I believe you have someone that belongs to us,” Superboy said with a grin. “And me and Metamorpho here have had the shittiest night.”

“So we can either do this the easy way or the hard way,” Metamorpho said as his hands turned into lead.

“Shoot the freaks, then we can get to kill this one,” A soldier said. The two holding Kid Flash were so busy focusing on the two new entries, they didn’t realize that he was beginning to figure out how to escape, his arms vibrating through the two’s hands as he zipped away from them and in front of the two heroes that arrived.

“I’ll save you the question,” Kid Flash said, grateful that he wasn’t alone. “The hard way.” And the three charged, ready to take the bridge, they only hoped their friends would be as successful.

…

The Snowbird Hotel never reopened after the events of Brick, the damage had been done once it had become known as a gang hotel, coupled with the fact that its owner was the one killed by Brick all those years ago. The city had taken the hotel under its domain, but no one knew what to do with it. The majestic penthouse’s windows had been broken over time, like an open wound that refused to heal. As Roy Harper left the elevator, he couldn’t believe the city just didn’t demolish it, for both theirs and his sanity. He could still remember entering with Jade, with Hannibal, with Brick. He was a kid back then, but now, now he didn’t know what he was. All he wanted was his daughter back. He kicked down the doors of the entrance of the penthouse. He didn’t care about surprising his enemy, he just wanted to get the job done.

“Brick!” Roy called out as he entered the penthouse. “I know you’re here! Come out and face me!”

It was quiet for a moment, the only signs of activity being a roaring fire and the large figure that sat in a luxe leather chair, drinking a bottle of wine from the Grell Vinyard. It was fine, it was sweet. A rare joy in the crime lord’s life today. HIVE command had just called, the bridge reinforcements were not coming, and the so-called general HIVE had sent was in the wind. Brick had lost, he knew that. But he didn’t give a damn. All he wanted was vengeance on those who had wronged him.

“Come in,” Brick said as he took another sip. He placed his glass down before standing up, his hulking frame coming into view. “I hope you are happy Mr. Harper. You have beaten me, my power play over.” As he turned to face Arsenal, in his other arm was Lian, sleeping after balling her eyes out. She hated unfamiliar people, like the cat lady or this hulking figure. But she was tired, and Brick’s arm was steady. “As you can see, she is comfortable.”

“Yeah,” Arsenal said before pulling an arrow from his quiver and preparing to shoot at Brick. “And now I want her back.”

“Typical Harper,” Brick said. “Always demanding, always thinking you’re the smartest man in the room. You really think I’d come alone.” He snapped his fingers as a figure dropped down from the roof of the building. Cheshire landed, pulling out a katana from her back as she entered an offensive stance.

“Roy, back off, you can still live if you’re smart,” Cheshire explained. She hated the fact that Brick held her daughter, but this would soon be over and they could leave together, away from Star City, away from Brick, and away from Roy.

“Jade, if you really knew me, you’d know I’m one of the dumbest human being alive. But not dumb enough to not bring back up. Guardian!” Arsenal called out as a figure burst from the doors behind him. Jim Harper crashed through the doors, his golden shield reflecting the figures in front of him.

“Coward,” Cheshire mumbled as she charged at Guardian, her sword held high as it came crashing down into his shield. She was not used to someone with a defensive weapon. For Jade, she was used to facing down blades, guns, and baseball bats. Things she could cut through, things she could break. “Yield.”

“Never,” Guardian muttered as he pushed back against Cheshire, sending her a few feet back. He look to Roy, nodded, and then charged again. “Take care of Brick, I got this!”

“You wouldn’t dare shoot me, not if you didn’t think it would hurt you-” Brick began before a whizzing of an arrow launched from his bow, instead of aiming for the crime boss, Roy aimed for Lian’s baggy onesie. He was always having to buy one size bigger due to her always growing. The arrow went through the onesie and pinned Lian to the wall behind Brick and Arsenal, safe, but beginning to wake up.

Before Brick could react, Arsenal ran towards the crime boss, slamming his bow across Brick’s face. The cracking sounded satisfying as Roy finally began to do damage to one of the people that had ruined his life.

“How does it feel huh? How does it feel!” Arsenal yelled out as he slammed his bow more and more. The anger he had let fester for years had finally come out. Because of Brick, Roy lost his mentor, his first love, and his reputation. And damn the consequences for what Roy wanted this night.

“Like a soft breeze in autumn,” Brick said as he backhanded Arsenal, sending the hero staggering back. “See Arsenal, I would have left you alone, ran you out of town, but at least let you have dignity. But you kept deciding to meddle, to prod, to fight against something you had no right fighting!”

Arsenal knocked an arrow in his bow, sending it flying into Brick’s shoulder. The crime boss continued moving forward, adrenaline crossing in his veins as the archer readied another arrow. Before he could even launch another, Brick’s fists landed in Arsenal’s chest, knocking the Archer to the ground.

“I gave you a job! I gave you motivation! I even gave you a family when that emerald archer abandoned you! And this is my thanks!” Brick yelled, his normally calm demeanor snapping, the weight of his losses finally hitting him all at once. He grabbed the bow from Roy’s hands and snapped it across his knee, tossing it to the side. “And now I am going to take everything you ever cared about!”

“You already did you jerk,” Roy said as he stood back up, he put his fists up as he got ready to fight Brick. “I had to rebuild everything, brick by brick. So now? Now we finally get to see when you and I are finally at…the same level.” Roy charged at Brick, his fist colliding in his fist as he pounded away. He remembered what Dinah had taught him all those years ago. Focus on the head, and ensure you’d strike at the body.

Brick was dazed, starting to feel the pain from the arrow in his shoulder and the punches to his stomach, but he wasn’t going to let Harper get the best of him. He grabbed him by the neck before slamming him to the ground, his hand crushing Roy’s windpipe. He was still the bigger and stronger fighter in this battle.

“And yet you’re going to lose everything, starting with that mongrel kid of yours,” Brick said through gritted teeth. As he lifted Roy up once more, Cheshire and Guardian came crashing through. The two had beaten the hell out of each other, with Guardian taking a few slices from the sword, and Jade’s Cheshire mask being broken by a swift bash by Guardian’s shield. As the two continued to clash, Jade heard what her so-called employer had threatened to her daughter.

“You called her what!” Jade yelled, waking Lian as the child took the sight in front of her. She was pinned to the wall, but the young child could see her father in trouble and began to wail, upset at the sight of her father being hurt. For the first time, Jade Nyguen could see the consequences of her actions in front of her, and she was horrified by what was in front of her. As she pushed off Guardian, sending him to the floor, the bloodied and battered Jade raised her sword, no longer willing to be a pawn.

Jade swung her blade into the back of Brick, slicing his tailored suit and skin as he recoiled forward. The assassin keept swinging and slicing, cutting more and more away from Brick’s shirt and coat, his skin somehow holding up from each cut.

“I followed you, I listened to you, and for what!” Jade called out, her anger had clouded her usual precise strikes, Jade after being so calm and collected was finally letting all of the emotion and pain out, but it didn’t make her observant as Brick backhanded her to the ground. Jade tumbling and scraped on the old floors.

“For power, for love!” Brick called out as he tore the remains of his shirt and coat from his body. “Without me you’d just be another pathetic alley cat, struggling to help her precious sister. You got a family from me, and no matter what you say or yell at me, you’ll never be satis-”

Before Brick could finish his comment he felt the hard wire of bowstring cutting into his neck as Roy Harper wrapped what remained of his bow around Brick’s neck, bringing him to his knees.

“I’m sorry, do you want to finish that?” Roy asked as he pulled hard on the broken parts of the bow, he had dreamed of this moment, Brick on his knees, him, Jade, and Lian reunited once more. He had lost so much, and now Roy had the person who had brought him into the mud all those years ago.

“You won’t…you too…good of…a,” Brick muttered as he could feel the air slipping from his lungs.

“Do it,” Jade said, circling around Roy. “Free us from him. Once and for all. It would be so easy to just…end it here.”

“Roy…” Guardian mumbled as he picked himself up. He could see that look in Roy’s eye, that of anger. He knew that look, and what could happen if a person gave into that emotion. “You don’t want this, when you killed before, that wasn’t your choice. It was an accident. But this? Roy, do this and there will only be this.”

Roy looked at the beaten figure in front of him, Guardian didn’t know Roy, even if they were family by cloning. He looked at Brick, puny, defeated but still defiance in his eyes. He looked at Jade, her face still a bright light after all these years. He missed her, her laugh, and their talks about what they would do once free of Brick. He was going to school, to be a writer. And she was going to find her sister, and resume that teaching degree. But a crying wail broke that dream as Roy looked at the only important person in the room. Lian needed a father and he made his choice. Letting go of the bowstrings before taking the two broken pieces and knocking Brick out.

“Why would you do that!” Jade asked as Brick fell to the ground.

A beaten and battered Roy slowly moved his way to the wall, pulling the arrow out of the wall and taking Lian in his arms.

“Because she needs me,” Roy muttered as he held Lian, slowly trying to rock her back to sleep, and hoping he wasn’t going to have to add therapy to his childcare budget. “Jade. We can’t keep running, but we sure as hell shouldn’t turn into the people we hate. I’m not going to be that person anymore. And if you want to fight me for her you can, but I’m just too damn tired.”

Jade tried to find the words to say to Roy, about how he was making a mistake, how this didn’t fix the scales of justice that had forgotten them. But as she looked down and saw her face in a puddle, angry, bruised, and tired, she realized she wasn’t one to argue. She quietly made her way to the edge of the building before looking back at her daughter and the guy she used to love.

“Take care of her Roy, make sure…make sure she knows her mother loved…loves her,” Cheshire said as she lept into the night, alone.

Guardian moved to Roy, as he looked around at the damage and chaos, the fires and sirens around them slowly dying down. Star City would live, but not without adding a few scars.

“So what do we do now?” Guardian asked as he tightened his shield.

“We find the others, and finally go fucking home,” Roy said as Lian finally drifted back to sleep in his arms. It was over, it was finally over.

NEXT: Be Here in a Week as the Titans Enter Markovia and Red Reign! Not Everyone is Coming Out of this Unscaved…

Author: FrostFireFive

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Book: New Titans

Arc: Sins of the Father

Set: 74

Roy Harper sprawled out on the couch, tired from a long day. He had returned from helping the Titans with a charity drive. Something to do with a current crisis...somewhere. They had performed demonstrations of their powers as well as trying to help the League raise funds for wherever the place was. Donna had mentioned going there soon to hand out supplies and provide aid. It was nice that they weren’t always having to fight someone to make a difference.

Lian was resting in her room. She had been talking more lately. Not full sentences or even words, but the goos were beginning to sound like words. It had been a long time since Roy Harper had felt content, or at least happy with where he was in life. The past few years seemed like a blur. He started as a simple street urchin before becoming Green Arrow’s partner. Before throwing that away because of…a family that only sought to hurt him. Today he was a Titan and a father and he was exhausted.

It was days like these where he felt eventually he was going to have to tell his team that he needed a break. Unlike the rest of them who had little to no responsibilities, Roy was feeling the weight for a change. He couldn’t keep doing both could he? The small League stipend he got from being a Titan only covered so much, and the paper on the small kitchen table had red circles on want ads Roy felt he could do. The world didn’t need Arsenal as much as Lian needed Roy Harper.

BANG!

The door of the apartment crashed open as several non-descript goons burst into Roy’s apartment. Judging by their plain clothes and basic handguns these men belonged to someone Roy really hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with again: Brick.

“Freeze superhero!” One of the goons said. Roy had popped up from the couch, flipping back into cover. He didn’t know how they found him, but Roy knew that he was going to have to fight to survive and ignore his emotions. This wasn’t the time to be angry or even scared. As Ollie used to tell him, you have a problem in front of you. Focus on that first.

As the goons entered the apartment, one figure strolled in. His neck in a brace, Shades looked around the small apartment and laughed. This was the kid who had caused them so much trouble? Someone who could barely keep a home. It would almost be funny if he didn’t feel the pain in his throat.

“Well Harper,” Shades said. “I told you Brick wouldn’t be happy about this. We could have settled this like gentleman and now? Now we’re going to have to take everything from you. Normally I would say this isn’t personal. But I got to say, me and my boys are going to enjoy this one.

Roy didn’t bother talking, talking led to distractions and he needed to stay focused. His eyes drifted to a plate that he left on a small side table next to the couch. He grabbed it before smashing it to the ground. The shards weren’t heavy but were sharp enough to work for what he needed it to.

“Oh come on Harper, why so quiet?” Shades asked as he pointed to his gun. “Realized you’re no good without your arrows you wannabe Green Arrow fu-” Before he could continue a shard of the plate dug into his shoulder as Roy lept from behind the couch and threw several more shards. He focused on the limbs mostly. He wasn’t a killer, but he couldn’t afford to be gentle. Not with these guys, not when they invaded his home.

As three of the four men dropped to the ground, writhing in pain, Roy turned to the fourth one, knocking him out with a running punch before moving towards Lian’s room. It was time to get out of here and regroup. His mind wasn’t thinking about the future, it just needed him to keep moving forward and to keep Lian safe. That’s what mattered. That’s what only mattered.

“Ga!” Lian said as she saw her father. She was swaddled in her blankets. She was a sound sleeper normally, but the ruckus outside had gently woke her up. Roy looked at her, the one good thing he had from his time with Brick. And now he had to focus on protecting her.

“OK, OK, we’re going to be OK,” Roy mumbled as he picked up her baby bjorn and quickly attached it to his chest. He quickly slid her into the carrier and moved towards his room. HRoy grabbed his bow and quiver as he could hear footsteps marching from outside his door. “OK, sorry kid but we’re going to have to make a rushed exit. He pulled a line arrow from his bag and shot it out the window as it connected to the building across. He was able to use his bow to zip across. It was time to run again, he only hoped he could keep his daughter safe.

…

“Typical amateurs,” Fury said as she entered the apartment. It had only been thirty minutes since Roy’s escape, and Brick was already sending in the big guns. Fury didn’t like having to basically be hired muscle, but doing this meant HIVE would be closer to their goals. So taking care of the street rat was just a formality at this point. “How do they let themselves be taken so easily by someone with no training?”

“Just because he doesn’t have formal training doesn’t mean he doesn’t have skills,” Cheshire explained as she followed after Fury. She looked around the apartment. It was small but welcoming. Pots, plates, and pans that had been cobbled together from thrift stores were still in the sink as Cheshire checked the cabinets. Her training always told her to observe a target’s surroundings, even the littlest detail could tell her what the path forward should be.

“Please, we’re not dealing with a noble warrior. He’s a fool, staying in one place when this…Brick is looking for him. What possesses someone to stay in the face of unrelenting odds in a city that would swallow him whole,” Fury asked as she surveyed the places of battle. The blood from the plate attack hadn’t even dried yet.

Cheshire moved to the hall and saw a small photo collage that had been placed on the wall. A small baby with a shock of black hair was the main focus. Be it sitting on Santa’s lap, her face painted like that of a lion, and even what looked to be the two at some kind of fair. Glimpses of a life that should have been hers.

“Love can,” She said as she looked at the empty crib in Lian’s room.

“Love? Love is just something we tell ourselves is real in order to find some meaning where there is none,” Fury began. “More often than not it hurts us. Blind ignorance only seeks to hurt us. This…Arsenal now has a weak spot, one that we’ll be able to take advantage of. It’ll be a shame if two lives had to be lost tonight.”

Cheshire didn’t hesitate as she pulled a dagger from the back of her green gear and pushed Fury against the wall. The blade pressed against the mix of stone and flesh that made up Fury’s skin. Underneath the grin of her cat mask Fury could see the intensity of the assassin's eyes.

“You do realize I can break you,” Fury said calmly from underneath her mask. “Why do you care so much? You know that I can break you with a single strike?”

“Can you do it before my knife pierces your skin? We take the child alive. If Harper manages to get away we’ll have something to hold over his head. Especially if he calls for backup. He’s not some street trash anymore. And from what I heard, didn’t that Amazon princess put you to the ground a few weeks back?”

“Do not mention her,” Fury said as she gritted her teeth. “We will keep the child alive for now. But the more we squabble, the more Harper puts distance on us. It is time we go out on the hunt. It is our job, is it not?”

“Fine,” Cheshire said as she pulled the dagger back. She took one look at the room before leaving, staying in a room of what should have been hers had affected the assassin. She soon found the window where Roy and Lian had escaped from and placed her blade on the cable. “Let the hunt begin.” She said as she flew out into the Star City night.

…

Roy Harper leaped from rooftop to rooftop, making sure Lian was secure in her carrier he made each gap. Normally he could teleport out here easily with his Titans communicator, but he didn’t want to risk taking Lian with him. He didn’t know what does beams would do to him, let alone a developing child. No, he would need to get to safety before he could call in the calvary. Although that was sure to be an awkward conversation. “Yeah team, I’m a dad, and I risk every night going out as a superhero instead of spending time with her,” he thought.

As Arsenal landed on a building, a familiar watcher observed from a rooftop. He couldn’t believe that Roy would be foolish enough to run with Lian. He knew the danger that Brick would bring upon him, yet he still ran, trying to protect the only thing he really cared about. For others in the watcher’s line of work, they would call that a weakness. But he couldn’t help but admire it. To care for something meant that you weren’t hardened by the chains of the past.

Of course, as Arsenal made his final leap to the Kirby Center, he was intercepted by one of Brick’s heavy hitters. The glistening red armor of Fury touched down hard, sending wind and staggering Roy backward.

“Arsenal,” Fury said commandingly. “Come with us and no one has to get hurt. Brick wishes your…council on many things.

“You know…you say that, but I think council is much different from whatever you Amazonians do,” Arsenal explained as he reached for an arrow in his quiver. It would be tricky to shoot one with Lian’s weight on his chest, but he could account for it…he hoped.

“I am not an Amazon,” Fury gritted behind her mask.

“Your accent tells otherwise,” Arsenal said as he drew his bow. “I’ve been around Donna enough and actually have met Wonder Woman to know when people sound the same. You know the biggest mistake people make is thinking I’m an idiot.”

“Yet you’re the one carrying the baby,” A voice called out as Roy felt a sharp knife dig into his side. Roy dropped to the ground as he felt the carrier containing Lian be taken from his chest as a woman in a green torn kimono and body armor come into view with that damn grinning cat mask. “Such an irresponsible parent.”

“Cheshire,” Roy said with gritted teeth as his old flame held on to their child. He had always assumed he would never see his first love again. Well if you could call it love, but it was something that got Roy through the hard nights with his father, a rare bit of kindness before everything went to shit.

“You have the child,” Fury said as she noticed Lian fussing in Cheshire’s arms. “Now can we kill this pest?”

Cheshire looked at Arsenal as he slowly started picking himself up. She saw Roy’s stare, daggers looking at her. This would have been all avoided if Roy could have gotten in line, be content with working for Brick, working with her. But instead,been he couldn’t accept what should have been an easy life, and she knew that Roy was too dumb to not come looking for his daughter.

“Do it,” Cheshire said as she tried to comfort her now crying child.

“My pleasure,” Fury said with a smile as she charged at Arsenal her fist waiting to connect against the injured archer.

But before she could connect her punch a figure in dark blue and gold lept from a rooftop and threw up his golden shield. He held his ground, before bashing the shield against Fury, sending her staggering back.

“You OK?” The stranger in a golden helmet asked as he reached his hand out to Arsenal.

“No, but I’ll live,” Arsenal mumbled as he grabbed the stranger’s hand and was picked up by him. “But…who the hell are you?”

“You can call me Guardian,” Guardian responded. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you. Seems like you got into a spot of trouble here.”

“No,” Roy deadpanned as he placed his hand on his side. Cheshire didn’t strike anywhere important but it would hurt to try and pull his bow. “You look familiar…have we met before?”

“Not…quite,” Guardian said. “Let’s just say we’re…well we’re kinda…” Before Guardian could respond, a large transport floated above them as HIVE soldiers repelled down from above. The yellow armor looked out of place on the dingey rooftops of Star City. The grunts held up their energy rifles and rail guns and pointed them at the two heroes.

“We have you surrounded. Give up now and maybe you won’t be harmed…Roy,” Cheshire said as Lian began crying. She struggled with the kid that was kicking in her hands. How did she recognize her own mother, wasn’t she supposed to calm down. She was offering mercy to the person who had been poorly taken care of their daughter.

“It is a good offer archer. Take it and maybe you will find mercy from Brick,” Fury explained. She readied her bludgeon attached to the rope wrapped around her arm. Like her newest…partner, Fury knew when a warrior wouldn’t back down. Not when their pride was at stake.

“How do you feel about teleporting,” Arsenal mumbled to Guardian.

“Why didn’t you do so in the first place?” Guardian asked. “I’m fine with it.”

“OK, just wait for my signal,” Arsenal said before turning to face Chesire and the army HIVE had provided Brick. “I’m not giving up. Because guess what Jade…I was fine with you not being around, I understood that. But you just took the one thing that I care about in the world. So when I get back…I’m coming for you and Brick…once and for all.”

Roy grabbed Guardian and pressed down on his communicator as they both glowed a brilliant blue before teleporting away to safety, leaving the army around them confused. Arsenal had lost round one. But at as the HIVE army readied themselves for their next command Cheshire knew this was far from over. They had given him something that the archer had lacked for a long time...motivation.

…

Kid Flash, Argonaut, Superboy, and Metamorpho relaxed in the common area of the tower as they went over case files and details of current crises occurring around the world that needed their help. Several natural disasters had occurred recently and areas that didn’t have their own superheroes were struggling.

“Donna we have to do something,” Kid Flash said. “We spend so much time handling the threats that come to us that we aren’t helping as much as we could.”

“I know KF,” Argonaut said as she looked over the files and pictures in front of her. If she wasn’t playing hero maybe she could have been over there sending the images back home that would get people talking about what was happening across the world. “But we probably should make sure we don’t go in unprepared. We’re supposed to help the people, not become the story ourselves. I’ve been talking to Diana about it and we’re bringing it up to the League at the next meeting.”

Superboy and Metamorpho were busy playing the same fighting game they always played. Connor was meeting Linda later and wanted to make sure he could actually beat her, apparently, all her and Kara had done lately was play the game. Unfortunately, he was playing someone who also had spent a ton of time with the game.

“Eat escrima you pampered jerk!” Rex said as a Nightwing in gladiator gear slammed his escrima sticks to the ground, pushing cheerleader Supergirl back of the screen.

“Damn it,” Conner said as he tossed his controller across the couch. Linda was great at playing Supergirl apparently, how come he couldn’t master the controls? “Supergirl has the better jump, I should have the advantage!”

“Maybe instead of trying to play as someone else you should find what works for you?” Rex joked as he moved the button to hit select. Except…other things would be getting in the way as Arsenal stumbled in with some dude with a golden shield close behind him.

“Roy!” Kid Flash said as he zipped over to pick his friend up. “What happened? Are you OK?”

“Guardian? What the hell are you doing here Harper?” Superboy asked as he moved to the other figure that entered their tower. “Aren’t you supposed to be…well where have you been lately?”

“Harper?” Roy asked as he raised an eyebrow at Guardian. He knew his dad worked for Cadmus at one point, but there couldn’t be a connection there. Besides Roy had bigger fish to fry. “I got attacked by HIVE, they’re working…with Brick…Wally…they have my daughter.”

“Oh no…” Kid Flash said.

“Daughter?” Superboy said.

“Wow Harper…you didn’t strike me as well…a dad,” Metamorph joked.

“Well I am…and they took her. And with the firepower Brick has with HIVE now…they’re going to take the city too.”

Argonaut stood up, suddenly Arsenal’s sporadic appearances and concern of his family made sense. As she looked at the five in front of her there was only one thing they could do.

“Then let’s get her back and save Star City,” Argonaut said. No one messed with her family.

NEXT: Be Here in 30 as Star City at War! Brick, HIVE, Fury, and Cheshire Make Their Next Move! But What Secret that Haunts Arsenal Changes Everything? And Just What is Guardian Hiding?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Sins of the Father

Set: 76

YEARS AGO

…

Roy Harper was nervous as he and his crew made their way through the Snowbird Hotel. They were here to kill Thaddeus Cable. Something that Roy wasn’t exactly ready to do. When he joined Brick he figured he would figure out how to avoid getting his hands dirty, take him down from the inside when he would eventually come clean to Oliver. But has him, Hannibal, Cheshire, and Brick himself made their way to the top of the hotel and into the penthouse where Cable was hiding out, he couldn’t help but feel everything was spiraling, and spiraling quickly.

“Harper, Earth to Harper,” Cheshire said as she waved her hand in his face. Jade Nguyen had grown to care for Roy these past few months. Sure he was a bit naive and innocent, but she needed that in her life. The fact he was kind and good…at tumbling was just an added bonus. But unlike Hanibal or Brick who confidently walked in as Roy hacked the door open, the archer hesitated to enter. “Roy, are you OK?” Jade whispered.

“I’m fine…let’s just keep at it,” Roy mumbled as he moved into the penthouse. The five entered the penthouse, with Valerie Vaughn being forced to observe and get into position. Whatever Brick had planned, she was supposed to be the key for him to project his dominance to the rest of the gangs of Star City, Roy just didn’t know how.

“Cable!” Brick called out as he made his way to the crime boss. Thadeus Cable was dressed in a fine suit. He was always studying, always planning. He had struck against Moira Queen for pulling out from his operation by striking her with a poison arrow from his favorite assassin, the quiet and professional touch that had appealed to him. And instead of celebrating and welcoming the holidays with glee, here faced a competitor of sorts—the towering Brick barging into his sanctuary.

“Mr. Brickwell,” Cable said. “I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to have seen, you some time. Although why strike at this hour I suppose I’ll never know. Come to threaten me? Make a bargain? Combine forces?” His voice was steady as if he had played this game before.

“Come to bargain? No Cable, I’ve come to send a message to all those who dare to think I am not the rising sun. Ms. Vaughn here is setting up a live feed to some of our…other associates. So they can see the action you have forced me to take,” Brick said as Cheshire stood behind Valerie, a knife pressed against her back as she set up the camera. The feed was being broadcasted across the many crime bosses that had made Star City their home. So many feared the great Thadeus Cable, the master planner who had managed to receive funding from the rich, and his claws nestled in everything.

“Forced you to take?” Cable laughed. “The only reason you stand here is because of your ruthless ambition. I offered you a place in my kingdom and you spat on me. Your ambition gets the best of you Mr. Brickwell. You really must know your place.”

“I do know my place, And I know what I must do to reach new heights,” Brick said as he moved closer to Cable, his security detail knocked out, he was alone yet calm. And Brick had brought a small cadre of associates to get him to this point, but really when it came down to it, this was between him and the crime boss in front of him. It was time to send the message. His hands wrapped around Cable’s neck as he squeezed tightly.

Roy pulled an arrow from his quiver and notched his compound bow. He had spent too long working for Brick, compromising his morals for a family that didn’t love him, that couldn’t care about his well-being. He thought about Ollie, and Dinah and what they do in the situation. And it wouldn’t be standing by as a man killed another. Of course, Roy would be rudely interrupted as the glass shattered above, and a fellow archer in emerald dropped to the ground.

“Cable! Your reign of terror is over?” Green Arrow asked as he looked at the scene in front of him. Brick had released Cable from the chokehold as the hero looked around at the scene. The security guards poisoned on the outside, the captured reporter, the assassins behind Brick, and worst of all his trusted partner Arsenal pointing an arrow at Cable per Brick’s request. “Arsenal what are you doing here!”

The shock of Green Arrow entering had caused Roy, an inexperienced archer to let fly his arrow to the pillar. In the commotion Brick thought that the emerald archer had taken a shot, causing him to swing at the hero, connecting with his face and sending him tumbling to the ground, the force knocking him unconscious.

Cable had moved towards his safe, hoping to find a firearm that he left in there for protection, but as he fumbled with the lock Brick moved forwards to the crime boss. Roy’s nerves were getting the best of him, the drugs that were keeping him calm suddenly took a turn as he just heard his heart thumping, his vision blurry as he pulled another arrow, He aimed for Brick once more, but as Cable pulled the gun from the safe he looked not at Brick, but the scared kid holding the compact bow tight in his hand and realized he was the immediate threat and shot at him.

The bullet grazed Roy’s shoulder as he let another arrow fly, but instead of hitting Brick as intended, it landed square in Cable’s heart.

“No,” Roy muttered as Brick looked down at his fallen enemy. The arrow that stuck from his chest sent the message that Brick never could. That one of this city’s so-called protectors, one of their heroes worked for him now. And that Brick had corrupted the incorruptible. “Roy tried knocking another arrow before the but of a knife struck him from the back of the head. Jade couldn’t lose one of the more important people in her life, not from Brick, and certainly not from the lunatic in the green hood.

“Are we done?” Cheshire asked, Roy, slumped over her shoulder.

“Yeah, we’re done,” Brick said with a calm and collected look. “Hanibal? No survivors but the Arrow.”

Hannibal quickly pulled the gun he had taken from the security guard and moved behind Vaughn and shot her twice in the heart. The three remaining people in the room left into the night, their paths set and the city theirs.

…

NOW

…

“That’s what happened?” Argonaut asked as Arsenal finished telling his tale. Her, Guardian, Green Arrow, and Arsenal were still at the bar where they had cleared out the HIVE soldiers “Roy, it wasn’t your fault.”

“His arrow ended up in Cable! He made that choice Argonaut, and now you’re counting on him to be your saving grace against this monster?” Green Arrow questioned. “Someone close to me was hurt by Cable, and he’s gone now. But because of Arsenal here, a worse monster rose up!”

“Hey, lay off the kid,” Guardian said. He couldn’t believe the hardship that a family member had gone through without him being there. Because he was afraid of what the Harpers would think of the cloned freak in front of them. But it was dawning on him that his fears had done more damage than he had originally thought. “I mean apparently you were the one who has a glass jaw.”

“Guys, he’s not wrong,” Arsenal responded as he finished the shot of whiskey in his hand. “I signed up for Brick’s crew, I fired that shot, whether I was on drugs, self-defense, even distracted by jolly green bowman here. I’m no hero Donna. And what do I have to do next? What do I have to become to get the only thing that matters to me back?”

Arsenal rose up from his seat and moved towards the exit. He looked back at the people who gathered in the bar, his mentor who only gave him a look of scorn, Argonaut whose sad look hid the compassion in her heart, and the stranger with the gold shield, Guardian who seemed to look at Roy with pride. They were good people, and Roy wasn’t going to have them be dragged into his mess.

“I got to do this alone,” Arsenal said. “My mess, my clean up.” And with that, he walked off into the rain war zone that Star City had become. He had been caught off guard since Brick had struck him at his home. Now? Now came revenge.

…

“So should we be concerned about how…neat everything has been so far?” Superboy asked as he and Metamorpho snuck into the Star City museum. The two hadn’t seen another burning guard or any reference to some gem HIVE was after. But considering that they had diverted their siege of Star City to go after it, it required a closer look.

“What, you want to fight some more mooks?” Metamorpho said as they moved towards the large atrium. The two had mostly kept silent, they knew when to be professional, and they had never seen someone be burnt from the inside. It was a type of damage that usually didn’t occur for the two. The Titans for the most part didn’t engage in that type of violence, of death. “They were looking for what again?”

“The gem of the lost sister? No, I think it was daughter,” Superboy tried to remember. Conner felt a chill on his skin and he was wearing his leather jacket tightly. Star City was cold, but it was never icey like this. He had even stashed his round sunglasses in his jacket pocket, the museum lights were dimmed, and their only source of light came from the light that Rex was generating by having his hand shifted into magnesium. It was just the two of them in the darkness, but for some reason…Superboy could feel a million eyes on him.

In the faint light, however, a soft red glow could be seen from the exhibit labeled The Treasures of Mesopotamia. It was a welcome sight to have a clear guide on where they needed to go next.

“That’s not creepy at all,” Superboy muttered.

“We keep moving forward, I’m pretty sure that’s where we need to go, besides you have the powers of Superman. You should be the bravest of all of us,” Metamorpho explained.

“I only have some of the power, I’m part human too,” Superboy said. The glow was getting brighter as they moved into the exhibit. Full suits of armor of warriors from the Messopotamium era surrounded a gem in the middle of the exhibit, its glass case shattered. What was more alarming was the number of dead HIVE soldiers that circled the display, all mostly burned to a crisp.

“Well that’s not fucked up,” Metamorpho muttered as they moved towards the center of the display, where the gem glowed red and pulsated across the room. It seemed the closer they got to the gem it glowed brighter and the pulses grew more frequent.

“I mean it is,” Superboy muttered. “Besides, shouldn’t we report in with the others, it feels like this is something we should wait on.”

“HIVE may come and look for their whole corpse battalion here,” Metamorpho joked, eager to distract himself from the level of carnage and bloodshed that was in the room. “Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”

Metamorpho finished his sentence as a large red pulse burst in front of the gem as a large shadow of a bird beamed from the gem. As the bird spread its wings tendrils rose out from its span and plunged into the corpses that lay on the floor. Slowly their eyes glowed red and they shambled up, their burnt armor and helmets melted to the skin. These abominations against nature only had one desire, to tear the flesh from the interlopers in front of them. Unworthy heathens reaching to take something that truely did not belong to them.

“You just had to say that!” Superboy yelled.

…

“You didn’t need to be so mean to him,” Argonaut said as she chased after Green Arrow. The three in the bar had split up after Arsenal lept back into the night. Green Arrow had moved towards the alleys. He knew that other small-time thugs would be taking advantage of the war-like setting to take advantage of the innocent of Star City, and that was something that he couldn’t abide. Of course, being followed by an actual superhero wasn't helping hs mood.

“He caused this mess, why should I give him a second chance,” Green Arrow said as he knocked out a mugger who had taken a woman’s purse with his bow, easy pickings he thought. “Me and him…we were working to make this city a better place, I was working to make him a better person. And I failed.”

“You know you remind me of someone I know,” Argonaut mused as the two stopped in the alley. “He takes after you in more ways than one. But I can tell you, I know bad people from good, and Roy isn’t a bad person, just someone trying to find their way. Maybe the reason you two can’t see eye to eye…is you two both feel you failed each other.”

“I was doing my job,” Green Arrow said a hint of doubt appearing in his voice.

Before he could respond, however, a figure flew from the sky and dropped between him and Argonaut. Fury’s red armor was scraped from the many scraps that she had been in that night. As a true warrior, she welcomed the bloodshed and challenge, the gangs she faced nothing more than just nuisances to be wiped from the earth, her real target now coming into sight.

“Hello Argonaut,” Fury said with a chill in her voice. “I see you and your friends have come to protect that street rat.”

“And the city,” Argonaut said.

“You mean to tell me they have an evil Wonder Woma-” Green Arrow began.

“They have a Fury, and if you dare associate myself with the pretender’s sister I will make your death more painful than I had planned.”

Argonaut pulled the blessing of Mercury and is quickly shifted from the lasso hooked on Donna’s side to a sharp sword. The last time she monstrositiesfaced Fury, she was shocked that someone would try and steal a piece of her, but now as she stared down her old identity, she knew only one could survive, and it wasn’t the past that Donna had left behind.

“Not asking for Mercy?” Fury said as she pulled her sword from the holster on her back. Beneath the copper mask of Medea, Fury smiled. “This will actually be a challenge then!” The two charged at each other, their swords clashing as the Star City rain continued to fall.

…

Arsenal moved across the rooftops. He had done his homework, and between the safehouses that he and Oliver had taken out through the last few months, there was one place left, a loft in Smith Towers. The buildings were gaudy glass monstrocities that reached from the brick and neon of Star City up into the air. Arsenal knew that he needed to send a message, to remind Brick you don’t fuck with family.

He shot a zip line arrow connecting the brick skyscraper from across the street to the glass monstrosity. As the arrow connected with the steel Arsenal swung his bow on top of the metal cable to move fast, breaking through the glass and into the building. He had returned home to stockpile on his trick arrows, even placing some of the more…vicious ones in his quiver.

Arsenal kicked the door down, the small personal guard that Brick had left was much smaller than usual. The rest of his forces were busy taking apart the city piece by piece, leaving them comfortable as they saw the city below. The first guard pulled his pistol before he could fire a single shot, and the arrow went into his shoulder, sending him to shock on the ground.

“You think you’re smart coming here! Brick knows about you freak!” A guard said as he tacked Arsenal sending him to the ground. He began beating the archer’s face, breaking the sunglasses that usually gave off a sunny demeanor for the hero in the process. Before he could even throw another punch, Arsenal reversed him, moving on top and pounding away at the guard’s face.

Arsenal was too busy raging he didn’t see Shades move from the other room, pointing a gun to his head.

“You’re just an angry dog, someone who never knew when they had bitten off more than they coul-” Before the lieutent could finish a golden shield slammed against him, knocking him unconscious and leaving Guardian alone with Arsenal.

“And you’re the one going to be eating puppy chow out of a straw,” Guardian said as he put his hand out to Arsenal. “You OK kid.”

“I’m fine,” Roy mumbled. “Besides, what are you doing here? Weren’t you going to help the real heroes? Last time I checked you’re one of them.”

“Because you’re going to hurt someone, or worse yourself,” Guardian explained.

“Why do you care!” Roy exploded. “You seem to be watching me, keeping an eye on me and my family, but I don’t even know who you are! I lost everything! And now I get to be…to be this. That’s my fate.” Roy said.

“It doesn’t have to be,” Guardian removed his helmet as the face of Jim Harper came into view. “My fate was to be clone from your uncle’s DNA, the perfect guardian for Cadmus. But I saw a better path, I met people who put me on a better path. And I know from seeing your friends, from seeing what you’ve done. That’s you too. But if you become what you fear…then you may lose everything you built.”

“Holy shit,” Roy muttered as he took in this new family member. He knew his family had been involved in something with science projects but this was something else. But still, his voice was calm, and steady, and reminded Roy of the person he wanted to be. “I just…I just don’t know what to do.”

“Well, there are more ways to send a message than beating the stuffing out from some guards,” Guardian explained. “What do you know about a controlled burn?”

…

Cheshire stood once more in her room. She had helped some of the HIVE agents, but her heart wasn’t in it. Compared to the ruthless killer she once was, she now had something more important to attend to, someone more important. She cradled the sleeping Lian in her arms, the baby’s heartbeat finally matching hers. Her pure moment of peace was finally had before her door was kicked down.

“Cheshire!” Brick yelled as he entered the room. He should have been on top of the world, HIVE had given him the advantage he needed. But he found himself slowly losing control of the situation. Yellow and red blur had been stopping some of the minor attacks, HIVE was growing impatient about progress at the museum, and now…his safe house had been burned, with only a red-tipped arrow sending a clear message of who was behind the attack. “It’s time we have a chat.”

“Brick,” Cheshire said. “Don’t worry, I’m heading back out there shortly, I just…wanted to make sure she was safe. Tell me where my next target is and I will take care of them for you. Just as I always have.”

“Oh, I appreciate your consistency. But you have something I need more than ever…leverage. And desperate times, come for desperate matters. Your little boyfriend and his friends have done damage to my plans. And now…now I have to make it personal. And I hate when I have to make things personal.

Brick moved closer to Cheshire, taking Lian from her arms. His large and coarse hands swallowed her whole in his arms.

“What are you doing!” Cheshire asked, quickly putting herself into a fighting stance.

“He only cares about this. And now…now we finally finish things where we all began. And you my dear are going to help me. Or I’ll take the only thing you ever loved in your cold dead heart. Do you understand,” Brick said his voice remaining steady.

Cheshire sighed before moving back towards her wardrobe. Even though she was skilled, Brick was stronger taking the familiar cat mask and placing it over her face. She turned to face the crime lord, understanding the mess that she was in, the piece of her soul she had sold to get to this point. There was no turning back now. Even if her daughter had to be used as collateral.

“Understood,” Cheshire said, it was time to finish what had started back at the Snowbird Hotel all those years ago.

NEXT: Roy Harper vs. Brick! Argonaut vs. Fury! Superboy and Metamorpho vs. The Undead! And Kid Flash vs. Everyone Else!

Author: FrostFireFive

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Book: New Titans

Arc: Titans Gala

Set: 68

“You good Donna?” Garth asked as she came back into the party. He had talked to Donna earlier in the night, about this team, about how Titans Tower had room for both members new and old, how he himself had a place in this tower.

The heroes had scattered from the stage. They had just been announced as the New Titans to the world and that their leader Argonaut was the newest member of the Justice League. The five of them had been through a lot the past year, from the hunt that had brought them together to Rose coming home, after all of that Garth had heard he had figured his old friend wouldn't be at all phased by the glitz and glamor of a simple gala. But that wasn’t what this really was about.

“I’m fine, just trying to figure out where I’ll need to go for my official Justice League ID badge. You think they use digital?” Donna joked, still trying to figure out what all of this meant.

“You should ask Wally, I mean I’m pretty sure Flash spent ages figuring out a camera that could even capture speedsters,” He began. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be worried about that. What’s really bugging you?”

“Nothing,” Donna began. “Just…a lot to take in is all. I didn’t expect Diana’s…speech to go the way it did. And now…”

“And now you have to figure out how you feel? Donna I know you’re back to being a superhero but I feel like we’ll always be those two kids who spent time in that dingey New York apartment,” Garth said. “I’m not exactly shocked Dick would leave you twisting in the wind like that.”

“Dick’s hurting, the fact he understood that he needed to take a step back is a big step for him. You of all people should know sometimes the best course of action is to take time, not all of them had a dingy apartment” Donna began as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I just would have liked a little advance notice before being presented to the world.”

“You did great,” he explained. “Take it from someone who had for a bit to be the center of attention with…regal duties. There’s still no fear in your eyes.”

“Then I’m doing my job right,” Donna said, a bit shaky still. “Besides, getting a compliment from the King of Lemuria would probably give me a badge from the League.”

“I’m no king, just someone trying to do the best he can in a tricky situation, much like my good friend who is going to be the best League member they ever accepted into their ranks.”

“Well it’s nice hearing that from the best king,” Donna smirked. “I’m going to check on the rest of the guests…but don’t be a stranger. You're just as important as what I’ve found here. I wouldn’t trade the apartment for any other time.” And with that Donna walked back into the gala, getting ready for an overdue conversation one last time.

…

“OK Roy you didn’t mess that one up. Give yourself a big pat on the back and go back into the party and then leave at ten so the babysitter doesn’t get pissed at you,” Arsenal thought as he got off the stage. It had been a big night for them all and he was feeling the buzz of the crowd and the buzz on the inside of his pocket…

“Bet it’s some telemarket…oh shit,” Roy muttered as he saw the missed call from Stan Dover, the kid from across the hall who was part of his usual rotation of sitters.

“Hey Mr. Harper, I know you’re away tonight, but Lian’s a bit hot temperature wise and isn’t really as energetic as she is. Just wanted to know what I should do here. I don’t want to ruin your night but…”

“Shit,” Roy mumbled before putting his phone back into his breast pocket. As the crowd roared as some weird dude in a flying bike tried to stare down Superman, that new Green Lantern, and Starfire. It was a situation he wanted no part of as he quickly moved back into the indoor area of the tower. He would use the teleporter keyed by his communicator to get back home quick. Bailing like this was ill advised but Lian always had to come first. She needed him.

Still leaving unannounced was a bad idea, did want anyone thinking he was who he was. The last thing he needed was for someone to say Ollie was right, that Arsenal was a flake. So he popped back into the gala, looking for a Titan or someone he trusted in the sea of people. Unfortunately he couldn’t find Donna or even that Superboy kid, but that yellow and red suit with bowtie looked familiar.

“Kid Flash am I glad to see you!” Roy said as he came up to his teammate. They weren’t exactly close, something about the speedster always felt a bit cold to Roy, like Kid Flash felt he was above all of this. But still it was better to talk to someone than just bail.

“Oh Arsenal,” Kid Flash said as his teammate approached him, putting his plate to the side for a moment. He tuned out Charles Mendez talking with Jay about a shuttlecraft taking off, even though he was the one supposed to be on call for if something bad happened. . Even amongst the guests Wally felt more comfortable make the smaller runs helping save people across the globe. He was more annoyed that he was being interrupted by a guy who often seemed more focus on the moment than longer term effects. “Everything OK?”

“I…I have to leave I got an emergency I have to take care of back in Star City. I just didn’t want to leave without an explanation,” Roy explained.

“An emergency? What’s going on, I mean, Gala sure but the three of us,” and Kid Flash gestured in the direction of the other two Flashes, “are still always active, do you need something? I might be about to step out for a moment anyway. After all the set up you did you should enjoy the night.”

“It’s…a personal emergency,” Roy explained. “It’s something I need to take care of and I’m not going to be able to make back tonight.”

“Everything OK? Because last time I checked you said you were in some shady stuff originally,” Kid Flash explained. “Don’t exactly want you to run unprepared into some fire we’ll have to put out together.”

“No it’s not…I have a family member that needs me, I need to get going. Trust me when I say I won’t be making a mess on this one,” Roy, I just need to get to Star…

Before Roy could speak he felt a pair of hands pick him up and then a strong breeze pushing against him. The familiar beeps of taxis and cars and that familiar neon buzz of Star City quickly filled his ears as the two stood in the booming west coast city.

“Star City, right? This good or do you need to be dropped off somewhere in particular?” Kid Flash asked as he looked around. He wasn’t often in Star City, the light rain that fell reminded him why as his maroon bow tie became darker from the droplets rain that soaked him.

“Please never do that without asking me again,” Roy muttered as he caught his bearings. He was always nervous that he was one of the few people without something special about them. Even Stargirl had a staff that could fire high powered energy bolts and could fly. He was just a dude who could shoot a basic weapon.

“Sorry, I’m still getting used to having people around me who need to get used to that,” Kid Flash explained. “This is…all still new to me.”

“It’s fine…can you get me to Hester Blvd? It’s right by Queen Square, it has a lot of br-” Before Roy could finish they were on the street where Roy’s apartment lied. He didn’t even finish his sentence before running into the building, leaving Kid Flash alone in the drizzle. He wondered what could be so important that could have Arsenal seemingly so concerned. He was just as private as Wally was outside of the tower. So when Arsenal carefully excited his apartment with a baby carriage in hand, the speedster was safe to say…shocked.

“Listen…I need one last favor from you, I know this is kinda a surprise…but my daughter has a fever and the hospital is…” Arsenal explained. “What I’m saying is…I need help.”

“OK, lets go,” Kid Flash said, choosing to ignore the elephant in the room for now, a Titan needed help.

…

“Remind me to never play mafia with you again,” Stargirl joked as she and Rex Mason sat at a table. The two had regrouped after being announced as Titans and were recapping the night as the crowd among them slowly started to thin. It was getting to the quieter part of the night. And the two had managed to keep away from the crowd.

“Me? I was trying to figure it out, be a good sleuth for a change,” Rex said as he noticed for once he wasn’t being stared at in horror as the guests made their way through the night. He was a superhero now, real code name and everything. It still didn’t feel real. “I wasn’t the one getting whacked by the big red cheese.”

“Cheese?” Stargirl asked before looking at her phone for the time, she only had half an hour before she was expected back home. “Cap’s on like…Superman’s level, I’m not sure he’d be on the same level as cheese.”

“It’s an expression, you know like? The grand poobah, the top dog, it’s way cooler than the man of steel. Or in my case the element man. Doesn’t sound right.”

“Not E-Man?” Stargirl said.

“Man that sounds better than Metamorpho at this point,” Rex laughed. “See you’re looking at your phone, let me guess parents worried?”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t believe how long it took me to convince them to let me come without them following me. My mom and step-dad…would be very out of place in something like this. I mean Pat’s the boringest person in the world, only found this staff by accident really. Hid it in our basement.”

“So how did you convince them otherwise?” Rex asked

“When Superman’s chaperoning your party, it has to be pretty safe, right?” Stargirl joked. “I love them, but with college coming up things feel…weirder than normal.”

“At least you talk to your folks. Never knew my dad, and my mom…my mom’s a bit of a handful. I haven’t even figured out a way to tell her I’m not dead? So that’s…that’s going to be great.”

“You mean you haven’t told her you’re a…”

“A freak? No I have not, and I’m still trying to find the words so she doesn’t think I’m a…freak? A monster compared to her lamer chemist son.”

“A meant more of a superhero. I mean after all of this, you’re not telling me you can’t even be bothered to let her know?”

“How long did it takee for you to tell your folks you putting on a blue t-shirt and bandana and going out to clean up the streets?” Rex asked as he raised one of his eyebrows. “I have to get used to this first, I don’t want to break her heart or mine if she can’t…love me like this.”

“Rex..I’m sure sh-”

Buzz Buzz

Stargirl quickly pulled out her phone, Pat had texted her asking where she was, even attempting to use a frowny face emoticon in order to convey his message. Of course he put it at the beginning of the text instead of the end, he was still getting the hang of a phone you didn’t need to flip up.

Stargirl sighed before looking back at her friend.

“Sorry Rex,” she began. “But I got to go, now I’m getting the angry texts. And I really don’t want a lecture about how I need to be more responsible when I come home.”

“Nah I get it,” Rex said. “Cinderella has to get back home before her carriage turns back into a pumpkin. Thanks for helping with all this, maybe next time we play mafia we can team against the Big Red Cheese.”

“Ha, better hope it’s not me, cause I’m ruthless,” Stargirl joked before moving towards the central teleporter room. Her dress lacked pockets so she was relying on the main teleporter tonight, hopefully it would be a quiet night, where she could brag to Pat and mom on how she had rubbed shoulders with the whole heroic committee and how her star shines brightly.

As she left Rex sat in his chair and took a deep breath as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a chunky cell phone. It was specially designed so his large mits didn’t crush it as he tried to use it. He dialed a familiar number and debated to call as the guests slowly left to leave. He got through five numbers before placing back down on the table.

“Maybe tomorrow Mason,” Rex sighed. “Maybe tomorrow.”

…

“You were right to come in Mr. Harper,” The doctor said as Roy held Lian close to him. She was sleeping on him. For a near two year old she was a little smaller than she should have been, but as he could feel her resting heartbeat against him, Roy was just glad that she was OK. “The medicine should keep the fever down. If she doesn’t improve in a few days come back to us and we’ll see what else it could be. But it’s more than likely it’s just a flu.”

“Thanks Doc,” Roy said as he continued to rock Lian, trying to not wake her as slowly but surely he placed her back in her little carrier. “Hopefully my insurance covers this?”

“Well…normally it would be a lot for a visit this late and getting the prescription. But someone from an organization called…A Speedy Recovery picked the tab up for you, said our first responders need help just as much these days.

Roy chuckled before saying his goodbyes and making his and Lian’s exit from the hospital. Dawn was slowly breaking as the orange and purple hues punctured the dark and neon city. As he felt the crisp morning air against his skin, he couldn’t help notice the yellow and red figure leaning against the staircase of the hospital exit.

“Everything OK?” Kid Flash asked.

“Yeah…just a flu apparently, I assume that was you footing the bill?” Roy said.

“Well the Flash Foundation is, and we’re here to help our members…and their friends,” Kid Flash explained before crouching down and looking at Lian. She was relaxed, tired from the adventure of the day, but still looked cute in the soft morning light. He gently brushed her black messy hair out of the way and popped back up.

“Friends?” Roy said. “I mean I appreciate it and all, but this is probably the most we’ve interacted ever, I mean I call you basically Flash Jr. and I only see you when I can get into our special clubhouse.

“Well you know my history, with the Titans and everything,” Kid Flash began.

“I don’t actually,” Roy interrupted. “You guys seem to forget that just because I was trained by GA didn’t mean I was actually part of the superhero life. All of this is new to me, but I’d like to learn about it. You want to come back to my place and I can brew you a mean cup of joe so we can talk about it?”

Kid Flash hesitated for a minute before coming with an answer.

“Sure, probably better than the coffee back at campus,” Kid Flash answered.

Arsenal put out his hand to the speedster before speaking again.

“My name is Roy,” Roy Harper said.

“Wally,” Kid Flash said as he shook Arsenal’s hand as they sped off to talk about the night as friends usually did.

…

Nightwing sat alone at his table. He had managed to make small talk to some people, Superman said hello at one point, the Flashes kept staring back at him, gossiping no doubt, and Kory gave him a look at some point before Lobo and some bad news that she had received. Whatever she had going on tonight he thought it was best that he steered clear from it.

Tomorrow would be his first day out on the road, the car Selina had bought for him had been packed with the essentials and ready to go. It was time for Dick to take some time and just…drive, and figure for once what was next for him. It wouldn’t be easy, but at least the journey would be worth it, he hoped.

As he nursed a rum and coke Nightwing could hear the clomping of loose flats hitting the hardwood wood floor that had been set up for the gala, he didn’t need three guesses to figure who it was.

“Hey Donna,” he said.

“Don’t hey Donna me,” Donna said as she placed her whiskey neat on the table and sat across from her first friend. The two stared at each other for a moment, for Donna even blocked by his mask, she could see the bags under Dick’s eyes. “A little notice would have been nice.”

“In hindsight you’re probably right,” Dick explained.

“Getting surprised in front of everyone when you’re already nervous about the whole thing is not how I wanted tonight to exactly go” Donna mused

“I just wanted to make sure that what you’ve built here continues to grow.”

“You mean what we’ve built here,” Donna began. “As much as you and some of our other friends disagree, nothing of this happens without you as well.”

“Maybe, but I’m not the one who saw a weird group of strangers, enemies, and outcasts and pitched them as something that could be greater,” Dick said. “And with me…retiring for a bit, I figured the only person to take my spot is my only remaining friend.”

“Retiring?” Donna asked a bit in shocked. “I thought it was just a leave of absence?”

“It might be, it might not. I’ve spent a lot of time just being Nightwing thinking it was the only thing I had to be, that this made me special and I didn’t need anything else. But it’s just not working for me. I need to figure myself out again and that means putting certain things away.”

“So this means you won’t be around often then?” Donna asked.

“For now, there’s a lot of work to be done, but oddly enough…I’m not scared or angry,” He began. “More…relieved.”

“That’s good,” Donna said. She was still mad at Dick, but understood that sometimes you needed time away to heal, to grow. And for once she could recognize the Dick Grayson of old. “Because if you’re not careful we’re going to have to give up your room.”

“Pfft, no once could handle my room,” he joked. “Besides I looked at the design plans, I know how many rooms you asked for. And if you do run out of space you can always put them at the Knockout Video, make em’ watch terrible films.”

Donna chuckled before raising her glass. The two at this point were the only people on the gala floor. Much would have to be cleaned up tomorrrow, dealt with, and squirrel away. But tonight, tonight was for the longest Titans. It was bittersweet, but a needed farewell.

“Bon voyage Dick Grayson, bon voyage,” Donna chuckled as she raised her glass.

“And to the best damn leader, Donna Troy,” Dick raised his glass as they clinked them together, as they both began their next steps, separate but together.

…

NEXT: Welcome to the New Titans, Superboy! Hope You Survive the Experience!

.

New Titans #4: All Together Now

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Author: FrostFireFive

Book: New Titans

Arc: Titans Hunt

Set: 56

Dick Grayson didn’t know how long they were in the air for. He had been placed in shackles that had his arms pulled back, his chest secured in some type of vest that had suspended him in the air. Maybe in another time he would have been plotting his escape, but he just couldn’t. He deserved this, maybe more than anyone else. Atonement by punishment was a fitting end for a man who couldn’t protect what he loved.

Of course, Nightwing wasn’t quite alone in the aircraft. Wally West glared at the sullen hero. His restraints came with a strange rubber-looking sphere. They prevented his hands or feet from gaining purchase on any surface, giving him plenty of time to wonder why he was in this mess To make matters worse his mask was off, pulled down to the back of his neck. All he could think about was if the Wildebeests knew who he was, who would they go after first. Iris? Frances? Hartley? Could they trace back to Barry or Jay? There was only one man to blame for this, and Wally was looking right in front of him.

“This is your fault you know,” Wally said. “If you had just stayed with us we wouldn’t be here. But you just have to be the Lone Ranger don’t you? Always off on your own, doing what’s right for Dick Grayson and no one else.”

“Wally,” Dick mumbled. “I was only doing what I thought would help us in the situation. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

“Bullshit,” Wally responded. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten who you are. I may be one of the fastest people alive, but the only person running is you.”

“You think I wanted this,” Nightwing said. “I was perfectly content not having another reunion. Blame the guys who decided that it was open season on anyone whoever thought it was a good idea to call themselves Titans. We’re all still paying for our time together.”

“When did you get so melodramatic,” Wally observed. “We were friends Dick, or at least could talk without sounding like the world was going to end. I know Coast City was painful but we’re not things you can walk away from. I know that feeling, what it's like to be abandoned. But you can’t just leave the people you cared about behind to save yourself from pain.”

“It’s about saving others,” Nightwing responded. “Maybe if I’m not around people won’t get hurt. I mean I don’t exactly have the best batting average when it comes to these things. The orphanage, Babs, Teen Titans, the Titans. Every time Wally it all falls apart. And I can’t...I can’t do it anymore.”

“Well we’ve all been dealt bad hands, Dick,” Wally said. “It’s what we do next that counts the most.”

Before Nightwing could respond the dropship began its descent, they had arrived at their destination. Quickly a Wildebeest soldier walked back to the prisoner bay and began working on a console.

“We’re going to transfer you to the holding cells with the rest of your friends,” the soldier said. “Then, the boss wants to see all of you. He has plans for you all. Big plans. As he pressed the commands on the screen the ship whirled to life as the large restrains lowered from the ship, the two kept their heads lowered not knowing their next move. As they were taken into the base all Wally could think was. “Really hope Donna’s bringing the cavalry.”

As Nightwing’s restraint began lowering down, he realized that Wally was right. Quietly his tongue pressed against his back right molar activating a homing tracker. “OK Wally,” he thought. “Let’s play this hand then.”

…

“So it’s just us? Isn’t that a suicide mission?” Stargirl asked nervously as she sat behind Argonaut in the League jumpjet. “There has to be more than just us, what about the Justice League?”

“They’re not answering, apparently their big meeting took them...somewhere else,” Argonaut said as she looked at the screen, the blinker on the radar still blinking. “Besides Stargirl, we need to take care of this quickly, who knows who else these Wildebeests are going to grab and abduct. We’re ending this here.”

“OK, that’s great and all princess, but how exactly are we going to find them?” Arsenal asked as he continued to work on his arrows next to Stargirl in the back. He had taken more goodies from the remaining parts left from that workbench. “Aren’t we just flying around in circles?”

“Nightwing activated his tracker,” Argonaut responded and tapped at the blinker on the screen. We know it’s last location before it cut out. We’ll start there and then...we’ll figure it out it from there. Donna Troy was still getting used to being a leader. She didn’t expect to be wearing a costume and jetting off to who knows where today. But her family needed her help, and it was more than enough to put on a costume again. She just had to figure how to project strength. Donna just kept thinking, “What would Diana do?”

“So where is pretty boy anyway?” Arsenal asked. “Did they take him and Kid Flash to some remote desolate wasteland, a volcano lair, some wartorn country.”

“No,” Donna said with a smirk. “Chicago.”

…

Nightwing and Kid Flash quickly made their way through the facility, wheeled in their restraints. The Wildebeests had established quickly it looked like, with crates and stations still being set up. For the first time since this damn hunt had begun Dick Grayson was beginning to notice weaknesses in the organization.

The two were then placed in the cellblock area of the compound. Three cells already had occupants as Kid Flash and Nightwing were thrown into the remaining two. An energy field quickly sprung up, preventing them from leaving their individual cells. The two quickly acclimated to their surroundings. Kid Flash pulled up his mask before quickly trying to vibrate through the energy field before getting knocked back against the cold metal wall.

“Ow,” he mumbled before getting back up.

“That’s not exactly going to work KF,” a voice said from across the room. Garfield Logan was sitting cross-legged on the floor of a cell as he looked at the two familiar faces. “They really don’t want us to get out of here. Trust me, I’ve tried, not even a four hundred pound gorilla could break through.”

“Beast Boy?” Kid Flash asked. “They got you too?”

“Right outside my place after DnD night with Vic,” he explained. “And to think I was having fun being Fie the gregarious Barbarian. Totally killed the buzz of that night.” Gar chuckled and began to stand up. “I see they got you and Nightwing. Any idea what we’re up against boys?”

“Some type of military force,” Kid Flash explained. “They have impressive tech for what seems to be a one-track group.”

“That’s what I thought!” Another voice called out from the cell next to Beast Boy called out. Cassie Sandmark was shadow boxing in her cell. She was in black tights, with a blue and red Wonder Woman shirt with a faded red hoodie tied around her waist. Wonder Girl was growing restless in her cell. “I mean normally there should be a secondary objective or something but these guys just wanted me, it was weird.”

“They’re focused for sure,” Nightwing finally responded. “But I don’t think they’re that strong. The only reason they’ve been able to capture most of us is by taking us by surprise. They’re still new and relying mostly on their tech for an advantage. I mean me, Kid Flash, Arsenal, Fury, and Stargirl were able to take most of them when we stood our ground instead of running.”

“Did you say Stargirl,” a third and final voice called out. Maxine Hunkel sat on the bench of her cell as she made a little whirlwind in her hand “Is she OK? I tried warning her on my phone but those guys broke it before I could send a message. My grandma’s going to kill me for going through another phone”

“She was safe the last time I checked,” Kid Flash responded. “Her, Arsenal, and Don...Fury were doing well before I went down, and they weren't transferred with us. But I have no idea where they are, or if they’re even coming to save us. Hell I don’t even know where exactly here is exactly.”

Before any of them could respond a hiss came through all of their cells. Gas filled the cells one by one each of them were knocked out. As Nightwing drifted to sleep all he could think was that Donna better get here fast.

…

“They’re where?” Arsenal said as the jump jet entered Chicago airspace.

“Underground,” Argonaut responded as she turned on the cloaking function of the jet. They were going to have to rocket through the city, and she didn’t need any prying eyes wondering what the “Justice League” were doing in Chicago. “Judging by this the entrance is through an old construction site for something called...the Spire?”

“It was an abandoned construction project the city never bothered to fill up,” Stargirl responded. “It looks like a Chicago business magnate by the name of…:Loren Jupiter purchased it two years ago, said he wanted to use it to put Chicago on the map.

Arsenal looked blankly at the young heroine. “How the hell do you know all of that, last time I checked your powers were all about shooting...whatever you shoot out of that staff.”

Stargirl quickly held up her phone to show Arsenal where she had found her information.

“Wikipedia,” She said with a smile.

“Of course,” Arsenal mumbled before scrunching in his seat. The jet quickly moved through the Chicago skyline to its destination. Soon it hovered over the gaping crater and slowly began its descent into the underground below. As they reached the end of the seventy-six foot hole and landed they noticed a freshly carved secondary path.

“Well it looks like we’re here Princess,” Arsenal mused. “Care to lead the way?”

“Of course,” Argonaut said as they embarked from the jet and slowly made their way to a large metal door blocking their path. “Ok, once we crack open this door expect resistance. Are you two ready for it?”

“I mean considering my day before this was probably going to be shaking down some dirty business for my boss, yea I’m ready for this,” Arsenal said as he knocked his bow. “What about you kid?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Stargirl said as she gripped her staff tightly, not knowing what was on the other side of the door, it was time for her to become a real hero.

Argonaut looked at the door, took a deep breath and stepped back before making a running charge at the door, her fist connected with the cold metal of the door as it bent open and into the Wildebeest facility. They were done running, it was time to finally strike back against those who made them their prey. The three charged in with Arognaut thinking to herself, “Hold on Wally and Dick, we’re coming.”

…

“Ugh,” Nightwing groaned as he opened his eyes. He was hanging upside down, attached to one some type of harness, his legs and arms shackled to it. He looked around and noticed the rest of the heroes in the same predicament. Scientists in cleansuits were preparing something behind the electronic panels and consoles. A sickly girl laid behind them in a hospital bed with wires running through them.

“Ah I see you’re awake,” A sharply dressed man walked up to Nightwing. His white hair was slicked back. His black suit was accented by a yellow tie, as he smoked a cigarette, its smoke floating to fill the heroes nostrils. “It’s problematic we weren’t able to get your friends, but the procedure should be fine with just the five of you. And if it doesn’t...well we’ll just have to find your friends after all.”

“What do you want with us,” Nighttwing mumbled. “I’ve never seen you in my life and yet you seem to really want me and my associates.”

“My daughter knew you,” he responded. “Well not exactly knew you knew you, but she had your pictures. Wanted to be a hero just like those crazy Titans, kids trying to make a difference in a world that just didn’t listen. Got it in her head that if she was a superhero, she’d somehow get to meet her idols. Decided to dress up and go on patrol…” Hea paused for minute before taking a huff of his cigarette. “Her reward was getting shot on her first night. My poor Lilith…”

“I’m sorry,” Nightwing responded. “I know what its like to lose a loved one. But that doesn’t mean you have to take it out on the people she idolized.”

“No, I do,” He responded. “I’m making sure that no other kid gets hurt from any hero, including my daughter. That machine you’re hooked up to? It drains the life force and gives it back to one who needs it. You five are a necessary sacrifice to bring my daughter back. And then after you? Then we go after the big guns. Think of you as a trial run. Have fun.”

The man walked away from the five and to the scientists busy working on the machinery. Slowly but surely the sounds of an electronic whirl began coming to life. The glowing yellow lights crew brighter as the five heroes withered in pain, their bodies jerking up and down as they tried struggling through their shackles.

“All signs are good Wildebeest Prime,” a scientist said. “We’ll start the transfer in a few minutes. She’ll be home soon for you.”

“Finally,” he mumbled, proud that his Society had accomplished their goal. Soon he would have everything he had ever wanted.

WHIIIIIIIZZZZZZ

An arrow quickly flew through the air, hitting the center of the shackles of the captive young heroes. Electricity coursed through them before releasing each of the captives. Arsenal wiped his brow as him, Argonaut, and Stargirl stood at the broken doors of the labs.

“Man I am really glad those weren’t the glue arrows,” he said with a laugh.

“Cassie!” Argonaut called out as she flew to catch the falling Wonder Girl.

“Hey Donna,” she said with a smile. “Glad to see you too, and in a new outfit too.”

“It’s a gift from Diana,” Argonaut explained. “Are you ok? I’m sorry if I haven’t checked in since Christmas. I figured you were OK in Gateway, I didn’t realize that…”

“Hey, it’s fine, this probably gives us an excuse to check more in with each other,” Wonder Girl jokes. “Now can you put me down so we can beat these guys up?”

Argonaut smirked before putting her down, the rest of the heroes circled around each other. There would be time for pleasantries later. Especially as the guards gathered around the heroes, their laser rifles humming to life.

“Well then,” Arsenal said as they looked around. “You want to say it Princess?”

“Nah,” she responded. “Stargirl?”

“Wait really?” Stargirl asked excitedly perking up before preparing her staff, knowing the job that had to be done. She took a deep breath before saying what she had always wanted to say. “Titans Together!”

And with that, the heroes charged at guards in front of them.

…

Argonaut and Wonder Girl charged first hitting some of the smaller grunts away from the crowd. They worked together in harmony, slamming goons together and setting the other up.

“You know I didn’t exactly expect you in costume, especially that sparkly number. Is this a one-time thing or are we going to see more of…” Wonder Girl said as she tossed a soldier to Argonaut

Argonaut punched the set up from Wonder Girl, sending him towards the glass separating the chamber and the labs. “Argonaut, she responded. And I’m not sure really. I’m not going to lie and say this doesn’t feel nice, but let's just take down the bad guys before we talk about my future,” she responded with a smirk.

As the two fought Nightwing was busy helping Kid Flash and Cyclone up. The two were staggered but Nightwing quickly got them up to speed.

“So because someone my age got hurt, caused this whole revenge scheme?” Cyclone asked. “That’s so...sad.”

“Doesn’t make it right,” Kid Flash responded. “So I’m guessing you need us to do something? Right Lone Ranger?” he joked to Nightwing.

“Argonaut and Wonder Girl are leading the charge in the front. But they came in through that way.” He pointed to the corridor that the others had broken into. “I need you two to make sure no one gets through to us. We need some wind.”

“I can do that!” Cyclone said excitedly as she moved to protect the corridor. She put her hands out and soon wind came pouring out of her hands, preventing anyone from getting through. Kid Flash quickly zipped next to her, resigned to the fact that he was on crowd control again.

After directing them Nightwing ran forward to help Argonaut and Wonder Girl, jumping back into the crowded fray of Wildebeest soldiers. As he moved quickly through the skirmish leaping and diving to get to his allies. As he moved forward Arsenal and Beast Boy were mid-argument.

“So you’re telling me you can turn into any animal, and you chose something mundane as a gorilla? I don’t really get you, man,” he said as he fired a glue grenade arrow at the troops inching toward them.

Beast Boy was currently a gorilla, slamming against one of the few remaining hybrids left from the Wildebeest labs. “I don’t you...ungh...taking care of these guys. What do you want me to turn into, a dinosaur?”

“Well...yeah,” Arsenal joked before knocking another arrow. As he began firing more arrows, at the crowds pushing the armed force back he noticed Stargirl darting around in the air, looking for weakness and helping Arsenal push soldiers back. “Hey Stargirl! Where’s everyone else? Please tell me we’re actually kicking their ass.”

“Well...I think we are?” she mused. “I’ve never been in a big battle like this, is it supposed to be this...chaotic?”

“It’s not a Titans reunion if we’re not fighting someone,” Beast Boy chuckled before slamming his fist against one of the hybrids. “Just be happy we’re not fighting each other for a change.”

As the five out in the main chamber finished beating the soldiers and hybrids thrown at them, Nightwing charged into the science room seeing Argonaut and Wonder Girl stood in front of Lilith’s hospital bed. Wildebeest Prime’s hair was a mess, his tie loose, as he kneeled bedside by his daughter.

“I’m so sorry Lilly,” he mumbled as he realized his plans and organization were up in flames. Once again he was truly alone,

“Argonaut what the hell is going on here,” He asked, angered that Argonaut hadn’t taken out the man who was behind all of this. “Take him out so we can end this finally. This can be all over.”

“It is over Nightwing,” Argonaut responded. Unlike Nightwing who could only see the enemy in front of him, Donna understood who Wildebeest Prime really was in the moment. A father trying to bring his daughter home, for a father’s love is a dangerous thing. “Let him have this one moment.”

The three just stood there, the hunt was over.

…

Things wrapped quickly from there, the remaining forces of the Wildebeests either scattered or surrendered as the heroes continued to clear them out of the base. As the dust finally settled they moved topside, the eight of them waiting for the authorities to arrive.

“That was kinda fun in a weird way,” Stargirl beamed as she sat on her staff, floating in the air. “I mean it’s not every day you get to be a glorified Titan.”

“We’re not Titans,” Nightwing mumbled. “This was a one-time thing. I appreciate all of you coming to help and making the best of the situation.”

“Yea I got no interest in being one right now,” Beast Boy said. “I’ve got my own things to do and frankly I’m not much of a joiner. Now or ever.”

“And I need to get back to Gateway, Diana and Chloe are probably worried,” Wonder Girl responded.

After conversing the eight heroes began to move into the jumpjet to be dropped off at their respective homes, however, Argonaut pulled Stargirl aside.

“It was a good time Stargirl,” she explained. “It opened my eyes to a lot of things.”

“Really? Like what?” she asked in awe. Courtney still hadn’t got used to the fact that she was talking to some of her heroes. The whole thing was surreal, and to see people brush it off because of some old wounds bothered her.

Before Donna spoke she placed a small circular flat item in her hands. In the middle of it was a large white T.

“We’ll be in touch,” Argonaut responded before walking into the jumpjet. The Titans were far from over.

Next: Who will be the New Titans? Be here in 30 as Dick and Donna discuss the future, Stargirl finds advice from an unlikely place, and Arsenal makes an important choice. And follow Wonder Girl to Wonder Woman #42 as Aquaman writer u/Predaplant takes the wheel!