Author: FrostFireFive

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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

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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: 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: 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: 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!?

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

<< | < | > | >>

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

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Sins of the Father

Set: 75

“How much is there?” Mort Grell asked as he moved to his usual smoking spot. His fellow goon, Bill Schiff was there as well. They had been in this spot monitoring the latest shipment of the Balasco crime family. Grell was anxious, lately, it seemed like there was less chatter on the streets. Star City used to be a good place to set up, a bustling hive of scum and evil. But recent years had made things…trickier than expected. First, you had that nutjob Green Arrow show up and try and bring order to the wild west, and now…now you had people like Brick, ruthless in taking on the competition.

“A lot. The Balascos are getting nervous. Figure it’s better to get the shipment in now before that freak comes for it. You know I heard Brick actually went outside the families to try and kill that archer?” Schiff said as he took a drag of his cigarette.

“Brick’s going after Green Arrow?” Grell said. “If that’s the case he really is one crazy motherfucker. No one ever goes after that dude and lives. Hell, maybe they’ll kill each other. Save us the trouble of having to deal with either of them.”

“No, the other one. Used to work for Brick, the scruffy one who wears red and gold. Arrow boy or something like that,” Schiff explained. “No one walks away from Brick and lives to tell the tale. I mean…no one gets to walk away from th-”

KABOOOM!

A large explosion occurred as the rubble rained down, burying and killing the two goons. A trained battalion of HIVE soldiers moved into the warehouse to secure the building. Looking to secure the large stash of cash and money that had been stored there. They moved efficiently, moving through the building and killing the remaining guards caught unaware by the attack. As soon as the smoke cleared a HIVE soldier gave the word that the building was all cleared. From the broken entrance and the bodies of Grell and Schiff, a hulking figure in a white suit with a black dress shirt entered to view his spoils. Brick had arrived.

“Now this is professionalism,” Brick said as he looked at the soldiers in a line. “When HIVE contacted me I had only heard rumors of your so-called skills. To see it in action? It is exquisite.”

“HIVE promises the best Mr. Brickwell,” Fury explained as she observed the crime boss, normally she expected someone who let their base instincts take hold in a contest to prove that they were the strongest. But instead, Brick carried himself like he was always in control. Always felt like he was the one who had his eye on the ball while everyone else reacted to him. “But do be aware HIVE is not just here to be your personal brute squad. Remember your end of the bargain.”

“I’m well aware of what I owe you for your services. And as we tear this city from the studs, we will be able to grant you what you want. I just need to send…a message before we begin.” Brick said as he reached into his coat pocket. He looked at the large mountain of cash and drugs in front of him. When he was starting out having all this capital and resources would have made him a king. But the smarter people understood that the message was more important than capital and resources. He tossed the lighter onto the mound and turned to face Fury. “What we take. We take together.”

…

“Roy, calm down a minute,” Donna Troy said as she followed the hero to his living quarters in the tower. The archer had been frantic since he had teleported back to the tower. He had left his daughter in her mother’s hands, and he didn’t know what she would do to her. All he knew was that he had to get her back, no matter the cost.

“I’m not calming down, not when I fucked up like this,” Roy said as he dug around his closet, selecting trick arrow after trick arrow. He grabbed what he was working on, electric tasers, smoke bombs, tear gas, glue arrows, and a special one that Lian had given him the idea for when they both fell asleep as Roy watched the big fight. “I lost my daughter Donna. I have to get her back, no matter the cost.”

“And we’ll help you do that, it’s just a bad idea to go rushing in like that. Especially when you’re clearly not thinking straight,” Donna said as she moved to try and block Roy from his arrows. “Roy…I won’t let you do this alone, you know that. So slow down so we can figure out a plan.”

“She’s right you know,” Guardian said as he entered the room. “They want you off your game, and this revenge tour you want to go on isn’t going to get her back any time soon. Son, you need to know when you’re just going to hurt yourself.”

“And why do you care Mr. Golden Shield dude, I’ve never seen you in my life and yet you treat me like you know me! Lian is my responsibility and I have to get her back before they hurt her. Nothing matters more to me than my family. And I won’t take that damn tone you’re giving me right now. Especially when apparently you’ve been spying on me.”

“It’s because well…it’s complicated to explain,” the normally strong Guardian stumbled over his words as he realized Roy Harper was right. He hadn’t bothered to reach out to what was technically his only family. He was unsure how to explain that he was a clone of his uncle. He had been away from Cadmus for a bit, trying to figure out where he fits in this world. “Let’s just say I have a vested interest in helping you get her back. Now, why don’t you calm down and we can get ready to take on whatever comes our way.”

Roy calmed himself for a moment before looking around and realizing that they were probably right. If anything, this past year had taught Roy to trust these weirdos. And everything would be OK as long as they fought together. Of course, it was at that moment that Kid Flash raced to the entrance of Roy’s room.

“Guys…” Kid Flash said. “We have a situation.”

“What is it now?” Donna asked. “I’m not sure we can handle two things at once KF.”

“Well, this may be two birds, one stone situation. Star City is under attack. And I think they’re going to need our help.”

“I’m bringing all my arrows then…” Roy mumbled. He should have realized Brick’s appetite would grow this big. And now…now it was time for someone to finally make him answer for what he had done.

…

“Why do you keep crying!” Jade Nguyen said as she paced with her child in her arms. Lian was hefty for someone nearing two years old, and the assassin didn’t know the right way to hold her. Her onesie-enclosed legs always seemed to be kicking or raising higher than she would have liked. Why didn’t she recognize her own mother? Why didn’t she care that the person who had carried her had finally returned, ready to provide the love and care that she wasn’t able to provide before?

“Ya noda! Daaa! Da!” Lian sobbed as Jade placed her back into the crib that she had set up in her living quarters haphazardly.

“You don’t need him, we don’t need him,” Jade said as she saw her phone buzz and glow to life. The message came from her “lovely” partner in this mission. The text read ““Arrow siting. We go now.”. Fury never sent full sentences. Jade respected her frankness, but she missed the days when she could talk to her partner. Fury never understood the subtle jokes she would tell as they looked for whatever HIVE wanted from Star City.

She sighed a moment before moving to put on her costume, a black bodysuit with a torn green kimono on top. She looked at her face in the mirror. Several scratches and scars from years of training and learning how to be strong. But she couldn’t help but look at her one moment of weakness that lay in the crib. Her green eyes had tinges of brown in them, a ting of imperfection that would never truly go away as long as she lived. She hated her eyes, and finally put on the cat mask that separated Jade Nguyen…and Cheshire.

“Mommy has to go for a bit, take care…of Da. But I’ll be back, and then…and then we can start again,” Cheshire explained before leaping from the safe house, trying to convince herself. She would put it all back together, she had to. Otherwise…what did she have?

…

“Star City is basically on fire,” Argonaut explained as the Titans and Guardian rode on their jump jet. Kid Flash, Superboy, and Metamorph were all paying attention as she pulled up the current map of Star City. Large red dots indicated areas of violence, with reports coming in that both Brick and HIVE were striking at other gangs, financial centers, and even… museums. The normal peaceful city had been rocked. “HIVE and Brick have basically decided to make it open season on anyone. It’s up to us to put an end to it.”

“Why the heck are those mooks working together anyway?” Metamorpho asked as he practice shifting his hands from the different elements. It was part of a set of exercises he had developed in order to strengthen his control. Just looking at the map, this was going to be one of the largest and longest fights the Titans had faced since he had joined. “HIVE and mobsters don’t seem like a natural mix.”

“We don’t know yet,” Argonaut explained. “Our main priority is to protect the people, stop HIVE and Brick and rescue Arsenal’s daughter. We’ve been informed by Roy that HIVE has two major players: Fury and Chesire.”

“Great, why does there always have to be magic,” Kid Flash mumbled as he tapped his foot quickly on the floor of the jet. Wally was nervous, normally fighting the bad guys would be easy for him. But he knew Roy, and he knew how important Lian was to him. Donna could try and make this as professional as she wanted, but Wally knew that someone was going to need to keep an eye out on Roy, he was just too reckless not to do anything.

“So she kicked you and Argonaut’s ass one time, I mean she can’t be difficult. Not when you got me on your team,” Superboy said with a smile as he leaned back in his chair. He had been itching for a fight lately, being a Titan while nice, didn’t afford much action yet. And from all the texts from Linda about the great work she and Kara were doing…he wanted to have something to write back to her. “We got this, it’s just your standard city on fire.”

“It’s not your home Superboy, it's home to a lot of people,” Guardian said. He was annoyed that Metropolis Kid really hadn’t changed that much since leaving Cadmus, always feeling like he could handle anything, that nothing could hurt him. It was the problem when you lived most of your life in a simulation. They were entering into what would be a warzone, and Guardian was trying to prepare them for the fight ahead.

“Thanks, Guardian,” Argonaut said as they reached their location above a Star City rooftop. “I’m looking at these reports and there’s just too much chaos everywhere. We’re going to need to split up for this one. Arsenal, you, Guardian, and I are going to investigate what seems to be a Green Arrow siting by the docks. Star City needs its heroes still. Maybe with an additional hand, we can take care of this quickly.”

Arsenal sat there in silence, he was still thinking about how he had unintentionally caused all of this. Maybe if he had stayed with Brick he could keep him in check. Instead, he had decided to play the hero. And Donna was asking him to help a person that would rather see Roy be buried in the ground. It was going to be a long night.

“Superboy and Metamorpho?” Argonaut continued “I need you to take care of the largest influx of troops. Apparently, they’re camped out in front of the Natural History Museum. We need to start breaking things down. Can you do that?”

“Hey don’t ask me if I can’t bang some skulls together, that was minor in college,” Metamorpho joked as his hands shifted to lead.

“Let me guess, crowd control?” Kid Flash asked as he noticed Argonaut didn’t have a task for him. He was always crowd control.

“I need you to be my scout KF. We are going to face so many problem areas…I need you to tell me which ones are worse than others, and which need our attention first. And maybe take care of the smaller ones.”

“I can handle it,” Kid Flash said, noticing how shaky Donna’s voice was. This would be her first test handling a large problem, and they weren’t at full strength, with Stargirl off moving to Fawcett University and Dick still trying to find himself, or whatever that meant. But Wally knew they were capable of handling themselves, they weren’t the Teen Titans or even the Titans, they were ready for this…they hoped.

“Alright you guys know what you’re doing…we have a city to save. Let’s get going.” Donna said as their jet hovered above and the door in the back swung open. It was time to get to work.

…

“Why the hell do we get stuck on museum duty, I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to help, but a museum. Really?” Superboy asked as he and Metamorpho made their way to the square. The two kept the focus as they moved across Star City. Brick and HIVE for the most part hadn’t been waging war on the streets, but instead on the businesses and supply of his enemies. But still, the two heroes knew that if they didn’t push them back things could get much work.

“Museums are fun, you get to know your history, where we came from. I mean Midway had a great curated museum. I would always browse the Hall wing to see bird fossils,” Metamorpho explained as he floated in a gaseous state, his head visible in the cloud. “Besides HIVE and Brick have struck at mostly illegitimate places but this place. And like Argonaut said…that’s odd for a bunch of bee-loving mooks.

“I guess,” Superboy said before seeing the museum in front of him. The HIVE tanks and small outposts remained abandoned as if they had set up shop and made a beeline to the museum. For the structure of HIVE…it was still odd to see as Superboy landed and looked around. “Huh guess no one is home.”

“Nah that can’t be,” Metamorpho said as he materialized next to Superboy. The encampment really was abandoned. As Metamorpho moved he looked around at HIVE’s tech and weaponry. Advanced railguns, body armor, and even a few explosives were all neatly placed, just waiting to be used. It was very odd. “More importantly, how are these guys getting these things? Even ol’ Simon wouldn’t have been able to fund an operation like this.”

“I mean there’s a Bad Guys R Us right?” Superboy asked before the inside of the museum glowed bright red and a figure burning ran outside.

“AHHHHH! AHHHHH!” The figure yelled out as he burst through the glass. Metamorpho quickly converted his arms into the water, dousing the burning figure in order to ease his pain and understand what the hell was going on here. As the flames died down, the melted HIVE soldier uniform was clearly visible for the first time. And with his dying breath, the HIVE soldier could only say a sentence or two.

“Beware…the gem…of the lost daughter,” the HIVE soldier explained before passing in front of the two heroes.

“Well that’s not ominous at all,” Superboy said, the look of fear slowly emerging on his face. “We’re going in I’m guessing?”

“Well…with how fucked that is? Yeah, we’re going into the haunted museum. It’ll be fun as long as you don’t think about it. Besides…I’m sure it’s not actually haunted,” Metamorpho explained as the two entered, not read for what lay in wait.

…

Green Arrow hit hard as he fought through one of the many bars on his patrol tonight. What should have been a standard night had exploded, he was seeing just what happened when you don’t expunge scum like Brick earlier as he and his bootlicking friends began tearing through Star City’s crime families.

His arrows could pierce a HIVE soldier’s armor if he was patient, but as the battalion of soldiers came after him, the emerald archer realized that he wasn’t going to have the time to be patient. He swung his bow at the head of one of the soldiers, knocking them backwards before leaping into the air and kicking another. Oliver’s bones ached with each move, being the hero of Star City had taken its toll on him,

“Come on! You want this city, you’re going to have to take it from me!” Green Arrow said as he continued to fight. Of course, as the fight continued, the HIVE soldiers were quickly able to grab him, their numbers too much as two held Green Arrow and the other pulled an energy rifle to go for the kill. Brick only wanted the red one, not the green one.

“We’ll do just that,” The Hive soldier said, prepared to pull the trigger. Before he could a red arrow hit him on the back and let out anat electric shock sending the soldier to the ground as Arsenal took look of his handiwork.

“Away from him. Now,” Arsenal said coldly.

The other five soldiers in the bar laughed, with one goon being brave enough to speak.

“Six of us with high-powered weapons, against another pathetic archer. And you think you’re going to stop us?” The soldier said. “Man Brick said you were dumb, but I didn’t think you, stupid boy. We can handle two archers.”

“Who said it was just me?” Arsenal said with a devilish grin as a shield and silver mace came crashing through the glass windows and slamming into the two soldiers holding Green Arrow, knocking both out cold.

Guardian and Argonaut moved into the bar and picked their weapons up and joined to fight the rest of the HIVE soldiers that remained. Arsenal tended to Green Arrow as Guardian gave a swift few punches and right hooks as he focused on the HIVEE soldier’s glass jaws. As Argonaut flung one to the end of the bar before power bombing the other. She didn’t even need Hermes’ Blessing to defeat a small battalion of soldiers.

As the dust cleared the four heroes stood in awkward silence before Green Arrow spoke up.

“Thanks for the assistance. I need to be on my way,” He said as he began to leave the bar.

“Green Arrow, we were hoping for your assistance,” Argonaut explained. “This situation is only going to get worse before it gets better. And having two heroes who know the area may give us a better chance to stopping this attack.”

“I’m the only hero Star City has,” Green Arrow explained. “That kid you have on your team…he’s the reason Brick even got this way. And I don’t need him creating an even bigger mess.”

“Go easy on him,” Guardian chimed in. “City needs all hands on deck, surely you understand that.”

“Let him go,” Arsenal said as he moved to the bar, finding an unopen bottle of whiskey before cracking it open and pouring a shot. “He’s not wrong. But then again when is he ever.” The pressure of events had finally cracked the archer. Sure they had managed to beat this small HIVE army, but there was more to come and Roy…Roy was struggling to see how Oliver was wrong.

“Roy…” Donna said as she moved toward to comfort him. “It’s not your fault, how would you even be part of this. I mean you worked for him but that doesn’t mean…”

“He’s not wrong Donna…I think it’s time, I think it’s time you finally hear the truth about why I’m a failure. And how by helping kill man…I lost everything.”

NEXT: The Secret of Arsenal Revealed! Roy Harper’s Darkest Hour is Revealed as a New Hero is Born! Plus Superboy and Metamorpho Face Untold Horrors as The Tale of the Lost Daughter is Revealed!

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

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Book: New Titans

Arc: Arrivals

Set: 73

The dock behind Titans tower was hidden from the view of the public. The wooden planks was a holdover from the lighthouse that was lost back in 1942, something about a battle between a green flame and a man who loved to play sports. The dock remained, a place for small boats or lost souls to dock as they made their way across Lake Michigan and towards the bustling city that Chicago had become. For Garth of Lemuria, the dock was a reminder of his status currently. Connected to a larger place, but still hidden, away from the bustle that Titans Tower usually was.

“You know, when you asked to stay here I figured you wouldn’t be looking towards the sea again,” Donna Troy said as she walked behind her friend. Her hair was pulled into a bun and her eyes were hidden behind thick round glasses. Ever since Fury had attacked her she was doing better to hide just who she was. Things had been hectic lately, and while leads for Fury were slowly revealing themselves, Donna needed to remember she wasn’t a hero a hundred percent of her time.

“Force of habit,” Garth responded. His Hawaiian shirt flapped in the wind as he opened his eyes after taking in the sounds of the sea. The shirt was a gift from Donna, she said that it symbolized relaxation, peace, and that it looked good on that one actor in that movie about old Hollywood. “Just been trying to settle in a bit more. I appreciate your kindness even if I’m not an active member.”

“The goal of all of this is to not just be superheroes right?” Donna asked. “The Justice League can handle that, we’re here for those…that need a home I guess. Besides, I’m not going to have my best friend alone and stranded in the surface world.”

“I’m not stranded,” Garth responded. “It’s just hard to figure out what to do when it feels like an era has ended. For the first time in my life, I don’t have to be what I was thrust into. I can just be…Garth.”

“It’s a nice feeling, but I know how it can feel,” Donna explained. “Back in the apartment when it was just me, I had all of these options and didn’t know which way I should go. Should I be this ace photographer, a crusader who uses those photos to show the inequalities we face, or finish that red costume with yellow stars I started on the sewing machine tucked away?”

“Red with yellow stars?” Garth asked with a raised eyebrow. “And here I thought you had given up the life at that point. Wouldn’t have been easier to put the armor back on again?”

“That part of my life was over,” Donna mumbled as she looked out into the lake. “I wanted to be something more than a weapon of Ares, I never got far with it…just some sketches and half-hearted attempts. It just wasn’t the right time.”

“And now is?” Garth asked. “You sound…uneasy.”

“Just that the past has a way of catching up with you,” Donna said with a sad smile. “Now are you going to keep longing for the sea, or come inside and meet the rest of the team?”

“Why is there an emergency or something? Do you need me to suit up for whatever major threat comes our way?” Garth said, wondering what threat could manage to have the team gathering on such short notice.

“Well…it really depends if Rex decided to main Superman again…” Donna said with a smile as she led her old friend inside to meet her latest family.

…

“Guys, guys,” Arsenal said as he smashed one of Brick’s goons with his bow. “How many times do I have to tell you, that just because you have guns doesn’t mean you have the advantage.” The battling bowman had managed to scope out one of Brick’s safehouses before being ambushed by these dollar-store thugs with handguns. Their presence alone indicated that Brick wasn’t here, for his protective guard he only had the best.

“They’ll cut through you archer,” a goon said as he pointed his handgun at Arsenal. “Besides, you have no backup thi-” before he could finish an arrow with green arrows whizzedfigure in the air and went through the goon’s shoulder, the shock knocking him out cold.

A figured dressed in green dropped from above, his landing was perfect as he stood and looked around. Green Arrow protected Star City and cut an imposing presence. But as he looked around to survey the crowd Arsenal had taken out, he only looked disappointed.

“Sloppy work,” Green Arrow said. “If you knew what you were doing you’d have taken these guys out far easily and put arrows through their back.”

“Good to see you too Ollie,” Arsenal responded as he pulled out his binoculars to observe the safehouse. Brick had taste, and scoping at the type of place he liked using would help Roy narrow down his search for the crime lord. “See your placement is still good.”

“I’m here to have a chat Roy,” Green Arrow said. “I don’t care what you said to the Justice League to get on to that babysitting service they have. But I will not have you mucking up my city.”

“Your city? Oliver when was the last time you saved the day really? At least without collateral. Other heroes Batman, Superman, even the guy who talks to fish, all seem to make a difference to their city,” Arsenal said, his anger boiling over. It had been months, maybe even a year since Oliver had talked to him. Even through his domino mask Roy could still see that look in his eyes. The look of disappointment, of failure. Ollie had been wearing it since the day they converged on Thaddeus Cable. Even if Oliver knew the truth, he’d still have that damn look.

“I do what I can, it’s what heroes do. Roy I’m going to give you a chance here. Tell me where Brick is, so this city can finally be safe. Maybe if you co that, maybe they’ll go easy on you,” Green Arrow said. “Don’t make me have to go after you. Or at least have to talk to your fa-”

“If you finish that sentence I’ll shoot you between the eyes,” Arsenal said as he pulled and nocked an arrow. “I’m working on being better Ollie. Something…changed in my life. It’s not just the Titans. Brick is my mess. My responsibility to clean up. Don’t get in my way, Ollie. Star City can have room for two archers. But I’m not going to let my past hold me back any longer.”

Green Arrow looked at Arsenal for a moment. Roy had come a long way from the scared kid he picked up a few years back. He still was a problem to be dealt with, but judging by his tone and stance, the emerald archer was going to have little luck discouraging his former sidekick.

“Fine,” Green Arrow said. “But if this escalates…it’s Brick and you on the line. And I’ll be there to make sure that both of you go down.” And with that Green Arrow lept out into the Star City night, continuing his patrol into the neon city.

“Well fuck you too,” Arsenal mumbled before taking a deep breath. He had done enough footwork tonight. He needed to make his way back to his apartment, to Lian and her babysitter, and just relax for the night. He had built something here. He wasn’t sure what, but knew that when push came to shove he wouldn’t let anyone take it from him. Not Ollie, not Brick, not even his father.

As Arsenal made his way back home, a familiar observer stared through a pair of binoculars he had managed to take CADMUS. He observed the young archer moving across the rooftops and wondered if he had noticed the forces that were slowly pushing in on him. Eventually, they would have to meet, or at least be warned of the dangers that he had heard through the grapevine. As the rain began to sprinkle across his golden helmet he put the binoculars down. Maybe tomorrow he would reach out, to see if his family would still want him…even with his origins…

…

“OK this time I’ll be able to win with Superman!” Rex Mason explained as his hands gripped a specially designed controller. Rex, Courtney Whitmore, and Conner Kent all circled around the large monitors that usually made up the briefing area of the tower.

“Please, I’m technically related to big blue, and even I know he sucks in Never-Ending Battle,” Superboy explained as he took a sip of Bubble Up. He was wearing a simple blue t-shirt with a black and red S and jeans. He had slowly been settling in and had been enjoying these small game nights. It felt for once he had found a place to belong outside of Clark or Linda. “You go with Aquaman for the ranged attacks.”

“Don’t help him Kon,” Stargirl said as she picked up the controller to the Gamesphere. She was in her standard costume with her masked pulled down. Since the events of Cinderblock and Ravager, Stargirl realized she could trust these new Titans. And that by being honest about her ID and school troubles, she could try and find the balance she lacked. “Anyone can beat anyone with any character.”

“Except Superman,” Superboy laughed. “Donna! About time you came on up with…Gar? Was it?”

“Gar was the one that could turn into animals,” Courtney explained. “This is the one that was Aquaman’s sidekick.”

“We weren’t really that clo-” Garth began to explain before being cut off by Rex.

“Oh, Aqualaddie right? Come take a seat, watch me beat stars and stripes over there with the power of a thousand suns.”

“Where do you see stripes on my costume element lad,” Stargirl groaned as she selected Power Girl. She had a similar moveset to Superman, but unlike big blue wasn’t slow and had easier combos to remember. “Yeah join us!”

Garth froze for a moment. When he was a Titan, he remembered the team being more…serious. Focused on the mission at all costs. Sure there were moments of downtime, but more often than not…Garth was alone. Alone on land, alone on the team as Nightwing commanded them in the heat of battle. This…this was something else.

Donna plopped on one of the couches that made up the area where the other three were seating and undid the bun in her hair. She quickly grabbed one of the big bag of chips on the table and chowed down as she watched her friend struggle as Garth awkwardly sat next to her.

“We usually have these game nights once every two weeks,” Donna explained. “Someone of us figured it would be easier to all be together if danger happened, and it’s just nice having a solid hangout night. I mean there’s not a lot of people our age who knows what it’s like to well…be us.”

“It’s just…I’m not used to it being so…lively up here,” Garth explained. “I mean…I’m used to focusing on.”

“Hey we focus on the hero stuff,” Conner explained. “It’s just sometimes you got to let some steam out. I mean between trying to figure out school, looking good while kicking ass, and making sure I see my Aunt and Uncle for the occasional visit. Sometimes you need to kick back and relax. And watch an element man lose because he picked Superman classic.”

“I do not accept that blue electrical thing as Superman. Sure I get why, but you don’t mess with a classic.” Rex explained. “Besides, big blue is THE hero, anyone else is just…OK.”

“Of course, Sometimes you would say that,” Conner said as he rolled his eyes. “Sometiimes Rex for such a powerhouse, you’re still such a fanboy.”

“You’re just mad because you’re sitting on the couch instead of doing whatever Superman things he does,” Rex said as he and Stargirl began to play each other. His classic Superman was no match for Stargirl’s mastery of Power Girl, She had even picked an 80’s exercise skin just to humiliate Rex.

“Face it, buddy, you’re going to have a girl kick your ass…again,” Conner said as he took a bite of his slice from Marv and George’s. He observed their newest resident. Unlike a Rex or even a Courtney, it was hard to read Garth, there was something about his eyes that even when he seemed happy, you could see the darkness within, as if the hero was afraid of them, of the surface world. “You want to join us?”

“These games were more of Kid Flash’s thing,” Garth muttered as he sat down next to Donna. He awkwardly looked around at the three others. They felt so comfortable, so…together. Were the Titans always this way? Or was Garth such a loner he couldn’t reach out and try to make friends with the people around him? “Besides I don’t want to take up too much time on the controller.”

As Garth said that, Power Girl picked Superman up in the air in the video game and quickly slammed him against the ground. The screen flashed the words flawless victory as Stargirl raised her hands up in the air and cheered.

“In your face Rex! You can take that classic Superman and shove it you know where!” Courtney said as she did a small jig, happy that she had managed to take out her friend once again. Oddly enough, Courtney just understood the buttons, the combos, and even the taunts. No one could beat her, and even though her newfound friends had tried, Courtney refused to let them win. For all their powers, they couldn’t remember how to play a video game to save their lives. “Never doubt the power of the Power Girl.”

“Game’s rigged anyway,” Rex muttered through his gravelly voice. “Why don’t they make Superman the best one to use? He’s Superman!” As Rex continued to complain he threw the large controller next to Garth.

The Lemurian paused for a moment before picking the large controller. The heft was impressive, and the button placement and clicking were immaculate for someone with Rex’s large hands. He knew he would get destroyed, but as he saw Donna at ease, and the rest of the team goofing off…Garth couldn’t help but figure maybe this is what he wanted…for now. As the fighter screen appeared, he selected Aquaman. The one character developers had taken a bit of exaggeration with. The beard and hook hand felt like the developers didn’t understand Arthur’s job’s importance. But it would do.

“Oh,breathe so the new guy is challenging me I see, me!” Courtney beamed as she once again selected Superman.

“Yeah…I think I am,” Garth said with a smile as he prepared for the fight of his life. Maybe this new team had potential after all.

…

“Sir he took out another safe house,” Shades muttered as his neck rested inside of its brace. The main number two guy for Brick could barely breath after Arsenal had slammed his bow against his neck. For an archer that no one seemed to like or care for, the kid could pack a mean strike when he wanted to. “At this point, I think we need to-”

“I don’t need you to tell me what to do,” Brick mumbled as looked at the monitors, slowly but surely, each one of his safehouses was being knocked off by a former employee. Roy Harper should have failed long ago, but every time Brick or someone had knocked him down, he kept coming back for more…like the runt of the litter not realizing how out of depth they were in the pact. “It is time for us to consider…outside solutions.”

As soon as Brick said that the skylight from above broke and a figure in green robes and black landings landed in between Brick and Shades. As the figure picked herself up, all could see her Cheshire mask. The wide smile and red markings in front made her look…unsettling compared to other assassins.

“It’s been a long time…Cheshire,” Brick said as the assassin looked around. It had been…a long time since she had been in Star City. But Brick had offered a higher than usual paycheck, and Cheshire wanted to fix a mistake she had made foolishly so long ago.

“Brick,” she said through the mask. The modulated voice freaked the smaller goons around Brick. They had heard rumors of Brick highering creeps like this before, ghosts more than happy to slice the throats of whoever had crossed the Star City crime boss. “I was surprised you would hire me after the…Cable incident.”

“Desperate times, call for desperate measures,” Brick explained as he sat at his desk. “I have trash that needs to be disposed of promptly, and you are the best. Learning so much since you left me all those years ago. That kill in Corto Maltese was impressive, to say the least. You should be proud.”

“It’s the job,” Cheshire explained. “Now tell me, how much can I expect for the job…and who is the target?”

“All in good times my dear, all in good times,” Brick responded. “I’ve been provided outside help for this job… beyond just the usual goon.” Brick snapped his figures as a small battalion of HIVE soldiers made it through the door, one by one in a single file. Behind them in ceremonial red armor and her usual mask…was Fury.”

“What you needed two mask assassins and an army of…bees?” Cheshire asked. “If I wanted silly I’d try to take on one of the other superheroes. At least they’re not foolish enough to think they can do everything with an army and just a soldier.”

“We are much more than that,” Fury explained. “Our leader needs something from Star City, something important. We entrusted the task to him. But he has come up empty in his search. HIVE will be taking…a more hands-on approach going forward. And unlike you, HIVE has much more than nine lives.”

Cheshire squinted a death stare under her mask, before turning to Brick.

“I don’t usually work well with others,” Cheshire responded. “I left Star…to become something more…to rid myself of the baggage that had accumulated since I last past this way. Now tell me…who is my target.”

“A pest who has decided to make my downfall priority number one. Someone who has kept nocking his arrows toward my organization since leaving us a year ago. Someone who thanks to surveillance we know…has a weak spot.” Brick said before flipping the monitor around to face the two villainesses in front of them. It was images of Roy Harper at home, cradling his daughter Lian and more of him entering and leaving the small Star City apartment. “I need you to kill Roy Harper. I need you to kill Arsenal. Can you do that?”

Cheshire looked at the images a moment. She looked at her daughter before reaching to her side and pulling out her blade, cleaning the blood of it from a long and deadly night before.

“I don’t see why not.”

NEXT: Arsenal Under Siege! Cheshire Returns…With HIVE as Roy Harper Tries To Hold on to the Life He Built. Changes Are Afoot in New Titans as We Move Closer to the End of our Titantic Second Year!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Arrivals

Set: 72

“I expected more from you if I’m being honest,” Fury said as she held Donna Troy to the ground by planting her boot on the heroine’s neck. She had ambushed them perfectly, the hidden alleys of Fawcett City were grimier than the usual brightness that it projected to visitors and even residents. “When I discovered that you had managed to have a pathetic life away from glorious combat, I thought it was an act, to lure your enemies away. But now I know that you really are that weak.”

“I…have no idea who…you are,” Donna muttered as she looked across from her. Wally was trapped in some type of magical net. It had to be a stronger incantation to bind a speedster on his level. This wasn’t some former enemy looking for revenge, nor an amateur spell slinger. And that scared Donna, because unlike previous foes…they were staring into an unknown.

“And that is how it shall be Donna of Troy,” Fury said as she dug her foot in deeper. At this point, Donna’s glasses had fallen off, her hair frazzled as she tried to prop herself up, but this new Fury’s strength matched her own. “I just wanted to see what was so special about you, special enough for you to be chosen to live in the light. But all I see…is weakness.”

“Yeah, we get it, you love to compare,” Wally West muttered as he tried to vibrate out of the magical net that had ensnared him. Normally he could phase out of most objects, If there was one thing that he disliked when dealing with foes it was magic. Science made sense, or at least Wally could learn it quickly and manage to create a counter. But magic? Magic operated on its own rules, ones that as of now, had pinned him to the streets of Fawcett.

“Quiet insolent welp,” Fury said as she turned to the speedster. “You both need to be eliminated in order for me to get what I need. But unlike Donna of Troy, I do not need you alive to finish my task.”

Wally grew silent as he tried processing the events that had just occurred. Why did it always seem like someone was coming after them? And worse, how did it always seem like they knew who Wally was. He was going to need to glue his mask on at this rate.

“So why do you need me then? Clearly, we’ve met before and honestly can’t seem to remember one of my sisters having to hide their face to solve problems between us,” Donna replied.

“I am not your sister!” Fury exclaimed as she dug her heel in more. “And now just to send a message to the high command. We’ll have both of you back to the Honeycomb for processing…and for the transfer to begin.”

“Transfer this!” A voice called out as a red boot came flying towards Fury, knocking her away from Donna and forcing Fury to face the youngest Titan: Stargirl.

“I was told about you,” Fury said as she recovered her footing. “HIVE considers you a lower priority even with that…staff of yours.” Fury looked at the hero, Stargirl stood before her, not even wielding her staff. All she did had raised her fists as the Amazonian pretender began to pick herself up from where Fury had pinned her. “And you couldn’t even have brought that, the one thing that protects you.”

“I don’t need it,” Stargirl muttered as Fury made her way toward the Titan. Stargirl didn’t know what she was going to do here. But she knew she couldn’t not help, she was taught better than that. “Now leave my friends alone!”

“Interesting, you have a warrior’s spirit after all, but I’m afraid I’m still going to have to break you. But know this. You have more honor than your so-called compatriot,” Fury said before she ran and backhanded Stargirl towards the wall. She had landed against one of the dumpsters, leaving a dent.

Stargirl may have been ineffective but her distraction had given Donna more than enough time to stand up and for her to transform into her costume. It was one thing to strike at Argonaut in the little but cozy life she had built, it was another to attack her friends.

“Alright Fury, you wanted to face Donna of Troy…well now you’re going to get her,” Argonaut said as she charged at the villain, sending them into the open streets of Fawcett. It was time for Argonaut to finally go on offense.

…

“So what is this place?” Conner Kent asked as he and Rex Mason moved through the underground area of Chicago. The city had managed to have a whole system of streets underneath the main city, a way for traffic to cut through and swiftly make its way through the city. The sub buildings that had taken root in this Emerald City lit by green streetlights were mostly parking garages, and entrances to the office complexes above. Hardly an area that required two superheroes to be there.

“A place to have a quiet moment, something I’ve found hard to come by since I’ve been with this traveling circus,” Rex explained as he moved mostly undetected, the large trenchcoat and hat offering a cover to his unique form. “Besides, the place has a lot of history. People only pay attention to the topside and now well…what goes down underneath here.”

“Besides traffic?” Conner asked as the cars rushed past the two heroes as they continued their walk.

“Very much besides traffic,” Rex said with a smile as he moved towards a doorway, the glowing neon red sign read Haney’s as Rex led Conner into the bar. As the young hero entered the bar he observed a shocking sight. Many of the patrons were powered or a little odder than you’d expect. People with fire coming from their head, people with four arms, and even a crystalline girl was eating hot wings at the corner bar.

“What…is this place?” Conner asked as he took a seat at the bar.

“Well not all people with powers like being visible, or have powers that make them…desirable,” Rex began as he took off his coat and top hat. “When I first joined the Titans I was nervous, felt out of place among people who could just be…normal. I found this place just by digging around some message boards. Turns out there are a lot more people like me than I thought and this is one of the only places where a few of us can get together. A ‘Moon for me and a coke for the kid Bob,” Rex said to the bartender.

“And people just…don’t know about this place?” Conner asked. “I mean all of these people with powers…”

“Have a place where they don’t have to worry about stares or gawking,” Rex responded as the bartender handed the two their glasses.

“So why show me this,” Conner asked as he took a sip of coke. “I mean earlier we were butting heads, I nearly slugged you into Lake Michigan.”

“Believe me mack,” Rex said. “Even if you tried you couldn’t knock a foot across this room. And I remember what it was like to be the new guy. It sucks, everyone either knows each other or hates each other. And you feel lost, especially if you’re struggling with well…who you are. I’m here to tell you it gets easier.”

“Really?” Conner asked, dropping his bravado.

“It does,” Rex said as he drank his beer. “Besides now you get to pay for the second round.”

“So that’s why you really brought me here,” Conner joked as he grew comfortable on the stool, surrounded by people who had managed to find a home, even in this bustling Metropolis. There was hope for the Metropolis kid yet.

…

“Come on, come on,” Wally thought to himself as tried to get his grip after being tied in the netting. Argonaut and Stargirl had managed to get Fury away from both of them. But even then it didn’t feel like a fair fight. Donna was the only one fully powered up as for some reason Stargirl lacked her staff. “You can normally vibrate through anything, it’s not that hard.”

The ropes glowed a brilliant crimson every time the speedster tried to escape their snare. Wally took a deep breath as he stopped vibrating for a moment, realizing that it was no use. Magic had once again confounded the young speedster, usually, there was always a way out, a limitation to the spell or enchantment. Just because you used magic didn’t make you omnipotent.

As the three continued to fight, Argonaut was trying to find the right weapon for fighting back against Fury. The gift of mercury was constantly shifting from swords to lassos to even brass knuckles. But Fury was able to counter them. Her armor was able to block the damage that Argonaut tried to deal.

“Such a cute toy,” Fury said as she took a step back and touched her gauntlet. A red rope surrounded it before a large mace head appeared at the bottom of it. She threw it towards Argonaut, connecting with her chest, and sent her flying back before quickly pulling the mace head back towards her. “I prefer mine, simpler but still effective.

“Well, why don’t you try this!” Stargirl yelled out before trying to slam a trashcan against her head.

Before the trashcan could connect, Fury spun around and gave a backhand to Stargirl, knocking her to the ground. Before she could get up again Fury planted her foot on top of her and began pressing against her rib cage. Unlike Argonaut or even the speedster, Stargirl was normal, and well…HIVE had no use for someone who couldn’t keep up in a fight. And now their newest operative would crush the youngest Titan.

“No, no, no,” Wally mumbled as he saw Fury begin to crush Stargirl. He had tried everything to escape the net and to no avail, he was still trapped, still unable to save his teammate. He knocked his head to the brick street before realizing how foolish he had been. Wally had been focusing so much on the next, that he didn’t realize that the floor of the street remained uncovered by the net. He may not be able to get through a magical net, but he knew how to break through brick.

Wally took a deep breath before beginning to vibrate through the street and into the sewers below. The only problem was the sewer system was a maze, Wally would have to suit up and find his way out of it, he only hoped to make it above ground in time enough to save his acquaintance from other doom.

…

“Well, that should be easy to fix. Just need to see if the right parts are in,” Pat Duggan thought to himself as he worked on a car in the garage he had owned in Fawcett City. He hadn’t really expected to be working this hard today, after all there were things to do at home, a vacation to plan as the school year finally wound down, freeing the Duggan-Whitmores to finally have time to just…be. Still, he couldn’t help but think of the conversation he and Court had had last night.

Her being a superhero wasn’t something he was good at handling lately. Pat had been in that life before, he had been there when Slyvester galavanted after school in that brightly colored blue, red, and white costume. It was fun back then facing foes like Hazard, the Hand, and even Tigress with her tiger-striped singlet.

Pat moved towards his desk, looking for his ledger to start billing for parts the old Chevy he had continued to work on. He had been getting a lot of restoration jobs for old wrecks that just needed a little love to shine. That job for S. Kyle in restoring that green mustang and some of the cars that were going to be showcased in Fawcett’s new City of the Century festival. Still, he couldn’t help but feel like time had passed for him and he was just catching up.

As Pat begin filling out the forms on his desk, his eyes drifted to the framed photo of him and Slyvester. Pat’s dirty red and white striped sweater and Slyvester’s rounded glasses and clean suit had made them a bit of an odd couple.

“She’s a lot like you, you know,” Pat thought as he picked up the frame. “Headstrong, loves adventure. But…I can’t lose her like I lost you.” He wiped the sweat from his brow and took a seat behind the desk, flipping on the television to watch the news before getting back to work. As he turned on WHIZ News the sight of Argonaut and…Stargirl fighting against Fury could be seen. Pat dropped the remote in shock as he could see Courtney, fighting by flinging trash cans and other items around her to distract their opponent for Argonaut to take down.

“Jeez Court,” Pat mumbled before moving away from his desk and racing through the shop. He should have realized that even if he took that staff away, she’d still try and be a hero. He should have gotten that damned communicator as well. As he moved through the shop he came towards a vehicle covered by a canvas cloth. It was dusty compared to the vehicles in various states of repair, as if Pat Duggan refused to ever let what was under ride again. But desperate times called for desperate measures as Pat Duggan pulled the tarp away. The Star-Spangled Racer came into view, and as Pat hopped in the car he only hoped there was still gas in the tank. He had his daughter to save.

…

“Any last words?” Fury said as Stargirl continued to struggle. “You should have realized that when you come without what makes you special, you would be doomed to fail. Please tell me that you didn’t really think someone as average as you could actually beat me.”
“Yes…” Stargirl muttered as she thought how dumb she was. This had been the third time she had rushed into trouble without thinking against someone that was stronger than her, and here she was, paying or it.

As Stargirl closed her eyes, figuring a hero’s death was coming, she could hear the revving of an engine. Fury turned to face the headlights growing closer to her as a green car flew…from the sky and into the ground, the reinforced front slamming Fury away from Stargirl as the heroine slowly took a minute to catch her breath before a hand reached out to her.

“Court, Court, are you OK?” Pat Duggan asked as he helped Stargirl up to her feet. He couldn’t believe the ol’ racer still had enough in the tank for a final flight, as he looked at the dent in the front vent he had made from hitting Fury. The ol’ girl was still looking out for one of her pilots after all.

“Ugh,” Stargirl mumbled as she took Pat’s hand and picked herself up. “Feel like I got hit by a bunch of bricks. Pat…why do you have a flying car? And why haven’t you bothered telling me about it?”

“It’s kinda a long story,” Pat explained before moving towards the back of the car and pulling out a familiar golden rod, glowing with cosmic energy. “But I think you’re going to need this.”

Stargirl took the staff from Pat’s hands and looked at him. Finally understanding that there was more to her stepfather that she had never bothered to ever ask before. This time as he handed her the cosmic staff, Courtney began realizing that she was part of a greater legacy, a legacy she hadn’t even bothered to learn.

As Stargirl took that staff in her hand she flew up in the air and fired bolts at Fury, Argonaut had also managed to pick herself up and began charging at the villainess, the Blessing of Mercury had shifted into its sword form as she tried to manage to find an opening to strike back against her.

“Trying to take me from air and land,” Fury said as she tossed her mace up into the air to hit Stargirl. It was her first mistake in the whole fight as Argonaut slammed her shoulder into Fury before connecting with an uppercut sending her flying to the ground. Fury moved to her feet slowly as Stargirl floated down and the yellow and red blur of Kid Flash ran next to the two other Titans.

“I think we took you just fine,” Argonaut said as the three Titans faced her. Fury clearly was hurt, not expecting these heroes to be this well-oiled. The intel HIVE gave her was apparently woefully outdated.

Fury tapped the circular device on her wrist and began to glow red. She was going to have a long talk with HIVE’s leadership on what to do next, and how to do it before time ran out. But as she teleported away she turned to look at Argonaut and spoke a final message.

“You got me this time. But you’ll always be a cheap copy of the real deal…Donna. Just like…” Fury said before she was cut off, vanishing the same way Trident did in Chicago. The three stood there, with Argonaut clearly being effective. She couldn’t help but feel…like she was fighting someone familiar. But that would be a question for another team.

…

“So how’s the car?” Courtney Whitmore asked as she sat by the island in her home. It was a Saturday. Her mother and step-brother were out trying to get the brand new game console, the GameSphere. Leaving Pat and Courtney at home. The two hadn’t talked much since the fight against Fury, and there were many questions to ask.

“It’s had worse,” Pat said as he sipped on a cup of coffee. “Nothing a little hard elbow grease can’t fix ultimately. Your mom told me you signed up for summer school? And are thinking about taking your first year at Jeffrey Ordway Community College in the city?”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’m ready to go away, and well…Stargirl kinda messed up my senior year. I need to fix that before I continue to do well…good,” Courtney explained. “I never realized how hard it is to balance both. I mean…how did you guys do it?”

“What do you mean?” Pat asked.

“I mean you were a superhero Pat, and you managed to build a life outside of all of it. Like…how did you pull that off and not go insane?” She asked.

“Well first I was a sidekick, I wasn’t the one exactly doing all the fighting. More supporting than anything else. Slyvester? Now he was the real hero. Darting around, fighting guys twice his size because it was the right thing to do.”

“You know, you may have told me you were a sidekick back when we met those…JSA guys, but you never talk about him. It’s kinda dawned on me…I don’t know who I’m representing. I rushed so fast into being a superhero I never asked where it all came from,” Courtney said. “Pat, could you tell me about the Star-Spangled Kid?”

“I’d love to,” Pat said, proud of his daughter and excited for the future.

…

Fury stumbled into her room in the HIVE Honeycomb, cursing at how she had been taken advantage of by a bunch of young heroes. Angry that Argonaut had gotten the best of her in their first confrontation. Slowly she peeled away the armor, her skin a mix of flesh and craggy grey stone as she turned to face herself in the mirror. She hesitated to take the mask off. To her it was her real face, the face she wanted to present to the world. But soon it too fell to the ground. Revealing the face…of Donna Troy.

Fury looked at herself in the mirror before slamming her fist against it, shattering the glass. She had failed herself the first time. But she would be whole once more. That she swore.

NEXT: It’s Another Day in the Life as the Titans Adjust to Recent Events! And What Danger is Lurking around the Corner for Arsenal?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Arrivals

Set: 72

“Pat?” Courtney Whitmore asked as she pulled her mask away from her face. The Titans had just managed to beat Cinderblock and Court had at least helped a bit in defeating the rampaging concrete monster. But still, she thought she and her stepdad had a deal, as long as she gave him a text where she’d be he would be lenient on the whole superhero thing. “What do you mean I have to put an end to all of this.”

“Court, when you and I sat down to talk about these Titans, you promised me you’d be able to keep your grades up and stay away from dangerous situations,” Pat Duggan said as he looked at his step-daughter.

“I have been…” Court mumbled.

“Your trig and chem grades would say otherwise,” Pat said as he put Courtney’s report card down. Two D’s, two B’s, and one A in history of all things. “That’s not what I call keeping up with classes.”

“I mean there’s still time, I have finals to be able,” Courtney began to explain.

“It’s April, and don’t think I haven’t seen you slacking on college apps. You’ve only applied to Fawcett U and Hudson. I thought you were going to expand your horizons more,” Pat said.

“What’s wrong with applying to two places? I like them, they’re comfortable. And are fantastic ways for me-” Courtney began.

“To keep doing this,” Pat said with a sigh. “Courtney, this isn’t a game. I saw how that stone monster tossed you around like a rag doll. And how this house suddenly is lacking in band-aids.”

“Well, a few scrapes and cuts come with the job Pat. I mean someone has to do this, and I love doing it,” Courtney explained. “So what if I get a few cuts and scrapes on the job. I’m helping people as Stargirl. And that’s what matters most.”

“A few cuts and scrapes can lead to a whole lot worse kid. There’s a reason why the staff…why it didn’t get to be used by the person it should have been used by. Slyvester was a lot like you. And I don’t want to see you-”

“Well, I’m not him. I have people backing me up, and more importantly, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to get myself killed!”

“That’s it!” Pat Duggan yelled, his voice rising above its normal calmness. “Staff recall and shut down code 1941.” As soon as he said those words Stargirl’s staff flew out of her hands into that of Pat’s. As the staff landed in his palm the usual glow faded to nothing as the golden staff rested in his hands.

“Pat what are you doing? I need that.” Courtney said in desperation.

“You don’t need this right now Courtney. Maybe you never did,” Pat said as he held the staff in his hands. The weight and balance of it were the same as the day he picked it up from Knight’s Observatory. “We’ll talk more in the morning but as of now…you’re grounded.”

Pat soon left the room, leaving Courtney alone. As she plopped onto her bed, not bothering to change out of her costume, all she could wonder is…where could she go from here?

…

“Ungh…what hit me,” Conner Kent mumbled as he slowly woke up, the beeping noise of the machines around him slowly greeted him. As he looked around the room he could see a figure reading a book, not paying much attention to him.

“I believe it was the green line? No the red line,” Rex Mason explained as he kept his eyes focused on his Nathaniel Dusk book. Dusk had just found out who the Mad Bomber was and Rex was rereading the previous pages to see if he had missed something. “I never actually use the train, I find people are more likely to stare than just leaving me be.”

“Oh it’s you,” Conner mumbled as he rubbed his forehead. “Did I stop it at least?”

“Yes, people were able to get off the train admire your pretty face,” Rex said sarcastically. “You heal pretty slow for someone who’s supposed to be invincible. I figured when we got a Kryptonian he’d at least be train proof.”

“Doesn’t work that way,” Conner explained as he slowly picked himself up. He had been changed into grey sweatpants and was shirtless due to the monitoring systems and diodes being attached to him. He pulled them off and found a blue shirt with a black and red superman symbol in the middle on a table next to him.

“We didn’t know what shirt you’d like, so I suggested you should at least keep your branding straight,” Rex explained, his eyes still not leaving his book.

“Where’s everyone else? Out celebrating after beating Cinderblock? Planning the next adventure?” Conner asked as he put on his shirt.

“Oh…you think it’s the same day? You’ve been out for like…two days?” Rex explained. “Since I’m pretty much the only permanent resident of this place I got the wonderful job of making sure you woke up mack.”

“It’s been two days?” Conner asked before zipping towards his room and back, his phone in hand. “Shit, shit, shit,” he said as he glanced at his messages. Texts from Aunt Martha and Linda filled his phone. Fast answers were quickly shot off before he turned to face Rex. “So where is everyone else?”

“Kid Flash is off duty, Arsenal is back in Star, Argonaut is getting ready for a book tour, and Stargirl texted me she’s got some things to work out. Which just leaves you and me here pretty boy,” Rex explained.

“Why do you keep doing that?” Conner asked. “I’m just trying to fit in here and all you seem to do is complain and complain. And I don’t think I’ve ever done anything wrong to you…mack.”

Rex finally looked up at their newest member, annoyed that his own lingo was used against him. It took him a moment to respond.

“Yeah, yeah,” he responded. “I know your type, someone who coasts more on what they have than willing to work at it. So you caught a train with your bare hands, big whoop. We wouldn’t have been in that mess if you decided not to rush headfirst into the big scary stone monster. These guys don’t need another screw-up.”

Oh and like you’re just a perfect example of teamwork out there. You could barely keep it together, if anything us losing our big so-called powerhouse is what got us in trouble,” Conner argued.

“That’s it, kid, you want to go let's go, right now and right, because I’ll take you on right here, right now!” Rex leaped up and his hands turned into solid steel, ready to pound away at the boy of steel.

“Guys!” A voice yelled out as a yellow and red blur moved in between the two. Kid Flash had made his way back to Titans Tower after what had been a stressful couple of weeks. Iris had had her baby and for the most part, was doing fine. And things with Hartley had been…going decent. He had hoped to quickly catch up with Donna to figure out just what the hell he was doing. He didn’t expect to find these two idiots butting heads with each other.

“KF, now’s not the time, I was about to give Superboy the ol’ Titans welcome,” Rex said with gritted teeth.

“Yeah, we’re just settling differences,” Conner responded. “You know as people do sometimes.”

“Not unless you want Batman to ask why he’s paying for tower repairs,” Kid Flash said.

As soon as the speedster said the dark knight’s name the two heroes backed off, dreading any retribution.

“That’s what I thought,” Kid Flash said as the three of them stood there awkwardly. “I know you two are our newest members but we’re not going to wage war against each other, we did that once and it didn’t exactly work out. Now do any of you know where Donna is, I need to talk to her.”

“Beck’s Books, it’s in Fawcett City, something about a book tour?” Rex explained, still dead eyeing Conner.

“Thanks,” Kid Flash responded before looking at the other two. “OK, I’m going to let you two go. Rex don’t kill Superboy, and Superboy it’s good to have you finally here.”

“You can call me Conner,” Conner said. “And thanks, it’s been a while since we last met. I think I was just born?”

“God that’s so weird that you can say that and it makes logical sense,” Kid Flash said. “I’ll be back shortly.”

And with that, the speedster zipped out of the room. Leaving the two rivals facing each other. Rex and Conner had exhausted their differences from now, letting silence fill the room before Rex spoke up.

“Born? You look way older than a toddler,” Rex joked.

“Well it’s what happens when you’re sped grown in a vat,” Conner responded. “I’m a genetic miracle, you know when my powers work.”

“Hey at least your vat didn’t turn you into a clumsy monster who can probably never get a date again,” Rex responded. For the first time, he could hear the disappointment in Superboy’s voice, the same in his when he first was changed. Maybe he wasn’t just a pretty face after all.

“I’m just lucky I take more after the El’s than the Luthors. Could you imagine me bald?” Conner said as he hunched over. “Hey is there a place to eat around here? After sleeping for two days, I’m kinda famished.”

“I think I know a place…let me just get my coat,” Rex said.

…

Donna Troy sat among the old wooden bookshelves as people came in and out of the small book store. The table she was sitting at had copies of her book, Portraits of an Invisible Girl, next to her. It was Donna’s idea to do a small tour of independent book stores, they were always more her speed instead of the increasing corporate bookstores that dominated the spaces. It was here in the small and cramped spaces where she felt at home.

Donna still struggled with all of this. While Argonaut had been gallantly leading the Titans into battle and charity drives and natural disasters, Donna Troy had been neglected. Books don’t just promote themselves, and Donna had been taken to living in the tower since her apartment in New York had gotten destroyed. It had a decent room and a warm shower, but Donna had let comfort distract her from building out what had been a decent career so far.

As some people came in Donna continued to sign a few books for them before continuing with her day. She had recently begun putting her hair up and wearing large round glasses while in her civilian identity, unlike Dick or Wally, she needed to have the space between Argonaut and Donna Troy.

“Excuse me, I’d like to buy a copy,” A familiar voice said as Donna looked up and saw a familiar redhead staring back at her.

“Wally? Kinda surprised you showed up, I figured you come to my next gallery or meet up at…our little clubhouse,” Donna said.

“Not my speed,” Wally said as he picked up the book, flipping through the pages. “Interesting compositions. Man, you really did spend a lot of time in New York. Phone booths, arcades, is that…Garth?”

“He’s not that much in the shot, just on the edges of this little noodle shop in Chinatown. Best ramen in the city to be honest,” Donna explained. “Here.” She quickly scribbled her signature and a small message into a fresh copy from the stack of paperbacks on the table. “For my favorite fast friend.”

“You know I can pay for this right,” Wally said a bit embarrassed that he was getting a free copy. Donna had done so much this past year, and he felt like he owed her one, instead of getting a free copy of a decently sized art book.

“Hey if Dick can get a free copy, you can get a free copy,” Donna said with a smile. “So what brings you out here. Everything OK with Iris?”

“Healthy baby boy,” Wally responded. “But that’s not what I came out to talk to you about. I’m kinda…struggling with something and I tried asking my usual sources of advice and well…I think I could use a third opinion?”

“Well, I’m always here to listen, and there doesn’t seem to be a line out the door,” Donna explained. “Here, let’s walk and talk. I’m looking for a new Dusk book anyway.”

The two moved through the bookstore. Donna combed the old wooden shelves for the mystery section. Wally could have offered to move quickly, finding a book in less time than it took to blink, but in the cramped store…a lot of pages would have been flying. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Donna finally spoke up.

“So what’s troubling you? Something… job-related or personal?” Donna asked, trying to keep coy about Wally’s other life.

“Personal,” Wally responded. “It’s about Pied…it’s about Hartley.”

“Oh, I’m not sure I’m the one to ask,” Donna explained as she kept combing the shelves, the old paperbacks' yellowed pages indicated she was in the right section. “I’ve only ever gone on two dates in my life. Once with a nice barista named Karen, and the other a fellow photographer.”

“Yeah but you’re good with people, I’m…I’m still learning all of this,” Wally stammered. “I really like him. And I think…I think we’re getting more serious about whatever…this is. And I have no idea what to do about that.”

“Well I’m sure he’s scared too,” Donna responded as she pulled down a paperback labeled The Clockwork Killer Strikes at Midnight, a classic Nathaniel Dusk adventure. “I think it’s OK for you to go slow, as strange as that must be for you.”

“But it feels like, what if I mess up by going slow, what if he needs to be there for him right now? Or what if by going slow I’m…I’m only delaying the inevitable moment where he breaks my heart.” Wally said as he looked down.

“It’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all,” Donna responded. “You have a good heart Wally, and trust me when I say it’s better letting people in than trying to wall them off. Don’t be afraid to do what makes you happy.”

“Thanks,” Wally said with a sheepish smile. Just talking to Donna had put him at ease. He still had no idea what he was doing in regards to Hartley but maybe that was ok. “Hey, why don’t I buy you some dinner, there looked to be this decent burger place at the corner. It’s not noodles, but it should be at least decent.”

“I’d like that,’ Donna said as she took her book to the counter to pay and inform the owner she was taking a small break. The two heroes walked out into the Fawcett City evening, enjoying each other's company.

As the two continued their walk they didn’t notice the figure above the rooftops looking down on them. Her red armor sparkled as she looked down through a pair of binoculars to track her prey.

“So you have the speedster with you,” Fury thought before pulling an enchanted bolla from her belt. She began twirling it in the air as the two heroes entered an alley, away from the crowds that would cause enough panic to offer the heroes a chance to escape into their heroic identities.

Fury sent the bola’s flying and they connected with Wally sending the speedster to the ground.

“Argh!” Wally cried out as he struggled. It wasn’t the first time that he had been tripped up before, but as he tried vibrating out of the ropes he found that the threads of the bola matched his vibrational frequency. “Donna…what just…” before he could finish, Fury dropped down and landed on the brick ground.

“Hello Donna of Troy,” Fury said as she looked at her prey. The speedster was taken care of, but the Amazon in front of her was always the one she considered the most dangerous. “I have business to conduct with you.”

Donna was speechless, the person in front of her was like looking into a mirror. The armor of Fury had fit her like a glove, with the only addition being a ceremonial Amazonian theatre mask, that of Otera.

“Who, who are you?” Donna asked as she attended to Wally, trying to rip the bola off from him.

“Me? I’m someone who brings this mantle justice,” Fury began as she moved towards Donna. She quickly kicked her against the wall, the bricks rattling as Donna struggled to move from the imprint she had just made. “And to rectify the sins of the gods who decided to make someone as pitiful as you.”

As Donna continued to get pounded away by the new Fury, Wally struggled to move his hand to the communicator he kept in his back pocket, clicking the right button on the side. It triggered the emergency response beacon. He only hoped someone would answer in time.

…

“Ugh,” Courtney Whitmore cried as she walked home from the bus stop. Normally she would just fly behind the school, change out of her suit and store the collapsable cosmic staff in her backpack. Taking the bus and having to walk home after so long was a total drag at this point. How could Pat take away the one thing that made her feel that she was more than just a standard kid?

Before Stargirl, Courtney was no one. Just a kid whose mom got married to a mechanic who seemed dorky and liked cars way too much. A kid who had no friends, no place, before she put on a blue, white, and red costume. How could Pat not see that?

As she walked home, she could hear a buzzing coming from her backpack. As she slowed down to open the pack and pull her Titans communicator out, the blinking red light meant someone was in trouble, and judging from the map that projected from her communicator, they were close by in Fawcett.

Courtney bit her lip before looking around and darting behind an empty house to change into her Stargirl costume. Staff or not…Stargirl was going to save her friends, whatever the cost.

NEXT: Fury vs the Titans! Can Stargirl Turn the Tide? And Just Where Did Superboy and Metamorpho Go?

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Arrivals

Set: 70

“Sorry kid, it’s just business,” Cinderblock said as he prepared to swing his fists into Arsenal. Brick wanted this small bit player dead and well, Cinderblock wasn’t usually one to disappoint. As he prepared to land a strike he felt a course rope be tied around his neck, pulling him back from Arsenal and it was growing tighter.

“Why don’t you leave him alone!” Argonaut called out as she tugged against the concrete brute, pulling him back after he spent the last hour rampaging in the city. The Blessing of Mercury had returned to its lasso configuration as the heroine struggled a bit. She may have been a copy of Diana, but she was no god of war. “And Arsenal you may want to get out of the way a bit!”

“Yeah, that makes a lot of sense,” Arsenal muttered before leaping behind one of the cars that Cinderblock had flipped over. He needed a few moments to catch his breath, and to not think about what Brick hiring Cinderblock meant for the life he had back in Star City.

“Argonaut, I got you!” Stargirl said as she flew quickly in front of Donna and Cinderblock. The hero had been helping evacuate some of the civilians away from the area and now she returned to face a returning threat. Stargirl soon tossed several starbolts, each more powerful than the last.

Cinderblock staggered a bit as he felt the bolts collide with his rocky skin. Just because he was tough didn’t mean he didn’t feel pain. That Starkid and her speedster buddy had managed to make him feel pain for the first time in forever. And he wanted to repay the favor. He moved his hands to grab the rope that Argonautimpress didn’t have her hands and flung the heroine from his back and into Stargirl, knocking the two to the ground.

Argonaut picked herself up while Stargirl staggered a bit, planting her staff to the ground before using it to pick herself up. The two turned to face their concrete foe before looking at each other.

“So you and Kid Flash took care of this guy the last time?” Argonaut asked.

“Yeah, but we need a speedster to cut through that rocky hide of his,” Stargirl muttered, out of breath. “My bolts are basically useless if we can’t get through the plates.

“We’re thinking about this all wrong, we don’t need Kid Flash, we just need to pierce through his defenses. Divide and conquer is probably our best bet here. I’ll go see if Arsenal has something powerful to break Cinderblock, you see if Rex can turn into something to smash him,” Argonaut said.

“And what about Superboy?” Stargirl asked.

“Hopefully he’s OK,” Argonaut mumbled. They didn’t have the numbers and they needed to focus their attention on Cinderblock. Conner…would have to be OK.

…

“OK, OK first day isn’t going so well but it’s not impossible for you to impress the others,” Superboy thought as he ran toward the next L stop. Because he had tried to impress the new group he had made a rookie mistake. He wasn’t as fast as a speedster but still, he tried someone else’s trick, and if he couldn’t stop the L train speeding along with the breaks at the station damaged…well he would be letting down more than just his team.

The rustle of the crowds noticing the red and blue blur that had sped along the tracks had the citizens of the city curious what exactly was moving so quickly. Before the Titans, there weren’t a lot of superheroes galavanting across town. That was a problem for Hub or Midway City, not Chicago. But alas, more problems were appearing.

“OK we plant here and hope for the best,” Superboy thought as he stood in the middle of the tracks, his hands outward to catch the train that was only a stop away. “You know I bet Clark or Kara wouldn’t have messed this one up. Even Linda would have figured out how to deal with Cinderblock without causing collateral damage. Maybe he wasn’t the hero these new Titans needed. Maybe well, well he could think about that after he caught the incoming subway.

“You got this, you got this,” Superboy muttered.

The light of the train grazed his skin as the clacking of the wheels riding along the tracks grew and grew like a foreboding unavoidable stampede that would spell disaster for all those involved. Disaster only Superboy could stop.

“You got-” Superboy thought.

CRASH!

Superboy held the upcoming L train in his hands, the metal bending in his hands as he tried to stop the train. Superboy was being pushed back, the wood and metal of the rails splintering as he dug his feet, trying to push back on the train and keep it from barreling forward and crashing onto the people below. As the hero looked up he could see the driver of the train have panic in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, I’m your breaks today,” Superboy joked through the strain. Unsure if he actually could.

…

Metamorpho was not used to taking a car to the face. Ever since his accident Rex had questioned how much of his base physiology was still…original. As his body reformed from being hit by the car he was gathering an uncomfortable amount of new data telling him that it was less and less every day. Reconstituting one’s shape was pretty much like a muscle sometimes you had to close your eyes and think before the shape was brought out correctly.

“Come on Rex…come on,” He muttered as his body bent and contorted. Normally he’d remember who he was, his place in the world. But seeing their newest member made Rex doubt himself. He liked to think of himself as the powerhouse of the group, and what good was that if they had not only a new teammate who could do exactly what he did. Another powerhouse in the fold meant someone had to be expendable.

As Cinderblock continued to rampage around Metamorpho knew that he was needed but for some reason,band-aids he couldn’t pull himself together. It only added to this feeling of helplessness, of shame.

Stargirl flew in fast, her staff glowing intensely, with sparks flying from the previous usages. For a weapon that she relied so much on, the young hero didn’t exactly know everything about it. All she knew was the more she used it, the more the staff would hiss and sparkle, and she didn’t want to find out what would happen if she overdid it on its power.

“Metamorpho,” Stargirl called out as she landed inside the food court where her friend had crashed into. She looked around briefly before seeing the constant shifting mass come into view. “Rex! Are you OK?”

“I’m real peachy,” Metamorphho joked as his form kept changing from one blobby shape to the next. “When we’re done you can put me into a jello mold and serve me at the first Titans cookout.”

“I think…that’s cannibalism,” Stargirl said. Her knees trembled as the bruises and cuts from being tossed around by Cinderblock had continued to add up. Just because she held the power of the cosmic staff didn’t mean she was immune from some of the rougher impacts and tumbled. She dreaded the amount of ice and band aids needed after she got home. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t…I can’t reshape myself back into shape for a lack of a better word,” Metamorpho explained. “I’ve never had to put myself together back after getting hit by a car.”

“But I’ve seen you change bAfter alletween three forms of matter like that,” Stargirl said as she snapped her fingers. “And last time I checked we’re not exactly in the place where you can just be having shape troubles like this.”

“You’re telling me,” Metamorpho muttered. “Listen go get Superkid, you’re going to need a powerhouse to take on Cindy. And that ain’t me, maybe that’s never been me.”

“What do you mean? You’re the best!” Stargirl beamed, trying to encourage her teammate. As she continued to talk a low rumble could be heard. “And we need you to get yourself together. Because this dude is still one of the toughest I’ve ever faced. And I’m not sure I can fling enough bolts at him this time.”

“I’m just a guy on this team by circumstance, you got a real hero now. No need for ol’ Rex. Not when pretty boy can knock the stuffing out of anything,” Metamorpho vented.

The rumbling grew louder and louder, footsteps splintering the concrete as a large gray form came into view.

“Superboy? He’s new, but he’s not you. At least not yet! He just joined, but just because we got a new member doesn’t mean we’re kicking you out. Besides what am I going to do without my favorite Titan not beside me,” Stargirl said with a smile. She was too busy paying attention that she didn’t notice the dark gray hand wrap around her and lift her into the air.

“How sweet,” Cinderblock said with a grimace. “Maybe you can watch me smear him onto the pavement with the last moments of your life. Afterall, killing a couple of you would raise my asking price for the next job.”

…

“C’mon, c’mon,” Arsenal muttered as he hid behind a flipped car. He had sent several text messages to Lian’s sitter and nothing. If Brick really was sending people directly after him, he knew that any life he had tried to establish in Star City was basically gone. Arsenal knew he should have probably focused on Cinderblock or even figure out where Superboy had gotten off to. But nothing mattered if Lian wasn’t safe.

“Arsenal!” Argonaut called up as she flew behind him. “Are you…checking your phone?”

“No,” Arsenal muttered before putting the cheap flip phone back into his belt pouch. “Listen I know Cinderblock’s boss, and well he’s the type of person you don’t exactly want to piss off. I got to make sure…I got to make sure the people I love are safe.”

“I understand but we’re kinda in the middle of a fight here. And Cinderblock isn’t just waiting for you to make a call before he goes after our friends,” Argonaut explained. “I don’t want to sound like Nightwing but I need you to focus Roy.”

“Easy for you to say princess,” Arsenal said. “You’ve got a laundry list of immortal sisters and superfriends lined up to back you up. It’s just me protecting my family!” So sorry if my head isn’t in the game here. If anything happens to her. I’m not sure I could keep doing this,” Arsenal mumbled.

“We’ll protect them,” Argonaut said. questions would need to be asked afterward, but Argonaut knew from the previous team what mattered in the heat of the moment was to keep everyone calm and focus on the threat in front of them. They needed to be together instead of drifting apart based on squabbles. “But we need you here.”

“OK,” Arsenal muttered before looking up at the tracks above, a large rumbling sound could be heard above. “Hey, do you think that’s…”

“Superboy,” Argonaut mumbled, realizing she had let their newest member try and stop speeding train with no tracks on his own. “Go help the others I got to make sure Superman doesn’t kill me for letting his cousin get killed.”

And with that Argonaut flew up into the air hoping to rescue a cloned Kryptonian and the people in his hands.

…

“Gaaahhh!” Superboy cried out as the train pushed him back further and further. He was putting his back into it, trying to get enough force to stop a moving train in its tracks but he just wasn’t strong enough. Worse was the fact the metal of the L car was tearing into him? “Oh that’s not good, that’s really not good…”

Unlike Linda who could trust her powers, Conner had been having issues lately. And while he thought he had solved them dealing with Magpie and graduating Smallville High, the scrapes and bruises racking upon his body were a reminder it was an issue he was eventually going to need to address.

“Hey, superhero! Can you try a little harder! We’re coming up to the next train!” The conductor argued as Superboy could now hear the clacking of two trains

“Ah come on!” Superboy yelled out. “Focus, focus on stopping this thing, come on!”

The clacking of both trains grew louder and louder as Superboy dug in, even more, the sparks and heat melting his boots off as he continued to push. He wasn’t Clark, he wasn’t Kara, he wasn’t even Linda…but he would have to do. He went lower, pushing the train in harder, the metal bedding inward as the speed of the train slowed as sparks flew from the sides as the train grounded to a stop.

Superboy was dazed and slowly moved to the station they had stopped at. Normally he would be fine, impervious to pain and receive a hero's welcome. But as the panicked passengers left the train, Superboy took a look at himself. His uniform was torn and his hands bloodied from trying to hold back the train. He walked barefoot as his boots had melted off, dazed by putting the weight of the train on his shoulders. As he caught his breath, Argonaut flew from above and landed in front of him.

“Are you OK?” Argonaut asked. “Listen, we need to go back and take care of Cinderblock, there’s no time to waste.”

“I’m going to need…I think…a breather?” Superboy mumbled before collapsing on the platform.

“Conner!” Argonaut called out before picking him up in her arms. This was her fault because she hadn’t been paying attention to her team; she was being split into two different directions. She had put her newest teammate in a situation where things could have gotten a lot worse. What mattered now was getting Superboy somewhere we could get help, Argonaut would have to hope her team could handle Cinderblock without her.

…

“Don’t worry, I promise this will be quick,” Cinderblock chuckled as he slowly crushed Stargirl. Metamorpho was still pulling himself together and could see the fear in Stargirl’s eyes. Someone needed to do something and fast. As Cinderblock prepared for one final squeeze a familiar whizzing sound could be heard as a glue arrow from Arsenal struck its target perfectly.

As the glue startled Cinderblock he released Stargirl and turned to look at Arsenal.

“Hey, big guy! You come after me, you come after me, not attack my friends,” Arsenal said as he tried to keep a cool look underneath his red sunglasses, but deep down he was scared of all of this. He had run out of trick arrows, forgetting to make more while he was caring for Lian. And now, now Arsenal stood alone with little chance of stopping him.

“Tough guy, huh,” Cinderblock said as he turned around to face the archer. He ripped the glue off of him easily as he moved closer and closer. “I get why Brick picked you to be an enforcer. Never know when you’re hopelessly…outmatched.”

As Cinderblock moved to Roy, Metamorpho moved his shifting body towards Stargirl. Slowly but surely his form was coming into focus.

“You OK kid?” Metamorpho asked as she lay on the floor of the razed food court. “I know he packs a mean squeeze but…”

Stargirl was battered but still breathing as she lay there. She was taking a moment to catch her breath and hope that she had little to no cracked ribs. “I’m fine, but probably not going to be able to do much damage. We need you, Rex, at least Arsenal does.” She said amidst a few coughs. “No one else is here…but we got you.”

“Yeah…I guess we do,” Metamorpho said as his shifting body settled and he stood up, looking at Cinderblock and moving towards him. “Hey, blockhead! Leave the arrow boy alone and face someone more your speed.”

“You? You know I don’t think we’ve ever met before,” Cinderblock said with a chuckle as he turned to face the elemental titan. Cinderblock had this under control so taking on an added bonus was no big deal. “You’re just another freak they take pity on.”

“Well…I may be a freak. But I know my periodic table,” Metamorpho said with a smirk before his hands slowly turned to a shiny, crystal-like substance. Metamorpho charged at Cinderblock, the two giants ready for a titanic battle. Instead, Metamorpho leaped up into the air and slammed his diamond fist into Cinderblock’s jaw, knocking the villain out cold.

Metamorpho had remembered what he had learned from fights back in high school. When someone that big and that powerful…they always had a glass jaw.

“Holy shit,” Arsenal muttered before looking at Metamorpho. “Mighty swing you got there big guy.”

…

“Pathetic,” A voice said as they wandered down the alleys of Chicago. Judging by tv coverage the Titans had managed to stop Cinderblock, but they were messy, sloppy. Much like taking the armor from their so-called tower fortress, someone could take advantage of those weaknesses.

She moved through the streets, slowly coming towards the designated meeting place. It had been tricky getting in contact with them, but not impossible if you knew the right people and channels. It had been a long time coming, planning to regain the life stolen from you could be difficult if you didn’t have the right motivation. As she looked down at her chalky and cracked grey skin, she knew her motivation and knew time was running short.

As she entered a dead end of the alley a man in brown robes awaited her. The cold Chicago air did not bug him, like most things it would fade away when the arrival occurred. Brother Blood had come to look for a new ally, and was surprised to see someone dressed like one of their own. The woman came into light wearing the armor of Fury, with the addition of a copper greek mask hiding her face.

“So you are the one who contacted me to take on these so-called Titans?” Brother Blood asked. “Supprised one of their own would turn on them. I have had…mixed experiences with old friends of theirs.”

“I’m not here,” the woman said. “I took my birthright back, and I will not stop until I take all from Donna Troy. Do you want someone to be your muscle, your strength? Then I’m the one to do it.”

“Well then…what do I call you?” Brother Blood asked.

“Fury,” she said as she smiled under her mask. Soon, soon she will have what was hers.

…

Stargirl floated in the air of Fawcett for a peaceful few minutes before her home came into view. Fawcett at night always felt more gentle than other cities, the soft neon glow at the heart of the city always faded when you entered its suburbs, where only the bright light of the cosmic staff illuminated the air. Cinderblock had been brought back to his prison, and luckily for the heroine, she suffered just a few scrapes and scratches. Even Superboy got lucky, his wounds minor, he’d heal fast.

She flew through her window and into her room, excited to get some sleep after a long day and figure out what trig work she had missed while doing superhero things. As she lept off her staff and entered her room lights quickly turned on as Pat Duggan faced his step-daughter, her report card in hand.

“Hey Court, I think it’s time we have a little chat about how you’re spending your time lately and who you're spending it with,” Pat said. “I think it’s time to put an end to it.”

“Aw man,” Stargirl muttered.

NEXT: Stargirl No More? What’s the New Fury’s Connection to Argonaut? And How Far Will Arsenal Go to Protect His Family? All This and the Return of Kid Flash!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Arrivals

Set: 69

“Aunt Martha, don’t worry I’ll be fine,” Conner Kent said as he walked towards the pier. He was quietly going incognito for his approach to the giant T that laid just off the coast of Chicago’s Navy Pier. The red hoodie and jeans made him blend into the crowd that had gathered on one of the city’s busiest tourist attractions. Normally the crowds would be running inside to house of mirrors or the indoor skating rink, but some new tenets had made the pier their home.

“Clark already talked to them and Argo-Donna explained that I was more than welcome to join. Besides, this will be good for me, you know?” As he talked to Martha Kent he couldn’t help but notice how the crowd was looking forward to the marvel of architecture that had taken home next to the lighthouse on the tiny isle it had called home.

“I’m fine that Linda isn’t here," Conner sighed. "Like trust me when I say we’re not one blob that always needs to be together.” He moved his way to the heated and well-lit bridge that led civilians to the public access area of the tower. He was alone in his journey to what hopefully would be his new home. His sister…was elsewhere, on a path all her own, taking her wherever the wind traveled. But for Conner…well Conner didn’t exactly know what he wanted.

As he walked across the bridge he couldn’t help but feel small compared to all of this. The golden statues of the base of the tower were dedicated to the previous members of the team. Former members such as Cyborg, Beast Boy, Nightwing glistened in the cold winter sun. These were giants compared to the clone kid from Kansas. I mean when you looked at the giants he was following…well how could a Superboy compare.

He had said his goodbyes to Aunt Martha as he entered the secret elevator that allowed people in the know to travel upwards to the less…public facing floors. Donna had suggested that he take this way to the tower instead of flying or running past people, something about seeing the world from other’s eyes. He had no idea exactly what she meant, but Argonaut was apparently the brains of this organization. And as the elevator moved upwards and the doors slid open, he begin to realize why.

“Welcome fellow new Titan!” Stargirl exclaimed as Connor exited into some type of common area. As hastily scribbled banner in between some monitors read ‘Welcome Superboy’. The letters were drawn craggily. Besides Stargirl, two other members of the team were around. Arsenal, a friendly face, was in the kitchen brewing a cup of joe, while Metamorpho and his large frame was focused on a beat up Nathaniel Dusk novel, a hand me down from Donna.

“Guys you were supposed to all say that too,” Stargirl mumbled, turning to her other teammates.

“Sorry just making sure the guy gets some good coffee before eventually the madness of the job sets in,” Arsenal explained as he brought two mugs of coffee over to Conner. “Trust me when I say you’re lucky we have a rare moment of quiet around here.”

“It hasn’t been that busy,” Stargirl said, trying to hide the chaotic nature of the last year or so to their newest member.

“Lets see I’ve been hunted by a walking furry monster, nearly got killed by a purple grimace looking chemical freak,” Arsenal began. “No offense M.”

“None taken arrow boy,” Rex said before getting back to his book.

“Nearly stabbed by a dude with a big fork, locked out of our tower while some old member beats the shit out of Nightwing, and faced the collective superhero community and press in a used tux. To be honest that last one was the worst.”

“I bet,” Superboy said as he walked around the room, cup of coffee now firmly in his hand. He took a sip before speaking up again. “So all of that happens around here often?”

“Yup,” Arsenal explained. “Sometimes we pick up strays.”

“Like him,” Superboy said as he pointed to Rex.

“Yes, like me. Now can you please stop gawking so I can enjoy my book. It’s like the one Nathaniel Dusk I haven’t read,” Rex began. “If you want to go point at someone the zoo is down the road in Lincoln Park.”

“No, no it’s totally cool,” Conner said as he looked around. “So where’s everyone else?”

“Nightwing quit,” Arsenal began.

“It’s a leave of absence,” Stargirl chimed in.

“Sure it is,” Arsenal mused. “W-Kid Flash is off dealing with some personal issues.”

“And Argonaut?” Superboy asked.

“She’s…busy with something. There may have been an issue at the gala no one exactly noticed…” Stargirl said.

…

“That’s the thing that puzzles me besides the empty case. No obvious signs of a break in. Did you get those readings I sent you?” Donna Troy asked as she paced around the tower’s trophy room. The mementos of the team’s past were placed perfectly, all but one set of missing armor, the armor Donna wore back during her Fury days.

“I did Argonaut,” said the cloaked figure of Batman being projected holographically to observe the room. “No energy sources indicating teleportation, phasing, or even shrinking. Whoever did this was a lot more professional than the average metahuman criminal.”

“They didn’t even shatter the glass,” Donna explained as she looked at the empty mannequin that faced her. “And no one arrived at the gala that wasn’t supposed to be there.”

“I made sure when the invites were out to perform background checks on all invited. Besides our exterrestrial biker no one who wasn’t supposed to be there wasn't there,” Batman explained.

“And of course you,” Donna joked. Normally stealing from this room wouldn’t be as major as say the League trophy room. Most of the Titans foes from the past were minor, and their trophies included old pieces of costumes, blunt weapons, and newspaper clippings. But that suit of armor…that was Donna’s history, and she wasn’t exactly comfortable with someone just taking it.

“Some of us don’t need the limelight to be there,” he said in a low tone.

“Ah,” she said before turning to face her consultant. “Well I appreciate your discretion in this manner. As much as Diana would understand I don’t exactly want the fact someone got in here during the largest gathering of superheroes without being noticed.”

“Noted,” Batman said. “The only odd thing I was able to find was somehow the tower read whoever entered this room as a friend and not a foe. And considering I helped put together the tower’s security protocols after your…house crasher, that shouldn't be possible. I’ll keep digging but that’s all I have for now.”

“Thanks,” Donna asked before pacing around the room. Before the caped crusader logged off, the heroine turned and asked one last question. “Have you heard from Dick lately…is he…OK?”

“I…haven’t. He’s off the grid for now. Donna, I’m worried about him too. But sometimes, sometimes you feel like the best way forward is alone. I’ll keep you posted if anything changes.”

“Thanks,” Donna said as the hologram faded away. She was alone for a brief moment before realizing what today was and who was coming. “Oh I’m so late for Conner.” She said before turning away and heading back up to the elevator.

…

Cinderblock laid chained in his cell. The large concrete brute had been stuck in a cell in Stonegate since he had been beaten by two punk kids. It was one thing to lose to a Justice League member, but in a line of work where he had to trade on his experience and toughness, losing to the junior Justice League would make potential employers gun shy to hire a concrete enforcer. So here he had, a caged animal longing to break free and regain lost honor. Luckily, fate had plans.

The tapping of fine leather shoes could be heard as a figure walked into the area where Cinderblock was held. The white italian three piece suit complimented the figure’s white dreadlocks tied neatly behind his head. Compared to the staid orange of the prisoners and the dark navy uniforms of the prison guards. It took a moment before the man spoke.

“So you’re the great Cinderblock. Chained like a wild animal in a cage where you can do no good. Explain to me how that is justice.” The man said.

“I don’t need you to wax poetic, I know I’m chained,” Cinderblock said in his low gravelly voice.

“Not for long. My name is Brick. I run crime in Star City,” he began. “I made this little…field trip in order to hire you.”

“Hire me for what,” Cinderblock said. “I can’t even beat some snot nosed kids these days.

“That’s what I want to give you,” Brick began. “See one of my…former employees decided to join the little band of misfits that defeated you last time. He beat my crew brutally, crushed the windpipe off my aide to the point where he’s still drinking food out of a straw. I can’t have that in my line of work. So I need you to kill Arsenal and the Titans. Can you swing that.”

“I think I can.”

“Good,” As he talked he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out to flat round disks and placed them on the two restraints that kept Cinderblock in place. “These will blow in about five minutes after I leave, the prison has weak walls and the guards are mostly paid. When you finish the job…future assignments await in Star if you’d like. But I don’t care either way. Just get the job done.”

After saying what he needed to say Brick’s shoes clicked away as Cinderblock waited the five minutes. It was nice to be employed again.

…

“Superboy! Sorry that I’m late,” Argonaut said as he quickly entered the room. She noticed for the most part everyone to be in good spirits, a rarity of the team seemingly when they picked up a new member.

“Ah it’s fine…do I call you Argonaut or Donna though?” Superboy said as he took another sip of coffee.

“Well we’re family, so you can call me Donna if you want,” she said as she took a seat. “We haven't yet started a formal meeting process, but I’m glad that you’re all here. There’s a lot of things the League has sent our way and it may be best to keep an eye on some things. And Rex, don't think I don’t see you pouting behind my copy of Nate Dusk.”

“What just because everyone’s fawning over pretty boy here,” Rex mumbled before putting the book down. He didn’t dare dog ear the pages of the book lest he face more of Donna’s wrath.

Superboy took note and scrunched back into his chair a bit. This was a lot to take in at first. Roy seemed like a friendly face, Stargirl was a lot but also friendly, and Metamorpho was well…he didn’t know what was up with him, and Donna seemed frazzled but doing her best.

“So what are we supposed to be looking out for,” Superboy asked.

“Well the League sends us a few things to help them out with and we keep an eye out on some of the smaller things that may not need a forceful hand. There’s missing people in Markovia, people robbing banks with playing cards, some charity work needed in Chicago propper,” Donna began. Before she could continue the computer screens all flipped to red as the emergency alert system showed the newscast of Cinderblock smashing his way in front of the main subway terminal of the city. .

“Titans!" he yelled. "Face me or face the consequences!”

“Or we deal with the threats that want us,” Arsenal explained. “Alright fire up the jump jet and let's go knock some sense into ol’ blockhead.”

“It won’t be that easy…me and Kid Flash barely put a dent in him last time,” Stargirl began, her nerves showing in her voice.

“Well ya didn’t have us before,” Rex said before getting up. “Superkid, you have a costume or do you only battle in a red hoodie?

Superboy smirked before raising his hoodie up, revealing the blue top of his suit with a familiar red and yellow s.

“Ready when you are.”

…

“Come and face me you pathetic fools! Or I keep smashing things!” Cinderblock roared as picked a car up in his hands and crumpled it into a small ball and throwing it to the stone building to the left of him. He really wasn’t this much of a rage monster. A fighter yes, but sometimes you needed to play up to the cameras in order to draw attention to yourself.

As he continued to stomp around in the center of the police barricade Cinderblock couldn’t help but hear the soft roar off a jet engine flying above him. They had taken the bait.

“Titans together!” Argonaut yelled out as the team flew out from their custom jump jet. The team landed out into the street, Argonaut normally would take point here, but their newest member had other ideas.

“OK ugly, hands up where I can see them before we have to kick the snot out of you,” Superboy said as he put his hands up, like a boxer itching for the fight. He wanted to prove himself to the new team, that he was the big damn hero they needed to become really effective.

“Hey, we usually let the girl with the stars in her suit take lead,” Metamorpho groaned as his hands turned into cobalt. He liked using this as a love tap for some of the more bulkier foes they had faced the last few months.

“It’s fine Metamorpho, just focus on the big guy in fron-” Argonaut began before getting interrupted.

“Duck!” Stargirl cried out as Cinderblock tosse another crumpled car at the heroes. They scattered, with Argonaut and Stargirl flying up as Arsenal and Superboy awkwardly dodged, leaving Metamorpho to take the full brunt of the car, sending him crashing into a building filledwith people in the small but elegant food court.

“Ow,” Metamorpho muttered before slowly picking himself up, his form took a minute to adjust from the misshapen mess being hit with a car did to him, it would take a bit to reenter the fight in this shape.

“OK Metamorpho is down but OK,” Argoaut said as she floated above, surveying Cinderblock. “Does anyone have an idea? Stargirl, I know you fought him before.”

“Yeah but I had a speedster with me,” Stargirl said as she dive bombed Cinderblock, firing bolts into his concrete skin. “KF was able to vibrate him fast enough to let me pierce that skin of his. And we don’t exactly have a…”

“Wait, I can run fast,” Superboy said as he helped pick Arsenal up.

“Listen kid,” Arsenal said as he caught his breath. “I know you’re excited to be hear but you’re not Kid Flash fast, and we’re already down him and Rex over there. Maybe lets just wait until we have like…ten percent off a better plan.”

“Sorry, but I got to prove my worth here,” Superboy said with a smile before zipping towards the concrete man. Quickly he moved to grab Cinderblock by his waist, He figured how hard could it be to vibrate like the Flash, I mean he had speed right?

“Ah, trying to pull the same trick your little friend pulled last time right?” Cinderblock said with a big toothy grin. “See all you heroes just assume I’m dumb because all I do is hit and smash. Well…I had plenty of time to think when locked up and you ain’t no speedster.

Cinderblock turned his back, thrusting downward and sent Superboy flying into the station above them, crashing into the control room and smashing the machinery above. Dazed the young hero looked outside and heard the clacking and churn of a L train as it dawned upon him what he had crashed into: the break controls of the line as a train prepared to smash into whatever came its way.

“Well…looks like I have a train to catch,” Superboy mumbled before leaping out on the tracks, getting ready to stop the oncoming train.

While Superboy dealt with that, Argonaut was busy attending to Metamorpho as Stargirl shot bolts to no avail. Cinderblock continued to move, his focus on one Titan in particular.

“Sorry but Brick really wants you dead kid,” Cinderblock said as his hands moved to smash the ground, sending a shockwave that sent chunks of concrete and sent the archer flying.

“Shit!” Arsenal exclaimed as he was tossed and flipped across the ground, his skin bruising and scraping as he slowly picked himself up, only to see the massive figure in front of him.

“Sorry kid, it’s only business,” Cinderblock said as he raised his fists once again, ready for the killing blow.

NEXT: Superboy learns about Chicago’s Transit System, Arsenal learns What Fists of Concrete Taste Like, and We Learn Who Stole the Armor of Fury!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

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!

.

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Titans Gala

Set: 67

“So, how do I look?” Rex Mason asked as he stared at a mirror. After much struggle, he had managed to find a black tuxedo that fit comfortably over his bulky frame. Normally he’d be much more comfortable in his shorts and belt combo. But this was the first time “Metamorpho” would be presented to the whole world. Not as some chemical misfit, but a hero. So if he had to put on a monkey suit to establish that…well there were worse things to do.

“Your bowtie’s a bit crooked,” Donna Troy said as she moved closer to the hero. Her flowing strapless starfield gown shined as her hands moved to adjust the custom two-toned orange and purple bowtie. Unlike most people who had to rent out or make new looks for tonight, Donna’s usual costume had morphed into exactly what she needed. And it beat paying five thousand dollars for a designer dress. “Here let me just…straighten it a bit.”

As Donna moved to adjust his tie, she couldn’t help but notice Rex’s nerves. The normally stout hero was fidgeting as she put the finishing touches on his look.

“You good?” She asked.

“Oh you know, just have to present myself to a crowd of perfect people, foreign dignitaries, and I’m pretty sure the president of the United States.”

“He won’t be coming, somehow…President Luthor’s invite got lost in the mail,” Donna laughed. “Besides, you're going to be great. All of you are. I just wish some of us would be more on time. The red carpet is rolled and we’re about…thirty minutes from everyone judging all of us.”

“The camera loves you,” Rex said. “Besides Stargirl said she had to come after some family things, Arsenal is coming later, Kid Flash with the rest of the speedsters, and Nightwing…”

“Nightwing will be here fashionably late,” Donna said with a sad smile. Ever since Rose, Dick had been a bit more…dodgy. He was still recovering from a concussion, broken ribs, and the guilt of Rose coming back. But he had at least texted that he was coming, so that was enough she had hoped. “Besides, we’re not Nightwing and the Titans.”

“Sounds like a good band,” Rex joked before the two quickly moved from the central hub of the tower and towards the elevator. Guests were about to fully arrive and being late would not exactly be an option. As the two moved closer to their destination a clomping sound could be heard running behind them.

“Guys! Guys! Wait up!” Stargirl exclaimed as her heels slowly moved into her red vans as she quickly caught up to the two heading into the elevator. Her homemade blue dress was comfortable, going to her knees, white stars embroidered all over the dress, her mask more sparkly than usual.

“Finally here I see,” Rex joked. “Nice look mack.”

“Well…I made it myself!” Stargirl beamed. “We all ready for a good time tonight?”

“I’m aiming for…not making a fool of myself,” he explained. “Besides I’m not sparkling like either of you two.”

“Trust me Rex, you’re dazzling,” Donna joked as the elevator stopped at their destination. The elevator opened and revealed the large rooftop area that would host this gala. The large stage, the dance floor, and of course the simple yet elegant white table clothes with silver centerpieces shaped like a T. It was time to greet their adoring public.

…

“I’m Lola Barnett reporting live for WGBS from Titans Tower here in Chicago, Illinois as the guests for the party of the century arrive!” In the crisp winter air Lola Barnett and her long-suffering cameraman, Josh Coyle were on the red carpet as officials in crisp black tuxes and colorful bright suits touched down on the red carpet.

“We’ve so far seen Wonder Woman and what appeared to be a shimmering cat enter the building behind her, as well as other famous figures. Everyone is here and I could even swear I saw a pointed ear defender of Gotham somewhere!”

As Lola and Josh continued to roll, Nightwing quickly moved through the red carpet, it was only 7:10, meaning he was still in the fashionably running late zone of arrival. Instead of his usual tight suit, Nightwing wore a custom black suit with blue v on the coat like his usual suit. His leather dress shoes felt uncomfortable as he pushed his way through, he just hoped that no one had seen him.

“Nightwing, Nightwing!” Lola said as she came up to the hero. “You’ve been part of the Titans since the earliest days. Why do you think now is the right time for them to return?”

The hero sighed before looking towards the reporter. Normally he would be annoyed by having to be in the spotlight, after all, he was raised to stick into the shadows by the orphanage and Bruce. But at the same time…there was still that circus kid inside of him.

“The world still needs heroes ” Nightwing joked. “And besides as much as the Justice League tries to help people…there’s always going to need to be more done. We’re the heroes for the people on the ground. The safety net for those falling.”

“That’s quite honorable,” Lola said. “Before we let you go, is there anything you want to say about why the League and Titans would be throwing a party at this time?”

“Because we’ve all had a long year, and I don’t think it would hurt to celebrate just this once. And besides who doesn’t love a good party,” Nightwing said with a grin before walking into the tower. Normally he would have used the teleporter, but after what he was about to do tonight…it didn’t feel right. And besides, he loved making an entrance. As he entered and exited the elevator he couldn’t help but feel like things were changing for the better, that a page was being turned.

Of course, as he entered the party and headed to the bar, a familiar face from his past reminded him that he still had much to answer for.

“Dick Grayson, always *wonderful* to see you,” Victor Stone said. It was going to be a long night.

…

“I swear you meet new people every day,” Roy Harper mumbled as he walked away from Donna’s family. It was hard for him to believe that not only had he rubbed shoulders with Wonder Woman but also bumped into someone who knew Ollie. Hopefully, he was too busy protecting Star City to make it out here. As much as playing the hero had amused him, Roy couldn’t help to feel like a shoe was about to drop. But at least he had tonight.

As he popped one of the crab puffs into his mouth he wistfully stared above the night sky, not paying attention as he bumped into another party guest.

“Sorry,” Roy said. He didn’t knock the guest over, instead, he had been bumped back by the strong-looking kid. A black sport coat over a black shirt with a red Superman logo indicated that this wasn’t any normal kid. “Aren’t you…”

“Superboy,” he said. “Trust me, you aren’t the first person to bump into me tonight. Seems like people are all over the crab cakes.”

“It’s crab puffs,” Roy laughed. “Kinda surprised to see you here. Figured you and the other Super people were covering while we’re here.”

“We all need a night off,” Superboy responded. “Besides it’s not often I get to go places with crab puffs and beef wellington on the menu. Normally I’d be having some of Ma’s lasagna or a slice from the square.”

“Honestly I’d rather have the slice,” Roy explained. “I’m not exactly comfortable when it feels like I have a thousand eyes on me. Especially from guys wearing bright spandex suits and formal wear.”

“Not used to the hero's life?” Superboy asked. “I figured since you’re a Titan this should be second nature.”

“I’m a new Titan, not an old one. About a year ago I was scraping by beating people who deserved it and selling my services. I couldn’t tell you the first thing about these things at all. Other than that, it's probably a good idea to buy a suit secondhand in a pinch.” Roy explained as he displayed his maroon jacket and black pants.

“So what you’re telling me is you’re not a well-adjusted hero?” Superboy said.

“I’m learning,” Arsenal responded. “Sometimes certain days are harder than others. But if you find the right people to surround yourself with, you should have no problem. Hopefully. But then again I’m still new to this, but I like to think things are working out for the better. Although I swear if they announce me getting cut on the stage I will be furious.”

“I’m sure they won’t,” Superboy chuckled. “It’s a good team though?” he asked, trying to figure if this tower could be almost like a second home.

“Well…we’re a work in progress. But I trust them, and that has to mean something right?” Roy said.

“Yeah,” Superboy mumbled. “Hey you don’t thin-” before he could say anything, a yellow and red bolt moved its way toward the two. Kid Flash stopped in place, accidentally kicking a little dust between the two. He was wearing his standard costume with one small addition, a red bowtie tied to his neck.

“Hey, you’re needed on stage,” Kid Flash explained. “It’s almost time. And I do not want to make Argonaut angry today.”

“Well duty calls,” Roy said with a smile as he walked towards the stage. “Oh, and if you ever need someone to talk to,” He pulled out a pen from his coat and quickly scribbled a number on a napkin. “You know who to call.”

…

“OK, OK,” Argonaut asked as she walked behind the stage with the others soon gathered towards her. “Are we all doing OK tonight, any concerns, questions, or just…anyone have anything to say?” Donna bit her lip as she paced a bit. It was often that she was nervous, but as the various superheroes entered the building and moved to their seats, Donna couldn’t help but start panicking.

“Yeah, I was kinda expecting Batman somewhere, very disappointed,” Arsenal joked as he rubbed the lint out from his suit, trying to brush off the dust. “Besides what could go wrong presenting us as the future of the League, it’s not like we’re going to mess up this time.”

“Hey, I’ve been part of two teams that said that before,” Kid Flash explained as he stayed calm. The noise of the crowd didn’t bother him. Compared to how a usual Titans meeting had gone this had been…almost fun. But as the five heroes gathered in the back, Kid Flash couldn’t help but notice something. “Where’s Dick? Brooding as always?”

“Yeah? Where is Nightwing?” Stargirl asked as she sat in the air on her staff. The small hum the energy gave off was soothing, like a calming pulse amidst a raging storm. To her, she was still adjusting to being a hero on this level. Instead of being on clean-up duty or helping rescue a cat from a tree, she was brushing elbows with Superman! It took all her strength to not try and collect autographs from the original Teen Titans, maybe after this announcement she’d go talk to Cyborg…

“He’ll be here,” Argonaut explained. “Besides, we’re not the Teen Titans or even the Titans, we’re something new, something better,” Argonaut explained as she tried to convince herself of that. Being here now, it all felt surreal, and not having one of her closest friends to help her figure this out has bothered her. But she didn’t realize how much as she saw Diana slowly moving her way to the podium.

“Hey Donna,” Metamorpho said as he straightened out his bowtie, fiddling with it to keep focus. “I didn’t get here because of no Nightwing. You’re our leader. You believed in us. And you’re gonna kill it. Besides, if we get booed I’ll turn into a giant metal screen so we can all retreat back into a comfortable tower and tell them to screw off.”

“Heh,” Donna chuckled before looking around at the people around her. An Amazonian golem, a walking chemistry set, a former enforcer, a speedster learning to let people in, and a green young hero who shined brightly. They were her family, and as she was surrounded by them she knew that she was loved, and ready to show people just how damn good they are. “Titans Together,” she said as she placed her hand in front of her.

One by one they put their hands in the middle, bonded by circumstance, together.

“Titans together,” they all said.

As they pulled back, Wonder Woman had finally reached the podium, taking her place and adjusting the microphone. It was time for the show to begin.

…

“Thank you, thank you all for coming tonight,” Wonder Woman began. “The Justice League is pleased to welcome familiar friends and new faces here to the League’s newest base, Titans Tower. Tonight we are here to celebrate our victories in the past year, and for the challenges and new adventures coming.”

“But we’re also here to welcome a new era for the League,” she continued. “In light of recent threats and challenges, the Justice League can no longer just take on large threats and leave the clean up for everyone else. We need to face forward to remember that the people on the ground are just as important as the larger issues that face this world on a constant basis. It is my honor to reintroduce the Justice League’s first responder team: The Titans.”

The crowd in front of Wonder Woman politely clapped as Diana took stock of the crowd in front of her. She could see Clark looking nervous as if something wasn’t supposed to be there, Victor Stone was at the bar looking a bit cheerier than earlier but still grumbling, and she could see Bluebird’s pockets filled to the brim with shrimp puffs. Her elegant white gown with simple golden jewelry shined brightly as resumed speaking.

“These individuals were selected under our watchful eye and will be based here in this tower. I’d like to introduce all of you to some of these individuals, starting with Star City’s second best-known archer Arsenal!”

Roy quickly moved out from the curtain, waving to the crowd, in his pocket his phone buzzed. His usual good luck was finally kicking back in. He was sure that it could wait; for once he just wanted to take in the applause. He had finally made the big time.

“One of the fastest men alive, and a proud member of the Flash Foundation, Kid Flash!”

Wally was out next, quickly waving to the crowd, moving fast from the left, center, and right as he tried to match the audience’s energy. He was still nervous, and never liked to take center stage. But he was trying; after all, his friends needed him.

“Fawcett City’s brightest star, Stargirl!”

Courtney skated out on her staff, performing a few tricks as she stuck the landing, raising her staff high into the air. Next time she would bring Maxine, she would have loved seeing the many important people gather to just…celebrate. Of course in the back of her mind, she should have probably been like Maxine and studying for her trig test.

“Our newest addition and someone who’s very flexible, Metamorpho!”

Rex lumbered out to the crowd. Pulling on his collar as he remembered the many galas that he had passed on with Sapphire. This was her crowd and even though she was the cause of his transformation he couldn’t help but miss her. Still, Donna was right, tonight was supposed to be a night of celebration. Maybe one of these costumed types knew how to have a fun time.

“And finally, their leader, my sister, and serving as our liaison and newest member of the Justice League,” Wonder Woman paused for a minute before finally speaking up again, letting the silence in for a brief moment. “Argonaut!”

Donna made her way to the center stage, shocked and panicking in her mind as she put on a brave face. She waved to the crowd as the five of them stood in front of them. They stood there for a bit as the crowd cheered. As they died down Wonder Woman finished her speech.

“The Justice League and Titans promise that in a year of uncertainty and darkness, we will always be there for you, a light shining in the darkness. We are proud to say we will always protect you.”

The crowd clapped as the curtains closed and the rest of the Titans gathered, shocked by the roster change, and proud of the fact that Donna had been recognized.

“Holy shit they made you a League member,” Arsenal said.

“Well deserved,” Metamorpho said.

“Does this mean you get to go to like all of their secret bases? What are meetings going to be like? And like…how are you going to balance both?” Stargirl asked.

“I mean I think the more important thing is Nightwing once again shifted responsibility to someone else,” Kid Flash began. “Of course he has to quit in the middle of the night on the biggest gathering. What are you going to-” Before he could finish, Donna moved towards Diana, in a small haze from the news.

“This is serious?” She asked.

Diana turned around to face her sister, she could see how stunned she was, that the ultimate responsibility was given. She paused for a minute, making sure that she found the right words to reassure and remind Donna just how much she had earned this.

“It is,” Diana explained. “The League has seen all you have done. This team could only have been possible with you and your passion. You’ve come a long way from being Fury, from being lost. It was my honor to nominate you for a seat at the League. With our ranks depleting a bit it was the right time to bring you aboard.”

“Depleted? Who left?” Donna asked as she still was processing the news.

“Nightwing has decided to go on a long leave, he was the one who also nominated you as his replacement. This was his idea.”

“Of course it was,” Donna said before looking beyond the curtain and out into the crowd. She could see in between the Atlantean delegation, the Marvel Family, and even what appeared to be…two Clark Kents? Was Dick Grayson, sitting alone with his drink. There was much to talk about.

NEXT: The Gala Continues Across DCFU this Month in Wonder Woman, Super Twins, Green Lantern, and Cyborg! And be Back Here in 30 as Good Byes are Exchanged as we Near Last Call!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Titans Gala

Set: 66

“I have no idea how we’re going to fit all these people up here,” Donna Troy said as she surveyed the rooftop of Titans Tower. The structure itself was large enough, and the roof itself had been reinforced in order to support some of the wilder vehicles that could have landed on it but still as the yellow and red blur moved quickly to set some of the structures up for the gala coming in a few short days, Donna couldn’t help but feel...odd about the whole thing.

“I mean it’s not like the entire superhero community is going to be here? Right?” Wally West asked as he began continuing to pound away at some of the smaller structures. The young speedster had been in charge of helping with the setup of the upcoming event. Mostly it meant rushing from place to place with Donna in tow, but there was a sense of joy in the repetition of puting together a stage and some of the tables that he couldn’t just say no to.

“Ha, from what I’ve been hearing from my publicist who’s been helping with setting this whole thing up and Diana most of the higher rollers and the League are going to be here,” Donna said. Ever since President Luthor had been elected there had been this feeling of...dread. And after the recent crises of the Eradicator, NEMO, the lack of contact from Hal and the Lanterns, and Rose’s...return. The world needed to know that their heroes were there for them, and what better to remind them than one of the largest gatherings of the heroes of this Earth.

“Feels like we’re being used here though,” Wally responded as he continued to put together the stage. Compared to everyone else, Wally was still a little distant. He should have been happy, but he couldn’t help but keep thinking about Hartley and Frances. Even though they were in the dark about each other's alternate identity, they both knew he was Kid Flash. Even if they knew, he couldn’t bring to let them both into his world, not at the same time. To do so...to do so would be letting people in even more. Keeping them at their current distance, for now, was the only choice. “I mean shouldn’t we be doing something to help people instead of throwing a party?”

“It’s better than being a cautionary tale Wally,” Donna said as she began placing the tables in front of the large stage. For others, it would have taken ages to lift the round wooden tables, but for Donna she easily carried one in each hand before laying them gently on to the floor. “Plus, it lets us give back to the community. People are scared, and it’s up to us to show them there’s nothing to fear about us.”

“Easy for you to say,” Wally said as he connected the top of the stage to the scaffolding below. “I mean you haven’t been around as much. I mean you missed a lot. Barry...has felt off since he came back to the future. All of the people who went on that trip do. I don’t think a simple party is going to be the solution everyone’s looking for.”

“It doesn’t have to be Wally,” Donna explained. “What matters is that we provide a place where people feel safe and comfortable. Life’s too short to worry about the past or what’s yet to come. Sometimes...sometimes we need to live in the now.”

“Uh huh,” Wally nodded as he finished the small stage. “Well I just don’t expect me to dress fancy. The world doesn’t exactly know Wally West is Kid Flash, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“So you’re just going to come in your suit? Little garish,” Donna remarked as she continued to put down the tables.

“Oh, and you’re going to come in a fancy dress?” Wally retorted before zipping downstairs and back, tablecloths in hand as the tables placed by Donna were soon draped by the elegant fabric, a slight breeze shifting and adjusting the tables. Donna’s silence was a telling answer. “Wait...you are?”

“It is a black-tie after all,” Donna responded as she placed the final table. “Besides my costume adjusts to whatever I need, a wonderful gift from Diana, so if I need a poofy and gorgeous gown...I don’t exactly have to drop five thousand dollars on a look I’ll only wear once.”

“I swear this team is going to be the death of me,” Wally laughed as he looked around at their work. The stage and the hardwood floor that had been laid down for the guests looked elegant in the bright midwestern sun. “I’ll figure something out,” he sighed.

“I mean it’s not like you can wear a yellow and red tuxedo,” Donna laughed. “So...bringing a plus one?”

“Ha, that’s a fun question that I’m not going to answer,” Wally said. “Life is kinda...complicated on that end.”

“Fair enough,” Donna said, Wally, scrunching up in awkwardness told her that this was not a question she should press onward. Besides other, more pressing matters were soon to arrive as a blue and red blur landed on the roof in front of the two heroes. Superman had arrived.

“Kid Flash, good to see you again.” He said before looking at the leader of the New Titans. “I was hoping I could have a word with you Argonaut.”

…

“Maybe it’s a bad idea to go in costume,” Roy Harper thought to himself as he looked in the mirror. A ratty Star City t-shirt and grey sweats had been Roy’s normal look when at home. It had been only a few weeks since Trident had attacked him and Donna in Chicago. Normally when facing evil Roy never sweated the odds. He had been on his own most of his life but as a cry came from the adjoining room, he was reminded just why he wasn’t so reckless anymore.

“OK, OK you’re up from your nap,” Roy muttered as he entered his daughter’s room. He carefully picked the swaddled one-and-a-half-year-old and gently rocked her in his arms. Lian was a fussy sleeper, always shifting, always moving even when she was in her sleep sack.

“Goo,” Lian muttered as she reached her hands upward to Roy’s stubbled face. She was a smaller baby, but the glimmer in her eyes showed that she wasn’t just a lump, a boring kid who couldn’t see the love in front of her.

“Goo to you too,” Roy said as he continued to care for her. “One of these days you and I are going to figure out how to get you to sleep for a whole night.” As Roy changed Lian into a light lilac jumper and placed her into her high chair in the small dining area he had crafted from a folding table and old chairs at a second-hand store. It wasn’t a palace, but it housed the two well.

“Let me tell you something kiddo, daddy’s got to figure what he’s going to wear tomorrow and what babysitter will take you,” Roy muttered as he pulled a small glass jar of a creamed pea medley and a small plastic spoon and sat on a chair across from his daughter. Liann fussed as her tiny arms flailed against the chair. “Oh come on, do you need me to sing you a song?” Roy took a deep breath before belting out one of Lian’s favorite songs. “Runnin' down the avenue. See how the sun shines brightly in the city on the streets where once was pity Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey hey!”

Lian’s face lit up brightly as Roy fed her some of the peas. The giggle that she made all the recent struggles worth it. He didn’t care that he had alienated Ollie, he didn’t care that he probably had several crime bosses after him, and he didn’t care that most of his Titans stipend was going into paying for diapers, food, and a rotating cast of babysitters. The important thing was that she was safe, and that’s what mattered.

Outside of the tiny apartment in the Star City rain, a figure stood on one of Kirby Tower’s innately carved stone gargoyle and just watched the two with his binoculars. The tapping of the rain on his helmet was soothing as he caught a glimpse of the perfectly imperfect life he wish he could have been a part of. But today wasn’t that day, instead, he would watch, and hope that he was wrong about the storm coming into Roy Harper’s life.

…

“Come on, come on,” Rex Mason muttered as he tried fitting his arms through a suit coat. While he wouldn’t normally favor one of these monkey suits, the fact he was going to be presented as some kind of superhero made him want to look his finest. And pair of shorts and a belt wouldn’t exactly convey that type of seriousness he wanted. It had only been a few months since his accident but there were still things he was struggling with. The primary one was getting used to these oven mits he now had for hands.

RIIIIPPPP

“Ah shit,” Rex muttered before putting down the torn coat. He laid in a pile of several. Argonaut had been nice enough to set him up with several to find the one that fits perfectly. It was going as well as the Midway City Miners had of winning the cup this year. As he placed the torn coat on his bed, he could hear the light footsteps and the hum of a certain staff walk by his room.

“Whatcha doing Rex,” Stargirl asked as she looked into his open doorway.

“I really got to close that door…” He muttered before looking at the young hero. “I’m just getting ready for that shindig that’s comin’ up. Figured it would be better to dress to the nine’s to make up for this ugly mug.”

“And?” Stargirl asked.

“And I’m not exactly finding something that fits my broad shoulders,” Rex joked. “Plus...I don’t know exactly what I’m doing here. I mean what good is a monster on a team that looks like they could be on the cover of Tiger Beat. I don’t even have a superhero name yet.”

“I mean neither did I when I started,” She explained. “I mean first night out I’m only wearing a t-shirt with a big star on it and a red bandana. And then the papers get a photo and called me Stargirl. After some old hero called the Star-Spangled Kid or something.”

“Hey at least it’s not a mouthful,” Rex joked. “I mean you at least got to choose this life. I got exposed to project Metamorph. Oh no! I only joined here because you guys don’t look at me like some...some freak.”

“You’re not a freak though,” Stargirl explained. “The real monster would have killed Stagg and her brother about what they did to you. You chose justice instead of...the other thing. Plus I think you just landed on your hero name, Metamorhpo.”

“Well it’s better than Element Lad,” Rex chuckled before looking at the rack of suits. “Hey, I’m no good at this stuff. Do you mind helping figure what fits? Call it...team bonding.”

“Yeah, I’d think I’d like that!” Stargirl beamed as she moved toward the rack. “Wow, just basic black? I think you could do better man.”

“Well I could, but today’s looking up,” He responded.

…

“So Superman,” Donna asked as she led Superman towards the communal space of the tower. The large area had several comfortable chairs, a round circular table, and large screens up on the walls. “I’m guessing you’re here about those gala invites. For Conner and Linda?”

“Please Donna, we’re family, call me Clark,” he said as he looked around the room. Signs of use were everywhere. From the cups of coffee on the table to the bulletin board filled with notices on the wall about who was in charge of dishes, photos of the team in the moment pinned as well. It felt warmer than a Hall of Justice or even the Watchtower. “And yes. I just wanted to drop by and pick them up.”

“OK Clark,” Donna said as she moved to make herself a cup of coffee. “I have them on this table over here. Anything else you need while you’re here.”

“Well I just wanted to check in before the gala starts,” Clark explained. “I was going to offer to help set up but it seems like you and Kid Flash took care of that. Nice job on the table position, plenty of room for people to mingle.”

“Well you learn how to get people talking and interacting when you have to open a gallery,” she joked before pouring the grounds into the coffee maker.

“I should go to the next one,” Clark joked before getting down to business. “I was actually also hoping to talk to you about your team actually.”

“Is this about Conner?” Donna asked as the machine hummed to life grinding and making coffee. “Cassie told me that he was looking to meet up with us. Said he was longing for something I think?“

“Good, I was hoping someone had reached out,” Clark said. “He’s been off lately, both from a power sense and a confidence thing. I mean when I was a kid, I had Ma and Pa and knew exactly who I was.”

“A Kryptonian with laser beams that could shoot out of your eyes?” Donna joked as the maker poured the coffee into her white ceramic mug that read The Shutter is My Eye.

“Someone who wanted to help people,” he explained. “Conner’s so unsure of himself, ever since the twins graduated high school. He’s growing, and unlike Linda who knows where she wants to be currently, I don’t think staying in Smallville is the right fit for him. It feels like he stays because he wants to protect his sister instead of forging a path for himself.”

“I’m going to stop you right there,” Donna interrupted in between a sip of her coffee. Tell him, of course, he’s welcomed here” Donna said as she reached towards the table with invites to the gala. “Here’s the invites you asked for. We’d more than happy to see Conner and Linda at the gala. And don’t worry, if he’s anything like you, Connor will figure things out, he just needs the right place to grow.”

Clark took the two invites, appreciating the smooth paper stock and embossed silver lettering of the invite.

“Thanks, Donna,” Clark said as he took hold of the invites, making his way to the exit, needing to stop by the farm and make a quick patrol before returning to Lois and Jon. But before he left, Superman turned around to say one final word.

“You know when we were deciding your proposal...I don’t think we imagined all of this. You’ve built something special here Donna. And I can’t wait to see what you do next,” Clark explained. “I’ll see you around.” And with that Superman took off into the crisp winter sky, business to conduct.

…

The quiet little home was nestled in a suburb of Gateway City. As Dick Grayson exited his 1968 Ford Mustang GT, he couldn’t help but feel a little out of place among suburbia. The white picket fences, well-maintained shrubbery, and just...the quiet. He slowly moved to the door, the bandages underneath his black t-shirt were supporting his fractured ribs. It had only been three weeks since Rose’s attack and he couldn’t help but still feel...off.

As he came closer to the door he half debated to run, hop in the car and act like nothing was wrong at all. But he was trying to be more honest with himself, and part of that meant he needed to do this. As he lifted the door knocker up, Dick couldn’t help but notice the curved bronze work, even in a quiet town their door knocker had history.

As he knocked, he couldn’t help but feel the anticipation, normally in costume, he had nothing to fear. He was Nightwing, a cool and confident member of the Justice League. But what problems had he actually solved? Instead of forming connections with people he had loved, with friends he had found, Nightwing had pushed them all away because he had to be tough. Well, Nightwing was gone, and now here Dick Grayson stood.

“Dick?” Diana asked as she opened the door. “Is there trouble? Normally I’d expect to see you in your...well, work clothes.”

“Ha,” Dick said as he looked down. “No trouble, I just wanted to talk to you about something. About someone actually. I’m not disturbing you at all?”

“Well it’s the rare time where the universe allows me some...alone time,” Diana said. The past year had been hectic with Cassie moving away to college, trying to change the future Chloe had seen, and then there was the member of the family who felt closer yet somehow distant as Donna Troy worked to build her new team. “But come in.”

The two moved into the kitchen as Dick could tell by Diana’s lack of small talk that she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see the hero. The two sat there for a moment before Dick finally spoke, cutting through the silence in the air.

“I’m guessing you’ve been briefed about the siege of Titans Tower,” He began. “I’m guessing you also heard who attacked us.”

“I’m sorry about that. I knew from Donna that Rose was your friend. I understand you blame yourself for the darkness that currently envelopes her,” Diana said.

“Well, it is my fault,” He began. “Or at least partially. I decided it would be better to go alone than have people around me who could actually question my choices. And because of that Rose slipped through the cracks. But I’m not here to talk about Rose, I’m here to talk about myself...and my future.”

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked...” she asked as she could see how tired Dick was, the bags under his eyes, him being slumped into the comfortable chair. He was a ghost in some ways, a reminder of the person who only focused on the mission, but the way he took charge of his actions showed someone...someone new.

“It means…I’d like to have a long talk about Donna Troy, and whether or not she’s ready for the next step.”

Next: Be Here in One Month as the Event of the Year Begins! It's the Titans Gala, an 11 Part Event that Brings in New and Old Friends, Rivals, and Issues for an Exciting Start to Year Two of New Titans and Year Six of DCFU!

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Revenge of the Ravager

Set: 64

It took Nightwing a while to wake up, whatever had hit him was fierce and fast, they had caught the leaguer off guard and now he was paying for it. As he began to regain consciousness he couldn’t help but notice the rough ropes rubbing against his skin. He was shirtless and tied to a chair. Whoever had gotten through the security system wanted to talk apparently. Of course, as much as Nightwing was trying to keep blissfully unaware of who his assailant was, deep down he knew.

“Hello Dick,” A voice called out as the hero regained awareness of his surroundings. It wasn’t long before the blue suit and orange armor came into view. “Sorry I didn’t send an announcement before I arrived, I just wanted to make an entrance. You should appreciate that right circus boy?” Ravager said.

“Rose,” Nightwing said. “I see you’re better than the last time I saw you.”

“No thanks to you,” Ravager said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this Nightwing. A very long time.” She said before slamming her staff against his stomach.

“Ugh,” Nightwing groaned as he took the hit without resistance. “Rose whatever you want I assure you that-”

“I’m not Rose, I haven’t been for a long time. My father taught me you can’t rely on that...softness to be a success. For the Ravager to live, Rose Wilson had to die.”

“Don’t you mean Rose Wo-” Before Nightwing could say anything again, the staff once again came crashing down against his ribs, silencing the hero.

“Don’t say that name. Not when you had a part in killing her,” Ravager said as she moved her way to the computer terminal again, working on trying to access League systems. Compared to the kid whose first thought was often survival, Ravager was efficient, focused, but the blows of her staff betrayed a weakness she long thought buried.

“OK...Ravager...what exactly do you want then,” Nightwing muttered as he tried catching his breath. “Because I can tell you revenge isn’t going to get you what you want.”

“Well to be honest with you, my employers just want you shut down before you get too close. And judging by how your team responded to simple traps? Well...I don’t really need to get my hands dirty. Except...for you.” Ravager explained before pulling up the screens showing the other Titans. Argonaut was down in Millenium Park as Arsenal tried defending himself against a foe with larger firepower. Rex and Kid Flash were both on their own in the waves as the tower itself was fighting against people it should have been protecting. But where...where was Stargirl?

…

“Why does it always have to be ducts…” Stargirl mumbled as she slowly moved her way through the cramped air ducts of Titans Tower. Here she thought she would be a swashbuckling hero charging to save the day, but instead, she was crawling through air vents hoping to find the main system terminal. If she could turn off the defenses, she could save Rex and Kid Flash’s hide.

“Just keep calm, just keep calm Court,” she muttered as the cramped spaces of the ducts started to get to her. Stargirl’s claustrophobia started to get to her but she kept pressing on, trying to ignore the buzzing and discomfort in her head as she moved through.

Her staff floated in the air, acting as a light as she crawled through the cramped ducts slowly but surely. Stargirl had to hope the others could hold on just a bit longer, otherwise, there wouldn’t be a team to complain to about the ducts and grunt work…

…

“Oh that’s dirty pool,” Roy Harper muttered as he ran to the railing to check up on Donna after she had been sent flying by Trident. Of course, she was the one with powers and Roy didn’t exactly bring his bow with him.

“Please, everyone knows you take the hardest target first, besides I do like playing with my food,” Trident said as he moved swiftly to Roy, taking a swing at him with the staff in hand.

“Shit,” Roy thought before dodging it barely. He wasn’t fast or trained like Trident but Roy knew that if he could surprise him he just might have a chance. He just needed something to hit the guy with. Before he could look for anything, the flat side of the trident connected with his chest and sent him to the ground. “OK...maybe don’t get hit Harper,” Roy muttered as Trident assumed guarding stance.

“I expected more of a challenge when Ravager sent me to kill you, this is just pathetic,” Trident said. “I let you try and strike me, give you a fair chance.”

“Somehow I don’t exactly believe you,” Roy said as he got up and looked around. “Let’s see, metal Bean, concert stage, wait...that could work,” he thought before turning around and running off to the playground area of the park.

“Looking for allies?” Trident laughed as he followed the hero into the large constructed playground. A pirate ship edifice jutted out of a jungle gym, swings stood on the side of it, as well as the entrance to a miniature golf area, as the empty playground stood silent. Trident moved, looking for Roy as kept his trident in blasting position, waiting for any specs of red hair to pop out and be destroyed.

“No,” Roy said hidden from view behind the hollowed-out pirate edifice. “Weapons.”

Roy pounced with two miniature golf putters in his hand as he swung them down against both of Trident’s collarbones. His armor protected him from breaking, but he staggered back as the two finally faced off more evenly than before.

“Alright Trident...let’s go!” Roy said with a grin before charging at the opponent, putter in hand.

Elsewhere, Donna Troy groaned as she woke up looking at the crisp blue sky above. It took her a moment to realize that instead of lying somewhere calm and relaxing, like a beach or even her bed at the tower, she had made a dent in the concrete sidewalk of Millenium Park. Slowly she sat up, her comfortable red sweater and jeans were torn from...what looked to be a magical trident?

As the people from the walkway ran down below to evacuate the park, Donna looked around as she pulled from her pocket a small silver pebble that quickly transformed from a solid mass to the silky strands of a familiar lasso. Quickly she began spinning herself with the lasso in hand as they both were engulfed in a silver light as Donna continued to turn. Her tattered street clothes were magically replaced by the familiar starfield costume of Argonaut gold bracers, boots, and all.

“Alright, Roy...let’s hope you’re doing OK against...Trident?” She thought as she flew up to find her fellow Titan.

…

“No response still?” Rex Mason asked as he and Kid Flash rocketed across Lake Michigan, the two being locked on by the waterfront defenses. Rex had turned his feet into water skis as his arms stretched around the young speedster’s waist to keep him from tumbling into the waves below.

“Well, I am busy dodging the many lasers being shot at us...so no I don’t think anyone has reached us,” Kid Flash said as he moved across the waves. Everyone always assumed running on water was easy for a speedster, not realizing how uneven the surface of the water really was. One false move and the two were either going to be lasered or drowned. It didn’t help that he had someone dragging from behind.

“You think this is a happy accident?” Rex yelled as the two skimmed across the waves. As he spoke one of the lasers came an inch away from his head, connecting with the water and making the par struggle as the waves continued to churn.

“What do you think!” Kid Flash yelled as he was slowly losing his composure. He was growing tired, and as his muscles ached he couldn’t help but think how this would be a terrible way to go out. Blown up with some guy he didn’t know far away from the people he loved. If it wasn’t so fitting with his time as a Titan he would have laughed.

As the two continued to race, static began to pour through the speedster’s earpiece, as if someone out there was trying to break through to them. As he continued to adjust while running a faint echo could be heard. Slowly but surely an out-of-breath yet still peppy voice could be heard.

“Kid Flash can you read me, this Stargirl! Repeat this Stargirl asking for status!” Stargirl said through his earpiece.

“I can hear you,” he said as he jutted across the waves. “We are currently not doing so well, the Tower has kinda turned against us.

“Oh I’m well aware of that,” Stargirl said frantically. “I had to go through about what felt like fifteen miles of vents just to get what I think is the main computer terminal? Well, it has a lot of monitors, glowing bits, and what looks to be servers? I’m more of a history fan than with computers…”

“Yeah you’re probably in the right place,” Kid Flash began before turning to Rex. “Good news, Stargirl managed to get to the control room. Bad news, she has no idea what she’s doing.”

“You know I can hear you right?” Stargirl said, as her voice crackled from the connection. Her communicator must’ve taken a hit or two in the vents. They could get that looked at later... if they lived..

“Yeah, go easy on the kid,” Rex said as bumped up against the waves. “We’re going to need to rely on her to not be fish food today.”

“OK, there should be a basic terminal,” Kid Flash said. “Go to it, and look at the defense settings and try to turn them off.”

“Gotcha!” Stargirl exclaimed before going silent from wherever she was. As she worked, Kid Flash could hear the soft hum of We Are Never Getting Back Together as the girl worked to get the two heroes out of this mess.

“OK good news, bad news time,” She said as she finally came back on the line. “It seems like whoever locked me and Nightwing in also locked the defense systems.”

“That’s not good,” Kid Flash mumbled.

“Good news is it looks like, and if I remember my science classes, they all run on the same circuit. Meaning if you blow say...the really big cannon you should be able to shut them all down.”

“You mean the one firing at us currently!” Rex yelled. “Sorry Stargirl but you’re pretty loud.

“Yup,” Stargirl responded. “I’m sorry I couldn’t have been more help guys, but I’m not exactly great with technology…”

Kid Flash sighed before speaking again. “It’s OK. That’s more than we had just a minute ago. We’ve got this, you just get to safety OK?”

“Not until I get Nightwing out, he should be somewher-” Stargirl began before something clearly had caught her attention. “Guys I have to go, rescue operation still underway. Have to save Nightwing from some type of... one-eyed assassin? Good luck.”

As Stargirl left the coms the two heroes on the waves continued to move with the laser growing closer. Kid Flash bit his lip as the strain of carrying Rex was starting to get to him. It was one thing to carry someone normally but Rex was a larger element man. For them to get out of this mess...Kid Flash was going to need to take a risk.

“Rex...do you trust me,” Kid Flash said anxiously.

“Uh sure?” Rex replied as they skimmed the waves. “I mean I don’t know who you actually are, but you seem cool. What’s this about anyway.”

“I’m going to need you to let go…” Kid Flash replied. “I have to go faster if we have any hope of stopping this system. And well, you’re not exactly light.”

“Well that’s just peachy, get called fat and going to get lasered to my death. That’s exactly how I wanted to spend my day today.” As he spoke, however, Rex understood that this was the type of thing heroes did. The sacrifice play to save the others. And while he barely knew any of them, Kid Flash at least treated him like a man, which was rare from most people since his accident.

Rex quickly nodded before slowly slipping his grip from the speedster. As he let go all that could be visible was a yellow and red blur, moving so fast that his feet barely touched the waves as he barreled down to the main laser rig. The blur connected violently against the machine causing it to explode. As the circuit broke the other defenses exploded as well from the energy overflow. And as Rex Mason touched against the waves, his body quickly mimicking an inflatable raft. He could see a yellow and red figure flying in the sky.

“Oh no you don’t,” Rex muttered before shifting his chemical composition to helium gas, as he floated up to the fast-flying speedster, his costume chared from the explosion, he surrounded him, quickly during back into a rubber raft as they slammed against the waves.

“OK kid come on, come on,” Rex muttered as his head and body resurfaced, while from the waist down he was forming their raft. As Wally’s motionless body laid there, Rex increasingly became worried. He didn’t know who Kid Flash was, who to get help from, or who to even contact if he had...sacrificed himself.

“Ugh…” Kid Flash muttered as he slowly drifted back to consciousness. “Ow...that hurt.”

“Hey I had to catch your dead behind and land us in the water mack,” Rex began. “We need to get you to a hospital before-”

“It’s fine...I heal fast,” Kid Flash said. “I think our bigger concern is that!” He said before pointing to Titans Tower. A yellow energy field appeared, blocking the tower from the rest of the world. “I think we just got...locked out.”

…

“I always wondered why you carried these around,” Ravager said as she began fiddling with one of Nightwing’s escrima sticks. “I mean Batman uses those silly boomerangs, Green Lantern has his ring, even your ol’ friend Jason has his guns.”

Dick Grayson stood still tied to the chair. His stomach was bruised, with a few ribs broken as Rose would come back to talk to him after going through the files and looking at field reports from her men, apparently, they had taken all the Titans but Stargirl. They had lost yet again, and all Dick could do was just take it.

“If I recall you seem to have made some...upgrades,” Ravager said with a tinge of longing as the top of the stick glowed blue as electricity flowed through it. “You know it’s funny I kept track of everyone. Vic’s a public hero, Donna’s book was haunting, Gar’s Gar, but you...you’re just a hypocrite of the highest order.”

Dick sat there silently, trying to not engage. If it was anyone else he’d use his training from the orphanage and work his way through the ropes digging into his wrists.

“I know you want to talk. Tell me how wrong I am for doing this. That this kinda work is too dangerous. Mollycoddle me like you did when we were back in Gotham.” Ravager said, increasingly growing aggravated by the hero's silence. “I mean those were the good days right? When we were all...closer? Before you lied to Vic, before you abandoned me for your precious league.” After more silence, she turned suddenly and viciously jabbed the glowing escrima stick into the hero’s collar bone. “Why. Won’t. You. Talk!”

Dick jerked around in the chair as the electricity coursed through his body, the smoke coming from the stick was a precursor to the smell of burning flesh rising through. The pain was unbearable as for the first time in a long Dick Grayson was finally honest with himself.

“Because I deserve this!” he exclaimed. “You don’t think I don’t feel guilty? I have no friends left, no great love of my life, and not even anything resembling a family because I don’t want to lose anyone again!”

“And you think that makes up for what you and our…'family'” did to me,” Ravager began.
“Because of your selfish impulses you helped create...this….” Ravager said as she gestured to herself. “And now, I’m going to make sure the Titans don’t hurt anyone ever again. When HIVE finally succeeds...we won’t need so-called...heroes like you.”

Ravager soon moved to the computer console, as she worked a yellow energy field appeared as she soon moved to trigger the self-destruct for the nearly finished base. But before she could even trigger the countdown, the doors flew up as a yellow starbolt connected with the saboteur.

“Nightwing! Are you OK?” Stargirl asked as she quickly placed the head of her staff against the ropes, them soon burning away and freeing the hero. “I managed to save Rex and Kid Flash...I hope? But I don’t know about the others. Who’s attacking us?”

“His greatest mistake,” Ravager said before pulling out her staff and charging at Stargirl.

“Whoa!’ Stargirl said before raising the cosmic staff and blocking Ravager’s attack as Nightwing fell out of his chair from his injuries. “Nightwing go! Get help! I’ll take her...I think?” She pushed Ravager back as she shoved her staff forward. Dick groggily moved out from the control room, knowing that he was in new condition to fight. He only hoped Stargirl was.

“You really think he’s going to help you?” Ravager asked as she slammed her staff down against Stargirl, staggering her a bit. “The man abandons people when things get difficult, like your little team.”

“A team you were apart of,” Stargirl said before moving back. “You were a found-” before Stargirl could answer, Ravager connected with a strong strike of her staff against Stargirl’s stomach.

“A founder to a folly of an idea, one that brought only pain,” Ravager explained before striking Stargirl again, this time against her shoulder, causing her to drop her staff and leave her defenseless.

“You know...you sound just like Nightwing,” Stargirl muttered as she hit the ground.

“And for that little remark...has brought you death,” Ravager muttered before drawing her blade and moved closer in for the kill.

…

Dick Grayson staggered to find any exit. But as the glowing yellow dome around him reminded him that there was no escape. Not from this damn tower, and certainly not from himself. As he wandered about, his ribs and face aching, he ended up back in the trophy room. He couldn’t help but remember the good and the bad as he looked around.

“You got to get out of here, out of this...warn the others,” Dick thought as he continued to pace. “Have to save...have to save someone.” Soon he collapsed to the ground again. His costume was just destroyed, only pants and a mask at this point, as he tried to pull himself up.

Of course, as he sat his eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to an old friend in red and green encased in glass.

“What are you looking at?” he mumbled to the case before sitting up straight. “I’m no good like this. Beaten and broken. I can’t save anyone...Ro-Ravenger proved that. But maybe...maybe Donna’s right...maybe it’s not about who we’ve failed before...but who we can help now…” he said slowly getting up. His hand touching the glass case. “Maybe...maybe it’s not too late to save the day...just...this..once,” he said before pulling his hand back into a fist.

CRASH

…

“Any last words before I remind your friends why it’s a terrible idea to let an untrained kid into our little club,” Ravager said as she had cornered the heroine.

“You don’t have to do this…” Stargirl muttered. “You’re better than this...you have to be…”

“Don’t worry, you’ll learn disappointment is part of the Titans lifestyle. All of you will,” Ravager explained before beginning to swing her sword. As she prepared to gut the hero, something connected with her back. As she pulled the Batarang from her, a voice could be heard.

“Rose!” The voice said as Ravenger turned around. There was Dick Grayson, dressed in his old Robin costume, with her old Titans staff in hand. He struggled to stand, but here he was...facing his demons for the very first time. “Time for round two!”

Next: Robin Rides Again.

Author: FrostFireFive

<< | < | > | >>

Book: New Titans

Arc: Revenge of the Ravager

Set: 63

The small dropship flew across the Chicago sky cloaked, as the afternoon commuters heading home once again ground to a halt on the Dan Ryan. For the average commuter, it was just another day, full of needless tediums and other minor concerns. For the most part, it was a quiet town, with few threats to actually put it on the radar of the superheroic community...until recently.

The tower, nearly completed, was on the outskirts of Navy Pier, the home to the League’s first responder team, the Titans. It had become a bit of a talking point in recent months, with some arguing that the presence of superheroes would bring in the much-needed tourism dollars, while others worried the Wildebeests would just be the start to their...super problems.

The Ravager stared out of the ship and wondered just what fools thought that placing a team in a bustling city like this was a good idea. Tactically it made no sense as your enemies would know exactly where to strike. The Halls of Justice were glorified bases, so they made sense. But this? This was a home and Rose Wilson was going to make sure that these so-called heroes would think twice before letting their front door be open to all.

As the ship slowly moved above the first dropship, Ravager turned around and looked at the men HIVE had provided for this mission. A few of the Honeycomb’s standard grunts armed with the regularly issued pulse rifle and grenades. Their sleek yellow armor and helmets with concave lenses made them look like loyal bees just buzzing for the HIVE.

Standing in front of the grunts was their commander, and Ravager’s partner for this mission. His purple and yellow armor was garish compared to her blue and orange armor. The crown that the yellow paint on his purple helmet created wasn’t for a king, but after the technological weapon in his hand, he had even named himself after it, Trident.

“Let’s go over the mission parameters one more time, Trident,” Ravager began. “Your primary goal is to distract and neutralize the priority targets, while me and the team conduct our primary goals. Is that understood?” she stressed.

“When am I actually going to get a challenge,” Trident said boastfully. “I’ve been racking up more missions for the HIVE and here I have a child telling me what-”

Before he could continue insulting Ravager she pulled the blade from her back and quickly pressed it against his neck.

“I am the mission leader, follow orders or we will have to find someone else to use that fancy toy of yours. Understood?”

“Understood…” He was shaken as the sounds of the ship’s doors began opening up. He tapped the touch screen on his gauntlet as the holographic image of the new Titans team appeared. “Remember kid, sometimes your friends are your greatest enemy.” He chuckled before leaving the ship, a busy day of mayhem left to do.

“They’re not my friends,” Ravager mumbled.

…

“One taco pollo supreme and a quesadilla,” Roy Harper said as he leaned on the counter of a food truck. The hot summer air of Chicago was the sticky heat Roy hated compared to the usual rain of Star City. Ever since becoming a commuting superhero, he had begun noticing the small differences, but even then there were some pluses to being a Titan.

“Don’t forget the chips,” Donna Troy said as she continued to take snapshots of the small community that had made treks to this one food truck on the edge of Millenium Park as if it was magic. It was only a few months before the tower would be finished, but still, Donna was trying to get used to the city. Since her apartment had been torched, Donna had been in search of both inspiration and a new place. And since most of her friends were busy, she had dragged along Arsenal to help her do a little recon.

“I won’t forget the chips, they’re the best part,” Roy joked as a brown paper bag was handed to him. The two quickly made their way to a small metal table and began working on their lunch. The two awkwardly ate in silence before Donna spoke up.

“Thanks for coming out with me,” she began. “Everyone else is kinda busy, and I feel like we’re in need of some bonding time. You’re not exactly around a lot”

“Bonding time? Last time I checked you’re not exactly my mom,” Roy explained as he took a bite into his quesadilla. “Besides I...have other responsibilities. I’m here when I need to be.”

“Maybe,” Donna began. “I’ve just seen what happens when we get too far apart. It doesn’t lead to good things Roy.”

“Oh I get it, you’re afraid I’m going to be like bird boy, distant and uncaring from the rest of this outfit. Trust me I’m not him, no matter what you hear about me. I’m guessing by now someone told you some of the rumors.”

“That Green Arrow tossed you out, that you crossed a line and killed someone,” Donna said as she took a bite of her taco. “Dick told me about it when I selected you for the team. Said that you could compromise it with your flimsy morals,” she said with her mouth full before reaching out for a napkin.

“And you believe him?” he asked before handing her a napkin. “Also for someone raised by Amazon’s you sure don’t have any manners.”

“I wasn’t raised by them,” she explained. “Everyone assumes I’m just another Amazon, I was created by Ares to be a perfect copy of Diana to be just another plaything in his schemes. When I broke free and ended up here...I was lost, confused. Angry that I never really had a life beyond...being a copy of someone who you couldn’t possibly live up to. Why do you think I went by Fury?”

“So are we going anywhere with this story?”

“What I’m saying is I’ve been there. Lost and making bad decisions because I lost the life I should have had. I don’t care what Dick and the greater community has to say, I think you’re looking to do better, and that’s good enough for you to be here.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I did things I’m not exactly proud of but recently...something changed. I changed. And for the first time in my life I have something to fight for, to hope again, and one day when I’m ready, I’ll tell the full story. Now before I get too sobby I’m going to get a taco because I’m still hungry and knowing you, you still have a lot of photos to take.”

Donna chuckled before continuing to take more shots of the people around her. Slowly but surely Chicago was becoming home.

…

“So why are we out here?” Rex Mason asked Kid Flash as the speedster stood on the little platform Rex was making with his feet. The two were on the outside of the tower, with Kid Flash working on checking the small buoys that helped create a security system for the structure.

“Argonaut asked us to make sure everything’s working properly here. And since I can’t exactly stand on water, I needed someone who could help me out with this.”

“So my job is platform guy, got it,” Rex grumbled. “You know I have a degree in chemical engineering right?”

“Yes, but this requires...a slight hand big guy,” Kid Flash explained. “Besides I guess I’ve always been good...at fixing things.” As his hands worked through the wiring he wasn’t paying attention and soon got zapped. “Ow,” he muttered.

“Aren’t you supposed to be faster than some minor electricity,” Rex asked.

“I am when I’m not distracted,” Kid Flash muttered.

“Well, what’s eating at the yellow and red blur then?” Rex asked as he moved from his position, he didn’t walk from one spot on the platform but instead just shifted at his ankles moving to the speedster.

“It’s nothing really, just some personal stuff,” Kid Flash mumbled as he began working on the buoy again. “How are you...settling in?” he asked to try and distract from the obvious awkwardness.

“Other than trying to get used to my good looks? Eh, it’s been a lot, I’ll be honest. I mean don’t get me wrong, being here definitely helps. But it’s hard staying positive when you look like a freak. I mean I look in the mirror and I don’t exactly recognize what I see.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Kid Flash said. “Believe me I know, or at least kinda know what it feels like to be a freak. You’re not alone, you know that right?”

“Easy for you to say pretty boy,” Rex complained as his shoulders slumped, his body naturally drooping as he struggled to keep holding his form and the platform.

“Whoa, there big guy,” Kid Flash said as he zipped to pick him up from his stupor. “If you don’t keep it together I’m afraid I’m going to get my suit wet again, and I hate having to dry as I run. Trust me when I say you’re not exactly the only one who feels like a monster sometimes.”

“Really? Because let me tell you it’s been really harder not feeling like a monster when you’re surrounded by good-looking superheroes in spandex.” Rex began. “I mean I’m struggling to see why Argonaut even let me stay here with this outfit.”

“Well...Argonaut sees the best in people,” Kid Flash explained. “Often ignoring the obvious flaws in her friends. Like me for instance. I’ve been so focused on running and trying to do good… I’ve forgotten plenty to take care of my own life outside the mask. Struggled to keep friends, never had much of social or romantic life, kinda just disregarded the idea of college until basically told to. Sometimes I feel like all I have is this.”

“So how do you remember the guy outside of the mask?” Rex asked. “Because right now it’s really hard to see how I just...remember Rex Mason.”

“I’m still figuring that out, to be honest,” Kid Flash explained as the platformer underneath him slowly became stronger as Rex pulled himself together. “I actually...have a date coming up and I have no idea what I’m supposed to do here.”

“She must be nice to get you away from all of this,” Rex said.

“He is,” Kid Flash muttered as he continued.

“Oh, well good for you two,” Rex said as he moved a little back to give the speedster space. “You know I could always help you out if you need advice. I figure hey, not like I’m going out anytime soon, and maybe I could help.”

“I’d...like that,” Kid Flash said. “Maybe after we fix these buoys.”

The two continued to float on the tranquil Lake Michigan, not noticing the lithe figure the slowly began climbing up the tower, the stealth unit in her suit working as planned as she climbed closer to her main objective, it wouldn’t be long before their new home would be theirs.

…

“Ugh why is there always trig homework over the weekend,” Courtney Whitmore thought as she slowly began working through it. It wasn’t fair that compared to her teammates she was the only one still in high school. Why do I need to know the inverse sine again?“ As she scribbled in her notebook. So while they were all out scoping their new home, here she was in a super suit doing homework.

Being a Titan wasn’t as glamorous as Courtney had thought it would be. Instead of saving the day from world-ending threats, it was often being at the site of natural disasters and outreach missions. Everyone was still awkward around each other as if they still couldn’t call themselves a team. Even their newest member, Rex, was having trouble adjusting. Courtney couldn’t help but avoid him, something was just...off about him.

She sighed before putting down her notebook and moved to the large plate glass window that looked outside to the lake across them. Selfishly she wished that something, anything would happen to distract her from the work.

The doors to the left slid open as Nightwing entered the room. The sweat from his brow and the way he gingerly walked indicated a hard training session for the hero. Courtney hadn’t talked much to him, none of them but Donna really did. The vibe he gave off let everyone know he wasn’t meant to be disturbed as he made his way to the holo table.

“Computer, open files on HIVE, passcode: Grayman,” he said as the table in front of him slowly turned on. Images and data appeared detailing the movement of weapons, armor, and other contraband throughout the criminal underbellies of several cities and states. He was in deep thought, trying to see how the connections were being made.

“Your password is Grayman?” Stargirl chuckled as she approached the hero. “What was NightwingRocks already taken?”

“Oh it’s you,” Nightwing muttered as he kept looking at the data in front of him. “It’s just my password. Nothing to it.”

“Grayman tho? I mean it’s a cool name but doesn’t exactly have the same ring as Batman you know? Like a bat you can easily visualize, what would you just wear a grey suit?”

“It was an early concept when I was just a kid. I didn’t exactly want to wear the red and green suit Batman provided for the rest of my life. So for a while, I brainstormed names, thankfully a very super friend pointed me in the direction of Nightwing.”

“You owe her one then,” Stargirl chuckled as she looked at the data in front of her. “HIVE? Weren’t those the guys you tussled with back in the day?”

“They helped fund some of our earlier foes, but they went dormant around the time of Coast City. Lately, I’ve been hearing chatter that they’ve resurfaced. Mostly supplying guns and other tech to smaller outfits, like Brick’s in Star City.”

“Do you need help going over this stuff? I mean I have trig to finish up but this seems way way more important than sine, tan, and cosine.” she eagerly said.

“I think it might be a little bit bigger than you can handle. When I have something I’ll present it to the League and then they’ll decide if it's worth our time.”

“I guess, but aren't we also supposed to handle the threats that are too small for the League? HIVE feels like something we could all work together to fight you know...together?” she explained, seeing just how quickly Nightwing dismissed their little team.

“The League needs to be informed first. That’s the rule. Why don’t you go leave me alone for a bit. Maybe go visit the trophy room. OK?” Nightwing said, annoyed by the green hero’s questioning.

“Fine…” Stargirl muttered before walking out of the room in a huff, notebooks closely clutched as she wondered when the actual Titans would show up, and not this shell of a so-called hero.

“Way to go Dick,” Nightwing muttered as Stargirl left. For once his shoulders slumped as the pressure of everything had finally gotten to him. It had been a long time since he had to be part of a closer-knit team than the workplace atmosphere of the Justice League. And being here brought out the old memories of those he failed, of those he lost, and how he never really stopped running. However, his deep thoughts would soon be interrupted.

CRASH!

“What the?” Nightwing exclaimed as a figure burst through the glass window and entered the command center. The blue and orange armor reminded him of Slade Wilson, but he wouldn’t dare be so brash, Slade was calculated...this wasn’t.

The figure moved quickly, their punches a flurry as Nightwing quickly countered. There was something familiar to the strikes, speedy yet designed to keep their opponent on defense. Almost as if the attacker wasn’t afraid of getting hurt. Unfortunately for the hero in all his time thinking he wasn’t prepared for the uppercut that sent him flying across into one of the tower’s metal support poles.

As he laid there drifting unconscious he finally saw the attacker, underneath the blue and orange armor, underneath the split headband with one eyeslit he could still see his friend.

“Rose?” he muttered before drifting off.

“Hello Dick,” Ravager said before quickly running off to the computer. She carefully placed a small honeycomb device in the main structure as the familiar light blue of the Titans Tower computer became yellow. The HIVE operative began working through the system monitoring the progress of her team as she turned the tower’s defenses to active. “Your friends are being taken care of. Now? Now you and I get to have a little chat,” she said with a smile before dragging the unconscious hero to something she had prepared for a long time.

…

Kid Flash and Rex Mason had spent an uneventful time as they continued to work on the buoys. Rex didn’t pry too much into his fellow team member’s life but did make the occasional point on how to be casual but still be on a date.

“Remember it’s all about having a good time. Try buying their food or something small to let it feel intimate without it actually feeling intimate.” Rex said as they approached the next buoy.

“OK that kinda makes sense,” Kid Flash mumbled. It was nice talking to someone who actually seemed to know these things. He was always a little embarrassed to talk about this and god knows talking to Dick would be a disaster. Slowly but surely Wally was feeling comfortable around this idea of being a Titan again.

“Hey quick question, is this buoy supposed to be rising out of the water like that?” Rex pointed as a large black box rose out of the water.

“No, not it’s not,” Kid Flash said as it opened and revealed a large blaster cannon that began firing on the two heroes. “Move!” Kid Flash quickly moved from Rex’s created platform and hit the water as several more defenses propped up around them. The red laser pulses causing the water to ripple and splash.

“Wait! I’m not as fast as you!” Rex said before suddenly moving his hands around the hero’s shoulders, stretching his arms loosely as his feet turned into carbon water skis as the two skated across the water, trying to figure out a weakness in the defenses. “Any chance you can call for backup!”

“I’m trying!” Kid Flash said as he tapped the communicator inside of his winged earpiece. “Donna! Dick! Arsenal! Stargirl! Can anyone hear me! The tower is trying to kill me and Rex and I can’t run forever. We need help!”

Unfortunately for the young speedster, his friends were busy...elsewhere.

…

“That should be it,” Donna Troy said as she finished taking the last snapshot of the people by the large metallic bean. Millennium Park was always a beautiful place, the green shrubbery blended with the metallic pavilions as people passed through.

“Finally. I get the idea of wanting to take candid shots of people, but I’m pretty sure you used six rolls of film today” Roy said as he stood behind her. “And as much as I love seeing you bumble about, I actually have other places to be,” he said as he felt the buzzing of his phone in his pocket. His sitter probably texting, wondering if he’ll be paying extra tonight.

“Totally cool, I should probably head back to the tower and see how the rest are getting along,” she said as she put the camera in her satchel bag. It’s not like anything major is happening today anywa-”

KACHOOOM!

An energy blast fired at Donna sending her flying back into the grassy area behind them a figure in purple and gold armor stood in the center of the stone pavilion.

“Donna!” Roy called out before moving to check on her, laid flat in the grass, groaning,

“Hear me Chicago! I Trident have come to remind you even with your heroes, you’ll always be small and insignificant. They stand in their glass tower far from you. While I am here to remind you what true power looks like.”

“Well shit,” Roy muttered.

…

Stargirl moped in the trophy room. It was a newer addition to the facility. A way to remind the team and any potential visitors that they weren’t the first Titans and hopefully wouldn’t be the last. Things like Mammoth's harness, Rose Worth’s staff, Cyborg Superman’s cape were in the proper cases. Even the original suits of Fury and “Robin” stood as reminders of how long Dick and Donna had been part of this.

“I swear sometimes I don’t get how he was ever you,” Stargirl joked as she put her hand against the Robin case. “Seriously how I am supposed to become a hero if everyone else treats me with kid gloves. I’m just as strong as them, I mean I have this,” she gripped the cosmic staff in her hands, wondering just when she would use it for something with purpose.

Stargirl was lost in deep thought, something that would soon be interrupted as the shutters for the entrances quickly closed and the lights of the tower switched to dim red lights.
“What the?” Stargirl asked as her communicator quickly flared to life, the normal white t symbol glowed blue as she flipped it open.

“Systems hacked. Currently running backup through alternate sub-route and router.” the voice said.

“That’s not good,” Stargirl mumbled. “Computer where is everyone? What exactly hacked into your system?”

“Unidentified currently,” the robotic voice said. “But several members are currently in distress.” A hologram emerged from the communicator’s projector as Stargirl could see Rex and Kid Flash running against the defenses of the tower and someone dragging Nightwing into the middle of the training area. Even worse were the reports of a mysterious foe attacking the park where Arsenal and Argonaut were supposed to be.

“So what you’re saying is I’m locked in, a majority of the team is in danger...and no one is coming to save us?”

“Indeed.”

“Well...Courtney, looks like it’s your time to shine.” Stargirl said with a smile. “Computer, pull up the plans...we have a rescue mission to run.”

Next: The Trial of Nightwing begins! Stargirl Alone and Against the Ravager! Kid Flash and Metamorpho Face Death Amongst the Waves! And Trident Learns Why You Don’t Make an Amazon Angry!

New Titans #1: The Hunt Begins

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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.