JLU 2001 Fanfiction -The Titans #13

Then

“So this is it? This is how it all ends?”

Dick Grayson’s eyes slid up through the dark night, to stare at his friend and teammate Roy Harper. Along with Donna, Garth, and Kory they were all that was left. All that was left of the Titans. Victor and Toni were still in the hospital. Kara had taken off for parts unknown with her new lease on life. Gar was dead and buried now, and Raven was trapped in the dimension of her demon father. All in all the last adventure of the Titans had not been a shining moment for them.

“Let’s be honest, the Titans were never going to end on a bright note. It’s not in the nature of the way our lives work. We were never going to have a grand blazing moment of glory. We all knew that one day it would end and we’d move on to bigger things.” Dick’s words hit all of them, as they all knew it was true. “Maybe this is a phase of life we’re done with.”

“But Gar and Raven and the others…”

Donna’s words were cut off, as Dick’s hand rose. “Will be honored and remembered long after this team is gone. As long as we honor them and remember them, others will as well.”

Five sets of eyes stared at one another as the reality finally set in. “So this is the end of the Titans then, I guess. It’s…it’s been a good run guys.” Roy held his hand out in the middle, palm facing down.

Donna’s hand slid on top of the archer’s, as she nodded as well. “The team is gone, but we’re still friends. Don’t think this means we won’t ever see each other again.”

“I don’t think that you’d let us Donna.” A smile spread across Garth’s lips, as he moved his hand in as well.

Kory said nothing as her orange hued hand settled onto the growing pile of hands. Dick was all that was left, as his gaze swept across Titans Tower standing tall behind them. So many of their adventures and memories centered around the Tower. Their home. Now it would fade into memory of all, a relic of the past. There were brighter things on the way for them, he had faith in that. The original idea of sidekicks stepping out of the shadows of their mentors, and exceeding those mentors still raged strong in them. Turning back to the others his hand slid on top of theirs. “Titans Forever.”

The four repeated the words, and moments later they all left going their own ways. As the sun rose over the tower, the Titans were long gone.

Argent Protecting Our Future

Rebirth: Part 1
'One Year Later'

The Titans #13 - July, Year Six by Scott Redmond

The Titans

NIGHTWING
Dick Grayson

CYBORG
Victor Stone

STARFIRE
Koriand'r

ARGENT
Toni Montelli

RAVEN

ARSENAL
Roy Harper

TEMPEST
Garth

DONNA TROY

One Year Later
Gateway City

A cold sweat broke across her body, as the visions of blood and fire returned. Shooting up in bed two hands clutched bed sheets tightly. Realizing that reality had returned, her hands moved up to her head as she tried to regain control of her breathing. The cries of a friend almost forgotten still rang through her ears. They had abandoned her to a fate worse than death. Time had gone on, and slowly they had forgotten. “Raven.” The name tumbled off her tongue as a soft knock sounded on the door.

Thin rays of light entered the room, as her blond roommate stuck her head in. Ever since the death of her mother, the moving of Themyscira, and Diana being asked to leave the country; the girl had been living with her. Donna motioned for Cassie to enter the room, as clear concern colored her face. “Come in.”

Closing the door softly, the room was placed back in darkness. Flicking on the small light beside her bed, Donna pushed the covers off fully and pulled her legs over the edge of the bed. The long Gotham Knights jersey that Dick had given her reached down to her knees. Cassie settled on the edge of the bed and stared at her friend waiting. “You were yelling in your sleep.”

“I’m sorry Cassie I did not mean to disturb you. My dreams have been…vivid as of late.” The description was an understatement, but there was no need to alarm the girl too much. They were probably a passing set of dreams. The stress of late, mixed with her own guilt was the cause no doubt.

“Are they about Diana?”

“No.”

“You mentioned something about a raven.”

Nodding, Donna’s eyes focused on the window as something fluttered by. A black bird perched upon the tree, it’s eyes focused upon her. A raven. The dream was an omen or a sign. Of what was the problem facing her. All she knew was that somehow her friend was trying to contact her. Things were about to change.

St. Hopes Cemetery
Santa Rosa, California

Three years. Three years almost exactly since the moment everything had changed. They had been the newest incarnation of the Teen Titans. Argent, Atom, Fringe, Joto, Prysm, and Risk. On her sixteenth Birthday, Toni Monetti gained a silvery sheen to her skin and was mysteriously teleported away. Along with a few other teens, she learned that they were all half-alien sleeper agents. Apparently their mothers were impregnated by an alien race called the H’San Natall. The H’San Natall created the children as part of a sleeper agent program to defeat the super beings already on Earth. The teens escaped with the help of a teenaged Atom, and became the newest Teen Titans.

The team went through numerous adventures together, facing many great evils. One of those evils was Dark Nemesis, a group of super powered individuals paid by the H’San Natall to hunt down their rebellious agents. Their battles had always ended in stalemates, until the last one. The H’San Natall decided to end the threat of their sleeper agents once and for all, and amped up the Dark Nemesis powers. During a battle in the South Land Mall, Dark Nemesis completed most of their goal. They killed the Teen Titans. All except Argent, who was only saved by the return of the original Titans.

A solo tear slid down a silver cheek, an errant finger rising to wipe it away. No matter how much time went by the pain remained. A twitch of pain surged through the right arm, a reminder of the hard battle with Trigon and Beast Boy the year before. As she lay in a hospital bed recovering the Titans, the only family she wanted to accept, called it quits. Leaving her with nowhere to go.

“I miss you guys.” Stepping back from the graves, a hand slid down to wipe dirt from her knees. It was time to go. “I’ll come back again guys. I promise. I just need to find a way to get on with my life. The Titans are over.”

With a flash and a loud crash a cloaked black figure appeared before the silver skinned girl, sending her staggering back. “Raven!” How had she escaped Trigon’s dimension? Why was she here? So many questions moved through the mind in one moment.

The wavering cloaked figure, pulled back it’s hood to reveal the pale face of Raven. The image wavered somewhat, showing that it wasn’t the flesh and blood Raven but an image. “Toni Monetti, you are needed. The Titans must be reborn.”

Before any words could be spoken, the world faded with a bang. In the spot where once stood a girl was now nothing but empty space. With a small poof Raven disappeared as well leaving the cemetery in quiet just as it should be.

Metropolis
Star Labs

A fluttering of eyelids coincided with the light beeping of the monitor beside the large tube. The EKG began to show a blip of brain activity. A shiny metal exterior was visible through the transparent material, splashes of dark colored flesh showing as well. Victor Stone slept undisturbed, in the same mentally induced coma that had kept him down for the last year.

Flashes of fire and brimstone. Screams of a friend lost. The face of Garfield Logan as his body lies slack in the pool. The brain activity began to increase, intense fear and anger passing over his face. The beeps intensified as eyes fluttered open. Panic set in at first, unfamiliar surroundings assaulting the mind all at once. Glass shattered as a metal clad fist slammed through the tube, breaching the containment.

“Mr. Stone, welcome back to the land of the living.”

Pausing Vic’s eyes slid to the lone man standing before him. An elderly gentleman with salt and pepper sprinkled hair offered a wane smile. The name badge affixed to his white lab coat claimed he was a Doctor Michael Weathers.

“…How…. how long was I out?”

Dr. Weather’s hands moved across the keypad of the computer beside him, eyes never once leaving his patient. “A year. Just like we discussed when you were originally put down. Your calculations pinpointed this as the most accurate amount of time needed for regeneration cycles. You were very heavily damaged when you were brought to us before. Your body was rejecting the alien implants within.”

A cursory glance down revealed a silvery exterior that was reminiscent of the original cybernetic upgrade he had undergone in the first place. “I’m…. I’m back to the way I was before.”

“Hmm yes, and no. We returned you to your original state of appearance with some modifications of course. You have been totally updated for the new century. A lot of outdated software was gunking up the works in there. I guess you could consider yourself Cyborg 2.0 or such.”

A tall-mirrored surface stood across the room. Striding forward he took in his full imposing figure. It was like something out of one of those futuristic comic books or Sci-Fi movies that were played at late night. “What happened while I was out?”

“Ah well yes, there is so much to fill you in on. I had my staff prepare an entire interactive program that will guide you through the last year that you missed. I am told it might be quite intense though.” A hand gestured at a seat that was surrounded by tall blinking computer banks. “We can begin right away if you desire.”

The blanks were plaguing the mind as he tired to recall what had happened; yet there was no answer. It would be desired to fill the blanks in there and now, yet there was some kind of longing. No more of a calling that was driving him to leave the labs. There was one place he had to go first. Not sure why he was being pulled there, he was not one to disagree.

“No, not right now doctor. I have someplace more pressing to be first.” Settling his hand upon the doctor’s shoulder, he nodded gratefully before moving towards the doors.

“Wait…where are you going?”

Pausing momentarily, a small smile appeared. “Home.”

Paris, France

“Ladies and Gentleman, put your hands together for the Amazing…the Incredible…. the Legendary Zatara!”

Cheers raged from the packed house, bright lights shining from above. A thick smoke rolled across the stage, a figure slowly moving through until they were full revealed. A black top hat complimented the full black regalia the magician wore. With the flick of the wrist and the long wand looking cane with a muttered word, a giant puff of smoke appeared before revealing a flock of doves. The doves flew into the air, eliciting coos and claps from the crowd.

They were so easy to draw in night after night, thinking they were in for such slights of hand that were easily explainable. So few realized the true power they sat in awe of at the moment. “Edolpxe Sevod!”

Showers of confetti rained down from where there was once a flock of majestic and beautiful birds. Cheers erupted at the sight, so easily drawn from those gathered. It almost disgusted the young magician how easily they gobbled up such parlor tricks. There was a reason such power was bestowed upon him and not the bleating masses gathered that night. With a final bow and flourish the stage was empty as they continued to cheer.

Muttering through the halls, the telltale click of heels upon the wood floor told him of his assistant Bunny’s approach. “That was just amazing tonight Zatara. They really enjoyed the show.”

“Do you think me deaf Bunny?”

“No, no of course not.”

Not once bothering to look at her he paused before the dressing room door. “Then why do you insist upon telling me that which I already know? I heard the applause with my own ears. The show begins again in fifteen minutes, go make yourself useful and prepare.”

Nodding vigorously the scantily clad young woman dashed back down the hall to take care of whatever was left for the next show. Pushing the door open, a roll of his eyes emerged at her departure. It was so hard to find quality help. A pause and a raised eyebrow was the only reaction to the surprise figure already occupying the room.

Long black cloak hid most of her features, but it was readily apparent that a woman was behind the cloak. “Excuse me, ticket holders aren’t allowed back stage. Do not make me have to call security.” No doubt another emo groupie had slid back stage. The security was certainly lackluster in the venue.

Cold blue eyes peered out of the cloak opening taking in every inch of Zatara even delving into his soul. A cold shiver moved through his body at the intense stare.

“Zachary Zatara, you are needed. The Titans must be reborn.”

“What in God’s name are you talkin….” Before he could finish the room vanished as the two figures faded away leaving nothing but an empty dressing room and a tall black hat floating to the ground.

Next Issue: Titans Reborn!

TITANS TOGETHER

First off I apologize for the long gap between this issue and the special that kicked off my run of Titans. I also apologize for the shortness of the issue. I had a bit more to fit in here, but I choose to forgo it for next issue in order to get something out there for readers. Now that I got that all out of the way, I’m so glad to be writing Titans for JLU. I’m not going to go and say I’ve always been a fan of Teen Titans and the like as that would be a lie. I never really paid the Teen Titans any heed, as I was a Marvel guy for most of my life. Till one day at late Virgin Megastores, I came across this red trade paperback that contained the first seven issues of Geoff Johns run on Teen Titans. Now to this day I’m still not sure what attracted me to the book upon the shelf but I’m glad I was. Devouring the book quickly I easily picked up the next six issues to catch me up to the latest release. From that point on I was an avid monthly reader.

Over time I’ve delved into the past of the Titans and loved a lot of it. When I came across JLU I always wanted to find something DC to write, as I had pitched to write Teen Titans at DC Omega before it’s untimely end, as well as had pitches in mind for Robin and Batgirl. Also recently I had begun writing a Batman title that took place during the OYL gap to go along with a Teen Titans title that my friend and fellow writer Hunter Lambright was penning. Unfortunately the reception to DC stuff at the site we wrote for was low and the titles ended, as we felt no desire to continue. Thus my looking for a new place to write DC and the recollection of JLU. Seeing Titans open, I put in my pitch and here we stand.

I have quite a lot in store for the Titans that I hope sets them apart from their Teen Titans past and helps them find a true place in the vast DC universe as a team. So I’ll end here on that note, and promise that next issue will come with a lot more stuff within it.

Scott Redmond
5/31/09