JLU 2001 Fanfiction -The Titans #2

Arsenal leaned his back against a concrete wall. His dark red hair clung against his deeply tanned face. His spandex costume was torn exposing his beaten skin. His quiver was almost empty. He could not get enough air. “Are they giving us a breather, Wingster?” Arsenal asked, his head turned to the blue clothed man who stood to his left. Nightwing looked to have seen better days as well. He was bowled over, breathing hard. The streets at the moment were silent, and almost still. Only the flames of wrecked cars and the constant police sirens gave any sense of motion.

    “I don’t know, Roy,” Nightwing spoke grimily. “Maybe Wally and Garth have found Vic.” He wasn’t used to being an optimist. After spending most of his natural born life under the wing of Batman-- he learned to expect the unexpected, and not to count on anything but more damage.

    “The whole city has gone silent,” the voice of Donna Troy called from the sky. Her body held onto by Starfire, as the duo descended towards the two men who stood beaten and bruised. “What the hell happened?” Donna said as soon as she got a good sight of the two men.

    “There was another squad of cars--“ Nightwing was cut off.

    “And the tractor trailer…” Arsenal added.

    “And the tractor trailer that decided to tangle with us.”

    “Then about ten minutes ago it stopped. All of it went silent,” Arsenal said as he tried to stand up straight.

    “So then I guess, maybe Victor is being preoccupied,” Donna mentioned as she continued to stare at the two men. The night’s shadows allowed most of their swollen faces and injuries to be more curious than grotesque. “So what are we standing around for? Garth and Wally are probably in trouble!”

    “Wally and Garth can handle Vic. From what we’ve seen Garth is quite powerful… and Wally is, well, Wally,” Arsenal interrupted.

    “Plus, if things do get out of control someone needs to be here.”

    “What about Argent?” Donna asked.

    A wave of concern washed over both Arsenal and Nightwing. “We are going to have to split up,” the two former leaders said at the same time.

    “I’m beginning to sense a pattern,” Starfire spoke.

cybvorg Protecting Our Future

Family Ties

The Titans #4 - October, Year 1 by JAE LIZHINI

The Titans

NIGHTWING
Dick Grayson

ARSENAL
Roy Harper Jr.

THE FLASH
Wally West

DONNA TROY

TEMPEST
Garth


ARGENT Toni Montelli	STARFIRE	BEAST BOY Garfield Logan	CYBORG Victor Stone

Titan Island
New York City

    Beast Boy felt his head spinning as he opened his eyes. It took moments for his eyes to undulate. But even before the haze was lifted he remembered hearing Victor’s words. A struggle for control… his human side was fighting the control. The cry words rung in his ears.

    Twenty feet from where the green shape changer laid; Tempest was busy diving from the fists of the large scrap metal giant. His thin body moved as graceful as an acrobat-- definitely not like the fish out of water he always seemed to be. Even as Tempest dodged punches and attacks, a red blur swarmed around the robot. Beast Boy easily guessed that the Flash was throwing punches, most likely looking for a weak spot. It took the score of five minutes for the former Teen Titan to get to his senses and stop remembering the years gone past… moments for him to realize they were attacking his best friend who was locked under the control of an alien race or machines--the Technis.

    “You have to stop!” Beast Boy called as he ran across the barren ground, his feet spraying clots of ashen debris as his body oozed out claws, his body morphing in mid stride taking on the form of an emerald Bengal tiger.

    Tempest’s hands pushed across the low swinging arm of the robot. His body tucked low as he vaulted through the air. As he moved he heard the sound of his former teammate pleading for them to stop. His head tilted to look to the Bengal tiger that was striding towards them. The young Atlantean was taken unaware as the right fist smashed into his face. His weight shifted rolling with the punch as his body was thrown back, his form skidding across the dirt, waves of debris spitting as his body cleared the peat.

    “VICTOR!” Beast Boy called out as he ran towards the large giant, whose feet were still engulfed in the crystallized ice. The metal skull turned its head towards the green tiger. Its face contorted in sorrow for but a mere moment in time, before an ear screeching sonic cry spewed from its mouth. “FIGHT IT! FOR US!”

    “NOOOO!” the metal giant cried. The sheer force of the scream caught the Flash in its current. The scarlet speedster’s body fell across the ground skidding. Beast Boy’s head whipped around just to see the red spandex clad childhood friend skidding past him.

    Beast Boy’s body grew in size as he looked back at the gigantic robot that stood before him. Large tree trunk sized legs launched out from his body, his torso stretched long ways and a skull jetted out from his shoulders. “Vic, those are your friends- our friends!”

    --Not anymore Gar-- the Robot squealed in defiance as Beast Boy’s body finished its transformation into a rhinoceros. The dark green animal thundered towards the robotic mesh of metal and circuits.

    The robotic shell of the Titan once called Cyborg brought its fist down hard hitting the rhino with a tremendous impact. Beast Boy felt the impact resonate even through the thick hide of the animal whose form he currently possessed. The impact sent him rolling top over bottom across the pavement.

Royal View Hospital
New York City

    Arsenal landed first on the roof of the Royal View Hospital. He felt the pain in his legs and chest as he thudded on the firm concrete. Starfire descended slower, she landed like a cat behind him. It was as quiet in the hospital as it had gone all over the city. No voices-- not even looters were out. Even the hard edged brave criminals didn’t dare step out when every single powered device appeared to be attacking. Arsenal was quite glad at the moment that he had his crossbow. Of course he was running quickly out of bolts. He wondered how his friends the Flash and Tempest were doing. He knew once they had Argent safe, that he would try to get there. Try to help where he could. He however was also hoping that Nightwing and Donna were safe-- despite how they acted to one another, they were like family… the night had gone silent for a while now, he could only hope it would stay that way. “Stand back,” Starfire commanded as her hand crackled behind him.

    “Yeah…” Arsenal nodded as he stood up from his hunched position, and took a few steps back, behind Starfire.

    The orange skinned princess turned slave turned princess again, opened her hand as the orangish energy disbursed from her hand. The energy crashed into the concrete roof. Rocks and concrete showered in a thick mist. Arsenal brought his hand across his jaw length mane of shimmering red hair, his stubby fingers raking across the thick locks clearing the gravel and debris. Starfire didn’t wait for him however; instead her body darted through the hole in the roof she had just made. Her sight obfuscated as she descended into the inky blackness of the hospital. The thump of her feet hitting the linoleum echoed over her hair. She raised her fist up as she summoned the energy she was known for-- the energy glowing across her first lit up the hallway in a greenish tint, not unlike she had replaced her hand for the original Green Lantern of Alan Scott. Her eyes scanned the hallway ahead of her, in silence. A silence that didn’t break until the sound of a body falling behind her caught her attention.

    Starfire turned her head, towards the man who stood hunched over on the floor. Her glowing hand waved over him, breaking the shell of darkness, and highlighting the red clothing of the man whose green eyes fell on top of hers. “Took you long enough Roy. Sure you’re okay to do this?” she asked Arsenal as he rose from his hunched position.

    “Look, I’m fine. Let’s do this before Vic reestablishes marshal law and we both get gutted.” Arsenal watched as Starfire turned from him. Her hand-- the only source of light flickered across the door way, illuminating the walls and floor as she did. It was hard for either of them not to notice the broken bolts and machinery that was strewn across the floor. Arsenal followed behind his former teammate, their soft footfalls were careful, every sound was careful between the two, in the first few moments on their trek.

    “So where do you think she is?” Arsenal asked in a whisper as he locked a bolt into his crimson crossbow.

    “Well, maybe we should start at her room; do you remember where she was assigned?” Starfire whispered back

    “Well it was only two doors down from my own--” Arsenal was going to say more but was suddenly cut off by the sound of a rifle going off behind him. The archer tucked his cross bow under his chest, and dove down low flipping to the far wall. As his motions came to a stop he looked up at the splintered door his crossbow pointed at the body that walked through what was left of the door. “…room,” Arsenal finished, more for Starfire’s knowledge he was okay.

    Both of the Titans trained their eyes at the silhouette who stepped from the door. The orange lighting slowly unmasked the black shadows from the man’s body. Even before they saw his skin or his eyes, the dark gray cotton jumper made it all too evident who he was. However the janitor had a gun-- so he was still a threat. “WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?” he asked.

    “I’m Starfire, and my friend here is Arsenal” The orange skinned Heroine’s gaze narrowed in a threatening manner hood. Arsenal knew that look himself... and that memory gave him goosebumps.

    “Wait… Starfire didn’t you used to be a model? I think my wife still has those issues of Cosmo.”

    “Look, we’re here to help, man,” Arsenal spoke up, his eyes staring at the shadowed face of the janitor. “We need to know where everyone is. And if everyone is safe.”

    “Well…” The janitor stepped towards Starfire. The orange light easily washed across his deeply reddened face. The worn lines creased down his cheeks into jowls, only hidden by the peppered ringlets that lanced across his face. “When everything started going crazy, some of the nurses and security guards did what they could to round most everyone up who was well enough to walk, and put them in the main waiting room. Course there were some rooms we just couldn’t touch, those super villains, and the critically ill. Not much we could do for them.”

    “What about the woman, Argent? She was brought in with the super villains, and me,” Arsenal explained.

    For what felt like minutes the janitor’s dark inset eyes studied the bowman’s form. Scaling up and down him, yet he still shook his head. “I don’t recall you. But everything seems to have calmed down now. All the doctor’s and patients are all in the waiting room. Only thing to worry about is some of the security guards.” He switched glances once more and looked at the face of Starfire. “I’d lead ya myself. But I’m guarding this hallway. Some of the unmovable patients are in here.”

    “Hopefully you won’t have to worry about safety too much longer, sir,” Starfire spoke again, “We have a couple friends who are dealing with the situation right now.”

    “Well that’s good to know,” the Janitor replied.


Titan Island
New York City

    The Flash shook his head as he stood up. The red suit he usually wore had been shredded across the chest, vivisecting the golden emblem of the Flash he wore. He could feel the heat of pain and wound that reminded him how human he truly was. He winced as he bowed his head spitting blood and rancor from his lips. His head screamed in pain, he could easily feel the throbbing as it gestured across his skull. The speedster finally turned his head up towards the fight that was still going on. Beast Boy lay a few feet away from the raging robot, and only Tempest continued to be on the field. He couldn’t help but feel things were going from bad to worse. He knew that truthfully, Tempest, Beast Boy and himself would make easy work of this creature if they weren’t holding back but he was their friend. Even despite the lack of Victor Stone’s conscience present, even he couldn’t help but recall the smile of his friend. No one had a smile like Victor, not even Plastic Man, not even Superman could put such a warm feeling in his heart. His friend had to be saved.

    The Scarlet Speedster took off in a blur. The crackle of static friction bolted across his after shock, he could hear the crackle in his ears as he tensed his fists. “This is wrong Victor!” the Flash shouted. He knew deep down it was all going on deaf ears, there had to be a way inside. A way to get to the conscious mind of Victor, a way to do something- anything. “I don’t want to hurt you but I will. Don’t make me do it!” the Flash pleaded. His feet ran up the ice that held Victor’s feet there as he zipped around the large fists that were lashing at Tempest.

    --No Wally… this battle was over before it began-- the gigantic tower spoke. Its large head craned down and fired a laser from its one LED eye. The blast came at a surprise to the speedster. He spun his body to the left as the blast launched right across his shoulder. He could feel the heat of the laser as it did so. His traction slipped as he landed. However he stopped in silence, on his haunches as he took in a deep breath. His mind was fully aware why the beam struck him- it was guarding the key. The door into the Tower, how could he have missed it?

    “Garth, back off,” the Flash spoke as he looked over to Beast Boy who was shaking his head and pulling himself off the ground. “I have a plan.” The Flash’s body took quick steps as he slid to where Gar was now. “That plan relies on you Gar, if you are up to it.”

    Beast Boy shook his head. His deep green hair fell across his eyes as he looked up into the gaze of his friend and former teammate. “Well, a plan is better than just getting our butts kicked.”

    The Robot growled and grimaced as he watched Tempest run towards where Beast Boy and the Flash were standing. Its LED eye shone brightly as he watched. The Omega Drone could feel the softness, which was battling out in his subconscious, a small twinge of guilt that the Nanobots battled with cell by cell. The Nanobots were of course winning.

    “So what is the plan?” Tempest asked as he came to a stop. His purple eyes turned from the Flash to Beast Boy, his face still in a tight grimace.

    The Flash looked back at the struggling robot that lay just past his shoulders. He felt a tinge of guilt escalate over his body. Partly he was not sure if the door would just open. It was a long shot; he didn’t really even have any idea where it would lead even if it did open. He however tried to keep his expression cool. Both Tempest and Beast Boy knew him well, it was not hard to ever know what was going through his mind-- he was just thankful that Arsenal and Nightwing were busy elsewhere.

    “Okay, when I ran up the side of uhh... Victor… I noticed something,” the Flash spoke. A gulp formed in his throat, he didn’t mean for it to happen he just began to feel very uneasy, he knew he was asking a lot.

    “You saw something,” Tempest encouraged as his hand fluttered in front of the Flash’s face. “What did you see?”

    “I’m getting to it Garth.” The Flash spoke almost virulent, “I saw the door to the Tower. I figure that might be the weak spot we can use. But he almost blasted me when I tried. But I figure, Garth- you distract him, Gar you transform into something small, maybe a sparrow, and I’ll lend you speed and I can guide you right into there.”

    “Well no offense, Wally, but you were blasted last time and I was ‘distracting’ him... err it... Whatever,” Tempest spoke.

    “That’s why we need Gar. You think you can handle that?” the Flash asked, his neck craned to where Beast Boy had pulled himself up at.

    “Well, you only live once right?”

Royal View Hospital
New York City

    Arsenal ran behind the hovering Starfire. He had pulled out his crossbow and had it loaded twenty minutes ago, but only now had he balanced it on his hand, now in the ready. The sounds of squealing wheels caught his ears aware which caused him to stop where he was walking. “Star,” he called out momentarily, but the rest of his words fell short as a hydraulic hose busted from its wall case, its body looping across the abdomen of the former Titan.

    Starfire let out a groan as she was taken unaware her back flattened against the stone cold wall. Her long tresses scoped across her face, as her head knocked into the drywall painfully. Arsenal snapped his forearm towards the pipe his crossbow veered across his targeting range and easily he slammed the trigger in the same moment. The bolt sped from the chamber, the scarlet ended bullet pierced through the hose leaving a large hole in its form. The air hissed loudly as it went limp. The body of Starfire fell to the floor only an instant later. Only within the span of a few moments had Arsenal strode to where she had fallen. Starfire shook her head to attempt to rid the nausea that seemed trapped in her skull. Her large green eyes searched the face of her former teammate. Her orange hands slipped across his neck momentarily as a smile came to her face. “You better be more careful, Star I can’t save you all the time,” Arsenal offered to her.

    Starfire gestured in a nod as she pulled herself off the ground. She blinked her eyes a few times and laid her hands across the smooth white walls. It was as she turned her head once again to Arsenal that his head veered towards the hallway. Her eyes looked to see what her teammate was staring at, and instantly she saw what they had both heard before blurring down the all white hallway--three automated stretchers moving at high-speeds towards the two of them. “Goodness, this place is insane!” Starfire spoke, her hands flickering in the energy she had been awarded many years ago. She pushed her fists outwards as the green energy shot from her clumped fists. The twin beams struck at the first two stretchers knocking them hard into the wall. The third only got a few more steps before it was struck sideways by a well placed bolt; catching its left front wheel.

    “I hope the girl is okay,” Arsenal said grimly. It was as he stood up from his haunches looking at the three busted stretchers that he realized that he could have put her in a lot of danger. For the last few years he’d only had to worry about himself and his daughter. It was at that moment, he realized that was not going to cut it for a long time to come.

“We should move,” Starfire spoke in a more direct manner, her body floating back into the air. She pushed her body forward and darted down the hallway, leaving Arsenal scratching his head at the sudden change in her manner hood. He rolled his brawny shoulders in a shrug as he sprinted after her, unsure if they would actually find Argent safe. A brooding feeling over took him as he ran after Starfire-- if she hadn’t made it this far, her death would be on his hands. Arsenal had given up working for Checkmate for all the death on his hands, yet he hadn’t really done anything to make amends.

    Starfire slowed down at the bend in the hallway as her eyes took in a strange scene played out in the middle of the next hallway. Seven of the motorized stretchers were all banging against what appeared to be a sphere of darkness. Their sides were clanking together trying to get through the bizarre orb, which gave an almost grayish luminance to the hallway. Starfire stood there trying to rationalize what was going on for the span of moments. Perhaps this was the core of how the machines were working, was her first guess.

    “What the hell?” Arsenal spoke as he turned the corner where Starfire was floating. “Blast those things! Argent’s shield is probably about to go!” Arsenal addressed as he aimed and shot the crossbow. The bolt knocked into one of the stretchers knocking it sideways.

    “That Orb thing is her?” Starfire asked as she eyed the globe again. She couldn’t help but feel a connection between that construct and the shield orbs that the former Green Lantern, and friend of hers-- John Stewart had used. “Interesting,” Starfire finally said as she launched at the stretchers. She knew she couldn’t risk using her Star Bursts, as if she did, it could possibly hurt the girl worse. She’d have to take on a more hands on approach.

    As Starfire’s crumpled fists struck at the metal stretchers sending one dented into the nearest wall, she heard the clipping of a crossbow bolt impacting another one. More of the crimson bolts shot through the air raining perfect marksmanship-- each bolt marking themselves at the wheels to turn the stretchers over. “Star get to the starboard,” Arsenal addressed her as he clipped yet another bolt into his weapon’s chamber.

    “Aye-Aye, mi captain,” Starfire smirked as she took a short flight over the orb that had been erected around the unconscious hybrid alien, Argent. As she glided down she brought her left foot in a downward arc, her hips turned in a swift snap sending another of the stretchers to its side.

    As she landed a fleet of stretchers immediately surrounded her. “How many of these things are there?” Starfire groaned as she forced her anger into her fists and let out a green burst of force. The beam impacted into the fleet, sending them in a violent array of force-- she however didn’t stop there. Her right forearm drew back smashing into yet another of them. A smile decorated her face. Starfire was after all a warrior by nature, trained by the greatest Tamaranian and Okaaran warriors-- she was in her element.

    “Tax money at work I tell ya,” Arsenal mused as he shot another bolt tipping yet another of the stretchers over. As he snapped another bolt in place a sound decorated his ears. The sound of screeching metal echoed through the halls. The bowman turned his head at the sound to see the corner of the hallway smashed into pieces as a large yellow and black dumpster veered towards his location. Its shining metal glimmered even over the dim lighting the hospital was fostering.

    “Holy shit!” Arsenal let out as he tucked his head down and rolled across the linoleum. A large piece of the wall broke as it hit the floor-- the spot where Arsenal previously was. Small chunks of the plaster bounced off Argent’s shield. The black orb flickered momentarily.

    “Roy you okay?” Star asked as she turned her head from her fight momentarily to see the large dumpster that was now moving towards her friend’s location.

    “I got this one, you protect Argent,” Arsenal called back as he picked himself off the floor. He veered his crossbow towards the machination and looked for a weak spot. His eyes looked to the crack between the enormous tractor treads that hovered inches above its shiny abdomen. His heart thundered in his chest as he aimed at the small tubing that decorated over the pistons and rotors. The large thing continued to veer towards the hero as he took a deep breath. He was quite glad the thing had nothing but the large scoop across the lip of its body. Arsenal brought the crossbow forward and shot the bolt towards the small crevice.

    The large rectangular automation hissed as its body lowered closer to its tracks, the bolt easily bouncing off the shiny exterior. “Shit!” Arsenal hissed as well as he clicked another bolt into the chamber of his crossbow. He darted forward to the hulking machine. The dumpster stopped where it was going as it realized the Titan was rushing towards him. Its body veered forwards, its sharp metal scoop aiming to where Arsenal was running.

    Arsenal lunged forward ridding his feet of the floor. His weight focused in his back as he flipped his body to a 180 degree arc; his free hand swiftly pulled upwards clapping the ground. The machine followed the erratic movements, trying to position its scoop to impale the man. Rotors and pistons moved loudly, attempting to emulate the speed of the bowman, however it was in vane… dumpsters after all were not built for speed.

    The former side kick landed softly on his back and slid across the dusty floor. The muscles in his abdomen burned his gut as he veered his body horizontally to slide freely from the sharp scoop seeking to end his life. His body turned bout face as his descent brought him past the scoop and side by side with the dumpster. His left arm veered the crossbow towards the crack, and fired the trigger. The well placed bolt pierced through the hydraulic hose and came to a stop wedging between the two cogs that sat on top of the tracks. The dumpster’s movements came to a stop within moments, however Arsenal could easily hear the giving of the small piece of fiberglass and metal that held the dumpster at Bay.

    Starfire would have been impressed by her partner’s quick thinking-- which was not necessarily something she could recall from her youth-- if she hadn’t been in a battle royal with a squad of stretchers. Her arms and legs throbbed with cold pain as she continued to fight amidst the odds. Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth and across her hands. She couldn’t help but enjoy the excitement of the battle though. She was glad Nightwing couldn’t see her like this.

Titan Island
New York City

    The large heap of metal continued to thrust in its icy bonds, the squeak of ice shattering was indeed heard, by the maker of that ice, Tempest. He couldn’t help but continue to look at the strange creature. This was the last ditch effort-- and a long shot. If Flash’s plan didn’t work, he knew that it would be the JLA who would be coming to put a stop to this. Ironically part of him wondered why the JLA wasn’t already here. The solution to it would be that possibly somehow the JLA’s transmissions were also jammed by the Technis.

    The Flash stepped slowly to where Tempest was standing. The thrusting sounds echoed starkly in his ears. Lying against the scarlet covered chest a small bird was roosted, his neck craned out to see the target. “It’s going to work Garth.”

    “I’m sure it will, Wally,” Tempest spoke to his friend forcing a smile to curl about his lips. Truth was, the former Aqualad was not thinking about the plan-- his mind was on Atlantis, his wife and child-- and his distant thoughts of King Orin. He would return from this day, just as his old friends would save Cyborg.

    “Oh but no one asks the bird who’s going the belly of the beast!” Beast Boy spoke out of the bird’s beak.

    “Well you do have the easy part Gar!” Tempest smiled.

    “You so suck man,” Beast Boy replied.

    “Not to be an ass guys, but we’re working on a time frame here. In another moment that thing is going to have broken free from the ice,” the Flash said

    Tempest brought his two fists upwards his thick muscled arms curving at the elbows as the twin orange and blue discs flickered. He felt the moisture collecting across his black gloves. “Let’s do this,” Tempest spat and lunged towards his former teammate.
The Flash and Beast Boy watched momentarily as the once shy and bashful childhood friend went charging at something that could easily kill him.

    “Man, it’s weird seeing him like that,” the Flash mentioned.

    “He’s really Aquaman’s son, isn’t he?” Beast Boy replied.

    “I’m sure Arthur is damn proud of him,” the Flash spoke in a smile.

    Tempest’s face had rid the smile ages ago, replaced with the sneer of determination. His right hand darted out as soon as he was close enough to the towering construct. A frigid beam of ice blue attacked his feet resealing the cracks. A large fist veered towards the Titan with increasing speed. He could feel the wind as the fist hammered down towards him. With a nimble back flip, the boy rolled from the attack. The fist impacting the ground, the Titan lunged forward his body taking off from the ground, hands catching the dim metal of the hand; he focused on the wet ground enveloping a thin web of ice across the creature’s hand.

    The machine construct that once was Cyborg grated its hips as it realized what the small and annoying little man had done. Its right fist swung towards the left iced hand aiming to smash Tempest in-between his massive fists. Tempest looked up to see the second hand coming towards his location. “WALLY NOW!” Tempest yelled as he balanced his weight to his back. In a simple snap reflex he bent his knees and fell backwards from the fist. His legs tucked neatly across his chest as he performed a backwards roll escaping the fist momentarily before the thud of the second hand smashed onto the first.

    Tempest didn’t have to repeat himself. Even before the second word escaped the lips of the Atlantean Ambassador, the Flash took off at super sonic speeds. The wind squealed across the ears of Beast Boy, whose feathered form held tight against the shocking speed. The yellow tracked boots climbed up the ice covered legs in a thud. Beast Boy closed his eyes at the amazing speed; the Flash however had his eyes on the enormous skull of Cyberion.

    The two former Titans streaked up the metal body towards the door. The Flash waited for the red eye, replicating the metal half of their friend’s former face to flare up as he ran. It took two full seconds for the crackling of energy in the skull, and an additional one, for the beam to flood from the red eye towards the red clad speedster.

    Flash zigged on the scrap metal body, his speeds allowing the heavy friction to cling his feet to robust body. Electro-static crackled about his feet, flashing in vibrant yellow. His body lunged up as he neared the door. His shoulders thrust forward as he pushed Beast Boy towards the open hatchway.

    The peculiar green bird spread its wings as it was thrust at super sonic speeds the yellow static flowing around his small body, enough to ruffle the smooth feathers, as the speed force granted his extra speed. Beast Boy’s head darted into the hatchway as a second laser shot towards them. However Beast Boy didn’t see it as his eyesight was suddenly blinded by a white flash of light.

    The blinding strobe launched from the hatchway in a blinding spectrum. The Flash whom had only started his angle to dodge the second laser was caught unaware, his eyes enveloped in a blindness. The laser caught the hero’s shoulder cutting through the spandex and his flesh-- so hot that it as soon as it struck his flesh it cauterized the wound. The lack of blood flow however did little to rid the mind numbing pain that shot through the speedster’s body. His back stiffened as he froze, his body fell as he went limp.

    “Wally!” Tempest called out as he saw his friend drop like a rock from the scrap metal giant. The Atlantean pushed his feet hard into the ground. His body took through the air in lunging steps-- not unlike how one would swim. He drew in breaths as his head stared upwards at the falling red dot that zoomed closer to the ground with every passing moment. With a dive Tempest stretched out his arms, the smooth black spandex covered arms reaching upwards, to circle around his friend’s abdomen. As his arms connected, he fell to the muddy ground, his chest skidding before coming to a stop. “Wally?” he asked in a whisper; his head craned to look to his arms.

    “Codenames, Garth.” The Flash gestured again before his eyes closed-- and he lost consciousness.

    Beast Boy wondered why he opened his eyes as the light dots faded from his vision. His body congealed into a green elastic goop as he reformed his original body, his grown-out black hair curved across his sharp cheeks as he stepped forward. A frightening chill came over his body as he walked across the metal covered floor. He assumed it was metal, by the way his feet sound as he stepped, but everything in the building was black. If it wasn’t for the room he was in resembling the original Titans Tower, he would have not made it past his first few steps.

    “Gar! Go back… It’s a fight you can’t win,” a voice suddenly sounded in his ears. A rough husky voice that was spiked with raw emotion, a voice Beast Boy recognized easily.

    “Vic?” he called out as his body lunged forwards towards the hallway of the room. “Victor? Where are you?” he called out.

    “Ugh…” the husky human voice called out as an ebony skinned body was slammed against the wall. The brawny lad groaned as golden robots crawled about the bleeding body. Strange crackles of energy dosed from their mouths.

    “Hey, lay off!” Beast Boy shouted his body stretched outwards his arms and legs sliding into his body only to come back out as large paws. His face stretched and grew a large mane taking shape around his emerald furred snout. Without a second thought the green lion launched at the grouping of robots. The large paws slamming into metallic bodies sending them scattering across the floor.

    The large beast landed in front of where Victor Stone’s human self laid bleeding and bruised. For a span of a second the shape-shifting man wondered how that was possible. He didn’t question it for long. The sound of metallic feet soon changed his thoughts.

    The large head of the lion snapped towards the five golden robots that began to near in his space, the large jaws roared at them, the mammoth paws slashing through the air. “You shouldn’t have come here, Gar. You will die too. Your body… damn I wonder what happened to your body,” Victor spoke weakly.

    “Two things; one you’re my best friend, and I don’t want to lose you, and number two… my body? How the hell did you get human like that?”

    “You’re in the subconscious of the Omega Drone, Gar. Or that is your spirit. I’m not the same man you know. That is, I’m not Cyborg the Teen Titan. This piece of me, it’s the human side. It’s the only side that hasn’t changed over and been assimilated. I’ve been fighting it. I have-- I don’t want you all to get hurt. But I can’t fight it anymore... It’s too strong.”

    “Too strong? Don’t you realize Vic, it’s not about you or me… it’s us-- it always has been. Dick, Roy, Kory, Donna, Wally, Garth… they are all here! They are all fighting to save you. We’re a family… and we all love you.”

    “The whole gang?” Victor shook his head; translucent tears fell across his eyes. His hand formed a tight fist as he struggled to get off the ground. “Man I thought the Titans disbanded. And ya know, we are a family… when I was at my lowest ya’ll was there for me. When I wanted to take my life ya’ll was there. And hell if this Titan ain’t going down without a fight. YA HERE ME TIN SKINS? YER ALL IN MY TURF!”

    “Yeah what he said!” Beast Boy looked at his friend again as the human Victor Stone growled as he stood up. “TITANS TOGETHER!” he called as his Lion body lunged at the group of robots. He could feel the thundering of his heart beating across his chest as his large paws caught two of the robots smashing them against the ground. Their bodies shattered like fiber glass.

    Victor was too busy however to see the impressive display of power. His left fist burned as it slashed into the first cybernetic skull. The forehead caved at the strike. His right hand curved around as his hips turned. As he bent his elbow the enormous arm smashed into the neck of the fourth robot its head clearly vivisected.

    “Man that felt good!” Victor spoke as he caught his balance. Both robots fell to the ground shattering.

    --Don’t think your will power and human emotions will defeat the Technis-- the final golden robot spoke, as it walked towards the two Titans.

    “Sorry but it already has!” Beast Boy spoke as he leaped from where he was standing his large form darting towards the final robot. Its head veered to the sound of rotating cogs, as it saw the incoming threat.

    --Threat minimal-- the robot spat as its arm swung forwards, the metal forearm clothes lining the cat, in a bone-crushing crack. Beast Boy’s body reverted at the impact, his human form escaping the fur and claws as he thudded across the black metal floor.

    “Don’t underestimate humans!” Victor spat, holding his human hand towards the robot.

    --What can you possibly do Victor Stone? You’ve tried this before.--

    “Yeah but ya see… the difference is, I got some friends to protect this time.” The human skin grew tendrils of stringy liquid as the familiar white metal exposed itself. The thick liquid unmasked the barrel of his sonic gun. “So this time I win.”

THOOM!

Royal View Hospital
New York City

    “What the…” Starfire spat as she withdrew her fist from the crowd of stretchers. The lights flickered off for the span of a second, before kicking back on illuminating the now silent hallway. The pupil-less green eyes looked at the stretchers again before she turned her head towards her partner, Arsenal. The questioned expression on her face was mirrored on his.

    “What just happened?” Arsenal asked as he turned to meet Starfire’s gaze. He felt the burning sensation in his arms, as he dropped them to his sides.

    “I would assume that Wally, and Garth managed to stop Victor,” Starfire spoke as she neared the fallen Teen Titan whom still had a black aura around her shielding her unconscious form.

    “Good timing too, I don’t know how much more I had in me.” Arsenal could feel the pores on his skin tingle as more sweat glistened down his arms.

    The sound of rolling wheels and feet slapped against the linoleum, in a shatter of the tranquility. The former sidekick of the Green Arrow turned his head. His forearm curved upwards his bow aimed at the mouth of the hallway. “Maybe we spoke to soon.”

    “No don’t shoot!” a human voice called from the mouth of the hallway. His white coat flung across his thin and scrawny form. His hair was tied into a tight pony tail his face covered in a thick brush of facial hair. “I’m Doctor Gleason, I’m here to help.”

    “Well judging by the force-field around her, doctor, I’d say that maybe we should be giving S.T.A.R Labs a call. There’s not much any of us can do at this point, until she gains consciousness.”

    “That won’t be necessary Arsenal,” the Doctor spoke as he came to a stop in the brightly illuminated hallway. A strain of his thick silvery hair darted across his brow. “We were expecting an Evac to their labs even before this happened. For the others you brought in… we didn’t have the facilities to deal with Dark Nemesis.”

    “Didn’t?” Starfire asked, her body stepping towards the doctor, nimble orange shoulders brushing against Arsenal’s.

    “Yes, during the crisis they must have escaped, but we can still get your friend to their facility.”

    “Dick is going to flip when he hears this.” Arsenal grimaced.

The Streets
New York City

    Nightwing let out a grunt as he held onto the grill of a Ford Festiva. His feet were curved around on the fender, his left hand held fast to the hood of the car. His black mane flung across his face as the car sped forward. On another night it would not have been much of a task for him to stop an out of control car. But at that moment he really began to feel the last eighteen hours. From the battle with Dark Nemesis, then straight onto the battle against the Technis-- he would really be feeling it in the morning-- That is if there would be another morning.

    He flung himself forward onto the roof of the car, the gravity pressing his well worked out chest hard against the warm metal. He wadded his hand into a tight fist as he slammed it into the window. The windshield shattered at the punch, the glass raining across his vision. His hand grabbed at the dashboard, pulling him towards the cockpit.

    It was here everything suddenly went silent. All the lights in the city flickered momentarily causing a total black out. The car’s engines died, headlights turned off. The car went into idle. “Finally…” Nightwing muttered under his breath as he pulled himself across the dashboard. His arms and head ducked into the car, before he tucked his legs under his chest and flipped into the seat.

    As his back laid into the seat he gripped the steering wheel, his foot slammed the stiff brake pedal. The car jerked as it came to a stop. The former boy wonder let out a sigh as his gloved hand pulled the parking brake into place. He closed his eyes just as the lights to the city flickered themselves back on.

    There of course was cheering in the streets.

    “You okay champ,” a mellow voice rang in his ears. Nightwing softly opened his eyes to see the concerned face of his childhood friend staring at him. She of course was looking no better than him after the night they had. Her face was puffed out from swelling, red scratches lined her chin and neck.

    “Well no worse than you Donna.”

    “Yeah I guess that was a silly question.”

    “Hope everyone is okay.”

    “We did everything we could, Dick.”

    “Yeah,” Nightwing spat. “Just sometimes that ain’t good enough.”

Titan Island
New York City

    Tempest watched with a silent expression on his face as the towering scrap giant began to crumble away. The strange meshed together junk fell free from the form, like a metallic rain. His legs pulled themselves up from the burnt out ground his arms gathering the unconscious Flash against his chest. He took a leap back as the entire mountain of form crumbled down around the ice glaciers.

    Plumes of dirt and debris fogged the air as the hero watched silently. In his gut he felt the dread of death focused on two of his closest friends. He however continued to stare at the wreckage that still lay fogged, in front of him. His lips were tight his body was silent. The buzzing of moisture from the sea sounded off like a symphony of dread. He stayed frigid in pose until the sudden squirming of the Flash brought his head down. The Scarlet speedster’s head turned to look at the wreckage. “What happened Garth? How long was I out for?” Came the speedster’s questions tumbling from his over active lips.

    “I don’t know, Wally. It just started crumbling away. Maybe the Technis lost power, or maybe Beast Boy did what we all were dreading one of us would have to do. I don’t know.

    “No Garth,” a familiar sound called from beyond the mist. “He should have, but he didn’t,” the deep husky voice spoke in a sad utterance. “I don’t know where he landed when his consciousness entered that hatchway.” The smoke slid across the naked form of Victor Stone, 2/3rds of his body was covered in a golden sheen, exactly where his cybernetic parts use to be. “He helped me force the Technis out of my human side, their Omega Drone forced from my consciousness.” A tear ran down the human side of his face. “He shouldn’t have done that. He shouldn’t have…”

    “I shouldn’t have what?” a voice called from behind Tempest. The Flash slipped from the arms of him as the trio of heroes looked towards the voice. From the distance a single form hobbled towards the rest of them, “tried to save my best friend? Good thing I was in bird form when separated from my body, hollow bones and all.”

    Victor rushed towards the hobbling Beast Boy a smile rushing across his face. “Garfield!” he exclaimed. “If you… if you got yourself killed I don’t know what I’d have done!”

    “Vic, Gar might have survived but you did do a lot of damage, not counting the innocents you killed,” the Flash spat at him. “You were under the influence of the Technis, so we can use that for your defense. But we will need to prove that you have rid yourself of the Technis. That golden skin that covers you… well that’s a little suspect.”

    Victor’s head turned around. His arms however were still tangled around the torso of Beast Boy supporting his weight. “What are you saying?” Victor asked, his expression turned to a frown.

    “I’m saying that if you’re going to prove you were not yourself, and that you are not going to turn back into Cyberion-- well you will need the resources of the JLA.” The Flash smiled.

NEXT ISSUE: Umm… Something good I hope!

GRAPHETTI

    Well this is- or was my last issue of The Titans. As most of you know I had a lot more plotted out and set up than just the first night of team work for the group, as well as I had planned to put the team together, in issue five. However with all things in life you can’t really ever determine what’s going to happen. Though it’s not just the Titans, I’m stepping back from fan fiction for a bit to get things together in my life. Currently I’m working on finishing up all my projects, for various groups and then we’ll see where we are.

    I don’t want to go into the whole (why I’m doing this-- if you know me you know why) and instead I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who read the first four issues of this series, and its my hope, with how I ended it with no team yet selected, that a great writer will pick it up where I left off pick their team and get going on the awesomeness that is The Titans.

    So thank you all for reading these issues, and I hope you enjoyed the series as much as I had writing it. Until next time our paths meet…

TITANS TOGETHER!

-Jae