JLU 2001 Fanfiction -The Titans #5

Titans Tower or what was left of it…

Victor Stone the half-man half-machine hero known as Cyborg gazed at the wreckage before him. With his mind wandering onto what may have been the last ride for the Titans, Teen or otherwise. As he walked towards a large opening in the debris he looked down at the worn, half-burnt picture of the original Titans. Victor Stone was a part of the second generation of the Titans, brought together by the mysterious Raven whom he now knew to be a staunch part of his extended family that is the Titans.

“Some things shouldn’t stay dead,” a voice said from behind the hero known as Cyborg.

“Not much we can do about it Gar, with the thing about the Technis and the damage I caused the JLA was very adamant about the Titans staying disbanded,” Cyborg replied.

“Yeah, but when have we ever listened to them? Remember when we snuck aboard their satellite base and had to kick their butts because they thought Raven was evil?” Gar said as he started to crack up.

Garfield Logan the shape changing hero known as Beast Boy was probably one of the most experienced heroes in the game and also the best friend anyone could ask for. Like Vic he joined the Titans in their second incarnation and remained the little brother of the team.

“Oh yeah. Dick heard that Hal had been moaning about gettin’ his butt handed to him for a long time,” Cyborg replied.

“Those were some good times…just sometimes the good times outweigh the bad y’know?” Gar said.

“Yeah, that’s what the Titans were all about, the good times,” Cyborg replied.

“You guys have room for one more?” a feminine voice said behind them.

“Hi Toni. I see that you’ve healed up nicely,” Gar said rather charmingly.

“Yeah. guess it must be due to my mixed heritage,” Argent said as she rolled her eyes at Gar’s attempts to being charming.

Toni Monetti was a member of the most recent team of Teen Titans and its sole survivor thanks to the efforts of the original Titans. Her mixed heritage allowed her to create various plasma energy constructs.

She walked up beside Cyborg whose features were contorted with shame and guilt.

“This wasn’t your fault Vic. It was the Technis that did this not you,” Toni said as she took his hand in hers.

“If I wasn’t mistaken, little lady, I would say you’re already acting like a Titan,” Cyborg replied as he felt a bit better. “Thanks, I guess I just feel guilty for all of it because I didn’t try to fight harder against the Technis.”

“How did you get here anyways Toni?” Gar asked puzzled.

“Through them, “Argent pointed towards the coast.

Gar and Vic looked towards where Argent was pointing and there stood Starfire, Arsenal, and Nightwing standing next to a VTOL jet.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you guys are holding a pow wow without inviting us,” Arsenal quipped.

“Where’s Donna? With her it would be almost a full Titan’s reunion,” Gar said as he transformed to a dog with his tongue lolling out.

“Last I heard from Donna, she went with Kyle on a trip into space. She didn’t know when they would be back. As for Raven I haven’t seen her since she helped rescue Cyborg,” Nightwing replied as the group shared greetings.

“Vic, Gar, I’m so pleased to see both of you in good health,” Starfire said affectionately as she hugged both of them.

“It would take much more then a stupid alien machine race to get us,” Gar replied in mock bravado.

“So, how’s it going Star? You’ve been gone for quite a spell?” Cyborg asked with piqued curiosity.

“I’m fine Victor and I’m glad to see you’re back to your old self,” Starfire replied happily.

“Before we dwell on past memories I have something to tell all of you--Two weeks ago Brother Blood was sighted back in Zandia. Not too long after that Zandia was wiped off the map by some kind of Native American giant. Through Arsenal’s connections with Checkmate and Oracle’s help we believe that Brother Blood has gotten back into the arms game again,” Nightwing said rather grimly.

“Damn! I thought he was finished after our last encounter,” Cyborg said.

“Apparently not. Which is why I offered the Titan’s help in the matter,” Nightwing said with a little bit more zeal.

“Oh yeah, the gang is back together again!” Beast Boy said. “So when do we go after Brother Psycho?”

“How about now--?” Arsenal replied, as a brand new T-Jet landed a few meters from them…

raven Protecting Our Future

Basked in Blood: Part One

"Rebirths and Hidden Truths"

The Titans #5 - January, Year 2 by Mick Edwards

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

That morning,

Cyborg’s eyes stayed transfixed on the figures and numbers that danced across the screen. He watched as Batman, Steel, and Martian Manhunter ran their tests upon him. Across from them Wally looked on with a slight tinge of fear running up and down his spine.

“How does everything look so far?” Wally asked as he tried to keep a manner of professionalism about him, but it was difficult as Vic was his friend and fellow Titan.

Batman looked at Wally with his usual grim and indifferent demeanor. He then glanced at Cyborg and back at Wally. “So far he checks out. It appears the Technis is gone.”

Cyborg looked glad. “So I get a clean bill of health?”

“Yes,” Batman replied as he pressed a button on the key pad to release Cyborg.

Vic got up and walked towards Wally with a smile on his face. “So it looks like I’m back and so are the Titans,” Cyborg said as he shook hands with Wally West, the Flash. “Man it’s been so long.”

“No,” Batman said, “You’re still not off the hook. Despite what the tests show you could still be a danger. Which is why you and the Titans will remain disbanded.

“What?” Cyborg replied with a bit of anger in his voice.

“The damage that you caused and the lives lost are not exactly something that can be easily forgotten about. The Titans should have called us to deal with you. Instead they went behind our backs. So the Titans will not be reforming under my watch,” Batman said.

“What right do you have?” Cyborg said clearly annoyed.

“We have every right. You’re lucky we are not keeping you locked up,” Batman replied. “Now leave while you still can.”

Now,

The T-Jet soared across the Mediterranean with the gathered Titans inside. Argent turned to Arsenal with a question on her lips. “Who is Brother Blood?”

“He’s basically a zealot bent on bringing the world under his rule. He claims to worship some god that makes him immortal and invulnerable. We tackled him once before and he ended up amnesiac, but apparently that was all a ruse,” Arsenal explained.

“Where’re we headed to? Zandia?” Beast Boy asked as he shifted in his seat anxious for action.

“Nope, we’re heading towards his new hiding hole. Checkmate got reports that Blood has another operation set up outside of Markovia, so that’s where we are heading,” Arsenal replied

“How in the hell did you guys get the JLA’s permission?” Cyborg asked with a puzzled look on his face.

Nightwing cast a glance at Starfire which Cyborg noticed.

“They have no idea do they?” Cyborg said as he leaned back in his seat.

“Not a clue. Of course that’s probably for the best,” Nightwing replied. “Besides, Checkmate really needed some one who was familiar enough with Blood to see what he is up too and defuse the problem before it gets out of hand.”

Arsenal shot a questioning glance in Nightwing’s direction, but he was obviously ignoring it.

Mid-day, JLA watchtower,

“You do realize that if he becomes dangerous again this will all be on your head,” Batman said as he stared out the plexi-glass of the Observation Deck.

“He’s my friend and I’m willing to take that risk,” Nightwing replied as he leaned on the rail with his head cocked in Batman’s direction.

“I’m not,” Batman said as he turned in Nightwing’s direction. “Your first mistake was not contacting us when he became a problem.”

“This is just like you- ‘If’ I had let you handle things you probably would have destroyed him… or worse,” Nightwing shot back with anger. “Look how well you’ve handled the situation with Cassie and this freak killer.”

Batman looked at Nightwing with vehemence in his eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I? Look at how many people have died because of your ‘holier than thou’ attitude. You always think you’re right yet the decisions you’ve been making have cost a lot of people!” Nightwing spat.

Batman turned away from Nightwing with complete venom laced in his words. “You go ahead with your pity party, but when this blows up in your face don’t bother coming to me.”

Now, aboard the T-Jet,

I know he’s wrong...

I know my family and I know that this will prove to everyone that Vic is not the monster that they think he is, Nightwing thought to himself.

Elsewhere…

Outside Markovia,

In a highly decorated castle owned by Sebastian Kruger, a young man stood next to a large pool of blood with women gathered all around him in black robes. He took a bite of the teen known as Terra and felt her life’s blood flow into him. A new form of strength and awareness awakened within him. He dropped the now lifeless shell into the pool of blood and wiped his lips while watching a monitor report of unexpected guests.

“So, they come like lambs to the slaughter. Perhaps I will allow them to witness the rebirth of the progeny of Trigon,” he said. “It’s only fitting that the ones she called family be here for the rebirth of Raven!”

NEXT ISSUE: Basked in Blood Part 2: "And the evil should rise when the darkness falls.”

Titan Talkback: Hello all! Welcome to what I hope to be the rebirth of the Titans. I know this issue hasn’t started out as well as the previous writer’s, but I’m slowly trying to mold the Titans into my own as I have my own way of doing things. So expect some twists and turns and hopefully some humor in this rendition of the Titans. I hope you enjoy my run till next month!