TITANS TOMORROW #13

[Glippernip]

TITANS TOMORROW #13

Where is Donna Troy, part 5:

BLOOD

Written and edited by Joel A. Sawyer

Blood can have many meanings.

Looking back, Little John Deardon could not remember a time when he moved so fast. From the moment of contact with Gabriel, LJ was on the run. He shot (no pun intended) to Lian for the equipment Gabe needed.

“What’s going on, Sexy,” she had said as he arrived. For once the comment didn’t bother him; he barely heard it. LJ looked Lian in the eyes.

“Gabe contacted me,” he said seriously, “He’s asked me to fly him some supplies.”

Lian became deadly serious as well. “I’ve heard about New Olympus on the news,” she explained, “What did my son say?”

“He said that a frontal assault failed and that there are casualties. He gave me a general idea what I would be up against and calls I can make to bring more help. He only had one minute.”

Upon hearing the items Battalion had requested, Lian shot LJ a concerned look. “Red Star Arrows? Are you sure?”

“Positive. I’ve never even used a Red Star. He says he wants them.”

“It must be bad,” Lian huffed, her mother’s instincts flaring, “I’ll get some things and come with you.”

“No,” LJ stated clearly, showing more courage than he had against any criminal, “I’m sorry to say it, but you would slow us down. We’ll need speed for this.”

She sighed and nodded. “Give me five minutes.”

Twenty minutes later, the Queen private supersonic jet cleared the runway heading East. Only then did he stop to contact Connor for advice and wonder what in the world he had gotten into. Thanks, Gabe, he mused, You were always dragging me into crap, but this is beyond belief.’ Then he softened. ‘Can’t think like this. He wouldn’t.’

************************

[Glippernip]

Brotherhood can come from blood spilled on the battlefield.


They stood on a parapet overlooking Opal City. Of course, all of the windows and landings of New Olympus looked down on Opal. The city was laid out beautifully, a true gem to gaze at.

The taller being, with grotesque yellowish skin, shaggy black hair, a pot belly but strong looking limbs, and one large eye in the center of his forehead, cracked his knuckles and sighed, a big grin on his face. The other, seven foot tall and shoulders almost 4 foot across with a bulls head atop a muscular, furry frame, grunted in response. “You seem pleased,” Taurus muttered.

“Why shouldn’t I be,” Brontes the cyclops stated, “I’m not that much uglier than I was before, but I am bigger. tougher, and stronger, like the Million Dollar Man without the electronics. The rate we’re goin’, I’m gonna have th’ six million dollars, too!”

Taurus huffed incredulously. Brontes was always too materialistic for his taste, so they would never be true friends. As a team-mate, however, the cyclops believed in loyalty and unity of purpose. He even bathed each morning religiously knowing about the minotaur’s heightened sense of smell.

“Can I ask you sumthin’ without you gettin’ mad?” Brontes started, and Taurus huffed a response. “Talkative, aren’t ya?” The cyclops continued, “You reported the Titan’s powers to Arcana pretty thoroughly. I think that the electric one is pretty conclusively dead, and maybe the stone one. What about the plant girl, though?”

“I broke her back and stepped on her. She didn’t move.”

“But are you sure?” You said she isn’t entirely human, and even Superman died pretty conclusively once upon a time.”

Taurus snorted at his comrade’s words, turned, and stomped away.

*********************

[Glippernip]

The blood of the innocent can stain one’s soul for eternity.

In his deep purple and white uniform, a Nazi swastika emblazoned on his chest, Hauptmann Englande stood frustrated. It had been years since new paranormals had appeared, and these had been experienced, that was evident. But then, Hauptmann was one of the few who knew and understood that there were other Earths. Were they really accidental visitors or an advance force for invaders? He despised not knowing.

When he saw a figure shimmer into view, he attacked immediately, smashing the red-clad young woman in the head. He didn’t care if he killed her.

He was shocked when, after his punch landed, she turned to face him. “That hurt a little,” Captain Marvel said, clenching her fists, “It wasn’t very nice.”

The fight was short and not very pleasant for the Hauptmann.

*********************

[Glippernip]

True bonds of blood can last a lifetime.

Limbo- Raven floated to one side in deep meditation searching for any possible way out. The recently freed Donna Troy spoke quietly with her friends Princess Koriand’r, Gar ‘Animal Man’ Logan, and Wally ‘The Flash’ West. Ryand’r Grayson and Alexandra Light sat/floated a short distance away.

“When the Multiverse was reappeared, a being attacked it and changed many of the worlds, creating new realities. Apparently, I should have become a stabilizing force for the Multiverse when Alex Luthor recreated it, but Jade was where I should have been and died, leaving many of these Earths unstable. I had essentially become a goddess of memory, so I had knowledge of how these worlds should have been, and it all caught up with me eventually. I found myself drawn to Limbo and influencing different Earths.”

“So you changed things to the way you thought they should be,” Wally asked.

“I didn’t really change anything or alter the timeline of each Earth,” she answered, “I sought out dimensional displacements that didn’t belong, that threatened that reality, and fixed them, stabilizing that universe.”

Kory considered this and asked, “Is that why there hasn’t been a big crisis in a long time?”

“Perhaps. I could see what would have been up until the time of the recreation, but I could not see the exact effects of the disturbances if I let them be.”

“You look so young,” Kory added almost self-consciously. Donna’s emanciated appearance had corrected itself since she had bee freed.

“With everything that has happened to me, I may be immortal. I’m sure I can physically be killed, but that has happened before, and I simply awoke somewhere else later. I haven’t even been sick since childhood.” Donna sighed. “Forty years. Things must have changed a great deal.”


A short distance away, Logan approached Raven. “How are you holding up,” he asked with concern.

“I am well, but tired,” Raven replied, “So far I have not been able to detect a path familiar to me.”
“Do you...need some extra energy?”

The expression that Raven acquired was the most shocked and concerned that he had seen in a long time, although admittedly, Raven didn’t make many appearances in recent years. “I would not wish to do that to you again, Garfield.”

“It sure pulled us out of the fire a couple of times before.”

“We were younger, more...intimate with each other then.”

“We’re friends, Raven,” Gar said sincerely, “and we have Kory, Donna, Wally, and the kids. I’ll bet you could search a lot farther if you drew some power from us.”


“I don’t know how much more I can take,” Alexandra said to Ryand’r. She wasn’t crying or sobbing. She seemed ready to explode, crouched in a sitting position cross-legged even though she had nothing really to sit on. Her short skirt rode up her thighs and barely concealed her, a fact Ryand’r couldn’t help but notice.

“This is my fault you are here,” he told Fusion, “I’m sorry.”

Her eyes popped open, a mortified expression crossing her features. “NO! No,” she responded, ‘standing up’ to face him. “I came willingly, you didn’t force me or coerce me.” She touched him gently on the arm.

“No, but I’m familiar with stories about this kind of thing,” he explained, “I could have given you better warning. And...I was not 100% forthcoming about hy I asked in the first place.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I asked you because I’m...more than comfortable with you than any of the others. Even Gabe gets on my nerves sometimes, and we were raised together. I didn’t know how long we will would be gone and...well...I just wanted you with me, not with the team. You know?”

She paused, not quite knowing. Tentatively, she dropped her hand from his shoulders and reached for Starbolt’s hand, and he met her half-way. They both smiled.

“Not to interrupt your wedding plans or anything,” Animal Man broke in with a smirk as he approached, “but we have an idea.”

***********************

[Glippernip]

The act of spilling blood can also create the bond.

Judge and four members of her Jury relaxed as much as they could. Their short melee with Battalion and Cardinal resulted in several injuries. Unable to do the work with a broken hand, Hellebore sent Volt to the hospital. With the powers Phobos had granted them, they could move about in plain clothes now and still remain ready to fight. Lynch and Poniard had not regained 100% of their hearing yet either, courtesy of Cardinal’s White Sound blaster. Poniard smirked. At least we will never hear her bird call again. Because of my blade, she may never even speak again!”

“I have a question,” Silent Vapor stated. Phobos had given the formerly mute assassin the ability to once again speak, “Once Phobos is finished with us, what should we do? I am not sure I want to complete the Terminator’s contract.

Judge looked at him sharply. “Perhaps not that,” she growled, “but there are those I would like to meet again before we move on to something else: Starbolt, Fusion, Batman, and Bart Allen.”

************************

[Glippernip]

Some say that there is power in the Blood.

“What do you intend with all of these questions,” Arcana hissed warningly.

“I was your advisor before you helped me get these powers,” Brontes the cyclops answered back just as seriously, “You chose me because I’m smart! I’m not a simple thug.”

Arcana sighed. With his gruff demeanor, it was easy for the sorceress to forget his intelligence. “Go on,” she said softly.

“I’ve been thinking about this ever since we slapped the Titans down. Taurus told us that these older Titans went off after someone named Donna Troy. I haven’t been able to find that name on any database, but I noticed the Titans once had someone named Troia many years ago, and her team included a younger Flash, Animal Man, and Starfire. And this Troia was reportedly as strong or nearly as strong as Wonder Woman.”

“I fail to see...” Arcana began.

“We beat the newby’s,” he jumped in, “and we caught them by surprise to do it. We killed Animal Man’s kid, and we’re holding another second-gen hero right now. To put it simply, Phobos has it all wrong, Arcana. Superman isn’t our biggest threat right now. The elder Titans are. And if we’re smart, we’ll count on them coming and prepare for it.”

***********************

[Glippernip]

It is said that, when angry, the blood can boil!

Taurus stood on the parapet looking down on the slope where he had left Liana. The body was gone. He snorted and inhaled deeply, but it was no use. Phobos has transplanted many trees and shrubs to New Olympus, and the Minotaur could not isolate Liana’s smell. He cursed himself for not securing the bodies and for not anticipating this.

*************************

[Glippernip]

Blood can purify and be purified.

Cardinal awoke with a start, about the fourth time she had become conscious. She had been weak, and it had felt like the Jury had broken both of her wings. Probably once they realized I hadn’t just died, Carrie thought groggily, They like causing pain. Judge had looked me straight in the eyes when she told me they had murdered my brother, Jon. Then, another thought crossed her mind, and she mused: Why didn’t I die?

“I have something to do with that,” a warm female voice said. Cardinal jumped with surprising energy to see a young blonde girl smiling at her. “I’m sorry,” the girl said, “I keep doing that to you.”

Carrie furrowed her brow in confusion. She knew what her throat wound meant, and didn’t try to talk.

“I guess you don’t recognize me. Again, I’m sorry,” the girl offered, her clothing suddenly changing into a blue and white, vaguely avian costume.

Dove.

“In our enhanced forms, Hawk and I healed very quickly, and often even faster in magical realms. Right now, you are in close proximity to enormous magical energy, and since you are still in danger, the power has remained. Tell me, do you really feel that bad?”

Come to think about it, no, Carrie admitted silently, I just feel sleepy.

“Flex your wings. They are no longer broken,” Dove suggested softly. Carrie shifted them experimentally. They were tied, but had mended themselves. “You can also speak,” Dove added.

Carrie cleared her throat. There was a little pain, and the voice she emitted was nothing but a ragged whisper, “How are you here?” I shouldn’t be able to talk at all, she thought.

Dove smiled. “Sort of a gift from Donna Troy. I’m able to ‘get away’ for a few minutes. Rest for now. When the time comes, you’ll be able to escape and fight.”

“I’ll be at a disadvantage,” Carrie countered, “My sonic...”

“Your sonics were part of your body when you accepted the power of Dove.”

“You mean...”

Dove nodded and faded away.

**********************

[Glippernip]

Some claim that the Earth itself is in their blood.

“Can you do it?” the young girl’s voice piped in with a sad note. “Will she be all right?”

“I don’t know,” Phantasm stated in the unaltered voice of David Dagon. “I’ve never done this. I don’t think Raven has ever done anything like this.”

“If you need anything from me...,” the other voice offered.

“Thank you, but you are fighting your own battle.”

Liana, against the wall of a hastily created cave, with roots growing from the wall and into her skin in about a dozen places, sat and watched as Phantasm tried to fit the nearly 100 stone pieces of Tamara Markov-Logan back together.

***********************

[Glippernip]

What does Blood really mean to an immortal?

“I am not a great fool, Arcana,” Phobos said with a growl, his deep voice rumbling from within the dark blue Roman Centurion helmet. “In fact, I am a little disconcerted that the only response so far came from the baby Titans. The hesitance of the heroes will lead to their downfall. This entire time, I have been working with the sources of power I’ve gathered, learning how to control them better. Especially the djinn and his lightning. And I still have my new champion awaiting orders.”

Arcana nodded, but Brontes’ words still caused her some discomfort as she thought about his warning.

*********************

In medicine, blood can save lives, but it can also kill.

Limbo: Raven, Animal Man, Starfire, The Flash, Donna Troy, Starbolt, and Fusion sat/floated close together. With her soul-self, Raven drew just a fraction of energy from each one and used it to extend her range in searching for a path to their Earth. It was one of her abilities she rarely used, and had never taught herself to use against an unwilling subject.

Like a small breeze caressing her forehead, and somewhat similar to her encounter with Betsy previously, Raven felt a consciousness touch her.

“You are Raven, aren’t you?” the presence asked directly.

“I am,” her soul replied, “Who..?”

Then, in Limbo, lightning struck the Titans.

************************

[Glippernip]

Even when the mind forgets, the blood can remember.

A shiver ran down John Long’s spine as he stood as close to the foot of New Olympus as police, National Guard, and DEO troopers would let him. They are coming, he thought to himself, and immediately wondered who ‘they’ were. He also wondered if he were going crazy.
He silently wished he knew why he was so excited by it all.

**********************

Fight or flight reaction: The heart beats faster and pumps more blood, providing more energy to muscles.

From about a mile away, at a more secure location, Black Arrow scanned the small mountain with his telescopic visuals. He never heard the man in red come up behind him. When his sensors kicked in, Arrow turned toward his visitor, his bow raised and a ‘Kory’ knocked on the string.

“Flash?” Arrow asked, recognizing the markings of the recently modified costume. Arrow’s voice dropped to a whisper. “That’s you, isn’t it, Reese?”

The Flash nodded once. “I’ve been doing as thorough a recon as I can, but friend or foe, you are the only one I’ve found so far. I didn’t want to try the mountain before scouting the city.” Flash shook his head. “Actually, I’ve been around for about an hour without really knowing what to do. I wish my dad was here.”

“Actually, you may be of great use to me,” Black Arrow said, keeping his ‘hero’ face on. They were reasonably well-hidden, but these days you never knew where a camera or microphone might be. “Battalion is in there. He sent me a message, had me bring some gear. You would be able to get it to him far quicker than I ever could.” Flash nodded agreement, and Arrow continued, “Just like the other time. I understand about you and your father, but I wish Nightstar and Rebecca were here.”

“Nightstar, maybe,” Reese agreed grimly, “Rebecca’s...changed.”

“But didn’t she and Gabe...”

“Long time ago,” Flash replied, “Don’t think she would even help Gabe at this point.”

Flying target approaching, the letters read across LJ’s vision. He turned and looked up to see a smallish figure apparently riding a flying boulder, her fists glowing bright yellow.

“Terra,” BA told Flash, “the elder.”

“We can’t let her reach the mountain by herself!”

“Here,” LJ said, handing Reese a tiny device, “It’s a communicator, the kind that the arrow clan and Titans use. Once we break radio silence, you’ll be able to listen and talk.”
Arrow then handed Flash a small quiver and long zippered case. “Get them to Gabe if you can. Then we’ll kick some ass!”

Flashed zoomed off as Black Arrow launched himself into the air, the anti-grav pulses buzzing quietly as he rose toward Terra.

*********************

[Glippernip]

This extra oxygen provided by the blood gives the person additional strength and stamina in stressful situations.

Oliver Gabriel Lyon’s rear tooth beeped twice, and Gabe grinned. LJ was here. It was time to kick some ass.

With a grunt, gritting his teeth, Gabe wrenched his shoulder violently out of its socket, twisted himself in his bonds, then used the tiny laser emitter hidden under his thumbnail to cut his bindings.

Wish Judge could have watched that, he thought with satisfaction, then she might just know who she is dealing with. My Battalion suit does not make me Battalion! The whole thing brought back memories. Batman taught Robin escape artistry, Robin taught Roy Harper some techniques, and Roy spread the knowledge around to the whole clan. The boys, as teenagers, used to have competitions to see who could dislocate their joints and escape various traps the fastest. A skill no twelve-year old should ever know, he thought.

Battalion moved out, his face a steely mask.

**************************

Because of the Fight or Flight reaction, a person can do things normally beyond their normal ability.

Liana looked on as Phantasm worked on Tamara Markov-Logan. He had assembled the stone pieces, and now the specter, his deep purple soul-self hovering over them like a vulture, worked to revive her.

“I think it is a self defense mechanism,” he said, his voice quivering. Sweat dripped from beneath his mask, neatly killing any supernatural effect, and his breath came in short, rough gasps. “Her consciousness is buried somehow, protecting itself. I...don’t really understand, but I don’t have to. All I need to do is awaken her.” He paused, taking a deep breath, and said, “I’ve found her.”

Suddenly, Terra’s stone form moved and turned to flesh. She moaned loudly and curled up into a fetal position, and Phantasm instantly launched himself into healing mode. With the waves of pain arcing through him, he could not believe that she didn’t scream in agony. He mended a hundred tiny lacerations throughout her body. Slowly, she sat up, wiping the moisture from her face. “I’ve never hurt so much in my life,” she whispered.

“Neither have I,” Phantasm agreed.

“That’s twice you’ve saved me,” she said, “Are you stalking me or something?”

“Tamara,” Liana asked softly, “are you OK?”

Terra turned and stared, saying, “Are...are you?”

Liana smiled sleepily, stepping away from the wall as the roots removed themselves from her skin. “I am better,” Princess Fern answered, “My body...works differently than a full human. Taurus did not kill me.”

Terra nodded. As they thought about what to do next, Phantasm suddenly looked upwards toward the ceiling. They heard an explosion from somewhere above, and then Liana’s communicator chirped.

**********************

[Glippernip]

Tara Markov saw the black form flying toward her and turned, the yellow glow around her fists expanding as she prepared to attack. Black Arrow quickly made the current ‘Titans’ hand signals, developed by Dick Grayson many years ago, though the actual signal changes periodically. He motioned for a landing, since his flight abilities did not really include hovering. Before they could even land, however, something struck the top of New Olympus, and then Black Arrow’s com beeped.


Cardinal heard the communicator chime. They didn’t take it from me? Overconfident bleeps! She began to free herself.


As Gabe peeked around a corner, he felt a breeze from behind. No noise, just a breeze. He glanced sideways to see the Flash standing behind him, his finger in front of his lips.

“Reese?” Gabe couldn’t believe it. “Did Black Arrow call you?” he whispered.

Flash shook his head ‘no’ and replied, “I ran into him outside. Merry Christmas.” The Flash handed over his packages. Gabe unbuttoned the quiver, checked the contents, slung it over his shoulder, and then snapped the folding bow into place.

“This way,” Flash said, “I saw Cardinal this way.”

“And you didn’t stop?”

"She looked unconscious and safe enough. Arrow wanted you armed.”

Gabe decided it was a debate for another time. As they move stealthily toward Carrie’s location, they were both surprised when the communicator Arrow had given Flash suddenly turned on.

**********************

[Glippernip]

Most important of all: Family is family, even if not of the same blood.

LJ and Tara were the only ones who saw it, though everyone near the mountain heard the boom. To LJ, it was his first real taste of this kind of power.

Over New Olympus, almost dead center, the sky rippled, and a dark hole appeared. Phantasm looked up suddenly, sensing the upheaval and recognizing one source. Phobos, on his throne, recognized another facet and smiled.

“Ah! The New Marvel. Excellent.” Then his grin faltered as he felt something else.

From the black, bird-shaped void, bright yellow lightning struck New Olympus. In the crater left behind by the strike stood Captain Marvel, Donna Troy, Wally West, Animal Man, Starfire, Fusion, and Starbolt. Starbolt activated his Titans communicator.

“If anyone can hear me,” he said, “Titans, report!”

“Battalion here. Ry, is that you? I have the Flash with me, we’re trying to free Cardinal. I don’t know about the others, but Judge and Jury are here, and they think the others are all dead.”

“This is Cardinal. I’m already free, but by myself.”

“Taurus here. I am alone, within the mountain, ready to assist.”

“Taurus, you son of a bitch!” Tamara’s voice spat from the speaker, “Taurus is a traitor, works with Arcana, and tried to kill Liana! He helped them kill Kilowatt! You failed, Taurus. Liana is with me, alive. Phantasm is here, as well.”

"I'm here," Jon's voice rang in.

"Jon!?!" Cardinal's voice jumped in, "They said you were dead!"

"I think they did," he replied hesitantly, "Its complicated. I'm here, and we need to deal with them."

“This is Black Arrow, and Mother Terra is with me.”

Fury settled in Starbolt’s expression and voice. “Get to the top of New Olympus,” he stated, having been filled in about the situation by Captain Marvel, “Everyone...”

With a hint of excitement, Logan said, “I think he’s gonna say it!”

Ryand’r glanced at Gar and smiled viciously, saying, “Titans...Together!”



To be concluded in Titans Tomorrow Annual #1