Chapter 102

Everything was coming to me in short bursts. Even my vision was only periodically working. With the scenery fading in and out as I tried to catch my breath. But it was always just out of reach.

If looks could kill, I’d be catching a first degree with the glare I was giving Lady Shiva.

Not that she seemed to care. Not that I could blame her, I was sweating a puddle underneath my feet, and I felt one good punch from not being able to get back up. In terms of health, I was near the end of the rope.

…But that didn’t mean I wasn’t out of tricks.

“…What…want a…round two?”

Unfortunately, I didn’t seem to have enough strength to sound as commanding as I want. Much to my annoyance, as I felt a blister popping somewhere near my collarbone. That or it was just one of the wounds I just didn’t remember getting.

Lady Shiva threw a sadistically amused look, before becoming aggressive. Grabbing my arms before…lightly shoving me forward, with her leg extended. Of course, there was much I could in response, as I tumbled down to the floor. Grunting as my shoulder and head hit the cement. As if I needed to take anymore injuries today…

My annoyance flared up as I turned around on the ground and opened my mouth. Looking at the advancing Lady Shiva as I yelled out the name of the nuclear option.

“GAL-”

Lady Shiva’s hand clamped over my mouth, silencing me from speaking out loud further. Before finally sitting on my stomach. Whatever sound I could make was interrupted as she applied pressure to all of my wounds. Causing me to groan out in pain.

…Still, was a walk in the park compared to Black Canary’s scream.

My eyes focused back on the strangely calm Lady Shiva who was currently straddling me like it was no big issue. So, it’s come to this.

Alright then.

The actual nuclear option it was.

It’d be an actual pain in my ass to cover up. Not to mention how much trouble I’d get into if it was discovered I was the source of it. The casualties could be substantial, not to mention I didn’t even know how safe I’d be from it.

Even so, it was my life that was on the cutting board here. If I didn’t make a more now, then I wouldn’t even live to regret it.

I didn’t have another option here.

My concentration started to pour into my palm…

“Calm down, kid. I just want to talk.”

…What.

She really thought I was going to swallow that crock of shit, didn’t she? Yeah, I totally believe that she jumped me and Black Canary with assassins only to have a casual conversation about the weather. Maybe if her outfit looked good on her or not.

Lady Shiva scoffed at my look before shaking her head.

“If I wanted to kill you, I already would’ve. Trust me.”

…I wasn’t sure if that was true or not. But what was true was that I was dead to rights as of this moment. If she so much as sensed an attack or feeling off, I’d likely be cut down. It’d have been so much easier if she didn’t have gloves over her hand…

“…Does it aggravate you? That you lay here, defeated, underneath me? That you weren’t strong enough to beat me?”

…A conversation, huh? This was sounding a whole lot like gloating.

Yet…there was something off. She was being serious. There wasn’t any amusement in her eyes. Most sadists couldn’t hide their smirks or that glimmer in the eye. Rather, they didn’t care to. The fact that their victims could see it only helped excite them.

But she wasn’t getting off on this.

“Who is that hate directed towards? Is it me? The one who beat you? Or maybe it’s at yourself, for failing…but you know who it should be directed towards?”

Lady’s Shiva’s hand tightened over my mouth. Clenching my jaw in place as she got closer. Pulling me forward as she whispered in my ear.

…There was a chance that I could breath out a highly potent gas to knock her out. Yet again though, if it didn’t immediately take her, I’d likely be paying for it. But was not taking that chance the right move?

…I wasn’t sure.

“…Black Canary.”

I blinked.

Lady Shiva’s eyes seemed to swim with a sort of intensity. Something that was rising with every second, causing the hairs on my body to stand up straight. At least, the parts of my body that I could still feel, at any rate.

“She taught you how to fight, yes, but she also gave you a poison. Something that weakens you in every battle. It bleeds into your every move, even when you’ve thrown off your shackles, the sickness still lies there. The damage already done.”

Lady Shiva paused for only a moment. Letting her words sink in before continuing.

“She taught you to hold back.”

…Oh. I get it now.

She was fucking nuts.

Lady Shiva’s thumb from her other hand drifted over my face. Lightly brushing the skin below my eye, causing my body to freeze up. I understood exactly what she could do at that range. And more worryingly, she knew too.

“It’s a terrible habit. Even when you aren’t trying to, it still comes through. It’s just so driven into your very bones that you have trouble going against it.”

“A shame, really. Someone with your skills…”

Oh my god.

Was she seriously trying to recruit me? After attacking me? What, did they not have recruiters for the League!?  This was the best they had?

That was…sad.

Genuinely.

“I could be convinced to train you. Contrary to what some might say, I enjoy nurturing talents. Though obviously, not for free. I’d just want one favor in return…”

Two guesses on what that favor is. And how much I was going to NOT want to do it. Probably something stupid like ‘kill someone on the Justice League’ or something similar to completely ruin my chances of going anywhere but exactly where she wanted me.

Thanks, but no thanks.

“Then again, maybe it’s better you don’t. I’m not nearly as forgiving as Black Canary. If you aren’t fast or strong enough, I might just kill you.”

Lady Shiva mentioned, shrugging her shoulders as if she didn’t care too strongly about which option I choose. Considering the satisfied look she was wearing, she definitely was feeling herself on that ‘speech’.

…The League of Assassins used brainwashing, didn’t they?

It showed.

Still…I’d be an idiot to just ignore her words. Was it possible that Black Canary’s fighting style, even when I was going all out, was holding me back when it came to ending threats? Though there were a few more brutal moves, it was definitely possible.

That being said, was it a good idea to seek help from someone like Lady Shiva?

No.

Then unexpectedly, Lady Shiva removed her hand from my mouth. Easily pushing herself up from the ground before extending a hand to help me. I gave her an openly judging look before pushing myself up.

…Which was extremely difficult to do. My entire body protesting as if something would break if I kept at it. Even so, it wasn’t as bad as it had been before. Slowly but surely, I was recovering.

“Good. Don’t trust anyone.”

I fought from rolling my eyes in front of her as I shakily stood on my feet. Glaring at her before taking a step away. She seemed to watch me neutrally, before something took her attention for a split second. As she looked back at the multi-story parking structure, before looking back.

She crossed her arms with her eyes closed. A small smirk on her lips as she ignored my suspicious look.

“…So what? You’re just…going to let me go now?”

What was her game, exactly? She had to be after something here. A goal of some kind. If she wasn’t going to stop me, then that meant me leaving was a part of it. A tracker? No, that’d be stupid. It was pretty obvious where I was most of the time.

…Unless she was looking for Cheshire.

“Of course. I’ve already completed my job.”

“Which was?”

“To stall you and Black Canary.”

A cold chill swept across my back. My eyes immediately darting over as I looked at Titans Tower. An ominous feeling starting to take ahold of me as I moved. Lady Shiva continued to stay there, watching. Even when the sound of tires screeching got louder, she continued to lay her back against the wall.

Black Canary, I imagine.

I fumbled for my communicator, before attempting to call someone, anyone. Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, Galatea, Kid Flash, Artemis, Zatanna, Miss Martian, and Ravager. Even the team emergency channel that caused them all to ring.

Nothing.

I was pushing my body as hard as I could, but even that was only a light jog. Barely carrying me anywhere as I trudged on. Eventually I wised up and looked at my surroundings. Now that I was on the street, there were people walking around. Some of them noticed me and whispered before bringing out their phones to take pictures or videos. I couldn’t imagine I was anything to look at being this broken and bloody.

There were some however, that were too adsorbed in their own actions. Like one guy who was talking on the phone as he fumbled for the keys on his car. Something about groceries, as you quickly approached him from behind, before putting a hand on his exposed arm. Which made him jump in surprise.

“Sorry, I’ll be needing to borrow your car. Titans business. I’ll be sure to compensate you for your help later.”

I quickly added, pushing him slightly at the way. Which he did, mostly due to being startled at first, before quickly shaking his head. Though by then I had already taken his keys and was stepping into the driver’s side.

“Now wait just…a minute…”

He stated, before becoming wobbly. Becoming unbalanced, he put a hand against his head before sitting down on the side walk. Catching his breath as he attempted to fight the drugs that were coursing through his veins.

Then I stepped on it.

Almost immediately getting into a wreck as a car was forced to step on its breaks as I sped through an intersection. Going as fast as I could towards the Titans Tower. Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven, and Ravager were on some stupid errand in the city. If it was just them, I wouldn’t be going to the Tower. But if the Communicators were all down, that likely meant the signal was being jammed or interfered with.

I didn’t know much about electronics, but that either meant there was somehow a jammer over the entire city that was somehow strong enough to beat Cyborg’s advanced tech, or that the radio transmitter in the Tower was down.

And if it was the latter, then that meant the Tower had already been infiltrated.

As I raced through traffic getting closer and closer to the Tower, I wondered about why this was happening. What was the plan? Just to stomp the Titans out?

…But then, why did Lady Shiva let me go?

Was this about Cheshire?

Possibly, but I highly doubt that they care about just one operative this much.

I don’t know. I didn’t have all the pieces of information just yet.

What a puzzle looked like could be gleamed from a few pieces, but I wasn’t even that. It was like everything was in a fog a bit too far for me to see.

What matter now was to head to tunnels and get to the island for-

The city started to shake. Rumbling, causing people to start to run and scream. Yet even then, my eyes focused straight ahead. It was becoming abundantly obvious that this wasn’t a normal earthquake. Not only was the time suspicious, but so too was the monolithic figure that was pulling itself out of the ocean.

Right next to the Titans Tower coming out of the water was a giant crustacean. A lobster looking thing that had about as many legs as a centipede. My worries only significantly increased as every second it took moving towards the Tower was a second that Galatea wasn’t BLASTING IT back into the water.

If they were somehow keeping even her preoccupied…

This day was getting worse and worse.

The weight of the giant lobster thing was enough to gouge out the entire left side of the island. As it seemed faster on land then water. It seemed to make an nauseating chittering noise as it closed in on the tower. It’s many limbs and two claws slowly being pressed in its limbs.

It was then I realized it was going to take me another ten minutes to get to the Tower.

I wasn’t going to make it.

And considering there STILL hasn’t been a reaction from inside the tower to combat this threat, including the Tower’s automatic defense systems, I could only assume the worst-case scenario had happened, or was currently happening.

I didn’t seem to have any cards left. Bedlam had some results, but was going to need a lot more time to actually grow. Inque wasn’t going to do anything unless they came to the Lab. I couldn’t do anything unless I was much closer, and I didn’t exactly have the ability to fly. My connections with the police or Jinx weren’t going to do anything here. They didn’t stand a chance in hell. Same with Ethan.

That left me with…with…

Fucking hell!

Calm down. There had to be something I was missing. Overlooking…

…I guess there was, in a manner of speaking. The voice did offer some sort of support back when the Bialya mission went bad, but just as quickly rescinded it. Even then, I wasn’t sure what exactly it could even do, and that was only if I hadn’t completely lost it and have been hallucinating the whole thing.

Even so, I was desperate for anything at this point.

The Titans meant everything to me. I put too much into them to lose them all now. To lose all of this…I’m not sure if it was possible to recover.

What would I even do? Go back to Gotham, be some third-rate criminal hoping to make it big until I eventually get bagged by the Bat? Live out the rest of my pathetic life in a cell?

Or would I give all that stuff up, and just use my power for science? Researching shit I didn’t even care about just to earn more money and fame? And then what? What would I spin the money on? Or the fame?

…It took only a handful of seconds for me to come to the ugly conclusion. Something that had been so self-evident that I’ve missed it for over the entire year I’ve been with the Titans. That anyone with a pair of working eyes could see.

Without the Titans, I was nothing.

“Voice...child…thing, whatever you are, I don’t know and I don’t care. The only thing I want from you right now is your power.”

…

I was met with silence. Causing my hands on the steering wheel to tighten. My teeth gritting hard enough for something to crunch as I steered through the streets. Nearly colliding with several pedestrians who were simply running away from the shores.

“I’ll pay whatever price it is you want. In return, all I ask is that you help protect the Titans.”

…

Once again, I was met by a deafening silence. As if no one was listening on the other end. Perhaps Black Canary’s scream destroyed it. Or maybe my schizophrenic episode was finally over.

And for once, in my entire life, I genuinely wished that wasn’t the case.

“…Please…”

I whispered under my breath.

A small, faint sound that no one could hear unless they had Galatea’s level of enhanced senses. Yet it seemed that my luck hadn’t run out just yet, as I got a reply.

A small, but brilliant red diamond that seemed to be on fire came out of my head before floating above the dash. Then as it steadily grew, it floated over towards the passenger’s side. A great flash went off, forcing me to suddenly swerve and hit the brakes. Enduring what felt like a flashbang as I groaned in pain.

Spots in my eyes danced as I attempted to blink them away. It felt like I had been staring into the sun for the last half hour. Even closing my eyes didn’t help all that much.

And to think I had been starting to feel better…

A slow and awkward sounding clap starting to come from my right. As my vision slowly started to come back, I noticed that there was now a figure in the car with me.

It looked like…a young girl. With long straight blonde hair that went down to almost the back of her knees. She seemed to be wearing a school like uniform…no, it looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. A school in either Jump City or Gotham then. Her hair was kept in place by a black hairband, but it didn’t seem to even be needed. There was an ethereal look about her. It was…uncanny.

She smiled politely, before touching the side of my face affectionately.

“Hello. I’d like to express my appreciation for your fervent and desperate plea for help. It was most enjoyable. Oh, and of course your acceptance of being my anchor on the mortal world.”

I frowned at that. Biting back the response that I had definitely not been begging. Such things didn’t matter at the moment. What mattered was whether or not I could get something out of this.

Her tone of voice was different than it had been in my head. It was still similar enough for me to understand it was likely the same, but different enough for me to realize something had changed. It wasn’t just in it’s sound either.

She sounded more…

Mature?

“So…are you going to help, or not?”

I asked point blank to the…girl? Wasn’t sure what to call her, nor did I really care unless it was going to help me in this minute. Whereas some fucking creature was currently making my home it’s bitch. Judging by how it was currently writhing up against the Tower, I’d give it only a few minutes before the whole thing starts to fall.

It was tough, but it wasn’t that tough.

The girl’s smile didn’t fade in the slightest as she turned her eyes to the side before nodding. Not a hair out of place as she did so.

“Yes, I think I will. Oh, and if you would be so kind, I’d appreciate it if you no longer referred to me as ‘thing’ or ‘voice’. From now on my name is…Child."