Teen Titans: Millennium

Tula walked through the streets of Metropolis. Her classes at Mr. Jupiter’s had ended early this morning, and she had some time to explore the city. She strolled down the streets, investigating every store she passed.

She walked out of Victoria’s Secret, shaking her head and wondering what possible use the clothing contained inside could have. Without missing a beat, she turned and headed into a music store.

She was unaware she was being watched. “Target in sight,” the watcher reported.

“Excellent. Wait until target is alone, then continue as instructed.”

”Understood.”

”You’ve got to have something!” Roy said. His newest vial was safely in his pocket.

“Man, I told you,” Lloyd said as he lay on the couch in his basement. Roy sat across from him in a recliner that had seen far better days. “I don’t know how much more I can help you out.”

”Come on,” Roy said. “We’ve been friends since we were kids!”

Lloyd thought a moment, then reached under a cushion and pulled out a business card. He handed it to Roy. “If you’re that desperate, you can call this guy. He’s always got work. Just watch your back.” Lloyd held up a finger. “I’m only telling you that because we’ve been friends so long. Just tell him I sent you and he’ll get you started.”

“Thanks,” Roy said. “I’ll call him on the way back.”

Wonder Girl dodged as Trident fired another blast at her. From overhead, Robin dropped from a fire escape and landed squarely on the villain. When the computer detected that he had been neutralized, the city faded away into the bare walls of the training room.

“I think that’s a record,” Donna said.

“Maybe,” Dick replied as he pushed his sunglasses up onto his forehead. He looked closely at Donna’s face for a moment. “What happened to your eye?”

Donna’s hand flew to her face to cover the bruises as she thought of a lie. “I was trying a solo run and Trident got a lucky shot in,” she said.

Dick just nodded slowly. Donna’s heart quickened as she wondered if he was going to press the issue. She took a deep breath when he headed for the exit.

“Target is primed,” the watcher said. Tula had just started wandering down an alley.

“Confirmed. Proceed immediately.”

The watcher raised a pistol and fired three times. Three tiny darts embedded themselves in Tula’s back. She fell to the ground as the drugs entered her system and took effect.

The watcher rushed forward. A moment later he and Tula were en route to a safe house.

“All right,” Garth said. “That’s just not fair.”

”What?” Wally asked. “You said you wanted to race in the pool, and I won.” Indeed, Wally was standing at the far end, while Garth was floating barely halfway down the pool’s length.

Garth slowly counted to ten. “When I say race in the pool, I mean swimming. Not running along the top of the water.”

”But it’s a neat trick,” Wally said. “Gotta go. We’ve got history class.” Wally was gone as Garth hauled himself out of the pool and checked the clock. It was official. He was now late for history class. Muttering under his breath, he stormed into the locker room to dry off and change as quickly as possible.

Tula awakened. She was trapped in a clear tank filled with water. She thudded against the glass and was shocked when it wouldn’t break. “Give it up,” her abductor said. “That’s transparent plasteel. No way you’re getting through it.”

Tula crossed her arms and looked defiant as she floated in the tank. “Settle down,” he abductor said. “You’ve got a meeting with a very important person. You should feel honored.”

Tula scowled and reached into her pocket for her signaler.

”Looking for this?” the abductor asked. He held up her signaler before replacing it on a table. “It’s really ingenious. Maybe we should incorporate it into ours.”

He smiled at Tula. “Don’t worry. It won’t take long.”

Fury burned in her eyes.

A fist thudded onto a table so hard the thick wood of the table cracked. “Tula has been kidnapped!” Garth yelled. “What are we going to do about it?”

Loren Jupiter, seated at the head of the table, remained still. “We are going to work to locate her,” he calmly said. “Now please be seated.”

Seething, Garth sat back down. Across the table, Donna glanced at him with a pained look on her face.

“As I was saying,” Jupiter said, “We are working to locate Ms. Tula as quickly as possible. I have Mr. Duncan working to locate her signaler’s frequency as we speak. Once he triangulates its location, we move. Not before.”

”We should be out there on the streets now!” Garth yelled, jumping to his feet.

”You will control yourself before I remove you from this mission,” Jupiter said, staring directly at Garth. After a tense few moments, Garth sat back down.

Jupiter let his gaze linger on Garth for a moment, before continuing. “I expect you all ready to depart at a moment’s notice. That is all.”

Tula glowered as the abductor waved a glowing wand in front of her tube. “Don’t worry,” the abductor said as he checked the readings. “This’ll all be over soon as long as you stay a good girl.”

Tula scowled again but remained silent. Her eyes scrutinized everything as she tried to detect any chance of escape.

“Let’s see,” Mal Duncan said as he studied the monitor screen in front of him. “Now let’s try this…” His fingers flew over the keyboard as he entered commands. He smiled as a glowing circle appeared on the monitor and began slowly moving around the screen. He reached for his desk phone and dialed an extension.

“Mr. Jupiter, this is Mal. I think I’m on to something. I should have Tula’s location pinpointed in ten minutes.”

”Excellent work. I’m on my way down.”

Jupiter hurried into the computer lab as the dot began circling a smaller area of the city. “How close is it?” he asked.

Mal squinted at the screen. “Within five blocks,” he judged.

”Excellent,” Jupiter said. “I’ll have Mr. Smith get the team airborne at once. Let us know as soon as you have a positive lock.”

”Understood,” Mal said, watching the circle’s radius start to slowly shrink.

“Understood,” the abductor said. “I’ve just finished the final scans.” He paused and listened a moment. “Got it.” He folded his cell phone and slid it into his pocket, then turned to face Tula again. “Well, my dear, it looks as if our time together has come to an end. Au revoir.” He turned and walked out, pausing only to push the distress button on her signaler.

Once the door closed, it was a different story. He sprinted downstairs and ducked into a door that had been left open for just this purpose. He quickly changed his clothes and ripped the makeup from his face. Moments later, a skater walked out, board under his arm. He was tall and blonde, although one’s attention was drawn to the piercings on his lip and eyebrow. Behind the slight makeup and fake piercings, Charley Parker smiled as he touched the data recorded in his pocket. He dropped the board on the sidewalk and began to ride away. Seconds later, the T-jet touched down in the middle of the street. He just kept going.

“Go!” Smith ordered as the team filed out of the jet. “The signal shows that she is on the fourth floor!”

”On it!” Robin yelled as the team hurried into the building. They were shocked to find Tula floating in the tube, completely unharmed.

“Nothing?” Jupiter asked.

“Nothing,” Smith affirmed. “Mr. Grayson searched the room thoroughly. No traps and no clues to the abductor’s identity.”

Jupiter scowled and thumped his desk with his fist. “Loose ends. I hate them.”

“I agree,” Smith said. “And I am sure that we have not heard the last of this.”

”Excellent work, Number Seven,” Number One said.

“I live to please,” Steve Dayton said. He handed over a data recorder. “Here you are. As promised, genetic scans of an Atlantean female.”

“This will prove most useful,” Number Two chimed in.

Dayton simply smiled. Everything was going exactly according to plan.

“Look at this!” Dick Grayson looked up as he crossed the gym just in time to see Wally West perform a perfect somersault from the overhead rings into the pool. He reached the side of the pool as Wally swam over and hopped out.

“How did you do that?” Dick asked. “It took me six months to learn that move.”

Wally grinned. “I’ve just been practicing,” he said.

Dick grinned back. “Let me get changed,” he said, already pulling his jacket off as he headed for the locker room. “Then I’ll show you some hard maneuvers.”

Donna Troy sat on her bed, crying. Her wastebasket was filled with torn pictures of her and Roy. Finally her eyes fell on the crystal column Mr. Jupiter had purchased for her at the art show. Somehow, looking at it filled her with pride. A frown crossed her face as she glanced at the wastebasket. “Worthless,” she judged as she reached for her workout clothes.

“I was so worried about you,” Garth said. He and Tula were in her Atlantean simulation again.

“Of course, my prince,” she said. “But now we must return to your studies.”

”Of course,” Garth said in reply.

As his eyes closed, Tula raised her glowing hands to the sides of his head. “Remember. Remember your kingdom. Remember your throne. Remember your home.” She continued chanting as memories began to enter Garth’s head.

“Good to meet you, Roy.” Roy withdrew his hand from the other man’s thick, sweaty grip. “It’s always good to have some new talent.” Anthony Scarapelli was Lloyd’s friend. Roy had been slightly sickened when he found out Scarapelli’s business, but he needed money and Scarapelli had lots to share.

Scarapelli sat down in a chair that squeaked alarmingly under his girth. A handsome young man stood beside him – his son Lance. “Whenever you’re ready,” Scarapelli said as one of his meaty hands reached up and switched on the camera.

Roy settled himself on the bed and tried to ignore the strange look that Lance was giving him. Finally he took a deep breath, smiled at the camera, and pulled his shirt over his head.

Next Issue: It’s the beginning of an epic showdown as the Titans set out to locate the HIVE! Plus, a very familiar character debuts, but not on the side you’d think!

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