Teen Titans: Millennium

“Freeze,” Flamebird ordered. Titans West stood opposing the Teen Titans as they tried to make their way into the HIVE base. “You’re trespassing, you know.”

“Stand down,” Robin ordered. “We’re here to stop this.”

”I don’t think so,” Flamebird said as a cruel smirk crossed her features. “I’d like to introduce you to our newest member.” She looked up at the golden girl flying above. “Starfire, remove them.”

A cold smile crossed the girl’s features. She aimed her hands at the Teen Titans and they began to glow.

”I don’t like the look of that,” Robin said. “Scatter!” With a warrior’s scream, the girl began sending energy bolts at the Titans.

Robin found himself crouching behind a piece of debris beside Aquagirl. “Tula, can you see Donna?” he asked.

Aquagirl squinted. “No,” she said.

Robin ducked as another starbolt struck the ground near them. “Now what?” he asked himself.

Aquagirl smiled. “Now it’s my turn.” Aquagirl raised her hands.

Starfire let out a cry as snow began flying into the room and surrounding her. She couldn’t fire her starbolts fast enough to melt it. The snow turned into ice, effectively containing her.

Beside Robin, Aquagirl sagged to the ground. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“Fine,” Aquagirl replied. “Just weak. That is very difficult.”

Robin laid a hand on her shoulder. “Rest here. You’ve given us our break.” He stood. “Let’s go, Titans!” he ordered. The five remaining Titans charged the Titans West.

Flamebird smiled as Robin ran toward her. “At last,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for this.” The two began throwing punches at each other that were expertly blocked.

Wonder Girl flew at Crystal. “Get away from me!” Crystal yelled as she created a crystal shield and sword. Wonder Girl blocked Crystal’s first slash with her bracelets. Wonder Girl closed her eyes as the sword shattered under the impact, sending pieces of crystal into her face.

Golden Eagle pulled a pistol from his belt and began firing. Kid Flash ran, trying his best to dodge the bullets.

Beast Boy snarled as he changed into a tiger that slowly began stalking Speedy. Speedy dove behind rubble and began frantically searching through his quiver for an arrow that could save him without killing his opponent.

Red Star smiled as he stepped toward Aqualad. Garth charged and the two locked hands in a test of strength.

Deep inside the complex, Number 7 ran through the halls, cursing the robe he wore as he went. Finally he entered the computer room and hurried to a mainframe. In no time at all he had established a secure Internet connection and began transferring data.

Far above, Wonder Girl finally managed to get past Crystal’s projectiles and leveled her with one punch. As Wonder Girl gently laid Crystal on the ground, she saw the green tiger lick its lips as it stalked Speedy. He had a razor-tipped arrow notched and ready to fly, but she saw his hands shaking. Wonder Girl flew forward and snatched up the tiger. “Change back!” she ordered. Beast Boy continued to struggle. A second later the wind rushed out of his mouth and his eyes rolled back as he changed back to his human form. Wonder Girl landed and saw Speedy picking up the rubber-tipped shaft.

“I knew you didn’t want to kill him,” she said in a business-like tone. “I could see you fighting yourself.” She launched into flight searching for another Titan who needed aid.

“Yeah,” Speedy said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his glove. “That’s it.”

Suddenly Speedy dove for cover as Aqualad flew through the air and slammed into the wall inches away from him. Before he could make another move, Red Star had grabbed him by the throat and begun to squeeze.

“Goodbye,” Red Star said as Speedy’s tongue began to protrude from his mouth. As darkness began to overtake his vision, Red Star dropped him and went flying. Robin dropped to the floor, gasping for breath.

”You okay?” Aqualad asked.

Speedy nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

“Don’t worry. He caught me off-guard with that last little trick. Won’t happen again.” Aqualad leaped into battle and began battering Red Star whose eyes soon rolled back as he fell.

Across the room, Robin sneaked in a fist that connected with Flamebird’s temple. She fell to the ground unconscious. A bullet nicked the floor beside him and he looked up to see Golden Eagle aiming his pistol. “Nighty night,” Eagle sneered. He looked astonished as he wobbled in the air. Suddenly he realized he had Kid Flash on his back.

“Ride `em cowboy!” Kid Flash yelled as he steered Eagle into a wall. Flash jumped off just before he hit and returned to the rest of the team.

“What now?” Aqualad asked as he helped Speedy over to the others.

Robin frowned as he thought. “We still can’t contact Smith. We need to get the jamming knocked out. Any of you know anything about electronics?”

Wonder Girl smiled. “I think Wally could break whatever it is with no problems.”

“Go,” Robin said. Kid Flash smiled and vanished. Robin looked around the room. “The rest of us need to get these people secured. We’re taking them with us so we can get some answers.”

Number 7 fired a pistol as a red and yellow dervish tore into the room. Before he was knocked unconscious, he watched the control board miraculously disassemble itself. Kid Flash threw Number 7 over his shoulder and ran out.

“We are lost,” Number 6 wailed.

”Silence,” Number 1 ordered as the inner circle boarded their escape craft. “The HIVE will return another day.” He flipped a switch and the craft launched into space.

“Got another one,” Kid Flash said as he returned to the others.

”Warning,” a computerized voice boomed. “Self destruct has been activated. This complex will self-destruct in three minutes.”

Robin’s eyes went wide as he considered their options. Suddenly he heard a voice that ended his concerns.

“You look as if you could use a hand,” Mr. Smith called. He had extended the T-jet’s gangway to form a bridge to the HIVE complex.

“Grab them and move out!” Robin yelled, throwing Flamebird over his shoulder. The Titans quickly transferred their prisoners to the jet and were long gone by the time the base exploded.

Two Days Later

“Drugged?” Loren Jupiter asked. He and Mr. Smith were going over the team’s reports in his office.

Smith nodded once. “That is what he claims. Steve Dayton says that the only reason he and the other Titans were there is because they were drugged.”

Jupiter drummed his fingers on the folder that lay on his desk. “Do you believe him?”

Smith thought a moment. “I cannot be sure. Blood samples from all of them do contain certain chemicals that could allow them to be easily influenced.”

Jupiter frowned. “Knowing Steve Dayton, he’d inject the lot of them if he thought he could make a dollar.” He took a deep breath. “So Starfire has accepted our invitation?”

”Yes,” Smith replied. “The other members of Titans West all decided to remain on their own in California. Starfire, however, decided to remain after speaking with Tula.”

”Excellent,” Jupiter said with a smile. Suddenly he remembered the next item on the agenda. “And the other matter?”

”I will send for him as soon as we finish here,” Smith said.

“Go and get him,” Jupiter said. “I want to get this over with.”

”Loren,” Smith began. “It is unavoidable that there would be failures along with successes in this program.”

”I’m sorry, but I don’t care to discuss this right now,” Jupiter said, fighting to control his emotions. He stood and paced the office, finally picking up a dust cloth and polishing an old fencing sword that hung on the wall of the office. “Just go get him.”

”Of course,” Smith said, standing to leave. Jupiter had laid the cloth down and begun to practice his fencing.

“This is Metropolis?” Starfire asked. Dick Grayson smiled.

“Yes,” he said. He pointed at the map displayed on the computer screen. “We’re here.” He entered a command and the site of Jupiter’s building lit up in red. He looked at Starfire again. “I’m impressed at how quickly you’re picking this up.”

Starfire smiled. “I’ve always been a quick learner. My tutors in the palace on Tamaran saw to that.” She laid her hand on Dick’s arm and he took a deep breath. Her touch sent little jolts of electricity shooting along his arm. It was not a sensation he’d soon forget.

“I trust you know why you are here,” Jupiter said. Roy Harper sat before him.

“No,” Harper said.

Jupiter stood and stepped before the desk. “Your behavior has been erratic of late, and your grades have been even more abysmal than usual. Then I was notified of this.” He spun his computer monitor around. Displayed was a website – boytoyroy.com. Roy’s eyes widened as he saw that spotlighted was a photo set called “Boy Toy Roy Gets Lanced.”

”That’s impossible,” Roy said. “I never… I always said no.”

Jupiter’s features could have been carved from stone. “My attorneys have already contacted the website hosts and this particular piece of filth will be disappearing shortly.” He switched off the monitor. “Ignoring, for the moment, the fact that you are only fifteen and this is therefore illegal, this also betrays my trust in you. From the beginning of your enrollment in this program, I have made my expectations of you quite clear. This total betrayal of your morals therefore leaves me no choice. Roy Harper, you are hereby expelled from the Teen Titans. I have contacted Social Services and they will be here shortly to collect you and your belongings.”

“Mr. J, please,” Roy said. “You can’t do this.” He fell to his knees before Jupiter, begging. “Just give me some money.” He fought to put a smile on his face. “I can help you, you know. I can make you feel good, and I’ll never tell anybody.”

”This simply proves my point,” Jupiter said, fixing Roy with a glare that made him wish he could just wither away. “You were a mistake from day one.” Jupiter turned his back on Roy and looked out the floor-length windows.

Roy’s eyes darted around the room. He grabbed up the fencing epee, ripped off the protective tip, and jumped forward with a scream that made Jupiter turn back toward him. Jupiter grunted as the sword pierced his chest and emerged from his back. Blood spattered on the window as Jupiter fell to the ground, already losing consciousness.

Roy paused to steal Jupiter’s wallet and went through the desk looking for any more money. Roy fled the office, leaving Jupiter lying bleeding on the floor.

End Book Two...

Next Issue: Roy is gone. Will Jupiter survive? And how will the team react to these revelations?

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