Falling Stars, Part Five:
“Betrayed”
Loren Jupiter frowned as he looked down. Even though Mal had been removed, there were still bloodstains on the floor. Mr. Smith knelt down beside him, examining the scene. “He was unable to say anything?” Smith asked. Jupiter nodded. “Whoever did this beat him badly. He’s still unconscious. He’s not been able to tell us anything.” Smith looked up. “Security didn’t show any intruders last night. That means that the one responsible was inside the building.” Jupiter thought a moment. “Any unusual notes on the entry logs?” Smith shook his head. “None.” Jupiter nodded. “Any suggestions?” Smith stood. “Lock down the building, especially this room. Let me move security up to a higher level of readiness.” Jupiter nodded again. “Do it. We need to find who did this, but we also need to be sure it doesn’t happen again.” Smith nodded. “I’ll take care of it.” He turned and left. Jupiter stood there another moment or two looking down at the stains on the floor before he followed. “This is absurd!” Garth threw his hands up as he paced the conference room like a caged tiger. “We have already been sent to our rooms, and now Mr. Jupiter wants us chained to our beds!” Wally leaned over to Dick. “Is it just me, or is he starting to get a little testy?” Dick nodded. He’d noticed the same thing. He stood. “Settle down, Garth,” he said, trying to defuse the situation. “Let’s give Mr. J a chance. I’m sure that he’s going to come down here and explain what’s going on to us.” Garth plopped down in a chair. “I sincerely hope so,” he said. “This is unacceptable.” Donna shot a look at Dick and he realized that she’d picked up on Garth’s behavior change as well. “Is something else bothering you?” Dick asked. “You seem a little on edge.” Garth slammed a fist onto the table. “Nothing is wrong! I simply resent being caged like an animal!” Tula placed a hand on his shoulder. “My prince is correct. This is no way for someone of his bloodline to be treated.” The door to the conference room slid open and Jupiter walked in with Smith following. Jupiter surveyed the scene before taking his customary seat at the head of the table. “Sit,” he finally said. When they had done so, he fixed a stern glare at Garth and Tula. “I expect a great deal out of each of you,” he said. “Among those expectations is the thought that I can leave you in a room together without a brawl breaking out.” Garth started to speak but Dick jumped in first. “Mr. Jupiter, we’re all a bit tense. What’s going on?” Beside Dick, Starfire started laughing. Jupiter’s attention snapped to her. “Miss Anders, Mal Duncan was attacked earlier and nearly electrocuted. What is so funny?” Starfire sneered and Jupiter’s blood ran cold. At the other end of the table, Smith prepared to move. “The fact that the insignificant little worm survived,” she said. “You fools. Those Gordanians you dispatched for me were police officers! They knew I was scouting new worlds for my master, and they sought to stop me. All I had to do was to pretend to be my dear, sweet sister and you fools took care of my problem for me.” Dick spoke up to distract Starfire’s attention away from Smith. “Who is your master, Kory?” he asked. ”Do not call me by that name!” Starfire yelled. “My true name is Komand’r, but my master calls me Blackfire. As to his name, you will be long dead before he arrives.” As Smith prepared to jump, Blackfire’s arm snapped up and fired a starbolt which threw him back into the wall. Another blasted a hole in the ceiling that she used for escape. Dick and Garth ran to Smith’s side. He opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. “Remind me not to do that again,” he said as the two Titans helped him to his feet. “What’s the plan, Boss?” Wally asked as he appeared at Smith’s side. Jupiter thought a moment. “She spoke of being a locator for a `master.’ Doubtless she will try to activate some sort of homing signal. You Titans must find her and stop her.” ”And you will go to your office,” Smith said in a tone that brooked no debate. “That room’s promethium walls should keep you safe. I will accompany you there. I can coordinate security efforts from there.” ”No,” Dick said. “Kor – Blackfire didn’t seem too worried about hurting people. I’d recommend you evacuate the building. We’ll take care of her. She’s our problem.” Jupiter nodded once. “Approved. Mr. Smith and I shall remain here should you require our assistance.” ”Loren, we must go,” Smith said as he began pulling Jupiter out of the room. Dick turned to face the Titans. “Wally, you’re on reconnaissance. We need to find Blackfire now. Radio us as soon as you find her.” ”Got it,” Wally said and was gone. Dick turned back to the others. “The rest of us need to get to our rooms. Don’t worry about costumes. We’ve got bigger problems. Just grab any weapons you have. We may need them.” The Titans ran out of the room. As the door closed behind them, Komand’r lowered herself back into the room. “And what made you think I was going any further away than I did?” she asked with a cruel sneer on her face. “This will be simplicity itself.” Garth ran into his room and started searching through his wardrobe for something. Seconds later the door exploded inward from a starbolt. Garth whirled around with a strange sword made out of a type of coral in his hand. “So, the boy tries to use a man’s weapon,” Blackfire smirked. “You have dishonored us all!” Garth yelled as he charged her. One starbolt shattered the weapon. The next sent him into a wall. He fell and lay sprawled on the ground. Blackfire smirked, turned… … and whirled backward to avoid a thrust from a similar sword. “How dare you assault my prince,” Aquagirl snarled as she slowly stalked the Tamaranian. “You will die for your indignity.” ”I think not,” Blackfire said as she seized Aquagirl’s wrist. As Blackfire squeezed, Tula gasped as bones in her wrist began to snap. The sword fell to the floor, and a punch from Blackfire placed Tula beside it. Kid Flash was next. He was running through the halls when he finally encountered Blackfire standing in a dorm hallway. “I found her, Dick!” Wally yelled as he charged forward. “I’ve got her!” ”No, Wally!” Dick’s voice called from the communicator. “Wait for the rest of us!” Blackfire fired a starbolt and her eyes widened as Wally dodged it. Behind him, the bolt blew the window out. She continued firing as Wally drew closer and closer. All the bolts missed. Finally a superspeed punch caught her on the jaw and knocked her down. “Give it up!” Wally yelled. Blackfire wiped a thin trail of blood away from her busted lip and smirked. “I think not,” she said as she fired a powerful bolt at the hallway floor. The floor vaporized beneath Wally’s feet and he fell into the swimming pool below. As he fought to get himself oriented, Blackfire lowered herself into the room and quickly dispatched him. At street level, a crowd was gathering and pointing up at Jupiter’s building. A latecomer approached someone else. “What’s going on?” he asked. The person pointed up. “Lots of weird lights and explosions coming out of the Jupiter Tower,” they explained. Just then the crowd gasped as another stream of light shot out from the building. The latecomer recognized the light. He turned and ran back down the alley the way he had come. Dick Grayson whirled around as a starbolt blew his door open. He stood his ground, although he knew that the knife in his hand wouldn’t be much use. “So it comes to this,” Blackfire gloated as she stepped into the room. “How can you do this?” Dick asked, stalling for time. “We were in love.” ”Love?” Blackfire laughed. “A miserable Psion would make a better lover than you.” As Dick prepared to pounce, Blackfire fired again and he fell as well. Donna Troy closed the office door behind her and locked it. She turned to Jupiter and Smith. “I’m not getting any replies from the others,” she admitted. “I think something’s wrong.” Jupiter sadly looked up at her. “Blackfire has stopped each of the others,” he said. “We are all that’s left.” Donna fought down shock at how old Jupiter suddenly appeared. “I tried to help, and all I did was get all of them killed.” ”We don’t know that they are dead,” Smith argued. “We need to get someone down there to see their conditions.” The door exploded and Blackfire strode confidently inside. She arrogantly slapped Donna aside and picked up Smith before tossing him into a wall. She slowly and purposefully advanced toward Jupiter. In a move of desperation, Donna launched herself across the room and knocked Blackfire out the window. “Run, Mr. J,” was all Donna had time to say before a starbolt slammed into her and sent her sprawling. Blackfire flew back in through the shattered window and picked Jupiter up by the throat. “Now you die,” she snarled. “But there will be no starbolt for you.” She brought her other hand, crackling with energy. “I think I will watch you burn.” Suddenly Blackfire screamed. She looked down to see an arrowhead protruding from her shoulder. She whirled around. There stood Roy Harper with his bow in his hand and another arrow notched and ready to fly. “Let him go,” he said. Next Issue: The conclusion of Falling Stars! Speedy is back, but even with his help, can the Titans overcome Blackfire? Previous Issue | Next Issue |
