Teen Titans: Millennium

Orin, Speedy, Robin, and Wonder Girl were seated around chairs at a long table in a drained room in Atlantis. Orin leaned back in his chair as Robin finished his story. “I see,” he said. He stood and began pacing around the room.

“So my son has been told that I am dead,” he fumed. “This can only be Orm’s work.”

“Pardon me, sir,” Robin said. “Who is Orm?”

”My brother,” Orin said with a cold tone in his voice. “We were twins. He was the eldest and thus would have become king over all of Atlantis. However, he was greedy. Even as a child, I heard my teachers whispering about how horrible he would be as a king and how my temperament would suit ruling the kingdom much better. Unfortunately, Orm heard as well.”

Orin paused in front of a portrait. It appeared to be an older Orin, and Robin immediately knew that the man must have been his father.

“Orm only grew angrier. Finally, nearly fifteen of your years ago, Orm struck. He had gathered a band of followers who murdered our father and Orm tried to seize control of Atlantis. Most of the army followed me and we were able to drive the attackers out of the city.”

Orin’s voice grew hoarse as he continued with his back to the Titans. “As they retreated, my wife was killed and my infant son was stolen. Until you arrived, I feared that he had been killed.”

Orin turned back to the Titans. “And now you tell me that he is here and with my enemies.” Orin’s face hardened as Vulko, with a shocked look on his face, relayed a message telepathically.

“Is something wrong, sir?” Robin asked.

“Orm’s followers are attacking the city,” Orin said as he started toward the door. “Remain here. You should be safe.”

“Sir, perhaps we could assist…” Robin started, only for Wonder Girl to jump to her feet and interrupt.

“We’ve trained for battle,” Wonder Girl said. “We would be honored to fight alongside you.” Behind her, Robin shushed Speedy, who was already preparing to protest being volunteered.

Orin thought a moment. “So be it,” he finally judged. “Vulko, please equip them with some of our armor and breathing suits. They are far superior to those silly drylander contraptions they were wearing.” Even as Orin strode out the door, the look on Vulko’s face showed that he was still receiving orders.

“I will return shortly with your armor,” Vulko said as he headed toward the door himself. “I will also bring a weapon for you,” he said, nodding at Roy. “It will be very similar to your bow and arrows, but not identical.” He hurried out, closing the door behind him.

“So what now, Wonder Boy?” Speedy asked, turning to Robin.

“We can’t fight Garth or Wally,” Wonder Girl added.

“Actually, I think we need to,” Robin said firmly. “We’re fighting to stop them. I don’t know that the Atlanteans would stop at a wound.”

“I really don’t like this,” Wonder Girl said.

“None of us do,” Robin replied. “But we may be the only ones who can save our friends.”

“Forward!” Orm ordered. “Breach their defenses!” Orm turned to see Garth and Tula swimming beside him. Kid Flash was pacing back and forth on the sea floor, kicking up clouds of silt.

“It is good to see you here,” Orm said with a smile. “Their defenses are crumbling.” Even as he spoke, his army was surging forward as the retaliatory fire from the city walls slowed.

“Is it really necessary?” Garth asked. “All this killing?”

Orm shot Tula a look. She swam over beside him and placed a hand on his head just as Wally looked up. “Yes,” she said as her hand began glowing blue. “You know what these criminals have done to our families. They must be stopped.”

“Yes,” Garth said in a dreamy tone. “They must be stopped.”

Wally had stopped pacing and his eyes were wide as he watched the scene. “I knew it!” he yelled as he took off.

“Stop him,” Orm ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Tula replied. She motioned her hands and water surrounding Kid Flash began to solidify. However, Wally was so fast that he was through it before it finished.

“Come back here,” Aquagirl said as he launched herself after him. Projectiles formed from solid water and flew past Wally.

Wally ignored them (or just didn’t notice in the first place) and kept running.

On Cairn, Jo Nah stood at the center of a semi circular podium. Around him were the leaders of LEGION – the blue-skinned Guardians of the Universe. He had just finished giving his report and his suspicions. The Guardians had been silent ever since.

Finally one of them spoke. “You are certain that the fugitive said that her master was coming.”

“Yes, sir,” Nah replied. “I realized who her master had been identified as previously from our files. I immediately ordered a communications blackout and traveled here at maximum speed.”

“You acted properly,” another Guardian said. “I presume that your crew is under orders not to speak of this?”

“Yes, sir,” Nah replied again. “They are all still aboard the cruiser until you give the order that they may disembark.”

The Guardians looked at each other and rose. “We must conference,” the first one said. “I understand that your wife is waiting for you outside. Both of you should proceed immediately to your home and remain there until you are summoned.” Nah nodded once as the Guardians filed out.

Tinya looked up as Nah emerged from the conference chamber. “Did it go well?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Nah replied. “We’re supposed to go home and wait for their summons.” He forced a reassuring smile. “Looks like we’ll get to try that elvabird breast you promised me.” Inside, however, Nah was shaking – terrified at what Komand’r’s words may have foretold.

Roy tested the pull on his force bow and joined the others. Robin and Wonder Girl were standing on a balcony of a tower at the center of the royal palace. “How’s it look?” he asked.

“Bad,” Wonder Girl replied. She held a sword. “The first assault’s going to breach the walls.”

“Why don’t they just swim over?” Roy asked.

“There’s a force bubble over the city,” Robin replied. “That’s why the currents have stopped.”

“Great,” Roy replied. “What happens then?”

“We fight like Titans and do what we can to make Mr. J proud of us,” Robin replied grimly.

“Not filling me with confidence here,” Roy said. Robin glared at him and didn’t reply.

Overhead, Donna’s eyes went wild as she spotted a familiar yellow blur tearing over the walls and into the city. “Wally?” she asked as she dropped to the street.

As she landed, Kid Flash skidded to a stop in front of her. “Donna!” he yelled. “I’ve been looking all over for you! I think something bad’s going on!”

“It is,” Donna said as she took hold of his arm and swam upward to the tower where Robin and Speedy were waiting. “We need to talk.”

A few moments later, the interior of the tower had been turned into a conference room where Robin and Kid Flash had both explained their stories.

“So we know for sure that King Orin was telling us the truth,” Robin mused.

“But why would Tula lie to us?” Wally asked. “Has she always been against us?”

“First Starfire and now this,” Speedy muttered. “Why is it that whenever this team takes in a new member they always wind up betraying us? Is it always going to just be the five of us?”

“Four, if we don’t hurry,” Wonder Girl added. “Remember, the Atlantean defense forces won’t be pulling any punches.”

“Great,” Robin said. He turned to a companel and pushed a button. “I hope that should call Vulko in here.”

“I am here,” Vulko said as he entered the room. “Time is short, however. How may I assist you?”

“We need to get out of the city,” Robin replied before he explained his plan.

Vulko quickly led the Titans to the base of the exterior wall and opened a steel door. “This is the entrance to an ancient escape tunnel,” he said. “It should lead you outside of the city and outside of the combat zone. Be warned, however. The king will do everything he can to avoid harming his son, but if the choice is between his son and the kingdom, well…” Vulko’s voice trailed away as the Titans finished the thought themselves. If it came down to losing Atlantis or losing Garth, Garth would die.

The Atlantean defense forces soon found themselves losing ground. The rebels punched a hole through the walls and swarmed into the city.

The defenders cheered as King Orin swam directly into the heart of the fray. He had only one goal – reaching Orm.

And may Poseidon help anyone who was in his way.

“I left them right over there,” Kid Flash whispered as the Titans hid behind a large mass of coral.

“Good,” Robin said. “Now all we have to do is get in there and figure out how to snap Garth out of this.”

“I’ll handle Tula,” Wonder Girl said. “I’ve been wanting to get my hands on her for quite a while.”

“I wouldn’t mind a shot at fish-stick myself,” Roy said, unconsciously drawing back the launcher on his energy bow.

Robin closed his eyes and counted to ten. “Can we all please remember that we’re just trying to rescue Garth and Tula and not kill them?”

Silence, although Wonder Girl and Kid Flash took off to begin trying to locate Garth and Tula. Robin sighed and shook his head. He had just turned back to look at Orm’s encampment when Speedy tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and came face to face with the business end of several energy weapons held by Orm’s rebels.

“Bad news, Bird-Boy,” Speedy said as he showed Robin his cuffed hands.

Robin fumed as he raised his own hands in surrender.

To Be Continued...

Next Issue: With Speedy and Robin captured, it’s up to Wonder Girl and Kid Flash to save the day! But will they be able to free Aqualad and Aquagirl as well?

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