Titans West

Mal Duncan sat in the monitor room, rechecking readings as his wife walked in. "Hi, hon," Karen said. "What's not working now?"
Mal frowned as he rechecked displays. "I keep getting an alarm going off in the residential corridors. I just can't understand it. I've triple-checked those motion detectors and they should be working."

Karen rested her hand on Mal's. "Don't worry. You want me to take a look at it?"

Mal shoved back from the console and pulled Karen close. "Why not?" he asked. "Maybe Ms. Head of S.T.A.R. Labs can find something."

Karen smiled back playfully. "I don't know. Mr. Computer Keeper Upper in Titans Lair may be right." The two laughed as Mal started another diagnostic program.

In his room, Red Star smiled as he read the latest letter from Pantha and Baby Wildebeest, who'd stayed behind in New York when he relocated to Los Angeles. He looked up when as there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" he called. Risk stepped inside.

"Hey, Leo," Risk said as he plopped down backwards into a chair at the desk. "Whatcha got?"

Leonid smiled again. "A letter from two dear friends. Did you ever meet Pantha and Baby?"

Risk shook his head. "I don't think so. Heard about them, though. Umm...weren't you and Pantha..." Risk's voice trailed off.

Leonid's smile faded. "We were a couple for a time," he admitted. "However, we did decide to go our separate ways after an...incident at S.T.A.R. Labs on the East Coast*."

(*The "incident" happened in Deadshot #1... and shame on you if you missed it! – db)

"Looks like they still keep in touch, though," Cody observed.

"Yes," Leonid said. "As a matter of fact, Pantha enclosed a drawing that Baby did of me." He handed the paper to Risk.

"Funny, your hair doesn't look purple," Risk said.

Leonid chuckled as he took the picture back. "Apparently Baby does take a few creative liberties. Could you hand me that tape? I would like to hang it up."

Risk passed the tape from Red Star's desk as Leonid selected the perfect place above his bed to hang it. "So, what is on your mind, Cody?" Red Star asked.

"What makes you say that?" Risk asked.

Leonid carefully taped the picture to the wall. "You are being too quiet. There must be something on your mind."

Risk shrugged. "Not much," he said.

"What is her name?" Leonid asked as he turned around and sat down on the bed.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Risk said.

"All right," Red Star began. "I just -"

"Okay," Risk interrupted. "It's Flamebird. I mean, how do I ask somebody that hot out?"

Red Star shifted. "You don't have much experience with this?" he asked.

"Nah. Not since I got my powers."

Red Star thought a moment. "Maybe you should just tell her. They do say that honesty is the best policy."

Risk grinned. "That's it! Thanks!" He jumped up and ran out of the room.

Red Star wearily leaned back on his bed. "Bozhe moi," he murmured. "I hope that Baby is not like that when he reaches that age."

Across town, at the Natural History Museum, a figure in an overcoat and hat skulked through the exhibits. Finally, he reached his destination. An ancient Viking sword featured a hand reaching upward towards a large red gemstone. He quickly read the history.

"The Hand of Odin. This sword features rare and beautiful engraving for the time, and shows a brave warrior reaching up his hand toward the sun. The ruby representing the sun is one of the highest quality ever found." Tentatively, the man reached out a hand to touch the case.

In a flash, a museum guard was at his arm. "Pardon me, sir, but the museum does ask that you not touch the displays." The man turned to face the guard and raised his hand. A flash of light, and the blinded guard fell to the ground. The man whipped off his hat and coat.

"Fool!" he exclaimed. "Do you really think that the powerful Dr. Light cares about your requests?" Light smashed his fist through the glass case and seized the sword. "This will make a lovely beginning to my weapons collection," he said. "Now let's see what else we can add..."

Flamebird peeled off her headband and took a step back. She was standing in a large open area that had been converted into a tennis court. Not far away, a large roped-off pit would eventually become a swimming pool. In front of her, the empty tennis ball-serving machine clicked off. Bette smiled as she returned to the sidelines. As she zipped her tennis racket up in its case, Risk stepped up to her.

"Not bad out there," he said.

Bette flipped her hair out of her eyes. "Thanks, Cody," she said. "I didn't know you were a tennis fan."

Risk smiled slyly. "It depends on who's playing. By the way, what are you doing tomorrow night?"

Bette shrugged. "I'm not too sure. Why?"

Cody grabbed Bette's hand. "Because I thought you might like to head out and have dinner at the Chez Philippe."

"Why not?" Bette asked. "I've heard that their duck a l'orange is to die for!"

Cody's smile grew wider as he stepped close to Bette. "I thought you'd be the kind of girl who always loves to take a Risk."

Bette nodded uneasily. "Right. Well, I'd better hit the showers." She turned and walked out. Risk let out a quiet “Yes! “ and headed out toward the residential corridors.

In the shadows of the rafters, Jason sat perched, wearing the Golden Eagle costume. He said nothing, only clenching his fist tightly.

In the museum, Dr. Light smiled. "This is too easy!" he thought as his light tendrils smashed open other cases and retrieved other artifacts. "How could that other guy have always been such a boob? All you have to do is come in and take control! Best idea of my life was stealing this old costume!"

Unseen, a terrified guide slipped over to a control panel and silently pressed a hidden button.

Mal Duncan's head jerked up as an alarm started shrieking on his control console. "What is it?" Karen asked, alarmed.

"Looks like a robbery at the Natural History Museum! Police scanners say it may be Dr. Light."

Karen nodded. "I'd better get into costume."

"Be careful, hon!" Mal called as he slapped another button that sounded an alarm throughout the base. He looked up as another setting began flashing. He activated the intercom.

"Mal, this is Gar. What's up?" Mal quickly filled him in. "Great. I'm on the way. We'll meet at the new T-jet."

"Good luck, guys," Mal said as he closed the connection.

Moments later, a section of the roof slid clear and the retrofitted T-jet gracefully rose into the air. Inside, Gar quickly gave the team a briefing.

"Okay, Dr. Light can control any form of light. He should be able to fire lasers and other light bursts. Watch your eyes."

"Is there any good news?" Risk asked.

"Yeah," Gar said with a smirk. "The guy's an idiot. Usually he just defeats himself. Still, I don't want anybody getting hurt, so we'll just put him down nice and quick."

Risk punched his fist into his palm. "No problem. Wendy the Werewolf Stalker's on tonight, so let's take this goof out fast."

"You really love that show, don't you?" Terra asked.

"Sure," Risk replied. "Don't you?"

Terra shook her head. "I prefer Cherub better. Yow!"

"No way," Jason said. "Wendy rules! Did you see the episode with Cissie King-Jones?"

Gar left the discussion and returned to the co-pilot's seat. "We almost there?"

"Yes," Red Star replied. "I'm going to try to set down in the parking lot. It looks open enough."

Gar nodded and snapped his seat belt on. "What're we waiting for, then?"

Inside the museum, Light looked up as he heard jet engines shutting down. He scowled and gathered together the last of the weaponry. He was heading for the door when it exploded inward, courtesy of Risk's fist. Behind him stood Flamebird and Red Star. Light sneered. "You think you can take me?" he asked. "Try this!" He raised his hand and instantly the room was filled with black light, rendering everyone blind.

Now I just sneak away and nobody's any the wiser, Light thought to himself as he quietly moved away.

"Red Star! Can you ignite?" Flamebird asked.

Red Star scowled. "I already am. Can you use your dazzler?"

Bette heard the device hidden in her goggles click on and off. "No good! Gar!"

Gar, right behind Bette, was rapidly changing shapes. The raccoon couldn't see. Neither could the cat or the dog. Finally he got an idea. "Give me your line," he whispered.

Bette shrugged and pulled out her tether. "Here," she said, holding her hand out. After a moment, she felt Gar take the line and begin pulling it. "Just follow me," he said.

Gar had tied the line fairly tightly around his thigh in a slipknot. He changed into a bat and pulled the knot tight with his mouth. Using his radar, Gar detected Light with no problem. He began flying forward. After a moment, Flamebird followed.

Light was almost to the door when he heard a whisper behind him. He turned to see what it was.

"Give me your throwing disk now," Gar whispered. He returned to human form and took the disk from Bette's hand. He threw it directly at Dr. Light.

Light screamed as he saw the disk coming toward him. He ducked and it clipped his costume. As the black light faded, Light looked down and saw sparks shooting from his shoulder, where Flamebird's disk had severed the costume's circuitry.

Light shrieked as he saw the team heading towards him. His terror didn't end as the wall behind him exploded.

In stepped a figure dressed in black with white flame rising from his head. It was the original Dr. Light.

"Who is this fool who thinks that he can dress up in a stolen costume and become me?" he demanded, picking up the other Light. "Richard?"

"Hello, Dr. Light," Richard said meekly. "I was just cleaning your lab... and I ... uhh..."

"Shut up!" Light ordered. "You will die soon enough. But first, let's dispatch with your pursuers." Light stretched out his hand, which began to glow. A wave of light washed over the Titans and when their vision cleared, both Dr. Lights were gone, but the stolen goods were lying on the floor where they had been standing.

The Titans gathered around the goods and looked at each other. “Well, that was short,” Gar said as Flamebird and Terra shrugged.

“Richard is going to get it now!” Risk said, doubling over in laughter.

“That is not amusing,” Red Star said. “Dr. Light will likely kill him.”

“We don’t know that,” Bumblebee said.

“I’ll get the word out about what happened and hopefully someone will find Dr. Light first,” Gar said. “In the meantime, let’s go home.”

“Do we celebrate?” Jason asked Risk as they walked toward the T-Jet.

“Take ‘em where you can get ‘em, kid,” Risk said.

The End

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