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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:08:51 GMT -5
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:09:22 GMT -5
Titans: The Resistance [/b] Issue #8: Scarlet and Silver Pt. 2 Written by: Jay McIntyre Cover by: Brian Hodges Edited by: Brian Burchette[/center] |
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:11:12 GMT -5
Anarchy - it's not the law, it's just a good idea.
Unknown
Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:11:47 GMT -5
Burning.
Hate and pain and rage.
She should have been dead.
Why wasn't she dead?
All she could see....was silver.
Was she dead, in truth? Was she merely a ghost swimming through the liquid that killed her?
No. Somehow she knew she was not dead. She should have been, but she wasn't.
But there was change....yes. Much change.
Toni Monetti broke the surface of the molten metal and hung over the side.
What had happened to her? Why wasn't she dead?
She tumbled over the side and landed hard on the floor. Her father and the troopers were gone. Had they killed him? Dragged him back to the mines?
Getting up was slow and difficult. Everything seemed different. The pain was fading into a distant burning, but her body seemed intact.
That was when she looked at her hands. They were coated with silver. Her whole body.....it dripped with it. But more than that. She believed that now....now her skin itself had taken on a silver tone. And she had already noticed that her vision was different...
She threw back her head and screamed.....
"WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?!?"
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:12:27 GMT -5
Bruce and Dick had finished with their questions.
"So," Terra said in a small voice. "What is your judgment?"
"Our judgment?" Bruce seemed amused. "Well, we could confer, but for my part, I think after a good night's sleep, the two of you should call your team together and plot your next move."
"This takes priority over crime fighting in Gotham," Dick agreed. "Clearly Robin is needed elsewhere, at least for now."
"You have taken the war to the Markovians in a way totally unexpected but useful," Dick said. "Robin has exceeded all expectations; as for you Terra.....the very best of luck."
"I......thank you," she said. It was all she could say.
"Naturally, we will not share our identities with you," said Bruce. "It is no longer a matter of trust; but one of security. You cannot reveal that which you do not know, if your people should capture you."
Terra nodded. "Of course." She had heard the older man call Batman "Dick" as she started to come out of her drug induced slumber, but there was no need to mention that (now that the truth serum was working it's way out of her system); after all, a first name meant nothing by itself.
"Nor can we really apologize for what we did," Dick added. "It was necessary. We regret the necessity, but I'm sure you understand."
Terra nodded again. "Yes, I do. If anything, it went much better than I expected."
"I think on that last point we are all agreed," Dick said. "There are beds on the second sub-level. Show her, Robin."
Robin took her by the hand and led her away.
"Amazing," Bruce said.
"There is hope, isn't there?" Dick asked.
Bruce nodded. "They've taken a tremendous risk, both of them. But they have to push forward now that they've started."
"And what of the bond between them?" Dick said, raising a brow.
Bruce's expression was thoughtful. "What indeed...I never judged any of your amorous predilections down the years."
"Terra is a bit different."
"Yes; she's a useful ally."
"I thought you'd be more judgmental," Dick said, trying not to make it sound like an accusation.
"Because she's a Markovian turncoat?"
"And the former Crown Princess, yes."
Bruce nodded. "You're satisfied of her loyalties, as am I; more than that we cannot ask. As for the two of them together...we'll just have to see what happens. Maybe nothing. Or maybe she will produce heirs to our line, ones with powers. More likely something in between."
Dick didn't know how to answer that.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:12:59 GMT -5
"Tara....I'm sorry," Robin said.
Terra shook her head. "Don't worry about it. It came out as well as could be expected. And their advice is sound; tomorrow we should summon the others and begin anew."
He hugged her, and she responded well enough. She got into the cot he led her to, and then he wished her goodnight and walked away, awkwardly.
She lay there for a while, with tears coursing down her face.
Terra was upset, of course. But there was no recrimination. The truth was, she felt she deserved worse. After all had she not profited from the Empire's outrages all her young, sheltered life?
Sleep came with difficulty, and took time.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:13:33 GMT -5
Toni Monetti stumbled out of the foundry, into the wilderness, leaving little flaming footprints behind her.
Her first thought had been to go back to the mine, to see if her father was alive. But what good would that do? Either he was still alive or he was dead. In either case she could do nothing. And besides; if he was alive....did she really want him to see her like this? As a freak? A monster?
She tried to cry but what came out of her eyes was burning liquid mercury. It didn't hurt; whatever changes had occurred in her allowed her to tolerate this....this....whatever it was. But it was just one more reminder that she had become a freak.
Her first thought was to vanish into the woods, but she thought this strange new body might set the trees on fire. So she found her way to a barren hilltop approaching the mountains, and curled into a ball. She was exhausted. Sleep came quickly.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:14:08 GMT -5
The next morning, Ravager was standing in the prow of her flagship. The Sweet Lilli, named after her late mother.
A call from Terra came through.
"Ravager, where are you?"
"Hey there princess," Ravager smiled easily. "We're about fifteen miles out from the Turneffe islands, off the coast of Belize."
"Can you safely pull into dock somewhere?"
"Yeah, Belize is fairly smuggler friendly. Is it time, then?"
"Yes, it is. Do you others read me?"
"On my way," Green Lantern answered.
"Twenty minutes," Supergirl said.
"Me and Terra will take a bit longer," Robin put in.
"I'll swing by and pick you up," said Green Lantern.
"Quietly," Robin stressed. "We don't want to attract attention."
"No problem."
Ravager broke the connection. "At last," she said, eye gleaming.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:14:46 GMT -5
Anarky was on the move the moment the motion sensor in Finger Park went off. He had been getting ready for school; now he knew that school was out forever for him.
Cognizant he was leaving his old life behind; Lonnie Machin looked around his room one last time as he packed his Anarky costume and gear into his book bag. He all but dashed out the door, waving off breakfast.
For the first time, he felt a real twinge of regret about what he was doing. He hadn't even had time to say goodbye in an indirect way; or to 'put his affairs in order'. His planning was focused on what he was going to do, not who he had been.
He walked towards the bus stop, but not far. Quickly he turned and headed towards Finger Park.
He was a little worried about cutting it so close; he might not make it before Robin was gone. But ultimately, he was focused and certain; the commitment of the fanatic.
Improvisation is the heart and soul of Anarchy. Become too obsessed with plans, he reflected, and you cannot adapt. As the old military saying goes, no plan survives first contact with the enemy.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:15:29 GMT -5
When he reached Finger Park, he was out of breath. But he saw that he was in luck; Robin and his mysterious girlfriend were sitting down quietly by the rock, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Not that anyone else was in the park so early on a weekday. It was as though they were waiting for someone.
Hurriedly, Lonnie changed into his Anarky costume. This is not how he had hoped to have it done; he would rather have tailed them from a distance. But again, he had to improvise.
With the mask and hat slipped on, the transformation was complete. He was Anarky now, in a way he hadn't been before; Lonnie Machin was gone, perhaps forever. He took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the tree.
"Robin," he intoned in scratchy voice, with the precise diction he used when he was Anarky.
Robin turned to face him. "Who are you?!?"
"I am Anarky. I have noted your actions. The time has come for true freedom to be represented."
"I don't care who you are, back off!" Robin pulled out his three-part quarterstaff and opened it to its full length.
Not going well. Anarky put his hands up. "I do not mean to fight you--"
Robin advanced, quarterstaff extended.
"Perhaps we should hear him out?" The blonde girl suggested.
"I'll hear him out from a position of strength, after I've beaten him," Robin answered.
"Boys," she said disdainfully, rolling her eyes.
Anarky shook his head. "You wish a battle? So be it." He snapped the two parts of his cattleprod together, and they sparked as the circuit was completed. Actually, he was not too displeased at the idea of battling this costumed fascist; but he would much rather it had been away from here, en route to whatever strike against the Markovians they had planned.
Robin struck with his quarterstaff and Anarky parried easily. Robin went up and Anarky met him, then jabbed low fast, trying to stun his opponent. The blow actually connected, but the electric spark seemed to somehow be absorbed by Robin's costume. Anarky cursed inwardly; I should've expected him to have protection in his costume. His moment's introspection cost him as Robin's quarterstaff thumped painfully into his shoulder.
He lashed out with a foot and knocked Robin back. They parried again, hard and fast, four times, cattle prod sparking against quarterstaff. Behind Robin, Anarky could see the blonde girl torn between sadness and irritation at their battle. What could he do? He wasn't about to let his guard down so Robin could finish him off.
"You're using Bonetti's defense against me eh?" he taunted, lunging in.
"I thought it fitting, given the rocky terrain," Robin replied, parrying.
"Perhaps you should save your breath for fighting," the girl commented. "Or perhaps you could stop letting your egos control you."
They paused for a moment, Robin's ireless whites staring into the black eyeholes of Anarky's mask; then they continued.
The girl made a frustrated sound.
Anarky made several hard diagonal chops, which Robin parried easily. Up, down, over, up, down. Robin was better trained but Anarky was more unorthodox. Neither could find an edge.
Robin abruptly dropped his quarterstaff and rolled in, trying to grab him. Anarky was puzzled; was it some kind of wrestling maneuver? Whatever, he thought as he tried to kick Robin away.
Abruptly a ball of green energy was wrapped around them both.
"What have we here?" A man in black with green highlights asked dryly. On his right hand glowed a green ring that was presumably the source of his power. Or at least Anarky presumed so. He was more occupied with the green energy field which was making it hard to breathe.
"So much for not attracting attention," the girl said. "We'll have to take him with us."
"We could leave him here for the police," Robin said, as the green man let him out of the bubble and left Anarky trapped.
"I doubt they could hold him," the girl said.
""Indeed they could not," Anarky wheezed.”And really, all I wanted was to join up." It galled him to beg them for membership, but what else could he do? And perhaps it was for the best. He could observe them better if they thought him weak; until he discovered their real agenda.
The girl and the green man shared a laugh.
"We'll interrogate him aboard Ravager's ship," Robin decided.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:16:10 GMT -5
Aboard the Sweet Lilli, Ravager eyed Anarky. "Whose this idiot?"
"I've been waiting for a moment like this for years; for someone to strike a blow against Markovian tyranny."
"Years?" Ravager smirked. "You're younger than us, kid!"
"Take off the mask," Terra said softly.
"My face would mean nothing to you…nor my name."
"Take it off, or you're out," Robin said.
"Not only that, I pitch you over the side!" Ravager added.
Anarky sighed and took his hat off, and removed the mask, revealing the face of Lonnie Machin.
"Ring any bells?" Robin asked the group.
"Nothing," said Green Lantern. The others shook their heads.
Supergirl frowned. "I suppose he would add an interesting random element to group dynamics."
"We did want more members," Terra said, not sounding sure.
"You do what we tell you, when we tell you. Ask no questions," Robin said.
"I could always use the ring to interrogate him, scan his mind," Green Lantern suggested.
Anarky sneered. "Mind control. How authoritarian."
Green Lantern scowled.
"Not yet, at least," Robin said. "But by all means keep an eye on him, GL."
"Will do," Lantern agreed.
"Terra, Ravager. Conference."
They stepped to Robin at the prow.
"You're harder on him than you were any of us," Terra said.
"You sure? I seem to recall attacking you," Robin said. There were also the events of yesterday, but he didn't bring that up.
Terra smiled wanly. "Rather a different situation."
"Exactly. The situation now is we're an established group and he wants to join, for some abstract philosophical reasons."
"Idealism," Terra said. "Fanaticism."
"Mmm."
"He's cute, but annoying," Ravager said. "Could be good in a fight. Could also be a loose cannon."
"Can't argue with that last."
"Do you always include looks in your judgments?" Terra asked Ravager, trying not to make it sound like an accusation.
Ravager laughed. "Sometimes looks do reflect what's inside, Terra. Not always, but sometimes. Anyway, I'm gonna consult with Wintergreen." She stepped away.
Robin wanted to argue, but Terra nudged him with an elbow. "We have to accommodate our host and transport, especially if Anarky is staying."
Robin opened his mouth to say a number of things, but what came back to him was what he had said to Green Lantern about a month ago: we have to keep an eye on her. Now the her was a him, though. But the principle remained. He had no powers, just as Robin himself didn't. But like Robin he was equipped and skilled, and Robin could tell already he was no fool.
"May I put my mask back on?" Anarky asked with biting, sarcastic politeness.
"Sure, kid." Green Lantern said, tone indicating he saw something of himself in the young hotshot.
"Kid? I'm maybe a year younger than you," Anarky shot back, picking up his mask.
"But you haven't seen combat yet. Not for real," Green Lantern went on. "But you will."
"You want information?" Robin said. "Here's an interesting fact; most of our actions have been made possible by a Markovian turncoat of the highest order." He jerked a thumb at Terra.
Anarky, halfway back into putting his mask back on, let it fall from nerveless fingers.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:16:55 GMT -5
Toni Monetti woke up from nightmare carnival rides, and wished she was still in the nightmare. For this ride had no ending. She had no idea what time it was, but the sun was high.
She felt.....a little more normal now. Well, normal wasn't right, but a little more stable now.
That her new status quo, whatever it was, had set in.
She examined her hands. They were still silver, as was all her skin. But she felt....a little more human again. A little more normal.
Her earlier thought returned; she wanted to know what had happened to her father. If he was alive, she wanted to know. She didn't want him to see her....but she wanted to see him.
And if he was dead......she couldn't finish that thought. Setting her jaw, streaks of mercury tears burning down her face, she turned and began to walk back towards the mine.
Even with all the changes she had experienced, she was stunned when her feet left the ground.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:18:06 GMT -5
Anarky was sitting under guard, grim pirates to either side. But he was in no condition to give any trouble. But he was too stunned to even try, after what he'd learned. His only remaining option was to jump over the side, into the Gulf. Not an appealing option.
The Sweet Lilli was headed generally towards Europe. The Titans had agreed on that much.
"It has been vigorously suggested," Ravager smiled thinly, "That I not risk my neck with you guys this time. I'll be waiting in dock, but that's as far as I go."
"Fair enough. Now we have to decide where," Robin said.
"Wintergreen suggests Italy," Ravager said.
Terra nodded. "It's important to Imperial infrastructure. Our strike will have made it even more so."
Green Lantern shrugged.
Supergirl nodded thoughtfully. "I trust your judgment."
"Why don't you just let the flying people carry the ones who don't?" Anarky asked a little shakily from the deck.
"They'd see us coming," Terra answered. "Then mother and her Rocket Men would be all over us."
"And they don't see a pirate fleet coming?" Anarky said.
Ravager snorted. "We don't bring the whole freakin fleet in to dock, 'Narc. Just the one ship."
"'Narc?" Anarky echoed, torn between amazement and outrage.
The others laughed, even Supergirl, a little. The pirate crew were positively rolling on the deck. They were having great sport with Anarky. Or at least as much as they could without inflicting bodily harm on him.
"So, Italy?" Robin said.
"Italy," Terra echoed.
Green Lantern and Supergirl nodded.
"Probably not Venice," Anarky muttered.
"Why Venice?" Ravager wanted to know.
"Always wanted to see it," he shrugged.
"This ain't tourism, 'Narc," she all but snarled.
"Yes, I figured that part out for myself, thank you so very much," he snapped back.
"Kid's all right," Ravager smirked. "He's got fire."
"But does he have what it takes," Robin mused.
"We'll find out," said Terra.
"Yes," said Anarky, staring at them from behind his mask. "You will."
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:18:46 GMT -5
Toni Monetti was coasting along above the ground, an arc of silver behind her, starting at her feet. It was not flying, exactly. But it was transportation of a sort.
Evidently the silver bath had done more than just turn her into a freak. It had given her powers. It had made her special.
She wondered what else she could do.
One thing for sure; she would find out what happened to her father. And if necessary, avenge him.
Maybe she would take the opportunity to strike back at the Markovian invaders, regardless.
Yes, she thought she might do that, indeed.
Mostly what she felt was anger. But in that moment, for the first time in years, Toni Monetti felt an emotion so strange she almost didn't recognize it.....
....it was hope.
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Post by starlord on Aug 12, 2007 11:19:22 GMT -5
To Be Continued.
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