Titans: The Resistance #25

“The average man will bristle if you say his father was dishonest, but he will brag a little if he discovers that his great-grandfather was a pirate.”
Bern Williams

“Where there is a sea there are pirates”
Greek proverb



Lightning forked across the sky as the Sweet Lilli nosed it's way into the East Sea, that thin stretch of water between Japan and the Asian Mainland. China and Korea had been completely conquered by the Markovian Empire; and now Japan was consistently under siege from the sea and the air, as Themyscria had been until fairly recently.

Unlike Themyscria, Japan did have a standing navy and air force that were putting up a tremendous fight. They did not have the innate metahuman contingent that Themyscria had, but they did have five mysterious warriors in powered armor. They were apparently female, at least going by their designs, and they were fast and agile, able to fly, leap, and fire various kinds of lasers and electric blasts, as well as some missiles. The Japanese government denied any knowledge of their identities, but consistently praised these “Mysterious dragons defending our country.”

Three of the five armored ladies were up there now, tearing Markovian planes apart. The Empress had deemed the situation serious enough to send some of her ever decreasing supply of Rocket Men into the fray. But while they were almost as fast as the armored ladies, they were nowhere near as agile or had such a variety of weapons.

So the Empire did what it had done since it's wave of conquest first began; it tried to overwhelm with sheer numbers.

Ravager craned her neck and silently watched the battle from the prow of her flagship, a periscope held to her one remaining eye.

“I could've told you they were not magical without seeing them,” Deriven said from behind her.

“That's not why we came,” she answered, still looking upwards.

“No,” he admitted.

“I still wonder why you're still with us at all,” Ravager went on. “Robin and Supergirl are both away doing their own stuff. I thought you'd take the chance to see the 'mortal world' and so on.”

“Ah, but you are the only one who can help me reach the Atlanteans.”

Ravager shook her head. “It's not at the top of the list of my priorities.”

“Yes, I know. But at least from your ships I have a chance of contacting them.”

Ravager shrugged. “Maybe you will. But for me, business comes first.”

“Of course,” Deriven agreed. He sat back as Ravager ordered her ship to open fire.



Below decks, Terra and Argent looked up as the cannons began to bellow.

It didn't really bother Terra; piracy against the Empire was, of course, a good thing. But in her heart she was still troubled about Rose's seeming callousness; and more, that Rose felt she herself ought to share it, as a survival characteristic.

“Argent,” she said, uncomfortable with using the silver-skinned girl's real name, “You've had a harder life than Rose has. Why is she so....harsh?”

Argent looked thoughtful. “Well, first of all, we don't know for a fact that I've had a harder life, we merely think so. Second, it's easy to grow cold, turn your back against the world and its stupidity. That doesn't make it right, but it's understandable. I feel that way too, sometimes.”

“But she feels that way all the time,” Terra said, eyes sad. She herself and had been born to a privileged, easy life, and turned her back on it for ideological reasons. In the weeks after their first mission as a team, she had lived an 'ordinary' life in America, but even that was not what she would call difficult. She still did not understand Rose's attitude.

And yet, despite all that, Rose still wanted to befriend her.

It was very confusing.

Abruptly, Rose's voice crackled over the ship intercom. “Hey Princess, Argent, you two feel like coming up here and helping?”

Terra looked at Argent, who shrugged. They went up.



The Markovian Navy had noticed their presence. Terra supposed that was more than adequate reason for Rose to ask for their help.

Deriven hurled a lightning bolt into an oncoming Rocket Man. Rose herself had picked up a sniper rifle and was aiming at the crew of the nearest enemy ship through it's scope. Terra had time to note this, and be impressed by it. When she had first met Rose, sniper shooting, much less doing so from a rocking boat while under fire, was not a skill she had then. She was learning.

Terra did not wonder about it long. Green Lantern was also coming up from below decks and providing a shield around the ship. He knew—without Rose having to tell him—that the shield should let their fire out without letting enemy attacks get in.

Argent added her own shimmering silver blades to the equation.

Anarky had been rather quiet this time around, uncharacteristically for him. And there wasn't much he could do with his cattle prod staff from the deck of the ship. If they had the opportunity to actually collide and board with an enemy vessel, it would have been different. But the sheer number of vessels and hostile fire made that impractical. So one of the crew handed him a rifle. He could not aim in sniper form as Ravager could, but he could fire off shots at Rocket Men who got too close.

They were holding their own relatively well; the presence of the Japanese navy and the powered armor women helped. Once, one of them briefly floated above their ship, seeming to stare at them (though it was difficult to tell through that helmet), then shot away again. Ravager had not been overly anxious to talk to them directly, though Terra and Deriven were each, in their own way, interested.

Deriven was a de facto member of the team now, but had not in any way integrated himself into their ranks. That was not any sort of arrogance on his part, he was just....different. Very very different. And not just because of his magical background either, though that certainly was a factor.

Terra had, used over these issues while continuing to defend her from various attacks. Now, she bunched her fists and concentrated fiercely. Deep below, a chunk of the sea bedrock ripped itself up and rose through the deep sea pressures. Finally bursting the surface, it ripped through the bulkhead of the nearest Markovian ship and caused it to sink.

Terra hoped none of these Atlanteans that Deriven were concerned with was near enough to notice. As if reading the thought, the mage caught her eye, smiled, and shook his head. Then he turned and hurled a ball of fire at the nearest surviving Markovian ship.



“Not bad, princess,” Rose said later below decks. “You seemed a little slow on the uptake at first, but then you really started kicking butt.”

“Thanks,” Terra said quietly. “Did you get a good haul?”

“Mm? Oh, some money here and there. Markovian money is still good on the underground exchange rate,” Rose chuckled. “Salvaged some gold, too. That's always helpful. But mostly it was about helping the Japanese weaken the Markovians, to make future acts of privacy easier in future.”

Terra nodded. “You said you wanted to show us more of what you do.”

“And to get you to help me with it,” Ravager answered. “It's all very well that I help you guys fight the Markovians, and certainly I don't mind doing it. But turnabout's fair play, and it's high time you guys helped me.”

Terra certainly had no plans on arguing the point; they needed Rose's help as much as ever, and certainly the notion of prid quo quo existed in her mind. But she was still uncertain about how to broach the subject. So she decided to change the subject. “Anarky seemed awkward out there today.”

“He wasn't able to get into the fight, really,” Rose frowned. But it was, Terra was sure, a sympathetic frown. Rose liked Anarky more than the rest of them did, certainly. “And partly he wanted to go home. And partly, well....” Rose smiled.

“Well, what?” Terra prompted.

Rose didn't say anything, she just went on smiling. And that was answer enough.

Terra smiled, a little. “Still resisting your advances, is he?”

“Less and less each day,” Rose said. “But he's nervous. He reminds me of you and your bird boy, in that way.”

Terra shrugged. “I was raised in nobility, albeit arrogant and warlike nobility. I am accustomed to certain rules of courtship. Robin was a middle class lad until he got wrapped up in his vigilante training. It's not in either of our natures to move so fast.”

Rose chuckled. “Oh, that's cute. 'Lad'. Heh. Anyway, yeah, I can see that. But I don't think that's Anarky's reason. Lonnie's reason, I should say.”

Terra started, she had forgotten Anarky's real name. Rose obviously hadn't. But Terra hadn't forgotten how his mind worked. “He's an idealist first, you know that. Makes all other considerations secondary.”

“I'm working on it,” Rose smiled again.

“I'm sure you are,” Terra agreed. “Do you want to talk about....” she trailed off.

Rose shrugged unhappily. “Not exactly, but there's not gonna be a better time. Tara, you're the real leader of this team. Not Robin. Much as I give bird brain his props, he's just a field commander. You're the five star general. This whole thing is your baby. And you gotta stay hard. Stay tough. Don't let your guard down. Not for anything. Not even for friends.” She gave a bitter laugh. “I'd say family too, but you don't have that problem.”

“Not anymore,” Terra agreed, her head down. Then she looked up. “Is trusting someone how you lost your eye?”

For a minute Rose froze, and Terra was afraid she'd pushed it too far....then she relaxed. “No, that was a surprise ambush and some real scumbags, who got paid back quick, you can be sure. Maybe I'll tell you that story one day. But that's beside the point, at least for right now. You're gonna have to make the hard choices.”

“Or some of us will die?” Terra asked mildly.

“No 'or'. Some of us are gonna die, period. That's not the question. Question is, will you be strong enough to handle it when the time comes. Sometimes, I'm not so sure. And you need to be, princess. You need to be.”

Terra tried not to get angry. “I'll do my best to keep you all alive. And I've seen death before.”

“Of course you will, and of course you have. But you have to be strong, princess.” Rose sighed. “I can't explain it any better than that.”

Rose gave her an awkward fist bump, then left the room, calling for Anarky. Terra shook her head. She just didn't understand.

She wasn't sure if she could, either.



“Lonnie....” Rose called softly.

Anarky looked at her. Didn't say anything. He still had his mask on. He often did. Of all the Titans, he was the one that kept his mask on most often. But he wasn't steeling himself, as Rose herself did. Instead he was withdrawing. Hiding himself. She had seen that type, too. In his own way, he was as lacking in toughness as Terra. Oh, he could be angry and fierce, sure. But that wasn't the same thing as being tough. She knew that better than any.

Rose leaned herself against the doorframe, smirking at him. “You gonna run from me forever?”

His voice was grim, and he was trying to sound hostile, but she knew his heart wasn't in it. “You are a pirate and killer, an agent of coercion. Were there not worthy targets to prey upon, you would prey upon the innocent.”

“But there are worthy targets to prey upon,” she answered, smiling, “And no one is innocent. You know that.”

“Compared to you? Oh, there are.”

She felt a thrum of irritation and let it go. “And would you want to associate with said 'innocent' people? Or do you prefer a more....interesting life?”

“That's not the point--”

“Oh, I think it is. And I also think that your main problem has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with being wrapped up in your ideology.”

“And if I stop believing in freedom that will make everything better, right?” he snorted

“I didn't say stop believing in it. I said stop being so wrapped up in it. Learn to relax.”

“And that will make everything okay?”

“It will make it easier to deal with.”

He snorted. “You're right; I am wrapped up in my ideology. And my ideology says not to trust you.”

Rose laughed bitterly. “Get in line, honey.” She stalked over to him and gently pried his mask free. He didn't resist her but when his face was exposed he looked annoyed. She grinned and kissed him on the tip of the nose. He blinked.

“You're no prude like Terra or Robin. You know where to find me,” she said, and left his cabin.

He didn't follow her, but he did stay up for a while, staring at his mask in hand.



The next couple days were quietly uneventful as they sailed away from Japan, deep into the Pacific. They saw no other ships, nor did Ravager seem to be pursuing any.

Nor did she seem overly concerned about it. She was standing at the prow, basking in the bright sunlight.

“Is there more we can do?” Terra asked uncertainly, coming up behind her.

“Not for the moment,” Rose said. “The ship needs repairs and I need to secure the loot we've obtained.”

“Ahhh, so this is when we finally see one of your ports of call?” Terra said, brightening.

Ravager turned and smiled at her, the cloud of their arguments seemingly dissipated. “I said I wanted you guys to help me with my piratical career. But that also is a two way street. Yeah. I'll show you some of my holdings. And besides,” she added, slightly annoyed, “This will enable Deriven to contact those he's interested in.”

“Isn't that the Atlantic?” Terra frowned.

“The whole ocean floor is their realm,” Deriven said, coming up to them. “What I need is a place they can visit. Assuming the visit will be friendly. After all, Ravager's pirates have had contact with them before.”

Rose looked down. “Yeah, but they're not overly fond of us.”

Deriven smiled. “I may get a more positive reception.”

Ravager snorted, and Terra made a noise that was not prepared to commit itself.



As it turned out, a Markovian force was questing for them. Three ships hove over the horizon and began to close the next day.

Ravager cursed when Wintergreen told her the news. “We're too close to our anchorage to let them slip now, and we can't let them get away with the knowledge of where it is. Turn about; we'll give em a broadside!”

Anarky nagged Green Lantern in to giving him a ride so they could board enemy ships. He wanted to make himself useful. Ravager agreed, but insisted on going with them, to increase their chances.

Terra holed one ship with her rocks and it began to sink. Argent and the ships own cannon's blasted the other.

With Ravager gone into the fray on a streak of Lantern's emerald light, Wintergreen took command. That was another person Terra wanted to ask some questions of, but now was not the time.

He took command with a quiet, professional calm. He did not shout when ordering the crew, as Rose was prone to. Instead he spoke quietly and gestured. He didn't even shout over the cannons; he simply waited for pauses between the blasts. But he was a seasoned and veteran commander; of that there could be no doubt.

By now, Terra and Argent were used to the booming of the cannons. It was still a deafening roar, but it was something you got used to; like the motion of the ocean.

Argent was hurling shards of silver energy, one after the other, in accompaniment the booming of the ship's cannons. Terra wondered if she should add another boulder to the equation, but Wintergreen waved her off. His gunners had the enemy in range now, and it was only a matter of time.



Green Lantern dropped Anarky and Ravager on the deck. They stood back to back, he spinning his cattle prod defensively, she whirling her katanas in a deadly, complex pattern.

Rose smiled inwardly. She knew where he had gotten that defensive spin technique from. If he realized he got it from Robin he might never forgive himself. Nor would she have let him live it down.

But, business before pleasure. As Lantern went about the business of smashing the ship with emerald sledgehammers, knocking screaming Markovian soldiers overboard, Ravager lunged forward and ran one enemy through. He wasn't just a soldier; he was a Markovian Marine. The Markovians had started putting Marines on their ships as a defensive measure against Ravager and her pirate crew even before the formation of the Titans; and that had only accelerated the process. Not that Rose minded. It meant there was more fun to be had..

She pulled her right-hand katana free from the dying man, blocked a shot with her left-hand katana, and kicked the man overboard. Her body armor could take a fair degree of punishment, but better not to take chances.

Having cleared her side, she turned and raced to Anarky. He had one marine down on the deck, electrocuting him with his cattleprod, while kicking another away. She ran that one through, then called softly to Anarky, “Bend.”

Knowing her well enough by now not to ask what she meant or argue, he bent forward as requested. She rolled over his back and planted both feet in the back of another marine, knocking him overboard as well, then whirled and beheaded a sailor with one swift movement.

Anarky zapped another sailor with his cattleprod, then hurled smoke grenades at the deck. “I think it's time to go!” he shouted.

Rose nodded as bullet buzzed past her shoulder. She waved for Green Lantern to pick them up; time to get out of here.



It was fading into the night, the wreckage of the Markovian ships left behind, and the Sweet Lilli approached what Wintergreen told them was the island of Rotuma. At least, that was what it had been called before the pirates settled in.

Rose's father, the pirate lord Deathstroke, had in his time set up one of his many island holdings here. Rose had maintained it after he passed on.

“But it's one of my personal favorites,” Rose added.

“Why?” Terra asked.

“You'll see.” Rose's smile was inscrutable. Anarky shifted slightly on his feet. Green Lantern sighed.

Then they saw it.

The island was lit up like a small city, and going by the raucous cheers, they were expected...
To Be Continued