Teen Titans West #4: "When Doves Cry"

Chaos reigned in the streets of San Francisco as alien ships of different designs soared through the clear blue sky. The people of the city ran for cover as beams of pure energy shot down from above, causing car-size craters in the streets.

Later, many would describe the horrific scene as like something right out of a science fiction movie. One local man, a transplant from the late sixties, would describe it on national television thus: “It was like watching Star Wars in 3-D while tripping on acid, man,” once again solidifying San Francisco as the city with the strangest people on the planet.

Katar Hol, also known as Hawkman of the Justice League, soared through the air, weaving in and out of tight, multi-colored laser blasts that zigzagged across the sky. A second ago there had only been two ships, now suddenly there were over a dozen. What had happened to cause this? And why were Rannians and Thanagarians battling each other, he wondered. It made no sense to him.

Also flying high in the sky was Golden Eagle. He too was dodging incoming attacks; his eyes appeared wild with excitement, as if the chaos that had suddenly broke out in the sky was pumping adrenaline straight into his blood; and in many ways, it was. His heart was soaring in ways that he had never experienced before.

Hawkman was trying desperately to take out as many laser ports as he could. So far he did not believe that he had been noticed, but that was about to change. If anything could stop the senseless battle, it was his appearance.

As he soared upwards, he didn’t notice Golden Eagle’s cold hard stare. His focus stayed on the main window of the Thanagarian fighter pilot. The insignia on the side of the wing marked him as the field leader; and a higher ranked officer meant better recognition for Katar.

He brought himself up in front of the fighter, spreading his wings out to their full glory as he placed his weapon gently in his left hand. “I am Kator Hol of Thanagar! Son of the High Priestess Shayera Hol and immortal warrior, Kar Taral - Cease and desist this action!”

Although the fighter was momentarily taken aback, the snarl that appeared across his lips was not what Katar was expecting. “Son of a traitor!” he shouted as he brought his small but powerful ship full tilt into Hawkman, who dived with less than an inch to spare.

“What is going on here?!” Katar demanded, but the ship had passed him and was heading towards a Rann fighter.

“Sounds like you’re not as loved as you think,” Golden Eagle barked as he landed on top of a Rann ship, his sword raised above his head as he plunged it into the hull, cutting an opening like a pair of scissors on paper. “Let’s talk to the rational side.”

He slid behind the Rann pilot, placing the tip of his weapon on the back of the fighter pilot’s neck. “Let’s you and I talk for a moment, pal.”



Roy Harper was jumping from one pile of rubble to the other. He was trying desperately to get a hold of someone in Checkmate – anyone! Unfortunately, there seemed to be some kind of interference. Still, where was everyone? There should have been back-up a while ago.

Not a word from anyone. No Justice League, Teen Titans, Justice Society... hell, at this point the Outsiders would even be a pleasant surprise.

“Speedy, it’s Bumblebee, I’ve got some serious problems over here,” she shouted over the top of the explosions on the streets. “You are going to want to see this.”

“On my way,” he called back, diving forward to get out of the way of a laser blast that just missed him. “Have we heard from Dove or Aqualad at all?”

He climbed up the large hill, where Karen was hovering with Hawk. The three of them stared in utter silence as they watched an army of Rann soldiers marching down the street. Their guns were raised, but they hadn’t fired on anything yet.

“Now what do we do?” Bumblebee asked.

“Take them out,” Hawk stated as he began to move forward, his fists clenched.

Roy grabbed his arm to stop him. “No, they’re not doing anything yet. Let’s greet them, see what’s going on. Cyborg and Starfire can handle the others.”

They worked their way down the street, meeting with the army right in the middle of a four-way stop. A Rann soldier stepped forward, his look both grim and cautious. “I am Trunel, field leader of Squad Beta.”

“I’m Speedy of the international organization Checkmate. Please ask your men to lower their weapons; we’re not here to fight you.”

“Why are you here?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Hawk said with obvious anger. “This is our planet, what the hell are all of you doing here?”

Tension was building between the senior officer and the red and white garbed hero. Leave it to the resident hothead to escalate something Roy was trying desperately to stop.

“Stand down, Hawk,” Speedy growled. He turned to the soldier, “If there were an army of Earth soldiers marching through the streets of one of your cities, you wouldn’t be slightly curious as to why? I’m pretty sure you didn’t get a license for this little parade.”

The soldier stiffened a bit, his face a conflict of emotions. “It’s classified. I’m sorry, I wish I could say, but I can’t. We aren’t here to hurt anyone.”

“Take a look around,” Bumblebee shouted, “That’s exactly what you’re doing!”

“Don’t order me around,” Hawk shot back at Speedy.

“They are looking for the Absorbascon, a Thanagarian device that allows the user to understand all forms of other languages,” Omen said as she, Risk, and Cyborg walked up to them.

“How did you... never mind,” Speedy said. “I don’t understand, you guys are Rannians; you’ve got to have the same, if not superior, technology. Why are you after one of theirs?”

Again the soldier said nothing, but Lilth spoke up. “This is a prototype for their newest model. If it is a success it would allow the user to instantly understand all binary codes in any computer system from any race.”

The soldier’s eyes blazed but Omen continued, “But that isn’t the only reason they want it. If they were to acquire the item it would also give the Rannians full access to the inner workings of Thanagarian technology.”

“Why would they want that?” Cyborg asked. “I’ve gone over the Justice League files of both Rann and Thanagar; they’re allies.”

“We were until the Thanagarians attacked one of our outposts, killing every man, woman, and child,” the soldier blurted out in anger.

“What?” Bumblebee whispered in shock.

“It’s true,” the soldier continued. “Thanagar has suddenly become a threat to our peaceful existence. They attacked the outpost in hopes of obtaining both military as well as technological information. The last Rannian standing was able to set the self-destruct sequence, destroying everything before he escaped. Later he went back and retrieved the recorder that proved what had happened. It was horrific.”

“Something’s not right here,” Cyborg mumbled. “Who? Who gave the orders? Do you know?”

“Of that we are not sure, but our sources inside the Thanagarian Council are saying that it is High Priestess Shayera Hol and her consort Kanjar Ro.”

Cyborg swore as Speedy let out a low whistle.

“You want to fill the rest of us in?” Risk asked in frustration.

“Shayera Hol is the mother to him,” Cyborg explained as he pointed to the sky where Hawkman was taking on another Thanagarian ship.

“Oh dear, that does complicate matters,” Bumblebee muttered.



Don Hall, also known as Dove, laid the body of Aqualad in the salty water of the Pacific Ocean - submerging him completely. He hoped it would work, but the young man had not regained consciousness since he’d been injured.

“Come on, guy. If this doesn’t work I have no idea what to do.”

As he knelt in the water and held his newfound friend, he watched the battle rage in the sky above the city. He noted the army helicopters that were now appearing from The Presidio. It was about time, he thought to himself. He wondered where Hank was, and how he was doing. There was so much rage in him since they had both been mysteriously turned into the heroes known as Hawk and Dove. The transformation had changed Hawk mentally as well as physically. And he couldn’t help but wonder if it had done the same to him. He didn’t feel any different, but still...

He nearly jumped out of his skin when Aqualad’s hand suddenly shot out of the water and grabbed his arm. He let go of the young Atlantean, stumbling as he did so and falling back into the waist deep water. He watched as Garth rose from underneath.

“Thank you,” he said simply as he struggled to stay standing. The whole world seemed to be spinning.

Dove stood up. “You’re still not well. You need to get medical attention.”

Garth looked at the skies that were now decorated with alien ships of various sizes and designs. “In due time. Right now, we have to go back and help. They are outnumbered.”

“You don’t have the strength to fight, you’re barely standing!” Dove countered. “We can handle it. You need to find medical attention, now. You go back into that in your condition and you may not survive.”

“It’s a possibility, but if there’s one thing that my king has taught me, it’s that you never abandon people who are in need.”

They watched as three Thanagarian ships suddenly turned from the battle and shot across the sky, over the bay, heading northwest.

“What is that about?” Don wondered out loud.

“It looks like they are headed for Sausalito,” Garth replied. “I guess there’s only one sure way to find out.”

Dove nodded in understanding. “Let’s go.”



The Teen Titan known as Starfire had also seen Golden Eagle cut his way into the Rannian fighter, so she did what she could to help him. She made sure that the other ships on their tail were put out of commission. The chaotic state of this particular fight was exhilarating for her. It was one of those times that she felt as free as she could be. Even having been on Earth as long as she had, there were still times that she felt constrained during battles. This time she felt at home in the melee; a true warrior princess at her best. She was ashamed to admit that it was a part of her that she had hidden away from Dick. He would never understand.

She noticed Hawkman was having troubles with the Thanagarian ship he was trying to stop, so she arced in the air, coming down on top of it as she fired a couple of blasts that rendered the ship unable to fire its weapons.

Hawkman nodded to her in appreciation and she smiled back; exhilarating, she thought. Then she saw the Rannian ship that Golden Eagle had entered turn and follow two Thanagarian ships that had broke from battle and were crossing the bay towards another town on the other side of San Francisco. Once again she caught Hawkman’s eye and his second nod to her was the entire signal that she needed; they both turned and followed.



“Look, what’s happening?” Risk asked as he pointed to the sky. The others followed his gaze to witness the small group of ships and their friends who were suddenly leaving the encounter.

“Where the hell are they going?” Roy wondered.

Bumblebee took to the air, flying just high enough to watch where they were going. After a couple of minutes she came back down. “They went across the bay, to Sausalito. Do you think...?”

“They found what they’re looking for?” Cyborg finished. “I’d bet my Grandpa’s Social Security check on it.”

“We need to get there, fast.” Speedy said. He turned to Omen. “Is there any way you can get us there?”

She shook her head. “Not this many. I’m still learning how some of these powers work.”

“The rest of you can spend the next twenty minutes figuring out how to get there, I’ll see ya when you arrive,” Hawk said as he shot into the air.

“Hawk! Get back here!” Speedy shouted, but it was too late. They watched him fly away. “What a pain in the ass.”

“I seem to remember someone else not taking orders very well; running off half-cocked while Robin was trying to rein him in,” Cyborg commented.

“Whatever, we don’t have time for reminiscing.” Speedy tried his communications device again, and this time there was an answer. “I need a boat, and I need it now,” he stated simply but with authority.

Just like that he turned to them. “Let’s get down to the dock.”

As they started to leave the scene, the soldier grabbed Roy’s arm. “We must come with you.”

“Are you kidding me?” Roy responded. “No way am I taking you. You need to take your men and get the hell off our planet. Go fight your war on your own ball of mud.”

They turned to go a second time when Lilith suddenly let out a shriek before collapsing onto the grass. Risk reached out to catch her, letting her fall into his arms.

“DEATH” she gasped as if in the middle of a seizure. “It is coming for one of us. Hurry... must hurry...”

Bumblebee ran to her as Risk laid her on the ground. “That must be the precognitive powers she was talking to me about. She says she’s out for a while after one of those.” She looked up at the others. “We can’t just leave her here alone.”

Vic Stone looked up at the battle that raged in the sky, then at the Rannian soldiers that were watching them carefully. “I’ll stay. I’m the best-suited to protect her.”

“You sure, Vic?” Roy asked.

“No I’m not sure, so get the hell out of here before I change my mind.”

They turned and headed for the pier, though something in the back of Roy’s mind was whispering that they were going to be too late...



An old museum stood along a hillside in the very art-eccentric community of Sausalito. Two men were making their way into the basement; one carrying an oversized briefcase while the other held an energy rifle.

They had barely gotten to the bottom of the steps when a sudden blast of energy came from a darkened corner of the basement. The man with the briefcase fell forward with a large hole in his stomach. The other man turned the rifle in the direction of the shot, but was gunned down just as quickly.

A Thanagarian soldier stepped forward and picked up the case. He turned and held it out to his superior. Byth took it with a look of satisfaction on his face. “About time,” he said to the four soldiers that surrounded him.

The noise of a Thanagarian fighter jet could suddenly be heard outside. Byth smiled. “Looks like our rides are here, men. We’ve got what we came for, let’s get off this stink-hole of a planet.”

They stepped over the bodies, up the stairs, and into the California sun. Each of them looked to the sky to see their rides hovering above them. As Byth reached for his belt to send the signal for them to be retrieved, he was suddenly lifted up into the air by some unseen source. He was tossed several feet away, striking a lamppost before falling to the ground.

As the guards turned to see where the sudden attack had come from, two of them were struck from behind by a flying kick that sent them both tumbling forward, unconscious. Dove flew back for the other two guards who were already shooting at him, tackling one of them and laying him low with an upper cut.

One of the Thanagarians felt a tap on his shoulder and as he turned in surprise he felt the fist of Aqualad slam into his face, before he fell. The young Atlantean was sweating profusely, his eyes bloodshot.

He looked up to see a Rann ship heading their way and a winged man, who he could make out as Hawkman, following. He also noticed beside the Justice Leaguer was Starfire from the Teen Titans. He was relieved to see them. Whatever was going on here, he had a feeling it was all about to hit the fan.

So engrossed was he in watching the cavalry coming that he didn’t see the flash from the barrel of a gun, that had appeared from an alley. Truth be told, even if he had seen it at the last second, he was in no condition to do anything about it.

Dove, on the other hand, did see it at the last second. In fact, as he sprang into the air, desperately trying to get to Aqualad in time, he saw the flash of the weapon as it was fired. There was nothing in his thoughts save one idea: save the young man who he had just recently come to call a friend.

And he did just that, shielding Garth’s back with his own. Oddly he only felt a momentary flash of pain before he was suddenly lost in the darkness. So this is what it was like to die, was his last thought before he left the world he had called home...

Garth heard Dove scream his name but before he even had a chance to turn, he felt his friend suddenly cover his back before he was thrown forward onto the ground with Dove on top of him. Already broken and suffering from exhaustion on top of the wounds he still carried with him, Garth could do no more than lay there. The world was swimming around him and he heard footsteps approaching rather quickly. He was able to lift his head for a second, catching a glimpse of the man who had shot at him. His face was almost purple in color, his nose pointy, even beak like. The last thing he remembered before slipping into welcoming unconsciousness was the aroma of burnt flesh...



When Aqualad came too he knew instantly what had happened, and that Dove was gone. He was lying next to Omen who seemed to be recovering from some kind of attack herself. He tried to stand up but a hand clasped him on the shoulder.

“Just lay back and rest for a second,” Karen was telling him.

“I’m sorry,” he said as guilt seemed to overwhelm him.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she answered as tears flowed down her face.

They both looked across the street to see the others all gathered in a circle. In the middle of it, Hawk was on his knees cradling the lifeless body of his brother. They could hear his cries of anguish from where they were and it tore at their own hearts to hear such pain coming from one person.

“Who did this?” Hawk demanded as he held Don Hall’s body. “Who is the coward that shot my brother in the back?”

“I believe I know,” a soft and sad voice came from behind them. They all turned to see a tall woman, dressed in a flowing, regal gown of the deepest purple. Beside her were two Thanagarian soldiers.

“Mother!” Katar Hol exclaimed in shock. “What are you doing here?”

He went to her and she opened her arms to greet him. Hawkman was stunned at the gesture; so unlike his mother to show any emotion, but never in front of another race. Yet, he allowed himself to be embraced and he was even more overwhelmed at how her body seemed to be shaking.

“Oh, Katar, it is so good to see you. I feared I would not get here in time.”

“What is going on, Mother? Why are you here?”

“Because I have been a fool, my son. All my lies and manipulations, that I had convinced myself I was doing for the good of Thanagar as well as for you, have taken a tragic turn. I did what I could, but I’m afraid it wasn’t enough. The Absorbascon is back in the clutches of Kanjar Ro and Byth, and I fear that war between Thanagar and Rann is now imminent.”

“Which one killed my brother?” Hawk demanded, still not leaving the spot he was in. The voice in the back of his head was louder than ever: Monarch, it nearly shouted in his mind.

“That would be Kanjar Ro,” Shayera said sadly. “I am sorry. I feared that something like this would happen, but knowing Kanjar Ro as I do, I was certain he was going to go after my sons.”

Hawkman hesitated momentarily. Had he heard her right? “Your... sons?” he repeated slowly.

She nodded. “I did not want you to find out this way, Katar. I am sorry for that.”

“Give it a rest!” Golden Eagle suddenly exploded with disgust. “You didn’t want him to find out at all; did you... Mother?”

They all turned to Charlie who was standing there, his helmet removed, his eyes filled with disdain. His features were now apparent, and there was a striking resemblance between Hawkman and Golden Eagle.

“I didn’t see that coming,” Risk said to Starfire as the others continued to stare in stunned silence.

To Be Concluded![/i]



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