#4
JAN 07

"The Obligatory Team Comes Together to Save the Day Issue"
By Tobias Christopher

Previously, the H.I.V.E. had Grant Emerson captured and brought to their headquarters, as he was the final component of their nuclear reactor. Luckily, Robin, Impulse, Superboy, Wonder Girl and Omni figured out where he was and broke into the H.I.V.E. Headquarters to save him. But the H.I.V.E. Mistress unveiled her plans for Damage, intending to use his powers to charge her energy core to power an army large enough to take over the free world.

The teens were soon subdued, with the exception of Robin, and now they're all trapped in the core, where both Damage and Omni are being prepped to charge the core, with Superboy, Wonder Girl and Impulse at ground zero...




"What the hell is that?" the fisherman asked.

"I don't know," his fishing partner replied as they looked over what looked like a teenage boy. At least the top half did; from the waist down he had scales and fins.

"It's one of those mermaid things," the fisherman said. They didn't notice that the creature's tail was starting to move.

"It's a boy mermaid," his partner said. "Wonder how much a freak show would pay for this."

Suddenly, the tail struck and knocked the fisherman overboard. Before his partner could react, the tail swung back around and knocked the man over, hitting his head on the deck.

"Land dwellers," the boy said as he jumped back into the water and swam for the shore.



H.I.V.E. Headquarters - Ten Minutes Ago

Robin leapt into the air and did a double kick, knocking two of the H.I.V.E. guards to the ground. He did a sweeping motion to take out another one before more rounded the corner.

Robin was the only hope to rescue his friends from the fate that was waiting for them when Damage went nuclear again. He couldn't let them down, not after the last time the group was together. The H.I.V.E. guards opened fire as Robin ducked into a supply closet.

"I'll get him," one of the guards said as he walked into the room, where the sound of rapid gunfire was heard. Seconds later, the guard walked out, holding Robin's cape and boots. "He won't be coming out."



Now

"I guess this is it," Superboy said, weakened from the kryptonite that was chaining him to the wall. "Robin's gone and we're trapped in this machine."

"At least we're going out together," Impulse replied, dazed from the tranquilizers that were given to him.

"Yeah," Wonder Girl said as she looked over at Superboy. "Connor, I- I know things have been rough between us since-"

"It's in the past," Superboy replied as he stared down at the floor. "Let's not die bitter, alright? I forgive you."

"Wait- You forgive ME?" Wonder Girl asked angrily.

"Uh oh," Impulse said.



Omni was strapped into the device next to Grant, tapping into the powers around him. He knew this was the end and felt calm about it, almost serene. Then he remembered that he forgot to TIVO the 'My Name is Earl' marathon and instantly grew angry.

Omni's eyes began to glow a bright red as a burst of heat vision shot forward, shattering the plastic shielding holding the Titans inside the core.



"You've got your nerve, this whole mess started with you!" Wonder Girl said.

"Well, maybe if you hadn't been making googly eyes at-" Superboy stopped as he saw what Omni had done. "Wait, HE gets heat vision? NO FAIR!"

"They're escaping!" one of the guards shouted as he hit the alarm.

Omni directed his heat vision toward his restraints, then after freeing himself, he freed Grant, who rubbed his sore wrists. Grant looked at Omni. "Free the others."

Grant stepped outside of the chamber and cracked his knuckles. He was shirtless and barefoot, wearing just a pair of gray sweatpants, where as the twelve armed guards had full body armor, helmets and laser rifles.

"Put your hands up!" the head guard shouted as Grant just looked at him, his anger growing.



Omni freed Impulse, Wonder Girl and Superboy. Impulse and Omni put Superboy's arms around their shoulders as he was still weakened from the kryptonite.

"We'd better help Grant before-" Wonder Girl started to say as she took to the air, only to see twelve fully armed guards lying around the room, all of them having been taken out. Grant tilted his neck to crack it.

"Let's get the hell out of here," Grant said as the H.I.V.E. Mistress started laughing from her chair.

"Leave? Stupid children," the H.I.V.E. Mistress said as she looked at the teens. "You may have destroyed the chamber-"

"No, we ddin't," Omni quickly replied.

"Oh, well, I expected you to," the Queen said before getting back on track. "Anyway, I have more than enough power to carry out my plans. All I have to do is push this button!"

The Queen pushed it before any of the teens could reach her, but nothing happened. She pushed it again, and once more.

"Let me do it," Omni said as he pushed her out of the way and repeatedly pushed the button with Impulse's super speed.

"OMNI!" Everyone shouted.

"What?"

"It's not going to work," the H.I.V.E. Guard said as he removed his helmet, revealing Robin's masked face. "I pulled the plug."

"You're alive!" Impulse shouted as he hugged Robin, almost knocking him over.

"How did you do it?" Wonder Girl asked.

"Did you remove a highly dangerous substance that was powering it?" Impulse asked.

"Did you take out the radioactive battery, almost dying?" Superboy hopefully asked.

"Did you call Oracle and have her talk you through a complicated process?" Grant asked.

"No, I told you, I pulled the plug," Robin said as he held up a cord. He saw the Queen trying to escape and tossed a bolo at her, trapping her before she could escape.

"Well, that takes care of the H.I.V.E.," Superboy said as the Queen started laughing.

"Hardly," the Queen told them. "You can never defeat the H.I.V.E."

She managed to pull a small button from her pocket and pressed it, causing the entire island to start shaking.

"She's set off the self destruct!" Robin realized. "We've got to get out of here."

Before he could grab her, the Queen fell through a secret door on the wall, which closed before they stop her.

"Come on, let's go!" Wonder Girl shouted. She picked up Grant as Impulse picked up Robin as they raced off the island. Superboy and Omni, mimicking his powers, followed as the island exploded behind them.

Ted and Larry were in a lifeboat watching as the island was decimated.

"I guess this means we're out of a job," Ted realized as he looked at his partner.

"I hear Kobra's hiring," Larry replied as they started rowing.



The six teens had gotten back into their civilian clothes and were sitting at a local cafe.

"Well, that was fun," Bart said as he sipped his soda. "I missed hanging out with you guys."

"Yeah, it did seem like old times," Connor replied with a sigh. "I just wish I could be going to college with you guys."

"You know, all of us are over 18 now," Tim told them as he looked around. "Technically the Justice League has no hold over us anymore. We can be a team again."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Cassie said as she stared down at the table. "Remember what broke us up in the first place? Reviving Young Justice isn't something I want to do."

"No, not Young Justice," Damage told her. "The Teen Titans. If you guys would have me, I'd love to join."

"Me too!" Cameron quickly added. "Can I join? Please?"

"I don't like it, either," Connor said as he looked at Cassie. "There's too many... bad memories."

"Yeah, besides, where would we find time to fight crime?" Bart asked. "Between college and our social lives."

"Social life?" Connor asked. "Bart, do you have a girlfriend?"

"No," Bart said, starting out the window. "But there's something you guys need to know-"

"Connor's still in high school, which means he wouldn't be around that much," Tim interrupted. "You and Cassie wouldn't see that much of each other. And Bart, we need a speedster. Besides, it wouldn't be the same without you."

"So, what are we now? The Teen Titans?" Cassie asked.

"Sounds good to me," Tim replied as he looked at the group. "The Teen Titans."

Meanwhile, a raven was sitting at the window, watching them...



Elsewhere

A young man, wearing a beanie hat that covered his ears, was walking with his identical twin sister as they approached a small armored truck. Here hair was hanging down over her ears, covering them as well. They were dressed in black and purple spandex and had a small monkey with them. They removed a glove from their hands and touched hands.

The driver of the truck saw them approach in the side view mirror. He turned his head, and when he looked out the window. The girl was gone, replaced by a grizzly bear, which swiped at the man, knocking him unconscious.

The young man's body began to melt into an acid, melting the door on the truck. The grizzly bear pulled the remains of the door off as the twins reverted back to their true form, stealing the contents of the truck before rushing off.

They ran into alley, carrying several pieces of electronic equipment, laughing as they did. The girl brushed her hair back as the boy took off his beanie, both revealing pointed ears.

"Phase 1 is complete," Jayna said as the monkey hollered on her shoulder.


The End...
Previous Issue | Next Issue