Chapter 04 Old Memories

                                         All Hail Trigon
                                     Chapter 04: Old Memories



[Jump City, Titans Tower]

Cyborg was in the garage, tightening some bolts on one of his T-Vehicles.
he exhaled as he wiped some sweat from the human part of his head.

"working hard??"

Cyborg gasped, startled at the voice.
he turned and saw Changling (formerly "Beast Boy") standing there.

"uhh...yeah." said the Half Machine Man, calming down

Changling grinned, then approached his "old friend."

"you need any help??"

"uhh...sure.
  just hand me that welding torch over there."

To Cyborg's surprise, Changling actually grabbed the right tool and handed it to him.

"here ya' go, pal."

"thanks."

Cyborg took the torch and resumed his work.
as he did, Changling took a moment to look around.

"you certainly have alot of new tech, Cy."

"yeah...i've had alot of time to work on them."

Changling chuckled softly.

"must of had an easier time without me constantly bugging you."

Cyborg finally stopped working.
he sighed sharply, a sad look on his face.

"not really." said Cybrog, finally

Cybrog then turned and looked at his green skinned friend.

"I kinda missed all those times you bothered me.
  in fact...there was ALOT of stuff i missed after you left."

Changling looked at Cyborg, a neutral expression on his face.
Cyborg then wiped something from his eye, and continued to speak.

"i...i never approved of Nigh-, ROBIN'S decision to make those "Beastbusters."
  if i had it My Way, I never would of built them...but, I was just following orders..HIS orders."

Changling showed no emotion (which was Odd for him.)

"i understand why he had you make them..." began Changling

"my Werebeast form was destructive, and somewhat out-of-control.
  it was good stragedy to construct weapons to use against me."

"yeah, i know...but, he acted like you were a Bad Guy.
  immediatly after i finished them, he GAVE them to the police."

Cyborg narrowed his human eyes, his Red Optic glowing.

"he should of just KEPT THEM.
  had them on Stand-By, in case you ever did lose control (which I never believed would happen.)"

"no arguement there."

Cyborg sighed sharply.

"i feel so guilty over what happened.
  when You and Rae left, it felt like the Whole Team was falling apart."

"until Jinx and Flash came along." said Changling, with a grin

Cyborg smiled weakly, but still frowned.

"they helped keep us together...but, it was never the same.
  
  Jinx (for as wonderful as she was) couldn't hold a Candle to Raven's "Snarky Wit"
  and, Flash...well, let's just say: his jokes weren't nearly as "funny" as yours."

Changling actually chuckled at this.

"well, then...i guess it's true what they say."

Cyborg looked at changling.

"what is??"

Changling grinned as he looked at his friend.

"that nobody ever appretiates you...until your GONE, that is."

Cyborg exhaled sharply.
Changling then placed his hand on Cyborg's metallic shoulder.

he looked at him with kindness, then spoke.

"it's alright, Cy...i'm not mad.
  in fact, i'm Kinda glad this all happened."

Cyborg was now confused.

"you...ARE??"

"yeah...if it wasn't for this whole Beastbuster thing
  then, me and Rae never would of fallen in love in Africa...and, we wouldn't have Azari."

Cyborg smiled weakly.
he then chuckled softly.

"i'm still trying to wrap my mind around all that."

"yeah...it kinda boggles My Mind whenever i think about it, too."

after a brief moment, Cyborg looked back at Changling.

"so..."C"
  what was it like??, being a parent and all."

Changling smiled.

"it was...Different, to be sure." began Changling

"I guess you could say that when my son was born: i "changed."
  i wan't the Lazy and Carefree Beast Boy, anymore...i become more Responsible."

Changling exhaled softly as he thought back.

"you have No Idea what it was like...to hold him for the first time.
  he was so small, so precious, so alive....and, he mine, mine and Raven's."

Changling finally wiped a tear from his eyes.

"it really is true what they say: Having children really DOES change you...for the better."

Cyborg grins.

"something tells me you were a "Good Daddy."

"heh, so Raven tells me."

the two men laugh for a moment.
then, Cyborg gets serious again.

"seriously, man...it's good to have you back."

Changling looked around the Garage.
he smiled as old memories began to flood back in his mind.

"yeah...good to Be Back, Cy."



[Elsehwere, In Titans Tower]

Raven hovered above ground, sitting in a lotus position
as she overlooked Jump City from the rooftop of Titans Tower.

Raven exhaled sharply, a frown on her face.
just then, she "sensed" a presense approaching.

without turning, Raven heard a single door open.

"Friend Raven??"

Raven exhaled softly.

"yes, Starfire??..."

the Tamaranian stood still, looking at her friend.

"may i...join you??"

Raven was silent...then, nodded.

"yes."

Starfire smiled, then finally approached Raven.
standing right next to her, she hovered above ground and sat in a lotus position.

after a few minutes passed...Starfire spoke.

"it is...good to have you and Friend Changling back home."

Raven exhaled sharply.

"this isn't my home...not anymore.
  maybe it used to be, but...that was so long ago."

Starfire frowned, then spoke again.

"all the same, it is good to have you back...i missed you."

Raven paused for a moment...then, spoke again.

"i missed you, too."

a brief silence passed...then, Raven spoke again.

"your here to talk to me about Nightwing, aren't you??"

Starfire looked down, exhaling.

"Raven...he really IS sorry."

Raven said nothing, she just narrowed her eyes in anger.

"maybe he is...but, i still don't trust him."

"why??...it has been So Long since-"

"it may seem long to YOU, Starfire.
  but, to me...the wound is still fresh."

Raven growled softly in her throat.

"i still remember that day...when he refused to help Gar when he ran away.
  the day I saw those Beastbusters of his attack Garfield unprovoked."

Raven narrowed her eyes, feeling angry.

"Robin betrayed us...just like Terra and Malchior.
  i don't hate him for what he did (afterall, his actions brought Me and Garfield together.)"

Raven then looked at Starfire.

"but, i just can't trust him, anymore.
  i'm sorry...but, that's just how i feel."

Starfire exhaled sharply.

"then..perhaps Husband Nightwing could EARN your trust back??"

Raven chuckled.

"Starfire...he'll have to REALLY make an effort before i'll trust him, again."

Starfire smiled at this.

"so...there's HOPE!??"

Raven exhaled.

"we'll see...
  i can't make any promises, but We'll See."

silence returned to the two women.
after a brief moment, Starfire spoke once again.

"Mar'i and Azari have been gone for an awful long time."

"he's probably still Steaming over before...give him time."

Starfire looked at Raven.

"your...son is a nice boy."

Raven nodded with a smile.

"i know...me and Gar have raised him well."

"yes, i can tell...
  he and my Daughter have become good friends."

Raven squinted her eyes.

"yeah..."friends."

Starfire looked at Raven.

"do you not "approve" of their friendship??"

Raven exhaled sharply.

"i have no problem with them just being friends...no more, no less."

Starfire raised her dot-like eyebrow.

"you mean...you would not approve of them being "The Couple??"

Raven groaned.

"Look, Starfire...you daughter is a nice girl and all.
  but, I don't think my son is Ready for a "serious" relationship."

"oh."

Starfire paused, then spoke again.

"when do you think IS the proper dating age for dear Azari??"

Raven thinks for a bit.

"thirty."

"Thirty??!"

"okay, TWENTY-FIVE."

"Raven-"

"LOOK, me and Gar were only Fifteen when Azari was born.
  I love him with all my heart, and i don't regret him being born for ONE. MOMENT.

  but, having a child while still a Teenager is Irresponsible!!
  and, i don't want my son to make teh same mistakes that meand Gar made."

"but, your "mistake" brought you so much JOY."

Raven eyed Starfire.

"Are you saying you WANT my Son and your Daughter
  to get so "intimate" in their relationship, that Mar'i ends up Pregnant with Azari's child!!?"

"Friend Raven, PLEASE...you are Overreacting.
  we have raised our children well, they would not do something so foolish."

Raven exhaled, then looked away.
Starfire paused, then spoke again.

"BUT...if something like that ever DID happen: it wouldn't be that terrible."

Raven eyed Starfire.

"come again??"

"being Mothers have brought great JOY to our lives.
  so, if we were to become Grandmothers, why it would be-"

"can we PLEASE talk about something else!!?"

Starfire stared blankly at her Friend.

"uhhh...okay."



[Meanwhile, Somewhere In Midway City]

Azari and Mar'i stood at a street and stared at a victorian-style building.

compared to the many Modern buildings in the city.
the Doom Patrol's old HQ stood out like Clown in the Saharah Desert.

the cracked/shattered windows were boarded up
indicating that nobody had occupied it for quite some time.


after a few moments passed, Azari finally approached the doors.
he quickly grabbed the boards that was locking them shut and tore them off.

"uhh...Azari??" began Mar'i, as she approached him

"won't we get in trouble for doing this??"

"we're trying to find the Brotherhood, Mar.
  so, we don't have time to get any permits."

Azari opened the creaky doors and entered the dark building.
Mar'i gulped hard, she then entered the building herself and joined Azari.

as the two teens ventured further into the building, it got DARKER.
so dark, that Mar'i held up her hand and made it glow with bright green Starbold energy.

"you don't need to do that...i have Night Vision." said Azari

"well, I don't."

Azari blushed.

"right...sorry, i forgot."

Mar'i shined the light emitting from her hand over certain objects.
as expected, she and Azari mostly found dusty trinkets and "junk."

"so..." began Mar'i, trying to start a conversation

Azari looked at Mar'i.

"what do you expect to find here??"

Azari resumed his search.

"not HERE, exactly."

"huh??" said Mar'i, confused

"Dad said that this house was just a cover.
  the REAL Doom Patrol HQ is actually underground...right beneith the building."

Mar'i was wide eyed.

"whoa."

Azari grinned.

"unlike the Titans, the "DP" were real big on Secrecy.
  they never wanted anyone to know where they lived...ESPECIALLY not the villains."

Mar'i chuckled at this.

"actually, that DOES make alot of sense...
  I'v often questioned why my parents work in a "Giant T" on an island.

Azari grins.

"yeah...why don't they just put up a Neon sign
  that says: "THE TITANS LIVE HERE, YOU MAY NOW FIRE YOUR WEAPONS."

Mar'i laughed at this.

"yeah...that's exactly right."

after a moment passed, Mar'i spoke again.

"so...if the Doom Patrol Base is UNDER us
  then, how are we suppose to get to it??: Tunneling??, Teleportation??"

"My dad said that the underground facility is protected
  by a thick layer of every known Metal...from Iron-to Lead, completly impregnable.

  and, I can't use my Mystic Powers to teleport, not unless I can see where i'm going.
  otherwise, i could teleport us into a wall...which would be "unpleasant."

Mar'i thinks for a moment.

"your mom can turn herself into shadow energy and phase thru solid objects."

"she can, but I CAN'T...not yet, anyway."

"oh."

"sorry, Mar...but, the "DP" don't fool around.
  if we're gonna find their base, then we need to find the Secret Enterance."

"sounds hard."

"not really...dad told me where it was."

"he DID??"

Azari approaches a door that read "Basement"
he jiggled the knob...but, it was locked.

Azari huffed.

"typical."

Mar'i then walked up.

"allow me."

using her free hand, Mar'i punched her flat hand thru the edges of the door.
yelling out, she gripped the metal door and effortlessly ripped it out of the doorway.

"nice."

Mar'i smiled, blushing a bit.
the two then walked down a staircase and into the basement.

if not for the bright green illumination of Mar'i's Starbolt
the room would of been so Pitch Black, that neither could've seen the noses on their faces.

once they reached ground level, the two teens searched around.

"okay...what are we looking for??" asked Mar'i

"a trigger of some sort." replied Azari

"it would have to be something the DP would of used everyday.
  but, something not so obvious...just in case the Wrong People got in here."

"right."

Mar'i began looking around...but, began becoming frustrated.
nothing in the room looked like a Trigger, and everything she touched did NOTHING.

"don't you know what the Trigger looks like??" asked Mar'i

"no, that was the One Thing dad never told me."

the Half Tamaranian girl groaned.
she then exhaled as she leaned against an old, cracked bust.

"man...i'm bea-"


CLICK!!


Mar'i gasped as teh Bust she leaned against made a noise.
suddenly, the "boiler" in the room rotated...revealing what looked like an Elevator.

both teens watched as the doors opened...revealing a brightly lit space inside.
Mar'i then powered down her Starbolt as she and Azari approached the Elevator with wide eyes.

"un...real." said Mar'i

without wasting a second, Azari and Mar'i walked into the Elevator.
Azari then pressed a button, which made the doors close with a WHOOSH.

the elevator soon began to move.
after several minutes passed...the Elevator stopped.

with a DING, the door opened.
the two teens walked out and into a pitch black room.

Mar'i was just about to summon up another Starbolt...when, lights suddenly turned on.
both teens gasped in shock at the large chamber that they were in.

a large chamber that was full of Vehicles, Technology and Computer Monitors.

"whooooooa...." said Mar'i, in awe

"it looks just like Grandpa Bruce's "cave!!"

Azari just walked down the chamber (followed closely by Mar'i)
the two passed by various objects, until they finally approached a LARGE Supercomputer.

sitting down on what looked like a "wheelchair"
Azari pressed a button, starting up the massive mainframe.

the blank screen appeared.
the caption: "PASSWORD:" appeared.

"Password Protected??" questioned Mar'i

"like i said: the Doom Patrol are NO FOOLS.
  they must of anticipated that strangers may get lucky and gain access to their base.

  so, they took the liberty of making sure their Database
  was OFF LIMITS to anyone, other than the Patrol Members."

"sooooo....is this Good ot Bad??"

"if we were anybody else, it would be bad.
  but, I'm Beast Boy's son....so, I should be able to figure this out."

Azari typed in "NILES CAULDER" and pressed Enter.


ACCESS DENIED.


Azari groaned.

"this could take awhile..."



[Meanwhile, at an Unknown Location]

Galtry grinned as he watched the construction of the giant "Mechanoid"

progress had been going well, lately.
the "T-Cog" had already been installed, and the "Right Arm" was nearly complete.

just then, "something" approached Galtry from behind.
Galtry grinned to himself, knowing full well who it was.

"Brain...so nice of you to join me."

the disembodied "brain" rolled over, now right beside Galtry.

(("most impressive...")) began Brain, his voice as Electronic and Monotone as ever

"Impressive??" said Galtry with a chuckle

"you gaze at a Wonder of Technological Science
  and, all you can say is: "Impressive??!"

Brain was silent...so, Galtry continued to speak.

"you know...i really don't get you, Brain.
  I mean, you were smart enough to keep your "brain" alive in that device

  YET, you lack the creativity to construct a more "useful" body.
  why, with your genius...you could be remade yourself into a Savage Warmachine."

Galtry then smirked cruely.

"but, no...you'd rather settle with being a Laughable "gamepiece."

Brain's life support system sparked, indicating his anger.
Galtry just snickered as he continued to mock Brain.

"perhaps once Project: EXODUS is complete, i'll reward your loyalty
  by providing you were a NEW body...one that is more "mobile"

Brain was about to say something...when, his optics suddenly flashed red.

Galtry eyed him.

"what is it??"

(("My probes have activated Intruder Alert."))

"WHAT!!?
  impossible...NO ONE COULD OF-"

(("they are not OUR perimerter alert, Galtry.
    these probes were stationed at Midway City...where the Doom Patrol once resided."))

Galtry looked at Brain.

"oh??..."

(("they were stationed at the Doom Patrol's Headquarters.")) began Brain

(("since I have been "unable" to locate the enterance to their probable Underground Base
    I had the building boarded up and put my Probes on STAND-BY Mode...in case anyone Broke In."))

"and, now they've activated."

(("yes...SOMEONE has entered the building."))

"is that device your hooked into Linked with your precious probes??"

(("yes, bu-"))

"Activated Audio/Video Link...show me these "tresspassers."

a lens on Brain's Life Support System shot a beam of light.
the beam projected a Holo-Graphic screen, showing video footage from OUTSIDE the building.

the video show what looked like Two teenagers.
one a girl with Yellow Skin, Black Hair and Bright Green Eyes.

though, Galtry was more interested in the Boy
with Olive Green Skin, Purple Hair, Purple and Green Eyes and Long, Pointed Ears.

(("AZARI!!!")) exclaimed Trigon's voice in Galtry's head

(("strange...")) began Brain

(("the boy looks like "the green one."))

"Beast Boy, YES...that boy is his Son.
  though, the last time I saw HIM...he was in diapers."

(("what is the boy doing at the old headquarters of my old enemies??")) questioned Brain

Galtry growled softly as he narrowed his eyes.

"only ONE REASON: to uncover something that only the Doom Patrol would know.
  and, the one thing that they kne wof the most was of YOU, and your Brotherhood."

Galtry's scowl slowly became a grin.

"amazing...the boy has ACTUALLY figured it out."

(("what??"))

"don't you SEE, Brain!??
  my Nephew's Son has actually seen thru our cloud of Deception and Lies.

  he KNOWS that the Villain Attacks are just a Diversion.
  that is why he's at "DP HQ": to find a clue to the location of one of your bases."

(("so he can find us."))

Galtry smirked evily.
he then reaches into his pocket and pulled out a remote.

"not for LONG."

Galtry presses a button, making the remote beep.