Going West

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

Even though there's not much travel time involved in going from Philadelphia to San Francisco these days, Nightwing's still got plenty of opportunity to consider the situation on the west coast. Terra - the first one - wrought untold havoc on the team, most notably on Gar, but her alliance with Deathstroke was a kick to the head none of them could have seen coming. With this new Terra's appearance, and a 'coincidental' appearance of a new teenager wearing Deathstroke's colors, saying he's feeling skeptical of good intentions would be something of an understatement. But that's why they're heading out there, after all - to figure out what the hell's going on.

The three East Coast Titans resolve into being inside the Tower's teleport room.

Comments

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"Basically. We don't know what they're planning, if they're planning anything at all.

"But they came to us, and we weren't going to turn them away based on a bad gut feeling. For the time being, they're in, even if only to keep an eye on them and so we can learn more and try to figure them out."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

His mouth flattens into a line. He understands Cyborg's logic, certainly, but as he glances to Gar, whose entire cheery demeanour throughout has seemed to be a little forced, he's not sure he's entirely at ease with the concept in practice. And the last time Slade paid them a visit, the Tower had been decimated. And Lian had been here at the time-- something that's always rankled with him.

No, there's absolutely nothing that could go wrong here, whatsoever.

"Friends close, enemies closer, and all that. Question is, is that what Slade's counting on?" He doesn't need to mention Jericho. "And even if he doesn't know his daughter's here... what about when he does? I'm not entirely prepared to put the younger Titans at risk here when it comes to someone like him. We had a hard enough time when he last came knocking, and that was for Joey's disk."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"If you're not willing to risk them against someone like Slade, then they don't belong on the team at all. There is no doing this halfway." It's not an idea that sits well with him, but its an honest statement. "But that's an argument for another time.

"Right now, we don't know who is pulling their strings, or even if someone is. All we have to go on are some really bad memories of people they're associated with. I'm not saying anyone is wrong for thinking that this will come back to bite us in the ass; I think that. And if it does, that's what we have you around for."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

"Slade isn't someone I can deal with, Vic, much less these kids. And he doesn't act alone these days - that's what worries me. We're who they look to when the bad shit happens. We're supposed to learn from our mistakes, not repeat them. If we can stop it from happening in the first place, so much the better." He raises his hands, palms outward. "I'm not saying we shouldn't keep them where we can see them. But there's a lot of maybe's riding on this."

[just-donna.livejournal.com]

Donna gives Nightwing a weak smile.

"I really don't know what to say in this situation, you've said you've been keeping an eye on them, which is a good step to take. Have any of the other Titans noticed anything out of the ordinary? Said that something seemed off?"

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

Vic sighed a little.

"Look, I know we threw the long ball on this one. No one needs you to point that out. We--" He paused, trying to parse out the right words.

"I don't blame anyone for being uncomfortable with this, even if we are going into this eyes wide open. But with this risk we also have a chance to take two talented, powerful young women and help turn them in to heroes. Last I checked, that was part of the job description."

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

Starfire looks perplexed. "What long ball? I did not hear Nightwing say anything about us throwing anything ... he merely wishes to understand."

[beastlyboy.livejournal.com]

"So what are you saying, Dick?" Gar asks, pulling his gloves back on as he is abruptly horribly uncomfortable with anyone looking at his horrible, ugly green hands and terrible little claws. "I mean, I guess I don't see what else there is to understand. We're taking the dumb option because good is dumb."

"If we're worried about ol'Nobody and his funtime pals, let's do something about it. Do we know why he's suddenly a team player? Has he just gotten lonely in his old age and figured that C-list supervillains are less pathetic than getting a couple cats?"

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head. "Dr. Light and the League had a lot to do with it. It's not like when we were kids, running around on the weekends without the older folks breathing down our necks. The stakes are a lot higher now. As far as Slade's concerned, we brainwashed his son. And then Joey died, and regardless of whether he's a decent parent or not, that's not something you tend to forget." And regardless of how the others feel, he's a parent these days, and that changes one's perspective.

"We were naiive, not dumb. But we've got more than just ourselves to worry about now." He looks to Donna. "I'd recommend not bringing Lian out here for a while. Not until we know, either way, what's going on with Rose. I don't know if he's using her to maybe get to Lian, and I'd rather not find out the hard way."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

Whether this was the smartest thing to do, he's not going to argue about. It wasn't. But whether it was the right thing to do? He can't say it's not.

"A reasonable precaution. I also want to keep them strictly on the west coast. The less access they have to the east, the less damage you'll sustain if this blows up on us."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Bette reaches out to take one of Gar's hands if it doesn't end up being too awkward. She doesn't want to end up fighting him for it, after all. "It seems a good idea to limit the possible fallout. If there ends up being fallout."

Because you have to hope for the best, right?

[just-donna.livejournal.com]

Donna nods, "I'll do that," she says, "I'll let Roy know what's going on well."

Rose did use to babysit for Lian after all.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He nods. "Yeah. I'll brief the others when we get back. Not a bad time to go over the contingency plans with everyone, in any case." A brief pause. "I don't suppose we can talk this new Terra into maybe taking a name other than Terra, can we?"

[beastlyboy.livejournal.com]

Gar does a little 'THANK you.' motion with his free hand, lightly squeezing Bettie's hand in appreciation.

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

Vic quietly shrugged with his eyebrow.

"Couldn't hurt to ask her."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

The name is still like ashes on his tongue. He can't imagine what it's like for Garfield.

"I'd say 'keep us posted,' but that's kind of redundant. I'll check if Oracle can't do a little digging for us, see what turns up."

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

Unexpectedly Starfire giggles. "I suppose one must dig to learn more about a girl who comes from inside the planet?"

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

"I'll be sure to requisition some extra shovels," he says wryly.