Issue 27: "Shifting Loyalties, Part Two"

[Romans Empire]

[Romans Empire]

A Four Part Suicide Squad/Teen Titans Crossover: Shifting Loyalties

Teen Titans
Issue 27: Part Two “Meet the Bad Girls”
Written by Jay McIntyre
Cover by: Ramon Villalobos
Edited by: Brian Burchette & John Elbe

[Romans Empire]

Any excuse will serve a tyrant. ~Aesop

I like a man who's good, but not too good--for the good die young, and I hate a dead one. --Mae West

[Romans Empire]

*Read Suicide Squad #20 first!!



The Teen Titans and the Suicide Squad clashed together with terrific force.

The Titans were partially at a disadvantage. They were without Dagon, who was still asleep in his high tech portable coffin back in the jet.

But Speedy was here, which helped. But maybe not enough.

Any way you looked at it, it was gonna be ugly.

[Romans Empire]

“Haven’t we seen them somewhere before?” Manhunter mused.

Vixen shrugged. “Heroes go bad. It happens.”

“We don’t know that, do we?”

Vixen frowned at him. “We know they’re here, and they didn’t ask for an invite. If they’re playing ball, I’d rather negotiate from a position of strength.”

“You’ve been part of this group too long,” Manhunter murmured, as they moved into the fray.

[Romans Empire]

Nightwing frowned. “There’s something familiar about these guys....”

Kid Flash vanished in a blur of speed.

“Wait! We need to form a strategy...” he sighed. Starfire flew over and Speedy rushed past, a worried expression on his face.

Nightwing shook his head and charged in.

[Romans Empire]

Geo-Force frowned; he was sure he recognized that red and yellow clad young man as Kid Flash...then he experienced a super speed punch.

To his credit, it only put him down, not out. He staggered groggily, looking for his sister.

[Romans Empire]

Terra shifted uncertainly from foot too foot. The green kid had vanished but his friends were fighting the Squad in confused knots of battle. If they would line up just right, she could end this all now...

Abruptly she yelped in pain, as there was a stinging sensation...on her butt!

A green insect buzzed in front of her face.

“The green kid! You creep!” she shouted, rubbing at the sore spot.

“Take that, Kato!” Beast Boy responded playfully.

She shook her head. “I dunno whether to be insulted or amused at you, jerko.”

“Yeah, most people react like that,” he sighed, shifting to chimpanzee form. “Tell ya what; let’s forget all this fighting. We can catch a movie, eat some popcorn, and maybe neck a little....”

He tried to leap at her, but she blocked him with a rock wall. “First you harass me, then you’re hitting on me? You must be lonely, green-genes.”

He shifted to human, and shrugged. “Why not, you’re cute, and if you stopped hanging around with these idiots I think we could make beauuuuuuuutiful music together.”

It was his usual bad pick up line style of humor; but Terra looked thoughtful, and then gave him an eerie grin, showing too many teeth. “You’re not so bad yourself, greenie. We’ll talk again after the fights over, kay? Who knows, you might have some potential....” she licked her lips and grinned even wider. “Yeah, maybe you might suit me.”

Gar swallowed reflexively. Oh boy, he thought, I’ve got my very own femme fatale. A milestone in my hero career, I guess. Glad the Doom Patrol isn’t here to see this. “Well.... that sounds interesting.... I don’t suppose you’d be willing to surrender now, since you like me so much?”

She shook her head, but now her smile was positively smug, and her eyes were glittering with interest. “Business before pleasure, cutie. Sorry.”

“Very well then,” he sighed. He shifted to a bear form, and she rose high above him on her floating rock, columns of stone ripping out of the Earth around him.

Beast Boy forced a smile. I think I’m in trouble...in more ways than one....

[Romans Empire]

Cyborg slammed the Parademon aside, but it just came charging in again. He remembered these things from the Apokolips invasion, and one of them alone would not be enough to stop him finding his father now.

He and the Parademon were exchanging blows, and then Knockout came in from the side with a devastating strike that slammed him into the ground hard enough to make an impact crater. His head was ringing, and the parts of him that were still living flesh were coursing with agony. But he still got up to face the Parademon again, and when the monster grinned and few forward, Cyborg struck him with a sonic wave from his arm cannon, and sent him stumbling back.

The Parademon, not knowing how to hesitate, simply charged in again, swinging his axe; which Cyborg blocked with his robotic arm. He jerked, and the axe flew away; Cyborg followed through with a devastating uppercut that put the Parademon down, at least for the moment.

He was standing over his enemy when Knockout came in from the side again and landed a kick that sent Cyborg flying.

“Tactically disadvantaged,” she said to him as he struggled to get up. “You are the only true front line fighter on your team. No one else can counter the Parademon or myself; your team has already run out of options.”

That was when Starfire blasted her from above. Knockout yelled in pain and collapsed.

“For such an obviously experienced warrior, “ Starfire commented, “Your notion of battlefield tactics is limited.”

[Romans Empire]

Kid Flashed moved.

Moved? He blurred, he streaked, he challenged the laws of physics and won a partial victory over them, as he always did.

Vixen and Catman were down before they even realized he was there, though Catman struggled to get back up in his wake.

Vixen got up more slowly, but was met by Wonder Girl. The Amazon lifted Vixen up off the ground, but Vixen called upon the strength of a polar bar and lashed out, striking Wonder Girl in the solar plexus. Wonder Girl, of course, was very tough; she took the blow, grimacing, and stalled in her flight, but she did not drop Vixen or let go.

[Romans Empire]

Raven unleashed her soul self, and it rose above the battlefield...then a wave of green energy rose to meet it.

Raven strained and struggled. Rare was it she met one with such power. She would have to focus her soul self....

“Ahh, an interesting one you are,” Enchantress said, stalking towards her. “Demonic heritage, I can taste it. How interesting.”

Raven raised an eyebrow. “You’re wearing a witch hat.”

“Naturally,” Enchantress said, as though this were perfectly normal.

Let me at her, Erinyes whispered in her mind.

No, Enchantress answered. You're still new to power. But watch and learn. This should be very instructive....

“I have often struggled with my own darkness, but you....you are simply insane.” Raven stared at her.

“Nothing simple about it,” Enchantress chuckled. “Shall we dance?”

The two spell weavers moved against one another with power and darkness.

[Romans Empire]

Killer Frost remembered well the battle against the Justice League. Despite her flippancy, she was taking their opponents seriously.

So when Kid Flash came whipping past, she reached out a languid finger, and touched...

Down he went, smashing and blurring through the ground before he could get his bearings.

She moved to step over him, hoping to get better ‘acquainted’, when an arrow landed between her feet and exploded.

“Stop it!” Speedy shouted. “Stop fighting!”

“And why should I do that?” Frost enquired.

“Checkmate sent me here to--”

“Oh, shut up.” She blasted him with ice. Last thing she wanted was some Checkmate goon spoiling her fun.

Unfortunately for her, Speedy had bought Kid Flash the time he needed to recover, and he struck, a golden burst of speed, smashing her down.

Such earned him the attention of Electrocutioner, who blasted him with electricity, crying in rage.

Nightwing flipped out of the air behind him and planted both feet in the Electrocutioner’s back. “I read Batman’s files on you,” the vigilante said. “I even met your brother once. What are you doing here, and who are your friends?”

“You talk too much,” said Manhunter, kicking him from behind.

[Romans Empire]

Speedy struggled to free himself from his icy prison, chilled to his very bones. The last thing he wanted here was a battle. If he didn’t do something quick, someone would get killed...

....probably someone he cared about.

He didn’t have the body control training that Nightwing had, of course, but he wasn’t helpless, either. He bunched up his muscles and strained with effort.

The ice began to fracture.

Ollie had always favored the direct approach, and it might be the only thing that could save him now.

Then again....

A groggy, uncertain Geo-Force hove into view and blasted his prison with Lava.

[Romans Empire]

Catman had recovered, and now came stumbling to Manhunter’s aid. Electrocutioner was getting up too.

Nightwing recognized all three of them now; he’d fought Catman before, back when he was Robin. And certainly he knew of the Manhunters. What kind of supervillain group was this?

“Whatever game you and your friends are playing, it’s over,” said Manhunter. “Markovia has enough problems without you.”

“That sounds funny coming from you,” Nightwing countered. “What game are you idiots playing?”

“Real justice,” Electrocutioner said. “Something you know nothing about.” He blasted electricity again, but Nightwing back flipped away.

To the side, the ice prison erupted, and Geo-Force helped Speedy to his knees. “Stop it,” the archer gasped. “Stop fighting!”

They all stared at him. Killer Frost made to blast Speedy again, but Electrocutioner, himself spoiling for a fight, reluctantly took her hand and shook his head. “Not this time, babe,” he said sadly.

Frost scowled bitterly, than nodded.

Terra and Beast Boy were still struggling; he’d wrapped himself around her as a snake, and she was smacking his snake form with rocks. But she couldn’t hit him too hard without also hurting herself. Now they stopped fighting and turned to stare at Speedy.

Kid Flash slowed down. Knockout picked herself up off the ground and glared at Starfire. Enchantress and Raven ceased their mystical struggle and looked over at them. Vixen and Wonder Girl were still grappling, but reluctantly came down to the ground and stepped away.

“Care to explain?” Nightwing asked dryly.

“These guys are the Suicide Squad,” Speedy pointed. “A government meta team. But you didn’t hear that from me. These guys,” he nodded, ”Are the Teen Titans.”

“Oh great, it’s the Justice League sidekicks,” Killer Frost sneered.

Terra stood straight up. “A superhero team....” she whispered.

“And this guy,” Speedy indicated Geo-Force, who was still supporting him “....is uh...homeland defense, I guess.”

“Wait a minute.....” Manhunter frowned. “You’re the Checkmate representative?”

“They may be others on the way, but yeah, I’m the envoy,” Speedy admitted.

“You brought us here as part of a Checkmate op?” Nightwing stared.

“All the information I gave you was legit,” Speedy complained. “Where did you think I got it from?”

Now both teams groaned.

“We have an additional problem,” said Knockout.

“And that would be?” Vixen asked.

Knockout pointed to the sky. “The Parademon is still fighting their machinist!”

Starfire took off, and Geo-Force launched himself into a plasma-charged leap.

[Romans Empire]

Parademon was lost in a rage of battle, ignoring even the calls of his Mistress. He was flying away with his prize.

Cyborg pounded at him, trying to break free. When he realized that wasn’t going to work, he used his own jets to try to alter their flight path.

It worked, but not in the way he intended. Parademon struggled to regain control, and he flew in crazy, tangled loops across the sky.

Cyborg was reminded at times like this that he was all too human. The lurching sky and ground were making him nauseous. Inertial dampers could only compensate so much.

Abruptly a burst of lava struck them and knock them apart. Falling, Cyborg saw the Parademon turned to face Geo-Force, who was leaping towards the beast, leaving a trail of lava behind. His jets kicked in, slowing his descent, and then Starfire was there, catching him.

“Thanks,” he said.

“No problem,” she agreed, and flew him back.

Geo-Force was no fool, the two Titans could see; he knew he was no match for the Parademon in physical strength. So he was leading the creature back towards the others, where it’s handler could calm it down.

“This is more complicated than we thought,” Cyborg muttered.

Starfire merely nodded.

[Romans Empire]

Gregor was being restrained, for him. Of course, having his ‘pet’ flanking him might have had something to do with that.

“While I appreciate you have concerns with your father,” he said, “I still require his services to fine tune my guardian. You and your friends are welcome to take custody of him....once I am satisfied that Doctor Jace can maintain the guardian on her own. I wont even tell him you’re after him, how’s that?”

Cyborg was also exercising restraint. “And what if he uses the protected position you’ve given him to come after me?”

“Then I’m sure you’ll know all about it, and inform me. But if you really want to expedite matters, why don’t you help the ‘Suicide Squad’ find out who the saboteurs are?”

“It’s clear they’ll strike again,” Manhunter nodded. “Our concern is stability. If we can find out who these insurgents are and stop them, that will remove the immediate need for the technological terror they’ve constructed.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Gregor all but snarled. With an effort, he mastered himself. “However, it is true that once that’s done, my need for your father’s aid won’t be necessary.”

Cyborg grit his teeth. Nightwing put a hand on his shoulder. Cyborg looked at him, and the nodded. Both groups left the audience chamber.

[Romans Empire]

“Let’s get this straight,” Nightwing said, staring into Manhunter’s face. “I don’t like you, I don’t trust you, and I don’t care what kind of government sanction your group has, no matter what Speedy says! You’re supervillains, almost all of you.”

Manhunter shrugged. “The super powered Dirty Dozen, that’s us. And I don’t care what you think, either. We’re here to do a job, and we’ll do it. With or without your approval. As far as government sanction goes, you don’t want to piss the Feds off, yourself.”

Nightwing almost laughed. “After the whole Starro thing, you think I’m even worried about that?”

Manhunter nodded. “So now that we’ve got the mutual contempt established, what do you propose?”

Nightwing blinked as he realized Manhunter was willing to negotiate, at least in principle. “Speedy brought us into this. I’ve a mind to let him and our....night-shift specialist....try to find the enemy base.”

“And then you can follow them in. Sounds good. Now let’s talk about long range planning.”

“What do you mean?”

“Officially, we’re here to take out the saboteurs. And your stated purpose is to get Cyborg’s father. But I’m sure you’ve wondered about that...thing. You saw it. I doubt you ‘heroes’ want Gregor to keep hold of it when he’s obviously so unstable. Maybe we should take it out.”

Nightwing nodded uneasily. “Maybe so.”

“And there’s still another concern,” Manhunter said.

“Yes.....what Speedy’s bosses really want. Which I know they didn’t tell you.”

“You’re the detective, and he used to be one of yours. Let me know if you figure it out.”

“How reassuring,” Nightwing said dryly.

“Call us when you’ve found the saboteurs,” Manhunter said, and turned away.

[Romans Empire]

“What’s your name?” Terra asked.

“Beast Boy,” he replied, still not certain what to make of this little villainess. She was at once creepy and enticing.

“Beast Boy?” she repeated, cocking her head to one side. “Beast Boy,” she repeated thoughtfully. “Beastie Boy, Beastie Boy, Beastie Boy,” she recited in singsong tones, bouncing from one foot to the other. “Cute,” she finally decided.

Beast Boy didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe away. His hormones had their own opinion on the subject, and were becoming more insistent in their turn. He decided to stick to the bad humor that always served him so well. “I’ve never been a member of the hip-hop group, no. Though I was a celebrity of sorts, back home. And I have sung ‘Sabotage’ in karaoke before.”

Terra laughed. “Oh, I can so see that!”

“You’re really Geo-Force’s sister?” Beast Boy asked.

She smiled a dangerous smile. “Half-sister to be exact. I’m the black sheep of the family.”

“Why do you sound like one of us Yanks, then?”

“Part of the disguise, green-genes.” Abruptly her accent shifted to something not unlike Geo-Force’s. “But if you want me to talk like this, is no problem.” She winked and switched back to her pseudo-New York patois. “Given the choice, though, I like talking this way.”

He nodded, more disconcerted than ever. “How’d you end up with those creepy Squad guys then?”

“It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll tell you some day....if I get to know you better.” Terra giggled, playing with the long false ponytail of her costume.

“Come on, BB,” Cyborg said, tugging his shoulder gently. “Let’s get out of here. Leave little miss earthquake alone. She’s bad news.”

“Bad news on wheels,” Beast Boy agreed breathlessly.

Terra’s laughter followed them out of the room.

[Romans Empire]

Not surprisingly, Gregor didn’t grant the Titans sanctuary in the castle. It was a calculated insult. Geo-Force recommended a number of hotels--Petrovnik was a cosmopolitan, if small, city--but Nightwing decided they should stay in the Jet, “to remain close to the situation”. Beast Boy and Cyborg both objected, though for different reasons. But neither complained too loudly when Nightwing put his foot down; Cyborg knew he would still see more of his father, like it or not; and Terra would be around no matter what.

Starfire had her own concerns. “I have never doubted you, nor do I now....but....I feel uncertain about this situation. Not sure what to do next.”

Nightwing took her hand. “I know. But whatever happens, we’ll work it out.”

She smiled softly.

“Now,” he said, turning to Speedy, “Down to business.”

Speedy shivered. “The bloodsucker still gives me the creeps.”

“You got us into this,” Nightwing answered. “So you will help Dagon get us out of it.”

[Romans Empire]

The coffin lid slid back, and the vampire sat up. “Good evening,” he said melodramatically. “What, duty calls already?”

“Need you and Speedy to do some recon,” Nightwing said without preamble.

Dagon nodded and didn’t ask any questions; he was more perceptive than most humans due to his gift. The grim set of Nightwing’s features told him what he needed to know.

“Where do we start?”

“Speedy will brief you,” Nightwing said. “But essentially, you’re going to track the lair of the insurgents infiltrating Markovia with their hit squads, so that we can prevent another clash with the Markovians’ new defense droid.” Nightwing turned and gave Speedy a full on, intense Batman style glare. “I trust you will share with him all relevant data that Checkmate has on this situation.”

Speedy wilted, shoulders slumping. “Yeah...” he muttered.

[Romans Empire]

The sun was down. Darkness had come.

The moon was rising slow as Dagon crawled through the grasslands on Markovia’s eastern border, scarlet eyes boring into the night. Speedy stalked uneasily behind him, bow ready.

”This the best information Checkmate has?” Dagon said. His voice was mild and nonjudgmental, but Speedy cringed anyway.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Satellite imaging detected activity here. Can't tell how much or where it’s coming from. Whoever they are, they seem to spend a lot of time underground. I don’t have any other information.”

“Well I have one piece of info for you,” Dagon said softly.

“What’s that?”

“We’re being followed.”

“WHAT?!?”

“A little louder, please,” the vampire said dryly. “I don’t think they heard you back in Petrovnik.”

“Sorry.” Speedy hadn’t spent much time with Dagon before he left the team, but he knew all about the enhanced vision and hearing of the vampire. “So, who is following us?”

“One of the Suicide Squad guys. From what you’ve told me, it’s probably Catman.”

“Their tracker,” Speedy nodded. “Figures. Should we wait for him?”

“He’ll come to us when he’s ready. Besides....I think I have something.”

“What?”

The vampire pointed. “Looks like a tunnel entrance.”

“Their underground path.....” Speedy nodded.

The vampire looked back and smiled, showing fangs. “Do you want to call the others? Or...shall we go in?”

Speedy frowned thoughtfully. “We’ll scout a little further, but pull out at the first sign, and send the alert signal.”

Dagon nodded.

[Romans Empire]

The door was a simple double door made of metal. Speedy would have loved nothing better to use an explosive arrow to open it--to contribute something material to this whole sorry mess--but that would make too much noise for any enemy on the other side.

Dagon had both the strength and the stealth to open the door quietly and without fuss. The tunnel was dark but well maintained; there was actually an asphalt pathway of sorts, almost a road.

“They must’ve been planning this for a while before they struck,” Speedy whispered.

“Yes,” a new voice answered, “We have.”

The voice was cool, smooth, and sensually female. Speedy recognized it all too well.

She came out of the dark flanked by two of those silver-suited goons that had attacked Markovia before, and Speedy had no doubt there were more of them behind. Her costume was a skimpy green thing, but in a functional way that was clearly designed to allow her to fight. Her hair was black as night, her eyes were a brighter green than her costume, like a jungle cat’s; her nails were long and painted a similar color.

“Greetings, Speedy,” she said, a sensual smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“Cheshire,” Speedy whispered....

[Romans Empire]

Continued in Suicide Squad # 21!

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