Teen Titans #60: "Into the Cosmic Night, part 1"

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Teen Titans #60
Into the Cosmic Night, part one:
The Attack of Blackfire
Story by Jay McIntyre
Art by Rick Mertens

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'Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here.'
--John Swigert, Jr.

Well, I think we tried very hard not to be overconfident, because when you get overconfident, that's when something snaps up and bites you.
--Neil Armstrong

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Into the Cosmic Night
Episode I: The Attack of Blackfire

S.T.A.R. Labs has once again called upon the Titans to observe one of their projects. Given the long standing relationship between them, this is not surprising. This time, though, it is not exploration of alternate realities, but outer space.

No longer content to wait for national governments or the international community to get humankind further into the cosmos, a consortium of private companies has worked with S.T.A.R. Labs to launch what will be not only the first manned mission to Mars, but also the first planned colony there, bypassing the moon entirely. A complete atmospheric dome colony is planned. Technology salvaged from the Apokolips invasion has helped with this.

The Titans are not the only ones observing; a Green Lantern is also here. And the Titans will need his aid, as they are one member short. But things are much more dire than they first appear, as an old foe with a vendetta has come to sabotage the mission...

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-1-

Bellport Bay, Long Island:

Some had questioned the wisdom of putting a launch pad on Long Island. Winter weather exacerbating launch problems and delays. But, it was pointed out, the Russians had managed it. That had left only the unhappy Long Islanders to deal with. Several lawsuits were threatened; the matter was resolved with a lot of money invested into the community, some of it directly, some in the form of urban renewal and public projects. A lot of palms were greased, as is usually the way for such things.

Beast Boy came to the launch site tired, jet-lagged, sweaty and out sorts, and rather dejected. Above all, he was alone. He had changed into costume on the plane back, and that was just one of many things he was unhappy about.

“The Doom Patrol called ahead,” Nightwing said before the changeling could even open his mouth.

“I shoulda stayed with her. I shoulda gone after her.” Beast Boy slumped against the wall, utterly dejected.

“We all have personal business to attend away from the Tower. Why should Terra be any different? And the Doom Patrol promised to help her if she needs it.”

Beast Boy clenched his hands into fists. “Caulder sent her on that goose chase.”

“He manipulated her, yes. But it's no goose chase.”

Beast Boy straightened up and looked Nightwing in the eye. “Is that your professional estimation?” he snapped.

“Yes, it is. Now come on. We've got a job to do here, and if things get rough, we've got someone to fill in for her.” Nightwing's own mouth thinned into a line. “Though not my first choice for that job.”

Puzzled, Beast Boy followed Nightwing into Mission Control.

The other Titans were scattered around, eying a Green Lantern uneasily. But not one of the friendly ones. The red hair cut short and stylistically, almost in a bowl around the man's head, gave him away to other members of the superhero community.

“Oh great,” Beast Boy said. “What are you doing here?”

“Space exploration is Green Lantern business,” Guy Gardner answered. “I was the only human GL free. You're late to the party, frog boy. Where's your girlfriend?”

Beast Boy did more than tense, he shifted into a bear and snarled.

“Stop it,” Nightwing sighed. “We've argued enough already.”

Beast Boy changed back, still glaring at Guy. The Lantern smirked.

“I wish.....that a certain other Lantern was still with us,” Troia said softly.

Guy's smirk faded. “So do I, Amazon. So do I. We all miss the kid.”

“We considered him for membership,” Nightwing said. “At least on an associate basis.”

“Woulda done good to have a ring slinger amongst your ranks,” Guy agreed. “And he'd have been a perfect fit.”

“More than you know,” Troia sighed.

“That.....doesn't exactly surprise me. But anyway, the scientists are almost ready to launch their little toy.”

The project lead, Dr. Antonio Lagustan, was busy shooing away reporters from the control room. He turned to them. “Ahh, the Titans are all here? Good. You and the Lantern should head out to the landing field, beyond the safe perimeter.”

Beast Boy just wanted to go home and sleep, or else convince Kid Flash to take him back to Europe double quick. Instead he said, “Anybody else reminded of the portal incident?”

“Yes,” Scarlet Wing said softly.

“Oh hey....I didn't mean....”

“No, I know. And you're right. All kinds of problems might occur.” Scarlet Wing put a brave face on, smiling. But the hurt was in her eyes.

They filed out the door, a smirking Guy in the rear, eying the ladies. Starfire in particular was none too amused at his interest.

(See Terra #3 for more information.)

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-2-

“How many are inside that thing?” Beast Boy asked, eying the bulky yet sleekly winged spacecraft that sat upon the launch pad. They had named it the Prospero. An odd choice, he felt. It was certainly unlike any rocket or the Space Shuttle. But now that he was standing here looking at it, he was reminded less and less of the portal incident, and more and more of the alien intelligence from the corrupted space probe. That was not reassuring, but his unease was almost immediately overwhelmed by another realization; that had been from before Terra joining the team. So long ago...he forced all such frustrations down. Time to be a pro.

“Two hundred and sixty,” Guy Gardner answered him. “That egghead was chattering away to anyone who would listen about it. First private attempt to colonize Mars. Kinda cool, actually.”

Nightwing cleared his throat. “It was all over the news for the last few days. They kept it under wraps before then to deter saboteurs.”

Starfire frowned. “Surely they'd need more to sustain a viable colony?”

“Mars isn't exactly hospitable,” Cyborg pointed out. “They're trying to see if a dome colony works.”

“Terraforming technology isn't exactly ready to go yet,” Guy added. “And even if it was, have to take Mars' gravity into account, and so on. This is a first step.”

“They might all die,” Starfire said. “My people might take such a risk, but....”

“We might die any day,” Guy snorted. “Any time you take a step out of your house.”

Nightwing took Starfire's hand, smiling at his lover. “All the colonists knew the risks when they signed up. They considered it worthwhile.”

“To take the next step,” Cyborg chimed in. “Who was it that wrote that mankind cannot live forever in it's cradle? Arthur C. Clarke?”

“Probably,” Nightwing agreed.

Starfire smiled at him. “I'm not being critical. Just surprised.”

“Save the soap opera stuff for some other time, kids.” Guy was sneering.

Nightwing let go of her hand. “We will cooperate with you, but you have no authority over us. Remember that.”

“Duly noted,” Guy rolled his eyes. “Just stay focused on the job.”

“Always.”

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-3-

Above, in orbit, someone was watching.

“So, the humans are trying to begin their own empire, are they? I would not care, and indeed almost be amused.” Vitriolic green eyes narrowed. “But for one thing, the Citadel still has a target on this planet. For another, my sister is still alive.”

“Do you want to attack the planet, then?”

She considered. “Tempting, but last time taught me to eliminate dear sister and her precious little team mates first. I've studied this world since my last visit. The powered guardians of this world are....worth considering. And they survived invasions by Apokolips and the ancient parasite. That is something to take into account. Which is not to say that we can't....make a gesture. Yes. Focus plasma cannons on that experimental craft.”

“Target is locked.”

“Fire!”

“Plasma bolt launched, bearing directly.”

She smiled. “Excellent.”

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-4-

They had not quite reached the countdown yet. Several minutes were left. Doctor Lagustan was wandering around, chattering amiably.

Then he froze, putting a hand to his ear. “What? Confirm that!”

Instantly, Kid Flash was there. “What is it?!”

“The Air Force is reporting an energy weapon attack....from nowhere! It's coming right for us!” Frantically he tapped his earpiece, changing frequencies. “Cancel the launch and evacuate the colonists, do you hear? Cancel! Cancel! CANCEL!!”

Too late.

They saw it first as a golden twinkling in the sky; A bolt of golden plasma screaming out of the atmosphere. Guy saw it in time, but his ring couldn't block yellow.

So Raven wrapped her soul self around the ship.

The bolt came in like the finger of God and slammed into Raven's Soul Self. She screamed and dropped to her knees. Kid Flash picked her up, concern written all over his face.

“It's the Citadel,” Starfire breathed, eyes narrowing. “They've returned.”

Without another word, she shot off into the sky.

“Starfire, wait!” Nightwing shouted.

Kid Flash came back, Raven still unconscious in his arms. “The colonists are all alive. A few broken bones and some teeth knocked out, and the ship will need to be repaired. They should be able to launch again in a few months.”

“Great kid; don't get cocky.” Guy' face was like a clenched fist. He was as angry as Starfire, though in his case it was about the attack on the colonists. “You guys wanna lift, so we can catch up to your team mate in time to kick some alien ass?”

“Do it,” Nightwing said.

There was one problem; with Kid Flash's mostly yellow costume meant he would partly stick out of Guy's bubble. In atmosphere, that wouldn't be a big deal, but in the vacuum of space was another matter. So Scarlet Wing picked him up and carried him. Troia carried the still unconscious Raven. Guy wrapped a ball of green ring energy around them all, and they were off.

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-5-

“Should we not fire again? The target was not even destroyed.”

The woman eyed her subordinate disdainfully. “While it would be nice to destroy it, and indeed we will take this planet eventually, Koriand'r is the primary target for now. She approaches?”

“She is in the upper atmosphere. Surely she realizes her air will run out?”

“She will, once her temper cools. Let's finish her off before she realizes, shall we?”

“The aerospace defenses of the planet are also responding.”

“They are of no consequence. Target Koriand'r.”

“Target is locked.”

She leaned forward, emerald eyes boiling with hate. “FIRE!”

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-6-

Starfire was indeed furious, but had kept her wits even as she flung herself into the sky. She knew she could not breathe in space, but wanted to draw the enemy fire away from the humans below. And she knew the others would catch up with her.

She had recognized the plasma bolt as soon as she had seen it. Citadel weaponry was very distinctive. It had been some time ago since their last attack, but she always knew they would return. For her.

Another golden spark appeared in the rapidly darkening sky as she flew upwards. She stopped her advance and waited for it to approach. When it got close enough, she blasted it with one of her starbolts, detonating it.

The explosive shockwave spread through the sky. That was why she had not done it on the ground; the explosion would've destroyed the ship, the colonists, her lover, some of her friends, and a good portion of the crowd. She was not the same woman, the same Tamaranean, she had been when she first came to this world.

But she wasted no more thought on it. The others caught up as the explosion faded. No words were wasted in recrimination, not even by Guy; they simply let her into the bubble and continued into space.

Raven slowly began to stir in Troia's arms. “Azar, my head aches.”

“Glad to see you with us,” Troia smiled. Scarlet Wing brought Kid Flash down to her.

Raven smiled sleepily at him, then her expression changed. “Did those in the ship survive?”

“All of them. A few broken bones,” Kid Flash reassured her. “We're heading into space now, after the attackers. Starfire thinks it's the Citadel again.

Raven closed her eyes and searched. “Yes....it is....but.....oh no. No! Starfire....it is your sister! She has returned!”

“But....but she died last time....” Starfire stared at her.

“Apparently not,” Raven sighed. “Blackfire lives.”

(Blackfire was last seen in Teen Titans Annual #1.)

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-7-

Blackfire stared at the curve of the Earth. She had suffered much for her previous failure. The Citadel had....punished her. Terribly. It reminded her of her suffering at the hands of the Psions.

Once her punishment had ended, the Citadel had given her a new ship and the same mission as before, but now killing Starfire had top priority. Blackfire was all too eager to follow that instruction to the letter, as she blamed Starfire for everything that had been done for her.

“That is a bubble of Oan energy approaching,” one of her Gordanian underlings reported. “Koriand'r and her allies are within.”

“A Lantern? So much the better.” Blackfire grinned like wolf. “The Citadel has no love lost for those sanctimonious ring slingers, either.”

There were mutters of agreement from her Gordanian crew at that. Green Lanterns were always interfering in Citadel business.

“Do not attack....yet. They have taken the bait; let us lure them away from any possible help. Set coordinates for...hmm....the ringed gas giant of the system.”

“Is it not better to eliminate them immediately?” one of her Gordanian underlings asked uncertainly.

Blackfire turned and studied him with seeming a seemingly casual air. “Did you say something?”

The Gordanian didn't take the hint. “If our priority is to elim--”

Blackfire cut him off with a fatal starbolt to the head. “Idiot.” She looked around the bridge. “Any other questions? No? Then set course for the X'hal-damned ringed gas giant!”

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-8-

“No!” Starfire shouted in rage as the Citadel ship sped away. “She won't get away this time!”

“It's obviously a trap,” Cyborg said.

“We cannot let her go!” Starfire raged.

“The redhead's right,” Guy Gardner said. “We don't go for it, they'll just come back and attack at their leisure.”

Nightwing nodded slowly. “It is a trap. So what do you do with a trap, when you know it's there?” He looked around the group.

Troia slowly smiled back. “Spring the trap!”

“Please, no more Star Wars references,” Beast Boy sighed.

“Enough talk, let us go!” Starfire shouted.

“On our way,” Guy agreed, and their green bubble shot off after the Citadel ship.

To be continued....


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