Terra #2 (of 5)

[arcalian]

Terra #2
Story by Jay McIntyre
Art by ~r-i-p-p-l-e
Logo and dressing by Steven Howard

[/i][/center]


How shall I speak of Doom, and ours in special, But as of something altogether common?
Donald Justice


“The joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears: they cannot utter the one, nor will they utter the other”
Francis Bacon, Sr.


This issue takes place before the events of Teen Titans #60

[arcalian]

-1-

Somewhere over the Atlantic, Now....

The Titans hadn't allowed use of the T-Jet for this, but that was no trouble. There was more than enough money to charter a private jet for Tara and Gar. Getting a specific flight path for landing clearance near the Doom Patrol castle headquarters was tougher. Ironically, it wasn't that far from Markovia. All the same, Tara was glad they didn't have to stop over there. Whatever the fine folk in the Markovian ethnic restaurant had said, she still did not feel at home there. She doubted she ever would.

They had packed their costumes and gone in their secret identities. Tara had picked out somewhat tame clothes for herself; A purple silk dress shirt and a black skirt down to her knees. She packed several more changes of clothing, but probably would wear her costume as much as possible once they reached the castle. At least that way she could get away with showing off her legs without anyone finding it scandalous or odd.

Normally Tara didn't give a fat damn what other people thought of her. Of course, “normally” didn't cover meeting her lover's foster parents. She didn't get the impression that they could forbid Gar to see her, or that he would listen to them if they tried; but nevertheless Gar wanted her to meet them.

She was not the kind of girl you took home to mother. Yet that was exactly what she had let Gar convince her to do. The prospect unsettled her more than slightly.

On the plane, they chattered about a number of things, including baseball. Since coming to America, Tara had developed a spectator's interest in the sport, but her and Gar differed on which New York team to support. He favored the one that had bought far too many championships, while she cherished the one that had earned it's pair of titles.

But quickly she forgot such things and stared out at the horizon, into the deepening twilight which even their fast plane could not outrace, as they flew eastward.

Going to meet the Doom Patrol wasn't quite like going to Markovia. But Markovia was a known quantity. It wasn't scary, just hateful.

Going to meet Gar's foster parents....that was terrifying.

[arcalian]

-2-

Italy, four years and four months ago...

Terra planted hands on hips, not sure what to make of this. “You want me to join your gang.”

“It's your choice entirely, of course.” Geomancer spread his hands wide. “If you don't like the setup, we can part ways.”

Terra frowned. She was new to the game and it must be obvious to these pros. They were moving in on her because they could smell her inexperience. And both of them gave her the creeps, especially Smolder. But they were right; she needed to learn the ropes.

“Let's call it a trial run,” Terra said. “See how things go. I reserve the right to leave at any time.”

“Clever girl,” Geomancer said approvingly. “Of course, we agree to your terms. Come with us, if you will.”

They led her to a warehouse at the edge of the city of Torino. She wasn't very impressed, and said so.

“That's the idea cutie,” Smolder said. Terra bristled, but held her tongue.

She understood what he meant a moment later, when Geomancer knocked on three separate parts of a wall, which opened onto a stairway leading down into darkness.

“Surely this isn't sustainable?” she asked as they led her into the depths.

“We don't spend all our time here,” Geomancer said. “We tend to move around, like you were already doing. Most smart villains operate this way, save the very rich. But so long as we don't go to the well too often, we can relax here as we please.”

“And split the loot,” Smolder added. “And other recreational activities. It'll be nice to have another girl around the place.

Terra brightened at that, knowing she wouldn't be totally outnumbered by men. She could've endured a boy's club, but would rather not. The deeper sexual implications of their statements went over her head, for now.

Downstairs it was much nicer; still messy, but cozily appointed. A common room with black leather couches; doorways leading off into darkness that she presumed was other rooms. There was odd mood lighting; all the bulbs were blue. She wrinkled her nose at that; suspecting that Geomancer was trying some psychological trick. That worried her; but she wasn't ready to back out just yet.

“Ah, you're both here,” Geomancer said, speaking to the two other villains lounging in the room, “Good. Meet our potential new member, Terra.”

“Hey kiddo. I'm Carom,” said a man sprawled across one couch, in a mild French accent. Though it was hard to tell in the blue light, Terra thought he had red hair, and wore purple and yellow bodysuit. Then again she wasn't sure if the purple was actually a costume or his skin.

“He's a super speedster, believe it or not,” Geomancer said. “He just needs something to motivate him, like money. And that is Harpi. With an i at the end.”

“Don't look ugly to me,” Terra said.

“Thanks,” Harpi answered. She had black hair, glittering blue eyes,and a skimpy black costume that seemed to flow into a loose cape on her back. “It's more about being tough.”

“She can fly,” said Smolder. “And rip you with her claws. And blast you with force bolts.”

“So you've found another Earthshaker, eh Geomancer?” Harpi raised an eyebrow. “Isn't that redundant?”

“I'll teach her everything I know,” Geomancer said. “We'll all help her.”

Smolder laughed at that again, and Terra wasn't exactly sure why. But she was sure that they weren't 'helping' her out of the goodness of their hearts.

“So, what do you guys wanna do here, take over the world, or something?” She looked around at them uncertainly.

“Not at all, kiddo,” Carom assured her. “We just wanna make lots of money.”

“Basically, we're doing what you were already doing; we're just more careful and organized about it,” Geomancer said. “No team name, that draws attention. We don't want to fight heroes, if we can help it; and if we do, we wanna get away as quickly as possible, and with as much money as possible.”

“And we can teach you how to do that,” Smolder said. “Amongst other things. And as you learn you'll also help us.”

Terra looked around. She was nervous, uncertain, yes....but also excited.

“Okay,” she said. “We'll see how it goes.”

“Smoke?” Harpi asked.

She was curious; she'd tried marijuana with one of the castle servants once, but hadn't like it. A regular cigarette though, that was another matter.

Harpi lit it up for her and she inhaled. She coughed and sputtered a little, but only a little. Harpi nodded approvingly. Her next lungful went down much easier.

She blew it out and said, “Cool!”

[arcalian]

-3-

Doom Patrol headquarters, now.....

When they got off the plane after fitful sleep, there had been a short train ride to where a limousine was waiting. Not for the first time Terra wondered why they hadn't come over in their costumed identities, and just flown up. Not only would it have been easier, but also didn't put their identities at risk. After all, they had been found out once already.

As the Titans had done so many times before, Gar reassured her that most people wouldn't notice. Besides, he didn't really have a secret identity; between his green skin and his acting career, everyone knew that Garfield Logan was Beast Boy (but he was still thinking of changing the codename to Changeling, and Tara agreed). Making sure that no one connected his girlfriend Tara Markov to Terra was the issue at hand; and if anything, traveling with her out of costume made that easier. She shrugged; her paranoia from her villain days was showing, she supposed.

At any rate, the limousine was driven by Cliff Steele, the Robot Man. “Hop in kids,” he advised.

Part of Tara bristled at the notion of still being called a kid, but she quieted it almost immediately; if the worst thing any of the Doom Patrol did was call her that, she'd count herself lucky.

They got in.

“Good to meet ya,” Cliff said. “Hear a lot about ya.”

Tara laughed nervously. “Oh right, from when I met Doctor Caulder.”

“Hey, you were messed up by that Black Sun business,” Cliff said. “We all were. Who could blame ya for cussin' up a storm?”

“Niles could,” Gar said.

"And of course Gar loves ya," Cliff pointed out.

Tara was, if anything, more unsettled than ever. So she just smiled and put her head on Gar's shoulder.

They arrived shortly after sunrise, international travel being what it was. Which also explained why Cliff had been the one sent to fetch them.

The castle was not very like Markovia's royal palace. Set high up in the mountains, it looked more like something out of a thirties horror film. All that was missing were the storm clouds and lightning. But it was a bright, cold clear morning, the sky still somewhat rosy. Tara and Gar groggily shook themselves off.

Doctor Caulder was nevertheless up early to greet them. “Welcome, Princess Markov. I hope you will be on better behavior this time?”

“That was the plan,” she agreed, trying not to sound too haughty about it.

“Good. The others are just arising. Come inside, would you.....”

[arcalian]

-4-

Italy, four years, three months and two weeks ago...

Carom rocketed off a wall ahead of Terra and slammed into a bank guard, knocking him down. Harpi shrieked overhead and pounced on another hapless guard, tearing into him with her claws.

Smolder was out front, ready to take out any actual police that arrived. And they would; already Terra knew that sooner or later the cops would show up.

In the two weeks that she had been doing this, her opinion of the team had drastically changed for the better. They knew their stuff!

She and Geomancer moved in sync, timing their powers to act together, trapping a pair of tellers who though themselves safe behind their bars. He had already taught her a lot about how to use her powers more effectively.

Carom was lazy, and Harpi was bitchy; Smolder was creepy, and Geomancer was calculating. She didn't care anymore. She fit right in. She didn't feel accepted by them, exactly; but she did feel like they appreciated her skills and wouldn't judge her. It was enough. And as for their personalities, she would readily admit, at least to herself, that she wasn't exactly Miss Congeniality either. But she didn't care, and neither did they.

Carom grabbed most of the loot; with his speed, that only made sense. The others made sure he didn't take more than his share of the cut. Mostly it was Harpi that kept an eye on him, but they all helped, including Terra.

There was a rattle of machine pistols outside. Terra frowned; that didn't sound like cops, or even Italian army, which she'd never fought yet, but the team had once.

Outside, Smolder was ducking and diving behind parked cars, occasionally lashing out with his flaming whip. “Little help here!” she shouted back.

It wasn't cops, or army. Nor ordinary thugs. There were six of them, dressed simply but well. They almost looked like thugs, but the well maintained cars they spilled out of spoke otherwise.

“La Cosa Nostra,” Geomancer said, with some small measure of respect. “The real Mafia.”

A bullet zipped over Terra's head, and she put up a shield wall. “Competition,” she said simply.

Geomancer looked at her with approval. “Let's take them out.”

“Yeah.”

As one, they pounded fists into the ground. The cars vanished into the new hole in the street, and the men fell in, shouting in surprise.

Only one clung to the edge, trying to pull himself up. Smolder's flaming whip cracked into his face, and he fell back, screaming.

“Get the others out here,” Geomancer said to Smolder. “If the mob's onto us, we'll have to relocate. Maybe out of Italy entirely.”

But as Smolder nodded and went inside, Terra protested. “We can take em!”

Geomancer fixed those cold eyes on her. “At first, yes. Perhaps for weeks. But sooner or later they'll bring in their big guns, or hire supers to fight us. Or the fighting will bring heroes down on us. Or both at once.”

Terra hissed through her teeth in frustration, but she understood. “And that's when the party would be over.”

Geomancer smiled, but his eyes remained cold. “Exactly. Now, escape plan B.”

Terra nodded, hopped on a rock and flew away, not waiting for the others. That was the drill. Geomancer himself would only hang around long enough to give the order, then flee himself.

[arcalian]

-5-

Doom Patrol headquarters, now....

This was the moment Tara had dreaded the most.

Elasti-Girl and and Mento.

Rita Farr and Steve Dayton.

Gar's foster mother and father.

Rita smiled and took her hand. “Hello, Tara.”

“Um,” she smiled weakly. “Hi.”

Steve nodded amiably from under his Mento helmet. “Hello there. Nice to meet you. Hope you and Gar are happy together.”

“We are,” Gar assured him.

“I'm lucky to have him,” Tara agreed.

Robot Man and the heavily bandaged Negative Man were talking over something in the background. Tara didn't know what to make of either of them, especially Negative Man.

Caulder came rolling up on his wheelchair. “I trust you will assist us in any action that comes up.”

“Still trying to recruit her, eh?” Gar grinned.

Caulder's mouth thinned into a line. “I am sure both of you will return to New York soon enough. But this has always been a place for outcasts, and that has not changed.”

“To answer your question,” Tara cut in, “That's why I wanted to wear my uniform over.”

“You can change quickly enough, should that be required. In the meantime,enjoy the day.” He wheeled away.

Tara turned back to Rita and Steve. She struggled to put on the royal manners of her childhood, that she had never really assimilated. “Er....you probably know a lot about my personal history, then.”

“We have spoken to Prince Brion in passing,” Rita said, “And once dealt with a trans dimensional rift near Markovia's border. We do have some knowledge of your history.”

“Oh, great.” Tara buried her face in her hands.

“We also know the story of how you joined the Titans,” Steve said.

“So this is the part where you tell Gar to stop dating me, right?” Terra spoke this into her hands, not daring to look up.

For a moment there was silence, then laughter.

“Look around you Tara,” Rita invited. Tara did, looking around at them all.

“We are the geeks and freaks,” said Cliff.

“We are the outcasts,” said Larry, the Negative Man.

“We've always welcomed outsiders, because that's what we are. You and Gar are a better match than you might suppose.” Rita was smiling openly.

Tara considered this. “I did compare Gar's time with you to mine with the Suicide Squad once,” she said, carefully.

“Except that was a sentence. Here you are welcome.” Steve seemed a little more lucid than usual.

“Wait....so it's not just the Chief trying to get Tara to join, is it?”Gar said.

Rita shook her head. “Not as such. But you are still one of us, even though you are a Titan. By the same logic, Tara is welcome here.”

“Any of them would be welcome here,” Cliff said. “Cyborg and the Vampire particularly. But Tara as well. And not just because you're with Gar, either.”

“I think the Chief is most interested in that new girl, the one with wings from an alternate dimension.” Rita sat back, looking at Gar and Tara. “But the point stands.”

Tara relaxed into Gar's arms. “I.....thanks. It seems I had nothing to worry about.”

“Told ya,” Gar said.

[arcalian]

-6-

She suited up and went out with the Doom Patrol that day, but nothing much happened. Just one minor issue with a thief....who could use paintings of locations to teleport himself there. Just walk right through. It was Negative Man who did most of the work, she was just support.

Gar was glad to be with them again, though. So much was obvious. She had fun herself, she had to admit.

That evening, they had returned to the castle and she had taken the costume off. Had, in fact, dressed in her favorite nightgown, the purple one she had hooked Gar with.

There was a small kitchen, probably left over from the days that this had been a proper castle with servants, just around the corner from their room. She stepped around the corner, hoping for some tea.

And froze.

“Hello Tara,” Rita said. “I was hoping we could talk more privately.”

Of course, Tara thought. I would have to let my guard down and put this on, and then go wandering from our room. What the hell was I thinking?!

Aloud she said, “Uh. Hi. I guess I picked the wrong outfit, huh?”

“My dear,” Rita laughed, “That's why I didn't want to come knocking on your door, in case I interrupted anything.”

“You mean you don't....” Tara faltered. “Mind?”

Rita sighed. “Gar isn't the only one who spent time in Hollywood. I did, too. I saw what kind of antics they get up to. What kind of lifestyles. I know you don't want to talk about it, and that's fine. I wouldn't judge you for that.”

Tara relaxed, but only partially. “What, then?”

Rita locked eyes with her. “Tell me the truth; do you love him?”

So here it was, just not in the way she had expected. “I...I've not had much experience of love in the sense that you mean it,” she said, finally. “Back in the Castle, only Brion loved me, and I've never been with a man who actually cared about me before. But to answer your question....if this ain't love, it's as close to it as I've ever been, and I don't want to throw it away.”

Rita nodded, smiling. “Good.”

Distantly they both heard shouting. Steve and the Chief.

Tara frowned. “What's that about?”

Rita sighed. “Steve tried to make a deal with the Brain, a while back. He backed out before it got too far, but the Chief has never forgiven him.”

“Have you?” Tara asked.

“Yes, if only because the Chief has no room to talk about underhanded dealings.”

“That's....kinda part of why I don't really wanna join,” Tara said. “No offense.”

Rita nodded. “That's also the reason why Gar doesn't visit more often, I think.”

Tara took the older woman's hand for a moment, then went to get her tea.

[arcalian]

-7-

Belarus, four years, three months and one week ago....

They had settled into a new safe house relatively quickly, once they had crossed the continent to get here. It was not nearly as well appointed as their Italian hideout, but the others were clearly familiar with it. Tara realized that this rotation was a regular part of the gang's cycle, in order to ensure that they didn't get caught.

Her own room in this place was dingier; but it had a bean bag chair that she rather liked. She thought she'd keep it, or buy a new one next time they moved. She liked how they felt; comfortable and deep. Relaxing.

There was a knock on the door, then Geomancer pushed it open.

“Sure, come on in,” Terra said sarcastically, but she knew he could tell she wasn't really annoyed. She took her mask off, revealing Tara Markov's face, and rubbed her temples. “Gonna hit another place soon?”

“Soon,” Geomancer agreed. “Probably a nice jewelry store. But tonight I've something else in mind.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

He moved closer. “Surely you and Harpi have talked about it by now.”

“Oh, you wanna seduce me, huh?” She laughed. “Not very subtle there, 'Mancer.”

“I think you'd prefer the direct approach.” He sat next to her, intruding on her personal space. She didn't object. He went on, “And I think you're curious.”

She considered. She was curious, no doubt about that. She'd hit puberty some time ago, not long after she'd fled Markovia, in fact. She'd wondered if gaining her powers had helped to trigger it. So yes, there was desire in her. But it wasn't fixated on any particular man. Geomancer had helped her, sure. Taught her things. Not out of the goodness of his heart, but she could understand that; it was, at that point in her life, the only kind of motivation she did understand.

She'd seen his unmasked face before, and he was attractive enough; brown hair, chiseled jawline. Only his cold eyes were disturbing.

“Tell me your name,” she said. “Your first name, anyway.”

“Matt,” he responded easily.

She wondered if it was a lie. Then decided she was willing to take the risk anyway. He had peaked her curiosity, and her body was also expressing her own kind of interest. “Tell you what,” she said. “Go slow. Don't rush me.”

He kissed her, and she responded, wrapping her arms around him.

He broke the kiss and looked down into her eyes. “You can decide the pace. I'll let you be on top. How's that?”

Now she was excited. “Sounds good,” she agreed.

He started to pull her uniform off, and she helped him, then she removed his own outfit, tearing at it with her fingernails. He was amused rather than annoyed; he had more.

He sat on the beanbag chair and grinned up at her.

[arcalian]

-8-

As the night progressed, Smolder and Harpi came to the door and listened to the antics going on inside.

“Sounds like he found a live one,” Harpi snickered. “Knew she had it in her.”

“He saw it too,” Smolder agreed. “That's one of the reasons he picked her, and had you talk to her.”

“About time the little brat let her hair down,” Harpi said, eyes glittering.

“This is just the beginning.” Smolder grinned his creepy grin. “Let's follow their lead, shall we?”

The two walked away, arm in arm, as the passionate noises from within the room grew louder.

Continued.....

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