7 months later - Department of Defense - Washington D.C.
The analyst's fingers flew across his keyboard as he refined the readings on his monitor. After three alien invasions, the D.O.D.'s Earth monitoring network had been significantly upgraded, but some signatures still required human intuition to properly identify.
"General Hammond," he called, his voice steady despite his growing concern. "I'm tracking an unknown object entering our solar system. It's moving at incredible speed."
General Hammond approached the workstation. "Details, Sergeant Collins."
"The object appeared beyond Jupiter's orbit approximately seventeen minutes ago," Collins reported, pulling up trajectory calculations. "It's small—almost missed it entirely. Trajectory analysis confirms it's headed directly for Earth. ETA approximately three hours."
Hammond studied the data with narrowed eyes. "Single craft? No escort or accompanying vessels?"
"Affirmative, sir. Based on the size profile, it appears to be a one-person vehicle or small craft. Definitely not a fleet or invasion force."
"Interesting," Hammond murmured. "Put it on the main screen and direct our nearest satellites to get visual confirmation as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir." Collins transferred the data to the command center's primary display, where red tracking lines marked the object's rapid approach toward Earth.
Lieutenant Lucy Lane stepped forward, clipboard in hand. "General, shouldn't we alert General Swanwick and my father? Protocol states that all potential extraterrestrial contacts should be—"
Hammond turned to face her, his expression firm. "Lieutenant Lane, at this stage we have an unidentified blip on our screens. We don't have visual confirmation, trajectory certainty, or any actionable intelligence. What exactly would you have me tell the head of the Department of Defense?"
Lucy straightened. "I... understand, sir. My apologies."
Hammond's expression softened slightly. "Your dedication is commendable, Lieutenant. I know you requested this assignment after what happened in Metropolis, and your father speaks highly of your potential. But military leadership requires measured responses, especially in cases with extraterrestrials. We gather information, assess threats, then act decisively—in that order."
"Yes, General," Lucy responded with a crisp salute.
"Good." Hammond nodded approvingly. "Now, let's see what we're dealing with."
The main screen flickered as satellite imagery began streaming in. The computer system automatically enhanced the visual data, gradually resolving the approaching object into a clearer image.
A stunned silence fell over the command center as the image came into focus.
"Is that..." Hammond began, leaning forward in disbelief.
"A motorcycle?" Lucy finished, her composure momentarily faltered. "In space?"
The image showed what appeared to be a pale-skinned humanoid figure astride what could only be described as a heavily modified space motorcycle, complete with massive exhaust pipes trailing energy as it hurtled through space.
"Someone get me a higher resolution," Hammond ordered, his voice serious as he narrowed his eyes observing the image of the alien biker. "And start running facial recognition against our extraterrestrial database. Something tells me this isn't a friendly visit."
Jump City — En route to Titan's Tower Construction Site
After months of planning, the Teen Titans were finally seeing their headquarters take shape. With Bruce Wayne's generous funding, Dick Grayson had taken the lead on a project that would give the team something they'd been craving—a base that was truly their own. While Wayne Manor in Jump City had been a comfortable temporary home, everyone felt ready for a space that signaled their independence from their mentors.
The tower would function much like the Justice League's Hall of Justice—part command center, part home. Thanks to Wayne Tech's resources, construction was progressing rapidly, with the team expected to move in within a few months.
Each Titan had been diligently following the personalized training program Orach had created for them. Their communicators had received mysterious updates containing training regimens specifically tailored to their unique abilities—each exercise unlocking more advanced challenges upon completion.
Dick, Kori, Roy, Gar, Jaime, Donna, M'gann, and Karen—the core team—had woven these exercises into their daily lives despite their busy schedules.
Even Barbara, Kara, and Rachel, who were more focused on their university studies, dedicated significant time to their specialized training programs.
While everyone found the training challenging, Kori, Donna, M'gann, and Barbara adapted faster due to their previous experience. Rachel, having been raised as a cultivator by her father Orach, was in a league of her own with training that matched her advanced abilities. Kara, though newer to cultivation, had made remarkable progress through her training with Diana and Rachel aboard the Void Sentinel, pushing her nearly to Rachel's basic level of training.
Months of consistent training had yielded noticeable improvements for everyone—greater stamina, enhanced strength, and sharper combat skills—motivating them to push even harder.
The team had also welcomed new members. Virgil Hawkins from Detroit, known as Static, had initially joined as a provisional member. Under the Titans' mentorship, he'd gained the confidence to effectively handle the growing "bang baby" problem in his hometown. His friend Richie provided tech support, having learned the ropes as a field partner from the team.
Richie's natural technical genius and sharp intellect quickly caught everyone's attention. What started as occasional visits soon turned into regular weekend appearances. Their position within the team was cemented when Orach, after hearing about them during dinner with Diana and Rachel, created specialized training programs just for them.
Once they recovered from the shock of being noticed by a Higher Realm being, both friends threw themselves into their training. Impressed by their dedication, the Titans officially welcomed them as full members.
Today, the entire team had gathered to visit the construction site. As they pulled up in two cars, their future headquarters came into view. While most of the team buzzed with excitement, Rachel, Barbara, and Kara—who'd taken time away from their studies for this visit—could only stare in disbelief.
"Um, guys?" Barbara leaned forward in the backseat, squinting through the windshield. "Please tell me that's not what I think it is."
Rachel followed her gaze and let out a long sigh. "If you think it's a giant letter T standing on an island, then unfortunately, your eyes aren't deceiving you."
Barbara slumped back against her seat. "Great. I was hoping it was just my imagination."
"Hold up," Kara said, raising an eyebrow as she examined the structure. "Just to be clear—normal Earth buildings don't typically come in alphabet form, right? I've been here for months and haven't seen a single skyscraper shaped like a letter until now."
"No," Rachel said with a sigh. "Normal buildings aren't shaped like giant letters. Sure, there are eccentric people with weird architectural preferences, but I didn't realize we had one leading our team." She leaned forward between the front seats. "Donna, Karen, please tell me you two tried to stop this."
"Are you kidding? I fought against it!" Karen exclaimed.
"I voted no three separate times!" Donna added simultaneously.
The two exchanged a look of shared frustration.
"We tried," Donna explained, glancing back with an apologetic smile. "But with you three focused on school, we were outnumbered."
"It was Dick's brainchild," Karen said as she steered the car behind Dick's. "Roy backed him up because they're practically joined at the hip, and Kori supported it because..."
"Because she's dating him," Rachel finished, crossing her arms.
"Exactly. And Jaime and Gar?" Karen rolled her eyes. "They kept saying how 'awesome' and 'totally rad' it would be."
Barbara pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm going to kill him. Slowly."
"I'll help you," Rachel added with a dangerous glint in her eye. The two women exchanged a meaningful look and nodded in silent agreement. Donna and Karen shared knowing smirks, silently pitying Dick's fate. Everyone on the team knew better than to cross Barbara or Rachel—when those two got angry, they had a particular talent for making your life miserable in ways you'd never see coming.
Kara watched the whole exchange with growing amusement, leaning back with her arms crossed.
"Well, this should be fun," she murmured to herself, a smile tugging at her lips. "I should've brought snacks."
The cars rolled to a stop at the construction site, and the team piled out one by one. Dick, his sports jacket and light blue polo giving him a polished look, strode confidently to the front with Kori at his side, her bright yellow v-neck and blue denim shorts contrasting with the industrial surroundings. They both gazed up at the massive T-shaped structure looming before them.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Dick announced with flair, "I give you... Titans Tower!" He gestured proudly at the building. "What do you think?"
Barbara looked up at the structure with a deadpan expression. "It's certainly... distinctive."
"Dude!" Garfield bounded around enthusiastically, taking in the structure. "This is even cooler than those blueprints you showed us!"
Donna crossed her arms with a frown. "We really should have gone with something less obvious."
Dick motioned to Kori, who handed him the rolled-up blueprints. He spread them out with a flourish. "Give it a chance, guys. While construction isn't finished yet, we can tour the completed sections. Just wait until you see the inside." He gestured to the plans. "We've thought of everything—state-of-the-art training facilities, custom living quarters, advanced labs, medical bay, and plenty of common areas where we can all hang out."
"Damn," Jaime whispered, still taking in the building's scale. "Everyone gets their own space, and we're still right by the city. It's like having our own high-tech fortress."
"You bet it is," Roy said, throwing an arm around Dick's shoulders with a grin. "All thanks to our fearless leader here. Batman might've questioned the design, but he made sure it's built like a tank." He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "And here's the best part—we're getting our own HRE training arena just like the Justice League's. No more commuting for League training sessions."
"I still can't believe we'll finally have our own headquarters!" M'gann clasped her hands together, beaming.
Rachel fixed Dick with a level stare. "Quick question for the brilliant architects behind this design—did anyone consider that a giant 'T' is basically a flashing neon sign announcing 'Titans live here' to every villain with working eyesight? Some of us will actually be sleeping here, unlike the Hall of Justice."
Dick's smile wavered slightly. "We... did talk about that. But we decided that having a symbol that represents who we are was worth the potential risk."
Karen rolled her eyes. "Plus," she added, "someone was adamant that since the Justice League has their fancy Hall, we needed something equally showy."
"Rachel," Kori said softly, resting a hand on her shoulder, "I understand your concern for our safety. But perhaps there is value in being visible to those who need our help? A beacon of hope, as Dick calls it."
Virgil and Richie, who had been hanging back, finally stepped forward to join the group.
"Man, this place is insane," Virgil said, genuine awe in his voice. "Our Detroit setup doesn't even compare to this."
"You said it, V," Richie agreed, adjusting his glasses as he studied the structure with curiosity. "I'd love to see how their systems work. We could learn a ton from this place to upgrade our own setup."
Virgil grinned and bumped his friend's shoulder. "You had me at 'upgrade.'" The two exchanged a quick fist bump, already picturing the improvements they could make to their own headquarters.
Kara, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "There's something to be said for having a recognizable symbol. It can inspire people—give them something to believe in." She eyed the T-shaped tower with a hint of amusement. "Though on Krypton, our architectural statements were considerably more... subtle."
Rachel opened her mouth to argue further, but Barbara squeezed her shoulder gently. When Rachel turned, she met Barbara's subtle head shake. Both women exchanged knowing glances and sighed, accepting defeat—at least for now.
"So, fearless leader," Barbara said with an arched eyebrow, "since we're apparently committed to this giant letter of the alphabet, you do realize what this means, right?"
Dick wilted under their combined stares. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again, but no words came out. Finally, his shoulders slumped in defeat and he nodded. There was no point arguing—he'd won the battle for his T-shaped tower and had sneakily gotten his way with the designs they didn't agree with, but the look in their eyes told him he'd be paying for it in countless small ways for months to come.
"Good," Barbara said with satisfaction. "Now that we understand each other, please tell me the security system is at least less conspicuous than the building itself."
Dick brightened, but before he could respond, Rachel's terminal lit up with an urgent alert that instantly captured everyone's attention.
Alert: Unidentified spacecraft breaching Earth's atmosphere. Estimated impact vector: directly toward your current position.
"Mother Empress," Rachel called out, her expression turning solemn, "what's happening?"
"Princess, Earth has an unexpected visitor. The craft has begun descent and is on a direct course to your position," came Mother Empress's calm reply from the terminal.
Rachel looked skyward along with the others. Within moments, they spotted a small fiery dot rapidly growing larger as it plummeted toward them.
"You've got to be kidding me," Garfield groaned.
"Seriously? Right now?" Roy exclaimed, already dashing towards the car to grab his bow.
"Just perfect," Jaime muttered as his armor flowed over his body, preparing for combat.
"V man..." Richie whispered, eyeing the approaching threat nervously.
"Get to safety, Richie," Virgil said, pulling his mask over his face as electricity began dancing between his fingertips. "I've got this covered."
"Don't have to ask me twice," Richie replied, already backing away. "Just watch yourself out there." He turned and sprinted toward the nearest cover.
"One day off. Is that too much to ask?" Karen sighed as she removed her jacket and her wings deployed with a soft mechanical hum. She headed toward the cars to retrieve the rest of her suit.
"So much for downtime," Barbara muttered, her fingers already reaching for the concealed utility belt beneath her clothes as she removed a temporary mask.
"And things were just getting interesting," Kara remarked, her expression shifting from amusement to focused readiness as she removed her perception filter glasses and tapped her clothes. In an instant, her battle suit activated and her clothes morphed into her combat gear, her cape billowing behind her.
"Let's not jump to conclusions," M'gann cautioned, raising her hands as her casual clothes morphed into her mission gear. "It could be friendly."
"With our track record?" Donna replied grimly, shifting into a combat stance. "Doubtful."
"Donna's right. We rarely get the friendly kind," Rachel agreed as her clothes transformed into her battle suit. "Mother Empress, any additional information?"
"Princess, Void Sentinel detects a single male humanoid on what appears to be a custom void runner," the AI responded. "Threat assessment: low. However, Crescent has requested you secure both the craft and its pilot if hostile."
"Crescent? Why would he be interested in this?" Rachel asked, brow furrowing.
Before Mother Empress could answer, the fiery object suddenly slowed to a halt mid-air. The flames dissipated, revealing a pale-skinned figure on what appeared to be a space motorcycle. The rider's crimson eyes swept over the assembled heroes, lingering briefly on Kara before settling on Kori.
Standing on his bike, the newcomer casually lit what looked like a cigar and took his time surveying the Titans below. After blowing out a cloud of smoke, he jumped down, landing with a thud that cracked the ground beneath his boots. His pale white skin was covered in intricate tattoos, and his bulging muscles strained against a worn leather vest. Chains clinked at his belt as he towered over most of the group, the cigar clamped between his teeth.
"Well, well, well," the stranger said, removing the cigar and tapping ash onto the ground. "The Main Man's hunt is finally over. You've led me on quite the chase, Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran."
The Titans tensed immediately, forming a protective formation around Kori, as they realized who his target was.
Kori's eyes narrowed as energy coalesced around her clenched fists. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"Name's Lobo," he answered with a predatory grin, his eyes locked on her. "Last Czarnian alive and the greatest bounty hunter in the universe." He pointed his cigar directly at Kori. "And I'm here for you, princess. Got a hefty contract from those scaly bastards—the Psions. They're paying top credit for your capture."
Dick stepped between Kori and Lobo, his stance protective. "That's not happening. She's under our protection."
Lobo raised an eyebrow at this, then threw his head back and laughed. "Would you look at this—the puny human thinks he gets a say." His expression darkened the next instant as he focused again on Kori. "You know, princess, I've heard plenty about your sister—the mighty Empress of Tamaran. They say you two share only one thing."
"And what might that be?" Kori asked, her voice calm.
"Your warrior's spirit," Lobo said with mock sincerity before his facade cracked into a cruel grin. "Nah, just kidding. It's that smokin' hot body. Beyond that? Word is you're nothing like her—just a soft, weak disappointment who couldn't cut it on Tamaran. No wonder she had you exiled and sold to those Psion freaks."
The air around Kori shimmered with heat as her starbolts intensified. "You know nothing about me or my world."
"Choose your next words carefully," Donna warned, her muscles tensed and ready to spring into action.
Lobo's grin only widened as he cracked his knuckles. "Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?" he mocked, laughing with obvious contempt for them.
Dick exchanged a swift glance with his team before giving a single, decisive nod. "Titans, together!"
The response was immediate and coordinated—Kori's starbolts, Karens stinger blasts, Jaime's energy blasts, Kara's heat vision, and Rachel's dark magic blast all converged on Lobo simultaneously, creating a devastating explosion that shook the ground beneath them.
Dust and debris billowed outward, momentarily obscuring their view. For several heartbeats, there was complete silence.
Hahahahaha
Then a delighted laugh pierced through the haze. "NOW we're talking!" Lobo emerged from the smoke, his clothes singed but his body unmarked. He rolled his shoulders casually. "Finally, people who know how to greet someone properly!"
In one fluid motion, he reached behind his back and pulled out a massive hook attached to a chain. "My turn."
The chain whipped forward with great speed, forcing the Titans to scatter. Donna intercepted it mid-flight with her bracers, giving the others time to reposition and attack again. The impact drove her backward several feet as she dug in her heels.
"You're coming with me one way or another, princess. These friends of yours can't save you. The Psions want you bad," Lobo called out to Kori, while yanking the chain and nearly pulling Donna off-balance. "Seems they've got unfinished experiments they're dying to continue—something about your unique biology."
Kori visibly paled at the mention of the Psions, a flash of genuine terror crossing her features before she steeled herself. "I will never be their prisoner."
"Not up to you, sweetheart," Lobo replied, effortlessly dodging Blue Beetle's sonic blast. "A contract's a contract, and the Main Man always delivers."
Donna, still grappling with the chain, pulled with all her strength. "You're not taking her anywhere!"
"Feisty!" Lobo, despite being knocked off balance, recovered with surprising agility for someone his size. "I like that in a woman. Might just take you as a personal bonus—keep you for myself. We could have all sorts of fun together."
"Go to hell, you bastard!" Donna snarled through gritted teeth as she yanked harder on the chain, creating openings for others to attack.
While Donna occupied Lobo's attention, Dick signaled silently to Roy and Jaime. They responded instantly—a coordinated barrage of explosive arrows and sonic blasts hammering the bounty hunter from multiple angles.
Kara seized her opening and rocketed forward, delivering a thunderous punch that connected squarely with Lobo's jaw as Donna released the chain. The impact sent the bounty hunter staggering back several steps with a grunt of genuine surprise. For the first time, he actually felt the blow, though he quickly regained his footing.
"Yield," Kara commanded, hovering in the air, her gaze locked on Lobo.
Spitting blood to the side, Lobo's grin widened as he rose to his feet. "Well, look what we have here—an actual, real live Kryptonian. And here I thought your species was extinct when your planet went kaboom." He cracked his neck with a satisfying pop. "Didn't give a shit when I first spotted ya—no bounty, no reason to care. But now?" His eyes lit up with newfound interest. "I'm thinkin' differently. Don't know where all that strength comes from, blondie, but nothing excites the Main Man more than a good fuck and a prey that fights back!" He flexed, veins bulging across his muscles. "Though you're gonna need to punch a whole lot harder to make an impression."
In the next instant, he whistled casually as he hurled two disc-shaped frag grenades toward Richie, who was crouched behind the cars.
Kara's eyes widened. "No!" She abandoned her position, racing to intercept the projectiles.
But before she could reach them, Lobo's space motorcycle blindsided her, slamming into her back with brutal force. The impact sent her plummeting downward, crashing into the ground below in an eruption of dust and debris.
Using the distraction, Lobo moved and launched himself skyward, intercepting Blue Beetle and Bumblebee mid-flight as they moved to attack. Before either could react, he grabbed their heads and smashed them together. The collision produced a sickening crack as both heroes instantly went limp, plummeting unconscious to the ground below.
Before the remaining Titans could react, Lobo twisted in mid-air, drawing an energy weapon from his back that expanded to twice its original size. He took aim and fired at Garfield, who was in the process of transforming.
The energy blast struck Beast Boy directly, disrupting his transformation and reverting him to human form. He collapsed on the ground with a pained groan.
"Beast Boy!" M'gann cried out, rushing to his side.
"Take this!" Virgil shouted, channeling electricity through his entire body before unleashing a powerful lightning blast at Lobo.
Lobo however, simply stood there, letting the electricity wash over him. When the light faded, he remained completely unharmed, roaring with laughter. "HAHAHA! That tickled! Do it again!"
Without waiting for a response, Lobo charged toward Virgil with frightening speed.
"What the—" Virgil barely had time to react before Lobo's massive fist connected, sending him crashing through nearby scaffolding with a sickening crack as his arm twisted unnaturally.
Rachel's expression hardened as she watched her friends fall one by one. "Enough." Her voice resonated with power as she tapped into her inner realm. Dark Ki pulsed around her, the ground beneath her feet cracking and splintering as shadowy tendrils expanded outward toward Lobo with crushing force.
Sensing the genuine threat, Lobo's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected anyone on this planet to pose actual danger. His survival instincts kicked in, prompting him to swiftly change tactics. With frightening speed, he lunged past Donna—who was closing in to strike—and the others, grabbing Dick before anyone could intervene. In one fluid motion, he pressed a wicked-looking blade against Dick's throat, freezing everyone in their tracks.
"Now here's how this is gonna work," Lobo snarled, pressing the blade just enough to draw a thin line of blood. "Princess gets on my bike voluntarily, or your boy here becomes significantly shorter."
Kori froze, her energy flickering uncertainly as her eyes darted between Dick and Lobo.
"Don't do it, Starfire," Dick managed through gritted teeth, despite the blade at his throat. "He'll just kill me anyway."
Lobo applied slightly more pressure. "Maybe, maybe not. But I guarantee he dies right now if you don't cooperate."
Rachel and Kara exchanged a look, both preparing to strike, but Lobo caught the movement.
"Don't even think about it, you two," he warned, pressing the blade deeper. "Even with your speed, Kryptonian, I'll slice through his jugular before you reach me. And you, scary witch-girl, whatever dark mojo you're cooking up—don't. Not unless you want to see how quickly a human can bleed out."
The tense standoff held for several heartbeats before Kori lowered her hands, her starbolts fading.
"Stop," she said, quietly. "I will go with you. Just... do not harm him."
"Starfire, no!" Dick struggled against Lobo's iron grip.
"Smart choice, princess," Lobo said, his red eyes gleaming with triumph. "Now come here, nice and slow."
With each step Kori took toward them, the Titans watched helplessly in growing desperation. Rachel's mind raced through possible scenarios, each ending with either Dick or Kori seriously injured—or worse. Though she hated the situation, she knew she needed to bide her time and wait for the right moment to act.
As Kori came within arm's reach, Lobo's grin turned predatory. With his free hand, he suddenly reached out and ripped Kori's top, exposing her bare chest to everyone present.
"Starfire!"
"You bastard!"
Amid the angry shouts of the Titans, Kori gasped, instinctively moving to cover herself.
"Ah-ah-ah! Hands at your sides, princess!" Lobo warned, his eyes locking with hers. "Don't hide the merchandise. Let me see what I'm delivering. After all, what kind of professional would I be if I didn't inspect the goods before delivery?"
Hearing him, Kori paused, gritting her teeth and lowered her hands to her sides. Lobo whistled lewdly, his gaze brazenly roaming over her exposed chest.
Dick's face contorted with rage as he renewed his struggles. "You sick bastard!"
"Careful, pretty boy," Lobo warned, pressing the blade tighter against Dick's throat. "You're still breathing only because I allow it."
"Now, princess, where were we? Ah, yes—inspection." Returning to ogling Kori's breasts, he took his time savoring the sight.
"Hot damn! The Psions got good taste." His free hand shot out once more, roughly grabbing and squeezing one of her breasts while the Titans watched, shocked and helpless with fury.
"Nice and firm. Definitely a prime specimen," he grunted, pinching and twisting her nipple between his fingers as Kori bit her lip, suppressing a cry.
"Almost seems a waste handing you over to those scaly freaks. I'd rather keep you to myself. But," he released her breast and yanked her head back by her hair, bringing her face close to his. "Business is business." His tongue slid across her cheek, leaving a wet trail. "And the Main Man always delivers."
"I got a reputation to uphold, ya know," Lobo laughed, his breath hot against her skin.
Kori didn't struggle despite the humiliation. Instead, she found Dick's eyes and held them. In that moment, everything passed between them—their love, memories of happier days, her silent vow to survive and her solemn wish for him to find happiness. Tears welled in her eyes, but Kori refused to let them fall. If this was to be their last moment together, she wouldn't let Dick remember her broken. Even now, she was a warrior princess of Tamaran, not a victim. That's what she wanted him to see.
"Alright, fun's over," said Lobo, letting out a whistle.
His space motorcycle roared down from the sky, hovering beside them. In one fluid motion, he flung Kori onto the bike while maintaining his grip on Dick.
"Been fun playing with you losers," he taunted, mounting behind Kori. He slapped her rear hard, making her wince in pain. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of the princess. Well, until I hand her over to the Psions anyway! Hahaha" His laughter boomed across the battlefield.
As the bike began rising, Lobo suddenly hurled Dick away with force. "Here's your boy back! Catch!"
The motorcycle shot upward, with Kori covering herself as best she could, tears streaming down her face as her friends grew smaller below.
Across the battlefield, Rachel and Kara locked eyes. No words were exchanged—just a single, decisive nod between them.
Rachel fixed her eyes on Lobo's escaping spacecraft. Centering herself, she raised her hands and channeled her Ki, tapping into the Primordial laws of space. In the next instant, she made a powerful and decisive grabbing motion, clenching her fist.
High above, just as Lobo was gloating over another successful bounty capture, the space around his vehicle suddenly warped and compressed, bringing it to an abrupt halt mid-air.
"What the—" Lobo growled in shock, wrestling with his now useless controls. His motorcycle hung suspended, engines howling in futile protest against Rachel's invisible grip.
"You're not going anywhere," Rachel said, her voice eerily calm as she twisted her hand downward.
"What? What's happening—" Lobo shouted as the bike shuddered violently before plunging toward the ground, trailing smoke and sparks as it fell.
"Starfire!" "Star!" "KORI!"
The team watched in horror as the bike plummeted toward earth. Dick struggled against Donna's restraining grip, his face contorted with anguish as the motorcycle crashed into the ground with a deafening explosion, sending debris and dust billowing in all directions.
"Kori..." Dick whispered, his eyes locked on the blazing wreckage until a silhouette emerged through the smoke. Relief washed over his face as Kara descended gracefully, Kori nestled safely in her arms.
When Rachel made her move, Kara had already sprung into action without anyone noticing. Channeling her Ki, she streaked through the sky, becoming a blur.
Just moments before the crash, she reached Kori, wrapped her arms around her friend, and pulled her free from Lobo's grasp.
"I've got you," she said as they veered away, the explosion erupting beneath them while they used the smoke and debris as cover to ascend to safety.
Now as they landed, Dick rushed forward as Donna released him. Kori, modestly covering herself with one arm, hurried into his embrace the moment Kara set her down.
"I thought l'd lost you," he whispered into her hair, holding her tight.
"I'm here," she assured him, though she couldn't stop trembling.
Dick pulled away just enough to see her face, his eyes drinking her in before he pressed a kiss to her lips. When the brush of her bare skin against him reminded him of her state, he reluctantly broke away, much to Kori's dismay as she wanted the moment to last longer. Without hesitation, he shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her close once more.
"Don't ever scare me like that again," he murmured, his fingers threading through her hair.
"Okay," she promised, her trembling finally subsiding in the safety of his arms.
While the other Titans allowed themselves a moment of relief, Rachel and Kara remained vigilant, their attention fixed on the smoking crater.
"This isn't over," Rachel warned, her dark magic dancing around her hands as she sensed movement in the wreckage.
Just then, the wreckage exploded in a shower of metal and flame. From within the flames, stumbled Lobo. His clothes hung in tatters, blood streaked his pale skin, but his crimson eyes blazed with fury.
"YOU FRAGGIN' BASTARDS!" His roar shook the very ground as he rose to his full height. "NOW YOU'VE DONE IT! I'm gonna rip you apart limb by limb!"
Rachel's demeanor changed instantly—gone was Raven of the Titans, replaced by the Princess of the House of Gula, daughter of Emperor Orach.
"Enough," she said, as an overwhelming pressure descended over the battlefield. The Titans staggered under its weight while Lobo strained to remain standing. Dark magic swirled around her, coalescing into shadowy arrows that hovered in the air. With a subtle flick of her wrist, she unleashed them.
"What the—" Lobo barely had time to register what was happening.
The arrows struck with precision, piercing through flesh and bone. He screamed in agony as they tore through his limbs one by one until he collapsed to his knees, his body covered with dark magic arrows. Blood poured from countless wounds as a final arrow pierced his skull, silencing his curses mid-sentence.
Rachel stood there, her expression icy and detached. She rarely tapped into her full power around the Titans—a self-imposed rule born of caution. But now, watching the threat before them, she made her decision. In this moment, those self-imposed limitations had vanished completely.
The more experienced Titans averted their eyes, having witnessed Rachel's ruthlessness before. Virgil and Richie, however, fell backward in horror at the brutal display.
Even Kara winced a little at the brutality, despite having trained alongside Rachel. Yet she remained silent, trusting her friend knew what she was doing.
Barbara stepped forward. "Raven, that's—"
Rachel silenced her with a raised hand, remaining vigilant. With a snap of her fingers, she dissolved the arrows into mist. Before Lobo's body could hit the ground, she channeled her Ki, raised her hand, and pointed directly at him.
"Dark Bind," she called out.
The spell activated instantly, forming ethereal dark magic chains that secured his limbs, forcing him to kneel before her.
"Mother Empress, could you?" she called, activating her terminal.
A soft blue beam swept over Lobo's body, projecting a display of cellular readings. Rachel studied it carefully, her suspicions confirmed by the unusual activity she detected.
"That explains why he kept getting up," she muttered under her breath.
She dismissed the display and extended her hand once more. "Dark lightning."
Dark electricity crackled from her fingertips, striking Lobo and sending violent jolts through his body.
AAARRGGHHH!
To everyone's surprise, Lobo convulsed and then gasped awake, his eyes snapping open.
"WHAT? WHAT just happened?" he groaned as the chains tightened around him with each struggle.
Most of the Titans stood stunned, except for Rachel, Donna, Kara, and Barbara, who had suspected something when Rachel began scanning him.
"That's some potent regeneration," Rachel said quietly. "You're virtually immortal."
"What... is this...?" Lobo struggled against his bindings.
Kara floated forward, her eyes narrowed. "You should really apologize now, while you still can."
"You made a critical mistake today, bounty hunter," Rachel said, tightening the chains with a flick of her wrist, making him wince.
"Oh yeah?" Lobo sneered. "What's that?"
"You threatened those under my protection." Her eyes flashed dangerously. "For that, you'll pay." Her aura intensified, the crushing pressure forcing his head to the ground.
Arrgggh
"Is... that... it? I take more for breakfast," Lobo taunted through gritted teeth.
Rachel remained silent as she intensified the pressure, focusing first on his newly-healed legs.
Aaaarrggghhhh
"You... bitch!"
She shifted her focus to his arms, the pressure intensifying until both limbs shattered with a sickening crack.
AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHHH!
As Lobo writhed in agony, Rachel's face remained impassive, cold and detached from the suffering she inflicted.
"Raven, stop!" Dick stepped forward, still holding Kori protectively. "That's enough."
Rachel gave him a sidelong glance without releasing the pressure. "He would have killed you without hesitation. He humiliated Kori. He deserves this."
"I know," Dick met her gaze. "And believe me, I want payback too. But we're better than this. We're not like him."
Barbara approached carefully. "Dick's right. We've won. He's neutralized and can't harm anyone else now. That should be enough."
For a moment, Rachel seemed to consider intensifying the pressure one final time. Then, with a quiet sigh, she released her aura while maintaining the magical chains.
"Fine," she conceded, her eyes still cold as they locked onto Lobo's pained face. "But he stays restrained."
Despite his broken body, Lobo managed a bloody grin. "You think these... parlor tricks... will hold the Main Man for long?" He coughed, spitting blood. "I've broken out of... worse."
"Try it," Kara challenged, her eyes glowing blue. "Give me a reason."
M'gann approached, supporting a dazed Garfield. "Guys, Beast Boy needs medical attention. That energy weapon affected his morphing abilities."
"Get him to the med wing," Dick directed. "The pods are installed and ready—we just need to power them up to heal everyone."
"I'll help with that," Virgil offered, cradling his injured arm.
"And I'll run diagnostics," Richie added, emerging from his hiding spot.
Donna moved to assist them while keeping watch on their prisoner. "What about him?"
"Batman has been notified," Barbara explained. "Wonder Woman and Cheetah too. We'll send him to the Hall of Justice. They'll handle the rest."
Lobo's laugh turned into a pained wheeze. "You think Humans can contain the Main Man? Who's Batman? Sounds like a dumb name. And who's Wonder—"
Rachel tightened the chains and conjured a dark magic gag, silencing him. "Not another word. As for Batman, you don't know him, but it's your misfortune that you're about to. You'd be surprised what he can do."
Dick turned to Kori, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Are you okay?" he asked in a soft voice.
Kori managed a weak smile, though her eyes revealed both exhaustion and worry about her homeworld and sister. "I'll be alright. Thank you for coming when I needed you." Her gaze moved from face to face, her voice softening. "All of you."
"What are you talking about? You're one of us," Karen said firmly.
"Karen's right. We Titans stand together," Donna affirmed.
"Always," Dick promised softly. "Let's get you inside to rest."
Kori nodded and followed him toward the tower.
After the others had gone, only Rachel, Kara, Barbara, and Donna remained with their prisoner.
Rachel closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath to center herself and calm her inner realm.
Barbara approached and asked gently, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Rachel said, opening her eyes to meet Barbara's concerned gaze. "What's Batman's ETA to the Hall of Justice?"
"About forty minutes," Barbara replied. "And Wonder Woman and Cheetah should arrive roughly twenty minutes after him."
"Good," Rachel replied, her gaze lingering on the path Kori had taken.
"What's on your mind?" Donna asked.
"Just remembering when Kori first joined us," Rachel said softly before meeting Donna's eyes. "Did you notice how her expression shifted when Lobo mentioned her sister? After today's attack, I think she'll want to return home and confront her sister."
"I was thinking the same," Barbara nodded. "After finding her place with us and falling for Dick, Kori seemed content to make Earth her home. But now..."
"Wait," Kara said, "even if she wants to go home, how would she get there? Earth doesn't have ships capable of reaching Tamaran..." Her eyes widened with sudden realization as she glanced skyward. "Unless..."
"Unless my brother-in-law lets us use the Void Sentinel," Donna finished.
"Exactly," Kara nodded. "Even operating at restricted capacity, it could reach Tamaran in just hours."
"That sounds great, but I doubt Orach would agree," Barbara said with a wry smile, turning to Rachel. "Unless his beloved daughter asks."
Kara chuckled. "True. Orach is fair, but definitely a doting father. So, Rache—"
"Not happening," Rachel cut her off firmly.
"Why not? He'd listen to you," Kara asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rachel shook her head. "Void Sentinel is more than just a ship to our family. Even if Dad might agree, I don't want to ask in the first place."
Donna nodded. "Then we need another solution before Kori does something rash."
"But how? Without a ship, we're out of options," Barbara said.
"Maybe not," Rachel said thoughtfully, looking at each of them before settling on Barbara. "I may have a plan."
"What? Wait, are you saying you have another ship?" Barbara asked incredulously.
"Something like that. I need to speak with my father," Rachel said. "Take him to the Hall of Justice and wait for the League. When my mother arrives, have her use the Lasso of Truth to extract everything he knows about the Vega system."
With that, she channeled her Ki, opened two ripples in space, and stepped through one. The portal sealed behind her.
The three women exchanged knowing glances before grabbing their prisoner and stepping through the remaining portal.
Hall of Justice
Batman stood watch over Lobo in the Hall of Justice's containment cell. The bounty hunter remained bound by Rachel's mystical chains, dark flames flaring whenever his healing factor tried to mend his broken limbs.
Wonder Woman approached, her golden lasso gleaming at her side. Cheetah followed behind, studying their prisoner with interest.
"His regeneration is remarkable," Batman observed quietly. "Faster than Superman's."
"We're lucky Rachel and Kara were with the Titans today," Wonder Woman replied with a grim nod before turning to Batman, meeting his gaze. "Shall we begin?"
"Yes," Batman nodded. "We need answers."
Wonder Woman stepped forward, and uncoiled her lasso. As she approached, Rachel's magical gag dissolved, sensing the her presence.
Lobo spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor and grinned with teeth already regenerating. "Well, if it isn't costume freaks." His eyes lingered on Wonder Woman as he whistled lasciviously. "Hello, beautiful. Why don't you loosen these chains? I'll show you what the Main Man can do."
Wonder Woman remained composed as she looped the glowing lasso around him. "I am Diana of Themyscira, and your crude remarks mean nothing to me." The golden cord pulsed as it's power responded to Wonder Woman's will. "This is the Lasso of Truth. No one can lie while in its hold."
The lasso's radiance intensified around Lobo. His cocky grin vanished, replaced by a grimace as the divine magic took hold.
"State your name and purpose on Earth," Batman demanded.
Lobo's muscles bulged as he fought against the lasso's power. Veins stood out on his neck before he finally growled, "Name's Lobo… Last Czarnian and the… greatest bounty hunter in the universe."
"Such ego," Cheetah purred, her tail swishing behind her.
"The interesting part is he genuinely believes it," Wonder Woman noted as Lobo continued to struggle.
Despite his resistance, the words forced their way out. "I tracked the Tamaranean princess to this backwater planet. Working for the Psions."
"What exactly were you hired to do?" Wonder Woman asked, her tone firm but calm.
The lasso blazed brighter. Lobo winced. "Capture Princess Koriand'r alive. Her own sister sold her to the Psions. The job is to deliver her to them. Payment is ten million credits—half upfront, half upon delivery."
The three exchanged knowing glances.
"Just as the Titans stated," Cheetah said, crossing her arms. "The empress sold her own sister to alien scientists."
Batman moved closer. "Why would Empress Komand'r hand her sister to the Psions?"
Lobo clenched his jaw, sweat beading on his pale skin as he fought the compulsion.
Wonder Woman tightened her grip on the lasso. "Resistance is futile. Answer truthfully."
With a pained grunt, Lobo gave in. "Power. Unrest is growing on Tamaran since the empress took power. The resistance groups are using the princess as their symbol. Empress Komand'r first wanted to capture her sister and parade her as a prisoner to crush their spirits." His face contorted. "But, when the Psions specifically requested the princess as part of their treaty, she saw an opportunity to remove her rival permanently while strengthening her alliance."
"Starfire's sister sounds delightful," Cheetah remarked sarcastically.
Wonder Woman's expression hardened. "Tell us about the current situation in the Vega System."
"It looks peaceful, but anyone who has experienced war can see it's a powder keg," Lobo admitted. "When Komand'r seized the Citadel throne and conquered Tamaran, she completely changed the power balance of the system. Then she recently made this treaty with the Psions that has everyone confused—the terms are suspiciously favorable to her."
As the lasso wore down his resistance, his words flowed more freely. "The Psions had just won several key battles. With Komand'r stretched thin between managing the Citadel and investigating Tamaran's unrest, they should've pressed their advantage. Instead, they offered peace and even returned conquered planets. That's unheard of for the Psions—they never give up territory."
He shook his head. "This breathing room let Empress Komand'r consolidate her power and reorganize her forces. And since the treaty, the Psions have gone dark—deadly quiet. No ships enter their space without permission, and their patrols shoot first, never bothering to hail unauthorized vessels."
"They willingly returned conquered territory?" Batman asked, his tone thoughtful.
"Yeah, and it's got everyone from info brokers to hired guns puzzled," Lobo said, visibly frustrated by his forced honesty. "Nobody gives up an advantage without a damn good reason."
Cheetah leaned in, her eyes narrowing. "What do you know about the Psions' recent activities?"
The lasso pulsed again, breaking through Lobo's resistance. "They've become secretive—even by their standards. Haven't been to their homeworld lately—got the contract through middlemen. But I have a contact who infiltrated their space. They're building some massive tower complex, and there are strange masked warriors shadowing their high scientists." His brow furrowed. "After my contact's visit, they locked everything down tight. Nothing moves in or out without their approval now."
Wonder Woman, Batman, and Cheetah exchanged concerned looks before spending the next hour extracting every detail about the Vega System's political landscape, military capabilities, and the Psions' increasingly suspicious behavior.
That evening, the Justice League convened an emergency meeting with available champions. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Cheetah presented their findings to those physically present—Cyborg, Hal, and Flash—while others participated virtually. The Titans from Jump City joined remotely, except for Donna, Barbara, and Kara, who attended in person after delivering Lobo to custody.
Batman had already sent General Swanwick at the DOD a complete briefing about the Titans' confrontation with Lobo.
Just as they began, a ripple in space appeared in the conference room. Rachel stepped through, closing it behind her with a simple gesture.
"Welcome back," Kara said with a smile.
"Did you find anything that could help us?" Barbara asked hopefully.
Rachel responded with an uncharacteristic smile and a subtle victory sign, surprising Barbara, Donna, and Kara, while Cheetah and Wonder Woman observed with interest. When Wonder Woman patted the seat beside her, Rachel hesitated briefly before sitting next to Barbara instead—clearly signaling that right now she was representing the Titans, not acting as Wonder Woman's daughter.
With everyone settled, Batman began. "The Vega System situation is worse than we thought. It's currently split between Empress Komand'r's Citadel Empire and the Psionic Hegemony. They've established an unusual ceasefire with clear boundaries, but our intelligence suggests both sides are hiding something."
"The Psionic Hegemony would never agree to a ceasefire without ulterior motives," Kori said, anger flashing in her eyes. "Something's wrong."
"Exactly what worries us," Wonder Woman agreed. "The Psions have withdrawn and isolated themselves, but the little we know suggests they're planning something big."
"Your sister initially wanted to capture you to crush the resistance forming in your name," Batman told Kori. "But when the Psions specifically requested you in their treaty negotiations, she saw her chance to eliminate you permanently while buying time to strengthen her position. She sold you to them."
Kori fell silent, her fists clenched as she processed this betrayal. Dick placed his hand over hers through the video link, offering silent support.
"Nightwing," she finally said, meeting his eyes, "I..."
"You need to go home," he finished, his smile understanding yet concerned.
"I must," she nodded firmly. "My people need me. My brother Ryand'r might be in danger too."
"I get it," Dick said gently but firmly. "But there's no way you're facing this alone. I'm coming with you, no matter what."
"Slow down, fearless leader," Donna interjected with a knowing smirk, before meeting Kori's gaze. "What Nightwing means is that the Titans are going with you. All of us."
"Wonder Girl's right," Karen chimed in. "You'll need your team."
"Space mission? Awesome!" Garfield enthused. "I might get to study alien wildlife!"
"You couldn't keep me from this fight if you tried," Roy added confidently.
"My telepathy would be perfect for covert operations," M'gann offered. "Count me in."
"Me too," said Jaime.
"Us too," Virgil affirmed.
"A mission in actual space? I'm so pumped!" Richie exclaimed.
Kori's expression softened at her friends' unwavering support, clearly moved. Dick squeezed her hand again reassuringly. Taking a deep breath, she addressed them all.
"I appreciate this more than you know. But I can't ask you to risk your lives for Tamaran. You're Earth's champions—your place is here. Tamaran is my responsibility—"
"Kori, stop," Dick interrupted gently, his expression serious as he took her face in his hands and guided her to meet his eyes. "Who said we're doing this for Tamaran?"
Before she could answer, he continued, "You're right—we are Earth's champions. But so are you. You're Starfire of the Teen Titans. If our place is on Earth, then so is yours. You're our vice-captain and our friend. We're not going to support Tamaran—we're going to support you."
Kori's eyes widened. The League watched as she looked at each teammate on screen, all nodding in agreement with Dick's words. Even the Titans in the room—Donna, Kara, Barbara, and Rachel—nodded their support.
"Wait a moment, Titans," Wonder Woman interjected, her eyes meeting Dick's through the display. "I admire your loyalty, but we can't overlook the practical challenges here. The Vega system lies 25 light-years away, and we don't possess a vessel capable of such interstellar travel. And that's just the transportation issue—there are numerous other unknowns we must address before proceeding with any mission."
The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone absorbed Wonder Woman's sobering words.
Just then, Rachel leaned forward and broke the silence. "Actually, I believe I've found a solution to our transportation problem."
Everyone turned to her. Many in the League raised their eyebrows while the Titans' faces brightened with hope.
"I visited my dad earlier to discuss this situation," Rachel explained. "Wayne Tech has been developing a prototype FTL ship called the 'Prometheus Javelin' for months now. It just passed its final tests, and he's agreed to let us use it."
A stunned silence fell over the room as everyone tried to absorb this revelation.
"Wait a minute," Flash said, his eyes widening. "Are you saying Orach has built an actual interstellar spacecraft for Earth? Not just an advanced rocket but a genuine FTL-capable ship?"
Cyborg turned to Batman with a slightly hurt expression. "Batman, I'm curious why I wasn't consulted on this project. Was there a reason I was kept out of the loop?"
"Earth finally takes its place among spacefaring civilizations," Hal remarked thoughtfully, genuine interest in his voice. "So this is what Orach has been developing?" Cheetah exclaimed, turning to Batman with widened eyes. "A spaceship? And you didn't consider mentioning this to me?"
Batman gave her a sidelong glance, knowing any response would only fuel his lover's indignation.
Cheetah rolled her eyes. "Hmph. We'll discuss this later, at length," she muttered, then turned to Wonder Woman with a hurt expression. "Di, I understand why he wouldn't tell me, but why didn't you bring me into the loop about this?"
"I'm sorry, Barb," Wonder Woman said with an apologetic smile. "Orach insisted on keeping this under wraps until development was complete. I only found out myself because a certain someone stumbled across her father's work." She glanced at her daughter before turning back to Cheetah. "The ship is just the first phase of a larger project he's planning for the League." She then turned to Rachel with a reproachful look. "Which makes me wonder why you thought it appropriate to convince your father to hand over that ship."
"Well..." Rachel hesitated, "the tests were finished, and we needed transportation, so I just went with the most practical solution available."
Ahem
Batman cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. His gaze then fixed on Rachel as he spoke, voice tinged with skepticism. "Orach authorized this without consulting me?" he asked, eyes narrowing beneath his cowl.
A hint of a smile crossed Rachel's face. "He knew you'd say that. He wanted me to remind you that the Javelin project falls under his division's autonomous research initiative. In fact, he gave me a message for you." Her voice deepened as she quoted her father: "Tell Batman to consider this mission the maiden voyage and final field test."
"Can this ship actually reach the Vega System safely?" Cheetah asked, glancing between Batman and Rachel.
"According to all tests so far, yes," Bruce confirmed with a nod. "The Prometheus Javelin uses hyperspace propulsion that can reach the Vega system in about three Earth days."
"Three days?" Kori's emerald eyes widened. "Our fastest Tamaranean ships take at least two weeks! That's... incredible."
"What about combat capabilities?" Wonder Woman leaned forward. "You'll need more than just transportation in potentially hostile territory."
"Don't worry, Mom. It's already equipped with solid defenses, and based on the plans Dad showed me, it'll soon be perfect for our mission," Rachel explained, pride evident in her eyes as she described her father's creation. "Dad's team is adding tactical upgrades as we speak—state-of-the-art shielding, advanced cloaking, and dual basic phaser arrays. While it's not designed for extended combat, it can definitely hold its own if necessary until we can escape in a pinch."
"What about crew requirements?" Barbara asked practically. "Does anyone here actually know how to pilot an interstellar vessel?"
"I can do it," Kori volunteered immediately. "I've commanded Tamaranean warships and I'm familiar with advanced navigation systems. Even if it's different technology, I should pick it up quickly."
"I could pilot it too," M'gann added. "My bioship works differently, but the basic concepts of space navigation should translate well."
"Ahem," Rachel cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Let me make this simple. I will be the captain."
"But Rachel," M'gann started, confused, "Kori and I have actual experience. Wouldn't it make more sense if—" She stopped mid-sentence as Rachel fixed her with an unwavering stare that made it clear the matter wasn't up for debate.
Wonder Woman couldn't help but smile at her daughter's reaction. She knew exactly what Rachel was thinking: 'No way are they taking command of my father's ship.'
"Your enthusiasm is admirable," Cheetah said after watching the exchange, "but there's something critical we haven't addressed. The situation in the Vega System sounds volatile. This isn't just about rescuing Starfire's people or confronting her sister—you could be walking into a full-scale interstellar conflict."
"Cheetah's right," Batman agreed gravely. "If the Psions are doing something significant enough to warrant a ceasefire with their historical enemies, we need to consider implications beyond Tamaran's internal politics."
"We have considerable power with Raven, Wonder Girl, and Supergirl," Dick said thoughtfully, turning to Batman. "But you're right—we might need more support." He looked at Hal Jordan. "What about you, Hal? Or John or Laira? As former Green Lanterns, any of you would have valuable experience with interstellar diplomacy."
"You make a good point about our experience," Hal said, holding up his right hand to display his new ring, "but we only got these new rings yesterday. We're still learning how they work. We'd be more liability than asset right now."
"So you finally got the new rings," Flash chuckled. "Did you have to go through some elaborate ceremony? Take an oath to Orach?" His grin widened. "Man, I would have loved to see that."
"Same here," chimed in Cyborg.
"Sorry to disappoint you both, but it was nothing like that," Hal replied with a wry smile. "He literally appeared out of nowhere yesterday—just stepped through a spatial ripple with Adelleca behind him carrying a ornate box. Handed us the rings with a simple 'Here are your new rings. Train with them,' and vanished through another ripple. Adelleca stayed to brief us on their functions." He glanced at Wonder Woman.
"Seriously, how do you deal with him?"
"It's never been a problem for me," Wonder Woman replied with a casual shrug.
"You asked the wrong person, Hal," Cheetah laughed softly. "Orach and Diana are hopelessly in love."
"Fair enough," Hal conceded, leaning back. "But I have to say, this ring he designed is nothing like our old ones."
With Adelleca's assistance—a former Green Lantern who had joined Orach's house after jointly researching the emotional spectrum—Orach had refined his original concept for new power rings. Rather than creating traditional yellow lantern rings after experimenting with the captured manifestation of fear, he developed evolving conduits that granted wearers access to the Yellow light. These new rings allowed users to cultivate their own light laws and potentially access other spectrum energies. Unlike conventional rings, these self-sustaining devices could harness light from any source.
"I see. What about Superman then?" asked Dick.
Batman and Wonder Woman exchanged a meaningful glance before Batman turned to meet Dick's gaze and addressed the question. "Regarding Superman, he is currently unavailable for this mission."
"Unavailable?" Roy asked incredulously. "What does that even mean? One of the world's strongest heroes is just... busy?"
"It's complicated," Wonder Woman said solemnly. "There was an incident in Khandaq several months ago."
"Black Adam," Batman explained gravely. "He's an ancient being with Superman-level strength and powerful magical abilities. The people of Khandaq released him after thousands of years of imprisonment. When Superman confronted him, Black Adam exploited Superman's vulnerability to magic and severely injured him."
"Hold on," Karen leaned forward, shocked. "Superman was defeated? And we're only hearing about this now?"
Diana nodded. "We kept it quiet to avoid causing panic. That region is very volatile, and technically we aren't allowed to intervene there. Superman acted on his own, which meant we couldn't officially support him. When we tried to intervene anyway, we were blocked. Fortunately, we managed to get Kara through undetected to extract him before Black Adam could make his victory public."
Everyone looked at Kara, who had been quiet throughout the meeting. She simply nodded once to confirm Diana's words. Rachel and Barbara didn't react, clearly already in the loop.
"So what's happening now?" Donna asked, turning to her sister.
"Superman is working with a new hero called Captain Marvel, who possesses powers similar to Black Adam's," Diana explained. "His background is... complicated. He appeared during Superman's recovery when Black Adam was rampaging through Khandaq, slaughtering invading mercenaries. Captain Marvel confronted Black Adam directly. While they were fighting, mercenaries discovered a powerful ancient artifact in a recently unearthed ruin. They used it to summon a demonic creature and ambushed both heroes who were distracted by their battle."
"Despite not being fully recovered, Superman intervened days later," she continued. "Together, they defeated the mercenaries and the demonic creature. When they discovered that Khandaq's people genuinely viewed Black Adam as their rightful protector, they shifted tactics. Instead of confronting him, they are now engaging in negotiations, making the securing of the ancient artifact their priority. They're now working to stabilize the region and determine Black Adam's true intentions." She paused. "The rest of the League is stretched thin handling other missions and preparing for the upcoming tournament."
A heavy silence fell as the Titans absorbed this revelation.
"So we're on our own for this one," Dick finally concluded, determination still evident in his voice.
"It's fine," Kara stated confidently, pushing off from the wall. "We don't need my cousin. You have me."
"Kara's right," Rachel added firmly. "This isn't a declaration of war—it's primarily a covert mission. We have enough powerhouses."
"Just a moment," Wonder Woman interrupted, her voice calm but her eyes narrowed as she addressed her daughter. "Are you under the impression that getting your father's approval alone is enough for you to leave Earth's orbit? Especially on a mission like this?"
Rachel froze, suddenly aware of her misstep. She opened her mouth, then closed it again before finally managing, "Well, about that, Mom... I was going to tell you..."
"Young Master specified that princess is only authorized to depart for experience if you accompany her," Mother Empress's voice announced from Wonder Woman's terminal.
Wonder Woman's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Oh really, my little raven?" She emphasized the nickname, making Rachel wince. "How convenient that this detail slipped your mind."
Rachel sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. "I should have known," she thought, resigning herself to the inevitable. "Dad would never let me leave Earth without Mom knowing."
Surprise registered on several faces around the room.
"Wonder—" Batman began, but Diana raised her hand, stopping his objection.
"Batman, whether considering combat experience or diplomatic expertise, I am uniquely qualified for this mission," she stated with quiet authority. Her gaze shifted meaningfully to Rachel. "More importantly, if Raven is going, you can't expect me to stay behind. I'm her mother." Her expression softened slightly. "Besides, since the ship is Orach's team's work, I'm naturally curious to see it myself and check his work firsthand."
"She's right, Batman," Cheetah added, supporting her friend. "With Wonder Woman along, their chances of success increase significantly. The rest of us can protect Earth while they're gone, especially with our Lanterns becoming active again." She smiled wryly. "And if something truly overwhelming happens, Orach will undoubtedly step in."
Batman considered silently before giving a measured nod. "Very well. But we need contingencies for every foreseeable scenario."
"Agreed," Dick replied, his strategic mind already working. "We'll spend the next few days on thorough preparations." He turned to Rachel. "When will the ship be ready?"
"Dad said his team would finish the tactical upgrades soon," Rachel responded confidently. "The ship will be ready the day after tomorrow."
"Kori, M'gann and I will analyze Tamaran's politics and military strengths," Barbara offered.
"And I'll work with Rachel to prepare for the journey and learn the ship's systems," Kara added decisively.
"I guess that leaves combat training for the rest of us," Donna remarked with a determined smile.
Kori stepped forward, her expression serious yet grateful. "I can't tell you how much this means to me. My people have suffered under my sister's tyranny for too long. Whatever we face in the Vega System, I'm grateful we'll face it together."
"Then it's settled," Wonder Woman concluded with a decisive clap. "We'll meet at the Hall of Justice at dawn tomorrow to finalize our plan."
As the meeting concluded, Batman opened a private channel with Dick while the Batwing prepared to lift off for its return to Gotham.
"Dick, this mission carries significant risks," Batman said quietly. "Watch for how personal stakes affect the team. Starfire's emotional connection to this situation could cloud judgment at critical moments."
"I get it," Dick nodded. "I can see how Kori's invested in this differently than the rest of us. But, Bruce, I've been leading this team for a while now. I know my people, and thanks to your training, I'm well-equipped to navigate even the most complicated situations."
"You're ready," Batman acknowledged. "I wouldn't back this otherwise. Just remember that once you're in deep space, you're on your own."
Dick smiled slightly. "That's what Wonder Woman's for, right?"
Batman paused. "Diana is powerful, but not infallible. You know what I mean."
Dick fell silent for a moment before nodding. "I won't let them down, Bruce. Or you."
"Never thought you would," Batman replied with a tinge of pride in his voice. "Now go prepare with your team."
After Dick signed off, Barbara—now in human form—settled into her seat behind Bruce in the Batwing.
"You know, it wouldn't kill you to actually tell him you're proud of him," she said with a gentle smile. "And Diana's practically a goddess now. She'll keep them safe."
Bruce activated the autopilot and settled back. "It's not Diana's power I'm questioning. Even with her and Rachel at full strength, space missions have too many variables."
Barbara leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "I know you worry. He's your son in every way that matters. But you've given him everything he needs—training, confidence, judgment. Those kids have beaten impossible odds before, and they move like a single unit in the field."
Bruce squeezed her hand gently. "You're right. Thanks, Barbara."
"Of course I am," she replied. Then a single claw extended from her finger, tracing lazy circles on his chest. "Now about this whole spaceship thing..."
Her voice became playfully dangerous. "I've proven I can keep secrets, Bruce. Diana still doesn't know what happened between us last month—and trust me, that was prime best-friend gossip material. But you asked for discretion, so I gave it." She moved closer, her lips nearly brushing his ear. "So tell me why I had to find out about a revolutionary spacecraft from a teenager instead of you?"
Bruce was silent for a moment, his expression hidden behind the cowl. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but deliberate.
"Barbara, this wasn't my secret to share. Orach insisted on absolute confidentiality. Wayne Tech runs multiple classified projects, and his work is among our most sensitive. You've seen how the Med-Pod revolutionized healthcare. This technology could transform humanity's future in even more profound ways. But in the wrong hands, it could be catastrophic—that's why everyone from the development team to Lucius and myself has been extremely careful about information containment."
Barbara's eyes narrowed. "So what you're saying is, you couldn't trust me? After everything?"
"This was never about trust," Bruce said, turning to meet her gaze directly. "It was about honoring Orach's protocols and his broader vision. The security risk increases exponentially with each person involved—that included you and Diana. You heard Diana yourself—if Rachel hadn't discovered it, Orach wouldn't have revealed it to her until the public announcement."
Barbara crossed her arms and leaned back. "I understand security protocols, Bruce. What I don't understand is why you couldn't at least tell me something existed, even without details. And what exactly is this 'broader vision' Diana mentioned?"
Bruce sighed—a rare crack in his composure. "You're right. I should have at least mentioned its existence. That was my mistake."
Her expression softened slightly. "Well, that's a start. But I'm still waiting for the rest. What's this bigger picture you're all being so cryptic about?"
"While the ship's technology will benefit humanity," Bruce explained, "Orach specifically requested secrecy because he's building something special for the League—something monumental."
"Really?" Her tone remained skeptical. "What kind of project requires humanity to develop faster-than-light travel first?"
"Something important," Bruce replied, "something that he proposed to us long ago, but we lacked the resources and technology to support it then. Something that also existed in the parallel universe we visited." He accessed a heavily encrypted folder on his personal database and transferred the files to her display. "Take a look."
"What am I looking at?" she asked, leaning forward as complex schematics materialized on her screen. Her eyes widened as the fragments assembled into a complete image. "Bruce, this is—"
"Project Watchtower," he confirmed quietly.