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Slamming his fist into a wall Osiris shouted with anger “We were played for fools!”

He, along with the rest of Young Justice and Robin and Starfire, had returned to Titans Tower only to see the damage caused by the villains who’d infiltrated it in order to steal the Warp armor. Everyone, with the exception of Nightstar and Starfire, was in the control room all feeling the sense of defeat from the recent battle. Batman was at the computer trying to reboot Cyborg while the others stood around and tried to figure things out; Osiris of course being the first to exposit his anger over the situation.

“Oh sure. Good idea.” Arrowette said after he’d punched the wall. “Wreck up more of the Tower while you’re at it.”

Osiris turned to her, walking towards her angrily, as he said “Do not throw your coy words at me, Arrowette. This was a humiliating defeat for all of us!”

“At least none of us are ready to rip everything apart just to feel better.” She retorted.
Robin and Kai-Ro got between them, the former saying “Take it easy. Both of you!”

“Bah!” Osiris waved him off. “And here I believed the great Robin, the boy wonder, would be able to lead us into victory in any fight. I suppose I was wrong.”

“Oh and now you’re going to blame Robin?” Arrowette asked with annoyance. “How about taking a look in the mirror and seeing how bad your performance was!”

Batman, who’d been trying to work on the computer, turned and shouted “Enough! Both of you! If you’re going to argue over this then you can leave right now!”

Everyone went quiet after that, though the tension between Osiris and Arrowette was present, before Batman turned back to his work. Ace whined a little as he realized how upset everyone was, making Robin pet his head to calm him. The big dog still looked uneasy when he looked up to him but Robin looked towards Batman as he still worked.

Floating near him Kai-Ro said “For the record I don’t think anyone could’ve done any better than we did today.”

He looked to the little Green Lantern and commented “Always the pacifist, aren’t you?”

“Somebody has to after all.” Kai-Ro commented with a smile before indicating the recent argument everyone had.

Osiris huffed when he heard this before saying “When peace fails there’s only room for war. And our enemies refused peace long ago.”

“So you’ve declared war on them?” Robin asked with a more sarcastic tone.

“You of all people should know what it’s like, Robin.” Osiris retorted. “I’ve seen the Titans history and how you battle the likes of the Brotherhood of Evil and even the mighty Trigon. There was no means of peace with any of them.”

“Only because they left no choice.” Robin explained. “Had I the chance I would’ve made peace with a lot of my enemies.”

“Then you’re a fool to trust them after the atrocities they’ve caused.” He added.

Arrowette was about to say something before Robin stopped her and instead said to him “So you think you have it all figured out, Osiris? That wisdom you’ve gained makes you that smart.” Osiris looked to him curiously before Robin said “You’re completely lost in your pride that you’ve never taken the time to step down and think about who you’d be if not for your heritage. Or even your powers. If they’re gone, then what are you?”

Osiris looked angered at this, almost to the point of fighting with Robin, but instead back down and walked off. He flew outside and simply hovered in front of the Tower’s window looking away from everyone. He crossed his arms and just floated there with a cross look on his face.

“Wow.” Kai-Ro said. “Never seen anyone do that to him before.”

“Yeah.” Impulse added. “Where’d you learn to do that trick?”

Robin just looked over to Batman and said “I’ve had a good teacher.”

As Robin walked off to talk with Batman Impulse groaned and sat on the ground saying “This is all my fault. I screwed up big time, guys.”

Kai-Ro looked to Arrowette before saying to him “Well I wouldn’t disagree as much as agree.”

Impulse sighed before saying “Face it. If I didn’t bring Robin and Starfire back, things might’ve turned out different.”

“Or worse.” Awrrowette said as she kneeled down next to him. “C’mon, Impulse. This isn’t the time to beat yourself up. So what if you made a mistake? Everyone has. Heck, I tend to be a good shot but I don’t always hit the target.”

Kai-Ro added with “And you think it’s easy trying to keep concentration while using this thing?” he held up his ring to show him. “One thing I learned during my studies, Impulse, is that it’s not about the mistakes you make. It’s about learning how to deal with them to make you stronger.”

Impulse looked between both of them, looking a bit more confident, before Ace, having been nearby as well, walked over and licked the speedster’s face. Impulse gave a disgusted sound after having his face covered in slobber before chuckled at this and pushing the dog by the nose.

“Thanks, boy.” He said as he and the others smiled at this.

While they chuckled at this Osiris, still floating outside, could hear them and couldn’t help but look back over his shoulder. After seeing how the three of them were trying to stay positive despite what happened he looked away and seemed upset over what he’d done before. He considered how maybe they were right about his behavior and his prideful personality being the thing that made him less of a hero and more of an arrogant boy.

He then perked up when he remembered Nightstar and how she’d not come back from helping Starfire to one of the rooms in order to rest. He floated over and found himself looking through the window to where they both were.

Nigthstar was sitting on a chair on the bedside of where Star was, waiting for her to wake. Eventually she began to stir and Nightstar perked up and watched as her eyes slowly opened as she recovered.

As Star looked around Nightstar asked “Are you alright?”

Star rubbed her head a little before saying “I believe so. Though I would be lying if I was to say I’ve ‘never felt better’, as they say on Earth.”

“I know.” Nightstar said. “We did get our butts kicked pretty badly back there.”

As Star sat up she commented “That is not what I was referring to.” Nightstar, realizing what she meant, looked down and fumbled with her hands before Star said “You lied about being Blackfire’s daughter. You are….mine. I think I understand what you meant when you said you did not follow in her footsteps, but my own. Why did you not tell me?”

Nightstar looked to her and said “I was worried…..WE were worried about how you would both take the news.”

“‘We’?” Star asked before saying “Do you mean yourself and the new Batman?”

“He was worried about what would happen.” She explained. “If something changed because you knew. If you went back knowing and….something made you change your mind.”

Star looked away, thinking to herself, before asking “If I am you’re mother…..then does that mean…?” she looked back to Nightstar as she asked “Robin? He and I….? We…?”

“Isn’t it kind of obvious by now?” Nightstar asked with a little sarcasm.

Star took a moment to let it sink in before asking “Does he know?”

“No.” Nightstar said. “And at the risk of anything else going wrong, you shouldn’t tell him. It’s hard enough with you both here, but if he finds out it…”

She heard Nightstar sigh before saying “I’ve noticed how you’ve reacted around him. Tell me: what happened to Robin that made you so upset?”

Nightstar looked at her past version of her mother, seeing how sincere she was in her question. At first Nightstar was reluctant to answer, especially given the subject matter. But then, after a moment of thinking to herself she finally sighed, indicating she would tell her story.

“Bats is going to hate me for this.” She commented to herself before looking to Star and starting her story. “It was about five years ago, when Garguax first took control of the H.I.V.E. He was aware of how often the Teen Titans beat their villains back time and time again. He figured the best way to maintain control of his new criminal organization would be to prove how powerful a leader he could be. So one of his first acts was to launch and all-out assault on every possible member of the team.”

“Similar to the Brotherhood of Evil when they attacked us.” Starfire commented.

“Only difference was he wasn’t interested in prisoners.” Nightstar said, making Star gasp when she realized what it meant. “We lost some good friends that day. Robin being one of them.” Star still looked shocked by this before saying “I knew I had to stand up if I was going to lead the new Young Justice. Not just for their sake but for his sake too. I didn’t want to disappoint my dad after all.”

Seeing how upset she was to talk about it, Star reached out and took her future daughter’s hand and said “And I do not believe you did any more than you have me.” Nightstar looked at her a little confused before Star said “Despite the darker parts, I am proud to know this is the future I will help create.”

Nigthstar couldn’t help but shed a tear as she smiled after hearing those words. Both she and Starfire hugged after this, Osiris smiling a little himself before floating off back towards the others.

********************

Meanwhile Robin had been told the same story, minus the parts about who Nightstar really was, by Batman and was standing next to him while he still worked on the computer to reboot Cyborg.

“Satisfied now?” Batman asked, looking to Robin now.

Robin took a moment to let it sink in before saying “At least now I see why all the secrecy. But what made you finally decide to tell me?”

“Because, I’m hoping at least some good changes come from when you go back.” He explained. “One of them being that we won’t lose you. Believe me, it was rough for a lot of people when the news hit. And some took it harder than others.”

Robin began to understand who the others were that he meant before asking “So? Is he still around?”

Batman almost chuckled when he answered “Are you kidding? He’s too stubborn to die.” Robin smirked at this before Batman added “He talked about you a lot, you know? Always saying how he was proud of how far you went after you left.”

“Really?” Robin asked, sounding a bit disbelieving.

Batman crossed his arms and commented “There’s a lot he wanted to say but never did too.”

Robin took a second to think on that before asking “You know, you have just as much potential to lead this team as Nightstar does. Why haven’t you ever taken charge?”

Batman thought on this for a second before answering “Maybe I knew it wasn’t my place. Because in the end, you were always the best leader for this team.”

Both were silent for a moment as Robin thought to himself after hearing that, only for a moment later the computer to start beeping. This caught the attention of the other Young Justice members who all scrambled over when they could see the computer starting to reboot. Even Osiris had flown back inside, only to stand behind everyone else, and waited for Cyborg to come back.

“Okay, this is it.” Batman said. “Hopefully with the systems back we can figure out our next plan to get the armor back.”

All waited with anticipation as a loading bar on the screen slowly built up until it had finally finished. When the screen came back on however there was nothing of Cyborg. Everything else was displayed, the information on the city as well as the news and police feeds they’d monitor, but Cyborg was more-or-less gone.

“Did we do something wrong?” Kai-Ro asked.

“Maybe if you turn it off and on again.” Impulse suggested.

“Something’s wrong.” Batman stated. “Cyborg’s internal memory systems have been wiped.”

“Is there any way to get them back?” Robin asked.

“You don’t get it.” Batman said. “Cyborg’s systems are gone. That means he is too.”

Everyone looked shocked and hurt to hear this, Arrowette asking “You mean he’s….?”

“Not exactly.” The voice of Cyborg said from behind.

Everyone looked to see it was Cyborg, just not exactly the Cyborg they expected. For Robin this was the biggest surprise as Cyborg was back in a body, only one far more armored and bulkier than his original. There was still a small section of his older face revealed, and the blue technical designs added in around certain parts of the body, but the armoring and cybernetic parts appeared stronger than his younger body. Everything look broader and more armored to the point where Cyborg almost looked like a tank version of himself. On the chest plate, across right section of it, was the acronym of C.Y.B.E.R.I.O.N.

Seeing this Robin asked “Cyborg? What...? How…?”

“When the H.I.V.E. attacked they tried to delete me from the network.” He explained. “Only they didn’t count on me downloading everything to a different source. This body. I’ve had it in storage for just such an occasion.”

Impulse tapped the armor, feeling how dense it was, before asking “All this just for if you ever got deleted?”

“No. I mean taking it back to the H.I.V.E. Five-Hundred and kicking their butts into the next century.” When Osiris asked how they would find them Cyborg said “You didn’t think I had a tracer put on the armor while we were fixing it, did you? You know how easily someone can lose a perfectly good time travel armor.”

Everyone smiled at this, both the joke and the fact Cyborg had thought ahead so well, before Batman asked “Do we have a clear signal?”

“That and a location.” Cyborg said, showing a hologram map of the city via a device on his arm before saying “Best part is they haven’t even figured it out yet.”

“Then what are we waiting for?’ Nightstar called from the doorway.

Everyone looked to see her standing with Starfire behind her, both looking ready for action even after the last fight. Robin and Star exchanged smiles, Star a little more given the information she learned, before everyone looked back to Nightstar.

“Garguax thinks he won.” She began. “How about we go and ruin his perfect day?”

********************

In the hidden base of the H.I.V.E. Five-Hundred, under one of the warehouses in a district just outside Jump City, all the villains had gathered after their victory in claiming the Warp Armor.

Garguax, still sitting in his throne, looked over his gathered forces while Gizmo was working on fixing in the armor nearby via his tech-backpack. Most of the villains who’d fought against Young Justice earlier that day were there, as well as the older See-More and Wykkd, along with more H.I.V.E. robots. The few other villains gathered included a four-armed future version of Atlas, an aging looking Killer Moth, the still old but living General Immortus and even Johnny Rancid, looking older and more of a biker than before. All had been given drinks that they were holding while Gizmo continued his work.

“How much longer?” Garguax asked him, looking over to see the work progressing.

“Just a few more minutes.” Gizmo answered. “Too bad Warp’s not around or it’d have been done a lot faster.”

“It doesn’t matter.” The green alien leader said. “Once its complete time will be the least of our worries.” He sat quietly for a moment before standing and proclaiming to everyone “Friends! I’d like to take this moment to toast to our glorious victory.” Everyone stopped and turned towards him as he said “This will be the greatest achievement the H.I.V.E. Five-Hundred has accomplished, or WILL ever accomplish in all time. Once the armor is complete we will be able to use it to steal the most valuable of artifacts. The most priceless pieces of artwork. The possibilities are endless.” There was a small cheer from everyone before he settled them and said “But before we can relish in these spoils, there’s one obstacle we’ll need to deal with first. The first use this armor will serve is that we use it to go back to the beginning and destroy the one hardship that’s plagued us for so long: Young Justice, and their predecessors, the Teen Titans. We will see them wiped from existence, and then nothing will stand in our way.” A greater cheer came from everyone before he held his glass and toasted “To the H.I.V.E. Five-Hundred!”

“The H.I.V.E. Five-Hundred!” everyone toasted together.

No soon had they finished their toast before the sound of something banging could be heard. Everyone looked towards were it was coming from, the main door leading into the room. The two robots nearby looked towards the door, still hearing the banging, which began to grow louder, before both reached to open the large metal frame to open it.

Before they could the door was broken down by something that smashed through the other side, crushing them in the process. It was the new Bat-mobile which, after seeing it, everyone dropped their glasses and looked ready to fight. It slowly opened before both Batman and Robin stepped out from the hatch.

“Parties over, creeps.” Batman said.

“And so are you.” Robin added.

A moment later the rest of Young Justice, and Starfire, came rushing in to stand by them. Impulse zipped up using his speed. Osiris hovered above with Starfire and Kai-Ro. Arrowette aimed her bow and arrow at the villains. Cyborg had one of his arm cannons armed and at the ready. And Nightstar landed in front near Robin and Batman, with Ace the hound standing with the group as well.

Garguax sneered at them before saying “You’re too late! The armor’s almost done. And when it is, you won’t even have existed.”

“Don’t go and count your blessings too quick, jolly green fatso.” Impulse joked.

Garguax growled before sitting back in his chair and saying to Gizmo “Keep working. Don’t stop for anything.” He turned to the rest of the H.I.V.E. villains and ordered “The rest of you: annihilate them!”

All the villains looked ready to fight. They all booted up their powers or merely charged them while the heroes didn’t flinch away from what they knew could be the fight to end it all for either side.

Nightstar, looking to Robin asked “Mind if I take this one?”

He smirked and said “Be my guest.”

She nodded before shouted “Titans GO!” and with that all charged towards each other for one of the biggest battle in history.