by Steve Korte
“No! Don’t leave me!” cried out Cyborg.
The other Titans sank deeper into the water. Cyborg paced nervously in front of the door.
“What do I do? What do I do?” he muttered. “Maybe I can practice introducing myself to the Justice League.”
Taking a deep breath, Cyborg faced the closed door, cleared his throat, and smiled broadly.
“Hello… um… hello!” he stammered. “You have a lovely home. Is that jasmine I smell? Greetings! What wonderful capes you have there! Is that one red?”
The other Titans peered over the edge of the fountain and watched their teammate.
“Man, this is boring,” said Beast Boy. “No one is even home.”
“C’mon, Titans,” said Robin as he led them back to the front door. “Since the Hall of Justice is empty, how about a little tour?”
“Yes!” yelled Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven.
“Noooo!” wailed Cyborg. “Dude, we can’t just let ourselves in!”
Robin reached under the doormat and pulled out something shiny.
“Oh, no?” he asked dramatically. “Then why did they leave a key?”
CHAPTER
3
Inside the Hall of Justice, the Teen Titans craned their necks to admire the mammoth reception area. Marble statues of the team appeared throughout the room. Dozens of display cases held trophies from the team’s most exciting adventures.
“Now this truly is a special, special, special event,” Robin declared.
“You say that, but nothing’s actually happened yet,” Raven said.
“But we are filling lots of time… and pages… which is special!” Robin replied.
Cyborg stood admiring the statues and trophies. “This is special!” he said. “We are in the home of the greatest super-hero team of all time. I feel… inspired!”
“I, too, feel the inspiration!” agreed Starfire.
“So what do you want to see first?” asked Robin.
“Oh, I think you know what we want to see first, bro,” said Beast Boy with a big smile.
Minutes later, the Teen Titans were gathered together in the kitchen. They stared with awe in front of the open doors of a gleaming stainless-steel refrigerator.
“Of all the cool things here, you want to see the fridge?!” Cyborg asked in disbelief.
“Somehow… I thought the contents would be more heroic,” Starfire said, her voice heavy with disappointment.
Beast Boy quickly grabbed a wrapped sandwich from the refrigerator. “Dibs on the sandwich!” he said as he started peeling off its wrapper.
“No!” yelled Robin. “That belongs to Batman! His name is on it!”
“Come on, bro,” Beast Boy said with disdain. “You really think Batman cares about a sandwich? Besides, I’m hungry!” Beast Boy took a huge bite out of the sandwich, and suddenly…
BREEP! BREEP! BREEP!
… an alarm filled the Hall of Justice.
“Batman put an alarm on his sandwich?!” Beast Boy said in disbelief as he dropped the sandwich to the floor.
“Of course he did!” said Robin. “He’s Batman!”
CLANK!
Just then, a large panel in the wall sprang open, and a metal security robot came rolling into the kitchen. At the end of the robot’s right arm was a wrist-size laser cannon. The robot moved ominously toward the Teen Titans. “Area restricted to members only,” the robot warned as it raised its right arm. “Intruders will be detained.”
“You’re the tour guide here,” Raven whispered to Robin. “What do we do now?”
Robin paused for a moment, and then he said, “There’s only one thing to do… run!”
He and the Titans frantically tumbled out of the kitchen.
CHAPTER
4
ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!
The angry robot relentlessly pursued the Teen Titans, shooting its laser cannon at the heroes as they ran from one room in the Hall of Justice to another. The Titans somersaulted and jumped through the air to avoid being hit by the robot’s laser blasts.
“I’ve got an idea,” Cyborg called out as the Titans ran past an open door. “Follow me!”
Quickly slamming the door shut behind them, the Titans paused to rest for a moment. Looking around, they discovered that they were now standing inside a large locker room. Multiple copies of heroic outfits were dangling from hangers inside the lockers.
Cyborg gathered his teammates around him. “Okay, that robot won’t stop for anyone but the Justice League,” he said. “So we’re going to suit up!”
Robin rolled his eyes and said dismissively, “We’re not going to fool the robot by putting on these costumes. What a dumb idea…”
As he said that, Raven dove for the locker that contained Batman’s uniform. “Dibs on Batman!” she called out.
Robin jumped in front of her and pulled her away from the locker.
“Slow down there, Raven,” he said, “I’m Batman!”
POP!
Beast Boy transformed himself into a tiny green bat and flew up to the locker. He grabbed Batman’s cape with his tiny, green bat-claws.
“Yo, I can be a bat!” he squeaked. “Let me be Batman!”
Starfire rushed over to the locker and declared, “I wish to be the Batman!”
BLAM!
Raven emitted a force field that knocked the other Titans out of the way.
“I already called it! I’m Batman!” she said as she slipped Batman’s cowl over her head.
Within seconds, her eyes widened with grossed-out discomfort.
“Ugh, so sweaty,” she moaned as she removed the cowl and tossed it to Beast Boy, who had transformed back to his regular body.
Beast Boy sniffed the cowl and grimaced.
“Ugh, it smells like vinegar,” he said as he handed the cowl to Starfire.
“And the sweaty cheese,” Starfire observed.
Robin stepped up and grabbed the cowl.
“Of course he sweats! He’s Batman!” Robin said as he slipped the cowl over his head.
“Or should I say… I’m Batman!” he declared in his deepest voice, only slightly gagging from the rancid smell of the cowl.
Cyborg handed a small packet of clothing to Beast Boy.
“Beastie, you be Martian Manhunter,” Cyborg said.
“Who?” asked Beast Boy.
“You know, the cool green dude from Mars who hunts men all the time!” Cyborg said.
“Sweet! I wanna hunt me some men!” Beast Boy said happily as he slipped into the costume.
Cyborg then handed a star-spangled outfit along with a few accessories to Raven. “You can be Wonder Woman!” Cyborg said.
Raven frowned and said, “Great, so all I get is a swimsuit, some bracelets, and a rope?”
“That rope is the Golden Lasso!” Cyborg declared. “Those bound by it are forced to tell the truth!”
A smile spread on Raven’s face as she said, “Oh, really?”
ZIIIIIIP!
The Golden Lasso flew through the air as Raven expertly lassoed Robin.
“Hey, Robin,” Raven said. “You remember that wet spot on your pants you said was water?”
Robin struggled within the Golden Lasso. Against his will, he was forced to tell the truth.
“Okay, it was pee!” he admitted. “I said it was water, but it was totally pee. You try fighting crime after drinking too much cranberry juice!”
“Cool,” said Raven with a contented smile as she quickly unfurled the lasso and freed Robin.
“Who shall I be?” Starfire asked with excitement.
“How about the Flash?” Cyborg asked as he handed her a shiny red outfit.
Starfire quickly donned the Flash’s suit, and within seconds she was running around the room. She zoomed up one wall, ran across the ceiling, and then sped down the other wall.
“I am the Flash!” she called out. “Flash! Flash! Flashy Flash!”
Cyborg stepped to the middle of the room. He was now wearing
the Green Lantern uniform.
Beast Boy stepped up to him to admire the green ring on Cyborg’s right hand.
“Sweet ring, bro!” said Beast Boy.
“This ring is the most powerful weapon in the universe,” said Cyborg with pride. “It can manifest anything with the willpower of its bearer. Witness its power!”
Cyborg closed his eyes and started to concentrate. The ring gave off a glow. Suddenly, a blinding green ray shot out of the ring. As the green ray faded away, it was replaced by an elderly lady, glowing green. The woman stood next to the astonished Teen Titans.
“Um, is that a grandma?” asked Raven.
“You know it!” said Cyborg. He reached over to high-five the woman. “What’s up, Bea?” he said happily as they slapped their palms together.
Robin shook his head with dismay. “That ring can manifest any weapon imaginable, and you choose a grandma?” he asked.
Cyborg looked offended as he said, “This sassy old gal is the toughest lady around! When the chips are down, you want a grandma in your corner!”
Robin shook his head and sarcastically said, “Wow, you’d make such a great member of the Justice League.”
Cyborg turned to the glowing green woman and said, “It’s okay, Bea. Not even your sardonic one-liners can make Robin a pal and confidante!”
BLAM!
Just then, the robot came crashing through the door. It rolled toward the Teen Titans.
“Okay, now, be cool,” Cyborg whispered to his teammates. “Play your parts or this won’t work.”
“Area restricted to Justice League members only,” the robot warned as it waved the laser cannon on its right arm. “Intruders will be detained.”
“Intruders? Whaaaaat?” Cyborg said with surprise. “We’re the Justice League, baby!”
The robot raised its left hand and emitted a scanning ray that covered Raven from head to toe.
“Scan complete,” the robot said. “Welcome back, Wonder Woman.”
“Uh, yup. That’s me,” Raven said with a nervous smile.
“Well, then, we are clearly the Justice League,” Cyborg declared. “So you can stand down.”
The robot turned to Cyborg and ran its scanning device over his body.
“Identity unconfirmed,” the robot said. “State your name.”
Cyborg frowned and said, “Green Lantern, obviously! Check out the ring!”
“Which Green Lantern?” questioned the robot. “There are several.”
Cyborg looked worried.
“What? Why would there be more than one?!” he said. “I’m… I’m, you know, uh… Steve?”
The robot again raised its laser weapon and said, “There is no Green Lantern Steve. Intruders will be detained.”
ZAP! ZAP!
Suddenly, the robot started firing its laser cannon at every Titan except Raven.
“Yikes!” yelled Cyborg as the Titans jumped through the air, trying to avoid the laser blasts. “Raven, help!”
“Raven? Never heard of her,” said Raven as she casually walked back toward the kitchen. “Hmmm… I think I’ll try one of those yogurts in the fridge.”
CHAPTER
5
“Eeeek!” yelled the remaining four members of the Titans as they ran out of the room. The robot was right behind them. Starfire hurled energy blasts at the robot, but they bounced harmlessly off its shiny metallic body.
“Uh-oh, dead end coming up,” said Cyborg as they turned a corner and reached the end of a hallway. As the robot rolled closer and closer to them, the Titans huddled in the corner, perhaps for the last time.
Robin placed his hand on Cyborg’s shoulder.
“Well, Cyborg, you did your best trying to lead us, but we’re still going to die,” Robin said. “And that is why the Justice League would choose me over you to be in their team!”
“That’s cold, Robin,” Beast Boy observed.
Cyborg let out a deep sigh.
Starfire reached out to hug her teammates and said, “Good-bye, dear friends.”
Cyborg suddenly smiled.
“Friends! That’s it!” he said happily. “Thank you, Starfire. Thank you for being a friend!”
Cyborg pointed his power ring directly at the robot. A green ray burst from the ring, and the glowing green image of the old grandma flew from the ring.
“In your face!” yelled Cyborg.
BLAM!
The glowing green fist of Bea smashed into the robot’s head. Then she kicked the robot’s torso and bashed it with rolling pins. The robot shattered into hundreds of tiny metal fragments.
After their victory, the Titans decided to relax in the Justice League control room. Raven soon joined them, still dressed as Wonder Woman and finishing up her last scoops of yogurt.
“Oh, hey, guys,” she said. “How did it go?”
“Awesome, that’s how!” said Cyborg happily.
Robin smiled and said, “I told you that today was a special event!”
“Indeed,” said Starfire. “But it took the same amount of time… and approximately the same number of pages… as our other adventures.”
BREEEEP! BREEEEP! BREEEEP!
The Hall of Justice emergency alert system began to wail. Concerned, Robin ran to the computer console and read a message on the screen.
“The Justice League has been captured by Darkseid!” he called out to the Teen Titans.
Robin turned to face his teammates. A smile filled his face.
“It looks like this little adventure has another part coming up,” he said with delight. “You know what that means?”
“More pages?” asked Raven.
Robin jumped in the air and yelled, “It means this adventure is going to be… SPECIAAALLLL!”
CHAPTER
1
As a new chapter opened on Part Two of the Teen Titans’ extra-special adventure, the group was gathered around Robin in the Hall of Justice. They were still wearing their Justice League outfits.
“Titans!” Robin announced. “It seems that the second part of this special adventure will entail saving the Justice League from Darkseid!”
“Who?” asked Raven.
Robin quickly pulled up an image on the computer. The scowling face of a monstrous villain known as Darkseid filled the screen.
“Darkseid!” Robin declared. “The most dangerous evildoer in the universe! Vile ruler of the planet Apokolips! Powerful enough to defeat any hero he faces!”
“Even Superman?” asked Cyborg.
“Yes,” said Robin.
“Even Batman?” asked Raven.
“Yes,” said Robin.
“How about Aquaman?” asked Beast Boy.
“Well, Aquaman wouldn’t fight Darkseid,” admitted Robin.
“Is it because he is too lazy?” asked Starfire.
“What a bum!” declared Cyborg.
“This totally lowers my opinion of Aquaman,” Raven muttered.
Robin sighed and said, “We have to get to planet Apokolips and save the Justice League from Darkseid’s deadly grasp!”
Raven glanced down at the Wonder Woman outfit she was wearing and said, “Fine, but let’s change back into our own clothes first.”
“No way!” said Cyborg, “We have to wear these costumes! To honor the heroes that we aspire to be!”
Raven snickered and said, “Sounds like you want to play dress up and wear your underwear outside your pants.”
Cyborg indignantly replied, “I do not! I like my underwear just where it is!”
“Oh yeah?” asked Raven with a smile as she quickly spun the Golden Lasso of Truth and ensnared Cyborg.
Cyborg struggled within the confines of the Golden Lasso and finally admitted, “Okay, I want to play dress up and wear underwear outside my pants! But it’s more than that! It’s about my dream to join the Justice League. The history… the honor… the justice!”
“In that case,” Robin said sarcastically, “I say we all play pretend and act like dumb littl
e babies so Cyborg can live out his childish dream.”
“Thanks, Robin!” Cyborg said. “But first, there’s one thing I’ve gotta do…”
Cyborg then shifted into his finest super hero pose—chin lifted, hands on his hips, and legs spread far apart—and declared in a booming voice, “Assembled in the Hall of Justice are the world’s greatest heroes! Evildoers beware! These heroes are doing things… everywhere! With their underwear on the outside!”
The other Titans followed Cyborg’s heroic example. Each one struck a pose.
Minutes passed.
“Now what?” asked Raven.
“Let’s get to our Justice League vehicles,” Cyborg declared. “We’ve got super heroes to save!”
CHAPTER
2
An electronic door slid open and the Titans stepped into the immense garage that contained the Justice League vehicles. They looked around in awe.
Green Lantern’s jet floated in the air, hovering a few feet above the red-hued Flash rocket. The black Batwing was parked next to the sleek green-and-purple spaceship that belonged to the Martian Manhunter. Wonder Woman’s invisible jet stood within a large, seemingly empty space in the middle of the garage.
“So we all get our own vehicles?” Beast Boy said with delight. “Cooool!”
“I can’t wait to try out Wonder Woman’s invisible jet,” Raven said as she ran up the invisible steps and hopped into the invisible cockpit. Soon, she was waving her hands to shift the jet’s invisible controls.
“Okay, let me see…” she said as she pulled an invisible lever.
SKRRRREEECH!
With a violent lurch and the sound of grinding gears, the invisible jet moved backward and slammed into the two vehicles parked behind it. Cyborg and Beast Boy watched with dismay as Green Lantern’s jet and the Martian Manhunter’s spaceship were smashed into tiny pieces.
“Oops, sorry,” Raven said as she pushed an invisible button. “Maybe this one…”
