Welcome to Gaia! ::

Meanwhile in Mumbai (formerly Bombay)…..

A young Indian woman walked in the moving crowd within the exhibits shown in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly named the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India). Currently this pretty, petite girl was viewing a large black star sapphire that once belonged to Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last ruler of the Sikh Empire. The recently discovered 'Star of Malay' was touted as a near perfect star sapphire that seems to display a bright six-point star shows from any direction. Roshni found herself entranced by the luster shown on the fist-sized gem. She also had noted the laser light projectors for the alarm system. While the guide intoned on about the history of the gem. Roshni's dark eyes noted the pressure platform the gem rested on and the magnet locks on the glass case.

As the group moved on, the apparent student was not as she presented herself to be -- she was a thief casing her target. While the girl seemed to pay attention to the impressive art from the Sikh Empire, she was reviewing in her mind the details that she observed to see if the heist was feasible. She had earlier noted a service room door under a grand stairwell that faced the room that she was currently in.

Even the girl's appearance is completely false. Brown contacts hid her pink catlike irises. A wig and scarf hid her shocking bubblegum pink hair. Roshni examined her nails to inspect the makeup that she had painstakingly applied to her normally grey skin. The young meta continued the tour, but she had to test something. Concentrating her vision on the almost hidden service door, there was a slight flash of pink and the door swung open revealing it to be a janitor's closet. Perfect. At least, that's something I can exploit. But how am I going to get to the Star...

The metahuman thief puzzled on the problem as she continued through the museum. Normally, 'Jinx' wouldn't take such a huge risk; however, the young girl inherited debts from the last of her family. The local kingpin needed to be paid, and didn't take no for an answer. Mentally, Jinx cursed her departed uncle and his gambling debt that now hung around her neck like a noose. But unless she can get past the laser alarm system which appeared far too close a net around the glass case for her to even get through, her repayment plan was in the sewer.

As she exited the museum, Roshni walked to the park nearby and sighed heavily. The thief was doomed. Perhaps she should just try to run, but she had no money... A vendor with several kids buying cross-like boomerangs caught her attention. Her eyebrow arched upward as she slowly approached the vendor. The woman bought three boomerangs, when she got up to the front of the line. Afterwards, Jinx walked further in the park until she found a fountain that was roughly the same width as the distance between the stairwell and the Star's display in the museum. The meta took one of the boomerang and took several throws until she correctly gauged the circular path that followed the edge of the fountain. She practiced that particular throw until she had it down perfectly.

Once she had that, the young woman had an almost Cheshire Cat grin, "I got it now...."

"Ah, ah, ah." Damien sang, wagging his index finger over at the ever defiant fearless leader. "Let me guess. The attempt was to goad Mr. Wilson into childish banter? Enough to buy you time from me murdering your friends? I must admit while it was an interesting choice, it was also a stupid one. So stupid that I wonder what your fellow Titans must think of it. Here you all are restrained like cats about to be castrated by Asians. Well not really." Damien noted pointing to himself and Wilson. Before continuing. "Racist? Mmm debatable. But who in their right mind would pass up on a stereotype when it's staring you right in the face like that. Anyway, as I was saying, instead of campaigning for your team's safe release, you would rather endanger their already endangered lives by participating in such poor antics? What's next puns? Tsk, tsk. It's because of that I've a new idea. And it pertains to all of you this time. I would love to just murder you all here and now but I've just come to a realization that there's so much talent here I would hate to see it all go to waste. Besides maybe we could make a positive out of a negative. By that I mean, I want to know which one of you lucky teens would be willing to turn your back on your friends and join me. The only stipulation is to prove your loyalty... You'd first have to slaughter your friends. To do my will going forward. Simple enough, yes?" asked Damien with his arms raised and a smile plastered on his features.

The mask suddenly reappeared over Jaime's face.

Incoming projectile.

"Oh, what now?" Jaime turned around just as the disruptor shot caught him, and immediately, the whole suit jolted and tensed around his body. Bright sparks of electricity and plasma shocked in the air in flashes around him as he stuttered and stumbled about.

"What's going on?!" he demanded, his muscles tightening and loosening in horrific rapid fire.

Something is attempting to disengage the suit. Releasing autonomic countermeasures.

"Autonomic--?!" Jaime let out a comic yelp as a fizzling sensation drove its way over his spine and throughout his body.

Neutralizing threat.

Jaime's arm whipped about and formed a rather large, wide cannon to aim down upon Damian Wayne. It hummed deep and low, whining a loud, rather hostile electrical tone. Jaime blinked with wide eyes of surprise as he looked down the sights at Robin and Red Robin.

"No, no, Scarab! Stop! Those are Titans! Those are friends!" he protested.

We do not know these people.

"They're the ones we're trying to meet!"

Friends do not shoot each other.

"Excuse me mocoso, since when are you the authority on friendship? Disarm the cannon!" he demanded.

I hope you know what you are doing, Jaime Reyes.

The cannon de-formed and Jaime was left with his normal hands. He sighed. "Me too," he muttered. He leapt down from the rooftop and landed before the two Robins, looking up at the helicopters flying overhead. He decided to ask about it later. "You, uh ... you rang?" he asked, eyeing Damian with the gun. He was actively choosing good-will and the benefit of the doubt, in regards to being literally shot at, since he wasn't the sort to leap to anger or make wild assumptions on the first stroke. Even still, there was some hesitation in his posture, and a wariness of the idea that he might've been mistaken for a bad guy in any word-of-mouth that had made it back to Robin. Reputation was a messy thing back in El Paso.

Damien had seen right through his intention. Which had unfortunately backfired. Their captor continued to express his feelings on their current situation. As he continued to babble on, which this guy did a lot of. Nightwing continued his attempt to work on his restraints. He had quickly turned the conversation from a crude joke into a serious one. Something that seemed like this guy had been familiar with.”Anyway, as I was saying, instead of campaigning for your team's safe release, you would rather endanger their already endangered lives by participating in such poor antics? What's next puns? Tsk, tsk. It's because of that I've a new idea. And it pertains to all of you this time. I would love to just murder you all here and now but I've just come to a realization that there's so much talent here I would hate to see it all go to waste. Besides maybe we could make a positive out of a negative. By that I mean, I want to know which one of you lucky teens would be willing to turn your back on your friends and join me. The only stipulation is to prove your loyalty... You'd first have to slaughter your friends. To do my will going forward. Simple enough, yes?"

Even though some of the members of the Titans were new to the team, he had complete trust in all of them to not take up this deranged lunatic's offer. That's what he had wanted to believe, but sometimes people would choose to save their own a** instead of doing the right thing. Richard had finally spoken up again, this time it was directed towards Damien this time. He had to keep him talking. Hopefully it wouldd buy the team some time, until they had a way to escape. ”Do you really believe one of us is going to betray the rest of the team? You must really be nuts. How about you try a different way of convincing one of us to join? I know how much you like to hear yourself talk.” He had given him a s**t eating grin after his comment. How Damien was going to act after that was unpredictable. Hopefully he had continued to keep his attention, so that he would be the target instead of the other Titans. He knew that his loyal dog wasn't going to intervene with this affair. Unless he had a paycheck with his name on it.

Darhk was about to reply to Nightwing's unkind words when the explosion sounded. From the smoke now revealed a huge hole in his plans figuratively and literally. He let out a sigh staring the three individuals who strode in so casually. The smaller of the group appearing to be leader based off his commands alone. Damien was not phased however. A what? Seven year old? Or maybe nine year old wasn't about to get under his skin. In fact, he was quite tickled. "Well, aren't you adorable?" Damien said with a smile plastered on his lips. "I'm afraid however you just missed that part. And also, does Batman not teach his kids to knock? There's a perfectly fine door right there you could've bust in. But no. Still since you asked so politely. I'm Damien Darhk and you, Robin, are about to be as dead as your friends." Damien would say raising his hand as he starts to close his hand around a neck. When his hand rises so does Robin as he now begins gasping for air. "Can't forget about you either. Now can we?" he'd say to Red Robin. Lifting his left arm up along with RR and squeezing. "I must say. This is far more relaxing than a stress ball. "

Before another word could come out of Darhk’s mouth, an explosion has shaken the room. It was a little too close for comfort. As the smoke started to fade, three individuals had come pouring into the room. Two out of the three men were his brothers, and the other had been a new guy. Whatever the hell he had on, looked as if it packed a punch. Robin had commanded them, he was a natural born leader. But at times came off a little rough around the edges. Beetle had been instructed to release the captured Titans, and he had done so. It had seemed like even though Beetle was assisting as fast as he could, it wasn’t fast enough as Nightwing witnessed Damien squeeze Robin’s and Red Robin’s throat with some type of magic. d**k's expression showed anger, he had lost one Titan already. He wasn't planning on losing another.

Once Nightwing had been released from his bonds, he quickly reached for a shuriken from his hidden compartments that had been placed on his wrist. Aiming it for Darhk’s head to attract his attention back to him, so the two would hopefully be released from Damien's attack. He had demanded his attention, vigorously commanding. ”This is between you and me! Let them go!” With that commanded, he awaited a response. Firestorm had provided a little bit of cover, as Nightwing drew out his escrima sticks. With his weapons wielded at his sides, he had gone in for an up and personal attack. Lunging towards him, attempting to strike at Damien for an advantage at this fight. No one had the right to hurt his brothers. After he was done with Dahrk, his attention would soon be placed on Deathstroke. The person that had murdered one of the Titans in cold blood. And what was it all for? Money. That's all Slade had cared for. And that's why this was personal. He had hurt so many, and he wasn't going to leave this room unharmed.

Things were going to Hell, and fast. Deathstroke had warned Damien Darhk to finish the Titans when he had the chance, but no. He decided to take the villain's route and monologue until something happened that would compromise his own plans. Damn shame. Unfortunately for Darhk, his contract ended as soon as he escorted the Titans to the H.I.V.E. facility. He had only stuck around out of courtesy when invited by Darhk, and respect to his long-term adversaries to bid them their final farewell.

Of course, Deathstroke had a gut feeling this wouldn't be the last he'd be seeing of the Titans. As soon as Darhk had given the instruction to deliver the children to be dealt with personally over the much more sensible option that was to finish them when he had the opportunity Slade recognized the pattern. Of course, it wasn't his place to question his employer's decision he just hoped he didn't expect him to take the fall with or for him.

It came as little surprise to the Mercenary when the Robin's and their new spaceman friend literally blew their way into the facility. Deathstroke stood ready to combat them, that was until the unexpected intervention of Firestorm separated him from Damien Darhk. The fireball sent towards the pair sent Slade spiraling across the room with a grunt. Thankfully, his promethium armor served as protection enough from the blast to provide minimal protection. Deathstroke rose to his feet with enough time to notice the newest addition to the team of adolescents begin to release his comrades one by one. Had either Slade or Darhk cared to prepare for a situation like this, it wouldn't have been too much of an issue. Since, however, this was not the case the odds were pretty heavily stacked against him. Two on ten with a good chunk of them being meta? And no plan? Sorry Darhk, but you're on your own now. Slade grumbled to himself as he made a tactical retreat out one of the exits. He found himself in a hanger, and hopped inside one of the sleek black helicopters. Removing his helmet and setting it on the passenger seat Slade equipped himself with the headset and took flight.

After taking to the sky Deathstroke noticed a retreating second helicopter, a smirk making its way across his scarred face. So, Damien... looks like you made it out afterall... Slade muttered to himself, picking up the frequency of the opposite chopper's communications and putting himself through. I told you that you should have finished them when you had the chance. Slade called to the H.I.V.E. leader, following his chopper with his own. Had you told me ahead of time that you planned on monologuing like a villain out of a comic book I'd have better prepared for that little disaster; oh well, guess there's always next time. Deathstroke went silent over the comm for a moment as he contemplated what to say next... actually, yes... this could be a prime opportunity to... If you'd like to give me your coordinates, I have a business deal I'd like to discuss with you... something that I believe could prove mutually beneficial to the both of us.