Teen Titans In The Field (3)

Charybdis

Kara SorEl

California's Super Maximum Detention Prison is not the kind of building you'd expect it to be. Set up inland in what used to be Death Valley National Park, the prison does not lock supers behind bars, or in some underground bunker. Rather the prison is a bright and airy set of buildings sprawled out across the desert. Each prisoner has their own building, the building itself being a one room cell with windows. They also have their own space where they can grow flowers, or lift weights or whatever other hobby they want.

Today Charlie was flying the 'Supergirl Express' riding in a load lifter. Like an old fashioned diving bell in shape, this pod of plastic and metal had a door in it and a series of handles along the top which were tied to me by cables, allowing me to carry up to five people or supplies in and out of scenes by air. The lifter had arrived at our base earlier and Wonder Woman had instructed me to practice with it. We did so now on the trip.

From the air the SuperMax looked like a giant perspex dome, a creation of mad science. The dome covered the entire SuperMax complex and was said to be unbreakable. Along the dome at regular intervals were weapon mounts pointing in. Supers trying to fight, start a riot or cause trouble could be shot by any number of 20 different types of ray guns. From the sky we could see our target, Charlie's grandfather being escorted from his cell, out under the light of day and across to a building near the edge of the dome, where we would meet him. They passed other prisoners on the way, all standing under their own ceiling, some with additional security to keep them from breaking walls or leaving containment. Each cell was specifically designed for its occupant, hence the need for lots of space and setting up in a desert.

I dropped the carrier near the perimeter, not far from the gates. Stepping away from it, I donned my nerdy glasses, tied back my hair in a scrunchie and copied the walk my cousin used. I wore a school uniform, not my own, one Lena had from a prep school a while back, it didn't fit me well but gave me that clear school-girl reporter vibe! I fell into step with Charlie, giving him the lead, he wore torn jeans, a black crop top and a rugby jacket. We looked exactly like a pair of middle-schoolers, maybe high-schoolers as we walked up to the visiting gate. Charlie even wore a school backpack!

"Are you the dispatch from titans?" We were greeted amicably enough at the gate, a small man with reptilian skin waved us down,

"Yeah. We're here to see prisoner 525, Charybdis. Semi-unofficially. It's kinda obvious who we are, relative and known hero!" I flashed my brand new Hero ID. I'd just been approved for an official license, and while it was still probationary it was a start. Charlie's licence still said "Deputised hero" and wouldn't become an official licence till later.

The guard nodded, "While we process this we'll need to check you over, metal detectors, chemical residue, Etc. During your stay all super-powered individuals will be monitored and weapons mounts will track your every movement. All conversations will be recorded, hero and villain consultants will scrub information of any personal information but flag threats or collusion!" The man rattled off these phrases as he waved us through, the two of us nodding consent as he went.

"Do you have anything to declare?" he asked, as the chemical trace went ping. He looked as though it had insulted him, blinking in shock. "Yeah!" Charlie called back, "Backpack has a bunch of weed in it. There's a script, let me get it!"

Charlie placed the backpack down on the table, the guards carefully opening it and swapping. A piece of paper with 'Champton arthritis and bone density specialists' written along the top was promptly handed over. "Script says medical marijuana. Since he smokes and it won't give him cancer, he got consent to just buy drugs. Got a problem with that?"

The epic drawn out facepalm that crossed the guards dumbfounded expression was nice to watch. A slow long drawn out drag of the hand from top to bottom, followed by a dramatic sigh and then.

"You're trying to smuggle..."

"Nope!" I interrupted the accusation, "Not smuggle. It's legit authorized with paperwork. He needs pain relief and this was permitted!"

They kept us waiting for a while before letting us through. I'd gone over Charlie's 'paperwork' beforehand to make sure it would pass inspection. Not all of it was legit, but it worked.

Eventually we were led through, under the large open dome in sight of camera's and aforementioned weapons, then towards a covered shaded garden that was surrounded by armed reptilian guards. Only three. I wondered if they were under-estimating him.

Charybdis sat on the couch. He was thin, old. Fine boned features like a Greek statue with a bald head along with legs and arms. He wasn't exactly emaciated thin, just for his huge height it looked like there should be more of him, easily 8 foot tall, but folded up like a puppet on the too small couch. Everything twitched, with unhelpful aggression, as though the act of keeping still would hurt him, the foot tapped, the hands shook, the eyes darted back and forth. As we came into his field of view, his head jerked around to track us, following intently until we sat on the opposite couch.

"Aaaaaaaaah!" The exclamation of delight dragged on way too long, "Carr... No, Charlie. Isn't it, Bess's newly lad! HA!" he barked, the words came out clear and strong with a thick slur to them, like a man used to everyone laughing when he said anything and hanging off every word. For his thin look, it sounded deep and confident and pondering, almost casual.

Charlie sat without a word, pulling out one of the bags of weed and casually tossing it to the man. Papers were in there as well, and without saying a word Charybdis proceeded to roll a joint. He eyed the pair of us and, taking a cue from Charlie I eyed him back. I half hoped he wondered who this little school-girl was that could stare the great demon of the sea in the eye without flinching. I also hoped he thought I was ignorant, and just Charlie's school friend.

This guy had been fighting the league on and off, especially Aquaman since before the league had even been formed. He'd gone head to head with more heroes in his 90 years of villainy than anyone knew how to count, but here he was just a really tall, really old man. In all likely-hood he had an epic transformation similar to charlies, but with the guards and weapons he was playing 'completely human' instead.

Eventually Charybdis sighed, some of the twitching was easing in his hands and feet, he stretched back a bit. Smiled, almost sneered, "Charlie. Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh. It's been a while since you swam my way. How Are You."