Teen Titans In The Field (3)

Palmer Industries

Tim Drake

The journey to Palmer Technologies was longer than I'd like, this was the only problem with not being local to a call-out elsewhere in the state. While Wonder Woman's Jet could, in theory, take us across the state in minutes; depending on the crime taking place that wouldn't get us there in time to prevent it, only to try and catch the villains on the run.

"Back with Batman, prior to, you know." I explained, as we flew, "We didn't just react to call-outs. We had a network of people who reported stuff, access to satellites and listened in on police frequencies, we tried to preempt crimes and catch them in process!"

For somebody supposedly piloting, Lena was somehow able to multi-task and drip sarcasm. "Maybe so, but Batman rarely got criminals convicted. You can't charge someone for a crime without evidence. Plus things have changed. I heard Night Wing has actively testified in over 30 cases, now that the courts can arrest, try and sentence people using their villain-names we've been getting a lot more done. Same with heroes testifying in court!"

"My point is, I don't like being blind! Wonder Woman says we might be moving to the new HQ soon, do you think you could set up an intel network for us?" I watched her reflection in the glass, we were descending already. Luckily, this jet could hover like a helicopter or fly like a plane so as we came in over the city were attempted to land on the closes and biggest roof possible, near the scene.

"oooh! Do you want me to scout ahead?" Starfire's eager interjection confused me for a moment, and we both stared. "I'll head out back, throw me out the hatch and I'll fly down!"

Lena shrugged, "I mean it could be a good idea, depending on how clear your reports are!"

I thought it over, "Okay, don't approach the kids in the building. You're to see if there are any other heroes, police or armed persons on site. Report numbers, if you see a professional hero report in and let them know we're coming!"

Starfire rolled back out of the air into a standing position on the floor, saluted, the slid backwards as though on an moving floor. I opened the hatch, letting her pass into the aft section and moments later we saw the streak of Star's energy as she blazed ahead of us.

"Does this plane even have like, sensors or scanners or something?" I begged, Lena grinned, ducked her head as though shy, then a moment later tapped buttons on a panel in her power armor.

"What you said about satellites? I actually have one, an old one of Lex's. Moved it's orbit prior to arriving, should be able to get infra-red at least. I also have infra-red goggles, but those are less useful at the moment!" She took her goggles off her head, then threw them at me.

I checked, sure enough Lena looked like a giant heat-spot. Looking down as we approached, I saw masses of people. "Where are we landing?"

"Nearby sky-scraper. Some bank? Less than a minute away by flight, or maybe zipline! Palmer Technologies is the spire-shaped building south-west of this one, bit hard to land a jet on!" I nodded, moving around with the goggles on felt weird, they clearly weren't adjusted for my head. After landing, we left through the lower bay onto the ceiling.

There was Starfire. There were a bunch of people in the hot-spots of the goggles, making it hard to tell who was who. I looked over the edge and tried to spy 'suspicious behaviour'.

Raised hands? People or objects moving at unnatural speeds? A person flying backwards would be a sure give-away!

I looked normal, moments later Starfire was back.

"HIIIIIII!" She drawled, ooh, you have new tech. Is it useful tech or stupid!" She asked pointlessly.

"It lets him see heat!" Lena provided, "So, my dear Afront to Science. Have you already found the quarry, did you hear their soul song, smell unusual crystals or anything else!" Starfire was shaking her head.

"Nope, sorry hun! This place smells like all kinds of bad, and there's so many people. So I just went in on the bottom floor, asked the guy in the uniform if anything was going on."

Lena and I staired at the alien, I mean obviously that was the best solution to the question. But seriously? Was Starfire always smart, or had we just assumed something?

"When I showed him my badge, he said several alarms had gone of in the Genetic's lab." She parroted 'genetics' as though it was a foreign word, which fairly it would be, but also gave the word finger quotes. "They pulled their lab tech's out and were waiting for heroes. Apparently the town's normal hero is elsewhere!"

"That would be the Flash!" I provided, "He's currently chasing the actual inscrutable machine, we're chasing Patsies right now!"

Gathering up at the edge of the roof, we looked over at the spire, Lena checking her Tech. "Right there!" she pointed to a spot on the spire. "Although we should probably enter above. Villains like heading for roofs!"

I nodded, fetching out my zipline. Lena straight up jumped off the roof, the back of her power armor opening to flash blue flame and propel her up and into the sky.

"Hey Starfire! Bring the Slowpoke!"

I blinked at the comment, found myself being bodily lifted up and cradles 'princess style' as Starfire took into the air. I was literally being carried by a 200 pound goddess who had a size ten build and was actually a little smaller than me. Pulled up against her, I tried, tried, tried not to think about what parts of me were near what parts of her. Forcing myself to watch where we were going I identified the heat splotches of our kid villains, along with some adults who were clearly loitering nearby. I built a plan of attack.

Hovering outside a window on the spire, a window that can been conveniently cut out using some kind of tool, Lena grinned at the two of us and gestured to the entrance. "Shall we begin?"

"Yes!" And I explained our plan of action.