The Titan Trials

Chapter 10: Determining the Severity of the Situation at Hand

This evening, we are left to our own devices around the Watchtower, however, we are told there is an 11pm curfew. Fair enough. The four of us explore the wings of the Watchtower while the Titans meet to share information.

"As you know, Starfire and I went to confirm the support of the three wings today while you supervised the candidates." Nightwing begins, "Starfire and I both went to the Magic Wing to confirm the Amazon's support, along with their heroes, and after, Starfire went to the Meta Wing to confirm Kryptonian support, while I went to confirm support from the bat family in the Tech Wing.

"Wonder Woman was able to spare more troops to hold off Circe, however, after talking with Batman, he said he could spare little troops to help us, what with the Gotham gang wars to think about."

"But when I visited Superman in the Meta Wing, he was able to fully support us with his teams of meta-humans." Starfire says.

"Well that's good." Cyborg sighs, relieved. "How much time does that buy us?"

"Approximately thirty days," Nightwing calculates, "until the supporting troops have to pull out to handle their own problems again at full strength."

"This is an all out war." Raven states, "We should try to resolve it with as little bloodshed as possible."

"Anyway, what did you discover on your end?" Nightwing asks Raven and Cyborg.

"We have thoroughly discovered the power traits of two out of the four candidates." Cyborg states.

"Continue."

"The bender, Jing Ti, as you know, has the ability to control two elements: earth and water." Cyborg starts, "Even though the earth element isn't available to her, she is still able to readily use the water element to her advantage." He produces a semicircular object and places it on the table in front of them. A holographic image is displayed above. "As you can see," he continues, "Jing Ti can harness the water element with extreme adept ability, as she is even able to fuse the element with her weapon and still use it differently with her other hand." The holographic video is fast forwarded to the scene where Jing Ti is in blade lock with Shiroto. "And there-- does she really have all that strength in just one arm?" Nightwing asks.

"She has been known to be inhumanly stronger than others..." Cyborg replies, "As she is notably fending off a skilled swordsman here."

"What about him? Is he the other candidate?"

"Yes. Shiroto Ranegetsu." Cyborg nods. "The Soul Reaper. Through further analysis in combat, it is shown that he has what is called Shikai: first release. When he releases it, it appears that he says a phrase to induce the release. 'Pierce the scarlet horizon, Fenikkusu!"

" Fenikkusu..." Nightwing murmurs, "is that the name of his weapon?"

Cyborg nods. "This is what his sword release looks like." He plays the clip.

"Very explosive!" Starfire exclaims.

Nightwing nods. "Incredible. His whole sword transforms! I didn't know he was so powerful. Did he win this battle?"

"No..." Raven replies. "Jing Ti defeated him, with strategy and wit."

"Strategy and wit, huh? That's my kind of fighting." Nightwing grins.

"Was there anything else you found?" Starfire asks.

"I don't think so..." Cyborg mutters.

"You idiot!" Raven gives him a look. "We did uncover one more thing." She says, turning back to Nightwing. "Cyborg, show the clip."

"Of what?"

"Of candidate Opportune!" Raven exclaims.

"Ooh right. Okay." Cyborg remembers again and turns the clip on.

"We had to slow the clip down 400% because of how fast she was moving." Raven explains. Nightwing's eyes widen. "See for yourself." She tells him and they watch.

My clip starts out slow because of the editing. It shows me walking around Alexander, sizing him up and finding his weaknesses. Whenever I would find a key weakness, a short flash of light would appear before my eyes. After I finish sizing him up, it shows me performing the feign attack to draw the attention of his arms away from my point of entry, I then swerve under his shoulder and around to his back. Then it shows me pushing him away by the head and to the ground. Except, what I didn't see and the tape picked up, was a flash of light in the palm of my hand and shining through Alexander's head as he is pushed to the ground. That and he was pushed hard.

Then it showed me facing the spectators with a sort of glint in my eyes. It wasn't the coloured contacts, that's for sure. But my eyes were glowing a sort of silver-white colour behind the contacts, making them turn from sapphire to cobalt. Then, it shows me rushing to Alexander, and then the tape stops.

"What... what was that?" Nightwing asks, dumbfounded. "Can you explain that?"

"We were hoping you had some answers." Raven tells him.

"Me? I don't think so. How about you, Starfire?"

"Well I'm not sure myself, but if anything it's probably some kind of defense mechanism." Starfire guesses.

"But she's clearly the one attacking the anthro." Cyborg states.

"Should we show Kristin this clip?" Raven asks.

"Not yet." Nightwing states. "I want to ask around. See what others think."

"Maybe she is a speedster?" Starfire wonders.

"We'll find out soon enough. With twenty nine days until support pulls out, we have to use our time wisely." Nightwing states. "I'll keep digging on this phenomenon. In the meantime, you three should start on the official training. The good part is that it seems the other three know what they're doing. It's just Kristin we have to look out for the most."

"So what do we have to do tomorrow?" Cyborg asks.

"To clarify the speedster theory, tomorrow you should have a speed training test." Nightwing advises. "Make it fun, like a race or something. Something competitive."

"Sounds like a plan." Cyborg says.

"Good." Nightwing agrees. "Meeting adjourned."