The Red Titan

Chapter 1 The Heat of Battle

Red lights flashed in the Tower's central room. The first to arrive after the alarm was none other than the Boy Wonder, Robin. He gazed up at the giant monitor with a look of anger as the rest of the titans flowed into the room. "What is it this time?" Raven asked in her monotonous voice. "Madame Rouge. " The Boy Wonder replied to her inquiry. "Alright Titans," he continued "Madame Rouge is downtown causing havoc at a research facility, Star your starbolts will definitely come in handy here so be prepared alright?" he told his Tamaranean friend with worry in his eyes. His eyes lingered on her for a few moments longer before he called out "Go!" as the Titans raced from their tower.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Meanwhile downtown 4 miles south of Jump City Energy Research Facilities)

"Phase one of our plan to capture the Red one is complete." Madame Rouge spoke into her communicator. "Very well. Now that that has been taken care of, go and retrieve the boy. He is a valued research subject that we need." The Brain spoke back to her before ending their communications. Madame Rouge set off for a park in the distance, her communicator ,which was also a tracker to some extent, telling her where her target was. It was a boy, whom The Brain wanted to research, The Brotherhood of Evil had been watching him for a long time. After their last encounter with the Teen Titans he had taken an interest in the one called Raven. This boy had bore many similarities with her as it seemed, making him the perfect test subject with which to find out more about the violet haired empath. Madame Rouge remembered the task of her mission as she walked up behind the young boy who was reading on a bench. "Hello young man." she murmured to get his attention. "Hi." he said looking up at the strange woman. "Who wears gloves like that in the middle of the summer." he asked, it was more of a statement than a question it seemed. "I do. You should come with me." she said reaching out to grab his arm before he could run. "Why?" he asked remaining on the bench as the elastic woman wrapped her hand and half of her forearm around his arm. "No more questions. Come." she demanded beginning to drag him away. "No." he said blankly yanking his arm free. "Enough" Madame Rouge said clearly irratated as the boy ran away from her. It was at that moment that she noticed the arrival of the Titans. "Alright Madame Rouge, you might as well just stand down! Titans, Go!" Robin called to his team charging the woman with his bo staff. Raven only barely noticed the running figure of the teen as black orbs formed around her hands. A nearby lamp post cloaked in black energy began to rise from the ground as  Raven muttered her mantra. "I am sorry, dear Titans." Madame Rouge said dodging their attacks. "I have a more important task at the moment." she finished running in the direction of the boy.

"Titans, after her!" their leader called as they chased after the villainess. "Where are you, you little pest!?" called the angry woman looking about the trees for the teen. There with his back against the wall of a nearby building the teenager watched his assailant look for him. He was not shaking, nor was he afraid. He was just watching her, cautious and curious as to what she wanted from him. Even so, he could feel the worry begin to rise inside of him. 'I shouldn't of left, they warned me that I wouldn't be liked here. I should of just stayed in Vertith.' he thought to himself taking his eyes off of the woman. He wanted to yell or scream, to get someone to help him but he knew that approach would prove ineffective against her. His resolve was to wait. For what he didn't know he just waited. "There you are." he heard her say as his heart sank. He didn't like this woman. "Leave him alone! He's just a civilian!" Robin called having finally caught up with the elastic woman. 'Who are they?' the boy wondered looking the strange group of teenagers over. He noticed that they all seemed around his age. 'I'd make fun of their outfits but I guess I'm no better' he looked down at his ensemble. He had the same outfit as always. Black combat boots, red jeans, red shirt, and a black trenchcoat. One of them was staring at him he noticed a floating girl looking in his direction. She was wearing a blue cloak. While he was thinking about his situation Madame Rouge had taken the chance to grab him. He struggled as her arm wrapped its way around his entire torso. "Let me go!" he demanded, yelling at his captor. "The Brain will be pleased that I have captured you Arde!" she laughed in his face. Cyborg and Starfire preapared to blast the villainess. "Wait! You can't do that, if you miss you could kill him!" the Boy Wonder held his hand infront of them blocking their aim. "Oh. That would be most dreadful." Starfire said dropping her hands to her side. Arde continued to struggle. 'I wanted to be normal. I didn't want to do this. But I guess now I have no choice.' he thought sighing. "I'll ask you one last time. Let me go." he said the tone of his voice becoming sharp and cold. "What can you do to me, Madame Rouge. I am indestructible." she laughed tightening her grip on his abdomen. "Melvorak." he began to chant, as his eyes slowly became red. Hearing his words Raven looked up at the teenage boy with a mixture of awe and curiousity. Madame Rouge was continuing to laugh not noticing the boy who was now looking at her with pure hatred, "Vertith." Arde continued his eyes now glowing a bright red color. Finally noticing what was going on Madame Rouge began to look worried. "What're you--" she began not finishing as he grabbed her arm with his free hand. "Sendros." he finished as his hand glowed red before melting straight through her rubber like skin. The villain screamed and released him unable to immediately regenerate her melted forearm. Arde dropped to the ground and stared at her for a second, "Um..she might get up again." he mumbled looking at the shocked Titans. He was right, just as he finished his sentence Madame Rouge threw a punch and sent him flying. "BeastBoy!" Robin called as he watched Arde ,unable to recooperate in the air, make a beeline for a tree. "I'm on it don't worry!" the green changeling called as he jumped and changed into a gorilla mid-air, he caught the teen and placed him back on his feet. "Titans go!" Robin called again as the others ran for the weak Rouge. Arde hesitated as he watched them. "Didn't you hear me?" Boy Wonder asked, "I said go!" he called to the confused boy. "Oh, right!" he yelled concentrating and taking to the air. He took a spot by the changeling called Beast Boy. Madame Rouge was back on her feet and was now swatting the Titans off like flies. "Hey! Your names Arde right!?" BeastBoy called to him from the ground. "Um.. yes!" he hesitated sending another ball of red energy from his hands at his opponent. "Alright! Sling shot me would you!?" he called throwing himself at the teen in the form of an armadillo. Okay!" Arde called back catching the ball like animal and throwing it at Rouge. The changeling shifted into the form of a Bengal Tiger seconds before impact, causing Rouge to be caught off guard as he smashed into her. She fell to the ground. Taking the chance, Arde raised his hands. "Melovorak Vertith Sendros!" he called out his mantra as his hands and eyes glowed, an orb of red energy forming around the villain capturing her.