ITN’s Titans Equinox Iss. #103: Image of the Beat Part 1

╔══☆═════════════╗

˗ˏˋTitans Equinox Iss. #103´ˎ˗

╚════════════☆═══╝

ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ▹Image of the Beat Part 1◃ ۪۪۫۫ ༄ؘ ˑ

◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤

Blackgate Penitentiary; Gotham Bay, New Jersey

Artemis Crock was sitting at lunch poking her food as it wasn’t good prison food. Minutes later she sighed dumping her tray of food. She made it to the female side of the courtyard witnessing a fight between other inmates. She walked past it as if nothing happened, one inmate decided to tease her, that inmate was Livewire. “You’re not going to stop that?”

” Why would I?”

” You’re a hero, right? Isn’t that what heroes are supposed to do?”

” I’m not a hero. Never was.” She tried to walk away, but Livewire grabbed her arm.

” I didn’t say you can walk away… Tigress.” As Leslie said this, Artemis easily got annoyed. “You think you’re a saint because you offered to be in here? Stop acting like you’re better than us.”

” What is your problem?”

” You wanna know what my problem is? You don’t even have to be in here and you’re acting as if it’s your solemn duty.”

” You don’t know a thing about me you walking power strip. I think those electric powers you have fried your brain. I advise you to get your hands off me before I show you how I got in here with the rest of you low-life villains.” Artemis responded startling to use her chill.

” You talk a lot of sh@t. How about you show me.” Before things got serious, officers came in and in and separated the two. Artemis then was escorted to her cell and shoved in there. She lay on her bed with her hands behind her head. She looked at the ceiling lost in thought, but she then got a call from her burner phone. She answered it and it was Zatanna.

” Artemis. How are you holding up in there?”

” Despite the discrimination and abuse from other inmates, the terrible food, and the horrible health conditions and concern for inmates. I can see why Ivy broke out.”

” I think that place is getting to you.”

” I thought that myself, but now that I’m here… BLACKGATE IS HORRIBLE. Arkham tries to cure patients they just cure regular people, not supervillains.”

” Artemis…” Zatanna said putting the phone on speaker as she looked for an ancient book.

” Zatanna you know me. If I’m saying it has to be true. They have been echoing this sentiment since 2003. Belle Reve is even worse.”

” Look… Harley is going to pardon you.”

” No! I committed crimes, I need to be punished.”

” You have Disassociate Identity Disor-“

” No. That does NOT exist. Mental health is not a good reason to murder people! I’m a murderer.” As Artemis said this, an assassin drops down and tries to choke her out with a chain. She dropped the phone struggling to breathe.

” Look, Artemis. You didn’t even commit those murders. Your other half ran away and did it.” Zatanna spoke unaware that she was fighting for her life.

Meanwhile

” So Garfield is no longer a person of interest for the killer?” Raven asked, ready to put all of this behind them.

” Nope. An attempt was made on Nyssa al Ghul’s life. Gar has a verifiable alibi.” Superboy declared.

” Thank God.” Beast Boy happily said, high-fiving Cyborg.

” But that doesn’t explain how your DNA is still at the crime scenes.” Miss Martian chimed in. “So the ultimate conclusions are either someone is framing you or-“

” A clone?”

” Possibly.”

” Artemis was attacked by the assassin.” Nightwing responded entering the room.

” What?????” Flash questioned. “We’re removing her from that prison!”

” That’s what we were already trying to do, but your wife is stubborn.” Raven replied, “Azarath Metrion Zinthos.” As she uttered these words, Artemis was brought before them.

” Wasn’t she free a few issues ago?” Gar asked confused by the continuity.

” I know… who the killer is…” Artemis replied, almost about to collapse as she was caught by Wally.

” Who is the killer?” Starfire asked, ready for this mystery to be over.

” Vixen…”

” How is that even possible?” M’gann pondered. She then sighed and realized this could be a possibility given her animal powers. “Alright, Conner. We need to solve this as soon as possible. We can’t afford any more attempts.” The couple then exited the tower leaving the Titans to themselves.

” They’ll be back.” Raven remarked.

” What makes you say that?” Gar asked, hoping the next time he saw M’gann and Conner would not be placed in handcuffs.

” Your name can’t be fully cleared as long as they keep finding your DNA.”

” I’ll burn it off then.”

” She’s right, Beastie.” Cyborg added, “But we’ll do whatever it takes to clear your name.”

” I might need to take this into my own hands.” Gar suggested clenching his fists to everyone’s else concern.

New York City

The assassin is scoping around the neighborhood looking for their next victim. Conveniently, the next target was spotted. They dove down with their blade out, but it was blocked. “You’re going to have to do more than that to kill me.” Mari McCabe aka Vixen exclaimed using a hawk scream to knock them back. The assassin sighs as their previous attempts were unsuccessful, so they plan to make this as quick and simple as possible. They dashed at Vixen, and the two went blow for blow with each other. Vixen mimicked the Condylostylus, for a faster reaction time giving her the advantage. She punched the assassin in the face, and chest and then kicked them back. The assassin kept their balance and took note of her Tantu Totem necklace. “You’re messing with the wrong one.”

” Perhaps.” The assassin remarked with a voice changer, pressing a button as an explosive motorcycle was launched at her, although Vixen dodged this. She didn’t dodge the assassin who splashed her totem with mud causing her connection to the Red to malfunction a bit. “I think I evened the score.”

” What the-“ Before Vixen could finish she was kicked in her chest causing the necklace to break. She hit the ground partially losing the majority of her connection to the Red. “Smart, but that won’t stop you.” She gets back up and catches the assassin’s leg, but the assassin instantly whips her body around for a standing dragon whip. She drew her daggers and nailed her palms to the ground causing Vixen to scream in pain.

” I it, you were almost as challenging as Deathstroke. Oh well.” The assassin loaded their gun. “Almost isn’t good enough.” They attempted to empty the clip but were tackled by Beast Boy as a tiger. She punched the tiger off her quickly hopping back up. “The infamous Beast Boy.”

” I don’t know who you think you are, but framing me for these murders is crazy work.” Gar said changing to a gorilla.

” You’re making this easier for this. Sorry Garfield.” The assassin quickly shot Vixen in the head as Gar failed to block the bullet in time. They then teleported away.

” NOOOOOO! Vixen! Wake up. WAKE UP. Don’t die on me.” Gar said changing back to normal checking her pulse. Superboy and Miss Martian arrived both facepalming. He then turned around to see them. “I know this looks bad, but hear me out.”

Minutes Later

” We told you not to go!” Dick yelled slamming his hands on the table.

” I know. But Miss Martian read my mind and-“

” Gar. What you did was very reckless. We lost a valued member of the Justice League!”

” I tried my best to save her!”

” We know you did.” Troia agreed, “But we also gave you specific orders not to intervene. Which is a crime within itself.”

” So you guys would let her die?!”

Cyborg added onto to Troia’s point. ” No. We didn’t know she was the next target. We just can’t-“

” Can’t what, Cy?” Gar interrupted his statement with a question. “…Y’all afraid I will get shot again.”

” No.” Everyone replied.

” We’re afraid you’ll lose more brain damage, friend Garfield.” Kori explained. “We know you can handle yourself, but this assassin is dangerous. We have no idea who we are going up against. What if they murder you?”

” Kori… are you deadass right now?”

” I’m neither the dead nor the ass.”

” Gar. You are acting like a child.” Raven stepped up. “You disobeyed strict orders and you’re acting as if you didn’t almost die from an encounter with Deathstroke last December.”

” I’m only acting as how you all are treating me. Y’know what I don’t need this.” Gar walks to the Titans elevator.

” Beast Boy wait! We’re sorry.” Dick tried to verbally stop him, but the doors shut close.

” We have to make sure he doesn’t do anything reckless again. We don’t know who the next target can be.” Wally suggests the agreement. As Gar made it to the bottom floor and exited the tower he was stopped by Batman.

” Batman????”

” We need to talk.”

◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤