Spurned Past, Tentative Future

[ShadowOfAGhost]

Spurned Past, Tentative Future

ShadowOfAGhost

“Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name.

What’s puzzling you is the nature of my game.”

- The Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil

Chapter 1

Dark, dreary, dismal, there were no better words to describe the day. It had been raining steadily for the past four hours and all had been quiet in Jump city for at least a week. Raven sat alone in her room reading her latest find. Beast Boy was staring out the window at the city in the distance. Cyborg sat playing the game station online with some stranger a world away. Starfire floated about her room reminiscing about her home planet she left behind. And Robin, for once, grew weary of training in the gym. He found himself wishing Slade, Mad Mod, The Hive, anyone would attack. Slowly he made his way to the main room of the tower, joining in the collective sigh of boredom that seemed to echo through the tower.

‘Maybe I’ll check the mail,’ he thought. ‘My latest issue of “Gadget and Tool” should be here by now.’ Though he knew he had canceled the subscription eight weeks ago. In the mailbox he found a large manila envelope with no markings on it, not even a return address.

“I wonder what this is,” he said. He carried it inside with him and took it up to the common area. Everybody had gathered together, it would seem, as if they thought they might find something to spark their interests.

“Hey Robin, what’cha got there?” asked Beast Boy.

“I don’t know, I found it in the mailbox. It doesn’t seem to have anything written on it.” He replied. “Only one way to find out who sent it.”

Robin opened the file and placed the contents on the table.

“This looks like some sort of résumé,” Raven stated.

“What is a ‘ra-zoo-may’, is it some form of weapon?” asked Starfire, preparing a starbolt just in case.

“It’s not a weapon, Star, it’s a job application,” Said Robin. “Whoever dropped this off must be interested in joining the Teen Titans.”

“We shouldn’t even consider adding a new member,” cautioned Raven, “Ever since Terra betrayed us I’ve been against adding any new members.”

Robin responded, “You have a point, Raven, but if we just ignore this then whoever sent it may join up with Slade instead, and we definitely don’t want that to happen.”

“So what does it say then?” Cyborg asked.

“Well, he says his real name is David Zhenfry, alias Phantom, he’s about 5 foot 7 inches tall, age 16.”

Beast boy spoke up, “Dude, what are his powers though? Can he walk through walls, have X-ray vision, or turn invisible or something cool like that?”

“No,” answered Robin, “he says that his only abilities lie in the gadgets he uses and his ability to sneak around and work with computers.”

“Robin, I still don’t like the idea of adding a new Titan, we need to research his past before we even consider a vote to admit him.” Raven said.

“Don’t worry Raven, we’ll check him out before we do anything else.”

As Robin reached for the envelope to replace the application, he noticed a small, handwritten note that had fallen out. It was a single sheet of white paper with the words “I would like to meet you all in person some time, perhaps we could all get together and discuss this?”

“Let us set up the meeting right now!” smiled Starfire.

“Easy Star, it could be a trap of some sort, and besides, there’s no information here about how to get in contact with him. No phone number, no address, nothing.” Robin observed.

“Why would he ask to meet us and not tell us how to contact him?” asked Cyborg

Starfire chimed in “Robin, did he not say he can sneak around? Perhaps he will find us?”

“Good point Star, he may very well find us.” A rumbling in the rear of the room startled them as they turned around to see what the noise was.

“Sorry y’all,” Cyborg groaned, “I guess it must be gettin’ close to lunch. Who wants pizza?” They all agreed with Cyborg and headed out.

“Last one there picks up the tab!” yelled Robin as he ran for the garage.

* * *

Robin took his motorcycle, Cyborg took the T-Car, and Raven, Starfire, and Beast Boy all flew to their favorite corner pizza parlor. It ended up that beast boy had to pick up the tab, though he would spend the next half hour arguing with Starfire for shooting him down just as he took the lead. Robin, however was the first there and claimed the right of victory to pick the toppings.

They were just sitting down to enjoy their pizza when they heard a voice emanating from the shadowy corner to their back. “So, what do you think, or is this a bad time to introduce myself.”

Startled, everyone spun around in their battle stance ready to defend themselves as the stranger stepped out of the shadows. He was dressed entirely in black army fatigues. He had dark colored eyes and hair so dark it was almost black. A pistol hung in a holster by his right hip and a large buck knife with a blade that looked to be at least 5 inches long was tucked into his belt on his left. Yet despite all the black that encompassed him, a feeling of warmth and friendship seemed to radiate from his smile.

“You must be David, I’m Robin”

“Nice to meet you, and please, call me Phantom.”

“Sure thing, by the way these are…”

“…Beast Boy, Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven. I know them, well, they don’t know me but I’ve done some…research…in making my decision to apply to the Teen Titans.”

Cyborg was stunned, “But…how? My security systems would have prevented you from getting anywhere near the tower, much less the island. My sensors would have picked you up.”

“Your security has one major flaw, it’s controlled entirely by computer. I’ve been monitoring the system remotely from my laptop. When you took it offline to upgrade it three weeks ago, I took the opportunity to install a backdoor into the system so I could come and go and have the system recognize me as friendly. Don’t worry though, I never disabled the system or went in to the tower, I only observed what I could see from the windows.”

Cyborg was seriously ticked off. He took great pride in the security system he had made and considered this a slap in the face. Robin on the other hand seemed impressed.

Beast Boy was the first to break the silence, “Dude…you’ve been watching us for the past three weeks?”

“To some extent. I never looked in anybody’s personal room, only the living room and the training rooms.”

A look of relief came over raven at that last comment. ‘At least he didn’t look in my room. No one looks in my room.’

“Would you care to join us for some of the pizza” Starfire offered.

“Thank you,” Phantom responded, pulling up a chair. “If it had been tofu I would have to pass,” he looked at Beast Boy, “but I was able to make sure that didn’t happen, thanks to my concussion bullets because tofu is truly criminal.”

There was a hearty burst of laughter from Cyborg as Beast Boy sat there looking flustered.

“But, Starfire shot me down, and I don’t have any bullet wounds.” BB responded.

“No Beast Boy, that was me,” he said reaching into his pocket “and you don’t have any bullet wounds because I don’t use real bullets. I use these.” He placed what looked like a regular 9mm round on the table. “I call it a concussion bullet because it fires a small non-lethal explosive capsule to knock down opponents.”

Robin seemed intrigued by this technology.

“What say we vote on it now,” Robin proposed “unless that is anyone has any objections.”

Only raven spoke up, “I think we should still give it some time to think it over. After all, we don’t want to have another incident like we did with Terra.”

“I agree completely, you just met me and haven’t had any time to think it over. Tell you what, when you have decided, come to the abandoned apartment complex at the corner of 25th and main. I’ll be there waiting for your decision.”

With this the team said goodbye and departed.

* * *

Exactly one week later Robin met with Phantom at the abandoned apartments and gave him the team’s decision, and his Teen Titans communicator. He was now part of the team.



* * *



“How do I know that you will remain loyal to me?” a mysterious voice asked.

The room was filled with shadows and machines that seemed as though they were long dead relics strewn about in a random fashion.

“I shall take an oath to you.” Phantom replied. “What reason do you have to mistrust me? I have always been and always will be loyal. ‘Make thick my blood,

stop up th’ access and passage to remorse

that no compunctious visitings of nature (natural feelings of pity)

shake my fell (savage) purpose, nor keep peace between

th’ effect (fulfillment) and it!’” (1)

“Good, my young apprentice.” The voice said.

“I shall always remain loyal to you my master…Slade.”

(1) -William Shakespeare, Macbeth Act I Scene V

So, tell me what you think! This is the first fanfic I've ever posted so feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Raven37]

This is very good so far. I really like it. This could definitely turn out to be a great story. Keep up the good work!!!

[Sproxie]

this is really good! i like it alot, post soon.

[ShadowOfAGhost]

Thanks for the replies! I will try to post a new chapter soon, though I should warn you that I don't get much free time except on weekends, and I am a slow writer, though I hope to have the next chapter posted by November 29.

[ShadowOfAGhost]

Good news, I've finished the outline for chapter 2 so should be done by the date mentioned above, maybe sooner.

[PressureCooker]

Not bad at all! We are only one chapter in to this story and the plot has already twisted into a pretzel! I must say I'm intrigued as to what may happen next...


Good work and please keep it up!

[ShadowOfAGhost]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Kregor8]

I am proof that it pays to advertise in your signature. If I hadn't seen your plea, I'd never have opened this. I don't get much time to read fics.
Here's what I have to say. I love Macbeth. I think it is Shakespeare's best play. So you get extra bonus points for that.
"That merciless [Phantom],
(Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him)." Act I, Scene II

Yes, I do like this very much. The fact the the Titans didn't just automatically spring to letting in a new member - that they gave it some time - is also commended.

I need to go. Like I said, my time is limited. But now, I will be sure to make a small space for this story.

Keep up the goods,
7<regor

[ShadowOfAGhost]

Here's Chapter 2! I don't think the ending is as good as the first chapter, But it's still worth your time to read!

Spurned Past, Tentative Future

ShadowOfAGhost

“You can’t hide your lyin eyes, and your smile hasn’t been disguised.

I thought by now you’d realize, their aint no way to hide your lyin eyes.”

-The Eagles, Lyin’ Eyes

Chapter 2

Since Phantom had moved in, things had changed very little. Now instead of one quiet and reserved person sitting around the tower, there were two. Despite their first impressions at the Pizza Place, Phantom was actually a very quiet and pleasant addition to the team.

“Robin, we need to talk.” Said Raven.

“Sure, what is it Raven?”

“I’ve searched all the public records and spoken with many people in the town, there is nobody by the name of David Zhenfry.”

“Have you found anything else?”

“There were a few people who thought they had heard of him, it would seem he might be a drifter.”

“Good work, Raven, though I don’t know what to make of it.”

“Don’t mention it.”

This was pretty much all they knew about their new teammate. Starfire had been able to learn a little about him when he first moved in. Among the few possessions they had found while helping Phantom unpack were a few photographs, most of various natural landmarks but one of a small smiling boy with his parents caught Robin’s attention.

In it the boy smiled brightly with his parents standing proud on either side of him. The picture, which had no frame was tattered around the edges and faded. The boy in the picture bore an eerie resemblance to their new team member, though if it were him, it would seem he had aged 20 years. The words We will always love you were scrawled at the bottom. Robin had tried to point this out Cyborg, but it was snatched up before he got the chance.

As the memory faded, Robin found himself standing in the rear of the common room. Phantom was sitting at one end of the couch quietly reading a book, something by Peter Straub it looked like. He looked like he really didn’t want to be disturbed, but Robin decided he had better ask him now rather than later.

“Phantom, may I speak with you a minute?” said Robin.

“Sure,” he responded, not even looking up from his book, “What do you want to know?”

“Have you ever heard of someone named Slade?”

Phantom sat his book aside and let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, unfortunately, I do. I worked for him once, like his apprentice almost.”

“What do you mean you were his apprentice?” Robin questioned, this was the most information anyone had ever gotten out of him.

“About four years ago my parents both died in an accident, and I was forced to live out on the streets. One day he saw me and decided to take me in. he raised me like I was his own son and was very kind to me. He taught me everything I know, fighting technique, stealth, patience, the works. Eventually he started sending me on small missions, never harming anybody. Later, though, he gave me missions that gradually became more sinister. I refused to do most of these tasks, but he would attack me relentlessly if I defied him. About a year and a half ago I was fed up with his cruelty and constant torment and tried to sneak away one night. I don’t know how I got away from him but I’ve been wandering from city to city ever since. The warm and friendly man who had taken me in was completely replaced by this new and corrupt monster who desires only power.”

Robin was stunned. He himself had been Slade’s apprentice only a year before, though against his will. He had never detected even the slightest hint of warmth from Slade’s cold heart.

They were interrupted by Cyborg bursting through the door. “Hey y’all gather ‘round! It’s time to begin!”

Starfire and raven came in from the side door and they all formed a circle around Phantom.

“What’s going on? Why are you all staring at me?” he asked.

“You were able to spy on us and learn about us, you should know very well what this is.” Cyborg replied.

“Don’t tell us you actually thought you could avoid it, there’s no way around it.” added Robin.

“Wha…What are you talking about?”

“You are saying that you did not predict that this would occur?” Starfire asked quizzically.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about! What’s going on here?!” Phantom was starting to feel like a caged animal being held over a ravine. They were all expecting him to know what was happening, but he didn’t. This was one of the few times in his life that he had ever been caught completely off guard, and he NEVER liked being caught off guard.

“Your initiation of course!” Grinned Cyborg.

Before him out of nowhere appeared a unicycle, a pink frilly dress and an oversized pair of clown shoes.

“You expect me to degrade and utterly humiliate myself for the sake of a cheap laugh?”

“Yes!” they all responded in unison.

“So be it then.”

Within a matter of seconds Phantom found himself struggling around the room on the unicycle. Riding a unicycle in and of itself was a challenge; add to that the awkward clown shoes getting in the way and the frills of the dress which got caught in the spokes and sent him face first to the floor more than once. Everyone in the room was in hysterics. Raven, having lost control of her powers in her fits of laughter, broke a few of the windows.

After about 5 laps around the room, Phantom felt that he was finally getting better and ultimately started bunny hopping in little circles around the group. The show went on for at least another 10 minutes, gradually getting more intricate until Robin finally felt compelled to reluctantly end the humiliation. With his stunts finished, Phantom hopped off the unicycle and gave a small curtsy. This done he abruptly retired to his room and mourned the loss of his final shred of dignity.

‘It wasn’t that bad,’ he thought, ‘Sure they were laughing at my humiliation, but at least they were laughing.’

From down the hall he heard Beast Boy and Cyborg calling for an encore and the others trying to discourage them, saying that he had already done enough.

If nothing else he was going to burn the accursed dress on the roof later that evening, but first he had an encore to give. Digging through his drawer he found three flash-bang grenades. He rarely used these because even though they did nice work of incapacitating his enemies, he hated the noise and bright light they gave off. He carried these into the other room and was greeted with cheers of laughter and disbelief from the others as he mounted the unicycle and began his juggling routine.

An hour later they all sat about in the common area. The team exhausted from their bellowing laughter.

“Man, that was real good. The best laugh I’ve had in a while.” Cyborg sighed.

“It must have been,” Phantom replied, “after all, look how many windows Raven broke when she lost control of her powers.”

Just then, the alarm went off. They rushed to the screen to observe Mad Mod trying to pull one of his stunts.

“Time to move!” shouted Robin. “You too Phantom! Today we see just how good you are.”

With this said, Robin, Cyborg and Phantom ran for the garage while Raven, Beast Boy, and Starfire took off from the roof.



* * *



By the time they arrived on the scene, Mad Mod had already hypnotized most of the people downtown.

“‘Ello my duckies!” he taunted them “Have you come to get your selves schooled?”

“You never learn do you?” Robin retorted.

“On the contrary, It’s duckies like you that never learn!” He mounted a large floating platform and floated into the sky, his evil laugh trailing behind him.

A mob of hypnotized civilians trudged toward them like zombies in a monster movie.

“We have to be careful around them!” Robin shouted. “They’re all just innocent bystanders that have been hypnotized!”

“What do suggest we do then?” muttered Cyborg

Robin hastily asked “Phantom, did you bring any of those flash-bang grenades?”

“Yes, but everyone is too crowded together, anyone in a 2 foot range risks injury.”

“That leaves only one option. We have to get Mad Mod’s staff!” Robin Barked. “Titans, GO!!”

Beast Boy morphed in to a pterodactyl and flew high into the sky to chase Mad Mod with Starfire close behind. Raven erected a barrier to hold off the advancing army of mind slaves. Mad Mod Easily dodged all the attacks thrown at him. Phantom started firing at Mad Mod, but he was too far away to be accurate.

“I can’t hit him!” he said, “I need something, hopefully it’s still where I left it! I’ll be back!”

“Phantom! We need you here! Hold your ground!” Robin shouted after him, but he was already gone. The remaining Titans had to resort to whatever they could to hold off the mob which would smother them if they didn’t hold on.



* * *



Phantom hated to have to run from the fight, but he knew that the only way to take out Mad Mod was to destroy his staff, but in order to hit him he would need to get the one weapon he had left behind, just in case things went sour.

A minute later he reached the abandoned apartments and went up the stairs to the roof.

‘It’s still here! Excellent!’ he thought.

He picked up the brown tarp and unrolled it. Inside he found his prized possession: a .45 caliber rifle modified to fire .45 caliber concussion rounds. On top was a long range scope. He looked through it and could clearly see Mad Mod dancing through the air. He never missed with this rifle, and he didn’t plan on missing now. He took aim.



* * *



Things were bad. Raven could no longer hold the barrier, and people were beginning to push through. Phantom had abandoned them at the peak of the fight, some Titan he was.

Just then a shot rang out followed shortly by the sound of an exploding concussion round. The team looked up and watched as Mad Mod came crashing to the ground, his staff shattering on the pavement next to him. The hypnosis broke along with his staff and the people dispersed, each as confused as the next. Phantom came trotting up to them, his rifle in hand.

“Where were you!?” Cyborg shouted at him. “You left when we needed you the most!”

“I needed to get my rifle. My pistol wasn’t accurate enough.”

Robin seemed angered at this, “You still need to fight together, as a team.”

“Sorry,” he responded, “I’m just too used to going solo. I guess I’ll have to work on that.”

“Your dang right you do!” Cyborg yelled at him.

Either way, the battle was a complete success. On the ride home nobody spoke.



* * *



“I don’t trust him Raven,” Cyborg said “He abandoned us. Even if he did win the battle for us, I still don’t trust him.”

“I don’t trust him either. Something strange is going on here, so I think we’ll have to keep a close eye on him.”

‘I don’t blame them…’ Phantom thought, he had eavesdropped on the conversation. ‘But…is this really what I ought to do? Should I stay loyal to Slade as evil as he is? I feel like I belong here though.’

With these questions swimming through his head he retired to his room for the night.

[ShadowOfAGhost]

As always, feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[Crowgirl]

DUCKIES!!!!!

Sorry, but dude, this is awesome! I like this phantom guy, but he seems a lot like Cyborg. I loved the part from Macbeth, it was really good. Phantom seems... flexible, able to be torn by two different beliefs/teams/ideas/people and is okay with it. I would appreciate more!!!!

NOW!!!!

[Sproxie]

Originally Posted by Crowgirl

DUCKIES!!!!!

Sorry, but dude, this is awesome! I like this phantom guy, but he seems a lot like Cyborg. I loved the part from Macbeth, it was really good. Phantom seems... flexible, able to be torn by two different beliefs/teams/ideas/people and is okay with it. I would appreciate more!!!!

NOW!!!!

I agree with Crowgirl, DUCKIES! *cough* no, her entire post, but I'll be more patient.....

[T.T.Raven4]

MORE PLEASE! GO SLADE AND HIS NEW APPRENTICE!!!!!! (But Slade likes me better )

[ShadowOfAGhost]

I'm starting on the outline for chapter 3 tonight.

regarding the Duckies thing, I was trying to stay as close to Mad Mod's Dialect as possible, and unless I'm mistaken, In the episodes with Mad Mod in them, He refers to the Titans as Duckies.
correct me if I'm wrong.

[oneeyemonkeypie]

I like how even phantom isn't sure of himself. He seems to make up his mind as he goes along, a very easygoing person. Nice.

[Kregor8]

Eh. Who said this chapter didn't match up to the first? I think it was equal, if not greater. A little bit of action - well done too. Not just the usual n00b writer stuff like "and then he kick, and she punched, and brake his shield and fell'd on his head." Now, if you've never read "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (forgive my sometimes abismal spelling. I correct as I can), then you wouldn't understand that.
Let's list another positive here:
Nice long chapter. The characterizations of the different people so far have been acurate - especially Mad Mod.
Here's a complaint:
Mad Mod is almost too good a villian to be used as minor stuff. He needs something wacky and wild to make him come into his own. Other than that, this is all gold. 8 days between two chapters this size: I don't consider that slow writing.

7<regor

[ShadowOfAGhost]

Update: I'm on a role write now. I have finished the outline for chapter 3.

(Let's play spot the Pun... )

[ShadowOfAGhost]

I found an interestin web site that offers ALL KINDS if information about Teen Titans Episodes, including Quotes, mistakes, FUTURE EPISODE NAMES AND AIR DATES and bloopers, just click on the name of the episode on the page.


http://epguides.com/TeenTitans/

[Crowgirl]

YOU SO TOTALLY ROCK!!!

Thanks for the site, but not thanks for making me wait longer for another chapter. Don't make me get my chopsticks....

[ShadowOfAGhost]

Relax! I'm a third of the way done typing the next chapter.