Just a few thoughts of scenes that took place before “GO”, and some that will involve the storyline after “GO” such as the Titans moving into the Tower, etc.

This is primarily going to be Beast Boy and Robin’s POV, because I feel that despite different personalities, their origins and frustrations are similar. Both served on crime fighting teams before becoming Titans, and both want to prove themselves to the world.

Authoress is trying not to tear up over the news that season six is busted. I shall continue to write letters to Cartoon Network, so I would appreciate it if others would do the same.

A-A-A-A

“But Steve . .”

“Rita, the boy won’t listen!” Mento said firmly to his partner and companion.

Elasti-girl sealed her lips and took her seat. The other members of the Doom Patrol glanced back at Mento who was standing up from his chair, palms down on the table. From the holes in his mask, azure eyes glinted intensely at Beast Boy. He shrank his head down slightly, causing him to look even smaller than usual.

“For the better of the Doom Patrol, I believe that Beast Boy should be removed from the team,” he announced.

“But Mento,” the green skinned child piped up in a high voice. “Please, just give me one more chance. I won’t screw up again.”

“This isn’t about screwin’ up, kid,” Robot Man’s deep voice rumbled. “Its about sticken’ to the rules of the DP. And kid, you just don’t seem to get it.”

The chastising words of his team members were an injury to Beast Boy’s ego and reputation. Having lost his parents in a terrible jungle accident, he had been relieved to find a new life that was worthwhile in the Doom Patrol. They had willingly accepted him as their faithful sidekick: pointy ears and all.

But lately, small fractures had been appearing in Beast Boy’s happy images. His own wishes that conflicted with his team caused him to stand apart from them. These were not trivial matters that he argued with. On the contrary, life and death were in the Doom Patrol’s well-guarded hands. They could not risk hanging all of their chances with a still confused and growing teenaged boy.

Out of better interest, Mento had called all members of the Doom Patrol for a meeting to decide on Beast Boy’s future.

“Robot Man’s right, Beast Boy. The last time we faced the Brotherhood of Evil, you chose to save us instead of stopping the Brain. You chose us over the greater good. We can’t risk that again if the Brain, or any other super criminal, strikes again. Do you remember the oath of the Doom Patrol? No matter what it takes. You’ve got to learn to let go of your weakness and take justice when your duty calls.”

Mento finished his speech and waited for a reaction. Beast Boy was stiff in his chair while he had listened. But now, they could all see his petite frame shaking with tremendous rage. He unleashed a torrent of angry words.

“What’s the greater good: kicking the bad guys butts, or saving my only family?” Beast Boy blurted out. “I can always come back to fight but once any of you die, its game over. Finished! Kaput!” He ended this with his tiny clenched fists banging on the table as hard as he could.

“Beast Boy,” Mento began to warn in a tone of disapproval.

“You’re all I’ve got,” Beast Boy pleaded. Elasti-girl could see the faintest of tears glimmering in his eyes. “Please, the Doom Patrol is my family. Don’t make me go,” he begged. Beast Boy did his best to stop the nagging build up in his throat, but inside he could feel the sobs shaking his form. He hated having anyone to see him cry, especially the other members of the Doom Patrol.

Elasti-girl reached out and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. He gave her a small smile of gratitude.

“We won’t kick you out,” Negative Man said, his own voice softly muffled through the bandages.

“No we wont, Larry. All I want is Beast Boy to promise that he’ll never disobey a direct order again,” Mento said gravely. “Do you think you can promise that, Beast Boy?”

“You mean, I gotta follow every order that you give me, no matter what?” Beast Boy asked.

“Yes.”

The changeling’s lower lip quivered. “Even if it means . . watching you die?”

“Yes.”

Beast Boy looked at their faces one by one. His ears drooped a bit, the corners of his mouth pulled down, and he lowered his head in defeat.

“Sorry, Mento. I can’t promise that.”

Mento’s face remained cold and unsympathetic. “Then its over, Beast Boy. As of this moment, you are no longer a member of the Doom Patrol.”

Beast Boy was too chocked for words to speak. When he did, it came out in a sputter of frustration and a feeling of the overwhelming void that was clawing at his insides.

“Y, you can’t fire me, Mento. I quit!” he announced with a wave of his hand.

His little boots stomped out of the meeting hall and into his private room. Once there, Beast Boy threw himself on his bed, too drained and exhausted to even cry. He pulled off his mask, allowing his ears a breath of fresh air while he scratched them for a moment. Frustrated, Beast Boy threw his mask to the side of the room. He grabbed a pillow and buried his face in it.

I’m the most miserable kid in the world, he thought to himself glumly. I’ll never laugh or tell another joke as long as I live.

He felt a warm hand gently rest itself on his shoulder, and he knew that it was Elasti-girl.

“I’ll never forgive him. Never,” Beast Boy’s muffled voice came from the pillow.

“Oh Garfield, I can’t blame you for being angry,” she said sympathetically. “But you must know that Mento loves you like a son. He would never want to hurt you intentionally.”

“Well, he has,” Beast Boy shot back.

He lifted his head up from the pillow so he could face Elasti-girl. How pretty she always looked, with her long brown hair and shining eyes! Beast Boy adored her as much as any boy could love a mother. Rita was kind, practical, and gentle with him. She never chastised him, always offering a wise word of advice to him when he needed it.

“Sometimes we can get hurt by the people we love the most,” Elasti-girl said to him. “Especially if they do things for our own good. Maybe it’s best for you to leave the Doom Patrol. Maybe you were meant to do other things, greater things.”

“What could be better than being with the Doom Patrol?” Beast Boy looked up at her wistfully.

Elasti-girl just ran a hand through his bright green hair and sighed longingly. “I’m going to miss you, Gar.” One of her arms came around his shoulders before she pulled him into a tender embrace. Beast Boy accepted the gesture long enough to allow himself to rest a head on her shoulder wearily.

“No matter what happens, you must know that you’ll always be loved. And you’ll never be alone, I promise,” she whispered to him kindly. Elasti-girl straightened up and her face regained an animated glow. “Which reminds me,” she added with a smile.

The young woman pulled something out of her back pocket and handed it to Beast Boy. He took the magazine from her whereupon his eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw the title.

“Gotham Gazette?” he breathed out. “Awesome!” Beast Boy began to flip through the pictures of various caped and costumed heroes and villains.

“I thought you’d like it,” she nodded to him. Elasti-girl got off the bed and left the room to allow Beast Boy some time to himself. He lay flat on his stomach in bed, feet waving back and forth in the air while he turned the pages of the book. Nothing could cheer Beast Boy up more than looking at the exciting new adventures of others just like the Doom Patrol.

He turned a page about Superman saving a dam from bursting, then fixed his attention on the next person. His jaw dropped open. His breath sucked him. His eyes nearly teared from adoration. “No way,” he said softly.

Robin: Boy Wonder of Gotham City, read the caption under the picture. With his agility of any athlete and the genius of Sherlock Holmes, this teenaged Kung Fu master completes the team of the Dynamic Duo along with his partner, Batman.

Let appearances not fool the readers, for Robin’s experience is remarkable for a person as young as he is, having closed down the sinister crime lord Anthony “Big Boss” Zucco. The citizens of Gotham City are still befuddled by this young man. How long as he known the Batman? Where did he come from? What is his true identity?

A young man in a bright costume was captured in the midst of a fantastic martial arts maneuver. Beast Boy looked at his uniform, complete with a flowing black lined cape and a mask that only concealed his eyes. His jet-black hair bristled with intensity while every line of his body was slim and athletic, trained with perfect attention to the viewers. In one of his green-gloved hands, he held a fighting staff.

He’s so cool he could freeze up a city! Beast Boy thought to himself with delight. The dude’s like some samurai warrior or a ninja . .only in green tights.

Robin is SO lucky, he sighed enviously. I’ll be he never gets this kind of trouble around his team.

A-A-A-A

“You can’t be serious!” Robin shouted at Batman. The Batmobile pulled into the cave smoothly, allowing his voice to echo all over the cavern. With a wooosh, the glass top of the car slid back quickly.

“Lower your voice, young man,” Batman said calmly. “You have four hours of detention, starting now.”

“But it wasn’t my fault,” Robin argued at him. “Two-Face was going to bring down the entire disco club, I had to tackle him head on.”

“Your rash mistake sent five extra civilians to the hospital,” Batman replied without facing his partner. His removed the cowl from his head to allow the black haired Bruce Wayne to appear. “Chin ups. Now.”

“But,” Robin began to protest.

“Now!”

Robin gave a snort of resentment but he walked on over to the training grounds of the Bat Cave. The young man jumped up a bit to grab onto the chin up bar. With a grunt of anger in his throat, he began to count the chin-ups.

“How many?” he asked Batman.

“Until I say so,” the Dark Knight answered. Robin clenched his teeth but continued to lift his body up and over the bar while his teacher kept talking.

“You’ve taken a sudden change in attitude, Robin, and it’s making me concerned. First the long pants and combat boots, yes, those were necessary. I let it go. But once you were given the R-cycle, you start acting, well, like a punk.”

“I’m-not-like-you.” Robin punctuated each word with another boost to lift his chin over the bar. He was panting slightly from exhaustion. “And I’m not a punk.”

“Then explain the spiked hair,” Batman said. “And your change in attitude, like biting off more than you can chew.”

“Is that why I’m being grounded? For the way I style my hair?” Robin fumed. He had let go of the chin-up bar and landed on his feet.

“I didn’t say you were done yet,” Batman said coldly.

“Yeah, but I said I was,” Robin answered back to him. He dabbed a towel at his forehead. “And what’s with you, Bruce? You keep shutting me up and never give me a chance to speak. I’m not a baby, ok? I know more martial arts than most of those dweebs in the alleyways. I can take down the Penguin’s men anytime. Why can’t you stop treating me like a kid?”

“Because you’re acting like one,” came the answer. “You don’t know Gotham City like I do. It’s a cesspool of crime, filth, and disgust. There’s not a moment when I’m praying you’re not lying dead in some warehouse thanks to the Joker.”

“Bruce, I can handle it,” Robin said through clenched teeth.

“But I can’t. Nor can I let you be taken over by your emotions.”

The older man heaved a sigh and ran his hand through his thick ebony hair. Then his voice lost its steel vibrancy and it got softer. “Dick, I know I’m not your father. No one can be. But as your guardian, I have an obligation to protect you and to teach you about crime fighting. If you’re going to throw away everything I’ve taught you,” Bruce warned him. “Then you’ll to end up acting like a spoiled child.”

“What do you want me to do, go back to the happy-go-lucky ‘Holy Canary’ routine?” Robin shot at him. “I’m growing up, Bruce. I’ve got to get out, got to try some things on my own.”

“Not on this team, you’re not,” Batman cautioned him. Robin twisted the towel in his hands. Above his head, the bats twittered eerily sending shrieks into the depths of the massive cavern.

“Then maybe its time for the Dynamic Duo to go back to the Dynamic Uno,” Robin said coldly. “Time for Robin to fly out the nest.”

“I won’t have it,” Batman said. “Not in this city, for that matter. Do you even have a plan? Do you know where you’d go or what you’d do with yourself?”

Robin was left speechless. No, he did not have any idea what to do with his life.

“I thought so,” his mentor noted aloud with a shake of his head. “You’re like a fire slowly drawing out, Robin. All lively and passionate about your work, but that’s it. Determination without a destination is a sad road to travel on. I know, I was there.”

“I’m not like you, Bruce. I don’t want to be stuck in the same iron clad rules for life.”

Batman starred at his partner in astonishment. Since when had the cheerful sidekick become this arguing hot tempered young man? He used to follow Bruce around at the heels like a child adoring his father. But lately, the Boy Wonder had been getting into conflicts more and more often.

“These rules, old chap, protect us and our identities,” Batman scolded him lightly. “There are codes of honor that you are not allowed to break, even in the most dire of all circumstances.”

“But it’s my life!” Robin shouted, putting his face nearly in Batman’s own.

“And I’m your guardian,” Batman answered, the deep blue eyes of his face blazing. “If you want to do otherwise, you do so outside of Gotham City.”

“Fine! I quit!” Robin exploded. “I’ll leave and you can boss around Alfred for the rest of your life. Happy, ok? I’ll go!”

Robin stomped out of the Bat Cave leaving his guardian to dwell alone in his thoughts.

A few minutes later, the doors slid open. In walked the slim tuxedoed butler and faithful companion to Bruce known as Alfred Pennyworth. The elderly man carefully set the tea tray down next to his master’s chair where the billionaire crime fighter was starring hard into the computer screen.

“Master Richard seems quite out of spirits lately, sir,” he allowed himself to say.

“It’s the only way, Alfred. The only way he’ll get himself to push enough.” Bruce turned off the screen and sat back in his chair.

“Forgive my intrusion, Master Bruce, but is this really necessary for his maturity process? To chastise him instead of praise him? After all, he is a remarkable young man.”

“He is, Alfred. Oh, he is.” Bruce rose from his seat and slowly began to pace the room, his cape billowing behind him.

“Robin’s going through a complex part of his life. He’s an adolescent now. He’s changing, hopefully, for the better. These outbursts of anger are a result of his own bottled up energy. He needs to find a source of relief for it, and to find his own place in the world.”

“Am I assuming then, that you approve of his actions?” Alfred asked him. There was really no telling how many layers there were to Bruce’s complex plans and actions.

“I’m not happy about it, but it has to happen,” Bruce sighed with a shake of his head.

“Then dare I ask why you seem so contrary to . .” Alfred began.

“Part of the adolescent stage involves ‘reverse psychology’ for motivation. I can’t just congratulate Robin on his declaration of independence, Alfred,” Bruce explained. “If he wants it that badly, he has to work for it. He must search himself until he finds the satisfaction in creating a life outside of Gotham City.”

“Ah,” Alfred nodded tactfully. “Then all of this effort to curb his passion is only to fuel his enthusiasm?”

“Yes. I know I’m being hard on him, but one thing I can’t give Robin.” Bruce looked down at the bottomless pit that dwelled over the edge of the cave.

“And what is that sir?”

Batman’s tightly clenched fist opened up.

“Freedom.”

A-A-A

If things were bad with Batman, they were even worse with Barbara.

“Babs, tell me you’re joking!” Robin insisted. Why was the world playing this cruel trick of irony on him? The more he begged people to get with the program, the more insane the world was getting.

The red haired girl just snapped her book shut harshly in his face. She stood up so that her own yellow lined cape drifted majestically in the wind. They stood face to face on the roof of the Gotham Police Department where they could talk in privacy. The un-lit Bat Signal remained dark and silent that night.

“Well if you’re not joking about relationships, Dick, then at least I’m taking mine seriously,” she replied as a matter-of-fact.

“But don’t you want to get out of here? Go see the world?” he asked her.

Batgirl cocked her head to one side. “Now why would I want to leave my father all alone?” She hugged the book she was reading to her chest. “Besides, I’ve just enrolled in the Gotham Unified Computer Program, special student interest. I might get a scholarship.”

“Yeah, I know you will,” Robin nodded. He had to confess that Batgirl was one of the cleverest girls he had ever met. She’d have no problem winning popularity with her pretty face and clever head.

Robin heaved a sigh. There was no doubt that he was going to miss Barbara. She brought humor and life into his own when Batman’s own deadpan regulations could drive him mad. When Robin was just eleven years old, he was absorbed in counting the freckles of Commissioner Gordon’s daughter (though the Commissioner would never forgive Robin if he knew that) and from thereon, always kept it a secret inside to himself that she was the first person, “to make my heart sing”.

“Are you going to miss me?” he asked her with a smile.

“More than you’ll ever bet, Pixie Boots” Batgirl teased with a wink of her lovely green eyes.

“Freckle Face!” he shot back at her.

“Boy Blunder!”

“Newt Nose!”

“Twinkle Toes!”

“Doll Face!”

They both laughed a bit at this one. Robin wiped his eyes a bit and gazed at her. Barbara was always firm in her decisions. Nevertheless, he still wanted to convince her as much as he could.

“Come with me, Babs,” he coaxed her. Robin offered her one of his own green-gloved hands. “We’ll go somewhere far far away where no one’s even heard of Batman or Batgirl or Robin. And we’ll make our own team, do all kinds of great things, get a name for ourselves.”

“Robin, that’s for boys like you that want to spread their wings and fly,” Batgirl said. “But Gotham is, and always will be, my home. Its just not practical for me.”

“Besides, I’ve met someone at the program,” she added lightly. Robin’s face plunged into one of mortification.

When it rains, it pours.

She noticed his miserable expression and took his hand. “Cheer up, Dick. It’s not like its goodbye forever. I’m not forgetting you, all right?” She leaned closer to him and whispered, “I’ll never have a good a time as I did with you. Ever.”

“What am I going to do?” he asked her with a pained expression,

“You’re a handsome young man. I’m sure you’ll find a girl to your liking.” With that, Barbara checked the Batwatch she wore that doubled up as a communicator. “Speaking of liking, I’ve got patrol duty on the East Side. You in?”

“I’ll sit this one out, thanks,” Robin said glumly. Being dumped is always hardest the first time.

Batgirl just adjusted her utility belt in place. “Come on, Dick. I’ve just given you permission to date other girls. You might even find someone to compliment your own attitude. You need someone a little stronger, a little sweeter.”

“Trust me, Babs. There’s no other girl on earth for me.”

“Who said to look on earth?” With a twinkle in her eye, Batgirl took a majestic leap off the tower and soared into the sky. Robin watched her cling to the rope as she swung gracefully through the asphalt jungle of Gotham City.

A-A-A

“But mother,” Raven begged. “I don’t want to.”

Behind her, the swirling portal continued to rotate and pulse with white energy. She didn’t have much time until it would be sealed and Raven’s connection with Azareth would cease to exist for all of time.

The slim woman in white robes gazed down at her daughter, a sad expression in her eyes as well. But she could not afford to lose her composure at such a delicate position in time.

“My child, I know this has been your home until now. Yet you may find earth to be an ever better home than Azareth. You will be safer from him there.”

“I don’t believe you,” Raven insisted. She had certainly done her fair share of studying earth’s culture and moral conduct in the archives of the great library, but Raven did not think she would be able to adjust to the human world. To her, earth was a hostile world that exploded with far too much violence and tension for her powers to be risked. Humans lived for material possessions and they worshiped the body. The people of Azareth lived lives devoid of most physical pleasures and for them, the focus was on the soul.

How could she bear this inflicted exile? To Raven, it was an abandonment of the cruelest kind.. Would Trigon not clearly be able to seek out her presence on earth far more easily than Azareth?

As if she was reading her daughter’s thoughts, Arella spoke. “Raven, if you were to stay in Azareth, your father would easily annihilate you among with everyone else. Your powers are still altering in between the barriers of your body and soul.

“But on earth, your powers may yet be able to develop and mature into something stronger than ever before. Yes, humans do have emotions of hatred and violence. Yet I, as one of them, know that they are also capable of love, compassion, and healing. Their bravery and benevolence can outshine even more so than Azareth. If you are fortunate, you will find others that will risk their very own temporary lives to give unto others.”

“What if I don’t find others that believe like me?” Raven asked her. “What if I am always different?”

“Let your instincts guide you, my child. They have never failed before.” With that, Arella took her daughter’s hands into her own frail delicate ones and clasped them together.

“Do not run from your destiny, Raven. Learn to embrace it, as you embraced the love of Azareth.”

“Mother,” Raven said breathlessly. She was finding it difficult to contain her emotions as it was. With trembling lips, she said “I will miss you.”

Arella’s arms came around her daughter like the wings of a dove. Raven allowed her face to be buried in those beautiful white robes that carried the scent of myrrh and cloves. She rested her head against her mother’s shoulder and tried to fight back the rising fear that pounded in her rib cage.

Arella brought a hand under Raven’s chin and tilted the girl’s up to hers. The teenager’s dark amethyst eyes met those of her own. “Remember, my child. You forever have the love of your people,” Arella promised.

“And you always have our memory to be with you.” With that, she produced a slim wooden box from her robes.

“What is that?” Raven asked with burning curiosity.

“A gift.” Arella opened up the box for her daughter to see the contents. There lay a belt crafted with the finest gold links and set with firestone ruby crystals, the most dazzling jewels Raven had ever seen. Next to it was a brooch with a midnight colored bird set in red stone and encircled with a band of gold.

“They’re beautiful,” Raven said with astonishment. Her mother removed the belt and drew it around Raven’s body, fastening it so the belt dangled loosely from her slip hips. She fastened the brooch to Raven’s left shoulder on the cloak. Arella studied her daughter now adorned with the presents of Azareth.

It was time.

Raven felt her mother’s cool hands come to her cheeks. Gently taking her daughter’s face into her palms, Arella bent down and tenderly pressed her lips to the center of Raven’s forehead, right above her anja shakra. She withdrew her mouth to pull Raven’s hood down over her head. Now the black shadow had descended upon Raven’s face, concealing the upper part of her head. Only her eyes were visible from the dark void, two shining purple colored eyes piercing the bleakness of the shadow.

“Raven, you must go,” her mother implored her. The girl turned around to the portal and approached it. She lifted up a hand to touch the swirling vortex, but turned her head back once to look at her mother.

“May the light of Azareth guide you and protect you, my child,” Arella blessed her with an outstretched hand.

“Amen,” Raven said softly. She placed her hands into the white nothingness and felt the vacuum slowly take over her body. She was sucked out of the world of Azareth and soon to be swirling through space, tumbling through the stars until she reaches her destination.

Here goes nothing, Raven thought to herself.

A-A-A-A

Beast Boy was gathering up his possessions into a purple knapsack with the letters DP stamped on it in silver. Mento, Robot Man, and Negative Man all watched him pack up quietly.

“Are you sure about this, son?” Mento asked.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Beast Boy said. But the atmosphere was still gloomy to him.

“We’ll miss you, runt,” Robot Man said with something wavering in his usual gruff voice. He grabbed Beast Boy by the collar and rubbed his heavy metal knuckles into his scalp.

“Ow! Ow! Careful Cliff,” Beast Boy managed to laugh. Robot Man grinned back and tapped Beast Boy’s arm lightly with his fist so as not to knock him over.

“Take care of your self,” Negative Man said.

“I will. Thanks Larry,” he said. Beast Boy turned to Mento who was looking to the side.

“Um, Mento, thanks for everything,” Beast Boy said. He put out a hand to his surrogate father. Mento looked at the little hand, then at Beast Boy’s eager face. His shoulders sagged a bit, but he nodded and accepted the handshake.

“I hope you get what you want, Beast Boy,” he said at last.

Beast Boy had just retired to his room to collect some last minute items when he saw something on his dresser. It was a large chocolate cupcake covered in gooey green icing and shiny sprinkles. A lone candle flickered on top.

Beast Boy dropped his bag with astonishment. “But, its not my birthday,” he said aloud.

Elasti-girl had somehow appeared next to him and she knelt down behind Beast Boy. “Goodbye present,” she explained.

Beast Boy's throat got tight at once. "Thank you," he said in a soft voice.

Elasti-girl didn't want to see him in tears just yet, so she placed her hands on his hsoulders. The young lady squeezed Beast Boy’s shoulders gently. “Go on, make a wish!” Elasti-girl whispered into his ear. She couldn’t resist the excitement in her voice.

Beast Boy looked at the candle longingly. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes. He began to concentrate as hard as he possible could.

I wish for a team of other kids just like me. Where we have a great time together and never give up on each other. And even if we fight, we’ll all be friends forever.

He puffed up his cheeks and blew out the candle.

I’d also like a moped . . and to fall in love if that’s possible.

A-A-A

Next chapter: Jump City history and the roles that five paticular new citizens will play in it.