Robot calamari, anyone?

Hello again. It's been a while since I last updated, my apologizes for that. I've been busy lately and nothing of interest has happened since the giant robot squid attack on Steel City. Well, I've been fighting minor crime, the weather has been getting colder, but that's not a really interesting thing to talk about, is it?

So, giant robot squid attack. On Steel City. I helped to stop it. And then Aqualad and Bumblebee went and broke it. And that's it.

...

Okay, maybe I need to give a bit more detail.

A giant robot squid had been pulling hit and run attacks on Steel City. It would burst out of the sea, go on a rampage though the city, destroying buildings and stealing what's in them and then vanish back in the sea again before Titans East could arive. Aqualad had tried to chase it underwater, but since most of the team is bound to land (or air in Bumblebee's case), they had some issues fighting it. They needed some way of trapping it on land and that's why I was called (well, to be honest they called Raven first, but she was busy over in Jump City). Bumblebee figured that if someone like me could lift huge objects, we should be able to stop them as well. So... I came over, and when the next attack happened, I helped by holding the giant robot squid down while Aqualad, BumbleBee and Mas & Menos (is that spelled right?) tried to break it into pieces. Which... Sort of went well. I did keep the robot in one place, but it was difficult doing so. And I couldn't stop it's tentacles from trashing about. So, with me being in open view of giant robot squid thrashing it's tentacles about...

Let's just say I'm very glad Mas & Menos are so fast on their feet.

At any rate, eventually, Bumblebee and Aqualad broke through it's armour and started taking it apart from inside. They got out before it blew up and... Well, that's that. I started picking up the scrap left behind so it could be properly disposed of and everyone started clean-up. Dealing with reporters, getting the Titan Urban Rebuilding Fund to repair whatever was damaged, things like that. There's still the matter of finding out who actually send the robot squid here, but Bumblebee assures me they can handle things from here on end. I quietly left after that, just saying goodbye to everyone and sneaking past the droves of press. I don't like being the center of attention.

Come to think of it... Where's Speedy? I haven't seen him at all. Hmm. Maybe he was busy tracking whoever sent the robot?

Meeting mr. Wayne

Hello again.

The weather in Gotham has been getting worse. Rain turns into rain storms, the wind has been picking up and it's growing colder by the hour. Yesterday night, there was some sleet hitting me in the face. It's been getting difficult to tell day apart from night (dusk is easy - there's a bright yellow-orange sun shining above the horizon but below the clouds. Seeing it shine on the buildings is beautiful). Good thing I'm done with my guard assignment.

Speaking of which, when I had finished it and went to collect my pay, mr. Bennett (he's the chief guard who hired my services) told me that mr. Wayne wanted to talk to me. That... Was a bit of a surprise, really. I've often worked for Wayne Enterprises, but I've never actually met anyone higher in the hierarchy than mr. Bennett. He did mention something about the higheruppers being the ones who asked him to hire my services first time we met. So I quietly nodded and followed him up to mr. Wayne's office. I don't think I have to mention that I was really nervous.

Mr. Wayne was facing the window when I entered. Mr. Bennett announced my presense and promptly left, closing the door behind him. So... I just stood there, by the door, not saying a word. After half a minute or so, mr. Wayne turned around and invited me to sit with him. I have to admit, he was kind. In a business-related way. No nonsense kindness. I had heard rumors he was somewhat of a thrillseeker of some sort, but that really didn't show. Anyway, the reason he wanted to talk to me was because he wanted to thank me for my services I'd provided for Wayne Enterprises over the years. But he was also curious how a Teen Titan (I'm only a honorary member) ended up straying so far from the Towers and why I 'sold' my powers like that (... They're more abilities than actual powers, I think...).

I... Didn't really know what to say. I basically told him what I've told you in former updates. How my abilities have drawbacks which might endanger people I work with (so I work on my own often) and how I don't exactly get funding while having to feed and clothe myself. I... Didn't really say anything about feeling like a fish out of the water. Mr. Wayne kept quiet for a moment, then asked how I got my abilities. He said something about 'bang babies', but didn't continue. Probably because of the look I was giving him. I kept quiet. Even if I knew how I got my abilities, I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be telling people how they work.

"All right. I don't mean to pry. At any rate, thank you for your services, Anathema. I hope you'll work for us again."

"Um... You're welcome sir. Is there anything else you wanted to know?"

"No, not really. Mr. Bennett has your payment. Goodbye."

With that, our meeting was over. I said goodbye and left to get my payment from mr. Bennett (making sure they didn't overpay me again. Which they did. Why do they keep doing that?). Meeting mr. Wayne was interesting, though I wonder why he wanted to know where I got my powers from. Maybe he's dealt with a lot of lab accidents involving superheroes or something. And on second thought, maybe I should've asked why they insist on paying me too much.

Anyway, I'm off to Metropolis Steel City. Bumblebee called - there's a giant robot squid terrorising the town and Titans East are having trouble fighting it. Guess my holiday got cancelled.

Long nights and loney days

 

One of my 'pets'. It's a summoned
demon. Most definitely not a piece
of my own anatomy!

Hello again.

Warehouse guard duty is... Boring. When you're guarding a shipment (like I usually do), you can at least look out the window and see the changing landscapes. With warehouses, you just keep walking the same route over and over again and things grow old fairly quickly. Every now and then, I just leave a 'pet' of mine to continue the guard route and go off the beaten path to mix things up a bit, but it's still quite monotonous.


The last few days have been quiet. I have seen one of the guard occasionally, making his rounds. There's an alley cat which walks by every so often. The rain even let up once or twice, but aside from that, nothing has really happened. Still, it gives me time to practice with my abilities - fine motor control with psychokinesis, teleportation precision, things like that. And, it gives me time to think about stuff. About the Titans, criminals... Myself.

Maybe it's the incessant rain outside. Maybe it's the general pall of twilight that falls on this city, but I can't say I've been thinking positively about myself. I mean, what kind of heroine am I? Instead of using my abilities for 'good', I stay out of the fight by protecting shipments of dangerous chemicals, valuable objects or powerful technology. And then ask money for it - though I do kind of need it. If I asked, any of the teams would probably have me. If they even know who I am.

But... No.

My abilities work better if I'm alone than if I'm in a group - or rather, there is less danger involved for others if I work on my own. I might ask money but it's not that much. And the stuff I guard... The transports are weak links in security and so far there's only been one guy who managed to give me the slip. Stupid cross guy. And I go places other Titans might never go and help people there if there's a need for it. Little towns. Out of the way places. You'd be surprised how many giant scorpions, spiders and sandworms I've encountered so far.

Lousy rain. When I'm done with this assignment, I'm heading to Metropolis for a few days.