Rule Number One

Chapter One

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Locked away within the confines of the Titans Tower's tightly secured evidence room lay an apparently insignificant artifact—a remnant from a future criminal's suit. Little did the Titans realize, this unassuming fragment possessed an earth-shattering potential. Acutely aware of the dire consequences if it fell into the wrong hands, the Titans took swift action, meticulously dismantling and disabling its core components. In their minds, rendering the device inoperable was the only way to neutralize its potency and eliminate any risk it posed.

Nevertheless, the extraordinary craftsmanship and untapped capabilities of this remarkable machinery left some of the Titans uneasy about its destruction. After engaging in protracted debates and deliberations, they ultimately reached a consensus: the artifact would be securely confined within the evidence room, protected and untouched for an arduous span of twelve years.

However, fate took an unexpected turn when one fateful day, the artifact vanished without a trace. The Tower's highly sophisticated security system offered unequivocal evidence of its theft, yet the identity of the culprit remained frustratingly elusive. The Titans comprehended the gravity of the situation, the potential of time travel could not be underestimated, even with the defective state of the pilfered piece. They recognized that within the hands of an adversary, the impossible could become a disquieting reality.

As the weight of the theft pressed upon them, the Titans responded with utmost seriousness, their every move infused with urgency. Yet, lacking any leads or indications as to the identity of the perpetrator, they found themselves ensnared in a web of uncertainty. Every passing second that they were deprived of the artifact, the enemy gained an additional opportunity to unravel its secrets and unlock its dormant powers. The race against time had commenced, with the Titans straining every sinew to retrieve the stolen piece before its potential was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.

As time slipped away, Richard, driven by desperation, resolved to seize control of the situation. The simplicity of his plan masked the arduous process that lay ahead. Their audacious strategy entailed constructing their own version of time travel, enabling them to journey back to the moment just before they had originally stowed away the stolen artifact. Their intention was to destroy it themselves, in the manner they had wished they had done initially.

Richard's resolute determination stirred a sense of urgency within Victor, prompting him to reach out to S.T.A.R Labs and apprise them of the precarious predicament. The scientists at the renowned institution eagerly accepted the challenge. Collaborating closely with some of the most trusted minds in the field, Victor embarked on an intensive endeavor that consumed months of tireless work and countless sleepless nights. Finally, their unwavering efforts yielded a breakthrough.

The resulting machine, while not portable by any means, possessed the astonishing capability to generate a wormhole into the past. It stood as a monumental achievement in their quest for temporal manipulation.

The scientists, however, harbored reservations and insisted on conducting further tests to ensure the safety of this groundbreaking feat. After all, this was the first instance of time travel facilitated by a machine constructed within their current era, giving rise to a plethora of unknown risks.

Despite the scientists desire for additional time to conduct comprehensive tests, Richard knew that they could not afford any further delays. Originally, he had intended to be the one to embark on the mission, as per the initial plan. However, the magnitude of the wormhole caught them off guard. It had been successfully created, yet its minuscule five-inch size rendered it utterly impractical for transportation purposes.

The scientists, unwavering in their determination, posited that given more time, they could expand the wormhole to a more viable size. Yet, with time working against them, Richard devised an alternate plan, one that involved Garfield.