Close As Tomorrow

Ok, remember what I said about the holidays being a bad time of year for me? Well, I've just finished decorating my Christmas tree with my parents and sister, so I've decided that its time for me to write the sequel to Merry Christmas, Slade. Aren't you happy? It may or may not have multiple chapters… We'll find out soon.

Anyways, I got this idea at church from a song the band sang (entitled, predictably, "Close As Tomorrow"). I've used, and modified the chorus a little for the story, but you'll recognize it when you see it.

Keep in mind, this story takes place almost exactly a year after Merry Christmas, Slade. That means it is once again Christmas. Slade and Terra have taken over most of the world, unopposed by anyone, and the bodies of the Titans rot where they lay. A small band of rebels is in the eastern US, but they're horribly outmatched and are falling fast.

You have the background, so on to the story…

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, or Close As Tomorrow.

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She was mad. This had been going on for almost 5 months now, and there was no logical explanation.

Terra sat up in horror, drenched in sweat in her bed. She looked at her new home, the basement of the new palace of the ruler of the world, trying to remember her dream.

It had been in the caves. Beast Boy had crawled into the caves, that strange energy slowly… eating him. There was no other way to describe it. It was black, with a bright blue-white around the outside.

She watched as he staggered in, and shouted at her "body", the rock figure. He heard her shout at it that she had killed the others, and begin to laugh, shouting that the Titans were finished. She watched as he screamed in pain, and then shouted to the uncaring cavern, to Raven, to forgive him for what he had done. And she watched as his body was completely encased in blackness.

Then she had woken up.

As soon as she woke, she stalked to the shower, angry and on edge. She thought about the events of the previous year as she walked down the cave to the bathroom.

It had been one thing for her to see them before, when she had thought they were dead. That time when she had "killed" them all, one by one. That time there had never been any bodies, any proof of their deaths. But this time was different. Robin lay in plain slight, his body lying in the rocks where he had landed. In a brief walk through the tower, she had personally seen all of the other rotting bodies.

No, that isn't right, she thought as she walked into the bathroom and pulled of her clothes, preparing to shower, Starfire's body had been there along with bits of Cyborg's, but Raven's was gone… and Beast Boy's disappeared, too.

She felt like she was being watched. But she always did now. Besides, if any of them had survived, surely they'd have done something by now.

When she finished her shower, she donned her armor and walked, reading the one word written on the steamy mirror: Traitor.

As she walked down the cave to the stairs which would lead up to the "throne room" where Slade trained and held trials, she noticed a shadow follow her silently. Terra turned to stare at it, and it stopped, then slowly approached into the light. It was Robin.

The figure stared at her, silently, and she once more noticed that she could see through it slightly.

"You aren't real," she said to it, smirking, "You're all dead, and Slade and I've conquered the world."

The figure glared at her hatefully, and two more approached. They were Starfire and Cyborg.

Starfire watched her sadly, he red hair gleaming. She looked the same as she had in life.

"Whore," Terra said to the girl, then laughed at the phantom. Finally she turned to look at Cyborg.

He was the only one who looked different. He appeared all human, but she could also see the robotic elements superimposed over the real body parts. It was strange to see what he had looked like as a human, as well as a machine.

"Still hanging around?" she asked, "What is all of your people's damn problems? Can't you just accept that we've won?"

The figures faded slowly, still watching her almost sadly. She laughed again and turned to walk up the stairs.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Another visit, Apprentice?" Slade asked the teen when she entered. He sat on the throne at the end of the massive stone hall. Before him stood 5 men: 3 guards and two rebels who had been captured and were being sentenced.

"Yes, Slade," she said. She walked up to stand just to the right of her trainer, looking at the pitiful young men before her. They were both barely older than her, and were both watching Slade in terror.

"I shall not stand for rebellion," Slade said, looking at them, "but I also acknowledge the use of men such as you."

Terra looked at Slade, wondering what he was doing.

"You are the men who killed over a hundred of my robots before they managed to capture you, using minimal armaments in the process, correct?"

They stared at him blankly, and then one nodded. He had short blonde hair, trimmed and falling to just barely get into his eyes. He looked like he had been in hell for months. He was dirty and ragged, about 6 feet tall, and with calculating hazel eyes peering at them. Terra immediately knew that this man was a threat, or a valuable asset.

"I will give you an option," Slade said, leaning forward slowly, "You two, Kyle and Nathan, if I have your names right, can either work for me, or be executed by my apprentice. In any way she wishes.

Terra stepped forward, eagerly watching the boys. She was rarely given the pleasure of executions.

The second boy, a Chinese boy, looked at her. He also had short hair, although black, and he was also ragged.

"Yes, I am Nathan, and this is Kyle," he said, and after a glance at his companion, he spoke, "and we will work for you."

Terra sighed, stepping back to her normal spot. Slade laughed harshly.

"Good…" he murmured, then spoke more loudly, "bring in prisoner 114."

One of the guards left, walking quickly to fulfill Slade's command. Slade watched the two in front of him.

"I am going to show you what happens to people who fail me, so that you understand the consequences."

Moments later, a man was dragged in. He was half-starved, looking at them with mad eyes. He spoke gibberish, screaming and pointing at Slade until the guard kicked him in the stomach; he immediately curled into a fetal position on the floor.

"Apprentice," Slade said, still looking at the captives, "indulge yourself."

Terra stepped forward a glint in her eyes, she walked slowly down to the man and held out her hand. A chunk of rock flew from the wall. It was extremely sharp, and about a foot long.

Terra used her powers and "arms" of rock reach up from the floor, grabbing the man and pulling him straight. She heard the boys gasp behind her when they saw her use her powers.

She smiled at the horrified man she now held totally defenseless, then calmly cut open his stomach. His screams echoed through the massive room as his entrails spilled out onto the floor, and she saw the Chinese kid cringe in the corner of her eye; the other looked like he was going to vomit.

She continued cutting, making large gashes in his legs and arms. Finally she stepped back from the screaming man. Two large slabs of rock rose from the ground and slowly pushed together, crushing the prisoner.

His screams ended with a sickening crunch as one of his snapping ribs punctured his heart. The stones were only about 4 inches apart.

Terra walked back up to her spot, letting the rocks slip back into the ground. The body landed with a crunch of bone behind her. When she was there, she looked back at the boys. The blonde had vomited, it lay in a pool at his feet, the other looked about ready to faint.

"Do you understand?" Slade asked them dangerously.

Both boys knelt quickly, saying, "Yes, Slade."

"Then you are to immediately go to the front lines, the two of you are my newest commando squad. Dismissed."

The guards stepped back, and then helped the boys to their feet. They presented the two with uniforms and walked with them to the doors, no longer guarding them. There was no need. They knew what would happen if they rebelled.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The sky outside was dark, as the two boys walked to the airport. They knew their orders, and they knew what would happen if they disobeyed those orders.

"There it is," the blonde said, pointing to the island out in the bay. He was pointing to a red speck on shore, the body of Robin. The Tower sat in disrepair behind the body.

"Kyle, that's Robin's body," Nathan replied dubiously, looking at the speck.

"What else could it be?" Kyle said.

They stood, looking in silence, and heard a soft song echo across the water. It was the most beautiful voice they had ever seen. They listened to the tragic song.

Close as tomorrow the sun shall appear.

Freedom is coming and healing is near.

And I shall be with you, in laughter and pain,

To stand in the wind, and walk in the rain;

To walk in the rain…

They couldn't tell who was singing, but it seemed to be coming from the island. Both boys started slowly walking down to the beach, drawn by the mesmerizing voice.

Close as tomorrow, the Titan's end is here.

Freedom is coming, and your death is near.

And I shall be with you; I'll share in your pain.

We'll stands in the darkness, and fight off their reign.

We'll fight off their reign…

They reached the beach, looking at the island. Fog began to cover the bay, making everything look surreal.

Close as tomorrow the sons shall appear.

Our time is over and their time is here.

And I shall be with you, there'll be no more pain

As we watch from the darkness. We've conquered the rain.

We've conquered the rain…

The song ended, leaving the boys to look at the island in confusion. They hesitantly turned to walk to the airport, as per their orders.

And somewhere inside the tower, a green boy moved for the first time in a year, causing the weeping blue-cloaked girl who watched over him to smile.

"Welcome back, Beast Boy," Raven said to the now boy who was returning to consciousness.

Ok, how was that? Good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Please tell me, I wanna know what you're thinking of my stories.

Yeah, I know, it doesn't make sense… Raven and BB are supposed to be dead, but the next chapter should explain it.

Anyways, the song pretty much tells the plot of the rest of the story, kinda like a prophecy or something. Not everything, of course, but it outlines it.

Finally, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! The Leprechauns in my hair have demanded that in return for not launching ICBMs (basically nukes) at the Leprechauns in my pants. Do you have any idea how terrible it is to have nukes flying at your crotch?!?