The room was pitch black. Or maybe it was his blindfold. He couldn't tell. Metal restraints pinned him down to the cold steel table, making him uncomfortable. Not that his captors cared. He knew better than to try to escape-better than to let them know anything. They couldn't-they wouldn't-break him. Not again. He was stronger now. He could fight them this time... he sincerely hoped.
Beeping monitors startled him, and he involuntarily twitched. Almost instantly he could sense the presence of multiple other people gathered around his table. "The subject is awake." "It's about time, too. Come on. Get the tools ready for Experiment 71." "Yes sir." Instantly his blood ran cold, and he felt fear grip his heart. This wasn't an interrogation. This was his worst nightmare. He tried to stop it, tried to yell, scream, shout, plea, beg; anything. He couldn't wiggle his fingers. Couldn't move. Panic began to set in. Not again. Not again!
His consciousness darkened, then dimmed; just as the first of his tormentor's scalpels touched a long-healed scar that ran vertically down his chest. "Sweet dreams, Beast Boy..."
TTTTTTTTTTTTTT
The T-Car jolted down rutted roads, seemingly hitting every pothole there was. "Geez, Cy, could you drive any rougher?" "It's not me, it's the terrible roads out here!" "Well, I told you rural Africa. What did you expect, paved roads and huge cities?" "Actually, knowing Beast Boy, yeah kinda!" Raven and Starfire traded looks as the two boys continued arguing.
"They really are the ridiculous!" "What else is new, Star?" "Well, Nightwing and I are the engaged!" Raven decided against explaining the sarcasm to her; though she could swear she saw the hint of a mischievous smile on the alien's face. "Congratulations, Star! That's great news!" "Yes. Although I had hoped that I would share it under better circumstances." "Yeah, that would've been nice. It's all because that stupid greenie decided to play hookie and not answer his communicator" Raven was definitely on a less than pleasant mood; it was hot, the bugs were annoying, and Cyborg and Nightwing couldn't stop arguing! Finally she had enough.
"Okay! Yes we get it! The runt picked probably one of the only places on Earth without running water! What did you expect from someone with a negative IQ?" she demanded. Everyone else in the car shut up quite quickly, and she wished that she had done that much sooner. "Sorry Rae. We'll shut up now." "My name isn't Rae!"
Silence descended upon the car afterwards, at least until they reached the village where Beast Boy had been living. It wasn't much-merely a collaboration of some simple stick and mud huts. Not exactly the place one would expect to find an egotistical shapeshifting green person, but then again, they are in limited supply. Meaning one.
"Alright team. Let's get this over with." Nightwing sighed. "Titans go!"