It has been almost a week now since the package from Slade arrived. Beast Boy has insisted that Raven take a closer look at the note. After the vision she had she doesn't want to, but now she finds herself starting to doubt those visions. Had she been able to make sense of the one she had when Terra came back Robin wouldn't have allowed her back on the team. Raven goes down the evidence room where Beast Boy had basically hidden it in plain sight. It's quite clever for the boy she thinks. She picks up the box and takes out the note. She reads over it several times. Slade has no reason to know that she's pregnant. The note came on the very day that she finally got up the nerve to take a pregnancy test. She finally dares to pick up the dagger-her hand trembles as she does so. She had intended to take her life with this scared object from Azarath. As she lifts the dagger out of the box she notices something fall to the floor. She quickly replaces the dagger then kneals down to pick up the piece of paper. It is the address of the chruch where she fled with Robin on her birthday. She quickly turns and leaves the room with the address in hand.
Cyborg stops when he sees Raven rush down the hall. He follows to make sure she's okay, but he stops when he sees her make a turn for the garage. He stays far enough behind to find out what she's doing. He watches her as she gets in the old car they used for errands before he built the T-car. He lets her leave before getting into the T-car and following from a safe distance.
*****
Raven looks around before finally pushing open the doors of the church. She finds it deserted-which doesn't suprise her for this time of night. She jumps startled as the doors close behind her. This is one place that she doesn't feel comfortable being since she was sired by a demon from the 8th level of hell. She turns around thinking that this was a mistake--she has to stifle a scream when she finds a man wearing an eye patch over one eye and dressed as a priest behind her.
"I was beginning to think that you would not come."
"Slade?"
"They are watching you."
"Who are they?"
"Your father's cult. I'm sure you can guess what they want."
Raven places her hands protectivly over her stomach. "No...no they can't have her. I won't let them take her."
"One will come to protect you, but you must be careful of who you trust."
"What do you mean?"
"They are out there on the streets-watching--waiting to capture you when you least expect it. Maybe not today, tomarrow, or even next week-but they will come. If they capture you there will be no way to save the world this time."
"Why are you helping?"
"Why...as I once told Robin, what your father has planned for this world, not even I would wish it. He must be stopped, and the child you carry now has to the power to either unleash him, or stop him for good."
"You couldn't have told me this when--"
"--It was not your destiny."
"Destiny!? It was once said that I was destined to destroy this world."
"And for a time you did. You should go now, Cyborg is looking for you."
"Cyborg?" Raven turns as the door to the chruch opens.
"Rae?" Cyborg looks around until he spots Raven. "I didn't know you were religous."
Raven turns back to see Slade walking away. "Neither did I. Why are you following me?"
"You didn't take it well when I set up those appointments for you. I thought...I mean--"
"--that I was trying to run away? If I were going to do that I would make sure you didn't see me. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home."
Cyborg stands back as Raven walks past him. He takes another look at the preist.
Raven stops when she reaches the old car. Slade had said to be careful whom she trusts and right now-powers or no she has a bad feeling about this doctor."
-------
Robin is still very much in shock over having awakened in a 'new' body. He doesn't like taking over someone else's life. He sits in a room now that never belonged to him-in a house where parents are glad to finally have who they think is their son back after so long. "This isn't fair."
"It could not be avoided."
"Star?"
"You must go to Raven."
"I can't just leave these people."
"Their son died over a year ago."
"They don't know that."
"Don't they?"
"Why would they keep this body alive if they knew that."
"You once lost your parents. You know how hard it is to let go, even when you know the truth."
"What happened to you? This isn't the Starfire that I remember."
"I do feel bad for these people, but the world is at stake Robin-or have you forgotten that you once went to hell to save it? Perhaps he was right after all."
"Who was right? That priest?"
"He thought that we should go to Terra, rather than trying to bring you back."
"Terra?" Robin looks up at a knock on the door.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Just thinking outloud." Robin takes a deep breath-it's now or never. "There is something I need to talk to you about."
