7. Point of No Return

The Titans and Slade proceeded through the winding passage as quietly and cautiously as they could, with only Cyborg's shoulder lamps and Starfire's low-intensity starbolt charges to light their way. Although it was both tall and wide enough to allow them all to walk normally, it was still tight quarters, and the slightest sound seemed to echo throughout the tunnel. This, combined with the near-total darkness, made for quite a claustrophobic journey.

Beast Boy would periodically start to say something, only to be hushed by either Cyborg or Wonder Girl. Even so, the way that even their footsteps carried in here was enough to set Robin's nerves on edge – even more than they already had been.

The single exception to this was Slade, who moved with such silence and efficiency that it was unnerving. It would have been easy for the Titans to lose track of him completely, had it not been for Cyborg's and Starfire's ever-present lights on his back.

As they proceeded, Robin found himself shoulder to shoulder with Jericho, and decided to capitalize.

Do you mind if I ask you a question? His sign language was still a bit rusty, but he remembered enough to get by…and this way, he could 'talk' to the mute hero in confidence.

Jericho nodded. Go ahead, he signed, watching Robin attentively.

Robin hesitated, then gritted his teeth and plowed ahead. What Slade said back on the boat, about your brother…was that true?

The other boy nodded again. I'm afraid so. He always admired our father and wanted to be like him, even after what happened to me. To that end, he became the Ravager, and ultimately got himself killed.

Robin had to look away briefly before summoning the strength to face his mute comrade again. I'm sorry to ask you such unpleasant things. But, with this situation…

You're trying to figure out how honest my father is being with you? Jericho finished, when Robin paused.

The Boy Wonder nodded grimly. Yes, that's right. Forgive me, but…your voice. Was he…responsible…?

Jericho only paused for the briefest moment before answering. Not directly, no. My mother blamed him for what happened, but I don't hate him for it. He also lost something that day. And he winked, with his right eye.

"I see…" Robin murmured unconsciously, then realized Starfire was looking at him quizzically. "Uh, nothing, never mind," he told her hastily.

I'm not uncomfortable with the others knowing this, Jericho signed, if that's what you're worried about.

Robin shook his head. It's just…easier this way, for now, he signed. I don't have to worry about him overhearing. He nodded toward Slade's back, at the front of the procession. One last thing…while we were climbing the cliff, he…suggested something strange to me. He implied that he's never truly been our enemy, and that he's indirectly been trying to help the Titans all this time, by fighting against us. I don't trust him, but…I have to admit that some of what he said made sense, in a perverse way. Do you think…well, is this possible? Could he be telling the truth?

Jericho sighed, and appeared to think about this for a long moment before answering.

My father has always done what he believed was right, he signed, finally. The problem is, his definitions of 'right' and 'wrong' are not the same as yours and mine.

"That's an understatement," Robin muttered, then realized Starfire was looking at him again and clammed up.

They rounded a corner, and Robin saw a dim ray of light up ahead…as they drew closer, he could tell it was coming from the ceiling; another maintenance shaft like the one they'd climbed down earlier. It had to be the exit, finally.

But an unfamiliar voice suddenly brought the group to a halt.

"It took you long enough to get here, old man. I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

A single, armor-clad figure stepped into the light. He wasn't much taller than Robin, and covered head to toe in an elaborate suit of what looked like ivory plate mail, highlighted in places with decorative ruby inlays that gave off an eerie crimson glow where the light shone on him directly. An assortment of blades and other medieval weaponry hung from his belt, and he also carried a beautifully crafted ceremonial spear.

"I thought you'd be in church," Slade said, as the Titans tensed.

"I'm going to the late service," the armored figure answered readily.

Slade nodded, apparently satisfied as to this person's identity. His body language relaxed visibly and he stepped forward so that he was between the newcomer and the Titans, then turned back to address them.

"Allow me to introduce my agent…Sebastian," he announced, as the armored figure nodded in greeting.

"What, like the singing crab?" Beast Boy asked.

Slade ignored him. "He'll lead us the rest of the way to the H.I.V.E.'s base of operations, and help us to infiltrate the facility."

"What's with the fancy getup?" Cyborg asked.

"I'm one of Brother Blood's personal bodyguards," Sebastian replied. "He counts me among his most loyal and trusted followers. An obvious advantage for our purposes, here."

"Uh-huh." Cyborg rubbed his chin skeptically. "Hey, Slade. How do you know Blood hasn't secretly hypnotized your boy, here, and turned him into a double double-agent? He's tricky like that."

"We've taken precautions," Slade answered. "Sebastian is immune to Brother Blood's mind-affecting powers."

"Really? Y'don't say. And how's that, exactly?"

"It's…complicated," Sebastian said, "but rest assured, what he says is true."

"Maybe we'd like to know details," Wonder Girl insisted.

"And you shall have them, soon enough," Slade interrupted. "But first, we should proceed to a vantage point up ahead, where we can plan our strategy."

Robin eyed the two of them thoughtfully, trying to discern any hint of treachery. Slade was as unreadable as ever, and Sebastian's features were completely hidden under his armor, but his body language didn't convey any obvious warning signs.

He glanced over at Raven, wordlessly asking for her assessment. She caught his eye, and pointedly looked away.

He scowled. "All right, then…let's go."


The access tunnel brought them up to a cave at the base of the mountain, which must have been used to store emergency supplies a half-century earlier. Like the maintenance shaft and the radar nest, it was littered with time-worn relics of an era long gone, among them a number of wooden crates labeled with kanji. The mouth of the cave was almost completely hidden by vegetation, which would hopefully allow them to remain unseen until they were ready to make their move.

Slade silently moved to the front of the cave, his back to the wall, and peered between the vines which hung across the entrance. Robin dropped to the floor and did the same a few feet away, keeping as low as possible and trying to ignore the way Slade's proximity made his skin crawl.

An overgrown trail led away from the cave's entrance and out into a wet, grassy field. It was still raining and the sun hung low in the sky below the dark clouds overhead, nearly disappearing behind the treetops and casting long shadows across the landscape. A bit over a hundred yards away, the earth sloped gently into a large, moss-covered mound…with a low, dark, but unmistakably man-made doorway just barely visible on one side.

"There's the bunker," Slade observed quietly.

Robin studied the view intently. His trained eyes quickly picked out several H.I.V.E. troopers patrolling the area in staggered intervals, their distinctive yellow-and-black body armor painted with camouflage patterns to blend into the environment.

They definitely hadn't come all this way for nothing, that much was certain.

Cyborg crouched next to him, careful to keep his reflective surface panels out of the dwindling sunlight. "I count four sentries," he whispered, "and if they have any electronic security measures in place, I can't see 'em from here."

The three of them silently pulled back from the entrance and rejoined the others toward the back of the cave.

"Okay, the bunker entrance is about a hundred yards away," Robin told them, keeping his voice low. "We spotted four H.I.V.E. sentries patrolling the area above ground. It's pretty open between here and the bunker, but it looks like the grass might be tall enough to provide decent cover if we keep low and move slowly." He looked at Sebastian. "What can you tell us about their security, and what kind of opposition are we looking at down below?"

"There's a large access shaft leading down from the old bunker itself, which connects the main levels of the H.I.V.E. base," the armored figure replied, drawing a crude diagram in the dirt with his finger. "The actual base branches off from there, and is quite extensive. It goes down about half a mile altogether. Physical security is fairly light, with the base being as well-hidden as it is. The only thing I'm aware of is an active laser grid crisscrossing the main shaft."

"If there's a laser grid," Cyborg cut in, "how do you and those other grunts get in and out without tripping it?"

Sebastian detached a small, practically unnoticeable device from his armor. "IFF transponders," he replied. "They interrupt the lasers when we pass through them. Those guards should each be carrying one."

Robin nodded. "Alright, good. What about their garrison strength?"

"All together, there are about a hundred on-site," Sebastian said as he reattached his transponder. "A quarter of those are Brother Blood's personal entourage, like me. The rest are either H.I.V.E. soldiers or technicians. There are some mechanized infantry, but it's difficult to keep an accurate count of those, since many of them are shipped out to other locations as soon as they're assembled. There are also a handful of recent Academy graduates and, of course, Psimon and Brother Blood, himself. I'm sure you'd consider them the main threats."

"Academy graduates?" Wonder Girl repeated. "You mean, like the H.I.V.E. Five? Kids with powers?"

Sebastian nodded. "I think there are more than five of them, though."

"Yeah, their math isn't so good," Beast Boy grunted.

"Like yours is," Raven sniped. "Where's the girl, then?"

"There's a holding area about halfway down," Sebastian answered, pointing to a spot in the middle of his drawing. "I believe they're keeping her there."

"Alright, well…what's the plan?" Beast Boy asked, after pausing to stick his tongue out at Raven.

Slade raised a hand. "If I may offer a suggestion…?"

Robin gritted his teeth. "What is it?"

"I think it would be beneficial for Joseph to…utilize Sebastian, and slip into the base undetected. That way, he'll be able to gather information, monitor the enemy's activities, and help the rest of us gain access to the facility when the opportunity presents itself."

"Utilize?" Cyborg repeated, scratching his head. "What, you mean with that body-jumping trick of his?"

But Jericho was shaking his head. First, I told you to call me Jericho, he signed. Second, it won't work. I may be able to control his body, but as long as he's conscious, I won't be able to control his speech.

"Actually, I think you'll find that advantageous," Slade calmly answered. "Being a member of Brother Blood's private guard, Sebastian is versed in all of their security protocols, rituals and codes of conduct. He'll be able to actively guide you, and if necessary, he'll also be able to speak for you if you are questioned."

Jericho eyed the armored figure, clearly skeptical.

"No way!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "Send him in there all by himself, with no backup or nothing?! You've gotta be kidding-!"

"The danger to our silent friend would be unacceptable!" Starfire added.

"…It's a good plan," Robin said quietly, already hating himself for it as six-and-a-half pairs of eyes turned to stare at him in disbelief.

"I know it's a risk," he sighed, "but if one of us could sneak in there undetected, get the lay of the land and locate Rose before we try a full frontal assault, we'd have a much better chance of getting her out safely. And if that person can also help the rest of us slip in unnoticed, so much the better. After Rose is out, then we can cut loose and bust up Blood's operation. But as long as they're holding her hostage, we need to try to avoid a destructive battle if we can help it. I don't like it any more than the rest of you, but Slade's right. Jericho's unique ability makes him the perfect man for this job."

"I see you've thought this through," Raven remarked, her tone neutral.

Robin nodded grimly. "I have."

Jericho sighed, and for the first time that Robin had observed, he looked genuinely sad. So…this is why you were happy to see me, he signed, regarding his father with an air of bitterness. I should have known.

Slade leaned back against the cave wall, crossed his arms and said nothing.

"Look, dude…you don't have to do this, if you don't want to," Beast Boy insisted, giving Jericho a pleading look.

The blond youth looked back at him for a moment, then smiled sadly and shook his head. Yes…yes, I do, he signed after a brief pause. And I will. Because I'm the only one who can.

Robin squared his jaw and nodded again. "Thank you for understanding."

"Not to interrupt this touching and heroic moment," Sebastian cut in, "but there's a shift change in ten minutes. I'll be expected back before then."

Cyborg shifted uncomfortably, then addressed Jericho. "Alright, well, if we're gonna do this, let me…" He suddenly broke off and looked at Robin. "Wait a sec, do you need to translate or anything?"

I'm mute, not deaf! Jericho signed.

Robin shook his head. "He can hear you fine, he just can't talk is all."

"Oh." Cyborg looked embarrassed as he turned back to the blond Titan. "Sorry 'bout that. Anyways, you've got your communicator, right?"

Jericho nodded, holding up the small yellow device.

"Okay, good. Lemme just take a minute and show you a couple things, here…"

While Cyborg went over some of the communicator's more obscure functions, Sebastian stood up. Facing Raven, he bowed slightly, much to Robin's and her surprise.

"Milady," he said, "it's been an honor to bask in your presence."

She blinked in confusion for a few seconds, then waved a dismissive hand at him. "Whatever. Break a leg."

The armored figure chuckled. "Thank you, I shall." Then he turned toward the cave's entrance, pausing a few steps short of it to wait for Jericho.

"Alright, we're good to go," Cyborg announced as he and the green-eyed musician climbed to their feet.

Sebastian spread his arms wide. "Then, I'm all yours."

Jericho nodded firmly and squared his shoulders, his posture one of determination. He paused one last time to look over his shoulder, grin, and flash a 'V' sign at the rest of the team.

"Be careful," Wonder Girl told him.

After giving her a brief nod, Jericho stepped up to Sebastian and stared intently into his helmet's tinted visor.

Contact.

Sebastian stiffened briefly as Jericho's body suddenly turned intangible, and then quickly merged into his.

Beast Boy shook his head. "This sucks and everything, but…I still can't get over how cool that is."

"Hm." Despite himself, Robin smirked in agreement.

"Well…that is an odd sensation…" Sebastian muttered, as he – or, rather, Jericho – looked down at his hands, flexing and clenching them, getting a feel for his 'new' body.

Suddenly, his head snapped up to look at Robin and Slade. There is…some kind of wall around his mind! He signed, clearly alarmed. His thoughts, his memories…they're hidden from me!

"Very perceptive," Sebastian remarked, apparently able to follow Jericho's sign language.

Robin frowned. "I take it this isn't…normal?"

Slade was nodding to his son, meanwhile. "The 'wall' you refer to is precisely what shields him from Brother Blood's influence and Psimon's scrutiny," he replied, his tone reassuring. "And as long as you're in there, it will shield you from them, as well."

"You see?" Sebastian said, as his body, under Jericho's control, appeared to hesitate. Which was surreal to watch, to say the least. "It is an ideal situation."

Finally, Jericho/Sebastian straightened up, his determined posture returning. Okay then, let's get this over with, he signed.

Robin nodded. "Okay. Get in there, gather as much information as you can, and report back to us by communicator in one hour. If we don't hear from you by then, we're coming in after you. Got it?"

"You should give him more time," Slade argued. "A single hour may not be enough for him to…"

"One, hour," Robin repeated firmly.

Jericho nodded in agreement, and stepped toward the mouth of the cave.

"Jo—Jericho. One last thing," Slade said.

Jericho stopped just short of the exit, half-turning to look back at his father with what Robin guessed was not a pleasant expression, under Sebastian's helmet.

Slade's voice was quiet, but insistent. "I know I've caused you pain, and given you plenty of reasons to hate me. I don't expect your forgiveness. But please, listen to what I'm about to tell you. If anything goes wrong in there…no matter what happens, no matter what you see or hear, you must stay hidden at all costs. If something should happen to the rest of us, you will be our only hope. Do you understand?"

The armored figure stared at him for a moment, then nodded briefly and ducked outside, accompanied by another timely rumble of thunder.

Robin and Slade returned to their lookout positions to watch their comrade wade through the tall grass, climb up the hill and disappear through the bunker's entrance. The H.I.V.E. sentries didn't pay him a second glance. As soon as he was out of view, Robin released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"So far, so good," Slade murmured.

Robin cast a bemused glance at him, then shook his head and slid back away from the cave's entrance. The others were awkwardly settling in to wait for Jericho's signal, with Raven the furthest back, levitating and probably trying to meditate. Robin caught Beast Boy's eye.

"It'd be good if you could scout the area while we're waiting, and make sure there aren't any other guards that Cyborg and I didn't spot," he told the green shape-shifter when he came over.

Beast Boy nodded, surprisingly serious. "On it," he replied, before shifting into a snake and slithering out of the cave. As his tail disappeared from view, Cyborg sat down next to Robin.

"I guess all we can do now is wait," Robin murmured, glancing up at his large teammate.

"Yeah…" Cyborg sighed. Though he seemed outwardly agreeable, Robin knew him well enough to tell that he was far from comfortable with this whole plan. "I probably don't have to tell you this," he muttered after a moment, lowering his voice, "but I've got a bad feeling about this, man."

"You're right," Robin grunted, looking back toward the mouth of the cave. "You didn't have to tell me."


Starfire sat on a box toward the back of the cave, and watched Robin and Cyborg do the Angry Whispering. Although they had seemed to be in agreement only minutes earlier, it was clear, now, that they were not. She wanted to go and calm them, to somehow bring them back into harmony, but…she was uncertain how to. And furthermore, she suspected they would not be receptive, even if she tried.

It made her feel…small, unimportant, and horribly unnecessary.

As if sensing her discomfort, Wonder Girl sat down next to her and nudged her sympathetically. "You've been awfully quiet," she observed.

"I did not wish to disturb Robin while he was planning our strategy," Starfire replied, while also trying to convince herself that was the only reason.

Wonder Girl raised an eyebrow, then looked over at Robin and Cyborg, who were still unsuccessfully attempting to conceal the abrasive tone of their current exchange.

"It doesn't look to me like he needs your help in that area…being disturbed, I mean," the dark-haired Amazon remarked quietly. "I gather this isn't how most of your other missions would normally go, huh?"

Starfire frowned, hoping her inner misery was not overtly obvious. "On a 'normal' mission, we would be more likely to be fighting against Slade, rather than travelling with him."

"Hmm." Wonder Girl nodded slowly, her gaze shifting to their uneasy ally, where he remained stationed at the cave's entrance. "I hope it doesn't turn out to be a mistake."

"While none of us trust Slade, I believe Robin has properly measured the mass of all situational variables, and chosen the most prudent course of action."

Wonder Girl's eyebrows came together in confusion. "'Measured the mass of'…oh, you mean he's weighed all the possibilities?"

"Er…yes." Starfire nodded, slightly embarrassed. Even after all this time, it seemed her grasp of English, and its more informal expressions, was still lacking.

Finally, Cyborg stood up, made a final inaudible comment to Robin, and then moved to the opposite side of the cave. In response, Robin turned his head away quickly in what Starfire had come to recognize as a mannerism indicating frustration and anger.

Beside her, Wonder Girl sighed. "I can imagine how much pressure he must be feeling," she murmured. "I know he feels responsible for the team's safety, and it's clear that no one is exactly happy with his decision to cooperate with Slade." She smiled at Starfire. "I'm sure he's especially grateful to have you standing with him, at a time like this."

"I…" The Tamaranean princess faltered. "Truly, I would like nothing better than to go to him, and ask him to share his thoughts and feelings about this mission with me. But…I do not think he would be willing to. Right now, the mask which covers his eyes is not the only mask he is wearing."

Wonder Girl frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Presently, he is also wearing the mask of the Leader," Starfire explained. "It is a persona he frequently uses to hide his true thoughts and feelings. When there is danger, he feels that he cannot afford to reveal those things to our enemies…nor even to his friends, at times." As hard as she tried, she was unable to completely disguise the raw hurt in her voice, at the end.

The other girl gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze. "It's hard…when you care about someone, but they won't let you help them. Isn't it?"

Starfire glanced over at her, then back toward Robin. "Earlier, I saw him conversing with Jericho, in the language of dancing fingers. But when he noticed my attention, he pretended they were not. I…do not understand why he would do that."

Suddenly, she realized that her confusion was becoming a ball of misery growing in her stomach, threatening to weigh her down. She recalled what had happened during her flight with Cyborg, and made a mental effort to banish these feelings while also forcing herself to straighten up and smile.

"But…but, I cannot allow myself to dwell on these things! At least, not right now. It will accomplish nothing. I must be confident and focused, if I am to contribute to our assured victory. For the sake of the Titans, if not for myself."

Wonder Girl looked concerned. "Because of your powers, you mean?"

Starfire nodded. "Like all Tamaraneans, many of my abilities are both fueled and influenced by my emotional state…somewhat like Raven, in a sense."

At that, they both cast an inadvertent glance toward the back of the cave, where the other female Titan sat, hovering a few feet off the ground. She appeared to be in a meditative trance, or at least trying to attain one.

The Amazon gazed thoughtfully at their blue-shrouded friend for a long moment, before looking back at Starfire. "That may be so, but…it doesn't mean you have to deny or suppress the things you're feeling, the way she does. You should own your feelings, Starfire. They're honest, and they give you strength."

The Tamaranean princess stared at her friend for several seconds with unabashed awe. "There is…much wisdom in your words," she said at last, smiling, and trying as hard as she could to feel it.


Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

Raven sat cross-legged, shrouded in her damp cloak, silently repeating the mantra to herself while trying to meditate. It was hardly the ideal environment for it, but she needed to use what time she had to try to bring herself back into balance as best she could.

So she sat, alone, at the very back of the cold, dusty cave, as the perpetual drizzle continued outside and unknown dangers lurked below. Closed her eyes, levitated and focused inward, searching for her too-elusive center, separating herself mentally from everything around her and striving to block it all out.

The fighting hadn't even started yet, they had yet to face their expected enemies, and already she was tired, she was sore, she was wet and she was cold.

She breathed in her discomfort…breathed it out…and let it fall away.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

Her companions, her friends, her family. The most important people in her world, and she loved each of them, in different ways. But as deeply as she cared for them…that was also how deeply they could hurt her, without ever knowing it. The turmoil of their emotions was so difficult to keep at bay, especially when her own emotions were already so raw and inflamed, weakening her mental barriers that much further. She wouldn't be able to block them indefinitely, and isolating herself was simply not an option right now, and probably wouldn't be for hours yet to come. But…but, perhaps if she could parse through them, focus on one at a time, she could filter some of it, find a way to adapt. Yes…in any case, she could see no other choice.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

Wonder Girl was both physically closest to her, and also the most emotionally removed from the rest of the team. Ironically, she felt like more of an outsider in the group than Raven was used to feeling, herself. But in this case, that could be a genuine advantage. She was certainly uneasy about the mission and unsure about her place in the team dynamic, yes. But compared with the rest of the Titans, her emotional state was like a calm, tranquil island in the middle of a raging sea. While apprehensive, she was also resolute. Her inner strength and clarity were remarkable, and Raven was grateful for the chance to draw on them.

She breathed in that strength…breathed it out…and held fast to it.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

Next was Cyborg, the self-appointed 'big brother' of the other Titans. More than anyone else except Robin, he always felt responsible for them all, to some extent. And while his emotions often ran high, there was always a gentle, protective undercurrent beneath them that Raven had learned to appreciate.

But…right now, he was agitated. Much more so than he would allow anyone else to see. And not because of his annoyance with Robin over their current strategy or some perceived slight; that was only a smoke screen. The truth was…Cyborg was scared. He was really scared, and growing more so by the hour. He would never admit it, probably not even to himself, but the closer they came to their inevitable confrontation with Brother Blood, the more his sense of dread increased.

Raven had never sensed anything close to this from Cyborg before, and…it unnerved her, to say the least. It was almost as though he was expecting something really horrible to happen, for reasons she couldn't fathom, and didn't think she wanted to.

She breathed in that fear…breathed it out…and turned away from it.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

Then there was Beast Boy, who was still scouting around outside in one animal form or another. His emotions were slightly harder to discern when he wasn't human, though still distinctive and recognizable. But regardless of that, she was already acutely aware of what he'd been feeling ever since they'd encountered Slade that morning. And it could best be characterized as a mixture of distrust and simmering, but controlled, anger. It overrode most of his usual social anxieties, which was why he seemed so unusually focused on the mission at hand, and that wasn't necessarily bad.

He'd also been very worried ever since the incident that afternoon between herself and Robin, though not in the same anxious way that Cyborg was. In fact, she found it…oddly comforting, which surprised her. Strange to think that, after Wonder Girl, it seemed to be Beast Boy who was presently faring the best among them, emotionally. He'd really come a long way from the nervous, insecure kid he'd been when they all first met him.

She breathed in that concern…breathed it out…and tucked it away.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

Speaking of Robin. Raven felt closer to him on many levels, and he meant something more to her, than any of the others. And he had, for some time.

Which was why his apparent distrust had cut her so very deeply.

It had taken her completely by surprise. The way he'd confronted her on the beach and all but demanded to know if what Slade had told them, about her father's inevitable return, was true. With the unspoken follow-up questions 'Why didn't you tell me?' and 'What else have you been holding back?' right behind it, had she waited long enough for him to ask them.

She just couldn't believe he'd do that to her, after everything. That Slade's assertions were pretty much dead on was irrelevant. If Robin had concerns, he could have waited until after this mission was over, he could have talked to her in private when they were all safely and comfortably back at the Tower. Instead, he'd chosen to put her on the spot, on a cold, rainy beach in the middle of the Pacific, and in front of their worst enemy, to boot. Practically at his prompting, no less.

It wasn't enough that she had to endure the presence of this man whom they all hated, and with good reason, and the way everyone else felt about his proximity, too. Or that she'd hardly been able to find a moment of real, genuine privacy in weeks. Or that she'd had to put up with being constantly reminded, nearly every hour of every day for at least the past month, of Robin's and Starfire's euphoric realization of their feelings for one another. And how…shamefully depressing she'd found their happiness to be.

And now, that he would look at her with such uncertainty, such doubt, and such dismay. This, on top of everything else.

It had just been more than she could take.

And what was worse, she'd scarcely felt a hint of sympathy or remorse from him in the hours since then. But then, he'd been in such a heightened state of tension and paranoia – all of his attention fixated on Slade, his brain undoubtedly working overtime trying to anticipate any way he might conceivably double-cross them – that he probably hadn't spared it a second thought.

All that thought and effort spent on analysis, deduction, and strategy…and he was blind to what Slade was already doing to them, simply by being there.

She breathed in that paranoia…breathed it out…and pushed it away.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

As for Slade…she had been consciously trying to avoid focusing on him too much, all day. Because whenever she did, all she could feel or think about was how much she hated him. She'd meant what she said to Robin about him that morning, and every word she'd told Slade, himself, during the sea voyage. For all the pain, humiliation, and grief he'd caused…both herself, and each one of her friends…she sincerely wanted to kill him, painfully, and so badly she could almost taste it. In fact, she couldn't think of another human being for whom she felt such all-consuming hatred.

She felt her eyelids starting to burn, imagined Him beginning to smile, and quickly decided it was time to shift her focus.

She breathed in that hatred…breathed it out…and, with all her strength, forced it down and denied it.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.

Finally…Starfire. Her best, most unlikely friend. The first and, for the most part, still the only other Titan to ever show a genuine interest in Raven's history, her habits, and her reasons for being the way she was.

Of all the people she knew, no one else experienced life with such vivid immediacy, or felt things with such unrestrained passion, as did Starfire. When they'd first met, just being around her had often felt like sensory overload, especially having just come from the reserved climate of Azarath. But eventually, Raven came to admire Starfire for her passions. And, not infrequently, she envied her for them, as well.

On rare occasions, but more often of late…she even caught herself hating her for them. That she was free to feel, to live with such glorious abandon, while Raven herself was forced to hide away from those same things, always a step removed from everyone and everything.

And when she found herself feeling that way, she hated herself for it.

But right now…Starfire felt anxious, isolated, brushed aside. Lonely. These were not things Raven was accustomed to sensing from her Tamaranean friend…though she was all too familiar with them, on her own terms.

Being an empath sometimes made it difficult for her to distinguish her own emotions from those of others. And Starfire's present mood was bringing Raven face to face with things that she spent most of her time trying not to allow herself to feel.

It was pointless to dwell on her own, omnipresent feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and loneliness. She was fundamentally different from other people; this was a fact, and no amount of wishes or lamentations would change that. As such, she couldn't reasonably expect to have the same kind of life or relationships that others did. Not now, and probably not ever. Her emotional limitations were too great; she knew she couldn't offer another person the same things she longed for, herself. And furthermore, it was simply too dangerous. She couldn't afford the risk, not after what had happened the one time she'd allowed herself to give in to these feelings…to wish impossible things.

But even so, in spite of every rationalization she could muster…sometimes, no matter what she tried, it still caught up with her. And when it did, it hurt. So. Much.

So much that she would find herself wishing desperately and beyond all reason, simply for a strong arm to support her…to comfort her…to hold her, and grant her the peace and understanding that nothing else ever could.

Even if that arm was only made of paper and lies.

She breathed in the endless pain…breathed it out…and swallowed it.

Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos.


Robin checked his stopwatch for the fifteenth time. Fifty-seven minutes, and counting. Scowling, he wondered if anything was going to go according to plan today.

He glanced around the cave. Cyborg was still sulking along the opposite wall, where he'd been since their earlier argument, while Starfire and Wonder Girl sat on the crates further back, chatting quietly, and Raven meditated at the very back. Beast Boy had returned half an hour earlier to report that he'd only seen the four guards Robin and Cyborg had already spotted, and then went back out again to keep watch.

Steeling himself, Robin caught the eyes of each of his teammates in turn, pointing meaningfully to his watch. They got the message, and began readying themselves for what was to come next.

Fifty-eight minutes. Robin checked his communicator for the eleventh time, making sure it was on, functioning properly, and hadn't somehow missed Jericho's expected call. Yes, yes, and no. Just like every other time he'd checked it.

He crawled forward to the mouth of the cave until he was just across from Slade, who hadn't moved from his lookout post in the past hour. "See anything?" Robin asked him quietly.

"Nothing unexpected," Slade replied, without turning to face him. "The guards have continued their patrol, apparently unaware of our presence, or of Beast Boy shadowing them. He can be a useful asset, can't he?"

Robin ignored the comment. "The hour's nearly up. We're going to have to move."

Slade sighed. "I still maintain that we should give him more time."

"Yeah, well, you're not one of us, so you don't get a vote," Robin snapped, his patience nearly exhausted. He'd been putting up with his friends' doubts and second-guessing all day; he wasn't about to take it from Slade. "Anyway, don't you even care that your son might be in trouble?"

"Or he might be in a briefing, or listening to one of Brother Blood's interminable sermons, or any of a dozen other situations that would preclude his being able to radio out within the very limited time window you insisted on," Slade countered. "Besides, he knew the risk going in."

"We agreed on one, hour," Robin grated. "He knew that, too, so he'll be expecting us. The Titans don't leave their friends twisting in the wind."

A flash of lightning from outside momentarily highlighted Slade's silhouette. "And what if you're charging headlong into a trap?"

Robin snorted. "That's a risk we accepted the minute we agreed to cooperate with you, this morning. Besides, since when have you been so cautious?"

"I've always been cautious. It's the main reason I've lived this long."

"Is that so…" Robin stopped, suddenly sensing the kind of opening he'd been waiting for all day. "You know…I kind of wondered why you stayed quiet for such a long time, after Trigon was defeated. But I think I just figured it out. When all is said and done…without Trigon's power, or Cinderblock, or an army of robots or demons to back you up…you're really just all talk, aren't you?"

Slade's eye, and only his eye, moved to stare at him. "I don't think you want to go down this road, Robin," he said, his voice deadly calm.

But Robin wasn't about to let it go; not after having finally found a chink in Slade's armor. "That's it, isn't it? To think, I almost bought that garbage about the capable threat, and you passing up all kinds of chances to kill us. What a joke."

Slade stared at him for several seconds, unblinking. Another flash of lightning, followed by another low rumble of thunder.

Robin's stopwatch beeped. The hour was up.

As soon as it did, Slade pushed away from the wall. Robin's training and reflexes took over and he leapt back into a defensive stance, peripherally aware of the rest of the Titans jumping to their feet behind him.

Slade stood there for a moment, continuing to stare at him, but making no aggressive movements. Then, he abruptly turned and strode out of the cave.

The Titans simply stared after him for a full three seconds, eyes wide and mouths agape, unable to believe what they'd just seen.

"What th-?!" Cyborg began, while another well-timed thunderclap censored Robin's own exclamation as he lunged toward the cave's entrance, nearly forgetting to stop himself short and just peer through the vine cover to avoid revealing their position.

Slade, meanwhile, appeared to have no such concerns, as he was walking straight toward the bunker and the H.I.V.E. patrol without even trying to conceal himself. As such, the guards spotted him immediately.

"Halt! Who goes there?" the nearest one barked, as all four raised their energy carbines.

"I surrender," Slade called out, raising his hands and continuing to approach them.

"What is he doing?!" Cyborg whispered, he and the girls having crowded in behind Robin at the cave's entrance.

"We have to move," Robin snarled, reaching for his concussion disks. "If those guards radio in-!"

Meanwhile, as the lead guard moved toward Slade, the one farthest back let out a surprised grunt as he suddenly found himself in the coils of a giant green anaconda.

This drew the attention of the other three troopers for a split second, which was all Slade needed to close the distance between himself and the patrol leader, seize him in a chokehold and use the man's own weapon to put the third guard out of commission.

The fourth guard looked back and forth helplessly, clearly trying to choose between firing on Slade or Beast Boy, who was rapidly choking his own target unconscious. The point became moot as Raven's shadowy talons rose out of the ground beneath the last trooper's feet and rendered him catatonic.

"What are you thinking?!" Robin exploded as he burst out of the cave with the rest of the team on his heels. "If they'd called in an alert-!"

"Which they didn't, thanks to Beast Boy and Raven," Slade interrupted, still restraining the struggling patrol leader. "I'd suggest gathering the transponders, so we can proceed."

Cyborg hastily did so as Robin stared at Slade, seething. The older man met his gaze steadily, his demeanor eerily calm despite the sputtering soldier thrashing in his grip.

"I take it Jericho's time is up," Beast Boy observed, having returned to human form. "So, are we done here, or what?"

"That would seem to be the question," Slade remarked, when Robin didn't answer immediately.

"Yeah, we're done," the Boy Wonder growled, and pointed to the guard Slade was holding. "Put him out, and let's move."

"Very well," Slade replied.

Before the Titans could react, he abruptly lifted the H.I.V.E. trooper over his head, then slammed him down over his knee with enough force to shatter the man's spinal column.

"What are you doing?!" Robin demanded as he snapped out his staff, nearly on the verge of attacking Slade, while his friends gasped as the older man let the trooper's now-lifeless body slump to the ground.

"Making a point," Slade answered evenly. "Cinderblock and my robots served to protect you…not me."

His hand shaking with rage, Robin pointed to the body at Slade's feet. "We…don't…do…that," he grated through clenched teeth.

"Of course you don't," Slade replied smoothly. "But I'm not one of you, am I?"

With that, he turned and strode up the hill to the bunker's entrance, pausing at the door to glance over his shoulder at the stunned heroes.

"Are you coming?"


Author's Note:

-In addition to all the usual things, The Phiend deserves extra credit here for coming up with the design of Sebastian's armor.

-Many thanks also to everyone who has reviewed, and continues to review, this story. It gives me extra motivation to keep plugging away at it, heh.