Woo hoo! Here's the neeeew chapter!
Chapter 9: The army grows
"Stop!"
Robin's voice was the only thing to be heard on the entire Main street of Jump City. It felt almost like when they were younger. It was different when they were just teenagers fighting evil. Back then, not everyone believed in them. But they showed everyone time and again that nothing can stop them; that they'll always defend the defenseless and do everything in their power to restore balance where there was none left.
They had their own formation that scared away any evil doer that had encountered the Titans at least once. Robin was standing in the middle of his team, Starfire and Beast Boy next to him, Cyborg next to Starfire and Raven next to Beast Boy.
"Oh, not you brats again... Why can't people mind their own business today?"
"This is our business!" said Robin.
" 's been like that for almost a decade..." said Cyborg.
"So as you can guess... We have some experience in dealing with the ultimate evil."
"Yeees... Just like last time, eh?"
Raven's eyes narrowed. One more word coming from that low life and she's going to show him what evil really looks like... In the darkest dimension of all.
"So then... Shall we get this over with, kids?" asked The Collector smirking.
"Azarath..." started Raven in a calm voice as if she was meditating.
"Wait..." said Robin.
"You want him to attack us first with those freakish powers of his?" asked Beast Boy.
"Just give me a second..." said Robin.
"Robin... I swear if something happens to Raven..." growled Beast Boy so that only Robin could hear him. Robin pretended to ignore him, pushing the thought of Beast Boy going beast mode on him to the back of his mind.
"Okay... So if you're such a skilled fighter as you claim to be... And you have so much power... Why do you work for Trigon?"
"Because in the end... His greatest power will be his downfall. Don't you see? He's worthless without his children. The last encounter with Raven left him powerless. I myself am more powerful now... So... I am going to take his place as the ruler of all... But before I can do that... I need his armies... And once I have them... Everything you know... Even you will be history."
"And you think you'll get away with that? You're deluded..." said Raven. "He's never going to give you enough power to defeat him... Once that army is built, you'll be nothing but a pawn... A toy he'll toss away for a new one..."
"You can't possibly understand how I will succeed... But I will..."
"You won't... Because you're not waking away this time!" snapped Raven. She looked at Robin and he nodded.
"GO!"
And the fight began. The Titans charged. Starfire and Raven shot green and dark bolts at him. Robin readied his staff and attacked with such speed that the villain could barely dodge. Beast Boy transformed into a cheetah... And Cyborg delivered one punch after another. They seemed to be winning... But they knew they were a long way from that.
"You haven't learned your lesson I see..."
"What can we say... We're slow learners." said Robin gesturing a signal with his left hand. The Titans jumped out of the way as the Collector threw a fireball at them.
"Boring..." said Beast Boy.
"Beast Boy!" said Raven tilting her head just slightly towards the enemy. The boy understood. After all, over the years, the Titans developed a sign language of their own. Sort of a body language, so they could actually plan a diversion or an attack in the middle of a battle and the enemy wouldn't even know what was happening.
"On it!" he answered as he ran towards the villain, creating a diversion. Raven teleported herself behind the Collector and while he dodged the changelings attack and had to look out for sonic blasts and star bolts, she put a hand on his shoulder and gritting her teeth, she sent an electric shock trough his body. He roared in pain and fell to the ground holding his shoulder.
"Wow, Rae... When did you learn that?" asked Cyborg.
"Just now, I guess..." said Raven.
"He is not dead is he?" asked Starfire.
"No... Just out of it... He'll be fine. But he won't be a problem from now on." answered Raven as she opened opened a portal. Someone stepped trough it.
"Raven! Nice to see you again." said a tall figure with white robes.
"Likewise." said the girl smiling. "Would you mind taking care of him?" asked Raven.
"Not at all... It's about time we put him out of commission."
"Thank you." said Raven.
The Collector was surrounded by a bright light and disappeared.
"We'll be in touch, my student." said the figure and stepped trough the portal. Raven closed it and faced her friends.
"Who was that?"asked Robin.
"Azar." she said still smiling. "She's going to help us with this war."
"Wait... THAT Azar? The one with the order that imprisoned Trigon and stuff." asked Cyborg.
"Yes." said Raven.
"And you used to be her student?" asked Beast Boy.
"Yes... Not for a long time... But the most important things I've ever learned, I've learned from her."
"And she's going to help us?" asked Robin.
"The whole order will be reunited." said Raven.
"How do you know that?" asked Starfire.
"Telepathy." said Raven.
"Okay... So let's say we understand how Raven can break every law of physics and logic and all... So... The butt kicking 's over and it's just passed midnight... Time for donuts!" said Cyborg making the others laugh.
"I'll see you back at the Tower." said Raven in her usual monotone.
"What? Tomorrow's not your birthday... It's not! I know it's not! Don't tell me I forgo-" started Beast Boy, before Raven stopped his rant.
"Kidding." she said.
"Since when do you..." asked Beast Boy.
"Oh come on BB... Stop ruining this wonderful moment and lets go... I'm hungry!" said Cyborg.
The Titans followed the battle plan. Donuts and jokes for dinner after a job well done. Raven and Robin seemed to be deep in thought though. The others noticed right away the silence.
"What's eatin' you two?" asked Cyborg.
"There was something off about The Collector... I don't know how to explain this..." said Raven biting her lower lip as she resumed her train of thought.
"Yea... He didn't even put up a fight... It was too easy."
"You're not suggesting that we just beat someone else, are you?" asked Beast Boy.
"Actually... That's exactly what I'm saying." said Robin.
"I think he's right." said Raven.
"Then... Who did we just fight?" asked Starfire.
"I don't know..." said Raven. "But if I'm right... I'll find out." she continued.
"Meanwhile... We should gather more allies..." said Robin.
"Yes... This is going to be a lot harder than the first time we fought him..." said Raven.
"We shall go to Tamaran. Today." said Starfire.
"Good idea, Star. Come on, guys... We should get some sleep. We leave at 9000 hours." said Robin.
As they returned to the Tower, the cheery mood dropped. The inevitable was coming. And it was coming fast.
Ta Daaa! Plot twists... Yep, who doesn't love'em? Tell me what you think! When I reach 50 reviews I'll have a surprise ready for you guys!
