Disclaimer: I actually do own the Teen Titans DVDs, but not much beyond that.

Silhouette

It was a cloudless night over Jump City and the moon cast a thin heavenly glow into ever nook and crevasse it could touch. The streets were quiet and the limited sounds indoors were all muted.

Inside his own apartment, Dick laid in his bed asleep. Although he slept on his side, it was still possible to see the soft rise and fall of the sheets, slow and rhythmic, a testament to how deep a sleep it was.

The moonshine came in thought he window behind him and illuminated the entire living space. His new apartment was smaller than the last, with only one room, but still contained a small kitchenette, sectioned off by a small bamboo divider.

As he slept, a shadow fell over the sleeping superhero. This darkness was not from a cloud but from a silhouette of a man that rose up from the windowsill. He was tall and had broad shoulders and moved with robotic precision.

The person carefully grasped the exterior of the window pane and slowly pulled the window open. Once open fully, the figure stepped in and moved over to the bed. The figure pulled a weapon from his belt and pointed it at the bed.

Robin's eyes flashed open and he kicked upward, knocking the weapon out of the assailant's hand.

He twisted into an upright position and threw a punch, which connected with the chest. He felt backward into the light, allowing Robin his first good look at the intruder. Clad in tan and black armor, he immediately recognized it as one of Slade's drones.

"Typical."

Robin had fought large numbers of these before and a lone robot was not much of a struggle for the martial artist, although he was smart enough to realize that would be different had he still been asleep.

He swept with his legs, knocked the machine off its feet to the ground and completely disarmed the attacker until it could fight no more.

Robin sat down on the bed and eyed the robot. The drone stared blankly in his direction, while Robin contemplated what to do with it. He sighed.

"It never hurts to check." He took the mask off the drone and came face to face with a screen.

On the screen was Slade.

"Hello Robin," Slade said. "Enjoy the gift I sent?"

"Slade!" Robin yelled. "Why did you send the drone?"

"I was hoping you're a heavy sleeper." Slade's sense of humor did not go over well with Robin. When Robin did not respond Slade continued, "You were getting a little too close to some volatile information."

Robin gritted his teeth.

"That's right. I know exactly how far into your little investigation you are. I have been watching you just as close as- if not closer than- you have been watching me."

"So that's how you were able to find out where I live."

"Where your apartment is, what aliases you have been using, patterns of movement you fall into. Pretty much everything I would need to know."

"And I know the same about you," Robin threw in quickly.

"You know nothing about me," Slade said confidently. "You don't know where my base it, you don't know what I'm planning-"

"I know what you're planning and you know that." Robin's interjection sounded more desperate than he intended.

"I admitted you were getting close. That is not the same as knowing what I'm planning and you know that." Slade continued, "And either way, you still don't know who my apprentice is."

"I have a few leads."

"Oh good." The screen flickered slightly. "Then you have deduced it is probably a former friend of yours."

Robin's throat ran dry. "What?" He gasped.

"To be honest, I am surprised you hadn't figured it out by now," Slade murmured. "With only so many eligible candidates in the area, I figured you would have deduced there is only one I could have."

"Who is it?" Robin tried shouting but it came out hoarse from shock, anger or both.

"They only friend- or former friend- who hasn't been fighting crime or fire these past nine months." Slade watched the painful realization come onto Robin's face and behind his mask, enjoyed it. "I assume you know who I am talking about now."

"Raven." This time, the growl came out in full power, strengthened by his anger.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because it can't be…" Robin trailed off, although he wished he didn't.

"Starfire?" Slade offered. "Maybe it's her."

"It's not."

"Are you sure?" Slade voice was starting to become a headache for the teen. "What ever happened to her? Even I could not find out. Did she go home because she found you all too boring? Or maybe she left because she never thought you were friends to begin with."

"Quiet!" Robin snarled.

"Sore spot..." Slade rubbed his chin. "Very interesting."

"What are you holding over her?" Robin needed to change the subject as fast as possible.

"Who, Raven?" Slade asked. "Nothing at all. After your little team broke up, she was practically begging for some… companionship."

"I know that isn't true; she isn't the type."

"If that is what you think, it is no wonder none of them are your friends anymore." Slade grinned and somehow Robin could tell. "You don't understand any of them in the slightest. Especially not my dear apprentice Raven."

"You're lying."

"I very well could be." Slade physical persona gave no indication otherwise. "But, if I'm not… I'm sure you don't want to figure that out."

"I will figure out where you are hiding and I will come and personally stop you."

"I'm sure you will Robin." He said dryly. "Until next time." Through the screen, Slade gave a courteous wave. "Oh, and Robin," Slade pushed a button on his armchair. "You may want to consider getting a new apartment."

The video paused and a countdown from ten started in bright red letters. Dick ran towards the window and jumped out through the hole carved by the drone into the alleyway. As Dick rolled into his fall, the countdown hit zero and rocked the alley and the entire apartment complex with a large explosion.

The blast knocked him into a wall and rained bricks down on him. He covered his face with his arms and attempted to roll to safety. Smoke was pouring from the holes in the former building and he thought he heard a siren in the distance, but he couldn't be sure. His ears were ringing.

Dick looked back up at his now burning apartment and sighed. Once again, he had to find another place to live.

T++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++t

Cyborg arose from his slumber on the common room couch at 2:03am. He had slept all day and had to spend the night's searching for a thief. Two weeks had passed since his discovery of the missing Red-X suit and he had been camped out in the tower ever since. Knowing the potential of the weapon and its red motif arsenal, Cyborg had elected to stay behind and search for the criminal.

What bothered Cyborg was calling Karla to inform him he would not be returning on time. He remembered the conversation well. The fire chief did not take his leave of absence well.

"Goddamn it Cyborg!" Karla screamed at him through the phone.

"I'm sorry but there is something I need to take-" Cyborg said.

"Don't give me I'm sorry!" Karla yelled. "You said this little trip would be a quick stop and then you would be back to help here."

"I thought it would be!"

"And now you are telling me you have to track down a criminal?"

"Yes." Cyborg rubbed his human temple. "A weapon was stolen that is extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, a fact I can personally attest to."

"But what about your old teammates? They are the superheroes there now, so why not let them take care of it?" Karla pleaded.

"They all have their hands way beyond full." Cyborg did not intend for this conversation to turn into an argument but she did not seem willing to listen. "At least, that is what I hear."

"That's not your job!"

"It is my job!" Cyborg yelled.

Karla went quiet. She had known Cyborg could get annoyed and she knew he could get mad, but she had never seen them directed at her.

Cyborg paused to collect his thoughts before continuing. "I have figured out what the thief after."

"What's that?" Karla did not seem impressed but at least she had calmed down a bit.

"Xinothium."

"English, Cyborg." Karla appeared irritated.

"It's a very rare- very dangerous chemical."

"I assume that means this person will use it to take over the world, am I right?"

"Actually, I am not so sure." Cyborg stroked his chin. "I can't say for sure right now, but after some brief reading of the weapon's diagnostics, I am pretty sure it is powered by Xinothium."

"And this means?"

"This means all I need to do is track down the source of Xinothium and catch him there."

"You make it seem simple." Karla had calmed down to the point where she was actually listening to the robotic teenager.

"Don't worry, it will be." He was lying.

On the other end of the line, Karla bit her lip and formed her words slowly. "You will come back, right?"

"Of course I will. I will catch this guy and come back straight away."

"Promise?"

"I do."

Cyborg walked over to the Titans computer. Because the city had cut the island's power, he had to use his remaining powercells to opperate the super computer. Although it had taken quite a bit of effort, he had not only been able to figure out the suit was powered by Xenothium but also where he'd be able to get it.

He looked at the map on the screen. "Looks like I need to investigate a..." He read the naem slowly. "Madrigal Chemical Corp." The computer did some more processing. "And a Professor Chang."

T++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++t

"Azerath Metrion Zinthos." Raven and Terra chanted their now collective mantra together as they meditated, with Raven levitating as usual and Terra resting a floating piece of concrete.

While her mentor admitted that she still had a long way to go until she was truly in control, Terra had progressed enough that they had relocated closer to the city in the abandoned Paper Mill. While it lacked many standard amenities, it was warmer and water resistant than their previous abode and was also free to stay in.

"Raven?"

Raven opened one eye and looked sideways at Terra. "Yes?"

"You know, we've been doing a lot of training recently. A lot of training."

"We have." Raven closed her eyes again.

"Well, I was just thinking, maybe we could go do something fun."

Raven sighed when she heard this. She was aware they had both been putting in a lot of work recently and was sensing that Terra was either growing bored, anxious or some combination of the two.

"I know of a good carnival not too far from here. And I'm sure you know lots of cool things to do in the city. Even something small, like mini-golf."

Raven gently landed on the ground. "Look Terra..." Terra's concrete slab set itself down as well. "I- I don't know."

"Aw come on Raven!" Terra pleaded. "Don't you want to do something fun too? Do you not like fun?"

"Please Terra, enough." Raven said exasperated. "We are not doing anything like that until we have control. It just not safe for either of us."

Terra stood up and took a step back. "Oh, I see. Well, that's cool." There was a hint of hurt in her voice, with small cracks. "I understand."

Raven took to her feet as well. "Terra, I need to go into town and buy some things."

Terra cocked her head. "At this time of night?"

"Don't worry, I won't be long." Raven said. "You should get some sleep."

Terra forced a smile. "Alright."

She walked away towards the exit, but stopped and turned back to Terra. "Maybe soon though. Maybe we can do something fun."

Terra looked up from the ground and flashed another smile, more genuine this time. "Thanks Raven."

T++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++t

Beast Boy had spent nearly every day and every night since his meeting with Brother Blood shadowing HIVE students. Now that he was aware of the Ion Amplifier, he needed to find the corresponding weapon and stop it from being completed.

If the Ion Amplifier could do what Blood said than it could be catastrophic for the city if left in the hands of the psychotic professor.

The student he was currently following was a walking cloner by the name of Billy Numerous. Light on brain cells and heavy on drawl, the changeling did not think highly of the villain. Of all the people he'd followed, Numerous had taken the fewest safety precautions and lead him up to an observatory on a mountain overlooking the city with a cartload of a mysterious cargo from Blood himself.

In mouse form, Beast Boy scampered in to the door way where one Numerous spoke to the receiver while several others unloaded the crates. "Yeehaw! Delivery for Professor Chang finished."

Beast Boy looked around the observatory. There were barrels of chemicals littering the floor and in the center of the room was a large telescope.

The so-called Professor Chang was a short, wide man in a chemical-safe jump suit and an odd scientific looking mask with red lens covering his face. "Tell Blood that I'll be finished soon. If he wants to keep this partnership going, he'll need to keep up his end of the deal."

"Uh yeah, sure, Sir." Numerous stammered. "Will do."

"Be sure to." Chang smirked. "Ion Amplifier aside, I don't think your headmaster would like if this Disintegrator Cannon was pointed at him."

T+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++t

Raven grabbed the brown grocery bag and left the store. She had canned food, her herbal tea, three gallons of drinking water and more white gas fuel for their cooking stove. She exited the store and began walking through the parking lot back to the mill.

She suddenly stopped, and felt a chill run down her spine. She leapt out of the way as a small explosive landed where she was standing and blew up, knocking her back several feet.

She looked up and saw the familiar face of Robin.

"How dare you Raven." Robin growled. He drew another explosive and threw it at her, however this time she was able to shield herself in time.

"Robin, what are you talking about?" Raven yelled at her old teammate.

Robin took out his bo-staff. "You making the wrong decision." He jumped at Raven and engaged her in combat.

A/N: Hey guys... so it's been about two years. Sorry.