Chapter Ten – Security Measures
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.
"Anyone else hungry…?" Beast boy asked curiously as they all arranged themselves around the room.
There was a moment of silence before the titans all realized that yes, they were indeed hungry. With the recent hysteria it was no wonder they had forgotten to eat.
"Beast Boy has a point. We really need to refuel." Robin agreed.
"Shall I do the preparing of lunch?" Starfire grinned cheerfully.
"NO!" Cyborg and Beast Boy said just a little too quickly, making Starfire frown. Robin shot them a look.
"You do not wish to eat the food of Starfire?" she asked with a hurt expression.
"It's not that Star, it's just…you must be tired, we all are. Maybe we should go out to eat." Robin suggested.
"You mean leave the tower undefended?" Raven asked. "What if he comes back."
"Should one of us stay here?" Cyborg asked
"We could order something." Beast Boy suggested.
"You know it takes forever. The one bad thing about living on an island." Cyborg replied.
"One of us should go pick something up." Robin said just as the alarm sounded. The titans ran to the main room of the tower, the computer monitor came down from the ceiling and showed the H.I.V.E. having a shopping spree at the mall, apparently the stores were having a sale involving a five finger discount.
"Titans Go!" Robin ordered.
"Wait!" Raven said. That stopped them.
"Are we all going or should someone stay to watch the tower?" Raven asked.
"Good point. Cyborg, why don't you stay behind on this one. Work on the plans for the security upgrade. When we get back you can go to the store to get parts. We'll grab food on the way back." Robin suggested. "Call if anything happens."
"Call me if you need backup." Cyborg nodded. The team dispersed.
Raven levitated next to Starfire and Beast Boy who was in bird form. Robin was below on his R-Cycle. She was glad that someone was staying behind in the tower. It was a relief to know that if he did go back to the tower, someone would be there to deal with him. Now that they expected it, were more alert, she didn't think he could get inside so easily. Even with most of the security measures down, Cyborg was bound to notice something amiss, an extra presence, right? But then again…perhaps he wouldn't go back to the tower…perhaps he'd be there at the mall…watching her. Like he had in all the footage Robin had found…that thought scared her. He could be anywhere…watching her right then as she flew to the mall which, now visible was obviously in a state of panic. The parking lot was deadlocked and jammed with people attempting to leave. She would have to stop worrying about that creep and focus on the task at hand. They were shorthanded and she knew that without Cyborg there to help the battle would be a bit more difficult.
The Titans landed next to Robin who got off his bike long before reaching the jammed parking lot and ran towards the mall door. They followed him in search of the H.I.V.E. who weren't very hard to find. They were hitting up the jeweler loading everything within the store in large black bags.
"Drop the bags." Robin said as the three thieves looked up. They frowned, obviously annoyed by the interruption of the titans.
"Don't you freaks have anything better to do?" Jinx asked.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way." Robin said. "Your choice."
"In that case," Jinx said sending a wave of pink energy at the titans leader who dodged it and sent a high kick in her direction. The battle began. Starfire attacked Gizmo with her starbolts and Beast Boy turned into a Rhino and went after Mammoth. Raven found herself looking around, the mall was empty but she still wondered if somewhere nearby Norf was watching her. Was he behind that mannequin over there? Perhaps hiding in the stack of jeans in the store across the way?
"Raven! Heads up!" Robin yelled as Mammoth flew straight at her. She didn't have time to react before he hit her and the pair slammed into the wall, causing it to crack and nearly crumble. She hurt everywhere, but she knew she had to get up. If that was possible, Mammoth still hadn't gotten up.
"Azerath Metrion Zinthos." she chanted using her powers to life the heavy villain off of her. Robin deployed one of his nets which tasered the villain for a moment, knocking him out.
"You'll pay for that!" Jinx hissed, engaging in hand to hand combat with Robin. Raven moved to help Starfire with Gizmo. The runt was shooting at her with his latest toy, a white little gun that looked as though it packed about as much power as one of Starfire's Starbolts. Raven used her powers to rip the gun out of his hand and Starfire shot a few Starbolts at him. She grabbed one of the loot bags with her powers and dumped the continents out on the floor before throwing the bag over the tiny menace. Starfire grabbed it and tied the top.
"Hey! Let me out of here you crudmunchers!" Gizmo shouted, among other things. By the time they were done Beast Boy and Robin had already finished tying Jinx up as well, Mammoth was still knocked out.
"Beast Boy go tell the authorities to come get these three." Robin suggested.
"You got it boss." Beast Boy nodded going in cheetah form.
"We are victorious!" Starfire cheered.
"Yeah, we are." Robin agreed as Beast Boy ran into the room again still a cheetah. He returned to human form and jumped in the air.
"Teen Titans rule." He grinned patting Raven hard on the back. She cringed and a small yelp left her lips.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked. "I know Mammoth hit you kind of hard."
"Fine." She lied. In truth, she hurt a lot. She would wait to heal though. She wanted out of his place.
"Why were you spacing out anyway?" Beast Boy asked curiously.
"It's nothing." She lied again. "Can we go now?"
"Why don't you two head back to the tower, Star and I will get the food and be back." Robin agreed. The team walked briskly out of the mall in high spirits at their victory and went their separate ways. Beast Boy turned into a hawk and flew beside Raven as she levitated back towards the tower. Though she wanted to, she dared not look back at the scene below, lest she see a shadow among the crowd of fans down below that were cheering and clapping as they left the mall.
When they got back to the tower they went walked into an empty main room.
"He's probably in the control room." Beast Boy shrugged. Raven nodded. They walked, briskly towards the control room to check on Cyborg. Raven let out a breath of air that she hadn't been aware she was holding at the sight of him sitting at a table working on his plans.
"How was it?" he asked without looking up.
"The usual." Beast Boy shrugged. "We kicked butt."
"Where are Robin and Star?" he asked looking up.
"They went to get food." Raven replied.
"I'm just about done with the plans. I've just got to go pick up the stuff I need. After we eat." Cyborg grinned.
"I'm glad." Raven said. And she was. New security meant no one who didn't belong there in the tower. She would rest a lot easier after the new plan was implemented.
"How long is it going to take?" Beast Boy asked.
"A few days at best. That's assuming we don't have too many missions." He shrugged.
A few days? A few days! She had been hoping it would only take one…two maximum. A few probably meant more along the lines of a week…she didn't know if she could take another week worrying if Norf was watching her while she slept, ate or heaven forbid changed…and what if this time it wasn't his little creepy bugs…what if next time he was really there. She hated herself for letting the fear get to her but…she had to admit. He must have been pretty smart for all the things he'd managed to do so far…how close he'd gotten without her or the other titans even noticing…and he had said they would be together soon hadn't he? That it would only be a little longer? What did he mean by that? That he was going to take her somewhere?...she didn't like that thought…she didn't like it at all.
"Raaavvvveeeen." Beast Boy said waving a hand in front of her face. She blinked, suddenly aware of the room again. "What's up with you today? You spaced out during the mission and I've been waving my hand in front of your face for like five whole minuets. Did you really hit your head that hard?"
"Sorry I was just…distracted." She muttered.
"Robin and Star are almost back. We're meeting in the common room." He said.
"Alright." She nodded and the group walked to the common room. They sat on the couch, Cyborg turned on the TV and within ten minuets Starfire and Robin returned with three large pizza's. One covered in various forms of meat, one covered in vegetables with no cheese and one with just pepperoni.
"I'm going to just take mine with me and get going. I want to get this done as quickly as possible." Cyborg said.
"Sounds like a good plan." Robin said handing him the meaty pizza's box. Cyborg took out a slice and carried the box with one hand, eating with the other as he walked down to the T-car. Meat lover's pizza with seven kinds of meat on it. That was defiantly his favorite pie. The only thing that would make it better was a few other kinds of meat. He enjoyed every bite, finishing a third of the pizza before he even put the key in the ignition. He left the titans island through the secret underground tunnel and got onto jump cities streets. Forgoing his pizza, preferring to keep both hands on the wheel lest his car, his baby, get scratched should he get into an accident or anything.
Seeing the light turning yellow he slowly put his foot on the break. The car didn't slow down though. It kept going at full speed, it was even accelerating! He was going to crash into the car in front of him! Cyborg gasped. He didn't have time to figure out what was wrong; he had to get out of traffic. He swerved onto the sidewalk, grateful that no pedestrians were in his way and moved around traffic. Then he saw the sign for the park and turned to go in. Off the road he was only a danger to buildings and people and people were easier to avoid in an open space.
He hurried to move the car as panicked people stood in place and others ran. The car continued to go. He was going to have to stop it and there was only one way he knew how. Up ahead a large oak tree appeared. There were no civilians in the area.