Star just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Read and youll understand…hopefully…Yay, MORE BB/RAE!!...sorry, I guess I just like saying that…enjoy…
CHAPTER 14
After Robin had explained everything to Raven, there was silence as they walked. Johnson had over heard the conversation and couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. It was his fault, after all. If he had paid more attention to Slade over the weeks that he worked with him, then this wouldn't be happening.
Now that kid was slowly dieing in a horribly painful way, and it was because he hadn't paid enough attention. Maybe if he had, he could have warned the other titans and they could have removed the containment unit. His thoughts were disturbed when Raven broke the silence surrounding them.
"So…how are we gonna get it?"
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Cyborg worked vigorously. He knew with each passing moment that his friend was dieing. If he could just figure out a temporary solution, then maybe Raven and Robin would be able to get the cure from Slade easier than if they had to rush for it. It would also give him enough time to make a permanent antidote, hopefully.
He had sent Starfire to the titans a few minutes after the call for two reasons: one was so he didn't have to listen to her constant chatter and questions, in turn letting him focus on the more important issue; and secondly, he had a feeling that Robin and Raven would need all the help they could get.
He knew Slade was no picnic and when Robin got into one of his 'Slade moods' Raven would definitely need help preventing him from totally obliterating Slade off the face of this Earth. Not that that was a bad thing, it's just the fact that he sometimes went a little overboard.
His work continued painfully slow. He would occasionally wonder if he would ever get another chance to talk to the boy laying only feet away on the small cot. He would instantly push those thoughts away, but they would return only moments later. He knew if he could concentrate on finding a temporary solution then maybe the guilt and worry would leave him for but a moment.
After about thirty minutes working, Cyborg was starting to get impatient. The faster he worked the more mistakes he seemed to make. He tried to slow down, but he would start to unconsciously pick up the pace and end up dropping or spilling something. His hands began to shake as he realized what time it was. '15 'till. God I hope the others have it by now.' He had almost come up with a temporary solution when his communicator rang.
"Cyborg, we have problem."
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Raven didn't know if Robin's plan would work, but she trusted him. If Robin said it would work, that usually meant it would. Time seemed to be going extra slow and extra fast at the same time for Raven. She would occasionally glance over to Johnson to make sure he was keeping up, which he always was. Her thoughts, for some reason, constantly wandered to Beast Boy.
She wished that this was all a dream. She wished she could just wake up from the nightmare that was her life.
As they neared the doors that lead to the main room, Robin signaled and Raven glanced to Starfire at the right of her. She had come awhile ago, when Robin was explaining the plan to Raven and Johnson.
Raven began by transporting herself and Johnson in through the wall. Robin and Starfire burst through the door. They weren't surprised when they were surrounded by Slade's minions. They knew what they were suppose to do. They were just the distraction. Raven was the surprise attack, and Johnson was the goods retriever.
All hope seemed lost as Robin and Starfire were slowly overpowered by Slade's pawns. Raven saw her opportunity.
She released Johnson silently and attacked. Johnson quickly got to work. He ran to the back of the room and into a barely noticeable door. Just as he punched in the code, the door opened. Johnson recognized the person immediately.
"Baer?" he asked, bewildered. She had a large scratch down the side of her face. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing," she replied, a competeable Raven tone. "What are you doing back here?"
"I came to get my family. Well, we also came to get some cure for that one titan boy…Hey, do you want to come with us? We can get you and your family out of here and…" a sudden explosion racked the area.
"Okay," her voice beginning to retrieve some of its original charisma. "Let's find that cure and get the heck out'a here." They both rushed through the small doorway and into the lab. Endlessly they searched, but were unable to find anything.
"This is hopeless. How are we to know what this cure looks like? What if it isn't even here?" Baer was starting to get impatient. Suddenly a figure appeared at the doorway.
"Oh my dear, how correct you are. Unfortunately, my untrustworthy servants, you will not be able to relay this to the titans." He slowly started walking towards the two, but when he was but 3 feet away, dark energy engulfed a nearby table and slammed into his side.
"WHERE IS THE ANTIDOTE?!?!?" Raven screamed at him, her eyes glowing a bright white.
"My dear, whatever are you talking about?" casually standing and brushing himself off.
"She means the cure to that disease you've infected Beast Boy with," Robin said, not as loud as Raven, but loud nevertheless.
"Now why would you think I'd have one of those?"
"Tell us, now!" Starfire joined the congregation at the doorway.
"Very well. I do have a…cure of some sorts, but I will need something in return for my humble services."
"First show us the antidote!" Raven said, slightly calmer now.
"Very well, here it is." He said, holding a small vile filled with amber liquid.
"What do you want?" Robin snarled.
"Hmmm…let me think. I think I would like your friend in return for saving his life. After all, he will be in debt to me."
"No. You can not have friend Beast Boy." Starfire said, her voice slowly escalating and her eyes beginning to glow.
"Well unfortunately you don't have a choice in the mater. If you want your friend to live, I suggest you call up the robot and tell him to bring him here immediately. If not, well, I guess I can just get rid of this-"
"NO! Just give us a minute to call him." Robin said, shakily.
"Robin what are you doing?" Raven asked in a small whisper.
"Saving our friend." He whispered back, getting out his communicator as he turned around.
"NO! I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS!" Starfire shouted suddenly, not hearing Robin's whisper. "YOU WILL NOT TAKE FRIEND BEAST BOY FROM US AGAIN!" as she spoke, her hands glow a bright green and she threw a star bolt at Slade.
"STARFIRE, NO!!!" Robin yelled, but it was too late. It seemed time slowed as the star bolt hit Slade and he fell back with a low grunt. All eyes fell to the vile as it crashed to the floor. The amber liquid quickly soaked into the ground as if it were made of dirt.
All was silent. Suddenly a familiar echoing laugh filled the room.
"My dear, I am certainly surprised. You let your anger get the best of you and now look. The antidote is gone. Some friend you are." As Slade continued to laugh at this, Starfire broke down.
"Now, now, child, don't cry. You are extremely lucky. You see, I always have a spare." At this Starfire stifled her tears. Her eyes once again glow. Her anger rising, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Star, don't." It was Robin. Slowly she tried to calm herself. Slade continued to laugh.
"Now, if you don't mind, I would like to complete this transaction as soon as possible."
"Fine. Where is the spare?" Robin asked, still recovering from the shock of what had just happened.
"As soon as he arrives I will retrieve it. I don't want another repeat of the previous events." As he said this he seemed to glare at Starfire. She was currently trying to refrain from blasting him to bits.
"Okay, just let me call Cy." Starfire could tell he was disappointed in her. That made her feel even worse. Knowing that in that moment, she could have ruined her only chance to save her friend, to save part of her family. It just seemed to eat away at her soul.