Two blurs streaked down the main boulevard in Central City, one yellow and one red. A long trail of dust trailed behind them, leading out into the plains where they emerged from. In addition to the wall of dust there were dozens of dust devils left behind in their wake, each one twisting like a wobbly spinning top as one by one they petered out and lost their momentum, dissolving into thin air.

The yellow blur came to a screeching halt on the corner of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue. The red blur changed direction and returned to the same intersection where it also stopped.

"Why did you stop here?" The Flash asked his sidekick.

YJ-Kid Flash pointed at the restaurant that stood on the corner. A vegetarian restaurant.

"What happened to Salvatore's Pizzeria? It's supposed to be here!"

The Flash laughed.

"It's never been here."

The young speedster gave his mentor a worried look.

"No way, you mean there's no Salvatore's in this universe?"

The elder Flash patted his sidekick on the shoulder.

"Relax, it's on the corner of Market St. and Cleveland."

"Well, that's a relief!" The boy replied in a deadpan serious voice.

"It's been a long day Kid Flash, how about we get a few pizzas to go?"

The boy grinned. His mentor back home would never have said that.

"You gotta deal!"

After ordering their pizzas the two local superheroes stepped outside and ran to the top of the tallest hill in the area, they would return in about 15 minutes to collect their pizzas. Flash had wanted to wait at the pizzeria while the Italian disks were baked, but Wally asked him to join him at the top of the hill.

The hill provided a decent view of the city, which was 24 miles away. A layer of hazy smog hung over the city late in the afternoon and was thicker than usual.

"What's up Wally? I don't think you came out here to admire Central City's brown cloud."

The young boy kicked a stone; he clearly wasn't ready to talk. Then, after emitting a heavy sigh, he came clean.

"How does he do it?"

"How does who do what?" Flash asked with a hint of impatience.

"I'm talking about your Wally."

"OK. That helps, but I'm still at a loss. What does he do that you can't?"

The young man opened his mouth and raised his hand, his index finger pointing, but no words came out as he censored himself.

"Well?"

Wally crossed his arms and frowned.

"He has a girlfriend."

Flash erupted in laughter.

"Who, Jinx? Believe me, that's nothing to be jealous of."

"Yeah, I know, she was one of the Hive-5."

"She was the leader of the Hive-5." Flash corrected him.

The boy looked away and kicked another rock.

"She's still a girl. A cute girl."

The Flash crossed his arms in a relaxed gesture and smiled.

"OK, so which one is it? The blond or the Martian?"

Wally swallowed hard.

"Or is it one of the Titans? It's Starfire, right? Look, she's Robin's girl, so you might want to look elsewhere…"

"I know she's Robin's girl, it's not her!"

A worried look jumped onto Flash's mug.

"It isn't Raven, is it? Trust me; you can do better than …."

"Raven is Beast Boy's girl!" Wally snapped.

"She is? When did that happen? And why? Is Beast Boy really that desperate?"

"Just after we got here … Raven isn't that bad … she is kinda cute … and has a hot bod."

"And a temper to match it … OK, so who is it then?"

Kid Flash shuffled on his feet, trying to buy time.

"It's Artemis … I like her a lot … but she totally hates me."

The senior hero grinned.

"I see, let me guess … you want some advice on how to win her over, right?"

The yellow clad boy nodded eagerly.

"Well, I really can't help you there. I can teach you how to engage deadly villains and how to use your super speed to perform some nifty tricks, but when it comes to the ladies … well … each one is different."

"So you're saying that you don't know."

Flash vacillated before answering.

"In a nutshell … that's correct. But I do have some advice … don't try to impress her … it just comes across as goofy and … desperate. Just be yourself, Wally."

"What if that doesn't work?"

"There's more than one fish in the sea."

The young speedster heaved a gloomy sigh.

"Look, if it'll help I can ask Green Arrow if she's said anything about you."

Wally shook his head.

"No! Don't do that! That would be so lame!"

The Flash guffawed.

"You're right. Look, you'll see her again once the training is over. Maybe she'll realize that she missed you."

"Maybe." Wally replied in a dejected tone. "She needs someone to make fun of."

The Flash slapped him on the shoulder.

"Let's go, those pizzas should be ready now."

-(scene break)-

The Titans were surprised at Robin's choice of restaurant for the outing. Usually, he would take them to the wedge shaped pizzeria downtown, or when he was feeling really generous he took them out for Chinese.

Tonight was different. He took them to the new Japanese restaurant that was the talk of the town. Being who he was, it wasn't hard to secure a reservation at the last minute. Upon arriving they were quickly seated and the waiter took their orders, starting off with a round of sushi for everyone (including tofu sushi for Beast Boy). After a few minutes the waiter returned with their seafood and rice appetizers, which they all began to consume quickly as they happily bantered with each other. The evening was moving forward swimmingly, that is until Starfire opened her mouth.

"Raven? When will you and Beast Boy be having your first bumgorf?" She asked innocently.

Raven choked on her sushi and Beast Boy had to slap her on her back. After regurgitating it she turned to the Tamaranian and glared at her.

"What. Are. You. Talking. About?"

Starfire began to press her index fingers together, in her own anime like style.

"You and Beast Boy are now betrothed, am I correct? I only assumed that since you are now promised to each other that you would begin the intimate relations."

Raven turned to Beast Boy, who had a silly and nervous grin plastered on his face.

"Don't get your hopes up buster, it isn't gonna happen!"

She then turned back to Starfire.

"We are neither betrothed nor engaged Starfire."

The Tamaranian became crestfallen.

"I apologize friends, and am sorry to hear that Raven has rejected friend Beast Boy's romantic offer. I only assumed that you would have accepted his offer Raven. Please forgive me for my imperti …."

"I didn't reject his offer."

Raven noticed that Cyborg and Robin were now leaning over the table, keenly interested in what she was going to say next.

"Raven, Beast Boy … is there something we should know?" Robin asked.

Raven rolled her eyes.

"Fine, if you must know, Garfield is going to give me a promise ring. Now can we change the subject?" She growled dangerously.

"Whoa, so you guys are serious about this?" Cyborg gasped.

"I said, I don't want to talk about this now."

Starfire was clapping.

"This is glorious! Beast Boy and I will go out tomorrow and shop for a ring!"

Raven planted her face in her palm.

"For the last time, I don't wanna talk about this. At least not here."

As usual, Robin stepped in to regain control of the situation.

"We need to respect Raven's privacy, especially when we're out in public. Anyway, what we really need to talk about is how we're going to work with Terra."

"Oh, this just keeps getting better." Raven interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Robin frowned at the sorceress.

"I know you're not happy about this Raven, but until Beast Boy recovers we need to backfill him. None of the honorary Titans are available, and Titans East can't spare anyone."

"We're better off without her."

"She's going to be involved whether we like it or not Raven. If we work with her then we'll have some control over her actions. Red-X got away because we weren't working as a team."

Raven crossed her arms and frowned.

"You're our leader Robin, and I'll do what you tell me to do. But I still think it's a bad idea."

-(scene break)-

A month had elapsed since the truce with Terra was formed. Raven returned to active duty just a couple of days later, which left Beast Boy alone in the Tower during missions, which he nervously monitored via the operations console in the common room, frustrated that he couldn't be out there with his friends, covering their backs.

Especially Raven's back.

Much to everyone's surprise, Terra behaved with utmost professionalism, both during the missions and afterwards. There were neither jabs at Raven nor any Beast Boy related innuendo, which had the gray sorceress wondering what was really going on. Within a few weeks Terra began to return with the team to the Tower after the missions were completed, when Robin debriefed everyone regarding their performance. She sometimes even stayed for dinner if the mission timing was right.

Raven remained cautious and stuck to Beast Boy like glue while the Geomancer was around. She was also quick to show Terra her promise ring. Terra didn't say much, other than to complement Beast Boy on selecting such a classy ring. Starfire was quick to point out that she helped him pick the ring with small emeralds and amethysts embedded in it.

Beast Boy's recovery was coming along nicely. He had daily healing sessions with Raven, where he removed his shirt while she worked on his bullet wound, which the young couple seemed to enjoy beyond the obvious therapeutic reasons. The changeling also began to work out in the gym on a daily basis and felt stronger with each passing day.

One evening, after a routine mission where they apprehended some run if the mill bank robbers, they were gathered around the dinner table, chowing down on some of Cyborg's "patented" four meat spaghetti for dinner (except for Beast Boy of course) when the changeling had an announcement to make.

"Guys! I've got good news! The doctor says I'm ready to return to active duty next week!"

Starfire hugged and kissed him, while Cyborg and Robin congratulated him in a manlier manner. Raven, as expected, was subdued and would most likely celebrate the good news with her beau later in the privacy of one of their rooms. Terra was unexpectedly taciturn.

"I need to use the little girl's room." She announced in a monotone worthy of Raven.

Robin was about to ask Starfire to escort Terra to the restroom, but had a change of heart.

"You know where it is Terra. And when you're done we're all going out to celebrate Beast Boy's recovery."

"Karaoke!" Beast Boy shouted while Raven rolled her eyes at his excessive enthusiasm.

"That sounds like fun!" Terra enthused. "I'll be quick!"

Terra dashed out of the common room, making a beeline to the restroom.

And ran past it.

She dashed into the hanger, where the egg shaped alien organic ship was still resting. As she ran up to M'Gann's ship she reached into her utility belt and pulled out a small syringe. She screwed a huge needle onto the syringe and plunged it into the giant egg.

The Martian ship quivered as the needle sank into its flesh, violating its body with impunity. Terra quickly pulled back on the syringe's plunger, quickly filling it with healthy and fluid tissue. She hastily disassembled the syringe and tossed the needle down a nearby incinerator chute and capped the syringe's tip before storing it back in her utility belt.

She ran out of the hanger and made a beeline to the restroom. That part of her subterfuge was actually true; she needed to use the toilet. She had been sitting on the throne for just a minute when a loud rap was heard on the bathroom door.

"Terra, are you in there?" Robin's voice came through the door.

"I'm here. Sorry it's taking me so long, I'm a little constipated." She lied.

"Too much information Terra, just meet us in the common room when you're done."

Terra heard Robin walk away and she heaved a sigh of relief.

"That was too close." She muttered to herself, sotto voce.

-(scene break)-

Batman sat in front of his console, reviewing the search results. He shook his head as he shut the console down and stared out of the space stations' window at the great void that was the universe. The number of stars in the universe, while mind boggling, was finite. The number of universes was not, as they were innumerable, infinite. This of course made his job difficult, even if he could cull the number of realities to search using the quantum signatures from the Young Justice League. Unfortunately the number of candidate universes kept growing, and was now over 200 billion. The number was growing faster than they could rule out known duds.

At this pace it could take over 300, 000 years to find the source universe. The probability of finding it within a reasonable amount of time, say 30 years was 1 in 10,000.

Those weren't good odds.

"Any luck Bruce?"

The Dark Knight didn't need to turn around to know who was there.

"None. Hal, are you sure that Guardians won't help us?"

"Sorry Bruce, I've asked them and they said that this was too trivial an issue for them."

"I never liked those jerks." Batman mumbled.

"Sounds like they're staying here for the long haul. How's their training coming along?" Hal asked.

"Better than expected, these are some really talented kids. They'll be ready on time."

"What happens then?" Hal queried.

"We're keeping our promise. We're going to deploy them, unsupervised, on their first mission."

"Really? So you think they'll be ready?"

"Without a doubt." Batman replied.

"So where are you sending them? Gotham? Metropolis? London? Paris? Tokyo?"

Batman shook his head.

"None of those."

"So where are you sending them?"

"Jump City."

"What? Jump City? Isn't that the Teen Titans town?"

Batman turned and glared at the Green Lantern.

"Not for long."

-(scene break)-

"You're late." The deep monotone voice chastised her.

"We went out to celebrate Beast Boy's recovery. You can't blame me Slade; your place is kind of a downer."

"We're running out of time Terra. I know you have an unhealthy obsession with Beast Boy, but I need those samples."

"You have them." She answered as she produced the vial from her utility belt. "I've done my part; now release me from the curse."

Slade took the vial from Terra and quickly examined it under a microscope.

"Well done apprentice, are you sure the Titans remain unaware of our deception?"

"They don't have a clue, not even Raven, and she always watches me like I'm a shoplifter. Of course she thinks I'm there to steal BB from her. She doesn't have a clue."

"Your final intention is to steal the green fool from her, so she was right about watching you. Excellent redirection Terra. I must say that I'm proud of you."

"What about the curse Slade? I fulfilled my end of the bargain."

Slade chuckled.

"That you have, unfortunately I still need you Terra, so the curse remains … for now."

"That wasn't the deal!" She hissed. "You promised to free me."

"And I will, when the time is right. Be patient, Terra."

"NO! I did what you asked. You can't change the deal!"

Slade stood up, towering over the blond earth bender.

"I can and I have. And if you persist with that attitude I can change it again." He rebuked her in his monotone.

Slade gestured and Terra's ring finger began to petrify, and the stony effect soon engulfed her hand and started to make its way up her arm.

"OK, OK, I get the message."

Slade gestured a second time and Terra's arm was once again flesh and blood.

"What do you want me to do?" She asked in a defeated tone.

Slade stared at her with his single eye. For the longest time he said nothing, the silence in the room was only interrupted by the never ending sound of gears turning.

"You will find out when the time is right." He finally replied.

Terra felt a shiver work its way down her spine.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

Slade approached the terrified girl, and cupped her cheek with his hand.

"You are very lovely young woman, Terra."

Terra gasped, fully understanding what Slade was implying.

"No! I won't! I'd rather die than let you touch me!"

Slade chuckled.

"Have no fear, Terra. I learned a long time ago to never mix business with pleasure. You can save yourself and your virginity for Beast Boy … assuming he survives the destruction I have planned for the Titans."

Terra watched Slade walk away from her, feeling angry and powerless. Tears dripped down her face. Then Slade stopped and turned around.

"And don't try what you did last time, removing him from harm's way. If you do, I'll destroy the ring and you will be stone forever."

"If you're gonna kill him, then I have nothing to live for." She choked.

"Nonsense … we always have something to live for … and besides … who says he won't survive? Now get some rest, you're still backfilling for Beast Boy for another week."

Terra turned around and left without saying a word. She silently walked down the long hallways in Slade's lair until she reached her room. She closed the door behind her and checked for any surveillance devices and found none.

She then sat down on the edge of the bed and reached into her utility belt, retrieving her most prized possession: the pictures she and Beast Boy took together in the photo booth at the amusement park on that fateful night, the night she betrayed the only friends she ever had.

She handled the tiny pictures with the greatest reverence, like they were holy relics, as if they were the Holy Grail or pieces of the True Cross. She stared at them for the longest time.

And began to weep.

-(scene break)-

Ok, I think we're getting the plot rolling again.