Chapter 50 'Defeat'
"Beast Boy…you need to stop," Raven stated as the changeling continued to race through the streets of Jump City trying desperately to find somewhere that would be out of harm's way for the half demon. "I said stop!" She snapped.
In an instant Beast Boy let out a squeal and not paying attention to his direction tripped over a rather large crack in the sidewalk. Of course this sent both he and the empath airborne and straight onto the concrete.
"Ugh, rough landing, I'm sorry Rae let me-."
He looked up to see her holding out her hand as if to insinuate, don't come any closer.
"You should not have pulled me away from there," she spoke in a low tone.
"But Robin said-."
"It doesn't matter what Robin said, are you aware of how dangerous it is to be alone with me right now Beast Boy?" Raven asked closing her eyes to take a deep breath. She knew she needed to stay calm in this situation Slade had forced her into.
The green boy let out a sheepish laugh. "Uh, not…exactly?" He squeaked.
"When…when Slade installed the device in me he programmed me differently than he did the rest of you. I'm almost positive that he's messing with my afferent nerves, which are signaling my central nervous system to-."
"Uh Raven…in English?" Beast Boy asked cutting her off.
"He's sending nerve impulses to my brain. That's how he's managed to gain control of my emotions as well. Forcing anger out of her cage is more dangerous than ever at this point. She's been bottled up for longer than usual and now that she's released unless I'm concentrating constantly she can take over again."
"And you're saying that if she does come out…she'll come after me?" Beast Boy asked beginning to fully understand what he had just done.
"She'll go after anyone in a ten mile radius," Raven responded. "It's not safe to be around me until we can reverse the effect. You should leave."
"Dude, I can't just leave you here Raven!" The changeling exclaimed.
"You have to!" The empath hissed. "Please, you can't get hurt because of me."
The changeling narrowed his eyes, ready to challenge her. But before he could get the chance the sound of clapping interrupted his thoughts.
"Well done Beast Boy, I'm so very glad I get to have a front row seat for the show," Slade said as he emerged from the top of the nearest rooftop.
"Beast Boy, get out of here," Raven snapped. "I'll take care of Slade myself."
"Oh, on the contrary Raven," Slade stated. "I think there's some unfinished business we need to take care of. I've made sure your other three friends will still be alive when we return. I wouldn't want you to miss the looks on their faces as you destroy them, one by one. "
Raven's eyes narrowed as she looked up at Slade who was surely smirking underneath that mask of his.
"However, I think it would be best to start with the shapeshifter, don't you?" He taunted.
"No," Raven whispered. "Don't even think about-."
"That's what I had thought you'd say," Slade replied with a shake of his head. "However, there's always a way to change your mind...in case you're forgetting...I control you." In the blink of an eye he managed to pull out a tiny device and press a few buttons while the two titans looked on in shock.
Then before either of them had a chance to move the half-demon let out a shriek of pain as Slade once again attempted to take control. Beast Boy's eyes widened as he watched in horror as the empath gripped her head in her hands and sunk to the ground. She was still fighting her mind for now but there was no telling if or when she'd snap and he knew he needed a plan quick.
"NO!" Beast Boy yelled trying to force his mind to come up with some master scheme. Where was Robin when he needed him? "Leave her alone Slade!" The changeling growled.
The psychotic mastermind merely laughed at the hero below him. "What a fool you are. Always chasing after the unstable ones aren't you Beast Boy?" He chuckled. "Terra never did succeed in my plans to destroy the titans, but I think it's safe to say that Raven has a bit more promise." The madman paused as a green hawk flew to the roof and landed by the edge before it transformed into its human form.
"You've got it wrong," Beast Boy hissed. "Raven never betrayed us and the only reason she's hurt anyone was because you kidnapped her and forced her to! You're going to pay for what you've done to everyone, just wait until the other titans-."
"There are no other titans," Slade stated with a gleam in his eye. "They're all being held hostage where you left them...and if I choose to I could blow them to pieces with the flick of a switch. You wouldn't want that would you?"
Beast Boy's stare hardened. "You're all talk Slade. You threaten us, take over the city, make us look like the bad guys and for what?" He yelled throwing up his hands in frustration.
"You don't think I'll do it? Do you really want to test me? Look at everything I've accomplished this far, and you really don't think I'll think twice about destroying the rest of your friends?" Slade asked.
"Nope, you won't do it," Beast Boy challenged.
"We'll see about that." The mask man held out the remote in front of him, finger hovering over the switch.
The changeling smirked at him, continuing to challenge the villain. However, just as he was about to flick the switch the device became encased in a black aura, instantly zooming out of Slade's hand and falling into the dark girl's palm.
"I don't think so," Raven hissed.
"Did you forget that in an instant I could make you destroy your friends with that very device?" Slade asked. "Your mind is currently very unstable right now, and you're not very good at keeping your anger locked up, are you now? I wouldn't want you to think too much about it…something might accidentally be unleashed."
The half demon's glare deepened. "This game has gone on long enough Slade. I think it's time we end it," Raven snapped before reducing the controller in her hand to a pile of ash.
"You're forgetting that your controller…is right here," Slade replied as he pulled out a square device and quickly increased the power on it.
In a flash Raven's eyes snapped shut as she collapsed onto the cold concrete. Beast Boy didn't know whether to run and help her or lash out at Slade for harming the purple haired girl. He didn't get the chance to decide however, because no more than a minute later did Raven lift herself back up into a standing position, four red eyes staring back at him.
"Raven…" The shapeshifter began timidly. "You…you're still in there, I know you are, come on."
The demoness made her way towards him slowly as her hand began forming a black aura. There was no recognition on her face at all as her four red slits stared into the changeling's eyes. Beast Boy glanced around the rooftop, it was a good fifty foot drop if she decided to throw him from the building. Not that he couldn't transform if he was simply tossed, but if Raven's demon side wanted him gone he had a feeling it was going to be a bit more difficult to win this battle.
"Eh heh…you know Rae I really don't want to-WHOA!" Beast Boy yelled as an orb of black energy whizzed right by him. "Guess that was my warning shot?" He asked with a small chuckle.
In response the empath sent another bolt of black energy soaring past his other side.
"Hint taken!" Beast Boy yelled before transforming into a rodent and zipping under the dark girls legs only to appear on the opposite side of her before transforming into his gorilla form. Before she had time to turn around he wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to constrict her arms from throwing anymore powerful strikes his way.
A low growl came from the half-demon's throat as she struggled to loosen the green teen's grip on her. Then, before Beast Boy had a chance to react she encased herself in a black aura and transported to the opposite side of the building, a wicked smile forming on her face.
"Eh heh…should have thought of that," Beast Boy stated with a look of fear.
In one swift motion the changeling was hoisted up into the air by the dark girl's powers, her magic forming a tight grip on his throat.
"Raven," he squeaked out. "Please…don't…"
Beast Boy took a gasp, trying frantically to pull more oxygen into his lungs. He wasn't sure how else he could get through to her at this point. The last thing the shape shifter remembered seeing before losing consciousness was those four red eyes narrowing in on him and feeling his body drop, making contact with the cold concrete of the rooftop.
You may all boo now, I'm so sorry guys I know how bad I am at updating stories so this was kind of expected. I do intend to finish this though, trust me please. And I figured it would be a good time to update because the Catching Fire premiere is only a few days away! So hopefully you all enjoy it. Now, who's all going to the Catching Fire premiere! If those of you that are respond with a review I'll get the next chapter up soon!
xoxo-Megz
