Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, all rights to the owners.

Okay, so… I have nothing to say. Moving on.

ROBYN

The JCPD is rebuilding as fast as they can, but with most of their cells destroyed that's a lot harder than it sounds. It's much easier to destroy something than to build it. Building new high-security prison cells is not exactly a quick endeavor… usually.

Because usually people don't have Starfire's incredible welding power nor his strength. Nor do they have a proficient magic user like Crow (who is no longer bent over in pain from his splitting headache) who can make fixing electrical works so much easier with his ability to phase through walls and manipulate things from a distance. Cyborg being a technological genius also helps.

Me and Changeling are… not as useful. We can't do anything that the officers can't do already. So we simply guard the perimeter of the building, making sure no supervillains come and try to stop the reconstruction.

This is probably the part of being a hero I hate the most: when you have to stop fighting to do something menial which is ultimately more important, but it doesn't feel more important.

A few Rosebots do venture close, but I eliminate them quickly from long range. Rose is going to know we're here now though. It's probably only a matter of time before we have someone coming to deal with us; possibly even Ternion, who we probably can't beat. We failed against it before, and I don't think we have any new weapon or skill we could use to win against it.

I stay on the ground, skulking around the broken fences of the complex. Changeling is in the air in the form of a bald eagle, taking advantage of the creature's sharp eyes to spot foes and diving from the sky to ambush them (and usually turning into something large like a whale to crush her target outright).

I periodically check in with one of the guards out front to see what progress has been made. I'm informed that the help of the Titans is helping reconstruction speed dramatically, which is good of course, but I'm also aware that it's not really me who's helping.

It would see the JCPD aren't focusing on the roof or anything right now. There's a gaping hole on one side of the roof, probably from explosives, but no one is paying it any mind. I suppose the cells are more important at the moment.

I still wonder if I made the right decision, being here. Rose and her cronies are running amuck in the city, and I'm here doing guard duty as my teammates repair a single building. I know we need those cells, but it still doesn't feel right no matter how often I tell myself it is, and despite logically knowing this is (probably) the right thing to do…

Bah.

HEX

The streets are silent. It's midday, and there's no cars, no pedestrians, nothing. Most of the businesses are closed too. Rose has the city on lockdown through intimidation alone.

The question is now: where are the Titans? It's all good for us to act alone, but coordinating with the Titans would be better. Besides, with the Titans on our side the cops and the JCPD won't try and bring us in because we're helping out.

I wonder if there are other heroes running around the city. I know Kid Flash operates here, but we've never run into any heroes besides her and the Titans. For a major city you'd think there would be more. Maybe there are and I just don't know about them, or the media has never given them any attention, but Jump City is going to need all the help it can at the moment.

"Hex!" Angel barks from the sky. "The tower is down!"

"What tower!?" I shout back.

"Titans Tower!"

What? "What do you mean it's down?"

"It's fallen over into the sea!"

Oookay, that's not good. Somehow I doubt the Titans are still there then. There goes that plan. Where would the Titans go if not their tower? I don't know enough about the Titans to make a guess.

"Where do we go? They probably won't be at the tower anymore." See-More says.

"Hmm…" I frown. "Wyk, do you have any way to find them?"

The girl thinks for a moment, then waggles her hand in a "maybe" gesture. She sits on the ground below where she was hovering and starts mouthing words. The red eyes of her mask turn black, and Wykkyd goes still.

I have no idea what she's doing. Does she have some spell that lets her hone in on someone? Is she following Crow's magical signature? Is a magical signature even a thing, or is that just in movies?

Hell if I know. I don't "sense" things. I just blow stuff up. I don't have fancy ritual spells like Wykkyd, or any sort of attacks that need chants. Everything I do comes naturally. I shoot waves of pink stuff that explodes. It's that simple.

Wykkyd continues to mouth things in her trance, though there's noticeable pauses between instances of her doing so. It takes a minute for me to realize she's holding a conversation… I think. That's what it looks like anyhow.

When Wykkyd is done whatever she was doing, she confirms that she was indeed having a conversation, and she points towards the JCPD detention center.

"Alright HIVE, let's move." I say. "Let's go see what we can do."

ROSE

The Titans are at the Detention center. I don't know why exactly, but I don't care either. If they're not attacking my forces, that is fine with me. It gives me more time to take over the city. However, that does not necessarily mean I am free from danger.

Madeline is not responding to my attempts to contact her. Turning traitor seems implausible, so I am presuming for the moment that she has been captured. However, the Titans are unlikely to be the source of her defeat, and unless Justice League reinforcements have arrived early I can think of only one other major threat that might be responsible.

"You still continue to vex me, don't you Mayz?" I think with a purse of my lips. I put down my communicator after the tenth attempted call. "Madeline has been defeated."

"Really?" Mumbo says, looking genuinely shocked. "Didn't you say the Titans were at the Detention Center."

"They are. We have a different pest." I hiss. I squeeze the button on my communicator and bark into it. "The Hypnotist has made his move Madeline is to be considered compromised. Capture her if she is spotted and trust nothing she says."

"Understood." Priscilla responds, followed by a few less notable voices like Killer Moth and DDD.

"First Chang and now Mod?" Terrance mutters, probably thinking I can't hear him. "Some grand plan…"

I whirl on him in an instant, glaring harshly. "These are expected losses, boy. Don't talk back at me."

I've been tolerant of him while he was learning, but now that we're in the endgame I expect obedience. That was the deal. If he can't live up to that expectation… I have backup plans that don't require him. More difficult backup plans perhaps, but backup plans. I refuse to have a plan that can only work with a man's involvement. If he's going to be a problem, I can have him removed.

I don't want to fight a battle on two fronts, so I make a quick decision. "All force in the east sector, move on Madeline's last location. I want the Hypnotist dealt with before the Titans make their move and before the Justice League arrives. Drop everything else and take him out!"

That's an unpopular order, but a necessary one. The Hypnotist might be one man, but he can assimilate others to his side with his powers, not to mention he's quite the strategist. He has Madeline, and likely others I'm not aware of, on his side.

I haven't mentioned it to anyone else, but the Hypnotist is part of the reason I wanted this assault ready as soon as it is. The longer I wait, the more of my troops and commanders he can hypnotise and turn against me.

Now, though, he's shown his hand and therefore revealed his location. Hopefully he can be found and eliminated before my other main opponents are ready to fight.

"Are we not going to go watch the Hypnotist's performance?" Mumbo asks. "Surely you want to be in the audience… or at least be around to help."

"We can't move too many resources away from the center." I deny. "We have city hall, and where I go Ternion has to go. Ternion needs to stay here, or else we could lose the hall."

"If you say so Rosie."

"I do."

KID FLASH

"This doesn't seem right, Sir."

"I know it doesn't kid, but you trust me, yeah?" The man in the longcoat, Sir, says, and pats me on the back. "Of course you do. Madeline here is our ally, aren't you Mad?"

"At the moment." Mad Mod huffs while dusting off her coat. "I've come to realize out interests align... for now."

"See? Everything is fine…" Sir says. "Now, your wet friend should be back in a few minutes with some more allies I called earlier, as well as a key item, and then we can move on Priscilla and convince her to join us."

"You think it will be that easy, Sir?"

"Of course it will. I'm an expert diplomat. I convinced Madeline, did I not?"

"Of course sir, sorry Sir." How foolish of me to doubt him. Sir is absolutely trustworthy. He'll lead us to victory."

"Now, hush for a moment as I make one last call. He will meet us on the way."

"Who Sir?"

"Someone Madelne will be familiar with, or at least have a passing knowledge of." Sir chuckles as he dials the number and holds the phone up to his ear. "Hello? Yes, hello my dear. Ah, you remember me now, don't you? Good, good… I need your help child. Meet us at Wales Avenue, won't you? In the suit. Hmm? What's that? Ah, do not worry. I've procured more Xenothium for exactly such an occasion. How long will you be? Ah, perfect, perfect! I will see you then, child."

He ends the call and turns to us with a smile.

"Everything is going according to plan, my friends. Within the hour, we should achieve the second goal, and it is all thanks to your efforts."

"Anytime Sir." I say. I should be happy about that, right? Probably. This all feels… surreal though. I can't quite describe it. Have you ever woken up from a dream, but aren't sure it's not another dream you're in? That's what this feels like. That's what I've felt like ever since Sir called for my assistance.

Strange, but unimportant. Sir needs my help, and it would be awful of me to refuse.

Big things are happening, and more players are on the field.

bookgirl18: No problem! Great to hear.

Origami Stars: Yeah, but Hex isn't really bothered by things like that, and X's role isn't done yet (neither is the HIVE's). Crow is finally better now, though it was glossed over in the actual chapter. Hope this chapter was just as interesting.

Azarath Cat: Cyborg seems to have the effect on other characters, she brings out the details in them. She's an easy character to have others talk to. Something about her just plays really well with others.

I was wondering how many people would notice the clues! I'm happy to see that they haven't gone unnoticed.

Guest: Indeed she is! I think I criminally underuse Cyborg, but at the same time the fact that she's used so rarely is what makes moments with her so potent. I could throw backstory at you, or be sparing and have the moments be powerful.

It will certainly be a scene when the HIVE figure it out, but not quite yet. Soon, but not yet.