The Captain: Yay! Another review! And a good one. Thank you to both of my loving fans! In any case, you'll get to see a lot more action in this one. You'll get to see my Clive character really get to cut loose cause he's soooo cool (ok, so he's alright...but I still like him!) Anyways, hopefully I'll get this one up by V-Day! Oh, and just so you all know, "..." represents speech, (...) represents thought, and [...] represents telepathic communication of sorts. Oh, I got the Teen Titans Go comic book. First 3 volumes baby! I love it...If this one feels a little rushed, I'm sorry, but I did want to get it up today. It'll get buried I know, but I still want to get it up. Hopefully, I'll be able to get this flowing a little better in time. I usually don't take this long to get a main character incorperated like this. In any case, enjoy!
Legal Tander: I don't own the Teen Titans or anything in or pertaining to the show. I do however own the fic, kinda. I also hold rights to the characters in which I create which I would really appreciate not being taken and used. Blah.
Shadow Requiem: Scared of the Dark
The Titans gathered in the tower's living room, sitting across from each other between the couches and chairs. The TV was off and everything put away. A very different look for the Titans after a hard days work.
Robin: " Ok, so let's think about this...the last month, crime has been through the roof. The prison is getting full and the jail cells in the police stations are packed. To make matters worse now, Slade is planning something and he seems to have some kind of associate...any thoughts?"
Cyborg: " I think he's doing this whole thing to run us out of energy. I mean, all these crimes suddenly, running us all around town and now he's hatching something? Think about it. We won't have the strength to deal with him."
Raven: " You have a point. Plus, all those criminals had those weapons, and only someone like him would have that kind of money and access."
Robin: " But what does it all mean?"
Beastboy: " I think he's just trying to wear us down, the force us to fight. I mean, what else would he do if he made all those robberies happen?"
Robin: " I don't know. That's what I think as well, but I feel like it's wrong...Starfire...you've been pretty quiet over there. You were the one who saw him with that other guy...maybe you could help."
Starfire: " Well...I am not sure. I could hear them...but I got there too late to find out what they were talking about."
Cyborg: " Then tell us about this new guy?"
Starfire: " I also don't know about that either. I could not see him very well. Only small glimses...he was too fast I think."
Raven: " What do you mean?"
Starfire: " He seemed to be everywhere at once. He was over in the corner, and there were shadows all around, so I could not see him. He moved around me, and I could not tell where he actually was."
Raven: " He sounds like a Shadow Mage."
Beastboy: " A Shadow what?"
Robin: " What's a Shadow Mage?"
Cyborg: " Sounds kinda lame if you ask me."
Raven: " Don't take the name lightly. Supposedly, they are few in existance, if any at all anymore. I've only heard of them though, but I've never seen one."
Robin: " So what do they do?"
Raven: " They can manipulate the shadows around them. But it's more than that. Their powers are similar to mine, but are usually more so. I can't quite say for sure if that's the truth, but that's what I've heard."
Robin: " Star, what was the last thing you remember in the warehouse?"
Starfire: " I was looking for him when something grabbed me and wrapped me up. I couldn't move at all. Then, I got pulled into the ground, then I was somewhere else. It was all dark, and I couldn't make anything out. Then, I got pulled through the ground again, and I appeared here!"
Raven: " You were pulled through the ground? What do you mean?"
Starfire: " I don't know. That's just what happened. It could barely see anything. The world turned to darkness!"
Raven: " Well...I can't tell for sure. We'd have to encounter him for me to see."
Robin: " Any way you could use your powers to search for him?"
Raven: " Well, by what Starfire says, he's probably powerful. I could give it a try, but it may take some time."
Robin: " Well, give it a try if you can, until then titans, I think it's time for some sleep."
Cyborg: " Yeah, I'm beat. All this running around's got me tired."
Beastboy: " Oh like you've got a lot to talk about. You didn't have to leave the pizza shop I bet?"
Cyborg: " Not tonight BB...I'm gonna go power down for a while."
The Titans started heading for their rooms, but Starfire stood looking out a window. Robin walked over to her as the rest of them left.
Robin: " Hey Star, aren't you tired too?"
Starfire: " Not really. But...I'm just kind of worried about that guy?"
Robin: " I wouldn't. He won't be able to get us while we're in here. This place is armed to the teeth with alarms and such. He'd never get by."
Starfire: " Oh, that I'm not worried about. I was worried about him."
Robin: " What do you mean?"
Starfire: " He said some things to me when we were in that warehouse...and he sounded so sad..."
Robin: " Hmmm...well, I don't know. I wouldn't think about it too much. Anyways, I'm going to bed...we can settle all of this in the morning."
Starfire: " Thank you Robin."
Robin: " Hey, that's what friends are for."
She smiled as he walked off towards his room. Afterwards, she made herself a bowl of popcorn, then sprinkled large amounts of suger into it, then sat down and watched some television. Eventually, a couple of hours later, she dozed off on the couch, with a mostly eaten bowl of sugered popcorn in her lap. She would remain that way, until of course, in the middle of the night, all the soda she drank would come back to haunt her. So, she got up groggily and searched for the bathroom. Since it was so dark, she held up her hand and created a light for her too see. Go figure, as just when her light began to shine, it caught some one, or maybe something in their Tower.
She gasped, seeing the being, and it brought it's arm up around it's face, trying to hide it's identity. They both held still for a moment, as she wasn't sure what she was seeing and the intruder didn't want to provoke her to attack. She took a step back slowly, and the intruder did the same. Finally, Starfire let out a loud shriek and threw a starbolt at it. The intruder ducked away from it and ran through the hall. She chased after it, flying just behind it while throwing more starbolts, narrowly missing it's heels. The explosions shook the building a bit, and as they would have, set off the alarms and woke everyone up. The intruder was able to lose Starfire by running into the basement, where Starfire seemed to not like being. Instead, she waited by the door as everyone came rushing out.
Robin: " Starfire! What's going on?"
Starfire: " There is something here!"
Beastboy: " What's here?
Starfire: " I don't know! I was going to use the bathroom and when I needed a light, I used my powers, and I saw it. Then it ran and I chased it!"
Cyborg: " What's it look like?"
Starfire: " It's...it's kinda tall...and black...and uhhh...that's all I could really tell. It covered it's face so I couldn't see it."
Robin: " Sounds like it's trying to protect it's identity. Must be human then. So, did it go down there?"
Starfire: " Yes..."
Robin: " What's wrong Star?"
Starfire: "...."
Raven: " You're afraid of the basement."
Starfire nodded slowly agreeing.
Beastboy: " Don't worry, we've got your back."
Robin: " That's right! Let's go Titans!"
The 5 ran down the stairs. Robin and Starfire took one direction, Raven and Beast boy went another, and Cyborg stayed at the enterance to make sure it didn't get out. The two groups searched for about 10 minutes, running into each other repeatedly. Finally, they regrouped back with Cyborg.
Robin: " Well? Is there anything here Cyborg?"
Cyborg: " Well...yes and no. Other than you guys, something keeps appearing and disappearing off my sensors."
Raven: " Something is here. I can sense it. It's hiding it's powers from me though. Infact, it's hiding everything from me. Though it does let me know it's here...I can't tell where or what it's up to."
Beastboy: " So what do we do?"
Robin: " I'm thinking...hold on..."
Suddenly, a crash was heard about 40 feet away, and a small explosion shot out from the power generator of the Tower. The lights upstairs shut off and they were surrounded by the darkness, except for the light Cyborg and Starfire provided.
Robin: " Over there! Come on guys!"
The 5 ran for it, making it there quickly, but all they found was a trashed generator.
Cyborg: " Oh man! There goes my plans for tomorrow!"
Robin: " If we have any. First, we have to catch this menace. Raven, since we can't do it with the systems...can you seal off the tower with your powers?"
Raven: " I could...but I couldn't do anything more. This is a very large structure...so it would take my entire attention."
Robin: " Then go ahead and do that. Cyborg, stay with Raven and make sure nothing happens to her. She's going to keep this guy in so we can get a hold of him."
Cyborg: " No problem."
Robin: " Beastboy, you and Starfire search from here to the second floor. I'll do the 3rd to the roof."
Beastboy: " Are you gonna be alright alone?"
Robin: " I should be. Good luck everyone!"
Robin ran off for the stairs while Raven placed her hands on the floor, sitting in an indian style position. The floor began to glow black from her powers, and it spread through the walls, eventually encompassing the entire exterior of the Tower. The doors shut and everything was locked tight. Cyborg transformed his arm into his sonic cannon, then readied it for anything. Starfire and Beastboy slowly climbed the stairs, keeping their eyes peeled for anything.
Now, Robin was already at the third floor, carrying his flashlight and shining it about, looking for pretty much anything. This carried through to the top of the tower, and so, Robin had nothing on his hands. As he was coming down the stairs to the 4th floor, he heard a laugh somewhere behind him. He stopped and slowly turned around, readying a pair of his birdarangs. The laugh came again, and Robin threw them from the point where he heard it. They hit the wall and he grabbed a second pair, shining his flashlight at the new point, seeing nothing.
Robin: " We know you're here. You won't get out."
Clive: " Indeed. You're very well thought out. I can't open the doors, and Raven is blocking all portals from within."
Robin: " Give up and we'll make this easy on you."
Clive: " Sorry, but I can't afford that now."
Robin: " Well you can't afford failure either since you're with Slade, am I right?"
Clive: " Indeed. You're very well aquainted with him. Well, I don't care for working with him, but I don't have too many other options."
Robin: " There's always other choices."
Clive: " But not if you're putting someone else at risk..."
Robin: " What?"
Clive: " Nevermind that. I've got to take care of my business here. So I guess I'll just have to start with you."
Suddenly, something grabbed Robin's cape from behind him and pulled him to the ground. A large hand wrapped in black grabbed him by the head and tossed him into a wall. Then, a foot came crashing into his ribs and pinned him in his spot. Clive rose up and out from Robin's shadow, grabbing his mask firmly and pulling it off. Robin threw a hand up infront of his face to protect his identity. He looked between his fingers to see his attacker. He wore a black suit, from his feet up to his neck. Though his face wasn't covered, he did wear a pair of black goggles to hide his eye behind. His hair was black and was a bit longer than Robins.
Robin: " Give that back!"
Clive: " Sorry...I just need something from each of you. Now then..."
Clive hit Robin quickly in the neck, knocking him out. Afterwards, he put the small mask into what looked like might be a pocket at his hip. He continued down the stairs afterwards, but was stopped when he saw the unmistakable light coming from Starfire's hands. He pressed himself into the wall and traveled among the shadows, slipping by the 2 patrollers, deciding that he needed to get to other 2 first, just in case something goes arwy and he would need to leave quickly.
He slipped down stairs in his shadowy form, almost invisable to the naked eye because it was so dark. As he was approaching the pair of titans on the first floor, Cyborg turned in his direction, pointing his cannon where he was.
Raven: " What's wrong?"
Cyborg: " I'm picking up movement around us...but I don't know from where."
Raven: " I wish I could help you..."
Cyborg: " Just keep this place locked up. I'll worry about this guy."
Raven: " Just be careful."
Clive, still as a shadow on the wall, made his way slowly around. Cyborg kept his cannon pointed right at him. It was moving with him, almost as if he knew he was there.
Cyborg: " I know you're there. I can detect your movement! Heck, I can see your shadow!"
Raven: " What? That's him!"
Cyborg: " What?"
He fired a high decible blast from his arm and right into the wall where he saw the strange shadow. It knocked the wall down, leaving a large hole in it. As for Clive, he was blasted straight out of the wall and onto the ground. Quickly, he jumped up and ran around Cyborg and Raven repeatedly, using his black form to make him hard to see.
Cyborg: " Hold still so I can get a lock on you!"
Finally, he came barrelling into Cyborg, putting his shoulder and all his weight into knocking him over. Cyborg got back up to his feet quickly, so Clive raised up his arm, and a large black hand jumped out of Cyborgs own shadow and grabbed him by his head, pulling him straight to the ground. The hand then spread it's grip and encompassed Cyborgs body, then raised him into the air and threw him out the window. He was thrown so hard that he ended up being tossed into the bay just around the tower.
Clive: " Well now, 2 down, 3 to go."
Raven: " You won't win..."
Clive: " I don't have to."
He made a quick advance on Raven, but she released her power over the tower and rolled out of the way. He reached out to grab her, but she made a shield to prevent him from touching her. He then pulled back his hand and it quickly morphed and became a large crablike claw. He used it to try and grab her again, but was cut off by the barrier she put up. He continued to apply pressure, and the shield began to crack. With his other hand, he morphed it into a pick of sorts, and while one hand put pressure on her shield, the other began hammering away at it, increasing the cracks in the shield.
Eventually, it broke. It caused a sudden explosive force, seperating Raven and Clive. He got up to his feet first and made a break for her while she was knocked down. Before she could get up, he grabbed her by the collar of her cloak. He pulled her up off her feet, bringing her to eye level with him. The Shadow's covered his face, and she took a couple of swings at him, but large arms shot up out of their shadows and blocked them. It was quite unfair, as she wasn't anywhere near his abilities physically. She started to chant her 3 magic words, but he stretched and placed his hand onto her head, covering it completely. She struggled harshly, flailing her limbs about, trying to get free. But he continued to hold her like that, until she stopped moving.
He set her down on the ground. She had only passed out, and he double checked to make sure she was alright. Afterwards, he pulled her body aside and placed it onto the couch nearby. Now with only 2 left, he could finish his assignment quickly. He tore her hood off of her cloak and then walked over to the Gamestation they had, taking a memory card maked, " Cyborgs ". He placed it into that same pocket at his hip, which then disappeared back into his body. Afterwards, he made his way back upstairs to where Starfire and Beastboy were. He continued along the walls, sneaking through the shadowed portions of the walls to avoid being seen. He came up on the pair, and the green light Starfire emitted from her hand made his skin crawl just a bit. The pair passed him and he rose up and out of the shadow he was on the wall.
Standing just behind the pair, he raised both of his hands, taking all the darkness around them and wrapping them around Beastboy. Beastboy stopped, realizing that he couldn't see anything. He couldn't see Starfire, much less the hand right in front of his face. He transformed into a cat to try and see if that would help, but that ended up being useless. Starfire continued her wandering without him, not knowing he wasn't right behind her. Clive made a run for it and grabbed Beastboy while he was in his cat form, then carried him away as fast as he could before Beastboy would know what was going on.
He ducked around by a downward spiralling staircase and that's when Beastboy made a transformation into a Gorilla to try and ward off whomever had grabbed him and was carrying him. Clive took a couple of steps backwards, taking a moment to think about what to do about the small cat that was wrapped in black shadows and now had become a giant Gorilla. Still, he knew that Beastboy couldn't see, so he stepped back as the raging Gorilla took swings at him, missing greatly and pounding the heck out of the walls.
Clive knew that the sound would bring Starfire, so he ran up to Beastboy and grabbed him around the waist. He then pivoted on his heel, and with an amazing feat of strength, he tossed him down the stairs. The Gorilla fell and rolled all the way down, banging his head and the rest of his body on the steps. At the bottom, it had turned back into Beastboy's normal form, which was unconscious. Hearing the noise, Starfire turned around and shined her light about, seeing that Beastboy was not with her.
Starfire: " Beastboy? Where are you! Where have you gone!"
She took flight in the direction of the noise, getting there just in time to see the large being she saw earlier stopped over Beastboy and pluck a hair from his head. She growled in discontent, which wasn't something she was very well known for.
Starfire: " You! Get away from him or I'll shoot!"
Clive turned around partially, stopping and putting up his arm again to protect his face from sight.
Clive: " Sorry Angel, but I have a job to do."
Starfire: " You should give yourself up!"
Clive: " I don't quite have that luxury. Now then, if you don't mind, will you give me something of yours?"
Starfire: " What?"
Clive: " I need something from you. Anything really. Since I'd rather not have to go pawing through your room or hurt you, I'd like to try and ask nice."
Starfire: " You've done all of this just to get something that belongs to me?"
Clive: " Well, not just you. All of them. Like I have a hair from Beastboys head, I have a memory card for one of Cyborgs video games, I have a piece of Raven's hood, and I have Robin's mask. Now, I need something from you."
Starfire: " Is this why Slade sent you?"
Clive: " Sort of."
Starfire: " Well I will not give anything of mine to you. What have to done with the rest of my friends?"
Clive sighed, slumping his shoulders and shaking his head.
Clive: " I promise they're all fine. Just please give something of yours to me? I don't want to have to hurt you accidently."
Starfire: " You'll find that I'm stronger and tougher than I look."
Clive: " Well, as much as I'd like to find out..."
Clive made a quick dart at her. He was very quick on his feet, and his sudden motion took Starfire by surprise. He reached out to her and snagged her communicator off her belt. Afterwards, he jumped down the flights of stairs. She chased after him, continuing their chase form earlier, landing starbolts just behind his ankles. He was in a full out sprint when he reached the first floor, and she was still gaining on him. He stopped in the midst of his run and ducked down, causing her to fly right over his head. Afterwards, he turned and ran down a nearby hallway. Starfire turned around and followed him, and smiled, knowing where this hall way ended. Clive ran as fast as he could but the hall dead ended. He stopped and entered the room at the end of the hall, hoping he would be able to escape from somewhere in it.
Running in, he realized that this was a training room. Weights, floating targets, and even some projectile weapons sat all spread out. He shook his head, cursing himself.
Clive: " Damn."
He heard her voice come from the enterance. The doors opened up to reveal her.
Starfire: " There is no where to run."
Clive: " I've still got a couple of aces up my sleeve first!"
Starfire: " Aces?"
Clive placed a hand on the wall and it faded into a shadow along it. He pressed the rest of himself against it, until he faded into the wall and became a shadow. He began to slip by her, but she threw a starbolt into his shadowy form out of desparation, not sure what else to do. Not only did it blow a hole in the wall, but it knocked him out of it as well, sending him sprawling along the ground. She held another in her hand and waited as he slowly got up to his feet.
Clive: " Jeez...what was that?"
He looked at her and then at his body. His black suit had striveled down quite a bit and only half covered him. It was slowly climbing back up his body though, showing some sort of regenerative property.
Clive: " I see..."
She threw another one, since he gave no sign of giving up. It hit him squarely in the chest and knocked him against the wall. He slumped down onto the floor, then slowly looked up at her. She looked angry. Very very angry. Clive got up slowly again, realizing that his suit had mostly faded off of himself, covering only his legs like pants.
Starfire: " Now are you going to give up?"
Clive: "...."
Starfire: " You can't win. Please just give yourself up."
Clive: " You don't know..."
His voice was sad again, much like it was when she had first seen him.
Starfire: " What don't I know?"
Clive: " A lot of things. I can't just give up, because that would mean failure."
Starfire: " But we cannot let someone who works for Slade get away."
Clive: " But I can't let what will happen if I fail happen. It's a no win situation."
Starfire: " Perhaps we can help?"
Clive: " I doubt you....?"
Slade: [You've said enough. Finish up now.]
Clive: [I understand.]
Starfire: " What's wrong?"
Clive: " I'm sorry. I must be going."
Starfire: " You'll be doing no such thing!"
She threw a couple of Starbolts at him. He had enough time to allow his suit to regenerate over his body again, and so, jumped out of the way, pulling back his fist and smashing it into the wall. It crumbled under the impact, and he continued to smash his way out of the Tower. He kept his attentions on her starbolts though, knowing fully well that they were dangerous to him. Finally, with one final punch, he knocked a hole in the wall and was outside. He jumped outside, avoiding another flury of starbolts, and then stopped running once he got to the water's edge. Starfire cornered him once more.
Starfire: " Now there is no place to run."
Clive: " That's alright. I just need to stall you for just a moment."
Starfire: " What?"
Out of nowhere, from beneath her, a large black hand much like before grabbed her legs and pulled her aside. Another one shot up and wrapped her arms up, until she was completely detained. Clive knelt down and placed a hand on his own shadow, causing it to ripple much like water. He looked up at Starfire and gave her a nod.
Clive: " I'm sorry about all this trouble. I'll let you go once I'm through."
He sunk down into his own shadow, which quickly faded from view. The black shadow like hands that had grabbed Starfire disappeared quickly, and she just stood there all alone on the sandy ground around the small island.
Legal Tander: I don't own the Teen Titans or anything in or pertaining to the show. I do however own the fic, kinda. I also hold rights to the characters in which I create which I would really appreciate not being taken and used. Blah.
Shadow Requiem: Scared of the Dark
The Titans gathered in the tower's living room, sitting across from each other between the couches and chairs. The TV was off and everything put away. A very different look for the Titans after a hard days work.
Robin: " Ok, so let's think about this...the last month, crime has been through the roof. The prison is getting full and the jail cells in the police stations are packed. To make matters worse now, Slade is planning something and he seems to have some kind of associate...any thoughts?"
Cyborg: " I think he's doing this whole thing to run us out of energy. I mean, all these crimes suddenly, running us all around town and now he's hatching something? Think about it. We won't have the strength to deal with him."
Raven: " You have a point. Plus, all those criminals had those weapons, and only someone like him would have that kind of money and access."
Robin: " But what does it all mean?"
Beastboy: " I think he's just trying to wear us down, the force us to fight. I mean, what else would he do if he made all those robberies happen?"
Robin: " I don't know. That's what I think as well, but I feel like it's wrong...Starfire...you've been pretty quiet over there. You were the one who saw him with that other guy...maybe you could help."
Starfire: " Well...I am not sure. I could hear them...but I got there too late to find out what they were talking about."
Cyborg: " Then tell us about this new guy?"
Starfire: " I also don't know about that either. I could not see him very well. Only small glimses...he was too fast I think."
Raven: " What do you mean?"
Starfire: " He seemed to be everywhere at once. He was over in the corner, and there were shadows all around, so I could not see him. He moved around me, and I could not tell where he actually was."
Raven: " He sounds like a Shadow Mage."
Beastboy: " A Shadow what?"
Robin: " What's a Shadow Mage?"
Cyborg: " Sounds kinda lame if you ask me."
Raven: " Don't take the name lightly. Supposedly, they are few in existance, if any at all anymore. I've only heard of them though, but I've never seen one."
Robin: " So what do they do?"
Raven: " They can manipulate the shadows around them. But it's more than that. Their powers are similar to mine, but are usually more so. I can't quite say for sure if that's the truth, but that's what I've heard."
Robin: " Star, what was the last thing you remember in the warehouse?"
Starfire: " I was looking for him when something grabbed me and wrapped me up. I couldn't move at all. Then, I got pulled into the ground, then I was somewhere else. It was all dark, and I couldn't make anything out. Then, I got pulled through the ground again, and I appeared here!"
Raven: " You were pulled through the ground? What do you mean?"
Starfire: " I don't know. That's just what happened. It could barely see anything. The world turned to darkness!"
Raven: " Well...I can't tell for sure. We'd have to encounter him for me to see."
Robin: " Any way you could use your powers to search for him?"
Raven: " Well, by what Starfire says, he's probably powerful. I could give it a try, but it may take some time."
Robin: " Well, give it a try if you can, until then titans, I think it's time for some sleep."
Cyborg: " Yeah, I'm beat. All this running around's got me tired."
Beastboy: " Oh like you've got a lot to talk about. You didn't have to leave the pizza shop I bet?"
Cyborg: " Not tonight BB...I'm gonna go power down for a while."
The Titans started heading for their rooms, but Starfire stood looking out a window. Robin walked over to her as the rest of them left.
Robin: " Hey Star, aren't you tired too?"
Starfire: " Not really. But...I'm just kind of worried about that guy?"
Robin: " I wouldn't. He won't be able to get us while we're in here. This place is armed to the teeth with alarms and such. He'd never get by."
Starfire: " Oh, that I'm not worried about. I was worried about him."
Robin: " What do you mean?"
Starfire: " He said some things to me when we were in that warehouse...and he sounded so sad..."
Robin: " Hmmm...well, I don't know. I wouldn't think about it too much. Anyways, I'm going to bed...we can settle all of this in the morning."
Starfire: " Thank you Robin."
Robin: " Hey, that's what friends are for."
She smiled as he walked off towards his room. Afterwards, she made herself a bowl of popcorn, then sprinkled large amounts of suger into it, then sat down and watched some television. Eventually, a couple of hours later, she dozed off on the couch, with a mostly eaten bowl of sugered popcorn in her lap. She would remain that way, until of course, in the middle of the night, all the soda she drank would come back to haunt her. So, she got up groggily and searched for the bathroom. Since it was so dark, she held up her hand and created a light for her too see. Go figure, as just when her light began to shine, it caught some one, or maybe something in their Tower.
She gasped, seeing the being, and it brought it's arm up around it's face, trying to hide it's identity. They both held still for a moment, as she wasn't sure what she was seeing and the intruder didn't want to provoke her to attack. She took a step back slowly, and the intruder did the same. Finally, Starfire let out a loud shriek and threw a starbolt at it. The intruder ducked away from it and ran through the hall. She chased after it, flying just behind it while throwing more starbolts, narrowly missing it's heels. The explosions shook the building a bit, and as they would have, set off the alarms and woke everyone up. The intruder was able to lose Starfire by running into the basement, where Starfire seemed to not like being. Instead, she waited by the door as everyone came rushing out.
Robin: " Starfire! What's going on?"
Starfire: " There is something here!"
Beastboy: " What's here?
Starfire: " I don't know! I was going to use the bathroom and when I needed a light, I used my powers, and I saw it. Then it ran and I chased it!"
Cyborg: " What's it look like?"
Starfire: " It's...it's kinda tall...and black...and uhhh...that's all I could really tell. It covered it's face so I couldn't see it."
Robin: " Sounds like it's trying to protect it's identity. Must be human then. So, did it go down there?"
Starfire: " Yes..."
Robin: " What's wrong Star?"
Starfire: "...."
Raven: " You're afraid of the basement."
Starfire nodded slowly agreeing.
Beastboy: " Don't worry, we've got your back."
Robin: " That's right! Let's go Titans!"
The 5 ran down the stairs. Robin and Starfire took one direction, Raven and Beast boy went another, and Cyborg stayed at the enterance to make sure it didn't get out. The two groups searched for about 10 minutes, running into each other repeatedly. Finally, they regrouped back with Cyborg.
Robin: " Well? Is there anything here Cyborg?"
Cyborg: " Well...yes and no. Other than you guys, something keeps appearing and disappearing off my sensors."
Raven: " Something is here. I can sense it. It's hiding it's powers from me though. Infact, it's hiding everything from me. Though it does let me know it's here...I can't tell where or what it's up to."
Beastboy: " So what do we do?"
Robin: " I'm thinking...hold on..."
Suddenly, a crash was heard about 40 feet away, and a small explosion shot out from the power generator of the Tower. The lights upstairs shut off and they were surrounded by the darkness, except for the light Cyborg and Starfire provided.
Robin: " Over there! Come on guys!"
The 5 ran for it, making it there quickly, but all they found was a trashed generator.
Cyborg: " Oh man! There goes my plans for tomorrow!"
Robin: " If we have any. First, we have to catch this menace. Raven, since we can't do it with the systems...can you seal off the tower with your powers?"
Raven: " I could...but I couldn't do anything more. This is a very large structure...so it would take my entire attention."
Robin: " Then go ahead and do that. Cyborg, stay with Raven and make sure nothing happens to her. She's going to keep this guy in so we can get a hold of him."
Cyborg: " No problem."
Robin: " Beastboy, you and Starfire search from here to the second floor. I'll do the 3rd to the roof."
Beastboy: " Are you gonna be alright alone?"
Robin: " I should be. Good luck everyone!"
Robin ran off for the stairs while Raven placed her hands on the floor, sitting in an indian style position. The floor began to glow black from her powers, and it spread through the walls, eventually encompassing the entire exterior of the Tower. The doors shut and everything was locked tight. Cyborg transformed his arm into his sonic cannon, then readied it for anything. Starfire and Beastboy slowly climbed the stairs, keeping their eyes peeled for anything.
Now, Robin was already at the third floor, carrying his flashlight and shining it about, looking for pretty much anything. This carried through to the top of the tower, and so, Robin had nothing on his hands. As he was coming down the stairs to the 4th floor, he heard a laugh somewhere behind him. He stopped and slowly turned around, readying a pair of his birdarangs. The laugh came again, and Robin threw them from the point where he heard it. They hit the wall and he grabbed a second pair, shining his flashlight at the new point, seeing nothing.
Robin: " We know you're here. You won't get out."
Clive: " Indeed. You're very well thought out. I can't open the doors, and Raven is blocking all portals from within."
Robin: " Give up and we'll make this easy on you."
Clive: " Sorry, but I can't afford that now."
Robin: " Well you can't afford failure either since you're with Slade, am I right?"
Clive: " Indeed. You're very well aquainted with him. Well, I don't care for working with him, but I don't have too many other options."
Robin: " There's always other choices."
Clive: " But not if you're putting someone else at risk..."
Robin: " What?"
Clive: " Nevermind that. I've got to take care of my business here. So I guess I'll just have to start with you."
Suddenly, something grabbed Robin's cape from behind him and pulled him to the ground. A large hand wrapped in black grabbed him by the head and tossed him into a wall. Then, a foot came crashing into his ribs and pinned him in his spot. Clive rose up and out from Robin's shadow, grabbing his mask firmly and pulling it off. Robin threw a hand up infront of his face to protect his identity. He looked between his fingers to see his attacker. He wore a black suit, from his feet up to his neck. Though his face wasn't covered, he did wear a pair of black goggles to hide his eye behind. His hair was black and was a bit longer than Robins.
Robin: " Give that back!"
Clive: " Sorry...I just need something from each of you. Now then..."
Clive hit Robin quickly in the neck, knocking him out. Afterwards, he put the small mask into what looked like might be a pocket at his hip. He continued down the stairs afterwards, but was stopped when he saw the unmistakable light coming from Starfire's hands. He pressed himself into the wall and traveled among the shadows, slipping by the 2 patrollers, deciding that he needed to get to other 2 first, just in case something goes arwy and he would need to leave quickly.
He slipped down stairs in his shadowy form, almost invisable to the naked eye because it was so dark. As he was approaching the pair of titans on the first floor, Cyborg turned in his direction, pointing his cannon where he was.
Raven: " What's wrong?"
Cyborg: " I'm picking up movement around us...but I don't know from where."
Raven: " I wish I could help you..."
Cyborg: " Just keep this place locked up. I'll worry about this guy."
Raven: " Just be careful."
Clive, still as a shadow on the wall, made his way slowly around. Cyborg kept his cannon pointed right at him. It was moving with him, almost as if he knew he was there.
Cyborg: " I know you're there. I can detect your movement! Heck, I can see your shadow!"
Raven: " What? That's him!"
Cyborg: " What?"
He fired a high decible blast from his arm and right into the wall where he saw the strange shadow. It knocked the wall down, leaving a large hole in it. As for Clive, he was blasted straight out of the wall and onto the ground. Quickly, he jumped up and ran around Cyborg and Raven repeatedly, using his black form to make him hard to see.
Cyborg: " Hold still so I can get a lock on you!"
Finally, he came barrelling into Cyborg, putting his shoulder and all his weight into knocking him over. Cyborg got back up to his feet quickly, so Clive raised up his arm, and a large black hand jumped out of Cyborgs own shadow and grabbed him by his head, pulling him straight to the ground. The hand then spread it's grip and encompassed Cyborgs body, then raised him into the air and threw him out the window. He was thrown so hard that he ended up being tossed into the bay just around the tower.
Clive: " Well now, 2 down, 3 to go."
Raven: " You won't win..."
Clive: " I don't have to."
He made a quick advance on Raven, but she released her power over the tower and rolled out of the way. He reached out to grab her, but she made a shield to prevent him from touching her. He then pulled back his hand and it quickly morphed and became a large crablike claw. He used it to try and grab her again, but was cut off by the barrier she put up. He continued to apply pressure, and the shield began to crack. With his other hand, he morphed it into a pick of sorts, and while one hand put pressure on her shield, the other began hammering away at it, increasing the cracks in the shield.
Eventually, it broke. It caused a sudden explosive force, seperating Raven and Clive. He got up to his feet first and made a break for her while she was knocked down. Before she could get up, he grabbed her by the collar of her cloak. He pulled her up off her feet, bringing her to eye level with him. The Shadow's covered his face, and she took a couple of swings at him, but large arms shot up out of their shadows and blocked them. It was quite unfair, as she wasn't anywhere near his abilities physically. She started to chant her 3 magic words, but he stretched and placed his hand onto her head, covering it completely. She struggled harshly, flailing her limbs about, trying to get free. But he continued to hold her like that, until she stopped moving.
He set her down on the ground. She had only passed out, and he double checked to make sure she was alright. Afterwards, he pulled her body aside and placed it onto the couch nearby. Now with only 2 left, he could finish his assignment quickly. He tore her hood off of her cloak and then walked over to the Gamestation they had, taking a memory card maked, " Cyborgs ". He placed it into that same pocket at his hip, which then disappeared back into his body. Afterwards, he made his way back upstairs to where Starfire and Beastboy were. He continued along the walls, sneaking through the shadowed portions of the walls to avoid being seen. He came up on the pair, and the green light Starfire emitted from her hand made his skin crawl just a bit. The pair passed him and he rose up and out of the shadow he was on the wall.
Standing just behind the pair, he raised both of his hands, taking all the darkness around them and wrapping them around Beastboy. Beastboy stopped, realizing that he couldn't see anything. He couldn't see Starfire, much less the hand right in front of his face. He transformed into a cat to try and see if that would help, but that ended up being useless. Starfire continued her wandering without him, not knowing he wasn't right behind her. Clive made a run for it and grabbed Beastboy while he was in his cat form, then carried him away as fast as he could before Beastboy would know what was going on.
He ducked around by a downward spiralling staircase and that's when Beastboy made a transformation into a Gorilla to try and ward off whomever had grabbed him and was carrying him. Clive took a couple of steps backwards, taking a moment to think about what to do about the small cat that was wrapped in black shadows and now had become a giant Gorilla. Still, he knew that Beastboy couldn't see, so he stepped back as the raging Gorilla took swings at him, missing greatly and pounding the heck out of the walls.
Clive knew that the sound would bring Starfire, so he ran up to Beastboy and grabbed him around the waist. He then pivoted on his heel, and with an amazing feat of strength, he tossed him down the stairs. The Gorilla fell and rolled all the way down, banging his head and the rest of his body on the steps. At the bottom, it had turned back into Beastboy's normal form, which was unconscious. Hearing the noise, Starfire turned around and shined her light about, seeing that Beastboy was not with her.
Starfire: " Beastboy? Where are you! Where have you gone!"
She took flight in the direction of the noise, getting there just in time to see the large being she saw earlier stopped over Beastboy and pluck a hair from his head. She growled in discontent, which wasn't something she was very well known for.
Starfire: " You! Get away from him or I'll shoot!"
Clive turned around partially, stopping and putting up his arm again to protect his face from sight.
Clive: " Sorry Angel, but I have a job to do."
Starfire: " You should give yourself up!"
Clive: " I don't quite have that luxury. Now then, if you don't mind, will you give me something of yours?"
Starfire: " What?"
Clive: " I need something from you. Anything really. Since I'd rather not have to go pawing through your room or hurt you, I'd like to try and ask nice."
Starfire: " You've done all of this just to get something that belongs to me?"
Clive: " Well, not just you. All of them. Like I have a hair from Beastboys head, I have a memory card for one of Cyborgs video games, I have a piece of Raven's hood, and I have Robin's mask. Now, I need something from you."
Starfire: " Is this why Slade sent you?"
Clive: " Sort of."
Starfire: " Well I will not give anything of mine to you. What have to done with the rest of my friends?"
Clive sighed, slumping his shoulders and shaking his head.
Clive: " I promise they're all fine. Just please give something of yours to me? I don't want to have to hurt you accidently."
Starfire: " You'll find that I'm stronger and tougher than I look."
Clive: " Well, as much as I'd like to find out..."
Clive made a quick dart at her. He was very quick on his feet, and his sudden motion took Starfire by surprise. He reached out to her and snagged her communicator off her belt. Afterwards, he jumped down the flights of stairs. She chased after him, continuing their chase form earlier, landing starbolts just behind his ankles. He was in a full out sprint when he reached the first floor, and she was still gaining on him. He stopped in the midst of his run and ducked down, causing her to fly right over his head. Afterwards, he turned and ran down a nearby hallway. Starfire turned around and followed him, and smiled, knowing where this hall way ended. Clive ran as fast as he could but the hall dead ended. He stopped and entered the room at the end of the hall, hoping he would be able to escape from somewhere in it.
Running in, he realized that this was a training room. Weights, floating targets, and even some projectile weapons sat all spread out. He shook his head, cursing himself.
Clive: " Damn."
He heard her voice come from the enterance. The doors opened up to reveal her.
Starfire: " There is no where to run."
Clive: " I've still got a couple of aces up my sleeve first!"
Starfire: " Aces?"
Clive placed a hand on the wall and it faded into a shadow along it. He pressed the rest of himself against it, until he faded into the wall and became a shadow. He began to slip by her, but she threw a starbolt into his shadowy form out of desparation, not sure what else to do. Not only did it blow a hole in the wall, but it knocked him out of it as well, sending him sprawling along the ground. She held another in her hand and waited as he slowly got up to his feet.
Clive: " Jeez...what was that?"
He looked at her and then at his body. His black suit had striveled down quite a bit and only half covered him. It was slowly climbing back up his body though, showing some sort of regenerative property.
Clive: " I see..."
She threw another one, since he gave no sign of giving up. It hit him squarely in the chest and knocked him against the wall. He slumped down onto the floor, then slowly looked up at her. She looked angry. Very very angry. Clive got up slowly again, realizing that his suit had mostly faded off of himself, covering only his legs like pants.
Starfire: " Now are you going to give up?"
Clive: "...."
Starfire: " You can't win. Please just give yourself up."
Clive: " You don't know..."
His voice was sad again, much like it was when she had first seen him.
Starfire: " What don't I know?"
Clive: " A lot of things. I can't just give up, because that would mean failure."
Starfire: " But we cannot let someone who works for Slade get away."
Clive: " But I can't let what will happen if I fail happen. It's a no win situation."
Starfire: " Perhaps we can help?"
Clive: " I doubt you....?"
Slade: [You've said enough. Finish up now.]
Clive: [I understand.]
Starfire: " What's wrong?"
Clive: " I'm sorry. I must be going."
Starfire: " You'll be doing no such thing!"
She threw a couple of Starbolts at him. He had enough time to allow his suit to regenerate over his body again, and so, jumped out of the way, pulling back his fist and smashing it into the wall. It crumbled under the impact, and he continued to smash his way out of the Tower. He kept his attentions on her starbolts though, knowing fully well that they were dangerous to him. Finally, with one final punch, he knocked a hole in the wall and was outside. He jumped outside, avoiding another flury of starbolts, and then stopped running once he got to the water's edge. Starfire cornered him once more.
Starfire: " Now there is no place to run."
Clive: " That's alright. I just need to stall you for just a moment."
Starfire: " What?"
Out of nowhere, from beneath her, a large black hand much like before grabbed her legs and pulled her aside. Another one shot up and wrapped her arms up, until she was completely detained. Clive knelt down and placed a hand on his own shadow, causing it to ripple much like water. He looked up at Starfire and gave her a nod.
Clive: " I'm sorry about all this trouble. I'll let you go once I'm through."
He sunk down into his own shadow, which quickly faded from view. The black shadow like hands that had grabbed Starfire disappeared quickly, and she just stood there all alone on the sandy ground around the small island.
