KK: hi again. I know I haven't updated 4 a while, but I was in Hawaii. Hope u enjoy this next chapter. Todaloo!

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Chapter 8: The Enslavement

Peregrine's eyes flew open. She stared up into the face of a scientist. He was holding a light over her, examining her closely. He turned away to talk to someone Peregrine couldn't see.

"This girl is a fine specimen. Would you mind if I ran some tests?"

'Specimen? Tests? No!' Peregrine struggled against whatever was holding her to the table she lay on.

The scientist turned to look at her...and turned into Slade!

"No!" Peregrine tried to scream, but her throat was constricted with fear.

"Good, Peregrine," Slade said, his voice icy calm, "I congratulate you on a job well done." In the background, Peregrine could see the bodies off the five Titans.

She found her voice at last, "No! No! I'm not a murderer. I didn't kill them. I didn't..." she started to sob.

^Peregrine.^

"Go away! Just go away and leave me alone."

^Peregrine.^

"What do u want from me? I've already killed the Titans. What else do u you want?"

^PEREGRINE!^

Peregrine jerked awake.

^Eagle?^

^Yah, geez! What took you so long to reply?^

^I was asleep. What's up?^

^It's been two days.^

Peregrine absorbed this information and was attacked by fear.

^I can't do it, Eagle.^

^Do what?^

^Kill the Titans.^

^But you have to. If you don't...^

^I know!^ Peregrine clenched her teeth and shut her eyes, ^But they're all that stand between Slade and Jump City.^

^So what? It's just one city.^

^I would have doomed all who live here to a life under Slade.^

Eagle sighed in Peregrine's head, ^Of all the things you could have gotten from humans, it had to be sentimentality.^

^Eagle, this is thousands of humans we're talking about.^

The bird was about to reply when the door opened. Peregrine immediately cut the connection. Slade walked in, flanked by two robots and Cinderblock. Peregrine struggled against her bonds, just to show she hadn't given up yet. Slade smiled. His robots rolled forward, one of them producing a needle and the other a key. Peregrine strained away from the one with the needle, but it grabbed her arm and injected her with whatever it had. Immediately, Peregrine began to feel drowsy, but she didn't fall asleep. The other robot unlocked the chains on her wrists and the glowing ring around her wings fell away. Peregrine beat her wings in a futile attempt to escape. But the diluted sleep powder was taking effect. She felt as though all her limbs were lead. All she could do was watch as the robots changed her out of her regular outfit and into her battle one. Then Slade came up and strapped a black and orange bracelet on her.

"If you attempt to run away," he said, his voice expressionless, "This bracelet will electrocute you until you faint."

"I don't think I'll fight well if I'm unconscious," replied Peregrine.

"You won't be unconscious if you don't try to run away."

"And why would I not?"

Slade's eyes flashed, "Because it's a life sentence in Jump City to attack the Teen Titans."

Peregrine knew what he meant. If the police caught her, she'd never be free again.

"Fine," she spat.

Slade led her and the robots outside. Peregrine could feel the drowsiness wear off, and she was soon able to flap her wings and stretch her shoulders. At a look from Slade, the robots grabbed her arms to keep her from leaving too soon. But she still strained toward the sky.

When he was ready, Slade looked at the sky, "Release her," he commanded his robots, so they did. Peregrine shot up into the air and wheeled around joyfully, enjoying the freedom of flight and the sure bliss of the wind on her face. The bracelet on her wrist started to tingle, and she came down.

"All right," she said, "How to I get their attention?"

"They're at their tower. Do what you must."

Peregrine smirked and, once again, flew away. This time her bracelet didn't tingle.

'All right Titans,' she thought, 'Let's see what you got.'

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