Chapter 8
Raven leant back against the wall. Robin watched her and said,
"But that doesn't mean we're not going to help you." She looked up. He was smiling slightly. Starfire was smiling too. Cyborg on the other hand looked worried.
"Dudes, in case you've forgotten, Slade has got god knows how many Ravens on his side. That's kinda something to worry about."
Raven shook her head,
"No… some of them won't fight us. Or me. Timid and Happy won't fight for a start. The one we really need to look out for is anger."
"Anger?"
"Yeah… she doesn't respond well to anything, even me. But the others… I might be able to get them back." Raven said. Robin nodded.
"OK. Titans, let's get out of here."
"But how?" Starfire asked. Cyborg chuckled.
"Leave that to me."
Due to the chains power, his defence and attack systems were down. However he ejected his right arm. The chain, tied at the wrist, dangled free. The arm lurched into life. Cyborg twisted around, so the arm could reach the chain on his left arm. In a matter of seconds he was free. He undid the chain on his right arm and attached it.
Cyborg then proceeded to unchain the rest of the Titans. At last, he reached Raven. She looked up at him and he smiled.
"Cheer up, Rae. We'll get him." She nodded and he unchained her. She looked down at the metal cuff. Cyborg nodded and took her arm.
"Allow me to do the honours."
It took a few minutes. The cuff was completely smooth and Cyborg had to cut right through it. But eventually the cuff fell to the floor with a clatter, the two pieces rocking on their curved sides.
Robin turned to Starfire and Cyborg.
"Give us some light so we can see where we are exactly." They were in a circular room. There was one door. They crossed to it and Cyborg kicked it down.
On the other side was a large room. In it was Slade and Raven's emotions.
"What took you so long to get out? You're slacking, Titans." Slade said, tapping his wristwatch. The Teen Titans spread out, preparing for battle. Slade stood.
"Now really..."
"What are you doing with the diamonds?" Robin demanded. Slade stepped forward and the Emotions gathered around him.
"Well, it's all about Raven really. Or rather her emotions." Raven dropped to the floor.
"What do you mean?" She snarled. Slade laughed quietly.
"Your emotions hold great power. I control them and I control you. Power such as yours, Raven... it can't go to waste. The diamonds I have taken are sitting in a machine in this building. I have here a remote control. With it I can control any of these emotions. Of course, the emotions by themselves are not much use. But if I control them with this machine, I can control your powers because of the metal cuff."
He held up a small black remote. The Emotions bristled. Raven swallowed and Cyborg laughed.
"Nice try, Slade. But we already took the cuff off. Your little toy is useless."
"On the contrary, Cyborg. The cuff blocked her Emotions. By removing it, which I knew you would, you have allowed me access straight to Raven's powers. I couldn't risk you removing it until the machine was ready."
Slade held the remote up again. Raven knew what was about to happen.
"No." She said loudly. Slade paused and his eyes fixed on her.
"What?"
"I won't let you. I won't let you use me."
"You think you can stop me, Raven? You know you can't."
Raven turned to the Titans.
"Run."
"Raven-"
"RUN!" She screamed. They didn't hesitate again but fled in different directions. There were many doors in the room and each Titan ran to a different one.
In the mean time Raven threw herself towards Slade, but Brave leapt up and forced her back. Raven stood still and said,
"Don't fight me. Join me." Timid whimpered at the suggestion and Lazy burped noisily. Raven held out a hand towards Timid.
"Timid… join me."
"Now, now… you're not playing fair." Slade said and pressed the remote.
It felt like an electric shock. The power jolted through her body and burst out of her. Black light flooded the room. Raven fell to her knees. It hurt so much. Her powers had never emerged like this, as if bursting out of her very skin.
"Stop it!" She heard Beastboy shout. She turned her head and through squinting eyes saw him running at her.
"No…" She whispered. He stopped and stared at her.
"Raven?"
"No. Leave." She said.
Slowly, painfully, she climbed to her feet. Her legs wobbled dangerously but she remained standing. Beastboy moved towards her but she stepped back.
Starfire, Robin and Cyborg waited a short way behind Beastboy. Raven closed her eyes and turned to Slade.
"Let them go."
"Why? I could just use your powers and Emotions to kill them all right now." He said, fingering the remote. Raven shook her head.
"Let them go. You can't keep my Emotions from me."
"Oh, can't I?" Slade said, amused. Raven looked at the Emotions.
"Don't fight me. You ARE me."
Happy scratched her head, the pink cloak swinging.
"We can't join you." She said, giggling. Raven frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because if we go back you won't be able to control us, silly!" Happy giggled. Raven looked at Slade.
"I'll make you a deal." She offered. Slade titled his head.
"Well?"
"You let them go," She gestured towards the Titans, "And I'll join you."
"No!" Beastboy yelled. The Titans moved forward. Raven held out a hand.
"Interesting but I'm not convinced." Slade said. Raven said,
"If I'm not near you, you can't control me. My Emotions aren't particularly strong by themselves. If I stay I can combine with them."
"Raven, you can't do this!" Cyborg shouted. Raven ignored him.
Slade stepped towards her.
"What about Anger?" Raven looked towards the red-cloaked figure, standing apart form the others. It was snarling at her. Raven took a deep breath.
"Anger too. But only if you let them go."
"It's a deal." Slade said. Raven turned to the Titans.
"Go."
"Raven, what are you doing? If you join Slade we'd have to-" Robin said but Raven cut him off.
"Kill me. I'm the enemy now. Next time we meet… I'm the enemy."
"Raven, please reconsider!" Starfire pleaded. Raven didn't move.
Beastboy stepped forward.
"Raven, don't do this." He whispered. She met his eyes and he shivered. They were so cold.
"You have to go."
"I'm not going to lose you again!" He shouted. She stepped towards him. He looked down at her and she raised her face to him. Gently her lips brushed his.
"Goodbye…" She murmured. He frowned.
"What?"
And then she pushed him back, using the black light. The other Titans were thrown back too. Through the doors, they were hurled until they landed on the street outside. But it didn't stop there. The light blasted them right across the town to the river. The Titans Tower stood against the lightening sky. Dawn had come.
Raven fell to her knees. Slade stood behind her. She saw the Emotions gathered behind him in the mirror that lined the wall ahead.
"You made the right choice." Slade told her. She stood up and turned away. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"We have many things to do, Raven. Taking control of the city for a start." She still didn't speak. He looked at her.
"It hurts now. But it will improve. You have chosen the right side. We will be victorious."
She still didn't speak. She knew that Robin would do the right thing when the time came. When it came to it, he would do what was necessary. Cyborg too. But Starfire and Beastboy… would they interfere?
Raven didn't think so. She would have to turn them against her. She didn't know how. But she would.
She would make them kill her.