Chapter 10

"Starfire, you try to find the machine and I'll go for Raven." Beastboy said as they stood outside the back entrance to the building. Starfire nodded and smiled at Beastboy.

"Everything will be alright, Beastboy."

"I hope so Starfire. Because I'm not letting her go without a fight." He said grimly. She took his hand. For a moment they stood still, hands clasped like two frightened children in a world without hope. And then they broke apart and entered the building.

At the front of the building were Robin and Cyborg. Neither of them said a word. They merely nodded to each other and entered. Because both of them knew the dangers of what they were about to do. And whatever either of them said would feel like goodbye.

The mission had begun

"Raven."

She looked up. Slade stood over her. He reached out a hand.

"It's time." She ignored his hand and stood by herself. The Emotions huddled together, apart from Anger, who stood with Slade.

"What are we doing?" Raven asked. Slade looked at her.

"We take the city. Combine with your emotions and we will leave. No one will stop us."

"They might." She said. He knew who the 'they' she was referring to were.

"If they do, kill them. Or I will make you."

Raven swallowed and stepped away from him. The Emotions watch her every move. Even Happy looked more serious than usual. Raven looked around at them all.

"You know what to do."

They spread into a circle. Raven looked towards Anger, who moved to take her place. Slade stood straight ahead of her. Raven looked at him. The smug look in his eye, the way he folded his arms. Hatred oozed through her veins and filled her every inch. She wanted nothing more than to hurt this man, hurt him hard, to feel him fall under her power and make him beg for mercy which she would not grant.

"Raven. Do it." She had been standing still for some time. She didn't move, but kept her eyes on him. He unfolded his arms and stepped towards her. In his hand was the remote.

"You know what will happen if you don't obey." He warned her.

Raven still didn't move. Slade held up the remote.

"One more chance, Raven."

"I can't." She whispered. He stepped closer.

"Why not?"

"You can't kill people."

Slade glared at her.

"You had your chance, Raven." He pointed the remote at her and put his finger on the button. She launched herself at him. He pushed her back. Raven's physical strength was not equal to his own, but she flew at him with such fury he was having trouble keeping her back. As she threw her hand at his face, he seized it and threw her over so she landed on her back.

She lay there, winded, gasping for breath. Slade stood over her, glaring.

"You'll pay for that."

She closed her eyes but nothing happened. Then she heard a shout as Slade stumbled back. Opening her eyes she saw Robin and Slade fighting furiously.

They had come to save her.

Starfire walked down the dark passage, a torch in her hand. The light fell upon a door. She reached for it and found it was unlocked. Pushing the door open she saw one of the most complicated pieces of machinery that she had ever seen. And standing in front of it was…

"Cyborg!"

The teen turned and his eye widened.

"Starfire! What are you doing here?"

"Beastboy and I have come to rescue Raven."

"So are me and Robin. He's up there right now. I'm trying to disable this thing."

Starfire looked down. Cyborg had forced off the panel at the front of machine. Thousands of wires ran through the machine. On top of the metal casing sat a ring of diamonds, light refracting through their centres.

"I can't figure out where the power source is coming from. It can't be from the diamonds themselves… maybe there's a battery inside, but that's too unreliable. I'll have to dig through to find and disable it." Cyborg said, digging through the wires. Starfire walked around the outside of the machine.

"Um, Cyborg?"

"There might be a nuclear core… that'd sustain it, but…"

"Cyborg?"

"Of course, he might have invented an entirely new kind of power. Who knows with that nutcase?"

"Cyborg!"

"What is it Starfire?"

"There is an off switch here."

"You're kidding me?" Cyborg said, standing up and joining her at the back of the machine. Starfire flipped the switch and the light turned off. Cyborg grinned sheepishly.

"Uh… good job, Starfire."

"Thank you. Let's take out the diamonds, just in case." She suggested. Cyborg nodded and picked the diamonds out of the metal casing. Slotting them into a storage compartment, he turned to her.

"I know we're not technically team-mates anymore, but I wanna help Raven. I think it'd work much better if we worked together."

"Yes, I believe that also. Where is Robin?"

"He went to find Slade and Raven."

"What?! But he is intent on hurting Raven!"

"No! He wants to help her too. But only if we can."

Starfire stared at him for a moment and then sped out of the room, Cyborg following at a run.

Beastboy entered the hall at the same time as Robin. He didn't see Robin though. His first thought was to get to Raven. She was lying on the floor, but stood up as Robin attacked Slade.

"Raven!" She turned in shock and saw him.

"Beastboy?"

He ran to her. For one brief moment, they held each other. But Slade kicked Robin away and picked up the remote.

Robin turned to look at Raven. She stared at him. They all looked towards Slade. He didn't waste another second but pressed the button.

Nothing happened. He pressed the button frantically, but the machine had already been deactivated. Robin smirked.

"Nice try Slade. But Cyborg already destroyed the machine."

"What? No, Starfire did." Beastboy said. Raven rolled her eyes.

"What does it matter? The point is it doesn't work!"

Slade stepped back. The Emotions were grouped together, where they had been watching the fight. Slade laughed cruelly.

"Don't you think I had a backup plan?"

The triumphant looks faded from their faces. Slade pointed at Raven.

"You are still mine."

She stepped forward and said,

"No. No more."

"Afraid so, Raven." Suddenly, Anger stood before her. Her eyes met the four red eyes of her most feared emotion.

Raven turned suddenly, facing Beastboy and Robin. Cyborg and Starfire had just burst through the door behind them. Raven said,

"Destroy me."

But before anything else could be said Anger stepped into her. It seemed as if they were melded together. Beastboy ran forward to catch her as she fell forward.

"Raven?"

But he was thrown back by a blast of black light. Raven reared up, growing taller. Her dark eyes were replaced by glowing red orbs. Cyborg picked the changeling up. The four Titans stared up at their team mate.

Slade laughed and the Emotions quaked.

The Teen Titans could only stare in horror at the misshapen beast their friend had become.

This was pure evil and it had taken Raven from them. The roughly slashed mouth twisted in a ferocious, horrifying smile and gurgled with demonic laughter. The Titans crowded closer together.

Raven was gone.