Okay, just to clarify something. Vampyre is an ex-Titan, not merely an acquaintance. Have patience; all will be explained in time. Literally.

Chapter Three: The Insurgent

[Cyborg's P.O.V.]

I couldn't believe Robin, our leader, would do something so heinous. It was just so... unreal, that it made me almost sick. No, Robin was sick. We were all sweating, having a serial killer in the same room with us.

"Look, I know it sounds suspicious, but it couldn't have been me. There were even witnesses!" He said, visibly sweating, just like us. He seemed sincere, but Raven was an expert at telling that, not me.

"Then let's see hear what they have to say." I said.

[Markson Street, 10:54 P.M.]

We couldn't believe it. Another murder, but this time, the face was ripped off. It made me shudder, and BB actually got sick. Right on an officer's uniform. If this wasn't so serious, I might've laughed, but I didn't. It would've been disrespectful the victim. Hell, I was trying not to get sick.

"Damn bastard. He's acting like we're amateurs." One cop said. I think we were all about to be sick. BB, of course, had already gotten sick. I watched, mesmerized, as Raven's eyes widened, as she found something none else had been able to see. It was a tiny burn hole in the ground. It was... an arrow, and she followed it, moving gracefully. There was another arrow, bigger this time, in another alleyway. It was almost street-like, because it was so long, and a bit wider. This time, there were words. She looked at them, curiously.

"Good. You figured it out. Now, keep going."

She kept walking, with me following her, still mesmerized. There were more words, but more serious. "Think. Who has the power to do this?" Considering she walked on, I assumed she couldn't think of anyone. This time, the words were almost mocking. "I knew you wouldn't figure it out. No matter how hints I give you, you can't get it." I was thoroughly insulted; Raven was one of the smartest people I knew, if not the smartest. She kept going, nonetheless. We walked for about a minute, and then saw the last sign. "I'll give you a hint. Look straight ahead." We both looked ahead, and I saw a glimpse of something. I couldn't quite tell, but I thought I saw a pair of red eyes, and heard a cape.

"Raven, do you...?" I began to ask, but she was already walking forward. "HAHAHAHAHA! You'll come to fear me in time. You'll come to fear VAMPYRE!" The letter burned into the side of the building, as well as into our minds. I knew this had to have been hard for Raven, but it would hit Smoke the hardest. After all, she had loved him. But he had been Raven's best friend. They would get over it though. But I couldn't believe that Vampyre would so this. It was like Raven betraying us to Trigon.

[Raven's P.O.V.]

That was when I knew my suspicions had been correct. And when he attacked me. I was thrown against the ground with such force that I heard my rib crack. It could be healed, but I'd need a distraction. I heard Cyborg unleash his Sonic Cannon on Vampyre, and was grateful. I tried to use my powers, but they wouldn't respond. I tried again, but nothing happened. I saw Vampyre take down Cyborg with a kick to his back. An underhanded trick that made my blood boil, but I wouldn't let this push me over.

I got painfully up, and began to chant. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" But, again, nothing happened. Vampyre smiled, and it made my skin crawl.

"What's the matter, Raven? Powers not working? That's because we're in a part of town known as the 'Dead Zone'. None of our powers work, not even mine. Cyborg technically doesn't have any 'Powers' so he'll be able to do everything normally. Neither Starfire, Beast Boy, nor Smoke will be able to do anything. We're all 'Human' here. Get used to it." He said, bringing new light to my plight. With a broken rib, or possibly more, I was in no condition to fight. And only Cyborg could actually stand up to Vampyre's vampiric strength. Much as I hate it, I felt myself passing out. The darkness began to envelope me, and then it over took me. Then, just a black void.

[Vampyre's P.O.V.]

I smiled inwardly as Raven passed out. I'd broken more than she knew. Judging by the sound of when she hit the concrete, I'd broken her hipbone, and at least 5 ribs. This was a lot easier than I had originally thought. I figured she'd know about the Dead Zone, and wouldn't into this trap so easily. 1 down, 5 to go.

Next I focused on Cyborg. When I kicked him in the back, it had not only hurt him, it made me cringe. It had hurt my foot as well. He'll pay for that. I put a hand on his shoulder, and picked him up. He smashed my face, with the back of his hand. I yelped, and was thrown backwards. Then I was, again, blasted with his Sonic Cannon. I got up, growling. Cyborg tried to blast me again, but missed. I rushed at him before he knew what was happening, and put all my weight into 1 chest punch, that sent him through the brick wall of the alley.

I watched as the other Titans ran into the alley, making it unlikely that I would defeat them, so I jumped out into the street. With a much larger "arena" I could easily take each down. Smoke was first out, and first to get beat-down. She tried to blast me with her Red Lightning, but found out the hard way, that it didn't work. One forceful kick to her foot broke it, and then I delivered a smash kick to her ribs, dropping her to the ground. Robin followed closely by Star and BB made their way here, horrified as to what had happened to Smoke. Starfire tried to fly, but found she couldn't, along with the fact that her Starbolts weren't working. Beast Boy found out that he couldn't change into any animal whatsoever, and the Dead Zone had no effect on Robin, who has no powers.

Star charged me first, putting her feet on a wall, and ricocheting towards me. She flipped in mid-air, so that her feet connected to my stomach, sending waves of pain through it, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. When I picked myself back up, Robin jumped towards me, Bo stick at the ready. He took a few swings at me, which all connected, because hadn't expected that. I pulled out Hellscythe, and then began to guide it through complex patterns of attacks, forcing Robin to go defensive. Just when I was about to get a punch or kick in to Robin, Star put a roundhouse kick to my jaw, forcibly throwing me backwards, again. Robin took advantage, and hit m a couple more times, before I jumped up, and slammed into Robin from the air.

Next, Starfire growled, and began to deliver kick after kick, more furious, than I had ever seen of her. She connected occasionally, and I began returning the favor, only landing a few hits myself. I soon tired of this game, and took Star out with a backwards sweep kick. She fell to the ground, allowing me to focus, momentarily, on Beast Boy, who couldn't figure out what to do. I took him out with another smash kick, but to his jaw. But, before he fell, he grabbed my cape, pulling me to the ground with him.

Starfire was becoming a nuisance, and one I intended to deal with right away. I tired to hit her with a smash kick, but she dodged, and instead got me with a spin kick. She was beginning to annoy me, so I grabbed her shoulder, and planted a smash kick to her heel, which left her hopping up and down. One more smash kick to her chest dropped her. I sighed, contentedly. I smiled; I had accomplished the almost impossible. I walked over to Smoke, and sat down beside her. She looked up, struggling to sit up.

"What? What now Vampyre?" She asked, clearly hurt more than physically.

"This is only the beginning."

"Then finish it. Finish us off." She said, hanging her head. My insides flickered, I couldn't do this. Not to Smoke.

"No, you count your losses when you get back to the Tower." I said, trying to sound convincing. "And now, I'll leave you to your injuries." With that, I leapt up to the rooftops, and disappeared.

[End chapter] Sooooooooooooooooooo..................... What'd'ja think? WAS IT COOL? HORRIBLE? Tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!