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DIT

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The Replacement.

The titans returned to the tower late in the evening.

"Okay," yelled Cyborg. "Whose up for Pizza?"

Beast Boy and Starfire cheered. But Robin flashed a look of concern.

"Dude, what's the matter? I thought you'd be happy I mean we just kicked Slade's butt!" Beast Boy said. "Now to me that says 'Lets celebrate'," he swung his arms out, grabbed Starfire and danced with her. The alien girl giggled.

Robin rubbed his chin. "Well, it's just….What was the point to that?" He turned to the girl dressed in blue standing in the corner. "I think you were right. I think this was some sort of trap. But I don't understand what for. I mean we're all okay aren't we?"

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Earlier that evening….

It was still quite warm for late afternoon, through Raven found herself shivering. Her senses were playing up. 'Something bad is going to happen' she told herself. 'Well, whatever Slade had planned, I'm not going to let him hurt my friends!' the girl swore quietly.

The others had already crashed through the steel doors of the abandon factory, and were in the midst of a fierce battle with Slade's robots. The guy always used robots. Raven predicted that either Plasma, Cinderblock or Overload or possibly all three would appear shortly to give Slade the advantage. Raven sighed as she joined in.

For the next few minutes she found her concentration unbreakable as she tossed objects at the robots, sending them flying. Yet at the back of her mind, there was this feeling…that something was watching her. Ridiculous she knew, but it was impossible to rid herself of that feeling. Without warning something dug it's way deep into the girls mind.

'Someone's trying to get into my head," she realised fighting back with everything she had, but all in vain. Whoever this person was, they were much stronger then her. As the pain subsided, Raven caught a shadow disappear down a dimly lit corridor.

Speculation grew in her mind. Slade was tying to lure her away from the others. It's a trap. Don't leave the others side. But despite her own warnings, Raven hurried down the corridor, as if she wasn't in control of her own body. But that voice in the back of her head, the one that whispered and called out to her, that urged her to continue, telling her that she was stronger then anything Slade could throw at her. That was her voice…right? She breathe heavily. Acknowledging that she would need to do a lot of meditating when she got back to the tower, Raven stopped hastily. She had come to a set of double doors. Pushing passed them, the girl founded herself in a large empty room. The lights were all off, but Raven's eyes adjusted quickly.

"Slade. I know your in here," her dry voice rang out to be met with a sly laughter.

The man emerged from the shadows. In the dark she could just make out the orange in his mask.

"Hello, my dear,"

Raven wasted no time in speaking her chant that then caused the floor to crack and fall apart. Much to her annoyance Slade flipped out the way.

"All alone Raven? Are yes, you are always alone aren't you," he hissed.

"Shut up!" the anger was building up. Why did Slade have to know exactly where to push her buttons. No wonder Robin was always losing his cool around him. He seemed to know everything about them, yet they didn't even know who lay behind the masks.

"What do you want?" she did her best to remain emotionless.

"Nothing you can offer," Slade smiled. "But then I suppose I should get this over with before your little friends come to your rescue," He snapped his fingers. Raven watched with curiosity as something crept through the wall much like she did. The figure's face got clearer.

Their eyes met…

Raven's mouth formed a small O. Before she could make a sound, Scarlet unleashed the full force of her mental powers, knocking Raven unconscious instantly.

"Well done my dear," Slade dropped his hand on the girls shoulder. "Now run along and go play with your new friends,"

"But what about her?" Scarlet inquired pointing at Raven's lifeless body.

"Oh you don't have to worry about her. Just leave everything to me…."

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Just as the pizza man arrived at the door, Beast Boy and Cyborg had finished arguing over which film they wanted to watch that evening. Either 'Beware the house on the hill where people mysteriously disappear', or 'Revenge of the mutant, Zombie wrestlers,' (Both belonged to Beast Boy). Whereas Starfire wished to see the latest Brad Pitt flick, and Robin was throwing his support to her if she promised to stop talking about how good looking the movie star was. Finally they agreed upon one thing. To let Raven had the deciding vote.

Scarlet slipped her coke. "I'm not really interested,"

"But Raven do you know wish to see gloriousness that is Brad Pitt?" Starfire pushed the video case into her face.

"No," Scarlet pushed it right back.

"Come on Rae, evil Zombie wrestlers or haunted house…" Beast Boy held up both. "You know you wanted to. I mean unless of course your scared…"

Scarlet scowled at him. "When I'm scared your know about it…"

"We know," Robin muttered.

"Brad Pitt!" Starfire screamed hugging the case.

"Dude, if you make me watch that mushy crap, I'll be sick to my eyeballs!" Beast Boy folded his arms. His face formed a pout.

Starfire too folded her arms, and glared. "We always watch that stupid junk you pick!"

Beast Boy gasped. "My junk is not Stupid!!….And it's not junk!!"

Both turned to Raven waving the Videos in her face. "PICK ONE!" they both said.

Scarlet could feel her heart racing. She knew she had to make the right decision or the Titans might grow suspicious. Okay then. What would Raven do. She thought about that for a moment, then an idea struck her.

"Flip a coin," she rolled her eyes.

"Fine," The green boy said.

"Fine as well," Starfire said.

Cyborg founded a penny on the coffee table and whilst he tossed it in the air, Robin leaned over to Scarlet and whispered, "Smooth move,"

The girl felt herself relaxing. She had done it. They suspected nothing. And she had received a complement from Robin. All in all not bad for her first night in the tower. As she glazed around the room watching Beast Boy beg Starfire for best two out of three, Scarlet couldn't help but wonder what Slade had done with Raven. Well the other Raven.

Surely he wouldn't kill her? But did that really matter? The girl thought to herself. For once in her life she wasn't alone. She was surrounded by people who truly cared for her… no way would she give that up without a fight….

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More Later.

DIT XXX