Chapter 2 – The risks of emotion

During the night Zero could not sleep whatsoever and finally got up and sat next to the window to see the city and the sea. He looked outside to calm himself to find what is wrong in is heart. And Robin got up just to walk around and to think but ends up seeing Zero wide awake.

Zero: "What's wrong with me I just can't sleep?! Maybe I'm just nervous about Raven's training or because.... I really wish I knew what is screwing around with me."

Just then he noticed Robin behind him through the reflection in the window and realized he had been there for awhile.

Zero: "Lucky me he can't here my thoughts." "Hey, Robin what are you doing up?"

Robin: "I should be asking you that. It's 1 a.m."

Zero: "I don't know I just can't sleep."

Robin: "Maybe I can help."

Zero: "That's alright once in a while I have these kinds of nights."

Robin: "Well what are you going to do?"

Zero: "Ah well I'm not to sure but I guess train for the rest of the night."

Robin: "Well I'll be going to bed and also we are all going to train tomorrow do you want to get in? We need to see your skills anyway."

Zero was surprised by the question and answered with his first thought.

Zero: "Well sure."

Robin: "Alright I'll see you in the morning."

Robin then left the meeting room heading back to bed.

Zero: "Well I didn't expect to fill my schedule that quickly. But should I stay with them? I guess I should stay I have no other place to go, and maybe I will be happier here but we will see. Well since I can't sleep I'll get started on my training now just to gain more control."

Zero left the tower back to the city just to test the speed of some of his elements powers. So he decided to test his fire energy first.

Zero: "Well let's see, O.k. I'll go one mile down the shore line and back while timing myself."

Zero then pushed on a button on his scouter for a timer and he transformed. He did this for the rest of the night with all of his fastest elements forms. And before anyone woke up he was back and tried to rest for a few minutes. By then it was already 6 in the morning and Zero did not know weather to sleep or to get ready for the others that might get up.

Robin of course was the first one up sitting down on the couch where Zero tried to sleep.

But Zero was surprised he had gotten up this early.

Zero: "Why are you up so early?"

Robin: "I always get up this early it's just what I do."

Zero: "So when does training begin?"

Robin: "At 2:30 we will train but get some rest you're going to need it."

Zero then went to the rooftop to train with Raven, but found she wasn't there yet.

To pass some time he started to play around with his lightning power making electric arcs off the floor. Then after a few minutes Raven came out and saw me playing around.

Raven: "Are you ready or are you going to play around?"

Zero: "I'm ready whenever you are."

Raven: "Alright, first you must get in a comfortable position but just do as I do for now. So cross your legs Indian style. Then you must place your arms in a good position for yourself."

Zero: "Alright how am I doing so far?"

Raven: "Good, now you must clear your mind of everything and make your mind peaceful. Then if you want you can chant but I recommend you don't until you get good at meditating."

Zero: "Alright, I'm ready."

Raven: "Well now keep your mind like this and try to focus your powers so they are in control in your mind. And now I will meditate with you."

In Zero's mind was very crazy and he could not keep anything quiet. But then he heard Raven's chanting.

Raven: "Asarath, Metrion, Zinthos."

Zero: "How can she keep her mind so calm while I have a problem just getting started?"

As Zero listened to Raven his mind calmed down and after a few minutes he was finally meditating.Slowly he was learning his problems and beginning to solve them.

Zero: "Now I know what's messing with me. But one of my problems I can't even read like I don't understand it."

Raven: "Well he's finally meditating but for some reason my mind seems harder to calm than usual. Maybe it's a little harder to calm my mind while worrying about another person. But why should I be worried about him. I need to get that out of my mind."

3 hours later Beast Boy came up to tell us breakfast was ready.

Beast Boy: "Time for breakfast what do you two want to eat?"

Raven woke up but with a little annoyance in her voice.

Raven: "Nothing I'll be fine."

Beast Boy: "And Zero what do you want?"

Zero did not even respond because he was deep into meditation.

Beast Boy: "Zero! Zero!! Can you even here me!"

Raven: "Wow he is so calm he can block out noises. But how or is he unconscious? Should I even check?"

Beast Boy: "Is he even awake?"

Zero: "I just fine I was thinking about something but what did you ask?"

Beast Boy: "What do you want to eat?"

Zero: "Anything, it really does not matter."

Beast Boy: "How about tofu?"

Zero: "No something that is real food at least."

Beast Boy: "You're just like Cyborg he also doesn't like what I eat."

Beast Boy went back done to tell the Cyborg what to make and Zero got up to stretch his body back out.

Zero: "Well now I need to train my powers. Hmmm well I test out at least a few of my elements."

But before anyone could react the alarms went off and everyone headed to the meeting room. Raven and Zero were the last to get there.

Robin: "Slade has attacked the city with a good number of his robots and Cinderblock."

Zero: "Who is Slade?"

Cyborg: "Slade is the worst criminal in the city and he will do anything to get what he wants."

Robin: "Alright Titans let's go!"

Everybody left the tower to head to the area and when they got there the whole block was decimated. The Titans surveyed the damage and checked if anyone was hurt.

Robin: "Damn, we're too late but maybe we can get his trail."

As Zero was walking one of Slade's robots came and punched him out of nowhere.

Zero: "Man these robots pack a punch."

The other Titans came over to see if he was O.k.

Zero: "Alright I know your there somewhere so show yourself!"

Slade: "Good Zero you can sense me. I'm already impressed by the level of your powers."

Robin: "Slade what do you want?!"

Zero: "How do you know my name and how do you know I can sense life energies."

Slade: "Because I have been watching you. I know your potential and how strong your powers can be if you used them correctly. I know why you are here, why you fight, why you act the way you do."

Zero: "You don't know anything about me. And how could you know my past? I was not known for having powers back then."

Slade: "Oh I even know how your parents died and what you did for them afterwards."

Zero: "You know nothing! And you are a liar if you say you do!"

Robin: "Don't listen to him he's trying to get to you."

Slade: "How do you know if I am lying about...?"

Before he could finish his sentence Zero burst into flames using his fire element. And lost all control over his powers in anger. But then Zero spoke in the most furious voice.

Zero: "You don't know anything! And you will pay for insulting them! You will die!!!"

Raven: "Incredible, his power has gone crazy but he still knows who his friends are. I guess that training with meditation helped."

In his next breath Zero leaped to attack Slade but 20 robots came out with Cinderblock.

But in his first punch alone he broke right through the first robot as if it was paper. Then he attacks using his fire energy.

Zero: "You will pay! Inferno Cannon!!"

And with that a great fireball came out of Zero's hands destroying the rest of the robots easily. And before Zero could recover Cinderblock rammed him into the wall of a building and backed out smiling at his good hit. Then when Cinderblock started to turn Zero flew out with an upper cut combined with his fire energy.

Zero: "Dragon Flame Uppercut!!!

Raven: "But how can he focus so much anger? He did lose control of his powers but not his judgment."

Cinderblock takes the hit in full and is defeated by it. And Zero lands to the ground turning his attention to Slade.

Zero: "You will not escape me! You will not lie about my life!"

Robin: "Zero stop!"

Beast Boy: "Come on, man that's enough you need to calm down."

Cyborg: "Don't sink to his level."

Starfire: "No more fighting Zero you may get hurt."

Slade: "Do you think your in control? I can make you stronger if you come with me."

Zero: "I would never come with you I rather take my chances! At least I have friends unlike you where you need to seek someone to control. Trust me, I can become just as strong with my friends and at least I'll be happy here."

Then Zero's flame aura disappeared and he went back to normal.

Slade: "Well you will join me one way or another but I will be waiting."

Zero: "Don't hold your breath you fool!!"

And with that Slade disappeared in cloud of smoke he created. Robin wanted to chase after him but Zero stopped him.

Zero: "It's not worth it that was a robot that ran off."

Robin: "How do you know?"

Zero: "Remember I can sense life energies."

Beast Boy: "Well now you have a fan."

Zero: "Yeah that's all I need another problem."

Raven: "Well I guess your training helped."

Zero: "Yup, but my powers still are not under control but what I got is better than nothing."

Robin: "Well let's take Cinderblock to jail and go home."