Chapter 7

Beast Boy laid face down on his broken bed and didn't feel at all like moving. He didn't even notice the knocking on his door until it pounded into his brain enough to look up.

"Whoever it is, go away."

"Beast Boy, it's me. Terra."

Reluctantly, he got up and moved to the door, but didn't open it. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be here. Robin would probably explode with rage."

"I need to talk to someone."

"Why not Starfire? Or Cyborg?"

"Please, Beast Boy. It's important."

The last thing Beast Boy wanted was company, but he opened his door and Terra rushed in, hugging him.

"Terra, what is it?"

"Can we sit down on the bed? It's not easy for me to say."

As she sat down, Beast Boy locked his door and sat next to her. "Go on."

"Well, you see..."

The alarm in the tower sounded and they both jumped up off the bed.

Beast Boy raised his fist to the ceiling. "I bet it's Slade. And I'm going to be stuck here, no thanks to overlord Robin."

Terra didn't respond and stood as white as a sheet.

"What's wrong, Terra?"

"I...I can't. His will is too strong."

Beast Boy advanced toward her, fearing the worst in who "he" was. "His will? Terra, what are you talking about?"

Robin's voice blared over the loudspeaker. "Terra, it's Slade. Wherever you are, we need you right now."

Terra fell to the ground, doubled over and started shivering.

"Terra!" Beast Boy ran over and propped her up against the wall. "Terra, speak to me!"

Without warning, she pushed him back with such force, it knocked him against the far wall.

Beast Boy's head ached and he rubbed the back of it, not entirely understanding what was going on. "Ow. Terra? Why did you do that?" When he looked up, he saw that Terra was towering over him with eyes glowing bright. "Terra! No!"

"Terra? Where are you? Answer me!" Robin shouted into his communicator. "Terra!" He paused for a few seconds and threw the communicator on the ground. "Dammit, why won't she respond? OK, everyone. We're going to have to split up. Cyborg, we're going after Slade. Raven, Starfire, find out where Terra is."

Cyborg placed a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Robin. Should she even be coming along with us when she's still not herself?"

Robin narrowed his eyes. "Fine, we'll..."

"I'll find her." Raven stepped forward. "Just give me a minute." She levitated in the air and began chanting. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath..." Suddenly flashes of Terra bombarded her mind. One image sustained the longest. An image of Terra in shadow with glowing eyes was beating up someone while another person in shadow looked on. She tried to single out the person looking on until he seemed to look right at Raven and waved a finger at her. Raven screamed out. "NOOOOOOOO!!!"

"Raven!" Robin shouted and he caught her as she almost fell onto the ground.

Raven composed herself and stood back up. "I think I finally know what's going on. But that'll have to wait. She's in Beast Boy's room."

Starfire ripped Beast Boy's door off and threw it aside while everyone rushed in. They all looked on in shock as they saw Terra beating up a practically unconscious Beast Boy.

"Terra, step away from him now!" Robin ordered.

Terra stood up slowly and began running to the window.

"Oh no you don't!" Raven shot out a ball of black energy and subdued her, holding her in the air. Terra struggled wildly, eyes still glowing an unnatural yellow.

"So what do we do with her now?" Cyborg asked.

"I don't know." Robin said. "But we have to go after Slade and attend to Beast Boy as well."

"I'll live." Everyone jumped at seeing Beast Boy standing up. His left eye was swollen and his clothes were severely ripped. He was even bleeding in several places. When he began to walk toward Terra, Cyborg held him back.

"Hold up, little buddy. Raven's got it under control."

Beast Boy tried to push him away, but couldn't. "She attacked me. She's in with Slade and I fell for it. She lied to us. To me. I'll kill her."

"NO!" Raven shouted. "She's not in with Slade. Just look at her, Beast Boy. Does she look like she's doing this of her own free will?"

Beast Boy looked at Terra and saw someone who was obviously not herself. She was flailing about and her eyes were glowing brighter than they normally did when she used her powers.

"She's being controlled by Slade somehow." Raven said as she struggled to keep Terra from breaking free.

Beast Boy thought for a minute. "And she was trying to tell me that earlier. He doesn't have complete control over her."

"So where is Slade now?" Starfire said.

"He must be close by if Terra is this out of control." Robin shot over to the window and looked out. "Cyborg. Starfire. Come with me. We need to lure Slade away from Terra and the tower."

"Wait! What am I supposed to do with her?" Raven nodded her head toward Terra. "I can't hold her much longer."

"We need to lock her in one of the temporary holding cells." Beast Boy shouted.

Robin nodded. "Do it. Titans go!"

Terra lifted up her heavy head, unsure of what was happening or where she was. She sprang up, noticing herself behind bars and quickly looking around. Beast Boy and Raven's voices were faint, but she recognized them and yelled out. "Beast Boy! Raven! Let me out!" They both walked up so she could see them.

Beast Boy walked up to Terra hesitantly. "Terra? Are you...you?"

"Of course it's me! Why am I being held like a criminal?"

"We know that Slade is controlling you."

Terra dropped to the floor. "So you know."

Raven spoke up. "And how long have you known? Did you ever have amnesia?"

"No, I didn't. I was so afraid to let anyone know. But I swear I didn't know when I came back. I truly wanted to be a Titan. I was a fool to let Slade help me."

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know."

"Do you know how he's controlling your mind?"

"No."

"Do you..."

Beast Boy held up his hand. "That's enough, Raven. She obviously doesn't know anything else."

"Do you see anything yet?" Robin said into his communicator.

"Nothing yet." Cyborg looked around the shoreline. "He's not here."

"Starfire?"

She hovered high above the tower. "He is not up here either."

Robin walked around the upper hallways of the tower. "I don't see him either. I..." His communicator went dead.

"Robin? Robin???" Starfire yelled into the communicator.

"What are we going to do with her, Beast Boy? We can't let her wander about, but it's not her fault."

"It's too dangerous to let her out. We'll just have to leave her here and help the others find Slade." He was about to run out of the room, but Raven held on to his shoulder.

"Beast Boy, wait."

He blushed a little. "Wh-what?"

"I'm glad you proved me wrong."

"Huh?"

"Terra. She's not a traitor after all."

"Oh. Right. Heh." He shook his head. "Let's go find Slade and make him return Terra back to normal."

Wow, how long has it been since I updated? Good news too, I'm about halfway done writing the final chapter, so expect the next update very soon. There are a few different ideas running through my head on how to end it, but I promise it will be soon.

-KTF