Chap. 6
Capture
"C'mon, you… get in there… yes!" cried Brett triumphantly as the last panel clicked into place. Standing back, he looked at the rebuilt ray proudly. "It's finally done." he said, turning to Martin. "Yeah for all the good it's gonna do." Martin replied glumly. "You had to say that didn't you?" replied Brett. "Look, what good is that thing? I couldn't find anyway to change Star back, so it can't help us." "Yeah but being depressed about won't help either." "Oh, so you have a plan to get Blackfire here?" asked Martin sarcastically. "Actually, yes." was the reply.
Before Brett could elaborate, the doors opened and Bart and Beast Boy walked in. Or rather, Bart walked in dragging Beast Boy behind him. "What's up?" asked Martin. "Greenie here says his communicators' busted and Robin's says you guys are the best ones to look at it." Brett shrugged and said, "Well I don't have anything else to do at the moment, why not?" Walking over, he stuck out his hand for the device. Reluctantly Beast Boy handed it over looking at Brett as one would look at a loaded bomb. Sighing, Brett said, "Look, I'm sorry about before, I had no right to snap at you." "Really?" asked Beast Boy, almost incredulously. "Yes. It may have been your fault, but at least you were trying to make it right. I just... overreacted" "Ah thanks, I think." Beast Boy replied not wanting to rock the boat again. "Now then, let's take a look at this." Brett opened the communicator and began to look through it's circuitry. Finally, he paused and said, "Here's the problem. The circuits are clogged. Martin hand me the mini-vac." Martin quickly handed the bat a small tube. Working with a surgeon's skill, Brett quickly began to clean the device. "Hey Brett, what's this?" asked Bart, holding up a metal wristband that was laying on the. "A DNA-lock bracelet" said the bat, not looking up from his work. "It can to track beings by their very genetic structure. It's also a great targeting device." Shutting it, he handed back to Beast Boy. "How'd you know something was wrong anyway?" Martin asked. At this Beast Boy actually looked surprised. "I started to get a signal on it, but then it cut. I'd better try to get it back." Quickly he began to activate it and search the frequencies.
Within seconds, Raven's voice blasted out of the device. "What took you?" she cried. Then the sounds of explosions filled the room. "Rae, what's happening? Where are you" asked Brett. "The mall, with Starfire. We're under attack!." "Indeed. By who?" asked Bart. "It's Blackfire!" Raven yelled, but then there was another blast and the line went dead.
The four heroes stood looking at each other. "I thought you said she couldn't get out." said Bart. "I said the Centaris wouldn't let her out. But she can certainly break out on her own." "Who cares, we gotta move!" cried Beast Boy. "There's no way Raven can fight off Blackfire by herself." "Not just that." continued Martin. "But now we might be able to change Star back. Hell this is probably our only chance!" "Then what are waiting for? Move, monkeys!" yelled Bart. Brett ran to the ray and began to collapse the stand, making it easier to carry. Brett quickly folded up the rest of the ray, turning it into a smaller, more compact version of itself. "Get the others and let's run!" he yelled. The three BRATS quickly ran out the door. But moments later, Bart stuck his head in and yelled, "Beast Boy you coming?" The green one looked up from the counter-top and said, "Sure." He rapidly followed the others out.
"Repeat the mall is under attack, please exit in a calm and orderly fashion….." With a burst of sparks, the amp exploded. Pulling back her glowing hand, Blackfire smiled maliciously and said, "Have you ever noticed how that never works?" Raven stood silently, trying to shield Starfire with her cloak. Slowly, Blackfire began to walk towards them. "Raven, it's been awhile hasn't it?" "Not as long as I'd hoped." The empath replied. "Ah, I'd forgotten the wonderful sarcasm you do so well. Now then, we both know what I want. Why don't you just hand over my sister and we'll call it even?" "How about no?" was the answer. "OK, then." replied Blackfire. Without warning, she whirled around and blasted one of the guardrails on the upper levels. There was a mess of plaster and dust, but there were screams as well. The dust cleared and Raven saw, to her horror, that there were a couple of kids hanging onto the edge, but just barely. A couple of people tried to pull them up, but blasts from Blackfire pushed them back. Turning back to them, she said, "It's your choice. Now give me what I want! And don't think about trying to save them, because we both know you can't focus on me and them at the same time!"
Raven bit her lips in frustration. She knew Blackfire was right, but she couldn't just hand Star over. There had to be another way. However, before she could figure one out, Starfire moved in front of her and said, "All right sister you win." "What are you doing?" the empath whispered. "I can't let anyone get hurt because of me." was the reply. Blackfire hovered down, an expression of complete disbelief on her face. But as she looked t her sister more and more, it became one of utter laughter. "I don't believe it!" she gasped, clutching her sides. "I never thought that you would ever make yourself this pathetic." "Sister please. I am surrendering, now will you please let them go?" Wiping her eyes, Blackfire said, "You're right, I should do that." Then without warning, she blasted Raven, throwing the empath into the wall and knocking her unconscious. Star attempted to help her, but Blackfire grabbed her and, whipping her sister around, caught her in a headlock, with a glowing hand pointed to her face. "You see, I never actually said I would do that." she snarled. "Now then, it's time to end this little rivalry. Thanks for making it so much easier to do."