Chapter 1: Ten Minus Seven

"Starfire!"

"Raven?"

"NO!!"

"What just happened?" cried Beast Boy. He, Robin and Cyborg stared around the room in wonder. All of their female teammates and their children had disappeared without warning just seconds before and now the remaining Titans had no idea what to do.

"How can seven people just up and disappear like that?" Cyborg cried. Robin ran for the computer and tried to track their missing comrades using their communicator signals, but it was no use—every one of them was off the grid.

"I only know one villain with that kind of power," Cyborg said. Beast Boy nodded.

"The Master of Games," Robin surmised. "But how do we get to him? He pulled us into another dimension for that tournament."

"I don't know, but we have to think of something quick. We don't know what he has in mind for the girls," Beast Boy replied.

"We don't even know if he really is behind this. It could have been someone teleporting them to another location in the city!" Cyborg suggested.

"We're wasting time. Let's go! We can start looking tonight. If we don't find them, we'll keep looking in the morning. They may be women, but they can hold their own. We'll find them, but it may take us some time." Robin said, leading his friends down the stairs to the garage and kick-starting his motorcycle.

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Three Days Before:

"Do we have a bargain, then?" The Master of Games boomed down at the slender, white-robed man standing below.

"Why, yes, of course we still have a bargain. You provide me with the…female champions…for my personal tournament, and I shall proclaim you the winner of the upcoming Champion of Champions Tournament," Brother Blood replied. He grinned politely, but behind his façade of suave negotiation he laughed. He had this fool precisely where he wanted him.

Present:

It had been a full day since the lady Titans disappeared. Their male companions had never been so exhausted. Their search of the city and surrounding suburbs and outlying areas had yielded nothing, and now they were convinced that The Master of Games was involved. Reluctantly the Titans return to the Tower and collapse into bed. All three felt like they were searching the proverbial needle in a haystack. Where were they to go now?

Still not to be undone by this, the guys continue to search on their own in vain: the girls and the kids were gone.

"This is ridiculous!" Beast Boy growled at the end of two weeks. "We've looked everywhere! We've covered every square inch of the city, all four suburbs, and half way to Gotham. We need help, Robin." Robin looked at Cyborg and Beast Boy. They were his teammates, his roommates, his best men and best friends. They stood before him now, looking tired and worn with worry. The women they all loved were out there somewhere and it was affecting them as much as it was him. Beast Boy was right.

"All right. We'll call in the reserves," Robin said, turning to the computer. But before he could press a key, there was a knock at the door. The Titans rushed down the stairs and the door opened. A voice preceded the illumining of a shadowed figure.

"I heard that the Titans couldn't keep track of their wives. I was in the neighborhood. Need a hand?"

Cyborg smiled. Beast Boy rolled his eyes, and Robin extended a hand.

"Speedy! We were just about to give you a call. Good to have you with us," Robin said, shaking the young hero's hand.

"Who says we can't keep track of the girls?" Cyborg said.

"Aren't you the one Torque called a bad-ass last Thanksgiving?" Beast Boy teased.

"Yeah, I called her a name I probably shouldn't have and she tried to kick my ass," Speedy recalled.

"And if you could keep track of the girls, they'd be found already," said another voice.

"Aqualad!" said Beast Boy, coming forward to shake hands with the seaworthy telepath.

Now two more strong, the Titans felt sure they would be able to locate their missing loved ones faster. Aqualad and Speedy followed the other Titans upstairs to the main living area. Speedy stopped short and dropped his duffle bag. He and Aqualad could hardly believe what they were seeing. The Tower looked like the guys had been bachelors for two months rather than two weeks.

"Boy, we know who did the housework around here now, don't we, fish-lips?" Speedy said, jumping over the back of the couch and slouching back. "Where's the remote?"

"Probably somewhere between the couch cushions and the Legos all over the floor, twinkle-toes," Aqualad shot back. For the first time in two weeks, Beast Boy cracked a grin.

"I don't know how much help we can really be in your search for the others, but we're here as long as you need us if for nothing else but for extra teammates," Aqualad said to Robin. Robin nodded gratefully.

After the newness of having Aqualad and Speedy in the Tower began to wear off, Beast Boy took to spending his free time searching. His Pterodactyl form was perfectly suited to a search, as the creature glided on the air currents more than it depended upon the propulsion of the wings. As twilight was falling on Jump City, Beast Boy spotted something familiar. Swooping down, Beast Boy morphed back into his normal form and came face to face with the imposing form of Mammoth.

"Long time no see," Beast Boy said simply. Mammoth back at him over his shoulder.

"What do you want?" Mammoth asked, not so much in a spirit of gruffness as in one of depression.

"Raven and Olivia. They've disappeared with the other girls. We've been searching for weeks but we haven't been able to turn anything up. What are you doing out here?" Beast Boy replied.

"I'm an outcast. I was a villain for so long that the good guys don't want me, and I defected on the villains so they all want my head. I have nowhere to go," Mammoth said softly. His once wild eyes were now void of spirit…he was like a caged animal, starved for somewhere to belong. Beast Boy's look softened. After a few seconds of silence, Mammoth spoke up again.

"I…I heard about Toby. I'm sorry."

Beast Boy turned away. His search for the others had kept his mind off the fact that this week was Olivia and Toby's birthday.

"Today would have been—"

"It's tomorrow," Beast Boy interrupted. "Olivia's fifth birthday is tomorrow."

Mammoth was quiet again. He felt Beast Boy's loss nearly as much as Beast Boy himself did. Mammoth had been at Toby's graveside, but in the shadows where the others wouldn't see. Mammoth had shed tears at hearing that a life he had brought into this world had perished so soon.

"I want to help," Mammoth said, swallowing his sadness.

"What?" Beast Boy asked, turning back around.

"I want to help you find Raven and Olivia," Mammoth repeated. "I owe it to Olivia. As I was carrying them home, Olivia woke up and looked at me. She didn't cry, so Raven didn't wake up. I promised Olivia that I would always be there to protect her and her family if she ever needed me,"

Beast Boy fought the urge to reply that that promise had done a fat lot of good when Toby was so sick, but he held his tongue. He also felt that Mammoth was invading a bit on his territory. Raven, Olivia and Toby were his family, not Mammoth's. Still, he understood that Mammoth had been trying to do something good and the emerald-eyed shape-shifter finally agreed.

"Fine. You can help us. But double cross us and it will be the last thing you ever do," Beast Boy warned. Mammoth nodded. No words were necessary. This was Beast Boy's family—nothing was more serious that that.

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That evening, Brother Blood arrived at the lair occupied by the Master of Games. He had come with his henchmen and a transport for his newly acquired prisoners.

"Master of Games! Greetings!" Brother Blood called as he stepped into one of the soft spotlights in the giant arena.

"Greetings, Brother Blood! Has the contest been set?" asked the Master of Games. Blood smiled evilly.

"Of course, my friend. Simply allow my followers to collect the prisoners and the winner's podium is as good as yours!" Brother Blood. The blue-hooded followers of Brother Blood came forward and herded the Lady Titans and their children toward the transport. Most of them put up little fight, as Brother Blood had supplied the Master of Games with inhibitors that would keep the heriones from using their powers. As they were being led to the transport, Torque wound up and lashed out at one of the guards. The guard swung his staff at her, catching her in the head. Torque crumpled to the ground and the others cried out in fear. Terra stooped down and helped Torque up and then guided her the rest of the way to the craft. Whatever was going on here, Brother Blood had covered his bases well. For now. Raven scowled at the guards. Without her powers, she couldn't read their thoughts, but she still despised them. As she carried Olivia, she assured her that daddy and the others would find them soon, even though she wasn't sure of it herself.

As soon as the prisoners were loaded, Master of Games turned to Brother Blood. Blood smiled and said, "As soon as we are out of the hangar, a small device will appear. It will enhance your strength and speed. With it, you will rule the contest. Good luck."

Master of Games waited eagerly for the transport to disappear, unable to contain his excitement for his prize. But the longer he waited, the more anxious he became. Ten minutes passed and there was still no sign of the promised device. As a matter of fact, Blood had not even informed the Master of Games the time and location of the contest. Five more minutes passed with no results and the Master of Games roared at the top of his lungs, uprooting his massive throne and throwing it across the arena to smash against the wall. He had been tricked by Brother Blood: the contest had been a ruse to order to take advantage of his ability to teleport the prisoners he needed. There was no contest. There was no device that would enhance his speed and strength. There were no prisoners. It was all too much. What could he do to get back at Blood?

Even though he had sunk to the level of kidnapping the heroes he matched up in his tournaments, he had never sunk to this level before. The people he had kidnapped were families: heriones and their young children. What could Blood want with them? Would he harm them? The Master of Games himself had become rather fond of the two little children. They looked as though they had the makings of great champions, like their parents. This only angered him more. He would have to find Brother Blood and make him pay before he could harm those children. He would find them if it was the last thing he did.