Deliver us from Evil

I don't own anything.

Chapter 5: State of Nirvana

The team walked down the ship's hallway, the artificial light from the ceiling lights guiding them. "Do we even know where we are going?" Starfire asked. Cyborg looked at his wrist monitor and said, "I can't get anything. I guess the ship's electronics must be jamming my sensors." "So, we're lost." Raven said. They then stopped as the members came to a fork in the corridor. "With way do we go?" Robin asked. "I got it," BB stated," we flip a coin. Heads is left, tails is right." As the others were debating over this, Specter then felt a sort of familiar presence. It just passed by his head, but the feeling he got was familiar. As the feeling passed by, he said," We go left." "How do you know?" Robin asked. "I just got a feeling." He said as he walked down the hallway.

As the others cached up to him, he could now feel the presence getting even closer. "Are you sure about this?" BB asked. "I am sure." "What if its a trap?" BB asked again. Specter turned around and said," If it will make you feel better." He then said," Raven, try to get a reading from down the hallway." "Okay." She replied as she stepped forward. Raven put her hands to the sides of her head and closed her eyes. She remained in this state for a few seconds, then broke out of it and said, "I just have one life signal, but nothing else." "Sounds safe enough," Robin began," all right, Titans, let's go. But don't keep your guard down. No telling what Slade could be planning for us."

As the team continued down the hallway, Raven thought about what she had gotten when she had focused her mind. She knew who that mind belonged to, but hadn't told the Titans. She then decided to tell this to Specter. She sent a message to him through thought. (Are you sure about this?) He caught this and replied with, (Haven't done this in a while.) (Forget about that,) Raven shot back (, I sensed who that was.) (Me too. I may not have my Azrathean powers anymore, but I still get that vibe from him.) (It doesn't matter. It could be him or it couldn't be him, but whatever it is, you could be walking into a trap.) (He wanted a rematch last time we met. I intend to give him one to finish our vendetta.) (Specter,) she began, her voice now full of love, (you have cheated death once. I can't say if you can do it again. I know I don't have the power to stop you. So, just promise me you wouldn't die.) (I promise.) He said. The team then stopped as they came to a dead end. "Great job. Now, we're stuck." BB said. "Strange." Raven said. "How does anyone suppose we get by this problem?" Cyborg asked. Just then, as though by answer, the walls slid apart to the sides.

The team walked through the doors. On the other side, they were astonished by what they saw. The ceilings gleamed with artificial light, which shone down on a sort of garden. The grass was clean and trim. Trees loomed towards the ceiling, their leaves full. Cherry Blossoms circled the room's perimeter. A walkway stretched forward and split to the left, right, and north. A stream cut through the middle, running under a wooden bridge and down a small waterfall. Benches were near most of the arrangements of flowers and plants. In front of the Titans, at the end of the walkway, was a platform witch a meditation rug on it. "I didn't know Slade had a thing for gardening." BB said as the members surveyed the area. "He doesn't." Specter said as he looked straight at the meditation platform. In front of the rug was a statue. It was of a dragon, mouth opened in a kind of frozen roar and the wings spread up. But, what really made the statue noticeable, was that it was made of ruby. "Welcome, Titans, to my humble abode."

From behind a tree, there stepped a man familiar to all the Titans, especially to Specter. He wore the armor of a samurai warrior, from leg guards to the helmet that covered his face. It was made of red plating that gleamed from the light. AT his hip were two katanas. Their hilts had a red dragon curved around them, with room for fingers. His shoes were sandals that were slightly raised due to small stilts on the bottoms. His samurai helmet covered the bottom part of his face with a mouthpiece. The rest of his face was covered in shadow. "Blood Dragon." Specter stated. "Specter, it is good to see you again." Dragon said, bowing to him and then getting back up. Specter replied and said, "At least we can act like gentleman." "Yes. But know, we must do battle. I want my rematch hand we are going to commence with it."

"Dragon," Robin began," we don't have time for this. We have to go and stop Slade, so just show us where the door is." "You wouldn't be leaving anytime soon." Dragon stated. "Who's going to stop us? You?" Cyborg asked. "Well, no," Dragon began," but I do have a trump card. You see, I laced the room with explosives. Anything you say or do that doesn't comply to my ideals, I end the ordeal right here and now." "Then we'll just have to finish you right here and now." Beast Boy stated. "I don't want to fight all of you. I want to fight Specter. If you don't comply, then I incinerate you all." Dragon replied. "Fine then. I'll fight you." Specter said. As he walked forward, Raven thought messaged him with (Remember to keep your promise.) (Don't worry. I'll take him down.) Specter thought back.

As the two fighters stood at opposite ends of walkway, they remained motionless. Their eyes shot glances at each other of readiness. Their hands reached for the hilts of their swords. Just then, Dragon asked," Shouldn't one of us begin this battle?" "Fine, I'll start!" Specter yelled. He drew his sword and went in for an overhead slash. Dragon blocked the blade as it came down. Surprised, Specter quickly got the sword for a cross slice, but Dragon easily dodged that. He then tried a stab, but Dragon moved away and got behind Specter. He kicked Specter back, knocking him to the ground. Dragon then moved in to bring his katana down on him, so Specter brought up his blade to block it. The force of Blood's metal hitting Specter's was heard with a huge crash. "My swing should have penetrated your sword normally," Dragon said as he his and Specter's katanas pushed against each other," but I guess anyone with Azrathean runes on the blade can avoid that dilemma." Specter rolled away from and jumped up from the ground. "How did you know that?" Specter asked. "I've been ready." Dragon replied as he charged at Specter.

Specter drew five of his throwing knifes and threw them quickly at Dragon. Amazingly, Dragon knocked them away. (He should have missed those.) Specter thought as he dodged a slash from Dragon. He brought his katana in an upward diagonal slash, but Dragon moved away. Dragon then slashed his katana at Specter's arm, making contact. Specter leaped aside and grabbed his arm, feeling warm blood slowly coming out of the wound and great pain. "Amazing. Its as though you knew what I was going to do." Specter stated. "Well, you see, I have been in a sort of suspended animation, or perfect nirvana, as I call it," Dragon began," Slade had done this for me to heal my injuries after losing to you. He also downloaded into my mind your fighting styles, defense motions, and personal information. You are now so predictable, I can wipe you out for good." Specter then ripped off a piece of his clothing and wrapped it around his wound. "Okay, I'm impressed. We better continue with this battle then."

"Good. I was getting bored anyway!" Dragon yelled as he charged at Specter. He slashed at Specter in front of him. Specter ducked under the sword and brought his own katana up at him. Dragon blocked this and went for Specter's side. Specter stopped the blade with his own. As two fighters remained stuck in this fight, the two swords pushing at each other, Dragon saw Specter reach for one of his knifes. Knowing he was going to try and stab him, Dragon prepared to dodge and then stab Specter. Just then, Specter threw his knife into the ground. Dragon, surprised at this, was now caught off guard. He now slashed at Dragon's head, the sword hitting Dragon's helmet dead on. Dragon cried out at this and moved away, his head lowered and his hands at the sides. As Dragon's katana fell to his side, Specter said, "You see, Dragon, you may know all of my moves, so I have to be unpredictable now. This way, you wouldn't see anything coming and you will fall." Dragon lowered his hands from his lowered head, laughing at this. His helmet then fell off, first the sliced portion, and then the whole thing. "You missed my head but a small portion," Dragon began," I'm glad I dodged that or I would be dead by now. No matter. Helmet or no helmet, I will be the bringer of your death." He then lifted up his head, which caused Specter and the group to look in shock as to what they were seeing.

Chapter 6 is coming soon! Hope everyone had a good holiday!