Chapter Four – Confrontation

Night was falling slowly on the city, and the weary Titans arrived at the prison. Robin immediately went to the warden with the news of the planned jailbreak while the others took up position in secret spots around the prison's entrance. Each one now was equipped with an utility belt like Robin's, yet non of them were confident in their training.

"Man, I am so out of my league here!"

Beastboy fumbled with his belt, and accidentally activated a smoke pellet.

POOF!

Eyes wide, blinking in the smoke, Beast boy coughed and waved the fumes away as quickly as possible. Nearby, Raven closed her eyes and sighed.

"That didn't take long."

Also a little apprehensive, Raven adjusted her own belt. Because of it, she had been forced to remove her cloak, which now laid gently on the ground by her feat. She took a quick glance towards Cyborg, who had taken position behind one of the tower posts.

Humming softly to himself, Cyborg absentmindedly tapped his own belt, the only one of the four eager to try out the toys. It was easy to surmise he would feel this way, as gadgets were his specialty. Raven allowed a whisper of a smile to cross her face, believing that he would be their best chance at success.

"Oooh!" cried Starfire quietly as she fumbled to adjust the strap of her own belt. It didn't have enough notches to fit snuggly around her petite waist, and it kept sliding down. The nervousness of what was about to happen, reminded her of when she was such a young child, learning to fly for the first time. Sure, unbridled joy was the key to flight, but joy comes hard when you find yourself afraid of heights!

Starfire undid the belt and concentrated a tiny beam to create a new hole, so she could fit it better to her body. "Ok, I got over the fear of heights quickly, I surely can overcome the fear of not.. having.. my.. powers."

Sweat dripped from her forehead then, when Raven's voice came into her mind, "Remember to focus, Star, like in our meditations, and you will be fine."

Sighing softly, Starfire nodded. The sessions she and Raven shared since the time of their switching bodies had paid off, and she would not fail Raven now in utilizing them.

"EEP!" Starfire hit the ceiling above her in fright as her communicator beeped! Raven shook her head from her spot. Starfire rubbed her head and moaned as she clicked on the device, "Robin?"

"Hey Star, how you holding up?" Robin's kind voice asked.

Tama

"Oh, I am as calm as a Tamaranian Borepod, honestly." She lied.

Robin chuckled kindly, "I get the impression from Raven you're a little wired, hun. Stay calm, we'll make it through this."

"Wired, Robin? What is 'wired'? I am not tied up right now." She allowed a grin, "Although, if you wish it…?"

A choked cough answers her and Robin clears his throat, "Star, keep your mind on the task at hand. I, um, won't comment for now on the rest of it."

The flirting helped to calm Starfire down. She loved Robin and was so overjoyed when they began dating. Although they had done nothing more then kiss and cuddle, she definitely had learned enough to tease him properly. Yes, she felt a bit more calm having teased Robin, and her focus was clear.

Robin, meanwhile, shook his head in amusement. He would get Starfire for that one, in his own way. Checking in with the others, they all confirmed they were as ready as they'd ever be. It was only a matter of time before the prisoner exchange. Robin just prayed they were truly up to the task.

Zero held in his sigh, as he and Zorak, his father, approached the prison. Zero knew his father was unaware at the potential trap. What he wasn't sure about, was what would happen to him. It didn't matter, though. The city was in grave danger, and he didn't want to be the cause of its destruction.

It would be so easy to just refuse to use his power to stop the Titans, or so it seemed. But Zero was not a hero, and while not a complete coward, death was not something he wished to face anytime soon. Father would kill him for his betrayal, he knew this… so all he could do was pray that the Titan's overcame him quickly in their own way. Zero would accept his punishment, he was ready for it.

Zorak surveyed the prison from just out of sight, as he adjusted the prototype's power and sight. He looked to his son.

"Zero.."

"Yes, Father?" His teeth grinding at the use of that name.

Zorak smiled darkly, "send out your power, we are in range and any hero near the prison shall be vastly affected!"

With a heavy heart, Zero concentrated in the direction of the prison. Nodding he had accomplished his task, Zero watched his father release the safety on the weapon. That's when Zero noticed the two armored hummers driving up to the prison. Zorak moved quietly to the corner, and Zero stayed close, as he knew he must.

The gates of the prison opened up and twenty security guards filed out, taking up position around the armored vehicles. The Warden then came into view, motioning them to hurry up. Zorak licked his lips and stepped into view across the way of the prison.

"FREEZE, ALL OF YOU!" Zorak held the weapon up and aimed at the guards.

"What the hell is this?" The Warden feigned.

"Don't move! In case you don't know, this device will disintegrate you completely! Move away from the transports, NOW!"

The guards looked at the Warden, who nodded his head solemnly, and they all stepped back! Zorak aimed the gun at the hummers when a shout startled him!

"Titans, GO!"

The five Titans appeared, weapons in hand, and Zorak laughed.

"Back for more humiliation, kiddies?" He said, turning the gun on Robin.

"This time we're ready for you and Zero!" Robin declared, "Now, Titans!"

Cyborg, Raven, Beastboy and Starfire opened up simultaneously with their choice of projectiles. Birdarangs, freeze discs, smoke pellets and more came flying at Zorak! But to their shock and surprise, he had been prepared. Clicking a device on his belt, a shield came up and everything exploded in front of him and Zero, but they were left untouched.

"Hey, no fair!" Beast Boy shouted.

"I don't play fair, boy!" Zorak fired the weapon, blasting the ground in front of Beast Boy and he fell into a deep hole. Scrambling, he tried to climb out, but he was too deep.

Cyborg decided to try the head on approach, and he raced right for Zorak. But he wasn't quick enough, and a second blast caught him on the tip of his shoulder. Sparks flew from the gape and Cyborg was sent spinning in circles. Starfire, gasping, went to aide her friend, and the distraction allowed Zorak to turn his attention on the armored hummers.

Robin cursed, he knew they were failing and if Zorak freed those in the transports, the Titans would surely lose.

Raven knew this too, but she wouldn't be able to reach Robin in time to back him up! She needed to do something quickly, but the options were running out.

"You need to knock Me out!"

The voice rang in her head, the same instinct she had when she knew about the break out. Her own thoughts echoed back at the voice, "Who are you?"

"It's Me, Zero!" The voice replied, "I sent you the warning, remember?"

Raven's eyes blinked in surprise, "It was you?" She thought, "But why?"

"No time to explain! If you want your powers back, you have to knock me out! I can't use my ability when unconscious!"

Raven turned herself to run behind a large tree, so she could find a position to get to Zero, while she thought, "Why don't you just shut down your power?"

"If I do, Father will know.. and.. and he will kill me. I'm sorry, I don't want to be a part of his plans, but I'm too scared to betray him."

Somewhere in her heart, Raven understood, and in that moment, she found respect for Zero. She also felt sad that he appeared to be a tool used for evil, when he truly didn't seem so bad. Chiding herself for thinking so kindly for the enemy at hand, she positioned herself secretly just out of sight of Zorak. Zero saw her, and moved as close to her as he could, without alerting his father.

Zorak however, was too focused on Robin and the transports to care about Zero, "I'll warn you once, boy, move or you will die horribly when I free my comrades!"

Pulling three freeze discs from his belt, Robin shook his head, "I can't stand by and let that happen, Zorak! Take your best shot!"

Laughing, Zorak lifted the weapon to his shoulder and scoffed, "Very well, child! Say goodbye!"

Raven heaved a trashcan lid from a nearby garbage can, and projecting to Zero she honestly was sorry about this, raced in quickly and slammed it into Zero's head. Zorak, startled, turned and watched Zero fall to the ground.

"NO! You Bitch!" Zorak pulled the trigger on the gun, aiming it right at Raven's chest. The beam shot out and Robin and Cyborg screamed!

But the beam never reached Raven, as her body was suddenly surrounded by her protective shell. In an instant, the Titans reacted, Starfire strafed the ground around Zorak with her energy balls. Cyborg fired his beam and knocked the gun for Zorak's hands… and Beast Boy flew from his hole in the ground, and with Eagle talons, clasped the gun and flew off with it.

"NO! NO!" Zorak screamed in rage, as he pulled another gun from his back pocket. He aimed in at Zero.

"You worthless piece of crap! Look what you've done!"

"Oh, no you don't!" Raven growled deeply in her throat, and she raised her arms, fingers aglow.. "AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!"

Suddenly encased in a black sphere, Zorak began to hover in the air, unable to move. "No, No NO NO NO NO NO! You cant do this!"

Screaming madly, Raven directed Zorak into the awaiting guards, who quickly secured him and took the gun away. The Warden merely nodded his thanks to the Titans, as he followed the guards inside, and Zorak cursed loudly, "I'll get you Titans! I swear it!"

More guards quickly came out, some went and directed the two transports inside the prison, for the exchange, and others came over to the Titans, as they gathered around the fallen Zero.

"Sir, we'll take custody of this one now."

Robin began to nod his head, when Raven stepped in between, "No."

"What" Robin balked.

"Yes, friend Raven, have you gone into the mad?" Asked Starfire, also startled.

Raven shook her head, "Robin, it was Zero who'd given me the clue about tonight. He also was the one who told me to knock him out, so we could get our powers back."

"How?" Cyborg asked, perplexed.

"Telepathy." Raven looked down to Zero, her eyes softening, "He has it just as I do. He didn't want to be a part of this, Robin. He is not evil."

"Evil or not, Raven, he participated in many crimes." Robin argued.

"I do not ask for much, Robin. "Raven stated, and even as she spoke, she was questioning why she was so intense in this, "But I am certain that Zero is not a threat."

Robin sighed, he did not like this, but Raven seemed so .. passionate.. about this, and as rare as that event was, he didn't want to stir her wrath, "Very well."

Motioning to the guards they were not needed, Robin turned back to Raven, "What do you suggest then?"

"Bring him back to Titan's Tower. He needs medical care. I did hit him pretty solidly." Raven actually blushed a bit at this last comment.

Beast Boy smiled, "Hit a home run there, did you, Raven?"

Cyborg has to laugh a little bit at that, "Yeah, she walloped him good! I think we're safe, Robin, with him back at Titans Tower."

Robin still didn't look pleased, but Starfire wrapped her arms around his left arm, "Please Robin, it seems to mean a lot to Raven. Can you not forgive this one for his actions?"

Looking to the other Titans, Robin asked, "Can you? For what he did? Forgive, I mean?"

Cyborg, Beast Boy and Starfire nodded, with Beast boy speaking, "Come on Robin, powers or not, villains or not, it was abuse… Zero's a victim!"

Robin looked to Raven, who's expression remained stoic, yet a hint of a plea sparkled in her eyes. Robin never saw Raven this way. She wanted this.. and he couldn't deny her.

"Very well. We'll take him back to the Tower. But he's your responsibility Raven. If he proves to be a real menace, he'll need to be imprisoned."

"I am aware of this." Raven said coldly, but then warmed her voice a little, "Thank you."

Robin nodded and addressed the team, "Let's go home!"

Beast Boy transformed into a Pteranodon and grabbed Cyborg, Starfire lifted Robin up and flew into the air with him and Raven glanced down at the form of Zero. With her energy, she levitated him into her arms and she too, rose into the sky.

As the others disappeared into the night ahead of her, Raven let the gentle cool breeze of the night air ruffle her hair and she closed her eyes to feel it's pleasant touch. She then looked down at Zero. "What am I doing?" She thought, "I would never have done this for anyone else, innocent or not. What is so special about you?"

Zero groaned in answer, shaking in the coldness, as he remained asleep. Raven increased her energy to shut out the cold wind and Zero calmed in her arms.

"It's okay, " She sent out her thoughts to him, "You're safe now."

And as they neared the Tower, Raven noted a single tear fall from Zero's closed eyes, and for reasons unknown, felt one of her own swell.

End Story One

Author's note - Originally I planned a fifth chapter, but I find this to be a suitable ending for the story.

There will be more coming in this series.. in time.