Hiya everyone and welcome to the last chapter of Memories! (yeah, i changed the title...YET again)–bawls- WAAH! But anyhoo, thanks again Lain for reviewing, and you really have to update sooner rather than later! But anydiddlydoo, not much new here….again…onto the last chapter!-cries in corner-
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, but I own the plot and the spiffy shows I taped! And I also don't own Haunted by Evanescence…
WARNING: I truly suck at battle scene thingys…you have been warned…
Mere Memory
Chapter Ten: Final Confrontation
Slade was bored, and he was tired of waiting. Karigan was alive, and now he knew it for sure. Hacking into hospital records was about as easy as turning on a computer. (ok, maybe for him…) He had found that she had been admitted, treated, and released in one day. She must have healing abilities. I aimed to kill, and that's exactly what would've happened. Now his plan was set, and it just needed to be put into action. He would take down the Teen Titans, all six of them. This was his day.
Karigan had had gotten out of the shower a mere five minutes before the alarm rang and Robin yelled for everyone to get downstairs.
"It's Overload," he said as soon as they were all together. "Slade can't be far away. Be on the watch. Titans Go!" Overload was on rampage at a closed down factory just outside of the city. Perfect place for Slade…Karigan thought. "He's drawing us out." She said out loud.
Robin turned to her, "And out we come."
When they arrived at the factory, Slade was no where to be found, but where Overload had been was evident. The plans had changed; each Titan knew what to do-kill or be killed. This time though, they would search by themselves, the building was too large to search to a good extent in pairs. They all knew the drill, that hadn't changed. Any sight of Slade, contact everyone, and buy some time.
"He will be easier to take down with all of us there." Robin had stated earlier. But know they all parted, scouring the many levels, passages, twists and turn for and sign of Slade. Star's starbolt illuminated the passage in an eerie green glow as she went, but finding nothing at the moment. Cyborg's shoulder light found cobwebs in corners and dust-covered floorboards, but no Slade either. The same circumstances surrounded everyone else's searching, all except Slade. He was on the trail of a Titan, and by the looks of the fiery glow on the walls, he believed that Titan to be Karigan. She was the only one he wanted to take down personally, save Robin. His mechanical minions would distract them long enough for him to blow the entire building. I need to lure her into a room where the reset of he annoying friends can't find her…Slade mused, forming a plan in his head. At the fork ahead, Karigan couldn't decide which passage to take, but finally decided right since it was darker. Slade was right behind her and she had no idea. He took advantage of this, and when she turned right, he went left, making enough noise for her to follow.
Karigan turned around, startled. She had heard footsteps leading away, left, though she wasn't sure whose they were. Slowly, Karigan walked down the dimly-lit corridor, now hearing footsteps, distinctively louder, in the distance. Since she wasn't sure if the person ahead was Slade or not, she hadn't notified the rest of the team yet. So she cautiously proceeded into the unknown.
The others had seen no sign of Slade, but Robin had found Overload. Coincidentally, and luckily for Robin, Cyborg entered the large room where Robin and Overload were form another entrance. The two teammates fought together to bring down the electric villain.
"Still no sign of him?" Robin asked after Overload had been beaten into submission.
Cyborg shook his head. "Haven't heard anything from anyone else either." Robin sighed, placing his bo-staff back in his belt.
"No news isn't good news, he's still here. Keep searching, I'll check the next level down." The half-robot nodded and the team members parted.
Now Karigan was frustrated; the person she had been tracking seemingly disappeared. The passage ahead now spilt into three different directions; left, right, or straight. She was about ready to go down the left one when the soft 'whoosh' of opening doors met her ear. Karigan whirled around and stared up the hall. Heart thumping loudly in her chest, Karigan wandered ahead, never once thinking it might be a trap.
Slade was ecstatic. Karigan was falling prey to his plan so magnificently that he thought nothing could possibly go wrong. He waited silently in the shadows of a room, knowing she would find him.
The hallway was silent, the footsteps gone, but Karigan found a door. Quite possibly the door the person she was in pursuit of went in. The doors opened with the same soft 'whoosh' and she warily stepped in, the thought of contacting the rest of her team never crossing her mind. The room was dimly lit with one swinging light bulb, making the shadows appear restless. There sat about a dozen shipping barrels to one side, and nothing else. Karigan snuffed out her makeshift flashlight and began searching the room.
"No one's over there." A silky voice came from the shadows, a voice she knew all too well. Karigan whipped around and beheld Slade stepping from the shadows. Her eyes grew wide and she pulled out her communicator, ready to call for her friends. Slade's eye narrowed and he lunged for the communicator, knocking it from her hand and smashing it under his boot. Karigan stepped back in surprise and her eyes contracted in anger.
"Don't go calling your little friends yet. I will deal with them later. But right now, the fun has just begun." Slade said menacingly, advancing towards Karigan.
Robin's communicator beeped and he pulled it out, seeing Cyborg's face on the screen, and he looked worried.
"Did you find Slade?" Robin asked instantly. Cyborg shook his head.
"No, I've got bad news. Karigan's signal just disappeared."
"How can her signal 'just disappear'?" Robin scoffed.
"Well, the communicator-"
"The communicator, damn. Slade's got her. Shit, I should've seen this coming!" Robin exploded suddenly. "Can you locate her last position?" Cyborg nodded. "Good, get the others together and meet me on the first floor. This ends today." He added, more to himself than anyone else.
"Whatever the hell you want, you will not get." Karigan spat.
"My dear, you should know by now that I get what I want, and I only want one thing right now." Slade answered, unnervingly calm.
"And what would that be?" Karigan demanded icily.
"The Teen Titans dead." Karigan looked barely shocked, but nevertheless angry.
Long, lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there
"Over my dead body." She growled. Slade seemed content with this concept.
"That can be arranged." He said pleasantly, almost as if he were talking about such a simple thing as the weather.
Karigan almost laughed out loud. "But it seems to me that you are outnumbered six to one, how can you possibly kill us all?"
"Plans, my dear, plans. But I am not outnumbered, however, but you are, 6:151." Karigan snorted.
"Six to 151? You're not talking about your robots are you? Geez and I thought you were smart. The only thing those minions of yours are good for is scrap metal; which is exactly what they will be when we're finished with them." Slade chuckled softly.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself. The Teen Titans will fall today, and you will be the first." He finished, again advancing on Karigan, who backed up and into the wall. She knew what she was going to do, but waited for the right moment. As soon as Slade took another step, Karigan raised a metal barrel and launched it at him. He grunted as the barrel hit him and he went flying. The angered Titan stepped away from the wall into the middle of the room and Slade stood up. Before she had time to react he attacked.
Watching me, wanting me,
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you, loving you,
I won't let you pull me down
Karigan dodged his punch at her shoulder and landed her own across his mask. That had little effect on him and he hit her hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. Karigan staggered back, trying to catch her breath, but Slade knocked her feet out from under her and she went crashing to the ground. She knew, however, what he was going to do next. When his foot came racing towards her, Karigan caught it in mid-kick, twisted it sharply, and Slade also fell to the floor. Karigan quickly scrambled to her feet and chucked another barrel at him, but Slade rolled to the side and it smashed against the concrete floor.
Slade stood up with relative ease, "Very good Karigan, but not good enough." He said before lunging at her again. Karigan stepped to the side as Slade's hand hit the wall instead of her. Before she could knee him in the stomach, Slade popped out his elbow and hit her square in the eye. He sent another punch that hit Karigan and sent her flying into the wall behind her. Karigan was kneeling on the ground when Slade's shadow ran over her. He reached down, grabbed her by the throat and hoisted her to her feet. She didn't struggle, knowing very well that would kill her faster. (OoO I got this next part from 'Enough'. It's a pretty good movie, but there's this humongous asshole who thinks he gets whatever he wants...) Instead, Karigan lifted her left arm, turned her body a bit, and her arm down on Slade's. He instantly let go of her out of reflex and she punched him in the face. Slade backed up a step, and Karigan leaned up against the wall, jumped and kicked him in the chest with all her might. That sent him soaring backwards, but he had another plan. Before Karigan could take another step the gun was out and aimed for her head.
"Were you able to locate her last position?" Robin asked hastily. Cyborg nodded.
"Yeah, some room on the third floor. Here, I'll program it into your communicator." Robin handed it to him and Cyborg programmed Karigan's coordinates. When he half-machine finished, Robin turned to the rest of the team.
"Only one thing, bri-"
"Uh, dudes, dudettes," Beast Boy interrupted. They all turned to where he was pointing and saw miniature army of Slade's robots.
"This should be fun." Raven commented sarcastically. Cyborg turned to Robin.
"Hey man, go get Kari. We'll handle this lot." The Boy Wonder nodded and sprinted off as Cyborg changed his arm into his sonic cannon.
Hunting you, I can smell you-alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Damn, he knows. I can't heal myself if I'm dead. Karigan knew she had to act fast. Behind Slade, a packaging barrel lifted into the air.
"You will be dead before that container gets near me." Slade said steadily, the gun still aimed at her forehead. The targeted girl's eyes narrowed in frustration. Karigan finally decided that surprise and rash acting were her best chances at survival. She lunged and Slade fired; he missed and Karigan kicked the gun out of his hand. The attack startled Slade, but he quickly recovered, seized her ankle, twisted it, and she fell to the floor. Karigan called out to the gun laying a few feet away with her powers and it slid into her hand. She held it in the air in front of her, ready to shoot, and stopping Slade frozen in his tracks. He chuckled softly and Karigan stood up slowly.
"Get out of here. Leave me and my friends alone. Go drown yourself in Lake Michigan, I don't care. But if you come near or hurt one of my friends again, I will kill you." Karigan stated, shaking slightly. Slade took a step forward.
"Don't. Don't even think I won't kill you." She warned. "Go." She added, waving the gun at the door.
Watching me, wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me, raping me
Watching me…
Slade's eye narrowed and he took a step back, eventually running out the door.
Watching me, wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you, loving you
I won't let you pull me down
Karigan collapsed into a dark corner with her head resting on her knees. Tears threatened to cascade down from her almond-shaped eyes. She was mentally and physically exhausted and couldn't believe she had let Slade go. Her mothers killer, the very person that threatened her friends lives, and she had just let him run away. Then she heard the doors slide apart and a person walk in. She just figured it was Slade coming to finish her off, but was surprised to hear Robin's voice.
"Kari?" he called softly, scanning the room. Karigan said nothing; she wanted to be alone, not let him find out she had failed, but yet she longed for him to find her and comfort her. Robin's footsteps echoed off the bare walls as he approached her and kneeled down next to her.
"Kari? Are you ok? What happened?" he questioned quietly. Before Karigan knew it, her head was buried in Robin's chest and she was mumbling.
"I couldn't do it, I just couldn't do it. I'm sorry." Robin wrapped his arms around her shoulders, a bit moved to see so strong a person almost in tears.
"Ssh, it's ok, we'll get him later." He whispered, trying to calm her down. The toil on her heart was too much, and silent tears began to flow freely from her eyes. Karigan felt safe here, wrapped in Robin's arms, his heart beat pounding in her head, his scent filling her nostrils. She wanted to stay here like this forever, but knew they couldn't. After what seemed like the shortest amount of time, Robin's communicator beeped and he answered it.
"Is Kari ok? Did you get Slade?" Cyborg demanded, sounding worried.
Robin glanced down at the distraught girl in his arms, "Kari's gonna be fine, but-"
"Oh, shit! Beast Boy, hold him back! Star, Raven, let him have it!" In the background things could be heard blowing up and crashing about. "Hey man, you guys get down here quick, we need your help." Robin looked confused.
"What? What is it?"
"Slade." he replied and the screen turned black.
Karigan's head shot lifted from Robin's chest and she stood up quickly, anger coursing through every inch of her body. Robin's skin prickled at the power radiating from her.
"I told him to leave us alone," Karigan snarled evilly. "And he didn't listen; now he will pay." And she strode out of the room, the flames of her power surrounding her whole being.
Raven could feel Karigan coming before she could see her. She told everyone telepathically to stand away from the door to everyone's left. Sure enough, the doors blew off and a figure could be seen walking towards all of them through the fiery inferno that Karigan had created. Soon she appeared, eyes crimson with fury, and charcoal hair floating about her on some invisible wind. Slade thought she had stepped from the fiery gates of the Underworld itself.
"Stand back." She ordered the Titans, who complied. There wasn't the double voice that Raven possessed when her demonic side cam out, but she nevertheless knew Karigan was not fully human.
"I told you, I warned you, that if you tried to harm my friends ever again you would die. And you didn't listen." Karigan continued, flames dancing across her body, never harming her. Now Slade outright laughed.
"The Teen Titans don't kill." He responded maliciously. Karigan smiled wickedly.
"They do now."
That was when Slade realized his mistake; she was serious, dead serious. Karigan levitated four gas tanks and threw them at Slade from four different directions. Slade didn't even have time to move, even blink, before he was crushed. Blood splattered Karigan's face and clothes, but she didn't even flinch. In the background, Starfire gasped and Beast Boy stepped back a little.
Karigan's mind was reeling, she had killed Slade, but her loathing went deeper, and she couldn't stop her powers. It was like she was watching the actions of a murder threw their eyes. Her powers were getting wildly out of control, and what was left of Slade's body burst into flame, the smell of burning flesh reaching everyone's nostrils. Karigan fought for control, oblivious to the damage she was causing. All around her crates and metal bins were crashing into walls. Clutching her head, Karigan collapsed to her knees, and concentrated with all her mind on control, peace, happiness, being in Robin's arms again. The objects stopped flying and Karigan reigned over her emotions and powers.
Shaking her head, she stood slowly, and smiled weakly.
"Bloody hell; thank the leprechauns that's over."
Well folks, we have come to the end. I enjoyed writing this piece a lot, and even had a few weird dreams about it… I think that's when you really know you're obsessed! WOoT, go me! I have to give very special thanks to Lain for reviewing when no one else would. (when no one else was…erm…whatever…!) but anydiddlyhoo I am not coming along very well with the sequel…only two chapters. And I'm only going to post it when I have a good three chapter head start and ideas floating around in my head. Anydiddlyhoo, I had sooo much fun skwashing and burning Slade into dust…teehee! OoO don't worry, I had sugar…lotsa sugar…then again…maybe you should worry! On another note, I have come up with another idea for a totally different story, so maybe you'll be seeing it soon! Either that or yelling and beating me over the head with a pogo stick for not working on the sequel! But until then, later taters, and krakr OUT with a shout!WOoT!