Heart of Stone: Chapter XI

"Did you find anything yet?" Cyborg asked into the communicator.

"Nothing," responded Robin. "Starfire?"

"I have also been unsuccessful."

"Ok, but don't give up yet," said Robin.

Robin turned off his communicator and continued his search. So far they had checked Slade's previous hideouts (although they still weren't even sure he had anything to do with it) and decided to separate. He was now looking around the alley where they had fought Terra before. He remembered her doing more damage than what was apparent now. In fact, he knew that there should be more debris. He then thought back to the fight. At first, it was as if she had avoided attacking them, with the exception of Raven and Beast Boy. But if they were working for together already, it should have been the other way around.

He stopped as he heard someone behind him and he turned around: no one. A hand clasped over his mouth and an other hand grabbed both his wrists. "Robin," Terra whispered in his ear. "I need you to listen." But he threw her so she was lying in front of him.

"I don't need to listen," he said to her, but he was thrown backwards by a rock that hit him in the stomach. He got up, ready to attack again, but two hands made from grabbed him and pulled him against the wall and held him there by his wrists.

"Now listen, I'm not letting you go until you listen to what I have to say," she said, walking towards him. "Beast Boy is in trouble, and possibly Raven. They're the only reason I decided to work for Slade again, but now I think things are actually worse…"

"So it is Slade…" said Robin.

"Anyway, I need your help."

"Not until you explain some stuff."

"Like what?"

"All those people you killed?"

"So that's what he did… That other girl, her name is Illusion-"

"But they were re-" he interrupted, only to be re-interrupted by Terra.

"I don't get it either, but apparently when she conjures something, it seems real enough that it can actually cause damage."

"I think I get it…"

"So, you gonna help me save them?"

"Fine," he agreed and was released from the stone grip and Terra helped him up. "Should I get Starfire and Cyborg?"

"It's risky enough already with just you, too many people would mean too much attention," she told him.

"I see," he said, then there was silence as he followed Terra. He asked, "Isn't Slade monitoring you?"

"Let's just say that I learned a couple things about deception from him," she said, although not wanting to remember before when she had served him.

"Then how do I know this isn't just some trick," said Robin, suspiciously. Before he realized it, he was pinned to the wall by spiky rocks.

"You mean other than the fact that you're completely vulnerable when you're not prepared?" said Terra, sarcastically to Robin, who was struggling. "Now listen. If I really were up to something, whatever it is, I could do now." she pulled out a knife and held it to his neck, right where his arteries were. "I could just kill you right here, or brainwash you, and I'm not gonna list the other possibilities; in that sense, my loyalty lies with Beast Boy. But keep that attitude up and I may be tempted to just spill your blood right here." She pressed the knife harder against his throat.

"Sorry… I shouldn't have even said that," he apologized and Terra released him.

"It's ok, I really don't blame you… But anyway, we should hurry before Slade realizes what I'm doing."

"So, how're we gonna do this?"

"Actually, to tell you the truth, I haven't thought this out completely," she answered nervously. Robin face faulted. "Kinda just making this up as I go along."

They arrived at what looked like an abandoned store and Terra motioned for him to stay outside. She pulled a wire out of a camera and opened a door that led to stairs before motioning for him to follow her.

"How far down does this go?" Robin asked after what seemed like 15 minutes.

"Not much longer," she told him. As they reached the bottom, there was a tunnel which didn't go on for too long, although Terra had to stop him a couple times so she could disconnect the cameras. They came to a pair of secure looking doors and Terra entered a code to open them. There was no one inside. "Come on," she whispered and the doors closed behind Robin.

Beast Boy transformed from a spider into a wolf an pounced on Terra. Robin ran towards them but Raven came out of the wall and attacked him from behind. Terra pushed Beast Boy off of her, although there was nothing that could be of use to her (the entire room was made of steel) except for her knife, but she didn't want to seriously hurt Beast Boy either.

"Good job, Terra," said Slade as he appeared seemingly out of nowhere. "You brought him here much sooner than I had expected. Although I believe your intentions were different than what I had planned. Finish her, Beast Boy. Raven, bring him."

Raven disappeared with Robin through a wall, leaving Terra with Beast Boy, who was still a wolf. He jumped on her, sinking his claws into her. She pulled out the switchblade and stabbed him in the stomach. He transformed back into a human and stumbled backwards, a hand on the wound.

"Beast Boy!" she yelled as she ran towards him. "I'm sorry." She embraced him but he transformed into a rattlesnake and bit her in the left arm. "Goddamn it!" she yelled as she grabbed the bite. He then transformed into a raptor and pushed her to the floor and sank his claw into her chest. She had no choice; she picked the knife back up and stabbed his arm, piercing is thick hide and he backed off as he turned into a bear and attacked, leaving much deeper and longer gashes than before.

Terra got back up and lunged at him with the switchblade, but stumbled forwards as the venom began to take effect and she was losing blood rapidly. "Beast Boy," she said weekly. "I know this means nothing to you now, but I love you.."

She heard an explosion and looked to see Starfire and Cyborg just before blacking out.