RR76: Awright, lesse what I can do here. I'm gonna write a prequel to Carson as soon as this story's done. Yeah. Plot twist, to those who didn't see it coming. yuuuuuup...

Review Responses:

Queen-Of-Azerath (her review came by email): He is intriguing, ain't he? I upped the rating because some people would think that the fight was too bloody for a PG-13 rating. Some people are stupid, but whataya gonna do, eh? And I don't know if Upped is a word.

Aris Witch: Damn those puppets of the Bush administration! How was it on the Russian thing?

lostNfuzed: Thank you. Plot's about to take an interesting turn.

The Wild Ambition: I did, and it worked. But it's nothing like it is in here. Ah well.

Fourthelement: It isn't R for terrible reasons, just because this way they have no way to report me. Yeayness. By the way, I think you'll like this chapter.

Don't own, don't sue, don't flame.

Bloodied and exhausted, the Titans returned to the tower, Carson (as usual) going straight to his room to sulk. Or whatever the hell he does in there. The Titans collapsed on the couch, too horrified by the battle to speak. So they sat there in silence, until Robin spoke up. "Cyborg, call the police," he said quietly. "Tell them we've got a murderer that needs dealing with."

Before Cyborg could and alarm went off, bathing the room in it's red glow. Robin rushed to the computor and typed in something. "Someone's trying to access the security codes to the tower."

"Is it in the tower?" Raven asked as the rest of the Titans rushed to Robin's side. Robin typed in some more. "Yes. Eighth floor, room 6."

"Wait," said Cyborg. "Isn't that Carson's room?"

Robin opened his mouth to respond, but stopped suddenly as something finally clicked into place. He listened, detatched, as Starfire asked "Why would our friend do such a thing?"

"Because he isn't our friend," Robin growled. "Wait here."

The door fell to the ground with a metallic thud to reveal Carson standing with his back to Robin. "That door was unlocked, you know," he said.

"Shut up," Robin snapped. He moved to withing a few feet of Carson. "Someone just tried to access the security program for the Tower."

"That's interesting," Carson said, uninterested. "What's that got to do with me?"

"We tracked the source. It was coming from your room." Carson was silent, so Robin continued. "I finally get it. The reason you've been in your room all this time. I get it now. You're not here to stop Slade. You're working for him!"

A moment passed, and then Carson let out a slow, quiet laugh. "Bravo Robin," he sneered, turning to face him. "The last horse finally crosses the finish line."

In a heartbeast Robin extended his bo staff and swung it full force, aiming for Carson's head, only to have it blocked by Johnny Rancid's knife. "Oh really now, Robin," Carson mocked. "You're not at all interested in why I'm doing this, or how I got away with it up until now? Actually, that last one is 'cause you're careless-"

"Shut UP!" Robin snarled. Carson smiled sinisterly (that a word?) "Angry, aren't we?"

"Why?" Robin asked. "If you were working for Slade... why did you stop his robots from getting the centrifuges?"

Carson laughed again. "There never WERE any centrifuges, Robin. Slade doesn't need a nuclear weapon. Or any 'weapon of mass destruction," he said the last bit with a mock Texas accent. "He's got plans for this city. Plans you can't even imagine."

"What?" Robin probed. Carson shrugged. "He didn't clue me in. Now, to answer your question... that Rancid fellow you met was hired by Slade to raid the warehouse to lure the Teen Titans into a trap. He meanwhile gave an anonymous tip to the F.B.I. that the fugitive Carson Elam would be at the docks in a warehouse. That set up my entrance."

"Johnnyboy wasn't given any details about what he was supposed to get, just that it was heavily guarded and that lethal force was authorized. Rancid was supposed to die... but he wasn't even worth killing. Plus," he added, "I couldn't let someone who was able to push me that far die. He had my respect at the end."

"He's a criminal, no better than you!" Robin snapped. "He doesn't deserve respect."

"I'm no criminal Robin. Haven't you learned after all that's happened not to trust government agencies? I know you saw my profile on the F.B.I. site. It's rather flattering, the reward they're offering."

Robin stared at the teenager standing innocently in front of him, playing with the wicked, purple and black knife taken from a fallen biker. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I have many names. Been called many things, not all of them nice. There's actually a bunch of people who think I'm the Devil. But personally... I like the name Carson best." He started to say more, but stopped, staring at Robin. "Are you wearing a wire?" he asked incredulously.

Before Robin could do anything, Carson snatched the communicator off Robin's belt to find it had been activated. "Just as bad..." he murmured. He dropped the communicator to the floor and crushed it under his foot.

Cyborg's arm screen turned to static. "Dammit..." he said under his breath. He turned to his friends. "We got enough info, let's go!"
"Your time's up," said Robin, a smile of triumph on his face. "The others are on their way now to help bring you down."

Carson grinned. "I doubt that," he said optimistically. He lowered his hand to the computor behind him and pushed a button.

The elevetor groaned to a halt, the sickening sound of metal scraping against metal ringing in everyone's ears. When it stopped, the Titans looked around.

"Aw crap..." Beast Boy sighed.

"Speak not of fecal matter yet friend," Starfire said, determined. "Cyborg, can you not make this elevator move again?"

"I'll see what I can do," the robotic teen said. He removed a panel and went to work, reconnecting wires in hopes of getting the elevator moving again.

"I don't need them to take you down!" Robin said, jumping back and assuming a fighting posture.

Carson drew his sabre and pointed it at Robin in a fencing stance. "You'd be surprised..." he threatened.

With a cry, Robin leaped forward, swinging the staff aiming for Carson's side. The saber moved, effortlessly turning aside the strike, then blocking the next two swings Robin made. Robin grunted in frustration and rushed his opponent. Carson stepped out of the way and stuck out his foot, tripping Robin. He positioned his sabre just above his spine. "All too easy," Carson sighed. "I'm trying to see the potential Slade saw in you but-"

Robin interrupted by kicking Carson's feet out from under him. Carson stuck out his arm and pushed himself back onto his feet just as Robin swung his staff at Carson's face. Instead the blade intercepted the metal staff, turned it aside and with a flick of his wrist (literally) Carson cut Robin across his chest. Robin gave a short cry in pain, then roared at Carson as he charged again, swinging his staff furiously, trying to catch the powerful assassin off guard. He had no such luck though. Every motion he made with his sword, every block, every swing was carefully calculated to counter Robin. Robin thrusted with the staff. Carson stepped out of the way and kicked Robin in the head. Robin staggered backward and Carson took advantage of Robin's pain to go on the offensive.

Carson advanced, swinging his weapon with deadly percision, stopping to deliver a kick every now and then to further weaken his opponent. Still, Robin showed no signs of giving up, gallantly fighting on, keeping Carson at bay. Eventually, though, he began to grow tired. His muscles ached from the fighting, his breathes growing shorter and shorter with each movement. He dodged another swing from Carson's sabre, only to recieve a blow to the ribs to compensate for the the miss. Carson kicked again, hitting Robin in the stomach. He staggered backward, trying to regain his equilibrium, as Carson raised his sword to deliver the killing blow. He brought the blade crashing down... only to have Robin step out of the way and kick Carson across the chin. He swung with his staff again, hittin Carson in the face. Carson swung his sword again. Robin dodged and kicked the blade out of his hands. He swund again, and Carson grabbed the end of the staff.

"You were a fool to try and mess with us," Robin said, sweat streaming down his face. Carson grinned, still seemingly unfatigued. "No Robin," he said with an air of menace. "You were a fool for trusting me."

With that he swung his end of the staff, sending Robin crashing into the wall. Carson sighed again and pulled his revolver from his bandolier. "A mistake I'm going to make sure you don't make again," he said sinisterly (word?)

A green starbolt flew across the room at Carson's head. He dodged and watched the starbolt crash into a wall, blowing a man-sized hole open. He turned to see Starfire, her eyes glowing green in the doorway, a furious expression on her face. Another wall exploded outward and Cyborg came through. A black hole appeared in the celing as Raven and Beast Boy fell through.

Carson took a few steps back to the computor, pushing a button on the PC. A CD came out and Carson slipped it into a paper sleeve. "I got what I came for. And I'd just like to take this oppertunity to thank you all for being so generous-"

"SHUT UP YOU FILTHY SON OF A CLORBAG!" Starfire shouted, throwing another starbolt at Carson. He dodged again and the starbolt hit the computor, destroying the machine. Carson backflipped over Cyborg and ran out the hole he made in the wall, dodging the sonic cannon as he went.

The Titans averted their attention to their leader. "Robin!" Starfire said as she flew over to him.

"You're hurt," Raven said. "Let me-"

"I'm... fine." Robin said haltingly. "Get... Carson... he has the security-" he started coughing uncontrollably.

"Rest here Robin," Starfire said, getting to her feet. "We will take care of Carson. He will pay for this. I promise."

RR76: If anyone didn't see that plot twist coming a mile away, please tell me. For now, review.