Stars of the Dark: Chapter One

Author's Note: The story has been changed. After seeing the episode: Birthmark (I think that's what it was called) I realized that my interpretation of Ravens past was screwed up so I changed it. However the story takes an entirely different turn than what actually happens in the TV show (after the events of "Birthmark" of course).

Time: Modern day

Place: Earth

Disclaimer: I don't on the Teen Titans, BUT I do change and warp their lives as I see fit, for I have THUMBS!

It was not in her nature to be scared easily, nor was it in her nature to run away. But she was running now. As she flew around a corner she nearly ran head-long into a dumpster, were it not for her considerable telekinetic abilities she would have crashed and would never have recovered her lead over her adversary. If only she could get back to the tower she would be able to stand against him.

Raven had been responding to a mysterious missive that had told her to come downtown, alone, with no "visitors," popping in to ruin the meeting. It had said that the writer knew what she was and that she was to come alone to meet him if she had any decency in her at all. However the thing had been a complete setup, as soon as she had arrived at the specified location she was set upon by a massively powerful telepath who could cancel out her own ability without even moving. She had narrowly escaped by trapping the telepath in an abandoned building and was now far enough away from the being to fly, but she was sure he would escape eventually, if he had not already.

She had already tried to call the tower for help but the telepath was jamming the signal and it was impossible to get through to anyone. He was too strong to fight alone. She had tried fighting him hand to hand, but he carried two swords and new how to use them she had been severely cut in the fight and her pride had been broken. There was no choice but to run and attempt to make it back to the tower where the other Titans could help her fend off this new threat.

So she now flew in the relative direction of the tower, however she was forced to make a wild and random pattern in an attempt to throw off this new telepath. As she flew down an alleyway she hit something, a very hard something, but it was also something that did not seem to exist to the naked eye. "Good." Said a voice from the darker reaches of the ally. She turned in the direction of the sound to see the telepath step out from the shadows where he had been hiding. Raven attempted to take off to escape but was disappointed when her powers did not respond.

He was tall, and slim too, not scrawny but slim. He was wearing a rather unassuming red shirt and a blue zip-down jacket, which was unzipped. As well as a pair of faded blue jeans. Apparently he had done some shopping when he arrived so he could better blend in with the people of the planet. He had no natural characteristics that would distinguish him from an ordinary human, and was wearing his hair in a way that was common to an earthling, in that is was not combed, cut, or in any other way styled. He had a belt on which had attached to it (apart from the aforementioned swords) a bulky black energy pistol which, on closer inspection, was reviled to have small engravings plastered all over it. This was the most distinguishing characteristic about him, other than the fact that he could pick up on the emotions of those around him.

"Not this time," said the telepath, "no escape this time. No flying, no dumpsters, no conveniently abandoned buildings to lock me in. I have you this time." He reached down to his belt and pulled the small bulky energy weapon from its holster. He spun the gun as he brought it up, stopping it as he reached level with her chest. He pulled the trigger and she crumpled. All of this happened in the expanse of three seconds leaving Raven no time at all to react.

As she hit the ground her communicator fell from her belt, popped open, and began emitting a distress beacon, not realizing this the mysterious telepath picked it up and closed it without deactivating the beacon. He did however disengage his jamming signal.