A/N: Alright, finally, here's chapter eight. It's been ridiculously long since the last update, but I had no clue how to start this stupid chapter. So, don't blame me… blame the cursed writer's block.

Now for replies to my fabulous reviewers:

Carolyn Carissa Sydnie: Awe, thank you! Why on earth do you like that hideous title I came up with? Oh well, I'm so glad you like it!

TK Fox: Ooh, thanks! I'm glad I glad I'm not disappointing. And, you get your Slade POV in this chapter, don't worry.

Angela: Thank you! That was basically what I had planned for the 'Aftershock' stuff, but thanks!

Io Europa 2010: No, really, the title sucks. Lol. Anyway, thanks! Glad you like it!

Riley: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!

PsychoMindGames: Thanks! Hope you like the way this chapter turned out.

Disclaimer: Nothing's mine. I own nothing except this little puppy in my lap who's walking on the keyboard, trying to screw up the story. Sadie, sit down!


Chapter Eight: Her Betrayal, Part One

Slade POV

Something was very suspicious about the way Terra had acted so scared about what she had to do. She knew that this day was coming. She knew she would have to do this going into the deal. And I would make sure that she did it. I knew for a fact that she and the androids could easily defeat the Titans, and she knew it, too. All she needed to do was keep the Titans busy while the androids set the bomb, and it would be over. And yet, she was still afraid.

I had moved lairs again. With Wintergreen's help, we moved to the cave two months ago, making things a bit easier without having to travel there and risk being seen. This new lair was smaller, but it worked well enough. Yet, I still despised the place. The stain glass on the walls, Wintergreen's personal touch, reminded me forcibly of a church. Ironic, isn't it? Slade Wilson in a church. But it didn't matter; Terra was able to continually report back here without getting caught.

I glanced at the clock on the monitors for the umpteenth time that evening. 10:55. Just five more minutes. I told Terra to send an email to confirm that the Titans in their rooms, which was normally eleven o'clock. All I needed was that email, and the Titans were as good as gone.

Time seemed to be standing still. Damn mind tricks. The more you want something, the slower it seems to come. The minutes seemed to last several hours apiece. Everything had been prepared hours beforehand, so there was nothing to distract me until the email came.

Then finally, after what felt like hours of waiting, the computer voice said its horribly annoying 'You've got mail.' I quickly clicked the icon.

Deathstroke3519,

You have won our hourly prize of a trip to—

What the hell? I quickly deleted that email and pounded the desk in frustration. Damn spammers! After I take over this city, the first thing to go will be the spammers. 'You've got mail.' I looked at the screen.

Slade,

They're all in there rooms, and the Tower is locked. Pass code is 'waffles' (9233537) Commence operation 'nightfire'

Terra

The moment had finally come. I reached up and typed in a command on the computer. A model of the two-hundred androids, armed and ready for battle, appeared on screen. Two of the androids were carrying the bomb. I typed in the pass code to the Tower, which was transmitted into the androids' mainframe. With a final command, the androids began to march. The tunnels the worms had created months ago were still intact, so the androids could reach the Tower undetected.

"Tea, Mr. Wilson?" came Wintergreen's voice from behind me. I turned to see him carrying an elegant china cup, filled to the brim and steaming with his sinfully delicious tea. I took the cup, pleased to have something to distract me from Terra's odd behavior. 'I have to admit, sir," Wintergreen began, as I took a sip of tea, "you were right about the girl. She has proved to be an excellent apprentice for you. Forgive me for doubting her abilities." He gave a small bow and left the room.

I continued to drink the tea, lost in thought. The androids will reach the Tower in mere minutes, and Terra will join them in the fight. She knew the consequences if she did not. Her behavior earlier that day had unnerved me. Even though I'd always thought Terra was completely loyal to me alone, I began to feel some doubt. I had a feeling this might happen. Spending three months with the wretched Titans had to have had some effect on her true feelings toward them. Was it possible that Terra might be reluctant to go through with the plan? It was possible, but she knew that her days would be numbered if that access code was wrong.

The computer gave a few small beeps. I looked up to see that the androids had indeed gotten inside the Tower, where they began to stealthily sneak up to the top floor to wait for Terra. Within a minute, they were all in the main room, crowded together everywhere. Now all they needed was Terra's command, and the Titans would fall.

The computer started beeping furiously. One glance told me that Terra and one of the Titans had left the Tower. Where does she think she's going? She has a job to do! I punched in a few more commands, and deduced that the Titan that was with her was Beast Boy. What on earth are they up to? I had no way to track her, so they could be traveling anywhere.

I typed in a few commands, and called Terra on her Titans communicator. It was risky, but it was the only way to contact her. No answer, and the scanner showed that the communicator was in the Tower.

Cursing Terra, I furiously typed in commands, and the androids went to work. There was nothing more I could do about the androids. For now, I had to concentrate on finding the girl. I looked for several minutes… nothing.

"Excuse, me sir," came Wintergreen's voice again. "My sister, Pam, who works at a diner here in the city, says that young Terra and one of the Titans just came into the diner." I stared up at him, hardly daring to believe him. "She must be mistaken."

Without a word to him, I got up and headed to the diner. She's not getting away with this.


Terra POV

I shouldn't have done this. I should NOT have done this. The instant Slade found out I'd snuck off with one of the Titans when I should be giving the go-ahead to the androids, I was good as dead. But Beast Boy had been so sweet, trying his best to ask me out. And that box was so adorable. All I wanted was for Beast Boy to have a chance to enjoy himself. And, if I played my cards right, Slade might even spare Beast Boy's life. I mean, even Slade must have some human ethics in him. Beast Boy made me happy, and he was just a great guy all around.

So, here I was in a diner with him, trying to get rid of that awful feeling of guilt. But the androids can handle the Titans alone, right? Especially with one member missing… yeah, they can handle it. I was jerked out of my train of thought when the waitress set down our slices of pie. It was the only non-meat item on the menu for the stubborn vegetarian. That waitress looks a little bit like that butler dude… whatever his name was.

"Dig in," I said, handing him a spoon. He took it and cautiously took a bite of the pie, and his face contorted with shock. He gave me a curious expression; it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

"This is the greatest pie," he said seriously in a low voice that didn't suit him at all, "in the history of pie." I smiled as he began to wolf down the pie at top speed. I picked up my spoon and was about to take a bite of my own pie, but something in the mirror behind the counter caught my eye. I looked up and saw… but it couldn't be… Slade? He was glaring at me, eyes narrowed with anger. I spun around to face him… but there was nothing there. I looked back at the mirror, but his image there was gone, too. My mind's probably playing tricks on me… yeah, that's it. Still, that was really creepy, and I didn't want to hang out here much longer.

"Let's get outta here," I said to Beast Boy, putting a handful of coins on the counter. "Night's still young." Beast Boy, who had not seen Slade… that was just your imagination, Terra. He wasn't there… was still wolfing down his pie. He looked up at me, exasperated, as I stood to leave.

"But… PIE!" he said, wanting nothing more than to just sit and eat pie all day. No way. I'm not spending another minute in here. I grabbed his arm, pulled him off the stool, and headed back outside. I hopped back on my rock, Beast Boy did the same, and we took off.


Slade POV

Two-way mirrors… who would've thought? Apparently, that diner that Terra and Beast Boy had gone to was once a dance studio. So, the mirror behind the counter was not any regular mirror, but a two-way mirror that connected the tap and ballet sections of the place. Now it was a late-night diner… where I had a useful connection. I merely had to go to the diner, go in through the kitchen, and pray that Beast Boy didn't see me. And it worked. Terra had a look of pure fear when she saw me, and I left once she had turned her back. I followed the rock, and the two ended up going to an amusement park, which was currently closed.

How many rides can two people go on? I followed the two of them all over the park. They went on the roller-coaster, the… what were they called… oh, bumper cars, and some sort of 'scary' tunnel. They played games, took pictures in a photo booth, and they even managed to get the cotton candy machine to work. I was waiting for the perfect moment… when both had their guard down.

The moment finally came as they went into the Ferris-wheel; both were relaxed and happy. I waited until the wheel started turning, and then climbed up the wheel and into their compartment. I sat quietly in the dark corner and watched my apprentice.

"Beast Boy," Terra was saying, turning toward the window, "If you knew something bad about me, would you still be my friend?" Oh no… she's going to tell him, he'll forgive her, and the whole plan goes up in smoke.

"Of course," he responded, almost warily.

"I mean, if you were really my friend," she began, turning to face him again, "I could tell you anything. And no matter how horrible it was, you'd still like me, right?" Of course he will! Don't you dare do it!

"Yes," he said sincerely. "I promise, Terra. No matter what."He leaned forward to kiss her. Oh no you don't. If they kiss, any hope of keeping Terra's loyalty to me was lost Time to intervene.

"Hello, Terra," I said as the two were about an inch apart. She gasped and they both whirled around to face me. "Remember me?" I stood up and walked forward; they were both frozen with shock. I grabbed Beast Boy and carelessly threw him against the door, which fell away, forcing him to hang on to the compartment for dear life. "I had plans for you, Terra," I said, turning back to her. "Did you think you and your little boyfriend could just run away?" She looked up at me in fear.

"Let her go!" Beast Boy said, climbing back inside the car. He transformed into some sort of dinosaur, and lunged at me, causing both of us to fall out of the car. We landed on the roof of another compartment. He had pinned me down, and changed back to his human self. 'Terra, run!" he yelled. No, we need her.

"Stay where you are, child" I said, managing to keep my voice calm. I had no idea what Terra would do, so all I could do was trust her.

"What do you want with her?" he asked me angrily. The best thing to do is taunt him. That was what Terra's information had told me, but I wasn't sure how well I could trust her now.

"You mean, she didn't tell you?" I asked mockingly. "I thought you two were friends." With that, I flipped him over the edge and stood in time to see him change into a hawk and zoom upward, towards me. He changed into a tiger and landed beside me. I pulled out my bo-staff, ready to take him down. If Terra wouldn't do it, then I would. We circled each other for a moment, then Beast Boy lunged at me. A simple move with the staff was enough to block him, but he was hard to throw off. After struggling for a few seconds, I finally managed to throw him off the compartment all together. He landed on the one that Terra was still inside, watching us in horror. Beast Boy leapt forward as a gorilla.

This was nothing like fighting Robin or the girl. I was used to their attacks, but this was entirely different. Beast Boy could become any animal at anytime, giving him a huge advantage. But I was the better fighter, which still gave me the upper-hand. He began chasing me around the entire wheel, still a gorilla; we jumped from car to car, on the sign and framework, until finally, on the roof of a car at the top, I got the green ape into a headlock.

"You think you know her," I taunted, struggling to keep hold of him. "You know nothing! She never even liked you!" He threw me off of him, and I landed on another roof. It had worked. He was overcome with rage, and when you fight while angry, your judgment lacks, and you nearly always lose. Then, Terra came into view, flying towards Beast Boy on a rock.

"Beast Boy, come on!" she yelled, reaching out her hand to help him. Damn it, Terra! Beast Boy turned to look behind me, just as the wheel rotated and put me back in his eye line. He turned into an orangutan, and leapt, screeching, across the gap between us. His impact onto the car caused me to fly off onto another roof. I quickly hopped into the framework, Beast Boy following close behind. Finally, after some struggling, I managed to pin him down. He was back in human form.

"Terra!" he yelled, desperate to get away. Terra began to yell, and then, far below us, a huge crack appeared below the Ferris-wheel. She's going to bring this thing crashing down. The supports started to buckle.

"Beast Boy! Fly!" she yelled, straining to control the collision. He didn't need to be told twice. He changed into a bird and was gone before I could stop him. I glared at her in shock and anger.

"Terra, NO!" I yelled at her, hoping she would at least stop the wheel from falling now that she had her precious boyfriend back. She gave me a look of fear, but she did not stop her attack. The Ferris-wheel began to fall. I waited until the very last second, then jumped off the wheel, landing in a painful crouch. I looked up in time to see the two of them rush into the House of Mirrors.

Terra's betrayal seems to have been directed at the wrong person. I will remedy that, and she will pay the price.


A/N: Ok, that's all for this chapter, folks. If all goes well, next chapter should be up tomorrow… but I'm not promising anything. Now, next chapter is going to go through both POVs separately.

Major props to my lil' sister, Hannah, who proof-read this chapter for me (and scolded me for making Slade have such a potty mouth) She is nine, after all. Thanks, Hannah!

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