A/N: Oh my god, guys. I am so sorry for the loooooooooooonnng wait. There is no excuse, except maybe school and lack of sleep. But this chapter's nice and long to make up for it. Enjoy!

My reviewers, whom I can't thank enough for their kind comments:

Carolyn Carissa Sydnie: Thank you! I'm glad you like it! Nothing else to say, cuz we talk way too much anyway. Lol.

xThe-Unkwnx: Thanks! I'm really glad that you like it.

TK FoX: Awe, thanks! I'll send you the bit probably after the story ends.

Io Europa 2010: Thank you! Yes, you are a psychic! And yes, Terra is extremely screwed now.

Angela: Thanks. I'm glad you liked it! I changed the bit because I felt the part needed something more. Um, Yasu!

Darkstar Raven: No, don't cry! Thanks! The speech was cut because I couldn't find a way to stick it in there. I may work it into the last chapter somehow, though.

Certified Teen Titan: Awe, thank you! I owe the episode quote to TitansGo-dot-net transcripts. I'm really glad you like it!

Infamous One: Don't worry. Slade POV dominates this chapter. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, don't own it. Blah, blah, blah, don't sue me.


Chapter Fourteen: Control

Warning: This chapter contains violence and cruelty to minors. And the 'B' word, too

Slade POV

I was more furious than I should have been. I was so enraged at myself for failing to realize the Titans had survived, and I took it all out on her. Mind you, she deserved it. I told her to fight, but she ran away anyway. No one defies me.

I reached down and grabbed her by the arm, spun her around and slammed her against the wall. She let out a sharp, pained groan, but it did nothing to stop me. I spun her around again to face me and punched her hard in the face, hearing at least one tooth crack. Tears were filling her eyes now, and she was whimpering on the ground. The wrappings that she wore under the armor were ripping away, leaving bare patches of skin on her legs, arms, and stomach. Delivering a sharp kick to her stomach, I sent her slamming into the wall, where she lay still, face-down.

She struggled to stand up. I walked over to her and hit her across her chest, sending her back to the center of the room.

"You failed me, apprentice," I told her in a cold, calm voice. "I ordered you to eliminate the Titans. You did not." I walked around her as she fought her way to a standing position. "I commanded you to fight, and you ran.

She finally stood, trembling and watching me fiercely. "You can't treat me like this!" she shouted, clearly pissed. The insolent child deserves this.

"Can't I?" I asked in a cool voice, and then hit her again. She tumbled back to the ground, groaning feebly in pain. "I gave you an order, and you failed to complete it. You promised to 'obey my every command,' and you failed. You know what happens to people who defy me." With that, I pulled her up by her mane of blonde hair and punched her hard in the jaw. She clutched her mouth in agonizing pain, and I delivered a kick to her abdomen, hearing one of her ribs crack. She was so frail. That's enough, or else I might accidentally kill her. And disobedient as she was, I wanted her alive.

"I knew I shouldn't have come here!" Terra shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched her stomach. "You're such an asshole!" I just looked at her. Are you really just now figuring that out? "None of the Titans would have done this! No, nobody would've done this! I could have gotten anyone one to help me, and I got the biggest jerk on the planet!"

I glared down at her. "Don't give me that. You're the one who came to me. I just gave you an offer, and you accepted it. You did this to yourself."

I punched her hard in the chest, sending her slamming into the wall. "Besides, who else would have you, my dear?" I asked as she struggled to her feet. "You've done horrible things. Unforgivable things. Where else could you possibly go?"

"Anywhere but here!" She shouted, turning to face me. "I'm sick of fighting, and I'm sick of you!" Well, you opinion doesn't matter; mine does. And I'm not at all sick of you. She grabbed at the breastplate on her suit, trying desperately to get it off. I rolled my eyes. Didn't she listen to anything I said when I gave her the suit? Probably not.

"You'll find that quite impossible,' I said smoothly as she continued to struggle with the breastplate. "Your suit's neural interface has embedded itself into your nervous system. Into your skin." She was beginning to panic. Come on girl, it's not that hard to figure out. Even so, I decided to ease her mind about this 'predicament' she'd found herself in. "It's part of you. And so am I, Terra."

Hearing this, her hands dropped. "No," she said in shock, gaping at me, her eyes wide in fear.

"You chose this life, apprentice," I said coldly, getting tired with her defiance. "It's too late to change your mind now. Far too late." She glared at me, those startling blue eyes scorching with anger.

"But it's not too late for me to walk out the door," she replied stubbornly, and turned to do just that.

Oh hell. Luckily, I had anticipated this long before. "I'm afraid it is, my dear," I said to her retreating back. "You see, you know longer have any control in the matter." And with that, I pushed the small button on my armguard.

I had hoped that I wouldn't have to resort to this. I had learned long ago that an apprentice who serves you willingly provides far better results than the ones who are forced. While designing Terra's suit, I had installed a fail-safe device, just in case she decided to betray me again. The device was programmed to give mealmost allcontrol over her body. Her strength, her agility, her tremendous powers; all would be at my command with a push of the button. She would still have control of her emotions and thinking process, but everything else I had at my disposal. I knew I could never completely trust her loyalty again, but I wasn't about to let that tremendous power get away from me. So, as she walked away, I had no choice. I took control.

She was instantly sent to her knees, sparks of electricity jumping all over the suit. She grunted and groaned in agony, desperately trying to fight me off. Not a chance. However, she was putting up a good fight. It took some time to get her to walk back to me. She used what little physical control she had left to struggle against my intrusion of her body. It was a fruitless attempt, though. The control was a fool-proof device, and there was nothing she could do to stop me. After a minute or so, Terra was finally standing in front of me.

"You promised to fight at my side forever," I said, grasping her chin. She quickly shut her eyes, afraid to look at me. "And that's a promise I intend to make you keep." I grabbed the strip of cloth that covered her forearm and ripped it off, forcing her to look at the damaged skin. "That scar is to remind you that you belong to me. You are mine, Terra, and you better make damn sure that you remember that."

I pushed her away from me, where she landed in a pathetic heap on the ground. She didn't move, but silent tears were running steadily down her cheeks. I walked away, disappointed at her. I had thought that she would be the one. Apparently not. Before rounding the corner, I distinctly heard several sobs coming from behind me.


Why does she have to be so difficult? I threw my cup of tea at the stone wall, shattering the delicate china. Not even Wintergreen's heartwarming tea could comfort me now. Terra, the only person who, besides Wintergreen, I thought would stand by me forever. But no. The ungrateful child has to go and stab me in the back. Again! Why the hell can't I get a decent apprentice?

I walked over to the computer consol, kicking the chair aside. Punching in a few commands, I discovered the Titans had destroyed the last of my robots. What else could go wrong? I slammed my fist into the screen, destroying the evidence of my horrible failure.

Robots could be rebuilt. Cinderblock and the rest could be fixed. But Terra's loyalty to me was now gone for good. And so was my trust for her. Nothing would ever be the same. Eventually, she would figure out that I was her only option if she wanted to survive. I wouldn't have to rely on having complete control of her when that time came. But it could take months, or even years. But I was a patient man, and I knew that one day, she'd thank me for all of this.

I was considerably calmer now, and I walked back out to the main room. There she was, still with tears pouring down like rain. And standing next to her, looking grim and confused, was none other than…

"Beast Boy," In said in a growl that would make a grown man cower. Taking control of her, I forced her to send a wave of rocks straight at him. Not anticipating this sudden intrusion on her body, she put up little resistance.

I stepped forward into the light, my eyes on the boy. "Forgive my apprentice," I said, as he got slowly to his feet. "As usual, she can't seem to control herself." Content that Beast Boy wasn't going to strike just yet, I turned my attention to her. Her back was to me, but she was shaking. So she's frightened. But not nearly frightened enough. "So from now on, I will be controlling her every move."

Once more, I activated the switch. However, this time she put up a tremendous fight against my intrusion. Her brain and body were fighting me with everything she had. Had we been in training, this would have been excellent. But, this was a matter of business, and I wasn't about to let the Titans get away from me again.

Finally, I broke through her mental barrier, and Terra was mine to control. I now felta feeling of dominant controlracing through my own veins. Using tremendous effort, I concentrated on having her shoot an assortment of rocks at the changeling. I managed it, but it was incredibly difficult. I owe her more credit. This is tough work. Beast Boy managed to avoid the onslaught by changing into a hawk and swooping away. He was now heading straight at me as a wolf. Summoning more power, I had her send a huge boulder smashing into him, knocking him to the ground.

I turned my attention back to Terra. The control I had on her suit still gave her some minimal control of her body. Now, she was walking toward Beast Boy. She had no emotion at all on her face, but those deep blue eyes betrayed her feelings of helplessness and fear.

Beast Boy got up into a sitting position, glaring at me fiercely. "What have you done to her?" he yelled, obviously referring to this 'new' Terra. I did nothing. This was her doing.

"Nothing she didn't want me to," I replied smoothly, keeping an eye on Terra, who had now stopped, her back to me. At any time, she could unexpectedly resume the power struggle. "Terra came to me seeking control, and that's precisely what I've given her. My control, her body." Beast Boy's face contorted with rage. You teenagers with your sick minds these days! Still, it probably wasn't the best choice of words. I rose my hand, and Terra did the same at my command. "I think you'll find I make far better use of her power."

Terra and I made the stones surrounding the boy fly up in the air and slam toward him, but he avoided it by turning into a rat and jumping out of the way. He scampered toward us. Getting used to the control, I raised both my hands, as did she, and a large piece of the floor rose up under Beast Boy and shot him up at the ceiling. At the last second, he jumped and changed into a rhinoceros as he fell, right above where Terra stood. Thinking quickly, I made her lower down into the ground, and then rise up on a column a few yards away. I shaped the column she was on into a deadly point at the end, and she shot off to spear the boy. Turning into a huge snake, he avoided that, too. How do you defeat this kid?

Then without my doing anything, a stone hand shot up from the ground and seized the snake. Shocked, I looked around at Terra, who was staring at her hands in pure shock.

"That's my good little girl," I purred, pleased with what she had done. Whether done consciously or not, it was still a step in the right direction for winning my trust and approval.

But, Beast Boy changed into a gorilla and managed to get out of his stone prison, and he lunged at Terra. Before she or I could stop him, he knocked her off the column and pinned her to the ground.

"You have to stop me, Beast Boy," I heard her say. Apparently, she has the power of speech as well. "Please, I don't wanna fight anymore!" Well you better get over it, missy, because you're not finished yet.

"Then don't let Slade control you anymore!" he yelled back in his human form.

She bowed her head. "I have no choice."

"That's a lie!" Beast Boy yelled, frustrated. "You've always had a choice!" No! Don't tell her that!

I took control again, and with of howl of rage at the Changeling, which she echoed involuntarily, I made her shoot up two thin columns of rock straight up from under his body and shot him flying through the air. He tumbled into the wall, and then slowly got to his feet.

"It's all been your choice," he said, walking over to her. 'You chose to work for Slade," True "chose to betray us," Very true, "and now you've chosen to give him control!" Actually no, that was my choice. He had reached her now. Her head was hung, and her hair was falling around her face. "Slade's not doing this, Terra! You are!" Stop it! She may get ideas!

Her face contorted with rage. "NO!" she yelled sharply, and the floor around her sunk several yards down. She's doing this on her own. Beast Boy changed into a hawk and managed to get out of the hole. He landed in human form, but she made his landing spot buckle as well, causing him to stumble. But, he changed into a wolf and set off running.

Feeling some doubt, I took control of Terra again. I made her bring a large part of the ceiling smashing down. It hithim, but a cloud of dust blocked him from view. I glanced up at Terra to see her trembling in fear, horrified at what I might have just made her do. I heard a yelp from where Beast Boy lay. The dust cleared, and I saw that his back leg was trapped beneath the piece of ceiling. She let out a loud gasp as she saw him.

"Very good, my dear," I said, knowing full well that she hadn't meant any of it. "Now, shall we finish him off?" It was a command, not a question. I forced her to walk forward toward Beast Boy, who was back in human form, struggling desperately to get his leg free. You idiot! Turn into something that doesn't have legs, and you won't be trapped! Terra had told me he was a bit dim, but still!

He looked up in fear as I had her raise her arm, preparing to strike. "Terra, no," he said desperately.

"He's too powerful," she replied, still struggling fruitlessly against my control. "I can't stop him!"

"Yes you can!" he said earnestly. Quit telling her that! "You can still do the right thing!" You're walking on the knife's edge, boy. And a flick of my wrist is all it would take for you to fall.

"It's too late," Terra replied, defeated. Good girl. I had her make the sheets of rock around Beast Boy form into a pointed missile, just like the one I'd made her use earlier. She struggled against me as I tried to make her send it crashing down. The pressure we were both excerting was enormous. Finally, the rock came down, but stopped again as she fought harder. And then, the immense pressure on the suit caused my control on her to break. I watched her face closely, but she showed no sign of noticing.

"STOP!" yelled a voice I instantly recognized as Robin. He came swinging in from the rafters, headed straight for her.

It was all up to her, now. "Strike, apprentice! Now!" I yelled, forcing myself to remain calm. Robin landed, exploding discs out and ready. Cyborg stepped up from behind him.

"Terra! No!" Robin yelled as Starfire flew in as well. Raven stepped out from the shadows, eyes glowing, and hands encased in black energy.

How did they get in here, anyway? "It'll be the last thing you ever do,"Raven said coldly. Cyborg had his sonic-cannon out and pointed at Terra, and Starfire's hands were glowing green, indicating starbolts. This is getting out of hand.

"I gave you an order!" I shouted at her harshly. "Do it!"

"Please, Terra, no!" came Starfire's desperate plea.

"Don't do it!" Cyborg yelled. "Don't do it!"

Come on, Terra. Don't dissapoint me. (a/n: Say bye-bye to Slade POV)


Terra POV

Everything was a blur. I could hear Slade and the Titans shouting at me, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. The only thing I was focusing on was the green boy kneeling in front of me, desperate for me to spare him. He wasn't looking at me with hate and disgust like the others. His face only showed gentleness and understanding.

"It's your life, Terra," he said softly. "Your choice. It's never too late to change."

I looked down at him, drinking in his words like a fine wine. He's right… I don't have to do this. I don't have to take all this crap from Slade. It's my power, and I have control over it!

"Sorry, Beast Boy," I said in a heartfelt, honest voice. "For everything I've done."

Focusing all my energy on the rock, I turned it and sent it rushing straight at Slade. He managed to avoid actual contact with the projectile, but the shock wave threw him off balance and sent him stumbling backwards. I rushed at him. I'm gonna beat the living hell outta him after all the stuff he's put me through!

I opened up a big crack right under where he stood, but he managed to leap out of the way and land on a pile of metal plank-things. I floated up on a rock and made the base of the pile collapse, sending all the metal falling down. Slade landed on his backside, but quickly, and obviously painfully, he got to his feet.

I lowered down on my rock near where he stood. "Tell me, Slade," I began icily, glaring daggers at him. "How does it feel, when you get struck to the ground?"

His eye narrowed. "You ungrateful little bitch!" He rushed at me. I stood my ground, and rose a large column up from the ground beneath his feet. It made him fall to his knees at my feet. He glared up at me. "I taught you everything you know, and this is how you decide to repay me? This is low even for my standards!" Don't give me that bull.

I began pelting him with all the rocks I could see. I hit him wherever he wasn't armored, and he let out a grunt at every hit. I was slowly, but surely, backing him to the ledge, where there was a 100 foot drop. Finally, he fell, screaming. I slowly approached the edge, peering down into the dark depths. I saw nothing. He's gone.

Then, before I knew what happened, I blacked out. What felt like hours later, I came around and instantly realized something, or someone, was holding me up. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Slade. This ends NOW! I summoned all my power, feeling my hair blowing, and my eyes were glowing as well.

"You can't control me anymore!" I shouted in a dark, deadly voice. I finished powering up, and concentrated on nothing but sending this bastard back to hell where he belonged. There was a blinding flash of light, the sounds of rock crumbling, and then nothing. I suddenly extremely weak, and I instantly sank to my knees.

Only one thought was processing in my brain. I did it. I've defeated Slade. And now I'm in control.


A/N: This is NOT the end. There is one more chapter left, and then that'll be all. Now, go and review! The more reviews I get, the faster the update!