A/N: Hello everyone first off the usual disclaimer that I don't own the Titans or any other character. Second I would like to thank everyone for their reviews, one of the questions would be if I was going to introduce a sith character I can absolutely say... I don't know at this point. Also some serious shit is going to happen in this one so sit back and enjoy the ride.
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Chapter 7: And a dash of the Dark Side
Richard's Room
As the first light of day stretched into the room Raven started to wake up and found herself alone in Richard's bed. Quickly looking around the room for her lover Raven decided that he must be on the roof and went to make herself a cup of tea before going to see him. Unknown to her Richard wasn't on the roof he was in his 'room' going through the videos that are there.
Watching himself telling the camera about the villains that he had dealt with and all of the other emotional stuff that he felt he could never revel to the others was starting to get to him. Richard started to feel the darkness gathering in himself and a twinge in his right arm was coming back. Looking at his right arm he thought to himself, ' Master Skywalker called it force lightning but it didn't look like any lightning that I had seen before, but he also said that it would very from person to person so it could be the same thing.' Life was defiantly getting more interesting with his memories back. However he was still having problems with the memories clashing on certain points like what happened last night with Raven. His feelings for Raven were clear, he loves her, but there is also the matter with Yaegashi, he loves her too and the strain was putting his head in the meat grinder. At this point he could sense that Raven had woken up and gone to the kitchen for her usual cup of tea and decided to join her.
Exiting out of a secret passageway he built Richard emerged in the rec room from behind the wall facing the kitchen part. As Richard stepped out of the doorway he noticed that Raven was dancing around the kitchen obviously listening to some song that is in her head. Richard decided to play a prank on her and snuck up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. As he leans his head to her right ear he whispers into her ear, " Well good morning Raven, sleep well?"
Raven was shocked to have Richard's arms wrapped around her waist but found it very pleasant. She turns her head slightly and answers, " The sleeping was great but the empty bed left something to be desired."
Switching to a more 'official' voice he told her, " Raven I have something I need to tell you," he paused as to find the right word for what he was trying to say, " what happened last night can't go on until I tell you this ok?"
" What is it?" she asked looking worried, " don't tell me you have some kind of decease do you?" she joked.
" No it's about Yaegashi," he said.
" What about her you said that she was on of your close friends at the academy so what does that have to do with us?"
" Well she isn't just a friend Rae, we were involved."
Raven looking like she had just been told that Robin had just died again she realized what he meant. " Oh, you never said you had a lover at the academy. Why didn't you tell me about this? I can't believe I did that to you when you already have someone. So it wasn't your first time then?"
" No it was my first time, Yaegashi and I never got physically involved any more than heavy petting, last night was my first time Rae."
" So, I don't see the problem, you're here and she's over there." Raven said
" She'll come looking for me I know it. It doesn't matter if I'm here or there she will find a way to get to me and when she does I know she'll want to take me back to the academy." Richard said looking at the floor.
" NO!" Raven shouted, " You belong here and you are not leaving no matter what. I don't care if what I have to do to stop this. If I have to fight her I will, you will not go away again. You can't do it to me again I wouldn't be able to take it." She started to go into sobbing. Leaning on him Raven looked into his eyes through the tears.
Looking down at her Richard could feel the sadness coming from her and new that no matter what he did she would stick by him to the end of the world and through hell after that. ' It's kind of funny. Even with my memories missing I fall in love with the same type of girl. Funny how the mind works.' Richard said to himself.
Richard stood in the kitchen holding Raven for a few minutes. When he let go of her they started to make breakfast. After breakfast Richard decided he needed to start physical training again while Raven reported to the Watch Tower to report in. So as Richard was hitting the punching bag the siren went off. He immediately went to the closest monitor to see what was the trouble. Looking at the screen old nightmares started to rise in him as he saw a security feed from a warehouse, in the warehouse the all to familiar look of Slade popped up on the screen.
" Well Robin how nice to see you after all these years." Slade said in his icy voice.
" What do you want Slade I thought you would have given up the masked look and life of crime when you thought I was dead. Why the sudden change? Don't tell me you've come out of retirement on my account." Richard mocked.
" Why my dear Robin you wound me. To think that I spent that time training you as my apprentice and you still never learned any manners, well. Let us discuess this in privet shall we."
" When and where Slade and you know I will be there." Richard said as clam as possible.
Slade just chuckled and said, " I think for a reunion of this kind we meet at the old factory that served as your apprenticeship would be most suiting. Don't you agree?"
" Fine I'll be there. When?"
" Well as fast as you can, I'm already here," as the screen expands to show an empty warehouse.
Knowing the way Richard set out for the warehouse. He knew this was a trap but he went anyway, in his experiences over the last eight years had prepared him for anything and with his memories recovered he knew how Slade worked so he was amply prepared.
Back at the tower Richard left Raven a note telling him where he went and for her not to come looking for him, that he would be fine. Richard thought about it and realized that if he didn't end this quickly that Raven would come looking for him and would end up getting in his way, but he felt sorry for running out on her so he left the note.
When he arrived at the warehouse Richard walked through the side door into the main room. The room was completely empty except for him and what looked like Slade. Richard knew at once that this was not Slade; he didn't feel a live presents in him so it had to be one of his android duplicates. Using his force push he threw that fake Slade against a far wall and called out, " ok Slade I'm here now come out and we can have that little chat." Richard was answered by a fleet of Slade bots appearing along the walls and in the rafters. Looking around Richard just thought, ' this is going to be easier than I thought.' And immediately went into action clearing the room with his improved Bo staff. He didn't want to reveal to Slade just what he could do he wanted to keep it a surprise. Once he cleared the room the real Slade walked out from the shadow that he had been watching the action from.
" Bravo Robin; I must congratulate you for improving so much. You didn't even try did you? Well I must say Raven was right about you." The icy voice said.
" What do you mean Raven told you?" Richard asked feeling a bit scared for her and rage building up in him like an electrical charge.
" Why my dear boy since she left your company this morning her and I have been having a long and interesting chat about you. Although I must say that I did most of the talking all she would tell me is that you came back and were stronger than before so I was curious as to what it could be." Richard couldn't tell is he known that Slade was smiling under the black and copper mask. The rage that was building up had reached its peak and to anyone watching this knew that all hell was about to break loose.
Tilting his head down Richard looked up though his bangs at Slade as he motioned to Raven, chained to a wall her cloths were torn and she was bleeding. She was slowly waking up and as she looked at Richard she felt what he was feeling for the first time since he came back. The pure hatred of Slade had taken its toll on him and it was going to end now. Using his force speed he was upon Slade before even Slade knew it. Richard just looked at the one eye the mask was revealing and smiled.
" I am going to stop you Slade and there is nothing that you can do to stop me this time." Was all Richard said just before he punched Slade to the floor and kicked him across the room.
Slade was taken aback by this, ' I had no idea that he had become this powerful. Although he isn't the only one who has been training.' Slade thought as he got back up and into a fighting stance. Reaching into his belt Slade pulls out his own retractable Bo staff and waits for Richard's next move.
Deciding to up the stakes a bit Richard puts his Bo staff away and brings out his light saber not activating it. Slade tilts his head slightly wondering what that object was as he charges him. Once Slade was close enough Richard activated the light saber, a quick slash and he went through Slade's Bo staff like it wasn't even there and pointed the tip at Slade's forehead.
" Did you really think you could beat me with out hearing what I could all to or what I had." Richard said. With Slade just standing there Richard force pushed him away from him. Walking over to Slade's prone form Richard picked him up with the force and began to choke him. Slade was now hanging in mid air and looked like he was being hung with an invisible rope. All the hatred that had been bottled up over the years were coming out in a violent streak that there seemed to be no end to.
" NO RICHARD YOU CAN'T DO THAT," Raven screamed as she held herself up against the doorframe.
Richard released his grip on Slade and he fell to the floor coughing as air once again filled his lungs.
" Raven he tortured you and you don't want him to die for it. I'm sorry but he will not live through this." Richard said.
" No Richard he will be taken into custody and will be judged the proper way." Raven answered him as she walked closer to him.
At this point Slade regained enough strength to launch a surprise attack while Richard was distracted. Richard however sensed it coming and quickly side stepped it bringing out his light saber once again and with a quick downward slash removed Slade's head form his shoulders.
Shocked at what had just happened Raven looked at Richard who was slopped over breathing hard then standing up strait looking at Raven, putting the light saber away. " He was attacking me Rae I didn't have a choice it was either him or me." And he went over to see what the damage the now dead psychopath had done to her. " Can you still heal yourself?" he asked.
" Yes it will just take a little time. I should really contact the Justice League and tell them about this. Are you ok Richard?'
He put his arms around her waist, holding her, " You should heal your self then we will talk about me." And he left the warehouse and headed to the tower. With Slade gone a chapter in Richard's life has ended. With the departure of Slade the rage that he held disappeared as if a weight lifted off his shoulders. But along with this new freedom come the thought that he had just killed a man with his own hands. In all the missions that Richard did for the academy he never had killed anyone even in self-defense. He might have cut off and arm or hand but never killed anyone. A feeling of guilt swept over the death of anyone even one of his worst enemies just seems wrong. Shaking the feeling off he headed back to the tower and wait for the others to contact him
Yavin 4: Yaegashi's room
" Ha I think I found it." Yaegashi said.
" What is it Yaegashi?" asked Garack, " What have you found."
" Look at this," she gathered all of them around her, " Look at this Richard theorized that the anomaly creates an specific energy pattern, and that the energy pattern gives off a unique signature. Now he was building a scanning device to read those energy patterns now he never got around to finishing it but I know that we can complete it. First we need to finish the scanner and then we can find Richard. So are we all in agreement?"
" Yeah, Richard still owes me 37 credits from that game of his, what did he call it, poker?" said James.
" Yeah, what James said we all miss him Yaegi. Now what do we all need for this scanner and then we go get him and drag his ass back here," said Fong.
So as the six of them started to complete the energy scanner that Richard had started Yaegashi couldn't help but think, ' that ass hole he told me that he would never go away to find his past. That is one thing I'm going to have to talk to him about when I find him.'
As the weeks went on they couldn't quite find all the parts they needed for the machine but they managed to complete it. " Master Skywalker I think we have completed the scanner that Richard started before and I with to find him and bring him back." Yaegashi said to Luke.
" Yes and I have arranged transportation for you now if you will take the shuttle in the hanger it has two hyper drive engines just incase one brakes down, also there is an astro droid for any other repairs that you have. Now I wish you all the luck and may the force be with you."
With that Yaegashi left and ran to the hanger to install the new scanner and find Richard. The others were there to see her off as she went to find Richard. Heading to the last known coordinates she activated the anomaly scanner trying to find the energy trail that it was suppose to leave. By luck would have it she found the energy trail and plotted a course to an unknown part of space. Engaging her hyper drive she shot off into space determined to find the man she loves.
Earth: Richards's apartment
It had been a couple of months after the Slade incident and Richard decided to try and live with all that had happened. He took up Victor's offer and decided to work at Stone Tech. for a little bit in the research and development department to see what that was like. Richard was having problems with it though; everyone was wondering where he learned this stuff and trying to explain it to anyone sounded crazy so after a month he told Victor that he had to go. Victor took it hard but understood that Richard needed time to find his place in the world again and it wasn't happening in an office. With some cash the he found around the Tower Richard set himself up in an apartment. Richard and Raven were still seeing each other but it was a little more distant than the night after Victor's dinner. They would spend a lot of time together but they took things a bit slower since they felt that there was no rush.
Richard spending a lot of time looking for something to do in his spare time, jobs were out of the question since for the last eight years anything that happened he wouldn't be able to put into a reference or anything. So one night when the group got together except for Starfire because she had to go back and rule the planet. Raven asked, " Well if you can't find anything why don't you join up with the Justice League?"
" And what be like you and the elf you guy save the world, something I haven't done it over eight years. That's like asking Victor over there to join up." Richard said.
" Well what are you going to do for the rest of your live then Richard? From what you have told us a Jedi protect and keep order now that is what the League is all about," Raven argued.
" Ok let me think about this for a couple of days, in the meantime is there any more roast beef?"
Dinner went on for a while longer and as it broke up Richard went outside to get some air; Raven followed him to talk more in privet.
" Why do you really want me to join the League Raven? Is it because you want to be close to me, or is it you want to keep an eye on me so I don't go away again?" Richard asked.
" I want you to join the League because I think it is the one place the you would view as home." Was her reply.
" Your lying again, why don't you ever come out an tell me the truth right away, you always think that I'm going to go away and never come back. Are you that afraid of being alone Raven?"
" Yes I am the night you left me the first time the shock of it was to much to take and when I woke up at first it felt like you never left and I actually ran to your door to talk about it as if it were a bad dream, but then you weren't there, so I went to the training room and you weren't there either, so I went to the roof, the evidence room, the kitchen, but you weren't anywhere and for the first time I realized that you were gone and it destroyed me and the team. We managed to pull it together but it was never the same," she paused breathing heavily realizing that she hadn't taken a breath. Looking at him she felt weak and started to lean into him. He caught her and moved them both over to some chairs that were on the porch. Regaining her composure she continued. " It was horrible at first but we started to work again but we all felt like there was a huge hole in our hearts that could never be filled. Do you understand how much we needed you? You were what kept us together from the start and with you gone we didn't even last three years." She was going to say something else when Richard interrupted her.
" You think it was any easier for me? I lived EIGHT YEARS with out my past Raven eight years without knowing who I really was, what I was like, how my parents were or if I had any friends. Do you really think you had it bad? Fate dropped my ass off in some unknown galaxy with noting but a name. How do you think I felt thought that Raven? I was scared out of my mind, and once I had friends I actually told them that I would stay as long as I had the power and I spent my time in a library looking for ways to leave. I had a girlfriend whom I told her that I would stay with and I did everything in my power to leave. For eight years I spent lying to the only people that seemed to give a damn about me and loved me. Trust me Raven every time I remembered something I went into blinding pain at the sheer thought of leaving them when I knew it would happen and when I saw you in my meditation it hurt even more because I knew you and new I loved you but still couldn't know why it tore me apart and now I stand before you the raged man that your eyes behold, not your memory or the person that I had been for those eight years." At this all Raven could do was watch as the man she loves start to break down before her eyes. She wrapped him in a hug as they sat there in silence.
Earth: space around the Watch Tower
Richard finally decided to try working for the Justice League and found it satisfying work. It looked like he would be a Jedi here after all but it still felt odd not dealing with people other than humans. Richard sat in the mess hall looking out into space when he saw something appear to be coming through the asteroid belt. Quickly exiting the mess hall and making his way to a science station Richard directed some sensors to the coordinates that he say the object coming from. What he found shocked him, magnifying the image that was coming up there was no mistaking it; it was a republic shuttle and he could only guess that one person could be on it. Staring at the screen he whispered, " Yaegashi. Has to be her." Once exiting the science station he made his way down to the landing platform. The docking operators said there was an unknown craft requesting to dock when he arrived.
" Get that ship in here," Richard yelled at them
" Yes sir, transmitting docking procedures now." One of the men said.
As the shuttle came into the hanger Richard noticed that one of the engines was in poor shape and there was some scarring on the hull. The back ramp started to open up as a women came staggering down the ramp she wore robes simulator to Richard's. It was Yaegashi. Richard was looking over the ship and she didn't see him on the other side by the cockpit.
" Lets see, hay you," she pointed to one of the guys working on a damaged javelin.
" Yeah what do you want, can't you see we're a little busy right now?" the man replied.
" Yes I was just wondering who is in charge I need to speak to someone about finding a certain person." Yaegashi said.
" Well you would have to go to the transportation room and talk to Ja'nn he's the only one working the night shift right now."
" Thank you, how do I get there I don't know the way?" she asked.
" Just follow the signs that point to the control room."
" Ok thank you again."
As she left the hanger and made her way to the control room Richard made his way back around the ship, " How did she get here" he whispered to himself when the felt Raven's teleportation wrapping around him and transporting him to her room.
" I thought we said to have dinner at 8:00 not 8:45 Richard now what were you doing?" Raven asked.
" Raven something has come up. The Watch Tower just took in a Republic shuttle craft, and I know who the pilot is."
" Wait Republic as in the galactic Republic on Coruscant?" she raised her eyebrow.
" The same one Rae. Look the pilot is Yaegashi Rae. Please don't go looking for her, wait till I can talk to her." Richard said as his communicator went off. It was Ja'nn requesting his presents in the control room. Leaving Raven in her room Richard made his way to the control room. But when he reached it he found that Raven had teleported herself there to have a look at this Yaegashi that she had heard so much about.
" Raven what are you doing!" Richard yelled.
As both women looked in his direction Raven had a look of apology on her face while Yaegashi's expression was quite the opposite, her jaw had dropped and her eyes were wide.
" RICHARD I FOUND YOU!" she screamed and lunged at him pulling him into a bone crunching hug.
" Yaegashi what the hell are you doing here?" he questioned.
" Well that is a nice way to great your girlfriend," at that comment Raven started to glow with black energy, " I come all this way to get you and all you can say is what I'm doing here. Now come one once we repair the ship we can go back home."
" WAIT ONE MINUTE YOU HUSSIE!" this time it was Raven that was shouting, " I don't think your taking Richard anywhere missy."
" Raven would you please calm down." Richard leered at her.
" Richard how do you know her?" Yaegashi asked.
" Okay let me introduce you two," Looking for one to the other each had the look that he was going to introduce her first, " Raven this is Yaegashi, Yaegashi this is Raven."
" Oh so tell me Richard how do you know her from?" Yaegi asked looking skeptical.
" Um for that I think we should talk alone for a bit Yaegi there is a lot to say. Raven will you give me 10 minutes please?" he asked.
" Sure but Robin," she still called him that as a pet name, " you know we'll have to talk about this later."
" Sure Raven I'll talk to you later." He said with a look of desperation on his face.
As Richard walked Yaegashi over to a secluded spot where they could sit and talk she was the first to ask the questions.
" Richard who was that? Why does she call you Robin? What are you doing here and why didn't you tell me you were planning on tracking the anomaly before you disappeared? What is this place?"
A little overwhelmed by all the questions although he knew they were coming the answered them one by one. " First her name is Raven. Second she called me Robin because that is what my name was. Thirdly I'm here because the anomaly brought me here and I didn't tell you because I knew it would make you upset. And lastly this place is called the Watch Tower it orbits a planet called earth and it serves as a base of operations for a group of protectors called the Justice League." He said taking a brief pause then continuing on, " Now tell me what are you doing here with a Republic shuttle and how did you find me?"
" Well I'm here to get you and bring you back. As for the shuttle Master Skywalker let me take it, you know he's more worried about what happened to you than almost anyone else. And I found you because of the scanner that you started to build, the others and me finished it and I used it to find you. Now back to me," she took a deep breath, " What are you doing here I thought you would be trying to find a way back but I see that with that Raven you would be a little distracted."
' I knew this would happen,' Richard thought, " Listen Yaegi there is something you need to understand. This planet Earth is where I'm from. Yaegashi I got my memory back."
" You mean that this is where you're from Richard?" she said looking shocked, " I had no idea it didn't even come to mind that you would be from a place like this. There technology seems so underdeveloped I would have never guessed it, so we really need to get working on the shuttle if were going to get back to the Academy it took me months to get here. But now we have the coordinates so we can come back at any time so you can visit now lets get working." She said and got up from the table and started to walk down to the hanger when Richard stopped her.
" What if I don't want to go back?" he stated.
Stopping in her tracks she turned around, " What do you mean? You wouldn't want to go home with me. Richard you told me once that we would be together when you knew who you were, now you do, now we can be together."
Raven was watching the conversation with a growing smile on her face. Richard wasn't going anywhere and it made it sweeter that the blue floozy was going to go home empty handed when Richard spoke next.
" Raven stop hiding I know you're listening, come on out." Richard said.
Pouting Raven appeared from the shadows with her hood up slowly levitating over to where Richard was sitting. " How long did you know I was there?"
" The whole time first I tell you now to talk to Yaegashi before I do and then you can't respect my privacy, what has gotten into you Rae?" Richard looked annoyed while saying this. While Yaegashi looked shocked at what was happening before her. Here her boyfriend was talking to this girl who she was suspecting of trying to steal him away form her and she didn't know what was going on.
" Okay Richard what is really going on here and I mean now!" Yaegashi said.
" Okay lets all sit down and talk about this. I will tell you everything about myself and what is all going on." Richard said motioning to an empty chair at the table.
Yaegashi sat down and Richard began to explain about his past and what happened when he came to the academy. The story brought her to when he came back to earth when she spoke up.
" So all this time you were some costumed crime fighter and you never knew it? Yaegi asked.
" Yep and now that you know about me do you see why I feel that I need to stay here?"
" No I don't what happens to one planet is the inhabitants problem for small issues like these not for a Jedi Masters like us. Now when the shuttle is finished with it's repairs we're going back to the academy do you understand me Richard I'm bringing you back no matter what." Yaegashi said wit all the determination she had.
" That is for me to decide Yaegashi, the academy was my home because I didn't know where mine was now I do and I remember I had responsibilities here long before I met you and the others so don't talk to me about what I have to do." At this point Richard looked furious. It was as if the force was flowing off him into a whirlwind. After regaining his composure Richard sat back down. Raven tried to keep the smile off her face but it wasn't working and Yaegashi shot her an evil look.
" You're the cause of all of this aren't you," she pointed at Raven, " don't you see Richard she's turned you into something your not. What have you done to him?" Yaegashi was starting to scream at her.
" I didn't do anything to him I was in love with him since I was 15 years old and that has never changed. When Richard came back I made him understand how I felt." Raven said with almost a sadistic smile on her face.
" Is-is that true Richard? Has she put the moves on you?" she asked not believing he would do anything with this woman.
" It is true Yaegi. Raven and I are involved and we were getting that way before I arrived at the academy. But that doesn't mean I don't have feelings for you too." He said trying to break it as best he could.
Tears began to build up in Yaegashi's eyes and she stalked off towards the hanger to start repairs on the ship. Meanwhile Richard turned to Raven looking like he was going to put her in a world of hurt. " What is your deal Rae first I tell you I want to talk to her first and I find you having a cat fight, then I ask you to let us talk alone and you eardrop, then telling her were involved like that what is the matter with you?"
" I'm sorry Richard it's just that when she mentioned taking you back to that academy I just snapped, I couldn't let her do that so I did everything I could to stop it. I told you last night that I wasn't going to let anything take you away and I'm living up to it." She said folding her arms across her chest in a look of defiance. Not knowing what to say Richard went down to another hanger and talked with R4. He usually did this when he had a problem. It felt good expressing himself to the little droid and getting a logical response most of the time. But when he got down there he found Yaegashi talking to the little droid.
" What did I do wrong R4 you know him best now what do I have to do to make him understand that I love him and we need him back at the academy?"
At this the little droid rocked back and forth whistling and beeping in response.
" But I did tell him that. I told him that I love him." She said when the droid interrupted her and she looked over her shoulder to see him staring at her. A little embarrassed she walked over to him.
" Listen Richard I want to say this once. I love you. I'll always love you and there is nothing that little bitch can do or say to change that."
" Listen Yaegashi, Raven is not a bitch, you don't know the first thing about her so you can't judge. Secondly I know I have to go back to the academy so stop pressuring me. I just need time, you have no idea what it's like for me, and I feel like I'm being pulled in a million different directions so just back off ok!"
Looking like she'd just been slapped across the face, " I'm-I'm s-sorry Richard, I didn't know. You seem like a different person now," she couldn't help but be angry and Raven right now, ' she must have done something to him', "Why don't we take a few days and you can show me this planet of yours." She said with a smile.
" Ok tomorrow we'll go down planet side and I'll show you where I grew up." Richard said, ' finally she's calmed down about this whole thing.'
" Oh and don't think that I've forgotten that capped floozy, you and I are going to have a talk about that." And she walked away for the shuttle.
' Well at least it can't get any worse.' Richard thought. And he was once again proven horribly, horribly wrong.
As the next day came Richard made his way down to the hanger he kept getting stopped by it seemed everyone one the station about the new arrival. A couple of the other heroes asked if she was even available to which Richard reminded them that she could kick there asses without trying. When he finally reached the hanger Yaegashi had the shuttle ready for take off. Richard took the controls and they went down to the planet. On the way down Richard noticed that Yaegashi kept looking at him and when he would question her on it she acted like she wasn't doing anything. It was a weak lie and they both knew it but Richard didn't question her on it.
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A/N: I think I will end it here. I know that this chapter was a little longer than the rest and I hope you enjoyed it. As usual R&R and prepare for the next chapter. Thank you all for reading.