Ch.3

CRASH! The living electronic monstrosity was blown backward by a blast of sonic energy. Both Claude and Control Freak covered themselves as debris rained on top of them.

"Sorry Control Freak," Cyborg announced stepping forward, "but monster plasma screens aren't part of the 20 discount sale!"

The other four titans stepped up from behind him, "Only question here now is, are you going to go down quietly…"

"Or is this going to get loud?" Beast Boy finished, his hands morphing into beast-like talons.

Control Freak snickered and pointed his remote at several samurai cardboard displays; with a push of a button the displays were changed from harmless cardboard into living sentinels of destruction. The newly formed warriors of evil waved their swords threateningly at the titans, the living television shook off Cyborg's blast and rejoined its master.

"Get them!" Control Freak commanded.

In a split second, all of Control Freak's creatures charged for the titans. Robin whipped out his combat staff.

"Titans go!" He shouted.

Claude stood-motionless at first, trying to make sense of what was going on as the two opposing forces collided with unbelievable force. Cyborg chose to drop Control Freak's plasma screen monster, while the others dealt with the cardboard samurai. Shouting curses Control Freak pointed his remote at other electronic appliances. Realizing that he was the only one in the mall, Claude saw the gun store he was looking for and silently crept away from the battling titans towards his destination.

"Is that the best you got?" Cyborg mocked as his metal fists slammed into the enormous television creature.

Snarling the monster used its loose cables like tentacles to whip Cyborg off of his feet, Cyborg was suspended in the air helplessly over the creature's dripping maw before a green T-rex crashed into the creature-completely shattering its screen face. The cables fell lifelessly to the floor and so did Cyborg.

Morphing back into his human form, Beast Boy offered Cyborg his hand.

"You all right?"

"Just peachy." Cyborg muttered taking his hand.

Sport's bag slung over his shoulder, Claude began taking what was in sight: Pistols, shotguns, ammo, and even a few semi-automatic weapons that he could easily convert to full auto. The criminal had what he needed; now it was time to go. Making sure that the titans were occupied with Control Freak, Claude stepped out towards the exit.

A nearby explosion rocked the walkway he was on, and before he knew what was happening Claude plunged from the second floor down to the first. His weapons flew out of his arms during the fall. Claude hit the ground headfirst and the room started spinning, shaking it off, he tried to stand but felt a sharp blade on his throat. One of Control Freak's cardboard samurai held the criminal firmly by his jacket, while another pointed its blade directly at his throat.

"Look's like I won't be going to prison again after all titans!" Control Freak scoffed standing next to his samurai.

"Now that I have a hostage, I'll gut him if don't let me leave!"

Robin and the other titans tensed; there was no way for them to get Claude to safety. If they tried anything, Control Freak would have his throat slit.

"This is about as low as you get," Robin spat at Control Freak, "hiding behind a helpless innocent person so you can escape."

Claude almost laughed, he was anything but innocent. The thief heard approaching police sirens and looked over at his bag of equipment-it was no good, the bag had fallen yards away and even if he did get away from Control Freak the titans or the police would nab him. Claude looked over at the nearby emergency exit-he could get weapons somewhere else, right now he needed to escape.

While Control Freak was babbling on about how insignificant the titans were compared to him, Claude broke away from the first samurai, reaching into his jacket he pulled his handgun from its place in his jacket and quickly pulled the trigger. The other samurai had no time to react before several gunshots tore through its body, completely shredding it. Hearing the gunshots Control Freak turned just in time to see Claude dodge the sword of the first samurai.

"What?" He yelped in surprise.

Moving quickly Claude fired at point blank range, blowing the cardboard samurai's head straight off. Forgetting all about the titans Control Freak realized his grave error in taking his attention way from the one he had captive. Going on the defensive Control Freak aimed his remote control at Claude. BAM! A round smacked into the plastic control, shattering it.

"What have you done?" Control Freak shouted looking down at his ruined controller, "My remote! Without my remote, I'm nothing!"

Snarling, Control Freak swung at Claude in blind fury. Claude easily dodged the first blow, then the second, and countered with a right hook. The titans looked on in growing awe as Claude took on one of Jump City's bad boys. Who was this guy?

"Rarrggh!" Control Freak tried to catch Claude off guard with an uppercut, out of reaction Claude grabbed Control Freak's arm and snapped it in two.

Screaming in pain, Control Freak tried to pull away-but Claude was too strong. The sociopath easily hefted the teen off of his feet and hurled him into the air. Control Freak crashed into a nearby window display and slumped to the ground-out cold. Claude faced the titans, seeing who would make the first move for him.

To his surprise, none of the titans went in for the attack. Instead they stood their ground and looked at him and the fallen Control Freak in a mixture of awe and confusion.

"Guess he wasn't so helpless after all." Raven said finally.

"I don't believe it…he took out Control Freak all by himself." Cyborg added.

"Dude!" Beast Boy said to Claude, "That was the raddest thing I've ever seen!"

"Might he be a hero like ourselves?" Starfire asked Robin.

Robin turned to Claude, "I'm not sure."

Claude felt sweet adrenaline coursing through every muscle in his body; he could make it to the door he just had to move quickly enough. Robin took a step towards the hit man:

"Excuse me-"

BAM! BAM! Claude fired off two rounds from his handgun, Robin ducked to avoid the bullets and Claude took off at full speed. His body slammed into the door at full force, knocking it off its hingesand Claude flew down the flight of stairs down to the underground parking lot.

"Go after him!" Robin ordered.

The titans flew down the stairs to the malls parking to find-nothing. Claude had disappeared without a trace.

"What was that all about?" Robin asked himself.