This chapter's short. And, as you've probably already noticed, this chapter is Freakin' late. I only waited two years to truly update…don't mind me. Here's hoping Slade stays creepy…
Disclaimer: Go ahead, sue me…you can have all my debt.
Slade caught himself drumming his fingers, and folded them calmly behind his back.
He had not expected her to assist the EMT back to the road. This put a speed bump in an otherwise smooth sequence of events.
She would have to be herded back, or simply taken in the open. Either course would require a delicate touch, and perfect control. Plasmus provided both.
They had plowed through more than half of the army by now. The remaining stragglers were fighting one-on-one while the rest stayed back. It wasn't normal. It wasn't tactical. What the hell was going on?
The first explosion sent flame and debris spiraling into the air from the south-most side. Two more explosions followed, throwing Starfire to the ground. Harsh white light flooded the field. The pressure waves tore at the trees, their leaves hissing. One thought ran through everyone's mind; Cyborg.
Star stood, eyes glued to the burning base. Behind her Raven wiped out three droids, orange light glaring across her pale skin. Robin had that look on his face that meant things just got bad.
"Robin, why has Cyborg not returned to assist us in the butt-woop?" Stars eyes were large and questioning. Robin grit his teeth. Cyborg's communicator was still on. He was still alive, but they had to get to him, now. The others could handle it from here.
"Raven, You're with me. Star, Beast Boy…" Robin stopped mid-sentence. The changeling was already in cheetah form, tearing across the field in the opposite direction. "What the…"
"Plasmus!" Star pointed past BB to where Amber was wrestling her way out of the oozy, purple blob that had her pinned to the ground.
"Robin!" Raven's cry hung suspended in the air as Robin turned.
Plasmus seemed to contemplate the girl for a second (if the pause in drooling could be misconstrued as a thoughtful expression). His two massive, trunk-like arms spread wide, as if preparing to scoop her up into a bear hug…which was, most likely, what he was about to do.
She didn't know what she was thinking, or if she was thinking. Amber didn't think to dodge or to run. That would have been too easy. Instead, she made a dive between Plasmus' legs. Plasmus sat down.
All of the air slammed from her lungs as the wet weight crushed her into to ground. Amber recovered her breath, digging her fingers into the mud, trying to extricate her lower half. The ooze traveled up her back, over her shoulders. Amber panicked and redoubled her struggle, growling in frustration as she was finally submerged.
Blackness. Blackness and silence and warmth overtook her. She continued twisting and fighting until she couldn't hold her breath anymore. She exhaled, feeling the strength leave her limbs. Slowly, she let the silence close in; let the faint thump of her heartbeat fill her head.
But, it wasn't her heartbeat. In the back of her mind she felt the familiar presence of something human…human….
Pouring rain, thunder, flashing lights, and air flew back to her in a whirlwind of senses. She rolled over, coughing and spitting and gagging. Shaking slightly she lifted her head, and was greeted with the image of Plasmus locked in the jaws of a green tyrannosaurus. Twisted metal remains littered the ground where the robots used to be.
In a great, sinuous shift of weight Beast Boy sent the slimy mass careening into a stand of trees, smearing ooze trail to his final stopping place. BB's steely eyes turned watery, making him look almost kittenish, as he turned human.
"EEEWWWWW," BB squealed, sticking out his unnaturally long tongue and scraping at it for all he was worth. The move was so undeniably Beast Boy.
Her strength returning, she got unsteadily to her feet. Beast Boy stopped moaning long enough to glare.
"What were you thinking?! That never works…not even in the movies!" BB's voice broke while he waved his arms around to enhance his point.
"That thing's human!" Amber's voice was airy as she contemplated the implications.
Beast Boy fixed her with a soggy, blank look that clearly said, 'the point being?' A long globular arm shot from the trees, slamming BB full in the side. His body carried several yards before coming to a grinding halt.
Amber suppressed the urge to run to his side like some lost damsel. The sound of splintering wood and a raging howl announced Plasmus' return to consciousness.
Plasmus jerked around like a wounded animal looking for its attacker. His bulgy green eyes locked with hers. He spasmed, then went still. The eerie sense that Plasmus was two different entities passed through her mind briefly. Then Plasmus charged.
She watched in slow motion as he neared, raised a large septic fist, and brought it down. She jumped back; spinning away from the impact while the creature skidded past into a stop.
Amber hadn't even regained her footing when tentacle-like extensions snapped her from the air like a fly, and she was swallowed into darkness again.
With his control, Plasmus was a smart, powerful precision instrument. He could rip apart mountainsides, eat through steal, and render a hostage completely unconscious while he monitored her vitals, and kept her alive. A very flexible weapon indeed.
He watched, waiting for her blood pressure to drop, signaling unconsciousness. He waited for all of his gauges and monitors and instruments to tell him the target was neutralized, and plans could move forward. Then, simultaneously, they all went blank.
A/N: Yeeeeah, well...there it is. Next one will be longer. I'll get in the habit...really.