Chapter 6: A Call in the Night
Robin carefully maneuvered the T-car through the darkened streets towards the university. Raven rode shotgun while the rest of the crew took the back seat. Cyborg was in no condition to drive after the eat-fest him and Beast Boy had just completed. Robin checked the rearview mirror to see how they were holding up. Both of them looked several shades paler than normal and the weaving was not helping their situation much.
"Hey Robin take it easy or I'm gonna hurl all over the place," Beast Boy protested.
"Don't even think about doing that in the back of my car," Cyborg angrily replied. He quickly turned his head back towards the front fighting another sudden wave of nausea.
"Why are we even taking this one Robin," Beast Boy continued. "It's only a burglar alarm at the university."
"For once I'm with Beast Boy on this one," added Cyborg. He quickly leaned his face on the cool window glass for relief.
"Robin?" Starfire interjected. "I think in this case less speed would be a good idea." She quickly glanced in both directions trying to find some refuge from the gurgling stomachs surrounding her.
"We'll be there soon," Robin replied. "We'll turn things over to the police once they get there."
"That could be awhile since most of these streets still looked blocked," Raven added as she stared at the blackened city. She knew this alarm was related to the belt Beast Boy found and she suspected Robin did too.
The university's department of native studies was in a low unassuming building. Robin parked the T-car and scrambled out towards the front door. The others followed, as the door slams echoed through the empty streets. A faint light came from the front door. It looked like at least partial power had been restored to the campus. Robin went to the front doors and pushed them open. The others followed close behind. Inside was a partially lighted entryway. Towards the back sat a large guard desk. The guard stood in the middle of the entryway facing towards one of the hallways oblivious to their entrance. Robin shot a glimpse back to his partners who were all equally puzzled with the setting.
Robin turned back to the guard and walked towards him. He remained frozen in position. "Umm, excuse me, sir?" The guard remained transfixed and unresponsive. Robin lightly grasped his arm trying to garner his attention. "We got report of a forced entry. Did you call?"
The guard slowly came out of his daze and turned his head towards Robin who released his grasp. "Ah, yea. I heard something at the door and called it in. I guess I went to the door to get a better look." He paused and struggled to remember what happened next. "I don't know what happened after that. Next thing I knew I was talking to you."
Robin was unsure of what to make of the guard's story. "Is security up?" Cyborg interrupted. The guard looked over trying to recompose himself. "We've got some emergency power up. Some of the surveillance cameras are operational." He turned and walked towards his desk. Robin and Cyborg followed him to his post and surveyed some of the lighted screens. "Most of the doors are locked. The building should be secure," added the guard.
"You guys check out the wings, I'll stay here and relay anything we pick up on the cameras and cover the entrance in case our intruder tries to double back", Robin instructed.
"Beast Boy and I will take the west wing", Raven quickly replied. "Cyborg and Starfire, you've got the east wing." The others nodded as Robin sat dumbstruck at Raven's choice of partners.
"Let's go Beast Boy." Raven shot an icy stare at Beast Boy then turned towards the partially lighted corridor. Beast Boy was still in agony and did not notice Raven's exasperated look, only that she was moving much quicker than he really wanted to at the moment.
Raven turned the corner and looked down a short unlit corridor. She could hear Beast Boy slowly plodding along behind her. Robin was wrong; she had heard Beast Boy's snide comment last night. She was going to enjoy every bit of Beast Boy's predicament and even do her best to contribute to his misery. "Come on Beast Boy, pick up the pace", she looked back in annoyance as Beast Boy slowly trudged along behind her. Both of his arms were clasped around his stomach in a vain attempt to alleviate the great weight it had consumed. He was definitely in pain and several shades of green off his normal color. Raven silently smiled to herself hoping for a chance to push Beast Boy into a chase with whatever intruder lurked ahead.
"Slow down Raven or I'm gonna hurl", Beast Boy protested.
"What's the matter, didn't get enough to eat?" Raven replied.
"Oh, please", Beast Boy protested.
"It's inhuman to eat 13 pizzas at one sitting", she added.
Beast Boy doubled over slightly, closed his eyes and hugged is stomach harder. "Please don't mention food right now."
Raven noticed Beast Boy turn a paler shade of green with that exchange. She quickly turned so she could hide a snicker that she could no longer suppress. From around the corner she heard a light grunting.
Raven suddenly turned serious. Beast Boy's plight had been quite entertaining until that moment. "Hear that?" she whispered. "Yea", Beast Boy meekly replied. Raven took off around the corner. Beast Boy looked up and saw Raven disappear. He took a deep breath, groaned softly and willed his feet to move and follow his partner.
Raven rounded the corner and froze as her eyes tried to adjust to the sudden splurge of light. This corridor was relatively long. An emergency spotlight flooded light in her direction. On the other end of the hall a dark stooped figure pushed heavily at one of the doors. Raven took several hesitant steps towards the figure. Her footsteps echoed lightly down the hallway. The figure halted his work and quickly turned his head in her direction. A pair of glowing sickly yellow eyes met Raven's halting her in mid-step. The creature turned and quickly darted down the hall and rounded the next darkened corner.
Raven regained her composure and made her way towards the door that drew the creature's attention. Beast Boy came around the corner and made his way slowly to the door that Raven stood by. Her eyes remained fixed on the door as Beast Boy pulled up behind her. She slowly reached for the door and grasped the knob.
"What's up?" Beast Boy was panting behind her. He quickly doubled over and placed his hand on the wall to steady himself.
Raven shot a quick glance back. "Some one was trying to get in this door." She turned the knob. It was surprisingly unlocked. She pulled it open. The room was completely dark so she could not make out its contents. She let the door go and it quickly fell upon itself making a soft click as it shut.
"Not too bright, huh?" Beast boy replied as Raven turned to him to gauge his reaction.
"I'll go ahead and look for our guest. You stay here in case it tries to come back." Raven turned to go up the corridor where she saw the creature make its escape.
"Good idea." Beast Boy grunted. "Guard the door. I can handle that. Holler if you need me."
Raven slowly made her way to the corner. She looked back and saw Beast Boy slumped on the floor with his back to the door. She turned and reluctantly rounded the corner into the darkness.
No floodlights illuminated this corridor. Her footsteps echoed softly on the tiled floor. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness as she slowly proceeded. At the far end of the hall she saw the dim red light of an exit sign. She could hear soft grunting emanating from the darkness.
"I got you," Raven quietly whispered as she closed in. The intruder remained crouch frantically struggling to open the door and make its escape.
"Ok, hold it right there." Raven announced. The grunting stopped and two glowing yellow eyes pierced the darkness. Raven shuddered briefly then took several halting steps. "What are you?" Curiosity finally over whelmed her initial unease. The soft red light from the exit sign reflected off the intruder's body giving her a slight hint of its size.
Raven felt a small light focus in her mind. She watched as her right hand rose into the air. "Open." The word unexpectedly fell from her lips. The doors swung open wildly and the creature quickly turned and bolted into the darkness leaving her dumbfounded.
The cool night breeze lightly touched Raven's face gently rousing her from her stupor. She slowly lowered her hand and walked towards the open door. The creature had somehow used her powers to make its escape. She glanced out the door to no avail. Whatever it was it was gone now. She quickly closed the door and made her way back down the hall towards the light.
She rounded the corner and saw a group of people huddled by the door. She picked up her pace wondering how long she had stood in front of the open door.
The others turned as they heard soft footsteps coming towards them. Two beams of light quickly shot down the darkened corridor towards her. "Easy guys she's with us," Cyborg's voice echoed slightly in the darkness. Raven's eyes stung as the beams focused on her. She raised her hands to block the light, which was soon extinguished. She lowered her hands and continued towards the group.
"Where have you been Raven?" Beast boy inquired.
She shot back an annoyed stare unsure how to reply. How long had she been gone? As she entered the group she quickly pulled her hood down. Why was it up?
"Actually we just got here Raven," Robin quickly added trying to impose himself between these two antagonizers. "Beast Boy said you saw the intruder," he added.
Raven pulled her eyes from Beast Boy and focused them on Robin. "Yea. It was trying to get in this door. I chased him down the hallway and," her voice tailed off unsure how to describe what happened next. She paused briefly then continued. "It got out one of the side doors before I could catch it." Robin cocked his head slightly and his eyes narrowed upon hearing Raven's explanation. She could tell he had sensed something strange in her story. She quickly lowered her eyes.
"Well, everything looks ok," replied one of the guards. "We can take it from here. If we turn up anything we'll let you know."
"Sounds good," Robin replied. "Ok team let's head home."