A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Yanno, Slyther, you were right. It didn't read as I envisioned the scene so I did a quick wave of the re-write wand!

A/N: Thanks everyone who's reading the tale. Don't be afraid to let me know what you think! Constructive criticism is always welcome!

ACT FOUR, scene one

Doctor Drakken grinned and leaned on the catwalk railing. His threat had been issued, and his power shown. Now it was time to claim responsibility and make real demands of the fools in power. The test firing of the Grand Laser Array was better than even he had hoped. The stolen mirrors were as perfect as advertised, and his photonic cohort was a near inexhaustible ammunition supply.

"Now, doctor," Drakken mused, "if the leaders of Jump City fail to meet my, I mean our, demands, we will destroy a building of our choosing!"

"Like Titan's Tower?" a mind controlled Dr. Light said blandly.

"Exactly like that mockery of architecture! I mean, my God, who would really want to live and work in a monogrammed building anyway?"

"We do."

Drakken stopped dead in mid stride. He slowly turned his head and saw the massive, armored Cyborg, the willowy beauty Starfire, and the impish Beast Boy standing at the wide doors of the observatory's dome. They looked down on the villains, eyes narrowed.

Cyborg raised his hand. It turned into his sonic blaster. "Now, we can accept your surrender now, or after we beat your butts. It doesn't matter to me."

"Oh, I do hope it will be after we beat them," Starfire said her eyes glowing brightly and her hands surrounding with energy. "I was so looking forward to massive amounts of the butt-whoop today."

Drakken looked around suddenly and almost called for his green tinged minion. But she left. Or he left. It became suddenly confusing. "Oh, snap," he said in disgust and raised his hands in defeat.

"Well, that was easy!" Beast Boy exclaimed as he snapped the cuffs around Drakken's hands. "Who wants pizza?"

Star and Cy both shot the elfin Titan withering glances as they disabled Dr. Light's suit.

"Oh, yeah," BB said sheepishly.

…..

Ron smiled as he checked the basket affixed to his little moped. It took him a while, but he finally made it to Jinx's apartment. It was a simple nondescript complex, and Jinx met Ron at the front gate. She wore a long sleeved velour dress that barely came down to mid thigh, and garish black and purple striped tights.

"You look, different, but nice," Ron said politely.

"Thanks, sweetie," Jinx smiled sweetly and through her leg over the back of the scooter. She wrapped her arms snugly around his waist and scooted as close to him as she could. Ron shuddered as she pressed against his back.

The little, underpowered moped putt putted away.

"So, when do we need to be back?" Ron asked.

"Whenever," Jinx said just softly enough to be heard over the road noise, making sure she blew in his ear.

Ron jerked slightly, nearly tipping the scooter. Jinx wrapped herself even more tightly around him. Ron smiled, getting used to her weight against him. He wished he could just drive on forever like this.

Unfortunately, Lower River Valley State Park was a scant mile away. They went through the gate and parked. Jinx peeled herself off Ron, draping her arms over his shoulder as she made sure he saw her lift her shapely leg and slide it around the moped. Jinx giggled airily as Ron's jaw dropped. The lilac-eyed girl smiled coyly over her shoulder as her hips swayed as she walked.

"Well, are we having a picnic or not?" she asked with a playful, girlish laugh.

…..

Robin paced the hall between his small, dark room and the door to the master suite, which he gave Raven. He nearly knocked on her door a dozen times, but always pulled back at the last minute. It didn't take his detective skills to deduce that something was troubling the young witch, but he didn't want to jump to any conclusions.

He needed to talk to her. But he choked on what to say.

"Raven?" he said croakily. Robin cleared is throat and knocked on the door again, "Raven? It's me."

"Of course it's you. We're the only ones in the house," Raven snapped from behind the door.

"Hey, I just wanted to talk," Robin said coolly. "All I wanted to say was 'I'm sorry for upsetting you.' But I guess you'd rather mope."

Raven leaned on the door sullenly. She sensed Robin's sincere intention, and she, once again, drove a wedge between them. The young witch pulled her deep blue bedspread off and wrapped it around her like a makeshift cloak. She pulled up its hood, all but hiding her sad, violet eyes.

"Why didn't I open the door?" she said under her breath. Raven could sense Robin's confusion, and the hearing the words she said to him in anger come back stung deeply. She folded her arms around her knees as she leaned against the door.

…..

Kim walked along the street quietly. She left the house, not wanting to dodge the Tweebs' latest attempt at rocketry, or hear her father's misguided attempts at sage wisdom. Thankfully, her mother was at the hospital, otherwise Kim would have to face her as well.

"I am so pathetic."

"That's an odd statement coming from you."

Kim turned quickly and saw a pale, dark haired girl with large violet eyes.

"Oh, hi Rachel," Kim said quietly. "I guess I was thinking out loud."

"Whatever."

"Rude, much?" Kim snapped back.

"Sorry," Rachel slouched and turned to walk away.

"Boy trouble?" Kim asked.

Rachel stopped, craned her neck around and arched a thin eyebrow. "Does it show?"

"Yes. Always does."

Rachel grinned half-heartedly. "You, too then, huh?"

"Me? Oh, no. It's, well, I'm worried about how quiet everything's been getting," Kim said a little too quickly.

"You are the worst liar I have ever met," Rachel said.

"I am not. There's…" she stopped in mid sentence.

"Ron?"

"Yeah, him."

Rachel grinned knowingly.

"Now wait a minute," Kim protested. "We aren't… I mean, there's no way… We've been friends since Pre-K…"

Rachel simply nodded, but then asked, "Where is he? I thought, well, since he's not your boyfriend, he does seem to be your shadow."

"He's on a date."

"Oh, really?" Rachel said, not at all surprised. "Good for him, and the girl."

"I guess," Kim said, unconvincingly. "So, do you want to talk about your boy trouble?"

"Not really," Rachel said and turned to go again.

"Is it John? Most of the girls at school are mad about him. The sheep."

"It's…." Rachel started. "…not him. To make matters worse, he already has a steady girlfriend, and she's absolutely beautiful."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, ouch," Rachel said drolly. "But I can't stop thinking about him, and it hurts."

Kim was about to say something comforting, but the chime of her communicator sounded. She turned and flipped it open.

"Sorry, Rachel, I need to take this," Kim said sweetly. She turned to the device and narrowed her green eyes. "What's the sitch, Wade?"

Wade didn't appear.

Instead, the chair turned, and a black clad man with a orange and black facemask greeted her.

"I'm afraid Wade won't be joining us today," he said in a quiet, threatening voice.

"Slade. What have you done with Wade?"

"Right now? Nothing. But it all depends on you. I have placed three explosive devices in Middleton. If you do not defuse all three in two hours, I am afraid the effects would be rather… nuclear."

"Why all these tests, you bastard?" Kim growled. She never swore at anyone before, but no one she ever met scared her more than Slade.

"Such language," Slade drolled. "One hour, fifty nine minutes, thirty three seconds, Kim. I suggest you get moving."

…..