Teen Titans – The Hardest Foe
Chapter 2 – Down the Rabbit Hole
"What are you going to do to Starfire?" yelled Robin.
"Nothing that concerns you," replied Red X emotionlessly.
"Let her go and I'll go easy on you!" yelled Robin defiantly.
"You couldn't beat me if you tried," replied an amused Red X, "But I must be taking my leave."
He opened a glowing portal in midair from a wrist device and stepped through it as a screaming Robin lunged through the portal at him and managed to grab his foot. Struggling with all his might Robin managed to pull himself up Red X and punch him in the face making him drop Starfire. She fell through the portal before she hit the wall and fell through and into the city.
Starfire looked around the dark and cold city and a shiver went up her spine. Even by night the city was bright but in the streets she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. She lit a Starbolt which cast and eerie green light and made her way through the city streets. Homeless people watched the lit figure walk through the streets ducking out of sight as she turned to look at them. There were certainly a lot more than she remembered. She decided to fly to the tower, something about staying around here unnerved her.
Robin and Red X landed in a lab. The machine they came out of had a beam of light around it. Red X ran from the light as Robin flew at him. As he left the light his strength left him and he collapsed to the floor unable to breath. Red X laughed as he pushed him into the light.
"What happened?" asked Robin as he felt his strength return.
"You already exist in this time zone," replied Red X, "The light is a stasis field, it allows you to exist here without changing history."
"I'm guessing you used a miniature version in our time," replied Robin.
"Correct," replied Red X.
"But Starfire doesn't have one!" yelled Robin in realisation.
"She doesn't need one," replied Red X, "Now I need to find when she landed."
Robin went silent for a moment before he realised what this meant.
"When?" was all he asked.
"For you," replied X, "About two years in the future, nearly ten in the past here."
"Twelve years," thought Robin to himself filing it away for later.
Starfire arrived at Titan's Tower and landed at the entrance. She placed her hand on the scanner and waited. A moment later it beeped red and displayed an error message. Confused she entered the emergency code on the keypad which displayed the same error message. Even more confused she flew up to the window where Cyborg sat on the sofa watching tv grim faced. She tapped on the window making Cyborg look at her. Fear crossed his face as he bolted out the room.
She flew to the top of the tower and landed on the roof. Confused and slightly annoyed she walked over to the door and pulled it from it's hinges before walking down into the tower. She walked through noticing how the tower had somehow fallen into disrepair. She came across Cyborgs room to hear muttering and crashes. She knocked on the door before she walked in. Cyborg looked up and backed himself into a corner.
"You're another one of Raven's illusions right?" replied Cyborg scared, "But you can't be, both my eyes can see you…"
"What is wrong Cyborg?" asked Starfire, "What has happened to the city?"
"I saw you die," babbled Cyborg, "We all did, Slade snapped your neck."
"But how can I be dead if I am here?" asked Starfire.
Cautiously Cyborg stood up and started towards Starfire reaching his hand out. He stopped inches from her and grabbed a fistful of hair.
"Ow!" yelled Starfire.
"It really is you," smiled Cyborg as he grabbed and hugged Starfire tight, "I don't know how but it is you!"
"Red X brought me through a time hole," replied Starfire breathlessly as Cyborg suddenly stopped, dropped her and ran into a corner of his room piled in blueprints.
Suddenly the door was filled by older three titans. Raven had hardly changed her magic stunting her growth. Her eyes reflected her new wisdom however. Although he hadn't grown Beastboy had definitely being working out, his build was more muscular. Of all the titans she had seen Terra had changed the most with longer hair and taller build.
"We heard noises…" started Beastboy. The three titans stopped and stared at Starfire before Beastboy found his tongue again. "How?"
"Explain in a minute," replied Cyborg his head buried in his blueprints, "Take her into the lounge and get her something to eat while I look for something."
The confused Titans took Starfire down into the lounge and gave her a burger to eat as they awaited Cyborg.
He came into the room and Starfire noticed for the first time how his eyes looked older and some of his parts looked worn and replaced.
"We need to change the codes again," he said blankly.
"He's got in again?" yelled Terra jumping out of her seat.
"He's also stolen my blueprints for the time machine and the stasis field," replied Cyborg, "Which explains how Starfire's here without changing the past."