Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Chapter 2.
Unexpected Visitor
Beastboy leapt up and spiked the volleyball, Starfire dived under it and knocked it back over the net, "no fair!" exclaimed Beastboy.
Cyborg dived over and knocked the ball back over with such force that it smashed into Robins chest and knocked him off his feet but bounced back over the net where Raven and Beastboy both made a dive for it and collided. Changeling and half-demon rolled over several times until they landed with Raven lying on Beastboys chest.
"Score for us!" Shouted Terra, "nice one Robin!"
Raven sat up and rubbed her head, "maybe one of us should have called for it," she said with a smile. Beastboy grinned back at her, he was just glad she was joining in, ever since the defeat of her father Trigon, Raven had occasionally been showing a friendly side of herself that she rarely ever showed before.
This was one of those times.
"Looks like we win," said Robin, as an exultant Starfire hugged him, "what do you say we go out for pizza?"
Raven smiled, "sure."
"Just as long as it's vegetarian," said Beastboy stubbornly.
Raven exchanged an exasperated look with Cyborg.
"Sounds good," said Terra, "after we thrashed ya!"
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Sitting around arguing what to order seemed to be a favorite past time among the Titans, Raven observed, that and informing Starfire what was a pizza topping and what wasn't.
As their order finally arrived (make that orders one all meat one vegetarian), a criminal, predictably, attacked.
Overload was attacking an appliance store, and the Titans had to drag themselves away from their pizza to deal with it.
"Titans GO!" Commanded Robin.
"Aw man! You do not wanna mess with a hungry Cyborg!" Yelled Cyborg at the electrical construct. Cyborg unleashed pulse after pulse from his sonic cannon, driving Overload back.
"Fool! This is mine!" Roared Overload, hurling an electric charged washing machine at the mechanical Titan, who dived out of the way.
"This ends now!" Shouted Raven, "Azarath Metrion…!" She was cut off as one of Overloads tentacles gripped her around the leg, attempting to fill her with ten thousand volts. Raven summoned all of her power to prevent the shock.
After several fruitless seconds, Overload hurled Raven to one side in distaste, sending her smashing into a big screen TV.
Beastboy, as a rhino, thundered into Overload, plowing him into the ground.
"Starfire!" Robin pointed at the fire sprinklers, Starfire nodded and flew near to them, then unleashed a flurry of starbolts at them, causing Overload to be drenched in several gallons of water, making him overload in a stunning display of pyrotechnics.
"Aw yeah!" Cyborg punched the air, "now we can eat!"
"Uh, I don't think now's the time," said Robin, as he was helping Raven out of the TV.
"Dude why not…?" Beastboys eyes widened in horror, "oh dude! Not cool…"
Raven had large shard of glass embedded in her leg.
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As the Titans were at the forefront of technological advancements they decided to take Raven to their own medical bay.
Robin cleaned Ravens injury and bandaged her leg as best he could, but the gothic titan was still woozy from the blood loss.
"I don't get it." Said Beastboy. "Why can't Rae just heal herself?"
"Because… I don't have… the energy…" Panted Raven. "Preventing… myself… from getting… electrocuted… weakened… my powers… Now… the blood loss… will leave me weak… for at least a week."
"Oh…" Said Beastboy.
Raven smiled weakly, "but I'll be okay… after that."
Robin finished hooking up the monitors, "rest now OK Rae?" He said with concern.
"Yes friend Raven," said Starfire, "you must get well again."
Raven nodded and closed her eyes.
"I hope she'll be alright." Said Cyborg as they left, "the girl had quite an injury."
"Rae's tough," said Terra, "she'll be fine." But she didn't sound so sure.
Beastboy put an arm around Terra's shoulders, "your right Terra… if anyone can survive this, it's Rae."
Terra nodded.
"Perhaps the Tamaranian Pudding of Health will help friend Raven recover faster." Said Starfire.
"Star," said Cyborg, "your cooking sends healthy people to the med. bay."
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That night, when Cyborg activated the security systems, he stopped off at the medical bay before bed.
When he got there he found Robin checking on Ravens health. "She alright?" Asked Cyborg, he cared for Raven like a little sister.
"She's fine," said Robin, "she's not losing any more blood, which is good."
"Yeah…" Cyborg nodded. He looked over at Raven, "night Rae." Cyborg left the room and Robin followed him out, switching off the lights as he did so.
As the two of them went to bed they failed to notice two green eyes, with slitted pupils, watch them leave.
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Raven was tossing and turning in the grip of a recurring nightmare.
Malchior held her in one clawed paw, and was bringing her towards his snapping, slavering mouth.
As the teeth closed on her, Raven awoke with a start.
She looked around, her brow glistening with sweat, and winced at the pain in her leg.
Then, she saw something. A small, dark, shape darted across the room.
It disappeared behind one of the beds, "who… who's there?" Called Raven shakily.
The shape shot from behind the bed and leapt onto the foot of Ravens own bed. "Who are you?" Her voice was a frightened squeak.
The shadow crept up the bed, until it was sitting on Ravens chest. Raven closed her eyes and prepared for the worst.
Then, something soft rubbed against her face and a voice purred, "who do you think I am?"
Ravens eyes shot open. She knew that voice. "Kay…Kaylin?" She asked.
"Yes."
Ravens heart skipped a beat, and she reached over to the bedside lamp and switched it on.
There, sitting on her chest, was the familiar shape of Kaylin. "What are you doing here?" Asked Raven, and smile plucking at her lips.
"I think the question here, Raven, is why are you injured?" Said Kaylin.
"Er… long story." Said Raven.
Kaylin nodded, "Well," he said, "you'll be of no use injured, so, show me the wound."
Raven, obligingly, slid back the covers, to reveal her bandaged leg.
Kaylin padded over to it and, gently slit the bandage with a claw. He looked at the cut for second, then he muttered a few words and breathed out. A purple mist floated from his mouth and obscured the wound for a few seconds, before fading away and leaving Ravens leg completely healed, without even a scar.
Raven stood up and flexed her leg, "thanks Kaylin," she said, scratching the black cat behind his ear.
Then Raven stopped and bent down to the cats level. "So," she said, "why are you here?"
Kaylins face became a mask of seriousness, "I have something very important to discuss with you and the sooner I tell you, the better."
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Early in the morning, Robin awoke and, having nothing better to do, he decided to check on Raven.
He left his room as silently as he could, and walked down the hall…
… and bumped into Beastboy and Terra, "what are you doing?" He asked, suspiciously.
"Er… getting an early morning snack?" Terra offered.
Robin glared at her, "all right! All right!" Said Terra, "we're going to check on Raven. Happy now?"
Robin smiled, "no problem. I was just heading to the med. bay myself…" Just then Cyborg and Starfire came down the hall, "whoa," exclaimed Cyborg, "what are the odds of this?"
"Obviously pretty high." Sighed Robin. "Let's just all go and check on Raven, since that's what we're going to do anyway."
"Alright," said Robin, as they reached the med. bay door, "let's be quiet, so we don't wake her."
Robin slid the door open silently and
peered in. Then he shouted.
"Dude!" Said Beastboy. "What
happened to being quiet?" But Robin wasn't listening, he strode
into the room, with the others close on his heels.
There was no sigh of Raven, but there was a note on her bed.
Robin picked it up and read it. Then he passed it to the others. It read:
My Dearest FriendsI was miraculously healed during the night (how, I won't elaborate) but, needless to say, you don't have to fear for my health.
I have to leave you for a time, something of grave importance requires my attention.
Don't worry about me and don't try to follow. This is for your own safety.
I WILL see you all again.
Yours sincerely
Raven.
The Titans looked at Robin in shock. "Dude." Said Beastboy. "Wh…? How…? Dude…"Without a word, Robin brushed past the other Titans and ran upstairs to Ravens room. Perhaps she had left some clue for why she'd left or where.
He flung open the door and looked in.
In the center of Raven room, there was a large, chalk circle, surrounded by mystic runes, with a star in the center.
Beastboy appeared behind him, "whoa," he said. "Where's Rae?"
Robin bent down, looked at the circle and whispered, "in a different dimension..."