The New Recruit
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, if I did I wouldn't cancel it.
Thank you, BirdsOnTheBrain, midnightdragoness, Haruka-Clone, DarkRebel777, Nightlark, Confuzzle333, raex18, robin and raven 4 ever, Goth Jedi, Guardiangirl1, Shadoweyes1 and alena-chan for reviewing I appreciate very much!
Midnight Blue Raven thank you for being an excellent beta!
It makes me happy every time I get a review! –Dark Shadows 01
Chapter 8 is here for you, as an early Christmas present!
Chapter 8
The steel door was slammed open, jerking Mercury and Raven awake.
"Master Slade wants to see you both," squeaked Gizmo.
Wearily Mercury and Raven exited their sleeping quarters, and proceed to see their 'master'.
Slade was sitting in a big black chair, observing different points of the city.
"You summoned us… master," said Mercury cautiously, sensing that whatever it was it wasn't good.
Slade rose from his chair and approached them.
"I don't want you to get sloppy, so I'm going to train you," explained Slade.
Jinx, Mammoth and Gizmo entered the room surrounding the two girls.
"These will be your first opponents," stated Slade.
An evil sneer found its way on Mercury's face as she cracked her knuckles at Mammoth.
"FIGHT!" shouted Slade as he took his respective place on his chair.
Mercury charged towards Mammoth delivering a strong punch to his stomach. Mammoth countered by grabbing Mercury's cloak and throwing her into Raven. Raven was fighting Jinx and Gizmo, dodging numerous curses and rockets. When Mercury hit her with tremendous force. Tumbling over each other, Mercury and Raven got tangled up in their cloaks. Hearing Mammoth roar with laughter, Mercury unclasped her cloak and leapt over to Mammoth firing punches to face and stomach. Mammoth was staggering backwards dangerously, seeing this Mercury executed a roundhouse kick, making the giant fall with a loud thump unconscious on the ground.
Raven unclasping her own cloak, summoned a raven which captured Jinx in a wave of darkness. Jinx could be heard screaming within the confines of the raven, but could not be seen. Concentrating on Jinx, Raven didn't see Gizmo readying his lasers behind her. Before Gizmo could fire, he was encased in an ice-blue sphere. Gizmo yelled out on surprise and released his lasers. The lasers rebounded inside the sphere and eventually hitting Gizmo, rendering the small boy unconscious. Raven release Jinx from her dark prison. Jinx was on the ground curled into a small ball, shivering, she was also a lot paler than usual and kept stuttering, "So, so dark make it go away."
Slade's P.O.V
I have never seen anyone fight with so much spirit and passion. Mercury, how determined she is, every time she'd fall she'd pick herself back up and continue fighting. If somehow I could break her, she'd be my most powerful apprentice yet.
Mercury and Raven looked up at the sound of clapping. Slade was clapping his hands and approached them.
"Well done apprentices," complimented Slade.
"Thank you master," affirmed Mercury and Raven.
"Now for the next part of your training I want you to fight each other," Slade added, "Don't hold anything back if you do, you know what will happen."
The two girls nodded and took their positions at opposite ends of the room waiting for the call.
"FIGHT!" repeated Slade.
The two girls flew at each other at a monstrous speed. At the last second both girls thrust out their right fist, colliding with the other's nose. The two were knocked back with the impact, both with broken noses, but Mercury was at a disadvantage. While hers bled constantly, Raven's slowly healed itself. Recovering, Mercury sprung towards Raven punching her in the gut, but Raven's knee met with her own and was sent over Raven's head. Mercury seized Raven's shoulder, and using her own body weight against her, threw Raven over her head and onto the hard ground below. Raven landed on her back leaving a big dent in the floor. Mercury descended to the ground, trying to steady the flow of blood coming from her nose.
In a few seconds Raven had healed her back, and was up for an attack.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" cried Raven.
The floor beneath Mercury was covered in a black aura then rose, squashing Mercury between the thick slabs.
Neither Slade nor Raven didn't see Mercury or heard a scream. Raven let the floor fall back into place to discover a puddle of blood where Mercury had been standing.
Slade stood up wide eyed franticly looking for Mercury.
Raven also looked around rapidly and fell to her knees.
"No" Raven whispered, tears threatening to fall from her amethyst eyes.
A flash of ice-blue appeared, then Mercury. Mercury was embracing her chest, her breath was laboured.
"Mercury!" called Raven, as she ran over and gave her a hug.
Mercury fainted in Raven's arms.
"Raven, heal Mercury, that's enough for today," ordered Slade, looking relieved.
Without a word Raven carried the limp girl to their room. Reaching her destination Raven gently placed Mercury in her cot and healed her.
Sighing Raven sat on her own cot, hoping that Mercury was okay.
Back at Titans Tower, the Titans returned defeated and heartbroken. Two members of their team were working for their greatest enemy. Slade.
Robin retired to his room, not speaking to anyone. Starfire was crying on Beast Boy's shoulder in the living room and Cyborg? Cyborg was in the garage, remembering all the times Raven had helped him with the T car.
It was late at night before Starfire had stopped crying and went for some needed sleep. Beast Boy was drying off his very soggy shoulder and also went to bed without cracking a single joke. Cyborg had finally gone to recharge his battery. As soon as the rest of the Titans had gone to bed. Robin exited his room and headed towards the gym. In the gym a new punch bag was set up, after the one Mercury had ripped.
Robin's P.O.V
I sighed and put my face in my hands. If only I had been quicker, stronger I could have saved Mercury from Slade, but as usual I wasn't. I stepped up to the punch bag, letting my anger steer me I started punching furiously. Well I'm not going to let it happen again.
Mercury stirred a little in her cot, it was a slight flex of the fingers but Raven saw it and stopped meditating. Raven eagerly waited for her friend to wake from her coma like state.
Mercury stirred again, but this time her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a couple of times letting her eyes adjust to the light, before trying to get up only to be stopped by Raven's hand on her shoulder.
"Rest," said Raven softly.
Mercury obeyed and layed back down and asked, "What happened?"
"Uh Slade made us fight each other and …," finished Raven looking away.
"And?" quizzed Mercury.
"I attacked you by making the ground come up and squash you and I think you hit, because when you teleported away you were holding your chest, then you blacked out," explained Raven.
Before Mercury could answer the door was flung open to reveal Slade.
"Mercury!" exclaimed Slade.
Mercury raised an eye brow. Slade cleared his throat and continued
"Good to see that you are awake."
Mercury nodded.
"Excellent, follow me," commanded Slade.
Mercury rose and so did Raven.
"No, just Mercury, Raven you stay here," barked Slade.
Mercury exchanged glances with Raven, and silently followed Slade out of the room.
The room slammed behind them, leaving Raven alone.
Slade walked quickly, making Mercury jog just to keep up.
"Master where are we going?" inquired Mercury.
"Silence, just keep up," spat Slade, continuing his fast pace.
Mercury jogged after Slade silently, not wanting to anger him.
Slade walked outside, where it was raining heavily, gale force winds were whipping about and thunder and lightning could be heard.
Slade stopped in the middle of a wide space, surrounded by thick, tall trees. Blocking them from every trace of civilization.
"Mercury I have brought you here so I may train you," spoke Slade, drawing a silver sword and pointing it at her. The sword was glowing slightly.
Mercury whipped back her now drenched cloak, and drawing her own black sword, also pointing it at Slade.
"YAA!" roared Slade as he charged at Mercury, his sword above his head.
Mercury braced herself as Slade's sword met with hers, sending strong vibrations up through the sword. Mercury back flipped away putting a little distance between them. Her cloak was weighing her down, so Mercury discarded it. Busy with her cloak, Slade attacked again, but this time the sword sliced through Mercury's left arm.
"AAGH!" screamed Mercury, as she clutched her bleeding arm, white bone could be seen poking out.
Gritting her teeth Mercury lunged at Slade, swinging her sword violently, but Slade met her blow for blow. Both fighters trying to gain dominance over the other, but Mercury was going to lose, because she was losing too much blood, making her to become light headed. Slade pushed harder forcing Mercury to her knees in the blood soaked mud. Desperately Mercury was trying to stay conscience, fell on her back still holding off Slade.
Slade smirked behind his mask and pushed so hard that his face was inches from Mercury's. Mercury grinned and kicked Slade in the chest catapulting him over her head, but he twisted his body in mid air and landing on his feet. Mercury rolled onto her feet panting heavily; she couldn't keep this up for much longer.
Slade, sensing that Mercury was vulnerable, attacked again. Mercury weakly blocked his attack, but was quick enough for Slade's second attack aimed at her right eye. Mercury yelled out and fell back on the ground holding her eye. Mercury opened her eye to see if she was blind, but to her surprise she could see fine. Mercury touched her eye brow to find that Slade had cut her but avoided any contact with her eye, but she felt her eye sting furiously as if some liquid had made contact. Mercury was about to say something but passed out from the lose of blood.
Slade walked over to his fallen apprentice to find that she had blacked out, from the lose of blood. Slade picked Mercury by the back of her suite and returned to base.
Slade banged the door open, causing Raven to jump in surprise, he threw Mercury onto the cot and said, "You know what to do." Before leaving the room.
Raven stared at him as he left; she turned her attention to her friend and inspected her wounds. A cut across her right eye, Raven was shocked to see that Mercury's left arm was cut open exposing bone. Raven placed one hand on Mercury's eye and the other on her arm and watched as her wounds knitted back together. The wounds healed but left scars on Mercury, whatever happened to Mercury it wasn't good.
It was 7.00 am before Robin had fallen asleep in the gym, after his very intense work out. Two hours later Starfire was looking for Robin entered the gym, to find him asleep. Starfire smiled and carefully shook him awake.
"Huh? Wha… what happened?" asked a dazed Robin,
"Friend Robin you have fallen asleep in the room of the workout," confirmed Starfire.
"Uh thanks Star, I'm going to take a shower so I'll see you later okay?" clarified Robin.
"Okay friend Robin, I hope you enjoy your shower," replied Starfire, zooming out of the gym to see what Beast Boy and Cyborg were doing.
Robin proceed to his room so he could shower. In the shower Robin put the water onto a very warm temperature to soothe his aching muscles; he donned a new uniform and then headed down to the kitchen to get a bit of breakfast.
"BOOYA!" shouted Cyborg as he bet Beast Boy yet again.
"Dude! No fair!" declared Beast Boy, "You totally cheated!"
"No man, I'm just a better gamer than you!" bragged Cyborg, doing his victory dance.
Starfire just laughed and cheered on the boys.
Robin made himself a couple pieces of toast and a cup of coffee, sitting at the table Robin remembered when he had breakfast with Mercury and how Raven would sit peacefully reading her books. Oh, how he missed them both and what made him feel even guiltier that he couldn't save them from Slade. Listening to his other team mates play, laugh and not give a care in the world, made Robin's blood boil.
"How can you have such a good time while two members of our team are at the mercy of Slade!" bawled Robin, making Beast Boy, Cyborg and Starfire stop their game.
"Hey dude calm down we'll find them," said Beast Boy turning back to his game.
"IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CARE ABOUT, EXCEPT THAT STUPID GAME STATION?" Snarled Robin, "FOR ALL WE KNOW THEY COULD BE DEAD!"
With that last statement Starfire burst into tears and Cyborg and Beast Boy looked at the ground ashamed.
Robin made his way down to the garage, grabbing his helmet mounted his R cycle. He needed to get out of here and clear his head. He drove dangerously around Jump city swerving this way and that, Robin didn't know where he was going all he knew that he needed to get away from everything.
Raven had fallen asleep during the night whilst watching Mercury. Awoke to get the fright of her life.
"Gosh! Mercury you scared me," said Raven breathing deeply.
Mercury was sitting crossed legged facing Raven.
"Mercury are you okay?" pried Raven.
Mercury didn't respond, but continued staring blankly at Raven. Raven looked closely at Mercury and gasped, her eyes weren't grey anymore! They were red; it made her look demented, her scar over her right eye added to her now scary demeanour. Raven was about to speak but was interrupted by Jinx.
"Raven, master Slade would like to see you."
Raven rose quickly followed Jinx out of the room, before leaving Mercury to stare at the wall, Jinx shuddered.
Jinx showed Raven where Slade was, then left to another part of the base.
"You wanted to see me master?" interrogated Raven.
"Raven, I wanted to ask you is there any change in Mercury's behaviour?" investigated Slade.
"In fact yes, what did you do to her?" accused Raven.
"And why would I tell you?" challenged Slade.
"Because I'll stop being your apprentice!" threatened Raven.
"You don't have a choice in that matter," and with that a familiar, black blade was at Raven's throat.
"Mercury!" gasped Raven.
"Excellent work Mercury, your proving to be my greatest apprentice yet," stated Slade.
Mercury's sword glowed in the light illuminating the beautiful metal; Raven would have notice the beautiful handcrafted blade if she wasn't being held hostage by it.
Raven was panicking, how was she to get out of here? Just then she heard a roar of a motorbike engine. "Robin!" she thought.
Slade started walking towards her, but Raven was concentrating on sending Robin a telepathic message.
"Robin do you hear me?" Robin skidded to a stop on his motorbike then thought,
"Raven?"
"Yes Robin it's me I am being held captive under the old warehouse at the edge of the pier, please come quickly!"
"Well Raven, because you disobeyed me you have to pay the price," sneered Slade.
Mercury removed her blade from Raven's throat, leaving her confused for about one second, until the electrical charges surge through her body.
"AAGH!" screamed Raven as she felt her grip on her emotions slip.
Mercury put a force field around Raven protecting Slade and herself, from the black tendrils emitting from Raven.
"AAGH!" howled Robin as he felt the damage being done to Raven's mind.
Robin was almost there, he needed to save Raven and Mercury but he knew he couldn't do alone. Flipping open is communicator, Robin contacted Titans Tower.
Beast Boy, Cyborg and Starfire were still feeling ashamed when the screen before them showed Robin.
"Titans I've found Mercury and Raven. Come to the old warehouse at the edge of the pier NOW!" Robin shouted.
"You heard the man, move it!" yelled Cyborg as they loaded up in the T car.
Robin's P.O.V
I crept silently down the broken stairs leading to the basement of the warehouse. I was about half way down until I heard voices.
"Excellent Mercury, put Raven away in your room," chuckled Slade.
"Yes master," came the automatic response.
I slid further down and I saw Slade, turning back to the hundreds of monitors he owned. I watched a little longer, until I turned my attention to Mercury and the limp Raven in her grasp.
"Mercury, stop we have an expected guest," I heard Slade say.
I froze, how did he know I was here?
"I know many things Robin," was the answer, I know that I have been caught.
Robin jumped out from behind the stairs to face Slade head on; retracting his Bo staff Robin prepared himself to fight with Slade.
"Oh no Robin I'm not the one you are going to fight," announced Slade, "Mercury!"
Mercury glided over to Slade and asked, "Yes master?"
"Pleas deal with our guest," replied Slade.
Mercury turned her face to Robin, showing him her red eyes. He gasped, then Robin shock with anger, "What did you do to her?"
"I made her stronger, at the expense of her own free will," explain Slade, "So really she is a zombie, who only takes orders from me."
"Here I'll give you demonstration," said Slade gleefully, "Mercury attack!"
Mercury flew straight for Robin, red eyes piercing Robin's soul. Mercury punched Robin in the jaw making him stumble back. Mercury delivered a kick to Robin's side, but he caught it and held there.
"Mercury fight it, don't listen to him," Robin pleaded.
Mercury back flipped, her left foot clipping Robin's jaw making him release her right leg. Robin landed on his back, hitting his head pretty hard on the concrete floor. Mercury walked towards him with only one thing in mind, to kill Robin. As Mercury neared Robin he did a sweep kick, making Mercury fall on to her side. Robin jumped up and placed his Bo staff on her chest.
"Mercury I don't want to hurt you," whispered Robin, he had just found her now he was forced to fight her.
Mercury melted through the ground, and reappeared behind Robin holding him in a head lock, pushing hard on his neck. Robin struggled to break free, the strain on his neck was immense anymore pressure Mercury would break it. Mercury released him letting him rest for about two seconds before sending her knee, to meet Robin's face. Robin fell on his back again but couldn't get up. Mercury placed her right foot on Robin's chest, draining him of air.
At the corner of Robin's eye he saw Raven wake up and stare in horror.
"Goodbye Raven, I always loved you," with that Mercury drew her blade, and holding it like an executioner. Brought it down and…
Hahhahahahah! What a cliffy! What's going to happen, will Robin die or live, who knows? Please review if you ever want to know what happens next! Evil cackle!
Merry Christmas and I hope you have a Happy New Year - Dark Shadows 01