Chapter 8-More of or the lack of trust

No one in Titans Tower expected what Raven had say would be optimistic in anyway involving the Brotherhood of Evil, Slade, and Nightwing after coming back from hours of meditation in her room. She explained to them about what she had concluded in her in depth meditation and advised that they should all wait for Nightwing to make a move. "Come one Raven you can't expect us to wait for such a beating? For all we know his shadow what their names will come here and kill us in our sleep," said Beast Boy who was stuffing his mouth with Tylenol before taking a drink of water.

"I don't think we have a choice here since were on the defensive and were still not in any shape to do so otherwise. Plus I don't think killing us in our sleep is Nightwing's style in using his Shadowkahn," said Raven calmly.

Just then moments later as they sat their resting two Shadowkahn appeared behind the group to each others side. "Want to make a bet on that?" said Cyborg as he readied his two sonic cannons and aimed them at the Shadowkahn who dodged the attacks almost immediately.

The Titans attacked the two Shadowkahn relentlessly, but strangely they didn't attack back, but rather blocked, dodged, and countered the attack in a defensive manner. Finally, the only thing that stopped the attack was when one of the Shadowkahn spoke to them in its muffled shadowy inhuman voice. "Stop! Stop! We did not come to fight," said the one Shadowkahn who dodged a star bolt and was now crouched down the kitchen counter after leaping away from the attack.

"Like I'm going to believe that," said Beast Boy as he became an Alligator and tried to bite his opponent at the waist line only for the Shadowkahn to grab both parts of the mouth of the changeling and throw him into the alien girl.

"We speak the truth. We are messengers sent by our master to seek you out to deliver a message to you," said Shadowkahn #2 as he was dodging the sonic cannons being fired at him.

"Why should we believe you?" said Raven who put a wall of energy between her friends and the two Shadowkahn.

"Because one known as Raven that was whatwe were instructed to be when he summonedme while the other beside me was to protect me from any harm I encountered," said Shadowkahn #2 who walked over to Raven, breached the wall like it was nothing (to everyone's surprise), and kneeled on one knee detaching a canister hidden under his left sleeve to present it to her in his right hand.

Reluctantly Raven took and disengaged the wall of energy as to not waste any more of her powers as she opened it carefully and saw a CD inside. "What's this?" said Raven as Cyborg walked over to her with his sonic cannons turned back into arms.

"Information. Everything you will need to take down the Brotherhood of Evil and free our master from his prison. In fact us being here delivering this was a risk in itself so we must go," said Shadowkahn #1 as he leaped of the kitchen counter to his associate and were about to fade back into the shadows when Raven stopped them to ask questions.

"Wait! What do you mean? How is Nightwing doing? Why is he with them?" said Raven wanting answers to her questions.

The two Shadowkahn stopped their decent into the shadow portal about mid-waist when she asked them that. "Our master has suffered much pain during his unfortunate time at the place that's location is on that disk. So much that we are sworn to secrecy until he feels it deemed necessary to break the silence himself. All I can tell you is that he wishes for you to trust him again one more time before things turn for the worst. He said to us that the trust he seeks will come through in the form of YOU...the one called Raven. He spoke very highly of you when he sent us here. Be careful, because what we give you on that disk is a warning of things to come he wishes would not come to pass and if you help him...it won't," said Shadowkahn #1 as it and its partner went completely through the portal.

"Do you think it's legit what those things told us about Nightwing?" said Cyborg taking the disk from Raven and walked over to their computer to scan it.

"I don't know I can't read their minds like I could yours because Nightwing has set up some sort of mind block to any invading minds. Will have to read what's on the disk and find out if what the Shadowkahn claim are true," said Raven hoping that for the most part it was true.

"In the meantime I need another Tylenol or something because my head REALLY hurts," said Beast Boy who had an ice pack on his head and plopped on the couch.

(Titans East)

The twoShadowkahn mentally sighed as they couldn't believe how hostile these superheroes were being to them when all they wanted to do was deliver a message. Then again their master had informed them they wouldn't be welcomed in opened arms. This was to be somewhat expected considering the Shadowkahn had come into Steel City and mopped the floor with its hero's and then left without a word as to why. "Hold still so I can shoot you!" said Speedy as he fired multiple energy arrows at the Shadowkahn who leaped onto a table then flipped upward to the second floor banister that led further into the tower.

"Time for them to catch a wave," said Aqua Lad as he tried to drown them into the ocean with the pool of water near by, but the two Shadowkahn leaped into air and into a shadow portal that came up behind the Atlantean.

Aqua Lad turned around and received a double spin kick from one of the two shadows into a solid wall before Bumblebee could attack them with her duel electric stingers. They had easily dodged the attack before throwing a chained cabled and threw her down into the ground. Mas Y Menos came in at blinding speed, but even they were defeated as well by the two Shadowkahn as they tripped the two that were coming in at full speed sending them colliding into a wall. With them all defeated the Shadowkahn bound them in steel cable that they had and put them all together. Please open this when you free the others. There is something inside you must look at," said one of the Shadowkahn as they placed a canister in front of defeated group cutting Speedy free and then vanishing in a shadow portal.

"That was weird," said Speedy as he freed the others before picking up the small canister carefully noticing it was extremely light for what was inside.

"Don't open it you idiot. For all we know it could have some poisonous gas inside," said Bumblebee as she took it from Speedy and smack him on the back of his head.

"OW! Jeez Bee you don't have to be too paranoid I mean they could have killed us when they had us tied up back their, but they chose not to," said Speedy as he rubbed the back of his head.

Bumblebee ignored Speedy and put it in the scanner and found there was no poison gas of any kind, but a CD to their surprise. "Why didthey give us this?" said Bumblebee opening the canister and took out the disk showing it to the rest of the group.

"I don't know I can't read minds. Put the thing in the computer and see what on it," said Aqua Lad who was clearly interested as was everyone else was involving the disk.

(Watchtower)

Out of all the Shadowkahn messengers the ones sent to the Watchtower had it the hardest since they were assault to no end by every superhero on the station. They had originally appeared in secret and undetected by all of the Justice League. As they secretly made their stealthy approach to the secret conference room and went through the door with their powers the "Original Seven" members were in complete shock to see them. "No! Wait!" said one of the Shadowkahn as Flash speeded over to the alarm system before the Shadowkahn could do anything to stop the red figure.

It was then that the Watchtower went into immediate lock down so nothing could get in or out as the alarms yelling "Intruder Alert!" came screaming everywhere. It wasn't long until the two powerful shadows were running, dodging, and defending each other from the unrelenting assaults. They were now currently back to back in a defensive stance as the superheroes surrounded the two Shadowkahn in a full circle. It wasn't until ironically Fate came in and stopped everyone from trying to hurt the two servants of Nightwing and appeared before them. "Why are you here?" said Fate as starred into the eyes of one of the Shadowkahn.

Immediately the Shadowkahn revealed a canister and kneeled before Fate as he placed it in front of Fate. While his fellow brethren was watching the other superheroes around them the first Shadowkahn spoke to Fate. "We are messengers and were sent to delver this to the founding members of the Justice League. We wish to fulfill that mission still if we may see them," said Shadowkahn #1 knowing it was a good chance they would be turned down.

"Were already here. What's in the canister?" said Batman as he carefully took it from the Shadowkahn's grey fingered hands.

"It is nothing poisonous if that is what you think. Inside is a computerCDthat contains important information that is for only you and the other founding members to see. That was our mission and now we have completed it we will go without causing any further problems," said Shadowkahn #2 as both bowed and were vanishing through the portal when Green Lantern used his ring to bind them and stop their exit.

"Tell us where your master his now," said Green Lantern wanting a solid explanation for all of this.

"The information as well as the answers you seek are on the disk. We can tell nothing else except that our master went to great lengths to deliver this information to you. In fact if caught will spell certain disaster for him and all of you," said Shadowkahn #1 calmly.

"Nightwing is in trouble? How?" said Batman who had the sound of a worried father in his voice.

"We can't tell for we sworn to silence in the matter. For you must not know until our master decides when the time is right to divulge such information to you. All you need to know is on that disk. I suggest you take a look," said Shadowkahn #1 before he and his brother slipped through Green Lantern's energy bind and fell into the shadow portal before anyone could stop them.

"Can this information much less those...THINGS that brought it here be trusted?" said Batman to Fate who was watching the whole affair.

"Shadowkahn are loyal to their master to the end of time Batman and will do whatever their master commands of them even if it means sending them to their death. These two Shadowkahn were ordered to deliver us a message in the form of a disk sent to us by their master. If he wanted us dead he wouldn't have sent two of them here to take us out, but in fact Nightwing would have sent an army of them here instead. I would take a look at the information stored on that disk if I were you. See what it is that he has deemed so very important as to send two Shadowkahn here to deliver it rather then send an army," said Fate and the other founding members agreed.

(Brotherhood of Evil HQ)

Three days had passed and Cinderblock was now in Slade's hands once more as his loyal muscle of an enforcer. They both were on a chopper and before long they were back at the HQ of the Brotherhood of Evil to add Cinderblock to it in order to bolster its ranks. "Remember Cinderblock I want you on your best behavior around Nightwing regardless of what he did to you before. Understand?" said Slade who heard Cinderblock grunt as a form of a yes.

They entered the white room and Nightwing had on his helmet as before with all his Shadowkahn once more removed from his presence and sight. "Hello Slade. How was Jump City? Still cleaning up after my mess I take it?" said Nightwing who made himself sound as evil as possible to earn Slade's favor while he stayed in a meditative state.

"Yes actually they are still cleaning up after the destruction you caused. Why do you ask?" said Slade curiously knowing that Nightwing's behavior was clearly off.

"I was thinking while in my meditative state and I realized that I could help increase the power the Brotherhood wields from the help of an old friend we both know," said a calm Nightwing as a shock from the helmet hurt him though he ignored it.

"An old friend you say. Who did you have in mind?" said Slade whose curiosity had now been peeked with interest.

"Terra. I can bring back Terra backinto this world through my powers," said Nightwing in a casual voice making Slade's one eye widen in surprise.

"You could do that? Why? For what purpose would you do that in the first place? You have nothing to gain from reviving Terra and I doubt you would do it out of the kindness of your heart," said Slade suspiciously.

"Who said I was doing it out of the kindness of my heart Slade? I doing this to help you and the Brotherhood of Evil," said Nightwing grinning showing his demon like fangs.

"She would be a great asset under our command I will admit as much to you and she was my second attempt at an apprentice," said Slade thinking it over.

"Plus her powers are strong making her a force to be reckoned with," said Nightwing knowing his plan was working perfectly.

"I will speak to the members of the Brotherhood before I can approve of such an idea, but hopefully they will see things my way. Especially when I explain what her powers are and what she can do," said Slade as he left leaving Cinderblock in the room.

"Hey Cinderblock how have you been? I hope me nearly crippling you didn't do too much for that one track mind of yours?" said Nightwing making Cinderblock growl, but stopped when he realized this figure could kill him easily.

(Brotherhood of Evil's conference room)

"This information regarding the one known as Terra is quite impressive Slade and the fact that you told us rather then going ahead means that you're starting to follow the proper procedures," said Madame Rouge as she and the rest of its members saw the report on Terra as well as footage of her using her powers as she commanded the earth so easily.

"Only because I made it impressive my dear from months on end of dedication from her to me. I taught Terra how to control her powers and with Nightwing's shadow powers we can have her within our grasp to further strengthen us to a point where not even the Teen Titans and the Justice League combined could stop us," said Slade confidently.

"This Terra is most impressive and it would be a shame to see such power over the earth go to waste by letting the poor dear be her own prison for who knows how long. I say we retrieve the girl and brainwash her to serve us once she is properly restrained," said the ever aged presence of General Immortus.

"Yes...I agree...with...General Immortus. Slade...you will send...Nightwing to...where Terra...is and...see that...she is revived. Then have...Nightwing contain...her and...have her brought here...to be...brainwashed. Soon the...attack on...the Titans...and the...Justice League will...commence," said Brain.

"As you wish," said Slade as he headed back to the white room to report back to his apprentice to tell him the plan to revive Terra was a go.

When he got to the lab however, he found one of the walls was shattered and Cinderblock was through it while Nightwing was in a meditative state. "What? He started it and Iended it," said Nightwing innocentlywho still had the helmet on his head.

"Take that thing off you won't need it anymore since I trust you enough that I know you won't betray me. You're to revive and retrieve Terra from her current resting place in that cave where she was turned to stone. They want her back alive and unspoiled Nightwing in order to test her abilities to see just how good she is with her powers," said Slade as Nightwing took off the helmet.

'So you trust me huh? Good. Time to instigate the next phase of my plan,' thought a very pleased Nightwing as fooling Slade that was the first part of his plan was off the ground.

'Yes, but don't get overconfident my boy you still have to deal with reviving Terra and that is a much more difficult then getting Slade to trust you,' said Shadogun mentally and Nightwing mentally nodded back in agreement.

"I shall go their immediately my master," said Nightwing as he summoned several of his Shadowkahn to him to take him to Terra's stone like body.

"Just to remind you Nightwing the Brotherhood does not tolerate failure and neither do I for that matter, but you already know that. If you fail to either revive or retrieve Terra you will have lost my trust Nightwing and you know what happens when someone breaks my trust," said Slade before Nightwing made his descent into the shadow portal.

"I know Slade and I don't need you reminding me. You'll have your second attempt at an apprentice back in your possession soon enough. Just one question though? What would happen if she fought back and got away using the furry that you know as well as I do that she possesses?" said Nightwing as to lay out a 'What If' situation.

"Make sure that doesn't happen and if it does...track her, find her, and kill her. She is no use to us if she is fighting for the other side," said a very serious Slade as he summoned several of his robots to take Cinderblock to the med lab for healing.

"Yes my master," said Nightwing as he left with his Shadowkahn to Terra's domain to revive an old friend.

(Justice League Watchtower conference room)

"The information on that disk was tremendous to say the least," said Shayera as she replayed the blueprints of the mountain fortress and its location in the depths of the snowy Colorado mountains.

"Tremendous? Did you see the footage of what that Slade guy did to Nightwing? Man I'll give the kid credit he can take a beating when he has to and then some," said a very near to yelling Green Lantern who wasin the Marine Corp. had experienced torture, but nothing to that degree.

"Fate did say Nightwing's powers did grow impressively I mean who is to say the kid didn't learn how to tolerate pain before that," said Flash as he reluctantly watched some of the less graphic torture footage.

"Nightwing didn't learn to tolerate pain from Shadogun. I taught him how to tolerate pain like I do and how to block it out," said Batman as he griped the arm chair tightly causing it nearly to break as he saw the part where Nightwing had his arm cut off and screamed 20 seconds later.

"Regardless we know now that he's playing for us and not the Brotherhood of Evil so we don't have to worry about him attacking us anytime soon. The Titans in Jump City and Titans East in Steel city confirm that they all got similar disks of information as we did," said Superman just before the all knowing Fate came teleporting Egyptian symbol and all.

"What brings you here Fate?" said Diana curiously as none of them were expecting to see Fate for some time.

"I'm afraid I am the barer of bad news again to you all," said Fate calmly as he walked over to the round council table.

"What bad news? Does it involve Nightwing?" said Batman concerned once more.

"To a degree it does my friends. I was just informed by one of Nightwing's Shadowkahn that their master intends to reawaken Terra from her slumber using his shadow powers. He intends to revive her to gain the trust of the Brotherhood, but doesn't intend for her to go join them like they expect him to make her to," said Fate.

"How's that a problem?" said Flash not seeing the big problem with the whole situation.

"To do such a thing by Nightwing would require a tremendous amount of his shadow power and the end result may kill him in the process. Even worse if Terra fights him in his weakened condition she may in fact kill him without realizing he is trying to help her," said Fate.

"Okay that is bad," said Flash depressingly.

"What do we do? If we try to interfere we could cause more harm then good," said Diana who was lost in this matter.

"We don't do anything Princess. Nightwing will do what he has to just as we will do what we have to when we eventually have him brought before us to decide his future," said Batman in his cold like manner.

(A/N: Next chapter: The revival of Terra. But does it go smoothly or does it go south on him? REVIEW!)