Note: Being familiar with Terra and having watched Aftershock Pts 1 and 2 might help you in this.

Chapter 2: It is Never That Easy
A long, evil silence still lingered inside the tower, as Cyborg finally let the note drop to his side, and a defeatist's glare to come across his face. The day had not gone well in the slightest, and everyone in the tower was feeling it. The only other times things had felt this bad was when; well, when Robin was Slade's apprentice. Even Raven, who worked to an ungodly extent to keep emotions under check, was feeling anger like no other.

"I guess when it comes down to it, we were played like chumps." Beast Boy whispered, breaking the long silence surrounding the area. To the 's', he was right. It hurt everyone to hear it, but he was exactly right.

"Enough moaning and whining, and time for a return play. We know Slade is back, and we know Robin is gone. How does that Blink fellow fit into the equation though?" Cyborg stated, his voice wavering as he looked down at the ground. 'And why do I feel like an ass.' He thought to himself.

"We need to figure out more on that one. Before we can make any moves on this, we need to know about all the pieces." Raven piped up, struggling to keep her mood in check.

"You make a good point. Maybe there is something about him in the papers. You'd think that someone with his…talent…. Would try to make a name for himself." Cyborg replied, turning to go to his room. Before leaving entirely, Cyborg stopped, and turned back to the group, sitting around the table like lost puppies. "And… until we get Robin back, I am assuming leadership of the Teen Titans."

Before a word could be said, Cyborg went into his quarters, and began his task of sniffing out the man known as Blink. Raven, desperate to keep in check, blew up a near by chair. A chair that Beast Boy was just moving to sit down on. Too bad he couldn't stop himself in time. Moments later, a loud thump was heard as BB fell flat on his butt.

"Raven! What the hell?" BB yelled, rubbing his sore rump, as he stumbled to get to his feet. However, it clued into both of them that Starfire had not done a thing. Slowly, each turned to face her, and saw her looking down at the floor, seemingly breathing, but not doing much more of anything.

"Um… Star? Are you there?" BB inquired, poking her in the head to see if there would be a reaction. None. BB risked it again, and poked her, still getting precious little from the alien. "Hello in there!" BB hollered, still receiving the bad end of nothing. Starfire just wouldn't move, or even talk for that matter. "Raven… I'm getting slightly scared here. She isn't even sighing."

"Shut up. Anyone here could tell she felt worst about earlier. Even though it had to be done, she probably wished she never had to take him out." Raven responds, seeing a teardrop platter on her leggings. Obviously, she was still listening, and responding. At least she was on an emotional level.

"We should… probably put her in her room then?" BB responded, confused beyond belief. It was usually always Starfire that cheered up a bad situation. However, even her overly cheerful attitude was completely dead. "Or do we just leave her here?"

"Are you always stupid, or do you work at it sometimes. Lay her down on the couch, and then leave her alone. I need to be alone." Raven replied, walking off towards her room. Beast Boy, still unsure, did as the other titan suggested, and moved Starfire from a sitting position to a lying position. If she was going to get some sleep, it only made sense to make sure she was comfortable when she did.

What Beast Boy did not expect was a pair of arms to throw themselves around his neck, and a full blown breakdown to happen on his shoulder, as Starfire finally caved. BB, stunned for the longest time, could only look in awe as Starfire sputtered out tears and pains, before bringing a hand to the back of her head, and patting her back.

"It's okay… let it all out." Beast Boy replied, struggling with the words as for once, he took the serious role. He'd never seen Starfire break down, and she needed him. At least, she needed him at that moment. "Just let it all out Starfire, I'm here for you."

In The Sewers of Jump City ------

Blink let out a long sigh, as he tossed the Ionic Generator towards the shadows, and plopped down on a nearby chair. This was the meeting place, stated by Slade himself, so why was he late. "Ey, mate! It's not nice to company waiting ya know. I'd beat wanksters to a pulp for doing this." Blink hollered out, as a man in a mask came walking out of the shadows, tossing the generator in the palm of his hand.

"You're rather impatient, are you not?" Slade asked, looking at the rather normally clad man in front of him. Nothing but black. Black cloak, black pants, black long sleeved shirt. He would have to change that about him. "You did well, all things considered."

"Really? Thanks mate. But seriously now, when do we get ta business?" Blink blurted out, looking at Slade, attempting to stare him eye to eye. Kind of hard, all things considered.

"More so than that, I decided on a better approach to…business." Slade replied, tossing Blink a pair of metallic gloves. "Those gloves have the unique ability to store the energy you create when blinking. In turn, they allow you to use the energy as an offensive weapon."

Blink rolled his eyes, before putting on the gloves, and taking a long look at the hand wear, studying them for any features he didn't see originally. "So, what you're saying is, these gloves store my teleport energy, and I can use it as a weapon? So what, like energy blasts, energy weapons, common, give me some information mate." Blink replied, raising an eyebrow.

"See for yourself."

Blink nodded, and blinked around the room, and finally blinking back to where he was. When he looked, his gloves felt different than before. He raised them to a nearby column, and… nothing happened.

"Ey, mate! Yah never told me how to use the bloody things." Blink declared, dropping the gloves to the side.

"You can't right now, but I can give you that ability. Think about it Blink, you will be able to use your base ability to do even more amazing things."

"You're not the kind of guy to do things for free… what's the catch?"

"I am in need of an…apprentice." Slade said, walking up to the younger man, of honestly no more than Robin's height, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I can give you more, and teach you everything I know. In turn, you become my protégé."

Blink stared off towards another area, where he heard something…different. Where as the constant drip of water, or the elongated banters of Slade, this one sounded like a muffled cry. Or at least, something close too it.

"Slade, I'm no fool. I know that you have had Apprentice's before. And if'n I'm not mistaken…" Blink began, blinking to a door in the back. "…Your first is behind lucky door number one." Blink finished, before opening the door, and spying a gagged and bound Robin. "Well, well, well, looks like I'm a winner."

"And your point is." Slade replied, aggravated.

"I'll make it blatant. Just how many failed attempts at apprenticeship have you had? I'd prefer to not end up either crazy like Bird Boy here, or god forbid, worst." Blink replied, before closing the door. He was sure he heard Robin muffled the words 'screw you'.

"Well, Blink, it is as they say. Third time's a charm."

Terra's Tomb ------

Slowly but surely, Beast Boy made his way through into the large cavern, where the petrified Terra stood. Truly, it was one of the saddest places for Beast Boy to be, solely for the tragic events that occurred in the cavern. All thanks to Slade. At the end of it all, all the Titan's said there goodbyes in this cavern, but Beast Boy was the only one who would not let go. Not without a fight at the very least.

Slowly, the green changeling trodded in, carrying with him a bouquet of flowers, and a pair of brown candles. At the entrance to the cavern, he stopped and stared at the fallen titan. Every time he saw that face, live or dead, his heart would skip a beat. Reaffirming himself, Beast Boy walked up to the petrified Terra, and knelt down. The candles he lit the last time he was here still remained. Sighing, he placed the two new candles in the usual place, and placed the flowers he bought in front of the grave. Finally, he lit the candles, and sat down, lying back against Terra.

"Terra… Terra I miss you." Beast began, looking off towards the entrance, and looking down at his feet. "Starfire, she must feel like I do now. Lost, sad, confused. She lost Robin today, thanks to Slade. She blames herself for it all, said she was the reason he was captured." BB conversed, talking to the statue. The candles did the necessary part, lighting the room, and allowing BB a good view of Terra's face, even if he had to look up.

"It's truly not fair right now Terra. In a day, the entire operation crumbled like a cookie. Robin's gone; some new chump is in town, Slade's back… That's the painful part. The man responsible for doing this to you, the man I was so sure died… is back. He's like a bad dream." Beast went on, looking out to the darkness. "I mean, what do we have to do to kill him. WHAT?" Beast yelled, looking off.

For a while, silence took over. Beast Boy was labeled as the weird, crazy, and at times, annoying one. He was never really given the chance to be down. Even after Terra died, he was forced to put on a stupid exterior, and make everyone focus on him rather than sad things. He was the depression magnet, there to distract his friends from the worst.

"Starfire broke down on me today. I can still feel the tears on my shoulder, where she wept for what seemed like hours. She really does love Robin, even if she refuses to admit it. She feeds off his energy, and in turn, he feeds off her happiness. But I have never seen Star as bad as she was. Even Raven…" Beast Boy stopped for a minute, before going on. "Even Raven is losing it. And this new guy, Blink!" BB yelled, throwing a rock into the distance.

"Ya know mate, it really doesn't pay to be angry." A voice said, catching BB's attention on a dime. "Oh wait… we're enemies aren't we? Bah, we have time for that later." Blink replied, standing beside the cavern entrance.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Right now, for someone to talk to. I guess since your none to crazy about me, ya can't really be my talking mate right now."

"YOU TRICKED US, AND GOT ROBIN KIDNAPPED! STARFIRE IS CRYING BUCKETS BECAUSE OF YOU!" Beast Boy hollered at the top of his lungs, standing up to meet the teleporter.

"D'you drink?" Blink asked, catching BB off guard. "Figured I'd might as well make the beginning offer."

"Why are you asking? For that matter, why haven't you attacked me yet?"

"Listen…um…" Blink began, struggling with the names.

"Beast Boy."

"Right, Beast Boy. Listen, I know it might seem weird, but I'm just here to talk. Say no if you want, I'll leave…" Blink began, pulling out a beer, and cracking it open. "Probably not even old enough to drink anyways."

"And you are?"

"A year or two away, no big. So, do ya want to talk, or do I turn and leave."

Beast Boy stood for a few minutes, letting silence engulf the room once more, before sitting back down.

"As long as you don't attack me here, no problem." Beast replied, as a can of brew landed in front of him.

"It's Australian, so drink up mate." Blink responded, walking up closer, and lying down in the middle of the cavern, looking up to the ceiling, before shifting his attention to the statue. Raising his beer, he tipped it towards Terra. "Who's the lass?"

"That's… That's Terra. She died saving Jump City, and proving to be a real friend. Slade played with her mind, and tricked her into being his Apprentice. It hurt like hell to watch her sacrifice herself, but still."

"Really now. So the second apprentice winds up petrified. So, either I wind up crazy, like lucky contestant number one, or dead, like our runner up here."

"Don't make light of what happened while you lay inside her tomb." Beast Boy said, taking a sip of the beer, and reeling backwards.

"What's the matter mate, a little strong for you? The first one usually does leave you reeling. Guess that means you're a drinkin virgin, aren't you?"

"Whatever that means." Beast Boy said, taking another sip, this time with less reeling.

"Beast, let me tell you something interesting. Every time I blink, I see everything I've ever done. Anyone I've hurt, I see, and feel. And I blink around a lot so…"

"Then why do you do those things."

"Ya know what, that's a dam fine question. One that I've been asking myself for years." Blink replied, before looking away. "Enjoy the beer, next time, drinks are on you." Blink finished, before disappearing. For a few minutes, Beast Boy just sat there, drinking the beer, and looking off. Finally, it hit him. Hit him like a brick.

"You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Beast Boy yelled, before shooting to his feet, and making his way back to Titan Tower.

Sewers ------

Within a few minutes, Blink reappeared in front of Slade, and shrugged his shoulders. "So then, when were you going to tell me about the lass who turned into a statue?"

Slade cringed, something rare for him. "Sooner than later."

"Whatever. I'm in. Sign me up for whatever you call it. I'll be your third apprentice…" Blink said, before leaning backwards. "But I will not call you master."

"A statement that you'll change soon." Slade muttered, before handing Blink a case, filled with clothing, and equipment. "Everything is operated by neural impulses. As long as you are conscious, and have the head band on, you are capable of nearly anything."

"And let me guess, job numero uno is…"

"Destroying the miserable Teen Titans."

Titan Tower ------

Cyborg stepped out of the room, and into the main area. On his way, he stopped and knocked on Raven's door, and continued to the main area. Raven came out soon after, and followed him to the main room, waking Starfire up. The only one missing was Beast Boy, who had still not come back yet.

"Star, you okay?" Cyborg pondered, getting a nod from the alien. "Alright then. Here is the bad news. As far as Blink goes, it's like he never existed. He's brand new and completely unheard of."

"And the good news would be?"

"Raven, it's never that easy. The good news is this. Robin isn't dead. His signal, although untraceable, is active. He's alive and well. Or at least alive." Cyborg stated, looking down. Although it was good news, it wasn't nearly enough. Starfire sighed, but still, the response was limited. That was when Beast Boy burst into the room, breathing heavily.

"BB, where the hell have you…"

"-pant- Blink is Slade's…-pant- Slade's new apprentice!" Beast Boy blurted out, as the eyes went wide around the table.

"You have got to be kidding me" Cyborg yelled, before slamming both hands on the table. "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"

A/N: Oh common, there has to be some significance to Terra in this. But now, Robin is kidnapped, Blink is getting an upgrade, and for some reason, Blink and Beast Boy are drinking buddies. But there is still too much in the shadows. For more, stay tuned.