Transient
Part Three
ºflashbacksº
…
Slade's attention was divided. The day had passed and he had two objectives to accomplish: make Washu move forward and secure Sakura for the future. Neither of his objectives could be accomplished with threats, torture or deception. Both his goals would be achieved through something infinitely more subtle.
Terra followed Slade into Washu's hall. The dismal cave was made unnerving by Washu's collection. Soul bodies were bound in units floating and dispelling light. The colors were tragic, each of them were tainted with the act of thievery that had borne them.
Except one. There was one energy that stood brightly and unadulterated. It was the one that Washu had stolen when he had struck down Robin. After months it had lost its all-consuming charm on Terra and Slade, for the most part, but for someone with an eye for such energies, Washu could not seem to get enough.
Washu had stolen hundreds of life energies from hundreds of life forms; human, demon, mortal and immortal alike. What he hadn't been able to do was take it without placing his own influence into the life force. His magic was the strongest in existence; the sheer power of it tainted all he touched.
Somehow, this Robin's energy has remained unbiased… I have never encountered such power… and to find it on Earth, in a teenage human boy… who just happened to be associated with the whelp of Trigon… This intrigues me…
Slade stood beside Washu and observed Robin's energy. His understanding of most of Washu's mysticism was adequate at best, because he did not concern himself with it. However, when Slade was able to divert his attention from his own pursuits and conquests, he indulged in his natural curiosity.
"What has this energy drain done to Robin? His strength, his stamina, his intelligence?"
Washu's reply came as casually as if he were telling the time to a stranger. "Robin is dead and has been for days."
Terra's eyes widened and Slade's single eye became furious.
"WHAT?"
"Robin is dead. Just as you instructed I attacked and disabled Robin. The drain used to incapacitate Robin is efficient. Ninety-nine percent of his life energy was taken from him. Without it returned the chances of survival are non-existent. One would have to have an exception strength of will to endure… no mortal possesses such ability."
"You were not supposed to kill him! That was not part of our deal!"
Only one third of the occupants of the room were afraid at that moment, but Terra was sure she was terrified enough for all of them. Slade's eye was afire and seconds later, his hands were as well. Washu seemed thoroughly unimpressed by Slade's passion.
"What would you have me do to rectify my mistake?" Washu asked.
Robin's dead? What a shame… I would have liked to shatter his pride, so that makes only eight more for me to play with. Terra crossed her arms over her small chest. Slade was barely able to maintain is composure.
"Move forward with the plan… I'll decide how you will pay for your trespasses."
Washu made no acknowledgement of Slade's threat and moved forward. Terra's eyes bounced between Slade's face and Washu's retreating back. Between the two evils, Terra decided to play it safe and follow the one she had never followed before. She had made it all of six steps in Washu's tracks when Slade called her back and forbade her to impose on Raven's last moments of consciousness.
"Oh come on! Raven is in love with Robin. I have to see her face when she learns he's dead."
"Washu is not going to tell her and you will stay behind to ensure she does not find out."
"What?" Terra raised her thin right brow.
"You are aware that Raven's powers are governed by her emotions… the emotional outpour following her awareness of Robin's death would destroy her mind and with it her use."
"Fine… can I at least tell Sakura?"
Slade turned his head from her, rubbing his fingers with his chin. She could tell before he even said the word that the answer was a negative. "You will leave Sakura alone."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Sit here and enjoy what is left of the greatest warrior I have ever known."
Slade exited and had Terra the conscious of mind to watch him, she would have been the first person to see Slade's proud shoulders sag with regret. Terra huffed loudly before sitting down Indian style. Her face dropped into her palm and with disinterest eyes watched the life of the Boy Wonder swim against the air. At least it's a pretty light show.
…
That night had been my last chance to save me from my destiny… but my body refused. My mind let its guard down: KnowledgE had consented, BravE encouraged and HOPE… Raven bit back a tear and tried to focus as another of the disabling waves ran through her head. I had one night to be free from everything… but instead of freeing myself to Robin… that night I earned my fate…
"The Titans will get stronger to protect you, you'll get stronger to defend us… and we'll get our happy ending Raven… I promise."
Robin… Robin… Do you still believe that it is true? With all that I know… can I hope to believe that a happy ending is possible? The tears streamed. The long haired mystic's body shook violently. It had been exactly one day since Slade had revealed to her the truth about her pedigree. Slade had told her crueler things than the monks of Azarath, than the fearful populace that had surrounded her as she grew up, than the darkest recesses of her own mind…
And without hesitation, she knew it was true. What she didn't know was how she was going to stop it, to make sure her child would not fall victim to her grandfather as Raven had.
When the portal leading to Raven's holding room whirled and whimmed with its new entrants, Raven didn't have time to react as the chain around her neck pulled and dragged her to the floor. From the ground Raven could see Washu and Tetris coming towards her. She righted herself and watched as Washu pointed to the ground and Tetris laid down beside her without a word. Washu's dark fingers pressed into Tetris' forehead, just above his band crown. Raven's eyes widened when Washu began a torrent of magic words in languages she didn't realize were still used. The dead verbs and curses were strung together in a fashion that Raven knew was forbidden: of course, when wizards were evil, they generally ignored the rules that governed everyone else. Washu's words flowed and while Raven's eyes were held painfully open, Tetris' closed… and closed and closed… His chest stopped raising and falling and he was absolutely still.
"What did you do to him?" Raven asked when Washu's words ceased and Tetris was locked in suspended animation.
"I have done to him what I shall do to you. I am storing him for safe keeping… The return of Trigon resides in the maintenance of both of your present conditions."
"Who is he?" Raven asked.
"Just another creature preparing for the return of Trigon."
"You aren't a servant of Trigon… The eye of Azar follows all of them. So who are you?" Raven stated.
"I am the watcher of Laseri and Astarte." Washu replied.
"Laseri and Astarte? Those are Azarathian names… and the fact that you can say them in your tongue means you're from the Ring of Azarath."
"You are correct. I am not a servant to Trigon. I play a slightly different role than Slade. While Slade is a merely a messenger, I am entrusted in a much more valuable task."
"Why are you doing this?"
"I was entrusted with the will of Doomgaze to raise his sires so that his seed and the whelp of Trigon can borne the portal that will escape Trigon." Washu replied.
"Doomgaze wants to free Trigon? They're enemies!" Raven couldn't make sense of Washu's statements. If not for the glare of his eyes, she would have believed that he was lying. But Washu was strong and proud, much too strong to stoop to lying to his captive.
"My master grows restless without his epic battles against his greatest rival. Doomgaze seeks to finish his final battle with Trigon, uninterrupted on the battlefield of Earth. What will not be destroyed on this planet by Trigon's release will be undone in the closing chapter of the war between Trigon and Doomgaze."
"You're going to open the Portal of Destruction for sport? Just to use Earth as a playground?"
"Not just Earth… both Trigon and Doomgaze have a fondness for the ring of Azarath. The victor will have his taste of spoils, spreading demon races to cover the universe in shadow."
"It will never happen. I won't let Trigon make more like me, to use to do such terrible things."
Raven gasped when the chain around her neck pulled her, laying her down on her back. She was lying just like Tetris, Laseri: the heir of Doomgaze… the energy source for her Transient birthing. Raven thrashed against the restraints.
"Foolish girl… it only takes one… and with you and Laseri both prepared for your role, there is nothing to stop the inevitable Dark Wars."
"I can stop it! My friends will stop it!"
"Your Titans haven't the power to stop destiny."
Washu touched two fingers to Raven's charka and a echoing waving energy hammered into Raven's forehead. No… Raven tried to thrash her head side to side, but those two fingers pinned her in place and the echo came again. Raven could feel her fragile psyche spinning, the deep recesses of her mind spilling and expanding, the great artifacts of her history shattered and escaped. Her eyes began to fall.
No… No…Her eyes dropped and dropped. No… I won't let them do this… Not to me, not to my friends… not to the Earth… Robin…
"Az-a-rath---"
Raven's eyes fell closed.
"The Titans will get stronger to protect you, you'll get stronger to defend us… and we'll get our happy ending Raven… I promise."
Robin…
…
The white light would have been blinding, if his eyes weren't closed. He could hear something, something like running water in the ocean, it was calm and beautiful and he swore he could feel it lapping at his finger tips. He laid on his back, his bare fingers twitching at his sides. The water was far away, he couldn't touch it around him, he couldn't be sure it was real. When his eyes opened the light flooded in and robbed his sight. He groaned. His mind was a wreck, pain tightening and throbbing in his temples as he tried to focus on something, anything, expect the pain.
A hand lay down gently across his forehead. It was the most gentle touch he had ever felt. The simple touch began to pull away the tension. His eyes couldn't open to confirm, but the relief in his head brought one name to his lips.
"Ka-san" (Mother)
He heard a soft sigh. Something that made his heart tremble. It was her voice and her touch.
Asuka smiled. "After all these years he still remembers his mother's touch." She whispered to her companion. He hadn't realized they weren't alone together, he would have if he could just open his eyes.
"Wake up and face your forgotten past." Ueno demanded.
And his son followed his order. His eyes blinked slowly as the bright light filtered through his irises and stung at him less and less. He could see their outlines, his father strong and his mother graceful. He could see them with minimal obstruction and reached for them with one hand. He sat up, his hair falling into his eyes. With one hand extended, the other bent and wiped the strands from his eyes. He realized then that he wasn't wearing gloves. He realized then that he wasn't wearing his mask. The fingers he had brought to push his hair aside were given a new task. The slim and smooth hand covered his face, blocked out his eyes.
"Dear Brother, look at me." Her voice was like heaven and for the first time in a long time he felt relief. He was surprised when she pulled his hand away from his face, taking the larger one into her own. His eyes dropped to his pale hand clutched in her tanner one. He dared to look up and met her beautiful brown eyes. They were a brown he was familiar with, the deep color was swirled and impacted with a subtle gold highlight, just along the corners when the light shined just so… or if he was on the verge of tears. Looking at his mother, he didn't know which it was.
"Have you forgotten us?" Ueno asked, his strong face looking down at him like a watchful father would.
"No, I never forgot you… Never wanted to, but everyday it was harder and harder to live with the memory. So I had to push everything, deep into the untended parts of my heart. So it wouldn't eat away at me."
"It is the consequences of burden, Dear Brother. Every circumstance has a negative and positive result. It is not within your control to decide which acts in response to your movements… but you must never fail to act, that always results in loss."
"I was too weak to save you." Dear Brother sobbed, his hands clenched painfully, his short nails biting crescent moons into his palms.
Asuka sighed and hugged her son's shoulders gently. Dear Brother inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of her. Her long black hair slipped over his arm as his face pressed into her shoulder. It had been so long since he had last cried. Asuka stroked his back gently. "You were too young. We loved you more than anything. We couldn't let you fight… if we lost you, we'd lose our hearts"
"Do not lose yours." Ueno said firmly. Asuka stood and gently extracted herself from her son. Dear Brother looked up at them both, looking into his mother's beautiful eyes, his father's strong face.
"Ka-san, Otou-sama" (Mother, Father) He whispered, holding a hand out to them.
Asuka smiled sadly, making no move to take his hand. "Don't forget to fly."¹ She whispered.
"Kenosuke itsumo tatsu!" (Always stand)
And from his sight, his parents faded into the bright light. Dear Brother crawled forward on his knees, his hand extended to try to touch them just once more before they faded. He missed his mother's skirt, but as his eyes reached up to see the last traces of their faces he saw a different body, a different hand, a different sad smile.
He saw Raven. The long haired girl bent down just slightly as a mother would to encourage her crawling child to come to her. One slender hand extended to his, her finger tips just inches away.
She smiled gently. "Hai." (Here)
His fingers touched hers, his bare fingers grasped hers tightly, his eyes met hers for the first time… and all the white vanished. His eyes closed and he could feel the white peeling away from his surroundings. The sound of water was gone, what he could hear was breathing; three sets of lungs… one was his own, he needed to open his eyes to see who belonged to the others.
And he did.
The room focused slowly, Robin could see the flashing lights of the computers, the bar of the hospital bed and the frame of a beautiful Tameranian girl and the agile archer with his head in his hands. Robin sat up weakly, his movements alerting everyone in the room It was when that gentle red head turned to face that robin realized, just like in his dream, he wasn't wearing his mask. As Starfire's mouth opened to shout his name in great relief, Robin threw his forearm over his eyes. He could see her eyes shaking with relief.
"Did you see?" Robin asked, over his arm he could see Starfire's face drop. He felt bad for that moment, hurting the girl who was obviously worried. But some things were sacred to him, some things he couldn't share with Starfire before he shared them with Raven.
Starfire turned her head to her own hands, though relief surged through her, she still felt the sting of loneliness, that Robin wasn't overwhelmed in happiness in seeing her. "I did not."
Robin extended his other hand for his mask. Speedy handed it to him
"She only took it off to clean your face. Usually I do it, but she was worried about you."
Robin fitted the thin fabric over his face, pressing it securely. The Titans' leader met their gaze for the first time. "Usually? How long have I been out?"
Star cast her eyes away. "Three months"
"What's happened?"
"The first step in the end of the world." Speedy replied.
Robin felt sick to his stomach. "Uhh… Raven… where's Raven?"
"We still do not know." Star answered.
"We haven't been able to trace her location… hers… or Sakura's." Speedy added solemnly.
"Sakura!"
"Calm down Robin, your body's been through a lot of damage. Celine wasn't sure you'd ever wake up. We think Washu was trying to take you out when you dove in to protect Raven… We don't know what he's planning to do with he stole from you or if he's already done it… But for three months…"
Starfire's tears were silent. "You were so still…"
Celine entered the room then and took Robin's attention from his crying friend. He could see the deep scar running across her forehead, but before he could ask, she supplied him with the answer. "It's the lingering reminder of Terra's betrayal."
"Terra betrayed us?"
"Again." Starfire replied.
"She's a better snake than we could have ever imagined. The attack on you, the attack on me, it was all a set up to get what Slade wanted…" Celine said bitterly.
"Its obvious at some level that Slade wanted you out of the picture." Speedy added.
"By all measures and estimates… you should have died… I think your will to live slowly built your life force back… we don't know yet… when we have more information on your condition---"
"I'm not concerned with me! Do they have her? Does Slade have Raven? Does he have my sister?"
"Yes… at least we think so… but as you can see, the world hasn't ended yet…"
Says you…
Speedy stepped forward as Starfire got up and fled the room. The pair of masked fighters watched her go; the streaming pools of tears caught the light and added even more distress to their circumstances. Speed sat where Star had a moment before and told Robin what they knew and Celine made sure he was aware of everything the Titans didn't currently know.
The Boy Wonder realized he had missed a lot and he would have a lot of work to do to get Raven back, to rescue Sakura and to save the rest of the world. I will save them… mother, father… I won't let them end up like you did… Robin rubbed his head. He frowned as long strands were caught between his fingers. His hair was longer than he had ever grown it before.
Speedy noticed Robin's notice of the physical proof of his loss of three months in his life. Speedy turned to his leader holding out a hand to him. Robin took it and pulled himself from his hospital bed. "A lot of things have changed Robin, we figured that you should decide whether or not you were willing to change too."
…
Washu sealed the sleeping chamber and found Slade and Terra standing outside of Sakura's holding room. Slade seemed deep in thought. Washu could barely fathom the depth of Slade's strategic brilliance: it was why he endured Slade, why he did not crush his aides. Slade's abilities were unparalleled as far as player manipulation.
But when it came to Robin, Slade was constantly at a disadvantage. It was one of the reasons that Washu had decided to destroy Robin. Slade would push and change their plans; interrupted Washu's complicated ideas just to play his games with the leader of the Teen Titans. It annoyed and frustrated Washu to have to wait or move unnecessarily just to incorporate Robin into Slade's plans. Until Washu had stolen the boy's life, he didn't understand what Slade found so intriguing about him.
Though the complication of Robin had been eliminated, traces of his presence occupied Slade's attention. The girl, Sakura, was of kin to Robin and therefore was worth Slade's time. Slade never referred to any of the other Titans by name except those directly involved in his objectives. It wasn't until the girl had slipped into their strong hold she had sparked Slade's interest.
Washu had been told about the girl's Holy power. That sort of power wasn't born into mortals, Washu knew that she had been given those powers and considering that that power was not common, Washu knew exactly where she had gotten it from.
Seventeen years ago the Wars of Light and Dark had swept most of the demon races into the darkest dimensions of the universe where they could not harm the fragile lives that those of the light considered to be most valuable. Some demons saved their claims by siring half-breeds, as both Trigon and Doomgaze had done… And in response, it seems Jericho has done the same. Jericho is gathering an army of light… and he sent them to the whelp of Trigon to protect her from the will of Doomgaze… Washu smiled darkly, his mind slipping from Robin's energy to their captive. What great fortune that he was foolish enough to deliver them to me…
Washu approached Slade and Terra, the blonde girl looked past Washu's billowing cloak to the portal that had been sealed. She huffed. It would be years before she could hurt Raven again. But at least there was someone else left for her to play with: judging by Slade's face after he left Sakura's holding room, Sakura wouldn't be joining the Syndicate.
ºSlade had not been prepared to face Sakura with the wound still fresh in his ego. He should have waited to try to persuade her, but he told himself that Robin's death did not affect him much more than the death of a friend from his childhood would have. He walked forward, through the portal and into Sakura's holding room.
Sakura turned her brown eyes to Slade, realized it was him and turned back to the ground beneath her knees. With her head bent down, Slade could see in profile the characters that she and Robin had in common: the short chin, the aristocratic brow and the black hair as dark as Slade's own soul.
Sakura's leg had taken to healing on its own. Slade didn't know if Washu's influence had hindered the application of that particular power or if Sakura's ability to heal herself was weak to begin with. Slade had a bruise across his chest in the shape of a size eight boot to his chest when he had tried to place a cast around the fracture.
At the time he considered the possibility that she lacked the capacity to heal herself and choose permanent personal injury over accepting his assistance. Seeing that she was healing properly without medical assistance and healing more rapidly in the last few days than she had in the last two months lead Slade to believe that with Washu's increasing lack of focus that Sakura's powers were being repressed less and less…
And that made her a threat.
That made her valuable.
Slade's eye was keen for potential. He had seen the gifts of Robin, Terra and Sakura and one by one he set about making them realize the depth of their potential. While Robin proved a failure, with which there were no longer means for correction, and Terra showed to be dangerous, Sakura might prove that the third time was the charm.
"Before you even ask, my answer is still no. Go away; I'm trying to think of a way to break out of here." Sakura said flatly.
"Forward aren't we?"
"And easily annoyed. Go away. I want nothing to do with you or your Syndicate… except the ending of it."
"You lack the capacity to destroy."
"Just because my power is pure doesn't mean it isn't destructive. Trust me Slade, the moment your Syndicate slips my Holy will conquer you."
"Have you always been so bold?"
"Didn't your little spy tell you?"
The way her eyes moved, the pitch and depth of her voice made Slade realize the error of his actions. It was not that she was resisting his tactics; it was that he wasn't employing them. He had strategies for acquiring the trust and control of Sakura, but circumstances had arisen beyond the influence of his manipulation.
Slade thought for a moment, staring down at Sakura's profile. Her features were in common with Robin, but a single dissimilarity inspired a new idea. º
Slade turned to Washu and the caped demon waited.
"The preparations are complete." Slade said, didn't ask.
Washu nodded. "The parents of destruction are secured. All that remains is to ensure they remain secured."
"What could go wrong?" Terra asked.
"The Titans… they present the only obstacle." Washu replied.
Terra rolled her eyes. "We don't need to worry about the Titans." The geomancer stated.
"We must always be worried about the Titans… you've met them, you've fought with them and against them… you know just as well as I do that they're unerringly resilient." Slade replied.
"Not when we've broken their foundation. We made a mistake before when we tried to take them down, we didn't recognize every part of their characters. The Titans are a house and every home has four corner stones that support everything on top of it. Depending on who you ask, the corner stones changes."
"But I suppose you know the true arrangement of the Titans' foundation?" Slade asked.
"I did live among them, I saw how they acted with each other, when one was sad or hurt, they acted a certain way. They couldn't let pretty Starfire stay hurt or Beast Boy feel scared or Aqualad feel alone."
"You suggest that the cornerstones are those three and another, Robin I suppose?" Slade asked.
"You got the Robin part right, but the other three aren't. As far as I can see it, the Titans were built in two classes, the new and the old and they became one house. The original five are in the old, the new seven are the new. Put the two together and you get one big house, but still only four cornerstones. From the old house its Robin and Raven; they're who is most trusted, most defended, most liked… from the new house its Celine and Sakura; they mark the formation of the full Titans unit, with their unique skills and characters…"
"What does this matter?" Washu asked.
"We've destroyed Robin and Celine. One half of the house has broken… we stole the other half. With Raven and Sakura captured that house came tumbling down." Terra replied.
"Sakura, captured? You say that is if she isn't part of the grand design."
Terra furrowed her brow. "You'll never get her to turn, especially when she finds out that Washu killed her brother."
"I do not require her acceptance. I believe I have come across the technology to ensure the power of her alliance." Slade turned his eye to Washu.
"You desire to make her the bearer of a Transient as well?" In Washu's head the plan begin to form and he liked it. "Her Holy is a grand guard… Raven's child will produce destruction and Sakura's sire will guard her path and ensure it."
"That won't work." Terra said. "Speedy isn't Robin… as his name says, masked boys move at different paces."
Washu seemed more upset about the foiling of his plan than Slade. That hadn't been Slade's plan to begin with. "Washu, I was suggesting a different means to repay your debt to me. I desire her allegiance unshakably and you have executed such appropriate technology."
"You wish me to thieve her mind?"
"Just as you did Tetris."
"I possess another Slave crown; if it is your desire, I can take her will… nothing would give me more satisfaction than conquering the power that conquered my master… With my aid in dispose for the next four years and with much more work to be done, caging of that power will be quite beneficial."
"You overstep your boundaries. Sakura will be my servant and mine solely. If you desire an aid use Red X. Sakura is an infinitely better representation of what was the grandest challenge I ever faced."
"So may it be."
Inside her holding room, Sakura felt the scrambling waves intensify. She figured there would be some repercussion for her refusal in becoming a fighter for Slade's Syndicate, but she figured that that retaliation would come directly from Slade.
The strikes against her concentration were like claps of thunder. Those shuddering blows intensified as the portal twisted and allowed Washu, Terra and Slade to enter. Sakura tried to ready herself, but the blows intensified the closer Washu and Slade stood.
Slade leaned forward, grabbing Sakura's chin with his hand. Sakura tried to pull away, but the waving of her mind drew gasps and tears to her body.
"What are you doing to me?" Sakura asked, she could feel her Holy power twisting in her gut. Something wasn't right.
"Just preparing you to accept the offer you cannot refuse."
"I told you I'd never fight for you." Sakura spat before another charge whipped through her body. She groaned and her stomach clenched, her heart beat was erratic.
"What you say and what is appear to be two different things. You will fight for me Sakura. You will be my single solider of light amongst my sea of black."
"No. Get away from me!" Sakura's eyes flashed white for a moment, something Terra had never seen before. Her powers were responding in desperation, Terra knew that Sakura's powers were limited because they weren't inherent; at least that was what Sakura had said… Terra was beginning to worry that even Sakura didn't know the true depth of her powers. Terra's curiosity kept the girl quiet as Slade and Washu made their move.
Sakura's brown eyes widened when Washu revealed a thin ring of gold, just large enough to slip over a human head. It was exactly like the one Tetris wore.
"Do you recognize this?" Washu asked coldly.
"That's what you used to control Tetris' mind! Where is he? What did you do to him?"
"He's resting. While he sleeps, we'll need a suitable replacement… someone just as strong and just as gifted as he was… and we've found a favorable candidate."
"You can't control me!"
Sakura's eyes watched Slade take the Slave Crown from Washu.
"I can, with this. Say goodnight Sakura… when you wake up you'll be a general with a new name… how does Cheshire¹ suit you?"
Sakura's head thrashed futilely for a few moments as Slade attempted to crown her head. Washu grew tired of her resistance and with a single touch of his fingers to her forehead; a rippling of chaos ran through Sakura's mind and stole away her consciousness.
"There are more delicate ways of handling a female." Slade said, obviously upset by Washu's intrusion.
Washu said nothing and Slade moved forward, dropping the crown onto Sakura's head. The reaction was immediate. From the contact of the band on top of Sakura's head, her Holy power surged and escaped. The powerful white energy concentrated around the band, washing along it like smooth electricity. Her whole body took the white glow and in a flash of power, the slave crown was whipped from her head. The backlash knocked the unconscious girl backwards while the open eyes of the room watched the mangled crown soar to the opposite end of the room. The thin metal bounced against the floor, once, twice then settled. From where Terra was standing, should could see that whatever power was behind it was beaten by the Holy.²
Washu turned a furious eye between the shattered crown, the unconscious girl and the energy her body was still emitting energy.
"Her power is unclaimable, her mind is unturnable and her will to fight us is absolute. With no measure of weakness or doubt, she is useless."
Terra stepped in closer, getting a good look at that slack face of Sakura Chloe. She pushed her hair from over her right eye. "I wouldn't say that… I'd say she's about to pay me a valuable service." Terra turned to Slade and Washu. "Do me a favor and leave Sakura to me… I need a word… just us girls."
Terra watched Slade and Washu exit; their lack of concern for Sakura was thrilling. She could get away with murder… And I will…
End of Part Three
¹Cheshire is the mother of Speedy's daughter from the comics. Sakura isn't based on Cheshire or in anyway similar to her except for the fact that she's Speedy's girlfriend, but I like weaving in some of the comic story into this one.
²When Sakura was trying to break the crown on Tetris, it wasn't the crown repelling her, it was her Holy repelling the crown.