I do not own the Teen Titans or anything related to them, however I do own this story and all of the non-original characters except for Isis, who I have been given permission to use by a friend of mine and all are copywrited. This means you can not copy the story or any of the characters or use them without permission from their original owners.

Teen Titans: Alpha

The unknown and the unwanted

"Does it say who it's from?" Phoenix asked, hoping to God that it did.

"No, it just says: To Phoenix." Li said, examining the alert the message had given more closely. Phoenix walked over slowly, the other Titans expected her to play the message herself and were surprised when she transferred the message onto a CD.

"Phoe what are you doing?" Neru asked and Phoenix just turned with the disk in hand, her face was blank, hiding the worry her stomach was now alerting herself to.

"I'm going to watch this on my computer." She said, simply stating the obvious.

"Don't you think we should watch it with you? I mean, there's no sender's name on it." Taiyou asked and Phoenix forced her third smile of the day.

"Don't worry, it's only a message, what harm can it do? Besides, it's addressed to me." With that she flew out of the doors quickly and Li said what all the other Titan's were thinking;

"Is it just me, or did she seem to want to get away from us?"

Phoenix was in such a rush to watch the message that she almost forgot to shut the door behind her. As the sliding door closed she inserted the disk into her computer and it immediately began to play.

It was pitch black. In the centre of the screen a figure was sitting, a low red light glowed behind them, but otherwise nothing could be seen.

A familiar voice began to flow from the message, and Phoenix listened intently, thoughts racing through her mind.

"Dear Phoenix. Dear, dear Phoenix. I have been watching you, watching you and your perfect little life." Phoenix shuddered and her heart grew cold, 'Not you. Why does it have to be you?' also thinking that at the moment, her life wasn't that perfect.

"Yes. I've been keeping an eye on you. I wonder how your friends would react, how they would feel if they found out you've been keeping secrets from them." Phoenix's eyes widened, he wouldn't tell them, would he? 'Oh yes he would.' She thought bitterly.

"But that's not why I called. Oh no. I know you got a message from your father the other day. I do hope you've been keeping an eye on him." Phoenix's heart missed a beat. 'He hasn't got Dad has he? Don't be stupid. Dad's a legend, he can take care of himself.' But the person on screen seemed to read her mind.

"I know what you're thinking. The legend that is the 'Great Boy Wonder', he take care of himself better than anyone, I wouldn't be able to do anything to him. That's where you're wrong." The voice continued on bitterly and Phoenix was reeling at the words.

"The Great Boy Wonder has his flaws. Two of them I know to. One of them is you his precious filthy half-blooded daughter." Phoenix felt as if she might be sick. Panic was rising in the pit of her stomach as she listened to the end of the message.

"I do hope you've been keeping an eye on him Phoenix. Who knows what could happen to him." The screen cut off and Phoenix's head was spinning. She got up and started pacing her room, taking the same worn path she had taken this morning.

'Not Dad, please not Dad. If anything's happened to him… If he's done anything to him I swear I'll…' As the machine ejected the disk she took it in her hand, staring at it for a moment before throwing it at the wall. It smashed into tiny pieces and the person in the doorway had to move to dodge the flying shards. Phoenix's breathing was harsh as she tried to regain her self-control.

"Yes?" She snapped, having not fully regained her centre. As her breathing slowed a bit more she said in a calmer tone;

"Sorry… What is it?" Now hoping it was safe to breathe, Taiyou finally spoke.

"We all want to know what's going on. You couldn't seem to get away from us fast enough just now." He spoke cautiously, in case she started to throw things again.

"Nothing's going on." Phoenix replied quickly, only adding to Taiyou's suspicions. She looked away from him to the shiny shards of the CD on the floor.

"You know, I can tell when you're lying Phoe, because you never look anyone in the eye." Phoenix looked up defiantly, her masked eyes staring right into Taiyou's deep blue orbs.

"Nothing is going on." She spoke more forcefully this time, her voice was clear, steady and adamant. Taiyou's reply was just as strong.

"You've changed Phoe. Something's happened and you've changed. You've never lied to us before, you've become dead quiet, you always want to be alone, you always seem to be thinking and you've not properly smiled in days." Phoenix pouted at the floor. She looked at the wall when he mentioned how quiet she had become and looked out of the corner of her eyes at him when he mentioned she hadn't been smiling properly.

"So? What's you're point?" She asked, her arms crossed as she stared at the wall.

"My point? My point is that you've changed! We're all worried about you. It's like we don't know who you are anymore. It's like I don't know who you are anymore." Taiyou's voice seemed to be getting louder with each statement, until he reached the final one. Phoenix didn't move for a moment, the room was filled with silence and what seemed like an age passed by in two short seconds.

"Or maybe you never knew me to begin with." Phoenix replied, her voice cut through the air like icy steel. She walked past him, not even looking at him as she passed him in the doorway. As she walked up the corridor Taiyou called after her,

"You know, I'm starting to think that myself." His voice was harsh and it felt like it had sliced right through Phoenix's heart. She merely kept her head down as she flew to the training room and Taiyou was left by her doorway, feeling numb and bewildered.