CHAPTER NINE: DISCHORD

Robin, still bound and laying on the floor, watched as the Beast roared, seemingly in some sort of pain. Apparently, the process that Slade was using to interface with its neurological system was causing it discomfort. Slade, for his part, seemed to be concentrating very intently, while operating some sort of electronic device mounted on his wrist. The huge creature advanced a few halting steps towards them, then stopped, clutching its head and letting out another anguished bellow.

That's it, keep fighting, BB... give me some time.

Robin wracked his brain, trying to come up with a possible solution to his situation. Slade had tried this sort of tactic before, with Terra, and she had been able to resist him, so, perhaps Slade had miscalculated once again. At least, that was what he was hoping.

The first order of business was to free himself from the bonds around his arms, legs, and torso. Examining them, he saw the knot in the ropes that were wound tightly around him, within reach if he could just free one hand. His captors had removed his utility belt, so ingenuity would be required. A moment's thought and he had a solution, remembering a trick he saw a his mentor perform years ago.

You didn't restrain my wrists, Slade... sloppy.

Bracing himself, Robin flexed the muscles in his shoulders and chest, made strong by years of martial arts training and acrobatics. After a moment of excruciating effort, he heard a loud pop and felt the stabbing pain as his left shoulder dislocated itself from its socket. Gritting his teeth against the agony, he used the added wiggle room he now had within his bonds to free his right arm enough to attack the knot in the ropes, untying it quickly.

His timing was fortunate, as whatever resistance the Beast had been able to put forth to Slade's unspoken compulsion had been overcome, and the huge creature leapt toward the Boy Wonder, its claws extended. Robin was just able to struggle to his feet as the razor-sharp talons ripped into the carpeted floor where he had lain just moments before. The Beast turned to pursue him, its green eyes devoid of any recognition.

Robin turned to face the Beast, keeping a wary eye on its huge razor-sharp claws. "Beastboy, it's me. It's Robin. Beastboy, please, I know you don't want to do this. Don't let Slade use you the way he tried to use Terra!" Robin didn't hold out much hope that his pleas would register with the rampaging creature. His fears were correct, as the Beast leveled a vast overhand swipe at his face, which he dodged with ease. This, however, left him open for the the backhanded blow that the Beast followed with. The powerful strike caught Robin in the chest, flinging him into the wall behind him. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he fell to his knees gasping for breath.

"Robin, heads up!" Cyborg's voice rang out.

Robin heard his call, and looked up just in time to see a huge green fist rushing towards his face. He ducked the punch and tucked into a roll to escape, ignoring the shooting pain in his shoulder.

Robin rose to his feet, facing down the huge animal. He knew there was no way he could take the creature on physically, especially by himself, without his utility belt and with one arm useless. He needed a diversion.

Gizmo frowned in frustration as he tried another code on the remote control-like device that he held in his hand. He'd been trying to pick the electronic lock on the vault in the Titan's basement for the better part of a half an hour, with no success. The encryption on the lock was tougher than almost anything else he'd encountered.

If those cludeheads went to all this trouble to lock this up, whatever's in here has to be good!

"Why don' we just break it?" Mammoth grunted from behind him.

Gizmo looked back over his shoulder. "Break it. Yeah, sure. It's adamantium alloy, moron! Do you know what that means?"

Mammoth seemed to think a moment. "...No."

"It means it's almost as hard as your skull! We ain't gonna just break this, so shut up and let me work!" Muttering to himself, he tried another sequence of alphanumerics on the lock, which showed nary a sign of opening.

"Argh! Crud-munchin' lock! I wish Jinx were here! She could use her powers to cause the lock to fail, or something."

"Well then, looks like it's your lucky day, Gizmo," A familiar female voice called out from behind them.

As they Gizmo and Mammoth turned around, they saw a pair of glowing pink feline eyes in the shadows. As they stood in stunned silence, Jinx stepped forward and waved, smiling. "Miss me?"

Mammoth grinned oafishly. "How'd you get here?"

"Titans had me locked up," she replied. "It was boring, being interrogated all the time. You know how it is. But, the power suddenly went out, and the locks on the door let go. So... here I am!" She looked at the safe Gizmo was attempting to crack. "Hey, want me to help ya with that?"

Gizmo was ecstatic. "Yeah!"

Jinx held her hands up, aiming them at the safe. "Sure. Anything for my friends." Then she paused. "You are my friends, aren't you?"

Gizmo was puzzled by her odd tone. "Yeah, sure we are. We've known ya since your first year at the academy. So, open the safe already."

"I dunno, Gizzy... I'm not sure I'm feeling the love, here." She lowered her hands, seemed to think for a moment. "I mean, I'm grateful that you broke into the tower to rescue me... You were here to rescue me, weren't you?" Her tone was very mild.

"Y-yeah, sure we were," he replied.

"Good to hear... I'm sure that you were going to come see me after you were done going through this safe here."

"Yeah," Mammoth replied. "We were going to give you a cut of whatever's in it," he added.

"So nice to hear that!" Jinx said. "That is, if Slade lets you keep any of it."

"Slade? How did you know-" Mammoth began, but she cut him off.

"Oh, I've been shadowing you for quite a while now. Funny, you didn't mention looking for me that whole time. Not once."

"Well, we were gonna..." Mammoth mumbled.

"Yeah, honest..." Gizmo was growing more and more worried. Something was very... off about her demeanor.

Jinx frowned. "Sorry guys, but, I don't think that Slade helped you two break in here just to rescue little ol' me. He's not the sentimental type. And besides..." she backed up several paces, and her eyes began to glow with magenta light. "I haven't forgotten who left me to be a snack for that thing down in the sewer." All traces of a smile had left her face.

Gizmo felt his mouth get suddenly dry. "Easy now, Jinx. We didn't mean to... umm..." he thought hard for a moment, trying to find a way to save his hide. "... It was Mammoth's fault! He's the one who ran away! I was just stuck on his back!"

"What!" Mammoth exclaimed. "Now wait a minute, you were the one who told me to just keep running!"

"Aw c'mon, you big cludgehead! You know I wanted to go back for Jinx!" Gizmo looked at the sorceress. "You know I'd never do anything like that to you, right Jinx? It was all because of that big coward over there!"

The pink-haired girl eyed them silently.

Mammoth was clearly losing his cool. "You little runt! I should've left you behind, too!"

Everyone paused momentarily, and Mammoth seemed to realize what he had just blurted out. "W-wait, Jinx, what I meant to say was-"

Whatever it was the overgrown villain meant say was cut off as a rapid-fire volley of pink energy bolts caught him in the chest. With a shout of pain, Mammoth was tossed back into a pile of rubbish that had collected in the corner of the basement. Groaning, he struggled back to his feet. "Jinx..."

"Sorry, Mammoth," she said, "Looks like we aren't friends, after all." She lifted her hands and launched another blast. This one, however was aimed at a metal ceiling beam directly above Mammoth's head. The brutish boy could only watch as the welds holding the beam up failed due to the effect of Jinx's innate magical talent. With a metallic shriek, the heavy beam fell from above, catching Mammoth square on the head, knocking him unconscious instantly.

She turned to her other former comrade, now smiling again. "That was fun, don't you agree, Giz?"

Gizmo had retreated to a corner of the darkened basement, hoping to be as inconspicuous as possible. "Ummm... yeah?" he squeaked.

Jinx looked at the safe Gizmo had been trying to break into. "Hmmm... I would like to know what's in there, come to think of it..." She raised her hands and used her hex bolts to short out the electronic lock. She opened the door and peered in. "Heh, now I know why it was locked so securely. Would be a shame for that to fall into the wrong hands..." She turned back to Gizmo. "I have to thank you for leading me to this. Just for that, you might actually get out of this without taking a beating.

"But first, why don't we talk about what you and Slade really doing here..."

It didn't take Robin very long to realize that he was hopelessly overmatched, physically, even excluding the dislocated shoulder he was nursing. Any attempt to fight the Beast directly would be foolhardy at best. However, he knew that if he didn't keep the creature occupied, his still-disabled friends would be at great risk. A quick glance around his surroundings, and he had an idea. He quickly snatched the Titan's GameStation console from off its perch on top of the entertainment center, ripping the cables out of the machine in the process.

"Hey BB," he said, "Sorry about this..."

Robin threw the GameStation as hard as he could at the huge creature, striking high on the chest. The Beast growled in annoyance, and tried to rush the Titan, only to be struck in the head by a rather heavy book that Robin grabbed off a nearby shelf as he sought to evade the charging behemoth.

As he continued to retreat from the enraged Beast, Robin spied Slade on the far side of the room. The villain still seemed to be in an almost trace-like state. Apparently, controlling the primal creature was taking up most of his concentration.

Maybe if I can get to Slade, I can break his control over Beastboy... let's see if I can pull this off...

The Beast roared in annoyance as he was struck in the head by the small table lamp Robin lobbed at him.

I think he might be getting frustrated. That could be helpful...

Unfortunately for the Boy Wonder, the Beast was also a quick learner. As Robin dashed from his covered position behind the couch in attempt to outflank his opponent, he didn't hear Cyborg's warning cry in time, as he was hit full-force by the heavy coffee table that the Beast flung at him. Struck in his already-injured shoulder by the heavy piece of furniture, he could do little but fall to the floor, nearly paralyzed with pain.

From the other side of the room, Robin heard Cyborg call out to him in alarm. The Boy Wonder tried to struggle to his feet as quickly as he could, but the Beast was quicker. The huge animal grabbed his neck in one taloned hand, and lifted him from the floor as though he weighed nothing. As he gasped for breath, Robin could only hope that some vestige of his friend within the Beast's mind would stop him from finishing him off.

Slade walked up beside the Beast, and peered at Robin with his one eye, regarding him with utter disdain.

"Kill him," the villain said coldly.

Robin braced himself for the pain of having his throat crushed by the Beast, but, the creature remained still, looking at him intently.

"I gave you an order, animal." Slade raised his left wrist, and once again activated the small device that linked him to the Beast.

A light on the electronic collar around the Beast's neck began to flash rapidly, and the huge creature dropped Robin to the ground as it let out another roar of pain, clutching its head.

"I will be obeyed..." Slade growled, as he stared at the creature he was attempting to exert his will over.

The Beast continued to let out cries of pain, holding its head in its huge hands. It fell to its knees, the cries of pain growing softer. Finally, it let out one more soft cry, almost a whimper, and fell on its side heavily, seeming to have lost consciousness.

"Beastboy!" Robin called out in alarm.

As the creature laid on the floor, its body seemed to tremble a moment, and then shrank, the animal features shifting back in to the familiar form of Robin's teammate. Beastboy laid deathly still.

Slade looked down at the changeling. "Good help is so hard to find."

The pain in Robin's wounded shoulder was suddenly secondary to the rage boiling in the pit of his stomach. He rose to his feet, almost snarling at his adversary. With a cry of anger, he leapt at Slade, attempting to land a flying kick to the side of his head. Slade was ready for the attack, however and neatly ducked to the side, his hand flashing to his belt and drawing his staff. As soon as Robin's feet hit the ground, the extensible weapon slammed into the back of the Titan's head, filling his vision with stars and knocking him to the ground in a heap.

As Robin tried vainly to regain his senses, he heard Slade step up behind him. He turned to face his enemy, seeing the butt of his staff leveled for a killing strike at his head.

"I suppose the old maxim is true," Slade said, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Goodbye, Robin." The masked villain drew his staff back, and Robin braced himself for the end.

The expected blow never came, however, as Slade was suddenly struck by a salvo of pink energy, coming from the entrance to the room. Caught off guard, Slade was knocked back several yards, letting out a grunt of pain.

Robin turned, and saw catlike magenta eyes shining in the darkened corner of the room.

"Jinx!"

The sorceress rushed to Robin's side, holding out something to him. "Don't say I never got you anything."

Robin took the item from her hand. It was one of his utility belts. He strapped on his equipment, still operating with only one hand. "Why are you helping?"

"Personal reasons, don't worry about it," she replied brusquely, "Now, go free your pals quick, I'll watch your back."

Robin nodded, and rushed to his teammates. He was vaguely aware of Jinx firing more of her magic at something, but knew he had to concentrate on the task at hand. When he got to Cyborg, the technologically-enhanced Titan shook his head. "Raven first. You, Star and BB all need a medic, and, I'm not as useful in a fight. Gizmo's disabled my weapons."

"Right!" The boy wonder moved to his half-demon comrade, and removed her gag. "I can free them quicker than you," She said. She "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!"

As she finished her incantation, black energy leapt from her body, severing the bonds on Starfire and Cyborg, severing her own bonds at the same time. Quickly rising to her feet, she helped Robin, up. "Wait a moment," she commanded. She laid a hand gently on his left shoulder, Robin felt a momentary jolt of pain as the dislocated joint re-aligned, then the warmth as her healing magic did it's work.

"Thanks," he said, "Now, see if you can fix Starfire, she's been drugged. I'll see to Cyborg."

Robin dashed to Cyborg's side, helping the huge Titan to his feet. "Robin, where's Jinx?" he said with concern.

Cyborg was right to be worried, for the sound of her hex bolts had stopped. Joined by Raven and the now-revived Starfire, they looked all about the darkened room, but saw no sign of either Jinx or Slade. The shadows offered any number of hiding places for either of them.

"Robin," Starfire said in a soft voice, "I am worried. It is too quiet, as you say."

"Don't worry about her, alien," Slade's soft baritone voice said from the shadows at their back. "Traitors aren't worth such regard."

As they turned to face the voice of their enemy. Jinx's limp form was hurled to the floor before them. Of their opponent, there was no trace.

Cyborg rushed to her side instantly. "Jinx!" He knelt next to her, and gently cradled her head, examining her injuries. "She's alive, but badly beaten. Raven. Could you help her?"

"I'll try," The empath said. But before she could move to aid the sorceress, a small spherical object came rolling out of the shadows, into the midst of the group of them.

Robin's eyes widened, as he recognized what it was. "Look out!"

Before anyone could heed his warning, there was a loud detonation, and a billowing cloud of smoke surrounded all of them, blinding them and reducing them to fits of coughing.

Reaching to his belt for his gas-mask, Robin called out for his team. "Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, sound off! Where are you?"

"I'm here, Rob," he heard Cyborg rasp.

"I am uninjured, Robin," came Starfire's reply a moment later.

"Raven?" Robin called "Raven, are you alright?"

"She is for now, Robin." The voice was Slade's.

As the smoke cleared, The three remaining Titans saw Slade, with Raven clutched tightly to him. He had his left hand over her mouth; in the other, there was a knife, it's deadly point pressed to the side of the empath's neck.

"These are my terms," the villain continued. "You will let me leave the Tower. You will make no attempt to rescue Raven. She will be my assurance of your good behavior."

"Slade..." Robin growled, "This isn't over..."

"I think it is, Robin. You are out of options. I know none of you will risk the life of your friend."

They watched helplessly as Slade backed towards the exit with Raven held hostage.

Suddenly, a green blur flashed from the shadows. A bloodcurdling snarl filled the air as a emerald-furred jaguar sprang forth, sinking its huge fangs into Slade's knife-wielding hand with the sickening crunch of cracking bone, forcing the weapon from his hand. As the masked criminal cried out in agony, Raven slipped from his grasp and dashed to safety.

With a heave of herculean strength, Slade managed to fling the predatory cat off of his hand. The Jaguar landed on all fours, and its body shifted fluidly into the form of Beastboy.

"Youuu.." Slade growled, as he nursed his badly mangled hand.

"Meee.." Beastboy replied, as he glared at Slade, with hate burning in his eyes. "You're right. This is over, because I'm ending it. Right now." He began stalking towards the injured villain.

"You forget yourself, boy, You're nothing. You're an animal." Slade slammed a button on his wrist controller with his mutilated hand, activating the nanomachines inside Beastboy.

The collar around Beastboy's neck began to beep loudly, and once again. Beastboy fell to his knees again, gritting his teeth in pain.

Starfire flew forward, her eyes ablaze with green light. "Beastboy!"

"Keep away, Starfire, or I'll cook his frontal lobe like an egg," Slade growled at her.

Beastboy, however, still struggled to his feet, and continued his march towards Slade.

"Impossible," Slade gasped.

"You want the Beast so badly, Slade?" Beastboy shouted, " Well then, enjoy!" Beastboy's body once again blurred into the form of the huge creature, and rushed towards the villain with a roar of pure rage, tackling the villain to the ground. The Beast looked down at his prey, and then lunged. The lethal fangs were not aimed Slade's exposed throat, however, but at the device mounted upon his left wrist.

As the controller was crushed in the Beast's jaws, Slade and the Beast let out simultaneous screams of anguish, both writhing and spasming. Then, all at once, both fell silent, and collapsed.

"Beastboy!" Raven cried, as she rushed to his side. He had shifted back to his natural form, and laid completely still. The empath pressed her hands to his forehead, and concentrated for a moment, eyes closed. After a moment, she opened her eyes. "... You fool!" she gasped.

Cyborg joined her at his side, looking down at his friend, the now-conscious Jinx close at his side. "W-what's wrong with him, Rae?"

"When he destroyed the controller, the feedback was too much for him," she said, her voice breaking. "The pain... its shut his mind down, Cyborg... I can't... I can't find him..." She stared down at him, gently running her hand through his hair. "He's in a coma. A deep one."

Robin took a deep breath, steeling himself. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it should end. He felt a gentle touch on his shoulder, as he was joined by Starfire. He looked over at her, and sighed at the sight of her saddened eyes. "We won't give up on him. Beastboy won't leave us like this. Starfire, take him to Medical. We'll join you in a second."

She nodded, moved to Raven side, to take up their comrade.

"Raven, what about Slade?" Jinx asked.

The violet-cloaked girl moved over to briefly examine the unmoving villain, his single eye still staring out from the depths of his mask. "The overload fried his motor synapses He's alive, and conscious, but he can't move, or speak. He's a prisoner in his own body."

"Will he ever get better?" she asked.

"No. He may as well be a statue. There's a certain poetic justice to that, after what he did to Terra," she said grimly."I hope he lives a very long time." She got up, and followed Starfire as she bore Beastboy away.

Robin moved to Jinx's side. "The Titans owe you, Jinx," he told the battered sorceress.

"Eh, I never liked Slade, anyway," she replied. "Gizmo and Mammoth are tied up in the basement, by the way.

Cyborg looked at her very intently. "Jinx, you know, I think that you could maybe stay here a while. Raven could take care of those injuries..."

She looked at him, and smiled. "Awwww... how sweet. I'm afraid I'm gonna say no. Sorry."

Cyborg looked crestfallen.

"Now, don't give me that look. I know it'd probably be nice to hang out with you guys and all, but, I..." she paused. "I don't think I'm cut out to be a team player."

"What will you do?" Cyborg asked.

"Wander around, see the sights... I'll make it up as I go along." She looked at Robin, "Unless the Boy Wonder here wants to try and stop me?"

Robin shook his head wearily. "No, not this time. Just try to stay out of trouble."

She grinned mischievously, "You're a good guy after all, Rob!" She punched him in his recently-dislocated shoulder, and grinned even more at his wince. She then turned and walked towards the exit. Then, she paused, and walked back over to Cyborg, stood on tiptoes, and kissed him soundly on the lips.

"See ya around, Tin man." she whispered in his ear.

She then turned and walked out the door.

"I hope so," Robin heard Cyborg whisper.

On an evening, several days after, Raven sat by a Medlab bed, looking down at the unmoving form of Beastboy, cradling his hand in hers.

"The Titans are going to have a memorial for Terra," she said. "I'm... I'm sure you'd like to hear that. That is if you can hear me now. I'm honestly not sure about that..."

She continued to hold his hand, and stare down at him. The steady beep of the monitors by his bed told her that he was alive. It was hard to tell, just looking at him. He barely seemed to be breathing.

"I... I can't stand this anymore. Three days..."

She closed her eyes. These had been the longest three days of her life. This person, this boy she had grown so close to... he was slipping away. She could feel it, more each time she came to see him. He would be gone forever, soon, if something wasn't done.

She opened her eyes.

No. This isn't how it ends.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

On to chapter 10...

Regards,

The Doctor

19 March 2006