The early morning sunrise broke over the bay of Jump City, basking it in its warming glow. The reddish-pink early light shined upon everything, from the buildings of downtown and the bridge, even to the Tower. The Tower stood as it always has on its own island in the middle of the bay, keeping watch over the city. The days, weeks, and months that have passed since her absence hasn't seemed to phase the city at all, but the inhabitants of the Tower had other feelings. It felt as if someone had ripped away part of their soul, leaving a void that one thing and one thing only could fill once more, her return. She may not have been the most outspoken or interactive of them, but with her gone, the others felt her absence to their very core, it hit them from the inside, not allowing their exteriorers to show their true feelings, attempting to continue their usual assignment of protecting those in need of it. Physically and mentally, they all changed, whether it showed or not. Robin, being one to not show what he was feeling, has obtained the ability to do so, allowing his pent-up emotions to be released, showing that he was human. Starfire, who at first, managed to carry what only seemed like her burden of missing Raven, has been able to supress the feeling, allowing her to contiue on normally to an extent. Cyborg worked more diligently, keeping his mind off of the subject, doing everything in his power to do so. Beast Boy probably changed the most though, he had went to the gym shortly after Robin informed everyone of Raven's call, returning everyday since, building somewhat of mass and strenght, haveing a physiqe that matched Robin's, who was only a few inches taller than him to begin with. Even though he didn't posess the physical prowness of Robin, he sure felt like he did, often flexing in the sactity of his room behind a closed door, thinking of what Raven would think when she returned. He also managed to become highly interested into Raven's collection of literature, going into her room every now and then to get a armload of books, or return some. Robin noticed this a few times, but never said anything about it, knowing what he was trying to do, what he was trying to do for Raven. For some unknown reason, today felt different to them, there wasn't a logical explanation, but there was the deep down feeling that today was going to be different, not having the vaguest clue as to it being in a good way or not. Beast Boy exited his room in his usual manner, used to doing morning exersices, but still new to the fact of waking up at daybreak, usually being the one to be the last to get up. He glanced up at the clock that hung on the wall in the kitchen, noticing it was 6:03 A.M., as he sat down at the table across from Robin, who was involved in his usual manner of brooding in deep thought over the newspaper.

"Mornin', B.B.," Cyborg greeted, who was at the stove, wearing his usual chef hat and matching white apron.

"Likewise," Beast Boy managed through a yawn.

"What will it be?" questioned Cyborg, holding up his spatula with a smile.

"The usual, Cy," he replied, pouring a glass of orange juice from the pitcher that was stitting on the table.

"Tofu everything?" Cyborg finished the conversation with a chuckle.

Beast Boy didn't feel like starting something so early in the morning. He turned his attention to Robin, who still concealed his face behind his paper.

"Anything good in the news today?" B.B. questioned, taking a drink from his glass.

Robin didn't say anything, his mind lost in the paper, taking in the information that sparked his interest.

"Robin," he called out again, trying to get his attention.

"Yeah?" Robin replied out of suprise, not knowing that B.B. was talking to him.

"I said is there anything good in the news today?" he restated his question, looking at Robin.

"Yeah, actually," Robin informed, turning the paper for him to see, "today's headline says "Wanye Industries Break-in, Suspects at Large", just seems a little peculiar, that's all."

Cyborg sat at the table, setting all of their plates down.

"Don't we have a direct line of communications to Wanye Industries, Cyborg?" Robin questioned, trying to sift through all of the information that had presented itself, using the abilities that his "mentor" had taught him.

"Yeah," Cyborg replied, pouring himself some of the juice, "why?"

"They would call us before they would call the police, we both know that, so why didn't they?" Robin continued with his questions, trying to come to a conclusion on the situation.

"Wait," Cyborg said, thinking, "around what time was it reported?"

Robin checked the paper again, looking for the information.

"8:37 P.M. is when the JCPD recieved the call, after trying us first, but not getting an answer," he informed.

"Oh man," Cyborg said, feeling guilty, "that is around the same time I was working on the Tower's systems, I had to shut down most of the operating systems, including our communication network, sorry Robin."

"No real harm done, Cy," Robin said with a pat on the shoulder, "they didn't get to the weapons facility thankfully, but they did manage to make off with a flux capacitator they just developed for high-energy, low consumption applications, but who would need such a device?"

"What about Dr. Light?" B.B. said with a mouthful of tofu eggs, barely understandable.

"He isn't smart enough to get in there, besides, isn't he still locked up?" Robin replied, still trying to come up with a suspect.

"It says "Suspects" B.B., that means more than one," Cyborg informed him in a manner only to make him mad.

"At least I'm trying, I don't hear you coming up with anything over there," he retorted back, swallowing his food.

"Who do we know that works together and has the brains to break in to a place like that?" Robin continued, rubbing his chin.

They all turned their head as they heard the whoosh of a door opening, the sound coming from the girl's hallway, or Starfire's hallway now. Her footsteps were soft and barely audible as she moved down the hall towards the central room of the Tower. She entered the room, basking in the early morning light, her beauty as radiant as the sun that shined in.

"Salutations and good morning, friends!" she greeted, as she usually did, but something seemed different today about her.

"Morning," the guys replied, dropping their conversation about the Wanye Industries incident.

"Why are you more cheerful than usual, Star?" Robin questioned his girlfriend of going on 10 months now.

"No reason," she replied, walking over, taking her place next to Robin, "I awoke to the brilliant shining of the sun, and I thought I would share my joy with my friends that the sun has shared with me, why, is that presenting a problem for you?"

"No, not at all," Robin said reassuringly. He turned his attention back to Cyborg and B.B., mouthing the words, "can I talk to you in private?"

They looked at each other out of bewilderment.

"Listen, Star," Robin said, "We need to go do something really quickly, we will be right back, just sit tight, ok?"

"Of course, Robin," she replied with a smile, getting what was left of the orange juice.

Robin lifted himself up from his seat at the table, Cy and B.B. in tow. They walked out of the room into the corridor that led to the elevator, allowing the door to close behind them before he said anything.

"Ok," Robin began nervously, "seeing how you two are my closest friends, I need your advice."

"On what Robin?" they both said simataneously, looking at each other in suprise.

Robin pulled a small velvet covered box out of his pocket, lifting it to reveal a extravegant diamond ring with a band of gold.

"Your not going to do what I think your going to do, are you?" Beast Boy questioned in suprise, attempting to keep his voice down.

"I thought it would be the right time since we have been dating for going on 10 months," Robin explained, "and I just turned 20, she's 19, nearing 20 in Earth years, so I am asking for your advice, both of you, do you think it is the right time for me, to well, propose? She is what I have been missing in life, you both probably know that just by how much I have changed while we've been going out."

"Ok," Cyborg started, "I know that both of you really do share a tight bond with one another, you seem to be mature about it, seeing how you waited a good while before you even thought about doing this so, I totally agree with it, if you think it is the right time, go for it, I am behind you 100 of the way."

"What about you, Beast Boy?" Robin turned to B.B., wanting his feedback on the situation.

"In all honesty, Robin," he said reluctantly, "I don't think now is a good time to do this, I mean, not that you don't love her and she doesn't love, nothing like that all. I mean to say is that maybe you should give it a little longer, maybe even wait until..."

"Wait until what?" Robin questioned, putting the box back into his pocket.

"Maybe wait until Raven comes back, that way we can all celebrate the occasion and not have to fill her in on what has happened. It's your choice, of course, but I thought I would just let you think about that for a minute."

"Maybe your right, Beast Boy," Robin said agreeingly, "I don't want to rush things, but I just don't want this to slip through my hands."

"Trust me, man," Cyborg said reassuringly, resting his hand on Robin's shoulder, "a girl like Starfire isn't going to slip through your hands, besides, where else could she go without being out of place?"

"True, True," laughed Robin, waving for them to go back into the kitchen, where Starfire had helped herself to what was left on everyone's plate. She only looked up and smiled, releasing a loud burp, giggling afterwards.

"Got yourself quite a catch there, Robin," Cyborg whispered with a chuckle.

Slade looked over the capacitator that he held in his hand, eyeing Raven as she stood before him, matching his likeness.

"Excellent work, apprentice," he congrajulated, "I was quite suprised that the Titans didn't show, but no matter, it only made your job that much easier."

"Indeed it did," she replied in her own voice after disengaging the output device on the mask.

"Tell me, Raven," he stated, tucking the device into one of his pouches, "did you enjoy yourself?"

"What do you mean?" she questioned, cocking an unseen eyebrow beneather her mask, but her eyes were able to express it.

"You know what I am speaking of, Raven," Slade cooly said, "I'm speaking of the thrill you got from stealing, the thrill of incapacitaing those guards, and the thrill of making an escape."

"It did feel...different," she admitted, "everything just seemed to go as planned, and I could almost sense things around me, allowing me to take those guards out before they were able to raise the alarm. All of it felt...great."

"It doesn't trouble you at all that you may have broken that one's arm and the other's nose?" Slade asked out of amusement, seeing that Raven was finally nearing the point of becoming a full-fledged villain.

"I do believe in there are risks involved with their job descriptions, don' t you?" she replied with an evil smile, recalling either event.

"Agreed," Slade finished with euphanism, "you certainly are quite the trouble maker now. On to the matters at hand though, our next target is only a small amount of Xenothium."

Raven's attention was grabbed completely by the described element, rememebering how he had threatened to eradicate the Titans and most of the city with it.

"What for?" Raven asked, remembering how dangerous the element is, highly unstable and reactive, even reacting to open air when it comes in contact with.

"You'll find out," Slade said, turning around to his computer, bringing an image up on screen.

"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered under her breath.

The picture was that of the Jump City Power Plant. She admits she enjoyed stealing the capacitator, but taking power from part of the city by stealing one of the control rods was immoral to her.

"Security isn't anything you can't handle, child," Slade continued, "easy infiltration and exit, no defenses, you know how it goes."

Raven didn't say anything on her part to object the idea, keeping to herself, supressing her inner thoughts.

"What about the Titans?" she questioned, "the Tower has a direct view to that place, so they will be there before I can escape."

Slade turned around, opening another one of his pouches, pulling out an object.

"You will know what to do when the time comes," Slade said with a peculiar hiss, knowing what she was capable of against the Titans.

He tossed the object, allowing Raven to catch it with ease. She depressed the button on the side of it, both ends rapidly extending into a bo staff, a near exact replica of Robin's.

"I will return successfully," she said cooly, staring at the staff as she pressed the button once more, sliding the compacted weapon into her belt in the back.

"I expect nothing less from you, Raven," he encouraged, "you are already proving that you are loyal to me, unlike Robin or Terra."

"Third time's the charm, I guess," she commented back with a smile, knowing that Slade was becoming amused with her.

"You may rest now, your mission will begin tonight," he informed with the wave of his hand.

Raven began walking towards her room as she had done so many times over these past few months.

"Finally," she thought, unlatching the mask from her face, "I will be able to see if all that training has paid off. The Titans are nothing compared to me, I have finally been able to see the unmasked truth about them and their deception. With each video recording Slade showed me, I resented them more, seeing how much they were enjoying themselves in my absence, as if they were mocking me. They acted as my friends only to use my power to help them, even though I was dumb enough to think I was doing good in the world, only doing their dirty work. They will pay for what they have done to me."

No sooner than she had finished her thought, her door opened, allowing her admittence into her room, a room she had grown quite accustomed to. Slade had a bookcase constructed for her to place her books upon, most of them from his personal library, but she had requested some of them that he had to purchase just for her. Everything just seemed so worn in within the confines of the small room, as if this is where she had lived for her entire life. She felt of his place being her true home. She set the mask down in its usual spot on her dresser, the black and bronze halves staring back at her with two eyeholes of darkness of shadows from underneath it.

"I will defeat the Titans, nothing will stand in my way," she said quietly, continuing to look down on the inatimate mask.

Robin entered the central room of the Tower with some kind of package in his hands, an uninviting look about his face. Everyone else was already seated, waiting to see why he had called a meeting, especially an one so early in the morning, as it started to cut into combat practice.

"What's up, Robin?" Cyborg asked, wanting to be filled in on what was taking place.

"Yes, Robin, what is the up?" Starfire questioned concerned by the look his face posessed.

He stopped in front of them, setting the package down on the table in front of them, opening the box.

"This is last night's security footage from the Wayne Industries break-in," he informed in a disgusted voice.

"You know who did it?" Beast Boy pondered, leaning forward into an interested state.

A short pause of silence inveloped the room.

"Yes," he finally managed, "the footage will speak for itself."

Everyone casted glances at one another in a quizzingly manner as Robin inserted the disc into the tray of the Tower's super-computer. The video file came up on screen, fizziling into a focused picture of the area right outside of the vault that contained the capcitator. Two guards stood watch outside of it, appearing as if they were conversing with one another instead of doing their respective jobs.

"Everything seems alright, what's the problem?" Cyborg commented out loud.

"Just keep watching," Robin replied, seriousness in his voice.

He did so, the video continuing to roll. One of the guards looked off camera, as if he heard something, since the video lacked sound. He raised his rifle and ran in that direction, exiting the view of the camera, only to be hurled back into view a split second later. The second guard took notice, managing to fire off a few rounds at the attacker, who appeared to be nothing more than a dark red and black blur. The second guard managed to fall as the same did, both on the ground, unable to move.

"Dude," B.B. commented out loud, "whoever that is, they are pretty good."

"That isn't all," Robin managed, his serious voice beginning to turn to one of anger.

The attacker stood there, looking from where she had come from, as if she were waiting on someone. Another figure, dressed in black, tall, and had a very intimidating build walked into view, armor upon his outfit as well. The figure rested his hand on the attacker's shoulder, as if he were congrajulating her. He turned, the footage freeze-framing right there by the push of a button in Robin's hand. They saw a mask, half black, half bronze, only one penetrating eye staring back at them.

"Slade", was unanimously heard from all of them, out of suprise and anger.

"He's up to something, we haven't heard from him at all in a few years, so he's got something big planned," Robin warned, retrieveing the disc from the computer.

"That," Cyborg added, "and his new lackey seems very skilled at what she is doing, so that is just another threat to look out for."

"Do we have any leads on her Robin?" Beast Boy asked, actually thinking for once.

"Your guess is as good as mine right now," Robin replied reluctantly, not being one to admit such a thing.

"We will eventually run into them, so don't worry about it, we'll take Slade and his new apprentice down," Cyborg proudly stated, a smirk on his face.

"Let's not get too full of ourselves, Cy," the green changling warned, being serious for once, "we know how Slade works, so anything's possible, especially if it is going to involve that apprentice of his."

"Beast Boy is right," Robin said, suprised, "we just need to be on the lookout and if we do run into either of them, be ready for anything."

Each of them nodded, respecting Robin's advice.

"Now," Robin finished up, "if you will excuse me, I need to do some research, see if I can't find out where he is hiding like he scum that he is."

"Got it," Beast Boy replied, turning to Cyborg, "ready for some major ownage on the Gamestation?"

"Bring it, snot wad," Cyborg retorted back, picking up one of the controllers.

"They never cease to amaze me," Robin commented to himself as he walked towards his room.

"Well," Raven thought to herself, creeping down the unguarded corridor of the power plant, "so far, so good."

She continued down the dimly-lit hallway, stopping and checking a small map that she had with her every now and then, attempting to find her way to the reactor room of the massive complex that fed the city with it's power needs. She jumped into the shadows as she saw a couple of security officers begin to walk in her direction after turning from another adjacent hallway, not paying any attention at all to what was going on around them. She held her breath as the grew closer and closer, each step they advanced, her heart seemed to skip a beat. Raven pressed her self up against the wall as much as she could, trying to blend in with it and disappear in the dim light. Presperation formed on her brow from the anticipation and the fear of being caught, but a part of her wanted to lash out as she did before, as she did before and enjoyed it, but her mission didn't involve them. Slade ordered her to attack last time, so she will only do as she is instructed to do so. The guards walked right past her, close enough for Raven to reach out and touch, carrying on a conversation about last night's break-in at Wanye Industries, completely oblivious to the fact that the perpatrator was only a mere foot away from them, ready to strike again. The duo continued down the corridor, turning again after a stint.

"Little too close for my comfort," she thought cautiously, "I just need to get this tube of Xenothium and get out of here, the sooner, the better."

Raven heeded to her own words, checking the corridors, then breaking into a full sprint down the one that she was travling in. After only a minute, if that, she arrived at a set of large, steel doors, electronically locked and security locked down on them, large, boldface letters in yellow and red spelled out "Danger: Reactor Room Authorized Personnel Only." Raven walked over to the keypad that would control the lock on the door, examining it before she even touched it, making sure there wasn't a fail-safe of any kind on it.

"Now for a little bit of shock thearpy for this thing," she commented quietly, placing a small disk on the control panel, pressing the large, red button on top of it, causing it to shock and short out the keypad, unlocking the doors. Raven quietly stepped in front of the doors, both gently sliding to either side, revealing a large room with a rectangular object in the middle of the room, several long rods sticking out of the top of it that ran all the way to the ceiling of the room. The room was basked in an errie red by the control rods that contained her desired element. Xenothium was just as powerful as an element such as Uranium as a power supply, but didn't run the risk of radiation, making it a much safer alternative fuel. This allowed Raven to walk into the room without the need of a bio hazardous suit, so she could just get it, get what she needed, and get out, mission accomplished. She thought that as she walked casually up to the control rod container that stood only about 3 feet off of the ground, making it easy to just reach out and pull up one of the rods, especially someone with the strenght that Raven now posessed. She did so, lifting up the large, black casing that was made of lead, easily weighing close to 100 lbs. by itself. Raven turned either end in opposite directions, unlocking the pieces, sliding them out on their tracks, allowing her to see her target, a single tube of Xenothium. She put the casing down as she took the tube out, examining it.

"If you know what is good for you," a familiar voice called out from behind her, startling her, "then you will put that back and come quietly, otherwise, you'll just have to find out the hard way."

Out of a mixture of fear and curiosity, she snapped her head in the direction of the voice, her hood sliding off of her helmet in the process. She saw the Titans, absent a member, absent her. Her friends, or former ones, were there, all ready for whatever Raven decided to do.

"Ah, the Titans," Raven replied finally, her voice masking device disguising her, "what a pleasant suprise. Master has spoken quite often about you."

"Your "Master" is a complete psychopath who's hell-bent on the destrucion of the city, as well as our demise, he speaks of us out of fear," Robin warned, reaching behind his back for his staff.

"Not quite, Robin," Raven sneered, "he speaks of you out of amusement. You see, you are nothing, all of you. Your powers combined will not defeat him, nor I, so you might as well give up now lest you face the concequences."

"We'll take those odds," Cyborg commented, raising his arm, forming it into his Sonic Cannon, "we like to gamble."

Raven only chuckled.
"Place your bets then," she finished, readying her self for whatever they had in store for her.

"Titans, GO!" Robin yelled, charging at Slade's apprentice. Raven only stood there, awaiting Robin's attack. He swung violently with his staff, missing her by a mile. Robin followed up, attempting to keep his momentum going by trying to hit her with a combination, each swing missing, as if she knew exactly where he was going to attack next.

"Too slow, Robin," Raven taunted in between attacks, "you'll have to do much better than that if you hope to stand a chance."

Robin only backed off for a moment, heaving for breath, amazed at how fast she was.

"My turn," she continued with her same taunting tone, reaching behind her back, pulling a staff similar to his out, extending it. She charged him, attack with a lightning-fast combination of strikes, Robin moving as fast as he could to block them, losing focus on her. Raven saw her window of oppurtunity, sweeping her leg downward, taking his feet out from underneath of him, causing Robin to hit the ground hard. Her acute hearing heard the firing of Cyborg's Sonic Cannon, giving her ample time to dodge it, leaping into the air gracefully into a backward flip. At the apex of her flip, while upside-down, she threw a series of small, metallic balls at Cyborg. They bounced on the ground, still headed for Cyborg. He covered himself up as they grew closer in an attempt to sheild himself. The spheres activated, sending out arcs of dark blue electrial energy from one another, dancing across Cyborg's surface, causing him to scream out in pain. He dropped to his knees, finally realizing what he had been attacked with, an EMP elecrical field, knocking all of his motor skills and weapons systems offline. He fell to his stomach, unable to move.

"Fight technology with technology," she commented out loud as she landed, seeing the downed Cyborg.

Robin had already made his way to his feet again, focusing on Slade's unknown apprentice again. Starfire flew over his head, her hands poised, and ready to unleash her Starbolts. Raven took notice, beginning to run across the large expanse of a room, Starbolts hitting the ground behind and around her as she ran, creating small craters in the metallic floor, kicking up debris and shrapnel as they struck. Raven ran straight for the nearest wall at full speed, confusing Starfire, who had thought she had Slade's apprentice cornered, but was sadly mistaken. She ran up the wall several feet, vaulting off of it, and throwing more balls similar to the ones that she threw at Cyborg. The spheres flew straight towards Starfire, who was frozen with suprise, activating as they were nearly within a foot of her face, going off with a extremely bright, white-hot light. She covered her eyes as she fell from the air, landing hard on the unforgiving floor before, unable to see. Raven charged her, bringing her staff up to strike. She thrusted forward, the attacking end coming closer and closer to Starfire, only to be blocked at the last second by Robin, who followed up, putting Raven on the defense this time. He locked up with her.

"And to think that I thought you would be the most challenging of all, Robin, you really do disappoint me," she said with a hiss about her voice that already sounded so vile, "if this is all you are capable of, then I suggest you might as well give up and forget about ever having the notion of capturing me, especially with a pathetic display such as I have saw thus far."

"You may know a trick or two," Robin finally said, gritting his teeth against her strength, "but I am yet to show you what I am capable of."

Robin pushed her off, taking a ready stance, both circling each other, waiting for the other to attack. No sooner than Raven readied to attack, Beast Boy, in the form of a ram, hit Raven with tremendous force, sending her end over end across the floor. He morphed back.

"Thanks for the assist, Beast Boy," Robin commented, keeping his eyes on their adversary, who was getting up as if nothing happened, brushing herself off.
"'Tis a sad thing, really," she scoffed, "the only one capable of striking me is the least capable of all."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Beast Boy asked, offenended, ready to attack again.
"It means that you are an idiot," she said coldly, staring directly at him, "how else can I explain it?"

Beast Boy glared at her with intense hatred, but that statement sounded so familiar to him for some reason.

"Enough!" Robin yelled out, "this ends here, now!"

"Such a bold statemtent, Robin," taunted Raven, "but I doubt that you can enforce it, unless you want to try."

Robin charged at her at full speed, tossing his staff up into the air in front of him a little ways, giving him enough time to brandish a Birdarang in each hand, throwing them as hard as he could in her direction.

"Robin, wait!" Beast Boy called out, attempting to stop him from charging head-long at her.

"I can almost sense as if everything is moving slower than normal around me," Raven thought, watching the Birdarangs come towards her, a lot slower than she had ever noticed Robin throwing them before. She dodged the first with ease, and out of curiosity, reached out and grabbed the second, stopping it in mid-air. Robin's face took on one of shock and suprise, seeing her catch the object without any effort, yet he continued forward. He lept up into the air, ready to strike her with his fist. Raven readied herself, watching the fist of Robin come at her. She took hold of it, her other hand occupied by the caught Birdarang, using his own momentum against him, throwing him over her shoulder with ease. Robin hit the floor hard, knocking the breath out of him for a moment.

"You attack with such vigor, Robin," Raven mocked, leaning down in his face, bringing the Birdarang's razor-sharp edge close to his faced, "but your foolishness is you downfall, you and I both know that, how ironic."

She pulled the edge across his face, leaving a small trail of blood to run from it. Robin felt the gash as she made it, scrambling to his feet out of suprise, wiping his face, looking at his hand to see the thick, crimson water on his gloved hand. He looked up in time to see his opponent take hold of the Birdarang with her hands, using her superior strength, and shattering the metallic device with ease, tossing the two broken halves without another thought to either side. Beast Boy stood in shock at her strength and abilites.

"I've had enough of your toys," she warned, "you and your friends are lucky, next time, if I so much as have the feeling that you or any of your pathetic teammates are present, you will not like the outcome. If you are smart, you will heed my warning."

"You aren't going anywhere!" Robin yelled, going on the attack again, only to find a black-gloved fist hit him faster than he could bring his up, knocking him backwards, the throbbing sensation rushing to the affected area above his left eye.

"I mean it," she finished, seeming as if she was pulling out more of the similar spheres that she used against Starfire and Cyborg.

Robin lashed out, only to see her throw her fist down, releasing the objects, causing plumes of dark smoke to rise as the exploded, giving her ample cover and time to escape. He rushed into the smoke, only to find nothing there. Robin stood there, clenching his fists as the smoke cleared, his opponent nowhere to be found.

"Damn it," he cursed, gritting his teeth, "I let her get away."

He drew his fist back, hitting the reactor container with all his might, putting a dent into the thick metal plating. Robin removed his fist from the dent that was easily two inches deep, examining his knuckles, watching blood ooze from his fresh wounds made out of anger, saturating his glove.

"Robin!" Cyborg yelled out, still unable to move, "what happened? How about helping me out first actually."

Robin turned his head at Cyborg's direction, seeing that he was still laying on his stomach, still incapacitated from the attacker's EMP attack. He jogged over, kneeling down to his fallen friend.

"You all right?" Robin questioned, expecting to hear an earful.

"Does it look like I'm alright!" he yelled, "I can't move, her attack knocked my main movement and defesive systems offline, I can't move or attack, so no, I'm not alright!"

Robin opened up Cyborg's rear access hatch on his back, examining the circuitry, seeing if he could come up with a termporary solution until they got back to the Tower. He pushed one of the buttons on a revealed circuit board, energy surging through Cyborg's body. He rose to his feet, dusting himself off.

"Thanks, Robin, sorry, I just-"

"Don't worry about it, I understand, come on," Robin motioned, headed over to Starfire, who had made her way to her feet, groping about, still unable to see.

"Robin?" she called out, "Robin, I am unable to see, I request assitence please."

Robin took one of her hands, allowing her to come in closer to him.

"It's ok Star," he said reassuringly, bringing her to a hug, "it will wear off, i'll help you until then.

She took hold of his cape, allowing him to lead her about. Robin made a second check on her, making sure that she was ok, only suffering from her temporary blindness, minus a few bruises from the impact on the floor. He shifted his attention from Starfire out of concern to Beast Boy, quickly changing it to one of hate.

"What's wrong with you!" he yelled, storming over to him, who had just appeared to have come out of his bewildered state, "She got away! I really could have used your help!"

"Hey! Don't blame me!" Beast Boy yelled back, "She had us beat before it even started and she knew it, so blaming me isn't going to help. Yelling at each other isn't going to help anything or catch her, so let's just go back to the Tower and come up with a plan."

"He's right, Robin," Cyborg added, "we need to have a plan of attack the next time we run into her so we can take her down. All of us just need to take a rest and calm down, do all of us good."

Robin gritted his teeth, feeling as if he had failed them and himself by her escaping with the tube of Xenothium.

The elevator doors opened, revealing the grand room of Slade's place of operations, Raven casually walking in, her mask in her hands, sweat on her brow. Slade's back was turned to her, reviewing the footage of her encounter with the Titans.

"I am extremely pleased with you, Raven," he praised, turning around, "you are indeed more than a match for any of them, playing on all of their weaknesses, my, my, you learn quick, don't you?"

"Only learned from the best," she replied with a smirk, holding up the tube of red, fluorescent liquid.

"Was that a compliment, Raven?" he asked, stepping down from his platform, a black control for the computer screen in his hand.

"It was," she answered cooly, "you did take me under your wing, so it is the least I can do."

"Why, thank you, child," he thanked, patting her on her shoulder, his eye appeared to be going along with the expression of a smile.

Raven only looked up with a minute smile on her face as well.

"Your performance was nearly flawless, child," Slade commented, starting the video of the events that traspired only moments before. He played it all the way through, up until Raven was hit by Beast Boy, completely blind-siding her. He paused it right after the moment of impact.

"This," Slade pointed out, "was your only mistake that I could find. You allowed your confidence to override your judgement, allowing yourself to be open to attack, which is exactly what happened. You may be good, Raven, but the mighty do fall, remember that."

She stared at the picture, seeing Beast Boy's form of a ram still following through with his attack, looking at her own person as well on the screen, seeing the expression of suprise in her eyes.

"Do take it into consideration," she said, "that I was only a moment away from severly injuring Robin when he attacked, I do suppose that I did get tunnel vision on my lone target."

"But there wasn't a lone target," Slade replied, "there were 4, you had already incapacitated two of them, leaving Robin and Beast Boy. You didn't view the green one as a threat, so you paid no attention to him, causing your own downfall in the situation."

"I do supp-" Raven started.

"I am right," Slade said with a hiss, taking the tube away from her, "seeing how this is going to cause a problem in the future, I already have you scheduled for combat practice against multiple opponents tomorrow, so be ready to do so."

"I will," she replied, not happy to do more training, starting to walk towards her room.

"Raven," Slade called out once more, causing her to stop and turn.

"Yes?" she asked.

"You will be joining me tonight," Slade stated, awaiting a reply of some kind.

"Say what?" Raven asked, confused by the statement.

"For dinner, Raven," Slade informed, "I think you deserve something better that what I usually serve you, so you will be coming with me up to the manor for dinner."

"Oookay," she replied, still confused, "what's the occasion?"

"We are on the verge of controlling the city, Raven," he informed, holding up the capacitator and the Xenothium, "all I require is one more component, and I shall be able to build a device that will allow me to do so. I think it is only fitting that we celebrate on the eve of such a great sucess."

Raven shrugged her shoulders, walking back towards him as he began walking towards the elevator.

"Wait a minute," she thought, looking at Slade's masked face, "that would mean that he would have to...remove his mask, I will be able to see his face, see what the true Slade looks like."