No sooner than Cyborg had ended his transmission to all the Titans, no matter whether they be actual Titans or Honorary Titans, they made their way to Jump City, traversing from all the different parts of the world, no matter the distance. He basically sat by the door, seeming as if he were waiting on them to come in at regular intervals. Starfire and Beast Boy were there to greet their newly-arriving guests as well, but Robin remained in his room out of shame and disgust for himself, not wanting his friends and allies all across the globe to see him in the condition that he is in. It seemed as if from sunup to sundown, they arrived, nearly nonstop for quite some time. The guests to the Tower looked around in amazement, seeing how the protectors of Jump City lived and used the Tower to ward off evil from it. Random chattering and conversations were carried on between and among many of the young heroes. Cyborg finally took head count, seeing that all he was able to contact had indeed showed up, not wanting to leave their friends in need. He made his way up to the podium that he had constructed in front of the large, plate glass window that had a view to the bay and city behind him, the lights illuminating and reflecting off the placid, nighttime water.
"Can I have your attention please?" he spoke into the microphone, everyone's chatter dying down to silence to listen. "Glad to see that all of you were able to make it, I know it is tough on one to get here with such speed, especially since some of you inhabit the world halfway around it from here. We have prepared for your arrival, there is plenty of food in the kitchen area, help yourself, but do please clean up after yourself. Starfire, to my right, will be providing all of you with a sleeping bag or bedding if you desire it. Beast Boy, to my left, will help you out with anything you need at all. Are there any questions?"
A young man of Asian decent with a sheathed katana raised his hand in the back.
"Yes, uhh…Bushido, is it?" Cyborg recollected, trying to remember names.
"Where is your leader, Robin?" he questioned, everyone turning to one another, chattering quietly about his question, noticing that Robin wasn't present.
"He is indisposed of right now, but I assure you that he is fine," Cyborg lied, but his hearing distinctly picking up a faint noise down the hall. He heard faint footsteps, slow and awkward ones, but they were coming closer and closer to the light. The figure finally exited the darkness, Robin's face appearing upon it.
"Define indisposed for me, Cyborg," he commented with a smirk, stepping up on the platform that contained the podium. He received light applause for his appearance. Before he took the microphone, Cyborg leaned down to his ear.
"How in the hell are you walking?" he questioned in a hushed voice, surprised that he had accomplished such a feat after a devastating blow he was dealt.
"I'll tell you later, but not now, it isn't important," Robin whispered back, turning back to his audience of allies that sat before him.
"Well," he started in a friendly tone, "it's good to see all of you again, most of you I haven't seen ever since we defeated the Brotherhood of Evil, but no matter, we are all here now. I understand that Cyborg has called you here for an emergency, correct?"
Heads nodded and random "yes"s was heard through the crowd of heroes. Robin pushed a button on the podium that activated a slideshow behind him on the giant computer screen, Slade's intimidating image showing. Some of the guests sharpened their stare at him, others looked confused
"This is why we have called you here. Slade has decided to show his face once more, those of you who don't know who he is, ask someone who does, but that isn't all," Robin continued, pushing the button to advance to the next slide. This one was of his apprentice, a still shot taken from the video feed of the Wayne Industries break in.
"This," he motioned, "is why, his apprentice is highly skilled in combat, cunning, and deadly. She has committed crimes in his name without a second thought, stealing technology for him to build something sinister. We know where they are hiding, they know we are coming, but Slade doesn't know that all of us are coming."
"Who is his apprentice?" Kid Flash asked out loud, seated about middle ways in the back.
Robin didn't say another word, only advancing the slide, revealing Raven's face, a twisted, psychotic look about it, holding her staff, ready to strike. Silence engulfed the room for a few moments, then heightened chatter started amongst them once more, realizing what they were up against.
"Raven has been corrupted, I don't know exactly how it happened, but it happened, she has allowed herself to actual reason to what he has told her, even…even nearly killing us in his name," he informed solemnly, advacing the slide yet again, pictures of her devastating blows on all of them were witnessed, some of the heroes turning away in disgust of the whole situation.
"But," he managed to start again, "Beast Boy, as well as the others, have discussed this situation with me thoroughly, and we all have decided, after much debate, that Raven will be given her second and final chance to revert her ways. She revealed much needed information to us through Beast Boy, even regretting what she had committed in his name."
"So," Argent came in, "where do we come in at?"
Robin advanced yet another slide, revealing row after row after row of Slade's new robots, all just as menacing as the last, all mirroring him to near exactness.
"We can't go in by ourselves, seeing how Slade has an army of these, as you can tell. We need the help of all the other Titans of the world to save one of our own, because we can't get past them on our own, it would be suicide to attempt with just my team, so, I come to you, asking this, will you fight along side of us as we did in the past to stop this evil and save one of our beloved teammates?"
A moment of silence overcame all of them once more, as if they were thinking about everything that had taken place. Robin waited for volunteers, all of them knowing the danger that they would be getting themselves in. Bumblebee, as well as the remaining members of Titans East stood up from their front row position.
"Titans East will gladly help you out Robin," she boldly stated.
"Your help is much appreciated," Robin replied.
A Russian man clad in a dark green uniform with a large star on it stood up.
"Red Star will gladly help you to victory, comrade," he said, his booming voice carrying.
"I cannot leave a fellow warrior to fight alone," Bushido announced.
"I can't be left out of the party now, can I?" Kid Flash questioned, getting a couple of scattered laughs.
One after another, each and every Titan stood up, announcing their allegiance to Robin. He nodded at each one, respecting their decision and dedication to such a daring feat that would take place.
"Then it is settled," Robin announced, his overall person seeming to improve in condition, appearing as if he had before his fated battled with Raven, nearly reverting back to his normal self, "tomorrow, we will begin planning, we will save Raven, and we will stop Slade once and for all."
Raven drew back her fist, driving it into a wall of her room with all her might, her fist disapperaing into the recess of the wall, creating a large hole. She removed it, studying her hand.
"This hell has turned me into a monster," she managed, sitting down, attempting to contain her anger. "But," she started, "this monster is what is needed to escape this hell."
The door opened, 001 peering in, looking around the room, then to Raven.
"What is the matter, child?" he questioned, "I heard a-" seeing the hole in the wall.
"It is nothing, 001," she replied, motioning for him to come in.
"A hole in your wall isn't nothing, Raven," he reasoned, "what is it that troubles you?"
"Its hard to explain," she replied, looking at him, seeing that even for a machine, he seemed to care for her more than Slade did.
"I'm all ears, we both have time, so let's hear it," 001 replied in a tone that basically made her begin.
"I-I've made a mistake," she started, readying herself to tell the story.
"How so?" 001 asked.
Raven hesitated for a moment, unable to find words to correctly describe her situation.
"I am caught between two worlds, two completely different lives," Raven finally managed, "this, and the one I once had. I have became what I have tried to prevent my entire life and stopped others from doing, shattering what I once held dear. Due to my inability to realize that, I nearly ended what I once had, but I have made an attempt to repremind for what I have done."
"I think I understand what you are saying," 001 stated, rubbing his masked chin., "your past life, with the Titans, correct, is conflicting with your current one. You want to return, but the acts you have commited may have dashed any hopes of doing so. But, there is something or some part of you that enjoys or remotely likes your current situation. Raven, are you saying that you don't like being here?"
"Yes," she answered, "it isn't you, 001, you only do as you are told, but it is Slade, he is doing what I have told him not to, he treats me like property, and I will not take it any longer."
"It is Master that you are displeased with," 001 reasoned, "I see, but if you were to rebel, the city as well as your friends are in mortal danger, are they not?"
"That is a chance I am going to have to take," Raven informed, "Because, I know them better than anyone else, from what I told Beast Boy, they will have removed the threat."
"He will order us to attack if you so much as show a hint of resentment, and there isn't anything else we can do about it," 001 informed, "we are made to obey him and him only."
Raven's mind seemed to hatch an idea on the spot.
"Or does he?" Raven questioned, attempting to lead 001 into a conversation about who is in control.
001's eye filled with confusion.
"What do you mean?" he asked, attempting to see what Raven was getting at.
"Why do you listen to him?" Raven questioned once more.
"Because he is Master, we are built for his use, we are programmed to listen," 001 explained, following what his programming told him to do.
"No, why do you listen to him? Think about it, 001, Slade commands you the way he does becuase he is scared of you. You and your brothers are faster, stronger, well, better than him, so he has a very good reason to fear you, so he subjegates you with oppression to keep you under his control. He is weak, so why should the strong follow the weak?" Raven explained.
"Why do you listen to him then, Raven, you are much more powerful than he," 001 asked, starting to believe what she was saying.
"Because, I will endanger what I love and what I want to return to, so if my friends managed to do their part with the help of my delivered information, then I will be able to sucessfully escape," she informed.
"But I have nothing, nor a reason to rebel," 001 stated, his reasoning taking over since he didn't have emotions.
"You may not see it, but you do. 001, when my friends come for me, you must make the choice."
"What choice?" he questioned, a puzzled look in his eye.
"Are you going to side with Slade or are you going to reason and side with me? Raven boldly stated, even knowing that he could just go right to Slade and tell him of their conversation. "One way I'm you're ally, the other, your enemy, so make your decision, I will need to know when the time comes."
The robot sat there, studying the floor as he thought, running through all the possible processes, using his artifical intelligence to make a decision.
"I will do what I must, Raven, I will let you know that much, there isn't much else I can tell you," he informed, standing up to leave to continue his post at her door.
Raven only smirked a little as he left, hoping that he did make the better choice, but did know that you can't tell a machine to go against its programming, so that is all that remained for her, hope.
After a thorogh tour of the Tower that seemed last well into the night, Robin and the others made room for their guests to have a place to sleep for the remainder of the night. After drawing straws, Speedy, Aqualad, and Red Star managed to snag the only spots that weren't on the floor by crashing on the couch. The heroine Titans followed an overjoyed Starfire to her room to have "the party of slumbering" with her fellow female cohorts. After settling in, Starfire and her friends sat around in a circle on her bed, Silkie sitting in her lap, purring gently.
"You have a nice room here," Argent commented, still taking in the sights, "I don't totally agree on the color though."
"It is the royal colors of Tameran, they are my favorite, besides, they are quite nice, why do you not like it?" Starfire questioned, puzzled, while petting Silkie.
"I don't know, I just think there is too much...purple," Argent managed, being pressured into an explaination.
Bumblebee rested her hand on Starfire's shoulder.
"I think it's fine, Star," she said with a smile, "but there is something that I have been wanting to ask you for the longest time."
"What is that?" she naively stated, walking herself right into it.
"Have you and Robin, well, been dating?" she pressed, everyone's attention being diverted to her, awaiting an answer.
"Why do you ask that?" Starfire attempted to escape the question.
"Don't play dumb, Star, we aren't that dense, we could tell by the way you acted around him, every single time you were around him, it's a dead giveaway," Bumblebee continued, wanting an answer.
"I assure you that nothing is going on between us, we are nothing more than friends," Star continued to lie.
They only stared at Star, smirking.
"You're such a horrible liar, Star," Bumblebee joked, the others laughing as well, causing Starfire to blush in the face.
"...I do suppose that you are right," she finally managed, "to truthfully answer your question, yes, Robin and I are engaged in the dating."
"And?" Argent pressed, intrested in the situation.
"And what, friend? Nothing more has happened between us, I promise you," Starfire defended her innocence. "I won't allow anything else...unless."
"Unless what?" Argent pressed once more, starting to become a thorn in her side.
"I've noticed Robin continually putting a small black box covered in velvet back into his pocket at the sight of me, as if he is hiding something from me. I want to know what it is that is so secretive that he must go to such measures."
"Starfire," Argent quitely stated, "please tell me you understand what is going on. I mean, you do, don't you?"
"No, I do not, please tell me, friend," Starfire innocently asked, wanting to know the truth behind Robin's recent behavior.
The girls looked on in amazement, having troubles believeing that Starfire didn't concieve what was at hand.
"Star," Bumblebee finally broke the silence, "Robin wants to pop the question."
"What is popping the que-"
"He wants to marry you," Argent interrupted before Star could question again.
Starfire stared at her in amazement, mouth agap.
"Is this true, Robin wants to seal our courtship with the vows of a marrige bond? Why, this is the greatest thing to ever happen in my life thus far, I mean, Robin and I are meant for one another..."
Starfire continued on about her "undying love" for Robin.
"Here we go," Argent whispered into Bumblebee's ear.
"No kiddin'," she whispered back, watching her continue to speak of her love for Robin.
Meanwhile the others slept, Robin was awake, all his materials strewn across his desk. He was attempting to come up with a good plan that would gain them access to Slade's lair with the least amount of resistence.
"Even with all of them, we are still severly outnumbered, I know it, I know how Slade works," he said to himself, looking over all the information that Slade had given him as if he were taunting him, forcing him to play into Slade's hands.
He scanned through what he had concieved thus far, still trying to find a minute flaw in Slade's information that would gain them access into his lair and have a small chance at saving Raven.
"I know she has done terrible things, very terrible things," Robin said to himself, "but, even her, deserves a second chance. I will admit, I did overeact the last time we ran into one another, I know that creating such relationships with one another would cause problems, but I must work around them. Because she hurt Star, I nearly killed her, then I only enraged her that much more, causing what happened to me."
Robin sat back in his chair, a small simle on his face, thinking.
"They aren't going to let me go with them when we decide to go through with this operation," Robin commented, "but I won't take no for an answer, Raven is my...friend as well, and nothing will change that, I will be there for her, no matter what. I also want to be there to watch everything Slade has worked so hard for to crumble right before him, seeing how we have a few more "friends" to help out."
Raven was in her room, laying on her bed, hands behind her head, looking up at the cieling. She was thinking, thinking as what to do when the time comes. An idea popped into her head.
"Wait a minute," Raven thought, "I can help them, I still can, I could astrally project myself, I could contact Beast Boy, tell him, and he could relay the information, seeing how Robin would wish that I was dead, and I don't blame him, especially after what I done. Anyways, its worth a shot, not like Slade is going to notice anything."
She lifted herself up off of her bed, making her way to the middle of the floor, and sitting down, taking up her usual meditation stance.
"Well," she commented, readying herself, "her goes nothing."
Raven closed her eyes, using her powers, meditating, concentrating, trying to find Beast Boy's exact location. She tensed up, then relaxed, finding her target. Raven quickly jerked her head upwards, the astral form of her made of her dark energy bursted forth in the form of a raven, phasing through the roof of her room with ease, making its way to Beast Boy. Raven guided her astral self through the air after exiting the underground facility, searching. She moved across the bay at great speed, headed straight for the Tower. She entered the same way she left her room, phasing through the walls. She went straight into Beast Boy's room, finding him sitting on his bed, studying a picture of him and Raven, distraught on his face. Raven quickly forced her astral self into his body discreetly.
"Beast Boy," echoed Raven's voice in his mind, causing him to jump and toss the picture out of fright.
"Raven!" he questioned back, having no idea as to the source of the voice.
"Yes, listen to me," she stated, "I'm contacting you through astral projection, I need you to listen, what I am going to tell you is very important, you must tell the others."
"Astral projection?" Beast Boy questioned, dumbfounded.
"I'm basically inside your head right now, but my body is elsewhere, ok?" Raven quickly informed, knowing it was starting to get risky the longer she took to accomplish her task.
"I got you," B.B. replied, still confused somewhat, but remembering how she did something similar when Robin was haunted by Slade, even when he wasn't there, "so what is it that you need to tell me that is so important for you to go to such measures?"
"Slade has well over a thousand of those robots, the number is growing every single day, Beast Boy, even with the help of the honorary Titans, as well as Titans East, I still think it is going to be very difficult for you and the others to attempt this mission. They are just like him in every way, probably better."
"Raven, nothing is going to stand in our way, we will do whatever it takes, no matter what, no matter the cost, I promise you," Beast Boy kindly informed, knowing that Raven needed it.
The words "I promise you" rang in her head, vaguely remembering the day that she departed from the Tower.
"A promise is something you and I always keep, you know that?" Raven commented with a slight laugh, a laugh that B.B. hadn't heard for quite some time.
"How so?" he replied, smiling.
"I promised I would return, well, guess what, I'm coming home, as soon as you guys get here, I will be able to fulfill that promise," Raven informed kindheartedly.
"You were always one to your word," B.B. commented, still enjoying the feeling of hearing from Raven.
"Also, make sure that you are the one that attacks me, ok? I have to make it believeable, then right when he least expects it, Slade will have the surprise of his life," Raven stated, making sure that he was understanding her.
"I'm really good at acting," Beast Boy joked with her, "but seriously though, I understand, I'll will be sure to tell the others."
"One more thing, Garfield," Raven said seriously, awaiting his reply.
"What's that, Rae?" he asked, expecting to hear something amusing on her part.
"What you said to me on the rooftop..." she started, grabbing his attention, "that is what in all honesty stopped me from making the biggest mistake of my life, I felt as if I had already crossed the line, but you, you, Garfield, brought me back to where I should be. Those three simple words also finally revealed somehting that I had planned on revealing as well, my true feelings for you, because, I too, love you, Garfield."
"When this is all done and over with, Raven, I will be sure to show you how much I care for you, one way or another, I don't know how, but I will," Beast Boy replied, nearly in tears of joy.
Raven prepared herself to leave, but just discovered something in his subconcious.
"I leave you with this, Garfield," she started, "I suggest that you never look in my diary again, if you know what is good for you that is, becuase if I find out that you have been reading it some more, well, you don't to find out."
Beast Boy swallowed, not wanting to test Raven more than he already did.
"I..uhh..yeah, about that," he managed, "...uh.."
"Just let that be a warning to you from now on," Raven interrupted, not being harsh, but wanting him to stay out of her room, allowing her tone to quickly change back to being sincere "I must go now, but we will meet again."
"Goodbye, Raven," Beast Boy replied, not wanting her to leave, but knew that she must.
"Goodbye, Garfield," Raven stated, her voice trailing off as she exited his mind.
Raven's astral form followed the same path as it did back to her current residence within the confines of Slade's lair, entering her body the same as it had left. She slowly opened her eyes, a smile creeping across her face.
"This is it," she commented quitely, "it is only a matter of time before my judgement day arrives, the time for me to make my final decision has come. After these recent events, it is clear to me now, my choice."
After the discovery of several pranks over the course of the night at the hands of Beast Boy, the Tower's many guests awoke to the brightness of a coastal sunrise as the sun's rays broke over the waves of the bay. Cyborg was already up and going, making one of his biggest and best breakfasts to date, even though he had to specially make Beast Boy's as usual, but all in all, eveyone enjoyed it, sharing stories, meeting new friends and getting in touch with old aquaintences. After breakfast, Cyborg scheduled combat practice with his "psycho-bots", breaking off into groups, seeing what they would be up against if the needed to combat Raven or Slade, since they did fight similarly to the robots, it was as if they were knocking out two tasks at one time. After a tough training session and a light lunch, everyone sat down in their places as they had did before, a large map that encompassed the city and the outerlying areas around it upon it, Raven's locator signal coming in strong from the upper right corner of the map, outside of the city, less than a mile from the area they discovered the robotic remains and signs of struggle. Cyborg had worked diligently over the past week, even before the guests arrived, rebuilding one of the destroyed robots, a near exact replica of Slade. He had it on display upon the raised platform the podium was on as well, allowing everyone to get a good view as to what they were up against when the fighting began.
"I don't know about you guys," Kid Flash commented at the restored machine, "but if that is what that guy looks like, he's quite the loser. Everything about this screams "whack job"."
A scattered few laughed at Kid Flash's comment, him always being one to lighten the mood by not taking anything seriously, but Robin didn't seem to enthused by his attitude towards things.
"Enough," Robin ordered, "this is a serious matter, I understand what you are trying to do, but now isn't the time for this."
"Alright, alright," Kid Flash obeyed, nodding.
"This is our enemy, comrade Robin?" Red Star questioned out of disbelief, "if so, they do not seem very intimidating."
Robin turned to him.
"He may not look like much, but looks can be decieving," Robin warned, "Slade is very cunning and underhanded, so this should be expected from his machines."
No sooner than Robin finished, Beast Boy jogged into the room from his, short of breath. Robin looked up, seeing his green friend.
"What's going on, Beast Boy?" he questioned, wanting to find out what was so important for him to be sprinting through the Tower.
"I...I...I...was contacted...by...R-Raven," he managed in between breaths, slowly walking up to Robin, stumbling over his words, making it that much harder to hear or believe him.
Robin narrowed his stare at the mere mentioning of her name.
"Whatever it is," he replied with a snarl about his voice, "it had better be important."
"It is," Beast Boy snapped back, knowing that Robin was still fuming over what she had done to him, and knew he had every right to do so, "she told me more about the robots."
"Exactly what did she tell you?" Robin sarcastically questioned.
"That even with the help of the honorary Titans, this is going to be very difficult. Robin, think about it, these things are almost exactly like Slade in every concievable way, if him alone is that difficult to take on, then even with help, how are we going to take on a thousand plus?"
"What!" Robin replied surprised, the honorary Titans murmuring amongst one another.
"That's right Robin, there are over a thousand of these things, all dwelling within the confines of Slade's lair, waiting for us, waiting for our arrival, Robin, we will be playing into Slade's hands, he wants us to attack."
"What do you suggest then?" Robin managed, knowing that B.B. wouldn't lie about something like that.
A slight smile curled across his lips.
"We attack," he smirked, "Slade wants us, he'll get it. He doesn't know about the others yet, but even with is "army", this will still be the shock of his life, so let's do it, just give the word."
"That's what I like to hear," Robin replied, rising in spirits somewhat, "Alright, listen up everyone, I've came up with a plan of attack, so pay attention, it is vital that you know what and where you are supposed to do and be."
Everyone took their seats, preparing themselves to take in Robin's plan of attack, the very attack that would decide the fate of both them and Raven.
"Why have you brought me here, especially at a time like this?" Raven questioned Slade in the darkness of a cavern, wringing her hair out from being soaked by the pouring rain from the black of night.
"Patience, child," Slade replied, holding lantern, walking deeper and deeper into the recess of the cave.
It was dark, but Raven had a good idea as to where they were and were going, she knew Slade all to well. She knew that such an event on the horizion was going to need her full cooperation, no matter what, so in a sense, he was going to "scare her straight", or attempt to do so anyways.
"You disliked Terra, didn't you, Raven?" Slade questioned, still making his way forward, not turning his head, his hiss echoing off of the walls.
"What's that have to do with anything?" Raven retorted, not seeing where he was going with this.
"Even before she turned on you and your little friends, you didn't seem to like her one bit, as if it were just something about her that you could not stand to say the least. Everytime you saw her very being, your rage ignited like a wildfire, unable to contain, causing you to have to meditate more than usual, this is true, is it not?" Slade pryed, wanting to hear the truth from Raven's mouth.
"Truthfully, that is correct," Raven admitted, "but was able to make peace with myself, only to have you take it away by having her betray us."
"Child," Slade replied, "Terra's whole reason for returning to the Titans the second time around was for that reason, she wanted help, I gave it to her, but she didn't ask at what cost."
"You really are something else, you know that?" Raven managed, attempting to keep herself from saying something that she would regret.
"That is what makes me so unique, child, haven't you figured that out yet?" Slade wittily replied, knowing he was only making her mad.
Raven gritted her teeth, again, to keep from saying or doing something she would regret, but did balance the pros and cons of attacking him right at the moment.
"How much further?" she growled, growing tired of him.
"Not far, what's the matter,are you already exhausted?" Slade sneered.
"Exhausted? No, more like tired, sick and tired of you," Raven jested, becoming bolder every time she spoke to him.
Slade only laughed, the cavern becoming larger and larger, but the path becoming narrower and narrower with ever step, a deep rift in the ground on either side that was black with darkness, its depth far exceeding the penetration of the lantern's light. There weren't many things Raven was afraid of, but having a touch of vertigo didn't help any. Slade stopped ahead, holding the light towards Raven, watching her catch up to him.
"It seems as if you are becoming weaker with each passing day, Raven, our little outing here is taking much longer than needed bec-"
"Can it, I don't want to hear and don't care what you have to say," Raven snapped, stopping only feet from him.
Slade only turned around, shining the light in the direction they were headed, a pedestal with a figure gracing its top stood in front of them. The light went across the metallic plaque with raised letters, reading:
Terra;
A Titan,
A True Friend.
He raised the light to where it danced across the stature's surface, the dim granite gray coloring brightening, revealing the details upon it. The most distinguishing factor was her face, Terra's face that showed so much emotion that had been captured in a moment, the moment lasting. Raven lessened her tensed-up body somewhat, having memories of Terra, both good and bad.
"Again," Raven finally managed, turning to face Slade, "why have you brought me here?"
Slade reacht around behind him, pulling an object from his belt. It was a small rectangular device that had a small tube of Xenothium, as well as the glowing blue of a liquid diode crystal within the device. A needle-like drill bit had the capacitator between it and the device, and a handle with a trigger.
"What's that?" Raven questioned, seeing all of the items she had stolen or helped steal were included within it.
"Nothing really," Slade nonchalantly informed, "only the only thing in this world or any other that will save her."
It took a moment for Slade's last bit of information to register with Raven.
"You're saying you can revive her?" Raven unbelieveably asked.
"Not revive, child," Slade stated, "she isn't dead, merely inactive. You see, her powers have imprisoned her, so she needs some outside help to even concieve the thought of gracing this earth once again.
She studied the device, then glance back at the statue.
"Why are you doing this?" Raven asked, knowing something was afoot.
"Truthfully," Slade began, "I need to do this to put my mind at ease. I...regret what I did when she was my apprentice, I could have treated the situation a little...better, but I failed to do so, causing my demise and her burden. As I have said Raven, I may be evil, but I am still human."
"So what are you going to have her do when she comes to?" Raven asked in a humanitarian manner, seeing that Slade was attempting to be serious.
"I haven't decided yet," Slade informed out of surprise, "but I won't be around when she comes to, her and I aren't exactly on speaking terms just yet. You, Raven, are going to be the one to inject this serum that will restore her. Since I did allow you to wear your cape once more, you will conceal yourself, lead her back to the lair, and I will have something planned from there."
Slade sat the device into Raven's hand gently, retracting his in a timely manner. He turned his back, beginning to walk back the way they came, leaving the lantern for her use.
"How do I do this?" Raven questioned, studying the device in her hands.
"Inject it into her neck and wait for the results, it should take long," he informed, his voice trailing off and echoing as he walked away, "and before you get the idea to do so, that will have no effect on me if you inject it into me in an attempt to kill me, so please, do not waste it, your hard work is resting in your hands right now."
Raven did think about it, but she too knew that it wouldn't affect him for some reason. She looked up at the statue, taking Terra's frozen face of anguish and redemption, making a sacrifice in an attempt to save the city and her friends, the very same she had attempted to kill.
"You and I have so much alike, more than I wish," Raven commented, "at least you were able to make up for it, I still don't know if I can do the same, especially after what I have done, what I became, all of it."
She thought for a few more moments, remebering what she had commited in his name, tying it into similar events that Terra had done so long ago.
"I don't know if I should do this," Raven thought, "I will only be causing more harm than good for her, I mean, I want to save her from this everlasting hell she has endured thus far, but is it really worth bringing her back into the life she tried to escape, paying an extreme price in the process?"
Raven climbed up on the pedestal, seeing that she had grown slightly taller than the last time they had met, Terra's head only coming to Raven's chin. She raised the device, activating the drill, drawing her hand closer and closer to Terra's exposed neck on the statue, only a mere inch away from reviving a long-lost friend. Raven held it there, not going any further, thinking. She finally deactivated the device, pulling it back, and putting it into one of her pouches upon her belt.
"I can't do it," she managed, her voice breaking, "I will not bring her back from one hell and force her to live another. I will revive her, but not now. Slade is expecting me to return with her, but I won't, I will have to make up an elborate story, enough for him to believe."
Raven hopped down, picking up one of the many sharp stones that laid about from Terra's final battle, holding it in her hand. She pulled it up to her face, touching her exposed skin with it. Raven quickly raked it across her face, leaving behind a thin trail of blood that began to slowly flow down her cheeck, not even flinching from the inflicted pain. She then took the rock to her arms, making a series of cuts, ripping her outfit in several places, leaving a large, exposed area on her left shoulder.
"Now," Raven commented, dropping the bloodied rock, "for the coup' de grete."
She positioned herself next to the rock wall of the cavern, placing her hands on it. With all her might, she slammed the left side of her head into it, gashing her brow open once more, inflicting damage to the entire left side of her face. Raven stumbled backwards, dazed from the blow she dealt upon herself. After wiping away some of the blood, she picked up the lantern to find her way out once more.
"Terra escaped after I revived her, seeing that I was working for you, I attempted to stop her, but she was too strong after being pent-up with so much energy." Raven thought, concocting a story that Slade would have no choice but to believe. "But, in truth," Raven said to herself, her head throbbing, "I will come back after all of this is over with, with all the others, and we will revive you."
Raven continued walking out of the cave, walking back into the downpour of rain. She glanced across the hills, seeing the lights of the city through the rain, illuminating the water with their reflection, the Tower standing all by itself in the center of the bay, lights on as well.
"My time has come," Raven stated, "it is time for me to remove these chains of burden I have binded myself with, I made the mistake, I made the choice, I allowed this to happen, I am the one at fault, no one else. Slade will regret this upcoming day, as it will be my freedom that will end everything he has planned. He may have been the factor in my life I needed, but my friends have always been there for me, I wasn't forced to be their friend, I was forced to be his apprentice. I will no longer subjegate my self to him. I will return home."
Beast Boy was on the verge of falling asleep during Robin's explaination of the plan, but because it would be one that would save Raven, he paid as much attention as he possibly could, given that you can only do so much. From what he caught from Robin's information was that power would be cut to Slade's lair, and at the same time, he would lead the Titans, all of them, in a frontal assault, seeing how it was the only way in or out of the underground facility. They all knew it was risky, but it must be done in order to have a chance to return everything back to normal. Starfire sat next to him after the presentation, everyone discussing their own little parts to help out with one another.
"What troubles you, friend?" Starfire questioned, rubbing his shoulder for consolence.
He looked up at her, attempting to crack a smile.
"Nothing, Star, I was just thinking," he lied.
Starfire cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Friend Beast Boy," she started, "why do you lie to me? Whatever it is that is making you feel depressed, surely you can share it with me, that is what I, as well as the others, are here for."
"It's about Raven," he admitted, "what...what if things don't go as planned tomorrow, I mean, all it takes is one thing to happen, and it could ruin everything, or worse, what if one of us, or any of us, including Raven, gets seriously hurt, or eve-"
"Don't think that way," Star warned, interrupting him, "you must be positive and insistnent that all will go as planned tomorrow, that is how a true warrior views the battle before him. Friend, the way you are acting now is as if you have given up all hope. You act as if the battle yet fought is already over."
"I know Starfire, its just," Beast Boy managed, trying to explain what he was feeling, "its just a really difficult time for me right now. She was taken away from me in a sense when I was just about ready to reveal my true feelings for her. I admit, I got my chance to, but it just doesn't feel right, its hard to explain."
"I completely understand," Starfire replied, "but you mustn't give up if you wish to free Raven from Slade's grasp over her. We will fight, we will win, and Raven will come home, I promise you."
"I guess your right Star," B.B. admitted once more, knowing she was indeed right and wasn't about to argue with her.
"Good," Star said with a smile, "now, what shall we do to relieve some of this tension before tomorrow?"
"Well, what do you want to do?" B.B. questioned her, "I'm up for just about anything right now."
Starfire's usual smile only grew larger.
"I-I know that look," Beast Boy commented, "whatever it is that's on your mind, it can't be good."
"I know many things about Raven that you do not," Starfire revealed, "I knew about her feelings for you long before she revealed them to you. I also know "other" things as well."
"Like what?" Beast Boy questioned, intrigued.
"For one instance," Starfire whispered, "Raven enjoys the games of the video from time-to-time. She did nothing but play them when she was forced to stay home due to sickness a long time ago, you remember?"
"Yeah, because she was bold enough to try some of your food for once and it ended up turning for the worse," Beast Boy added, "but she really does like to play video games? I wouldn't expect that from her."
"There are many things I know that you do not, as I said," Star finished, "if you wish to know more, follow me."
"Lead the way," Beast Boy guestered, standing up.
Just as they stood up, he door at the rear of the central room that lead to elevator whooshed open, seven figures standing in it. Most of the Titans jumped to their feet, surprised, and ready to attack. The lead figure was fairly tall, dressed in black with a white mask, a crimson red "X" upon it. He led them into the light of the room, revealing them to be Red X, Jinx, Gizmo, Mammoth, Billy Numerous, Kid Wykyd, and See-More. Red X was the only one that seemed to be calm, the others were paranoid, being surrounded and outnumbered by their enemies.
"Easy guys," Red X's smooth voice resountaed out of his mask, "we aren't looking for a fight, we merely would like to speak with Bird Boy up there."
The Titan-filled room remained ready to attack, but lessened their stances a little, as if they were allowing them to step forward, but not to try anything.
Robin gritted his teeth, staring at all of them.
"Why are you here?" he managed, a low growl in his voice, attempting to keep himself from leaping into action.
"Heard you had a slight problem, so I, as well as my counterparts here, would like to enlist into your ranks to help out," Red X explained, Robin still staring him down.
"What's in it for you?" Robin snapped, knowing his enemies all too well.
"Me?" Red X began, " Oh, well, as you and I both know, kid, I don't choose sides, and last time I checked, you still owe me. I know they made off with a tube of Xenothium, I want it."
"No deal," Robin replied quickly, Cyborg leaning over into his ear.
"Robin, come on man, we need all the help we can get, even if it is them, I know we don't want to, but the more people we got, the better chance we have of saving Raven."
"I'm not letting him steal Xenothium, he'll only use it to commit other crimes," Robin replied in a hushed voice.
"I'm telling you man, let him help, we will work it out later," Cyborg urged, finally getting though to him, "think about Raven."
He thought for a moment, reluctantly deciding.
"Ok," Robin finally managed, turning his attention back to Red X, "you can have it, but, if you or your friends there try anything, you will go down, hard."
"Easy, kid," Red X stated, taunting Robin, "we heard about everything, and us, the bad guys, or whatever you want to call us, do believe that is still wrong what happened to you, isn't that right guys?"
They all nodded, Jinx stepped forward.
"I'll admit, I never liked Raven, or any of you for that manner," she started, "but if I were to lose one of my teammates, especially to Slade, I mean the man is a complete psychopath, I would feel the same way you do and would do everything in my power to get them back, but sometimes, I really do wish that they would all just drop dead."
"What did we ever do to you, Jinx?" Mammoth commented, having her snap an angry stare at him.
"All of you are about as smart as a bag of bricks and are always messing things up, tha-"
"Enough," Red X ordered, "besides a few minor disagreements amongst ourselves, we are more than willing to help out." He studied the plan on the screen behind Robin seeing what was going on. "We'll run a diversion, how about that? We won't even be anywhere near you or your precious team."
Robin gripped the edges of the podium with all his might, trying to surpress his anger.
"Fine," he retorted, "be here by noon tomorrow, I don't want you staying in the Tower, I don't trust you."
"Fine with me, kid," Red X replied, "this place seems kinda dull anyways."
As they group turned about, ready to walk out, a rose seemed to fall from the air, right into Jinx's hands.
"Where is he, I know he's here?" Jinx questioned, looking around for a particular hero.
"Right here," Kid Flash commented, stopping right in front of her, "some things don't change a bit, do they?"
"Guess not," she replied with a smile, but it quickly disperssed as she remembered where she was and her excuse for a team was with her, "now get out of my way."
"If you insist," he stated, moving to the side, giving a bow and a wave of his hand for them to continue.
The group exited, but Jinx gave a small wave to Kid Flash after teammates weren't watching her anymore.
"That is the most pathetic thing I have ever witnessed," joked Beast Boy, Starfire trying to keep him quiet.
"I think it is very cute," Starfire replied, pulling him down the hall to reveal what she knew about Raven that he did not.
Robin looked out the window, disgust about his person.
"So," Cyborg questioned, "now what?"
"What do you mean now what?" Robin replied, "it is only a matter of time. Raven will come home and Slade will go down, there is no doubt about it."
"You do realize that you aren't coming, don't you?" Cyborg questioned, preparing himself for the argument to ensume.
Robin looked up at him, his stare unchanging.
"I am going, not you, not Star, not BB, nor any of the others are going to stop me, Raven is my friend as well, yes, she made a mistake, but I am willing to forgive her if she is to return to us."
"Not that," Cyborg corrected, "I mean because of you injury, with your back still healing, you don't need to be going on this mission."
"You aren't going to tell me what to do Cyborg, I am going, no questions asked," Robin informed, attempting to get Cyborg off his case.
"Whatever man," Cyborg said in defeat, "but don't come complaining to me when you hurt yourself again, maybe worse than the first time around."
Robin waved him away, still looking out the window, thinking about his predicament, as well as Raven's.
Raven waited for the elevator doors to open, knowing good and well that Slade was waiting for her, expecting Terra to accompany her as well. The elevator stopped in its usual manner, the doors sliding open to either side. Raven gingerly walked into the cavernous room, all the robots in position and waiting for the Titans, Slade knowing that their attack was coming soon, but didn't know exactly when. As she walked past them, they stared, all their single eyes focusing on her as she passed, sending chills down her spine. 001 was the last robot she passed before arriving at the steps to Slade's control panel. His stare wasn't cold as the others, but one of conern, seeing the condition that Raven was in. Slade had his back turned to her, seated in his chair, continuing to watch the mulitple screens in front of him.
"Where's Terra, Raven?" he questioned, knowing that it was only Raven present.
"She escaped," Raven replied, lying.
"Really? How so?" Slade questioned once more, having a good feeling that Raven was lying, but wanted to see if she could concoct a believable story.
"She was delerious, and happened to see what I was wearing underneath of my cape, giving it away. She figured out what was going on, tried to get away, I confronted her, fought with her, but her hibernated state had build up a large amount of energy, more than I could combat on my own. Terra probably headed for the Tower, looking for help," Raven informed in an attempt to throw him off to the truth.
Slade turned his chair around, eyeing her up and down, seeing her wounds. He crossed his leg and drummed his fingers together.
"Why do you lie to me so, Raven?" Slade questioned, keeping his voice in a threatening montonic level.
Raven looked devastated, still trying to lead him on into believeing her.
"Do you think I did this to myself!" she questioned, wiping blood from her brow, flicking her hand, and splattering it across his mask.
Slade merely stood up, hands at his sides.
"Yes," he informed with a sigh, "quite an elaborate story, even went to the lenght of self-inflicted pain, my, my, each passing day, you act more and more like me."
He took a step away from her, his back still to her. He squinted his eye, showing his anger underneath of his cool exterior. Slade finally lashed out, spinning around, back-handing Raven with all his might, sending her to the ground.
"You insolent pathetic excuse!" Slade yelled enraged, "I give you one simple task, and you fail to fulfill it."
Raven turned her head to face him from her downed position, lifting herself up, blood dripping from her mouth, spattering on the floor with each drip.
"I'm not going to bring her back into this world only to have you have her go through hell again," Raven cooly informed, picking herself up off the ground, "and if you know what is good for you, you won't try that again."
Slade only looked that much more enraged at her, raising his hand once more. He came down just as hard as the first time, only to have Raven stop it by grabbing hold of his hand, forcing it behind him and up, putting it him in a painful hold, dropping him to his knees.
"I warned you," Raven gritted, restraining him, "as I said, Terra is my friend, I'm not going to betray her just for your plans."
Slade struggled to get free from Raven, but to no avail, surprised at how powerful his apprentice had grown, but enraged at her insubordination.
"Release me now, or else," Slade warned, knowing that unless she did so, he wasn't getting away.
"Or else what?" Raven questioned, enjoying the feeling of having Slade under her control.
He activated the lever on his other hand, the device similar to the one used against them when Robin was his apprentice, his thumb resting on the button.
"Or else your friends and the citizens of the city perish in the blink of an eye," he hissed, beginning to depress the button.
"Push it, I dare you, I don't give a damn anymore," Raven challenged, still holding him against his will.
He hesitated for a moment, surprised, for some reason, maybe his conscience telling him otherwise.
"What's the matter, Slade," Raven taunted, "don't have the guts to back up your words, or is it because you no longer have any leverage over me?"
After folding the button apparatus up once more, Slade reacht around behind his back, sliding something out. Raven finally got a good look at what it was, but it was too late. She felt the cold, steel barrel of a handgun pressed against her forehead, just below her chakra. Slade pushed the safety button, the audible click telling Raven that all he needed to do was pull the trigger.
"Unless you want to find out if your healing abilites can withstand a .45 bullet that enters and exits your brain, Raven, release me at this instant," Slade warned, giving her the ultimatum in a enraged, held-back voice.
She did so, knowing very well that a gunshot at that range and in that region would mean instant death. Slade stood up, rubbing his wrist after putting the gun away in its holster. Raven backed up, ready for whatever it was Slade was going to attempt.
"Well," he stated, still holding his wrist, "that was most exciting. Oh, and Raven, I always have leverage over you, no matter what. You so much as approach me in a manner I find displeasing from now on, I will empty an entire magazine into your body, you understand me?"
She was silent, only staring at him, wondering if her powers would stop and bullet, seeing how she had never tried or had to, it wouldn't be very inviting to find out she couldn't in a crisis.
"Good," Slade hissed, "I know you still have the device to revive Terra, so go ahead, keep it, and if you so happen to make it out of here alive, you may do as you wish with it, I have no need for it, but, if your friends fail, which I can guarentee they will, you will continue to do as I say, or I will end your pathetic life."
"I will kill myself before that day comes," Raven informed, keeping her distance, "tell me Slade, what's it like when you know your power is crumbling right before your very eyes?"
"Shut your mouth and get out of my sight, child!" he yelled, tired of her disrespect to him.
Raven merely turned about, walking towards her quarters. 001 looked at Raven, then to Slade, then followed Raven, catching up to her.
"Raven," he called out, attempting to get her attention, "it is I, 001."
She stopped, turning around to face him.
"What, 001?" she managed, still mad from her encounter with Slade.
"I have made my decision," he stated, kneeling down to be close to eye level with her.
"And?" she asked, remembering what he was talking about.
"When the time comes, I will side with you, Raven, Master's judgement isn't correct, your's is, you know what is right, so I will follow you, not him," he informed in a hushed voice.
"That is great to know, 001," Raven managed with a smile, "be sure to back me up when I need it, ok?"
"Anything for you, Raven, I will give my very life for you," 001 stated.
"001," Raven began, "you are a machine, you haven't a life."
"Then how can you explain my ability to choose what I want to do, not what I am told, my ability to reason, all of it," 001 questioned, having a point.
"You are different from the others, but you aren't flesh and blood, but still, you are different, that makes you unique, so I do suppose you are alive in a sense," Raven reasoned, "well, I need to go to my quarters, I will see you later, hopefully fighting by my side when the time comes."
"Of course, Raven," 001 informed, "I always viewed you more than my assigned task, I viewed you as my friend, at least I can speak with you about everything openly, my "brothers" would tell everything to Master, no matter what it was."
"I understand, even though we did get off to a rocky start, in a sense," Raven began, "you have, in all honesty, been the only, well, person, that I have come to actually enjoy their presence. Slade has seemed to forgot what we had as "family" so you know what, to hell with him, you and I will escape this place when my friends come, ok?"
"I'll be right there with you," 001 finished, patting her on the shoulder, walking back to the main room.
Raven opened her door, thinking about what was going to take place, having no idea as to when, but knew it was soon. Tomorrow, for some reason, she had a feeling it was going to be tomorrow, just a unexplained feeling, so she prepared herself for the eve of reckoning.
"Nearly time to leave this home sweet hell," she commented, searching for somehing that she had that would show her loyalty to her friends, something she brought with her a year ago. Raven remebered that it was nearing winter, the first snow had already hit only days earlier, but quickly melted due to the unseasonably warm days. Rain graced the night, but tomorrow had new beginnings, as well as the endings for some things.
"I may get to spend Christmas at home this year," Raven commented, finding one of her old capes, tattered at the ends, but still intact, the same gold broach with the ruby red jewel in the center of it. "I will return home, it is time, no longer will it elude me, my return is immenent."
Meanwhile, Slade had walked the floor of the large room, his minion robots watching him. 001 filed back into his position, only to grab the attention of Slade. He leaned close to his robotic counterpart.
"I would like to speak with you in private in a moment," he whispered, turning his attention back to the other robots.
"Listen up, robots," Slade started, "your purpose is to serve me and me only, you do as I say, no questions, no matter what. Your day of reckoning is nearing, the Titans, mine as well as your mortal enemies is going to stage an assault on this facility, soon, very soon. You, every single one of you and your brothers will fight, fight valiantly, you will crush the pathetic opposition. Fail me, if the Titans don't dismantle you first, then I will, do you understand me?"
"Yes, Master," was heard in unison by a thousand strong.
"Your orders are to stand hear until further notice, confirm command," ordered Slade.
"Command confirmed," the robots replied once more, standing perfectly still.
"Good," Slade commented, turning to 001, "follow me."
001 obeyed, not having a clue as to where they were going, but followed, not wanting to risk testing him.
After getting a good distance away from the other robots, Slade turned around, staring his robotic self image face to face.
"Now," he started, "you are going to tell me what is going, because I have a good idea that you and Raven are plotting something, now, you will tell me, or I will have you dismantled and lift it from your memory banks myself."
"I merely check on her and do my job as instructed and ordered to do so, Master," 001 replied, truthfully, yet lying.
"Is that so?" he questioned maliciously, "then you won't mind leading the robots into battle without a second though?"
"Of course not, Master, it would by my honor to do so, the Titans will suffer a crushing defeat at our hands, my brothers and I will not allow them to escape," 001 informed, attempting to throw Slade off of his suspicions.
"Very well then," Slade stated, "I will be up at my manor, if you need anything, you know what to do."
"Of course, Master," 001 replied, obeyeing Slade.
Slade exited, heading for the elevator. No sooner the the door close, 001 made his way down the corridor to stand guard at Raven's door as he usually did.
"I may be borne of metal and machinery," he thought, "but I have somthing more, I can choose to do what I want to do, not what I am told, I am unique, as Raven said, and I will be the one that will help free Raven, if the others stand in my way, the shall pay the concequences."
