Chapter Six: A Simple Plan...Gone Awry
Terra awoke to the sun shining through the porthole, directly into her face. 'Hell of an awakening.' she thought, as she stretched. She looked at her roommates.
Raven was laying on her side, looking peaceful and breathing quietly. Starfire laid on her back and was snoring loudly. Terra didn't feel scorn toward her; she knew that she snored as well. Whether or not she was louder than Starfire, she didn't know, nor did she hope to know.
Now, she felt an uneasy sensation, knowing all too well the cause; she had to use to the bathroom. She walked over to Raven.
"Raven!" she whispered. "Raven, wake up!"
The mystic stirred. "What is it?" she said, groggily.
"I have to use the bathroom!"
"So, go!" she snapped, turning over.
"But I don't know how to find it! You gotta take me!"
Grumbling, Raven got out of bed. "I feel like a mother!" she said.
From a closet, she obtained a pair of complimentary bathrooms. She handed one to Terra. "Follow me." she said, heading out the door.
Before she and Terra had rounded the corner, Beast Boy met them.
"Hey, Raven!" he said.
"What?" she replied, annoyed.
"Where's the bathroom?"
Sighing, she thought for a moment. "Over here." she said, walking toward it.
She pointed at a door, labeled 'Gentleman's Lavatory'.
"Happy now?" she said, rushing off with Terra.
The women's washroom, labeled 'Ladies Lavatory', was on the opposite end of the passageway. Raven led her and entered the wash room along with Terra.
"Um, Raven?" she said. "I think I can handle it now."
She glared at her. "I might as well go too, since I'm here, right?" She went into one of the stalls, and sighed. If this was any indication of things, this was going to be a long trip.
The two girls returned to find Starfire awake, sitting on her bed, legs crossed, and a pained expression on her face.
"Raven, thank X'Hal! I need your direction for using the room of rest!" she exclaimed.
Raven handed her the robe she was wearing. "Terra knows how to find it." she said. "Just remember to walk, not fly."
With that, Raven plopped on her bed and closed her eyes. Shrugging, Starfire put on the robe and followed Terra. Raven, meanwhile, simply laid in her bed. Though she still was groggy, she did not feel the need for sleep. All she wanted to do was lay in bed for a couple more hours. Then, she hoped, she would be in a mood to face the day.
The idea was ruined a few minutes later, when Terra and Starfire returned, giggling over some conversation. 'Will the torture ever end?' thought Raven.
"Friend Raven, please come do the showering with us!" said Starfire.
"Yeah," said Terra. "We're going to hit the showers. Might as well, since we're up. Besides, gives us a head start on the boys, not to mention more time to get ready for breakfast, huh?"
Raven moaned. "I'll be along. You two go on ahead."
Terra shrugged, and searched for the soap in the cabinet above the sink in the room.
"Here it is!" she said, taking two bars and tossing one to Starfire. She went to the closet and got out a couple of towels. "Let's go!" she said. She and Starfire practically ran out of the room.
"Where do they get the energy?" Raven said aloud, getting a towel and bar of soap for herself. While at the sink, she saw a glass. She took it and filled it with water. She sniffed it first before downing it in a few gulps. She had a few more glassfuls of water before heading to the shower. As she closed to the door, she let out a loud belch.
"Nice one!" said a familiar voice. It was Beast Boy. 'Of all people, why did he have to be the one to hear that?' she thought.
"Thanks." she said, tersely. "Are you all awake in there?"
He nodded. "We... well, Robin and I, are about to wash up. Cyborg just has to wash his face. You guys doing the same? Showering, I mean."
She nodded. "And afterwards, we're going to breakfast."
Beast Boy beamed with excitement. "Cool! Breakfast in luxury! I can't wait!" He started for the shower again. Sighing, Raven did the same.
When she got in the shower, she already heard Terra and Starfire engrossed in conversation. Ignoring them, Raven picked a shower far from them and got in. She disrobed completely and turned on the water. To her surprise, she was doused with saltwater.
'Damn it!' she thought, realizing she opened the wrong valve. She got it right on her second try, finding the one for fresh water, and lathered up. After she heard the two girls leave, she rinsed and turned off the water. She quickly dried off using her powers. She now felt refreshed and ready to face the day.
In the room, Terra and Starfire were already dressed.
"Raven, did you not hear us in the room of washing?" Starfire asked, putting on her shoes.
"I did." she said. "I just didn't have anything to say." Starfire had a hurt expression on her face.
"Don't worry about her, Star." said Terra. "She'll feel better after breakfast."
Sighing, Raven took off her robe and used her powers to put on her clothes.
"I thought Robin did not want us to use our powers?" Starfire said.
"No one can see me." Raven said. "Besides, I'm not attracting attention, am I?"
Terra scoffed at her. 'Show off.' she thought.
Just then, there was a knocking. Starfire opened the door. To her delight, it was Robin.
"Well, we're ready. Are you?"
Starfire nodded. "We most certainly are!" she exclaimed. The three girls walked out. Terra immediately went for Beast Boy's side. Raven closed and locked the door before joining Cyborg.
"I suppose I'll lead the way?" she asked.
"It's your show." said Robin. Feeling like a parent, Raven walked toward the direction of the staircase, the Titans following her.
Once there, she led them down one deck where they enter the First Class Reception Room. A maître d' stepped toward them.
"Good morning, gentlemen and ladies!" he said, giving a curt nod.
"Good morning." said Raven. "Table for six, please?"
He nodded again. "Follow me, please."
He led them well inside the First Class Dining Saloon. The other Titans were held in awe by its appearance. Raven caught their attention in time for them to be seated. On one side sat Raven, Starfire and Robin. Beast Boy, Terra and Cyborg took seats on the opposite side. The waiter took orders for drinks, Raven choosing tea, Robin and Cyborg coffee, the others hot cocoa. They were all handed menus to pick from.
After he left, Beast Boy stared frantically at his menu.
"I don't see any tofu on this thing!" he whispered.
"That's because it hasn't been invented yet!" Raven told him.
Beast Boy groaned in dismay.
"Just ask for stuff without meat." Robin told him. "I'm sure they can accommodate you."
Beast Boy searched the menu for meatless items.
"Robin?" said Starfire.
"Yes, Kori?" he snapped.
"Sorry. Um, Tim, do you think there is dancing on board?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Raven, er, Rachel might know." He looked at her. Raven sighed. 'I hate playing tour guide.' the mystic thought.
"I think there is." she said, trying to contain her annoyance.
"Good!" Starfire quipped. "I would love to share a dance on this marvelous vessel!"
Robin could only nod in agreement. There were problems to be solved; this was no time to think of romance.
The waiter showed up shortly afterwards to take their orders. To Beast Boy's relief, his vegetarian diet could be accommodated. As he ordered his food, Raven glared at him with a devious look on her face. Although she respected the fact that the changeling didn't eat meat, his mannerisms about it were often ridiculous. Feeling a bit humorous, she thought of a way to tease him. She managed to hide her smile as the Titans filled the time with conversation.
After several minutes, their breakfast arrived. It was as good, if not better, than anything they had at Titans Tower. Cyborg made a note to try and use whatever recipe was used for his own creations. Raven, meanwhile, set her plan into motion. She kept her eye on Beast Boy. Whenever he looked in her direction, she would immediately cut a piece of her steak (she thought it was steak, anyway) and slowly and deliberately chewed it. She smiled to see his reaction of disgust and contempt. She kept up her gag for a minute or so before giving it up, satisfied with her efforts.
After breakfast, they all went to the girl's room, sitting down at various locations.
"Well, that was a very lovely breakfast!" Starfire quipped.
"And Cyborg thought it would be lousy!" Robin said.
"You underestimate first class service." Raven said.
"The food was good." Beast Boy quipped. "You were awful." He indicated Raven.
"What?" she said, feigning innocence.
"The whole time, you were a brat!" he said angrily.
Terra watched the exchange with a tinge of delight, thankful she wasn't the only one that Raven had managed to irk.
"What's with you, Beast Boy?" Robin asked.
He explained what had happened. When he finished, the other Titans gave disapproving glances at the Raven
She scoffed at their reactions. "Look, I was just having some fun, so lighten up, okay?"
Beast Boy laughed sarcastically. "Speaking of lightening, up, maybe you ought to cut back on the steak?"
Raven scowled at him and was about to get up, but Robin motioned for her to sit down.
"Look you two, we don't have time for this! Now, we have something important to discuss."
Raven glared at the changeling. "He's right. Now, how about piping down, shit head."
Beast Boy growled. "Back off, bitch!"
Before the two arguing Titans could move, Robin took a stance between them.
"That's enough! We don't have time for this bullshit of yours! So quit acting like a couple of kids, alright!"
He waited until the two visibly settled down. He turned to take his seat. Behind his back, Raven mouthed 'bastard' to Beast Boy. He in turn mouthed 'bitch'. Meanwhile, Starfire glared at her friends, too surprised at their behavior to protest. She calmed down when Robin spoke again.
"All right, now I have some idea why we are here." He glanced around the room, seeing that he had everyone's attention. "I think we are here to change history. I think we're here to stop the Titanic from sinking."
Cyborg stared at him. "You serious?"
Robin nodded. "You bet I am. All we have to do is figure out how to do it. If we succeed, we'll save a lot of lives, like we always do. I'll need everyone's support on this one, guys. It's obviously not something a single hero can do."
One by one, the Titans answered him.
"I am with you in your task, Robin!" Starfire said proudly.
"I'm in too!" Cyborg said.
"So am I!" Terra exclaimed.
Beast Boy sighed. "I'll do it, just to get off this thing!"
Terra glared at him. "How heroic." she quipped, sarcastically. He shrugged, smiling.
"What about you, Raven?" the changeling said.
She looked at him, then at Robin. She seemed somewhat nervous.
"You sure about that plan, Robin?" she asked.
"Why do you ask?" he said.
"Well, you're talking about changing history! Who knows what can happen?"
"We'll be saving lives!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "What makes this any different?"
"Because this happened in our past! If we change history, then the consequences for us can be disastrous!"
"What's the worst that can happen, Ray?" Cyborg asked. "We'll stop people from dying, and one ship from sinking. I say it's a good deal."
"Look," she began. "The Titanic's sinking was a very important event in history. It effected how ships did things and had some social changes happen as well! Imagine how things will change if we stop it from happening?"
"History will be changed for the better!" Robin said. "Whatever happens, we can deal with it, okay?"
Raven stood up, and tossed her room key at Terra.
"You can deal with it." she said. "I'm not having any part of screwing up history." She opened the door.
"Traitor!" Terra cried after her.
Raven ignored her and slammed the door shut. Robin sighed in frustration. He knew his idea of saving the Titanic would be much more difficult without Raven. He wondered what could make her act in such a way.