Chapter Eleven: Night of Fate
Cyborg made his way out to the Boat Deck, looking for the place Beast Boy told him to meet Raven at. He saw her, sitting on the bench. He walked to her.
"Garfield said you wanted to see me?" he said.
She looked at him and flipped her hood down. "Yes, I'd like a chat. Sit down, please?"
He did so. "What is it?"
"Gar is more insightful than I gave him credit for. He gave some good advice about us."
"Us?"
"Yes. It's similar to my judgment with saving the Titanic. It didn't quite feel right to do what we were planning to do. But I realized the error of my thinking. Well, that's kind of like us. I felt it wasn't right for us to be together. But then, after Beast-, Garfield, talked to me, I realized that it didn't matter if it didn't feel right; what was important is that it is right."
"So, you feel it's right for us to be together, then?"
"That's up to you, Victor." She smiled.
Cyborg stared at her. Then he smiled too, leaned in, and kissed her. "Does that feel right?" he said.
"Certainly!" she said, giggling. "Come on, let's go back inside!
They stood up and made their way to their cabin.
"Are you feeling better, friend Raven?" Starfire asked when she and Cyborg returned.
"Very much so." she said. "Beast Boy's apology was sufficient." She smiled at him.
"Swell!" said Robin. "Now, I think we ought to review our plan for tonight how we're going to save the ship. Raven, your advice will be a big help, of course."
"Of course." she said, nodding.
For nearly an hour, they discussed their plan. It was agreed that Raven and Terra would use their powers to move the iceberg. They would stand on the forward part of the ship, looking over the bow. When they sited the iceberg, they would move the obstacle away from the ship to a safe enough distance.
"Why don't you hypnotize the bridge crew, like you did that guy that gave us our cabins?" Beast Boy asked.
"Because the spell doesn't stay in effect if someone is being constantly stimulated." Raven replied. "Besides, if someone walks on the bridge and sees them taking the ship off course, they'll stop them, and that'll break the spell. Besides, we could accidentally have them crash the ship into some other iceberg."
Robin gasped. "I didn't think about that! Raven, it looks like you and Terra may have to stay out there the whole night until morning."
They groaned. "Better brew some coffee." Terra said.
"I know, I'm sorry." he said. "I suggest you two head to bed early tonight." They nodded.
"In the meantime, what do we do?" Cyborg said.
"What time is it?" Robin asked.
"Nearly three o'clock."
"Well, I suppose we can have some fun."
The Titans agreed on such, and left the room, save for Cyborg and Raven. They were staring intently at each other.
"Well, it's just us, huh?" he said.
"Looks that way."
She walked toward him and sat on his lap. Cyborg grinned as she ran her fingers over his chest. "Hard to believe this is just an illusion." she said.
"It uses field energy to make it real." he said.
"Thank you, Mister Science!" she laughed. Then, she unexpectedly kissed him. "You know, for the longest time, I always wanted to free my emotions. Now, I have that chance!"
"And for the longest time, I wanted someone like you. Someone deep, yet still sensitive."
"I never would've thought of myself as sensitive!"
"You never know what a good, long look into the mirror will show you."
"Remember, the only mirror I got is that one on my dresser, and you know what that does!"
"Yes, all too well!" He stared at her, looking into her eyes.
"I remember someone once wrote that the eyes are the windows into the soul. That fits your description very well."
"Thank you, Victor! And it fits you too!"
They stared into each others eyes before they kissed again, deeply and passionately.
The Titans reconvened in their rooms a few hours later. After washing up, they made ready for dinner. Raven decided to take then to the First Class restaurant on 'B' deck.
They enjoyed the tasty dishes, along with enjoyable desserts. Beast Boy endured the music played by the band, which didn't match his tastes. Nevertheless, it was a pleasurable environment, wonderfully decorated and brightly lit
Afterwards, they went back to their cabin, their appetites satisfied.
"Okay, Raven and Terra, you two get some sleep." Robin commanded. "Cyborg, set your alarm okay?"
Cyborg called up the program in his virtual mind. "What time should I set for?" he asked.
"Eleven o'clock ought to give us enough time." said Raven.
Cyborg nodded. "Okay, I'm set. Good night and good luck you two!"
The two girls went into their room. The boys and Starfire stayed in Robin's room.
"I think I ought to recharge, just to be at full power." Cyborg said.
He plugged in his wires and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, Beast Boy produced a deck of cards.
"Hey you two, interested in a card game?" he said.
"Where'd you get those?" Robin asked.
"Raven got them for me as a gift." he replied. "Guess I had quite the influence on her, huh?"
Robin sighed. "Okay, what game do you have in mind?"
He glanced at Starfire. "Strip poker?" he laughed.
"Beast Boy!" Robin said angrily.
"I'm kidding! What do you know?"
"Um, blackjack?"
"Too much math!"
"Go fish?"
"Too boring!"
"Spades?"
"Cool, I love that game!"
Agreeing on it, the three Titans played the card game well into the night. Robin found himself playing tutor to Starfire in playing the game. After a half dozen hands, she more or less had the hang of it, eventually winning a couple of hands.
A quarter past ten o'clock, Robin yawned.
"I'm beat, you guys. Let's get some rest."
Agreeing with him, his fellow Titans each took a bed, sleeping with the lights left on.
At eleven o'clock, Cyborg woke up to a beeping noise, which awoke the others in the room.
"Cyborg, cut that out!" Beast Boy said.
"It's my alarm, you dummy." he snapped, accessing the command to turn off the alarm.
He stretched and realized fully what was about to happen. He left for the girls' room and knocked on the door.
Inside, Raven stirred slowly. She and Terra got to bed quickly by use of meditation, and were able to fall asleep quickly. Raven knew she had to be sleeping soundly, as it took her unusually long to wake up.
"What is it?" she asked as she opened the door.
"It's time Raven." Cyborg told her.
She blinked in surprise, and then fully realized what he told her.
"I see. Well, thanks. Terra and I will take it from here."
He nodded. "Good luck. To both of you." he said.
She nodded and quickly kissed him hard on the mouth. He smiled at her before returning to his room. Raven sighed as she turned on the lights.
"Terra, wake up."
The geomancer did not stir, but kept snoring, loudly. Taking advantage of the situation, she crept next to her bed. She took a deep breath and yelled "Wake up!"
Terra got up with a start and fell out of the bed! She sat on the floor, panting. Raven was laughing.
"Finally, I got you back!" she said.
Terra shook her head. "Guess I was asking for it, wasn't I?" she said.
Raven nodded at her, smiling. "Come on, let's go. The time has come."
Terra stood up, straightening her dress. "Ready when you are." The two girls left the room, feeling dreadful anticipation of what laid ahead.
Raven led Terra to the Promenade Deck, then forward on the starboard side to an area beneath the starboard bridge wing. They looked over the banister. They could see the forecastle deck dimly lit by the ship's lights. The sea was pitch black, and so smooth they could see the reflections of the numerous stars in the sky.
Raven had little doubt in her mind that she and Terra would be able to see the iceberg in time. They had been staring at the sea for little over five minutes when Terra caught herself falling asleep. 'Damn!' she thought. 'I'm no good like this.' She decided to talk to Raven.
"Raven?" she asked.
"What?" she dead-panned, being tired as Terra.
"Mind if I ask you something?"
"Not at all, as long as you keep your eyes open and out to sea."
"No problem. Anyway, I was thinking about something."
"What is it?"
The geomancer sighed deeply. "The day you all voted on whether to take me back or not. I imagine you voted no?"
"Why are you bringing that up now?" the mystic asked, slightly irritated.
"Because I have long had a feeling you don't like me being back with you."
"What gave you that impression?"
"I'm not stupid, Raven. I can tell when someone doesn't appreciate me. I've dealt with it before."
Raven heaved a sigh. "Well, you're right. I didn't want you back. I was afraid you'd betray us again or something. Or you might cause Beast Boy more heartbreak."
Terra blinked in surprise. "You care about Beast Boy?"
"I care about all my friends."
"So, you two didn't have a...you know, thing going on between you?"
Raven shook her head.
"Well, that's a relief!" Terra said.
Raven glanced at her, and then laughed.
"What's so funny?" asked the geomancer.
"Just the fact you were worried about a nonexistent crush!" replied the mystic.
Terra smiled, and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, you know me. Screwy in the head."
Raven stared at her, sympathetically. "You're not screwed up. You just need proper guidance."
Terra nodded. "I suppose you can be the one to provide it?"
"Well, I helped you with that nightmare, didn't I?"
"Yeah, that's a start. I wonder what else you have in mind."
"Let's worry about that later. It's pointless to worry now."
Terra agreed. "So," she said after a pause. "Do you think you'll ever trust me again?"
Raven glanced at her, and then considered her answer. "Right now, I have a bit of trust in you. If we get out of this alive, and depending on how you help, I think you'll gain my trust."
Terra nodded. "I'll do my best. And I swear, I'll never betray you're friendship again!"
Raven nodded. She could only hope that what the geomancer said was true.
The two girls stared at the blank, black sea in silence. Terra was trying to think of something else to talk about, but her mind felt like it was in a fog.
Suddenly, she thought she saw something against the stars, directly ahead. It was a shape of some kind, but she was unsure what it was at first. Then, she realized what it was in a flash!
"Raven! There it is! The iceberg!"
She pointed to it. Raven squinted to see it, seeing the dim outline faintly illuminated by the ship's lights. At the same time, she heard what sounded like a bell ringing three times.
"This is it!" she said with conviction. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!"
Her black energy enveloped the iceberg and she strained herself to move it. Terra concentrated her powers on the ice, but to no avail.
"Damn it!" she exclaimed. "I can't control it Raven! It's all up to you!"
Raven gritted her teeth in frustration. 'Shit!' she thought. 'This is going to be harder than I thought!'
Lifting Titans Tower had been hard enough in itself, but now she was trying to move a million ton mass of ice through the water. What more, was the forward motion of the ship didn't help.
"Come on!" Terra said. "You can do it! Come on!"
The iceberg moved slowly, seemingly clearing the bow. "Yes! We're going to make it!" she exclaimed.
Raven felt jubilant as well, but knew she had to move it further. Suddenly, she was distracted by a sudden shock that trembled throughout the ship.
"No!" she yelled, loosing concentration.
The ship had been moving too fast and the iceberg did not move enough out of the way. The Titanic hit the ice at a glancing blow, her starboard side exposed to damage. As it rubbed against the ship, pieces of ice broke off underwater. They were caught between the ice and the ship's hull. The force of pressure was enough to crack open the inch-thick steel plates, letting in the sea.
The girls watched as the iceberg passed the forward well deck, spilling a half ton of ice on the forward well-deck as it went by. The trembling stopped shortly after the iceberg passed the bridge wing.
The girls stared at the thing in awe as it fell astern.
"Oh my god...oh my god..." Raven kept saying over and over.
She failed! She failed not only her friends, but also the people on board the Titanic. She felt sick as another thought came to mind; at least history would now proceed as it was meant to be.