Chapter 1 - From the Shadows

It was an ordinary day in the Titans Tower when ...

Beep, Beep, Beep!

"Titans, trouble! Down at the docks, move out!" Robin said with a wave of his arm as of signaling for them to come.

Then he ran out the door with the other Titans right behind him.

(The Docks)

Robin rode into the scene on the R-Cycle and the rest of the Titans were following in the T-car.

"Long time, no see, Bird Boy," a voice yelled from across the docks.

"Johnny Rancid." Robin muttered, scowling at the figure.

"Sorry, but I don't have time to play with you kiddies. I've got banks to rob and merchandise to steal." Then Rancid started his motorcycle and sped off. "Later days."

"Titans, after him." yelled Robin as he started the R-cycle and rode off after Rancid.

The rest of the Titans glanced at each other and started to get out of the T-car. Robin noticed that they weren't coming and suddenly stopped.

"Aaaa ... guys?"

"Umm ... Robin, remember the last time we faced Johnny?" Beast Boy asked.

"Yeah, why?" Robin questioned him back.

"You stayed up all night chasing him around the city." Cyborg reminded him.

"Then you crashed the R-cycle and broke your arm." Raven added.

"Then our little friend Larry came and mixed up reality." Starfire mentioned before he got the chance to reply.

"That's not going to happen this time." Robin snapped. "I made a mistake that I won't make again." then scowled at them and rode off in the direction he was heading before.

Cyborg jumped back into the T-car. "Come on, you three. Robin's just a little grumpy today."

"Yeah, just a little." Raven said sarcastically.

(Down Town)

Robin rode into the town square with a look of surprise on his face.

Everything around him was destroyed. Buildings knocked to the ground, cars on fire, and no sign of life.

What happened? Who did this? Where is everyone? questions ran through his head.

He removed his helmet, hopped off the R-cycle, and headed off to investigate. The T-car pulled up behind him before he got too far, probably not even 3 yards. The other Titans stepped out of the car with their eyes and mouths wide open.

"Woah." Beast Boy said to break the silence.

"Please. Who would do such a horrible thing?" Starfire asked looking at Robin.

They all waited for him to reply, but he turned away and started walking down the street. They watched him walk away, then Starfire began to fly after him.

"I'm going to see if I can spot Rancid." Raven said as she lifted off the ground.

"Wait for me!" Beast Boy exclaimed as took the form of a hawk and flew after her.

"Okay. You guys scan from the sky and I'll scan from the ground." Cyborg yelled after them as he headed to the T-car.

(Back to Robin)

Robin reached a dead end and turned around only to find Starfire ending her flight. She quietly approached him and opened her mouth to speak. But, all of the sudden, out of nowhere, a thin black rope shot out of the shadows. It lassoed Starfire and threw her back into debris.

"Eeeek!"

"Starfire!"

Robin was about to run after her but he saw a dark figure emerge from the shadows. His jaw dropped in astonishment. "Bruce?" he asked the figure, even though he knew exactly who he was.

"Well, yeah. Who else?" the man chuckled. "Long time, no see, eh?"

"Yeah, I guess it has–––Wait. What are you doing in Jump City?"

"Shouldn't I receive a 'hello' or 'it's nice to see you after such a long time'?"

"Answer my question!" Robin snapped. "Why are you here?"

"I need your help." he replied. "And from the looks of things, you need my help as well. I can't imagine what that Tamaranean would have done"–––

"Starfire!" Robin yelled as he darted off in the direction Starfire was thrown.

"Huh?" the man said to himself.

(Beast Boy and Raven)

They had finished searching the city and found nothing. Beast Boy flew towards the ground and regained the form of a human.

"Where's all the people?" he asked Raven as she landed beside him.

She glanced at him, but didn't reply. Instead she pulled her communicator out of her pocket.

"Cyborg, did you find anything?"

"Nope, nothing," his voice said over the communicator.

"I don't know, Beast Boy." she answered slipping the communicator back into her pocket.

A shiver went down Beast Boy's spine when he heard her voice. Something was different between them. They were usually arguing about one of his jokes, but now that they were alone with each other, everything was akward. Neither of them knew what to say. They didn't have anything in common to talk about. He was feeling something he never felt before.

They silently walked towards the town square hoping the other Titans would be there waiting for them.

"Beast Boy," Raven began.

"Yeah?" he said looking at her very seriously.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"What do you mean? Nothing's wrong." he replied acting confused.

"Yes, there is, I can sense it."

"Nothing's wrong, Rae, I swear."

But deep down inside he knew something was wrong. He wasn't going to admit it, especially to Raven. If anyone, he would rather talk to Cyborg about it.

"I thought I told you not to call me that." she snapped.

"Sorry, I forgot." he said quickly then looked at the ground.

She couldn't think of anything to say next. She didn't mean to put him down. I know something's wrong with him, She thought. I could go into his mind and find out. But, he would get really mad if it was personal. She didn't really know what to do.

(Back to Robin)

Robin passed piles of debris looking back and forth for Star. He suddenly skidded to a stop. There she was, lying on a pile of bricks.

"Star!" he gasped, then ran over to her. "Star, are you okay?"

There was no answer.

"She'll be fine." the man said as he walked up behind Robin. "She was just knocked unconscious. Why do you care so much for your enemies?"

Robin looked up at him as if to say– What are you talking about? What enemies?

"Wasn't that Tamaranean about to attack you?" he said after seeing Robin's confused look.

"No."

"But, I"–––

"It's fine. You said she was going to be okay, right?"

"Yeah. I wouldn't see why not."

So, Robin picked up Star and headed back to the town square with the man along-side him.

(Somewhere in the city)

"Cyborg, where are you guys?" Robin's voiced asked over the communicator on Cy's arm.

"Well, I'm on my way back to the town square."

"Where's Raven and Beast Boy?" Robin asked before Cyborg got to tell him.

"Umm, I'm not really sure."

"Well, find out and meet me back at the Tower."

"Okay ... did Star catch up with you?"

"Yeah. She's right here."

"Alright then, see ya." Cyborg said right before pressing a few buttons on his arm.

"Yo, Raven, you there?"

"Yeah," her voice answered.

"Where you guys at?" he asked pulling into the town square.

"Right beside you."

Cyborg glanced over and saw Raven and Beast Boy sitting on the curb. Then he pulled down the window of the T-car. " Hop in. Robin wants us all back at the Tower."