It's said that just before you die your entire life flashes before your eyes. Maybe this is true, but for me it is just the best times I see. I hang from a set of chains reaching up to the roof. A madman, Slade, stands before me. Not a scratch on him, through all my struggles and he stands there, pristine. He speaks, in that infuriatingly calm way, "Your journey is over, boy." He raises a dagger for the finishing blow, and as a last act of defiance I stare into his one eye even as he brings the weapon down. And then images, memories of happier times…

: T : T : T : T :

I faced off against my opponent, the match was called and within 30 seconds I was on the ground in agony, my arm pushed up behind my back. He leapt up, 1-0 easily. I stood slowly, trying to act cool and failing miserably.

This time I was ready, he slid in slicing his legs in an attempt to kick my legs from under me, I back flipped and landed a few feet away. I decided to try my luck with an attack, a straight punch.

It was caught and I was tossed over my opponents shoulder hitting the floor hard. 2-0.

The bystanders cheered for my opponent as I stood. He tried to rush me and for the first time I got a hit in. A kick to the ribs and I span away. He grabbed his side in pain and I went for another attack, I leapt and brought my foot down onto his left. He managed to block, barely. With another back flip I upper-cut him with a foot. He fell back and I gained some pride back. 2-1.

We each backed off to our corners and I studied my opponent carefully. He was thin and short with spiked black hair. His eyes were… concealed by an eye-mask. The judo or karate attire (or whatever it was) might seem a little ridiculous, right up until he kicked you in the face. And believe me when facing off against Robin it was only a matter of time before that happened.

In contrast I wore no different clothes, well different for a super hero anyway. I wore a dark blue jumpsuit, so dark it was almost black. In place of where the Boy Wonder's eye-mask was I had a mask that concealed from below my nose upwards.

The fourth round was called and I stepped forward. Robin leapt forward. You remember that thing about facing off against Robin and being kicked in the head? I don't actually remember it, but apparently… Well, I think you can guess the rest.

I awoke to the faces of Robin and Beast Boy a few seconds later.

"Dude, that was so awesome, you should have seen you fly!" The green elf jabberer, making a headache grow somewhere in the region of my right ear.

Robin looked a little concerned, not because I might be hurt rather that I had been unable to stop his attack. "You're too slow, even Beast Boy could have stopped that,"

"Hey!" yelped the elf. Robin smirked before continuing.

"I think that's enough for today, but you still need practice if you wanna be a real member of this team."

He said that, but I could tell he was secretly impressed with me.

: T : T : T : T :

"I'm not impressed by the rookie. He's ok but he lacks any great skill without that suit of his."

"Same could be said of Beast Boy and his morphing powers Robin," Raven replied

motionless as ever. "The fact of the matter is, he does have the suit. He has some skill with it, enough to qualify being a Teen Titan." She pulled her hood over her head. "I'm going to meditate… Azarath Metrion Zinthos." And with her magic words obsidian covered her body and she 'slid' through the floor.

Sarcastically Robin replied, "Raven has spoken…"

Although he waited until he knew she was no longer listening.

: T : T : T : T :

The tower's alarm went off. Everyone was already gathered in the main room. On the screen, were previously Beast Boy had been losing to Cyborg at some racing game, now had the words "Sector 15" flashing. "Titans Trouble!" Shouted Robin.

"Dude, do you have to say that every time the alarm goes off? I mean it's pretty obvious."

"But Beast Boy, if Robin does not say the 'Titans Trouble" how will we know there is trouble?"

Before Beast Boy could respond Robin shouted "Titans Go!" and everybody scampered for the exits.

Cinderblock was making a mess, causing havoc down a street. He picked up a car but before he could toss it, black engulfed it and the automobile was torn from his grasp.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you to tidy up after yourself?" Robin did the usual smartass remark, followed by the trademark "Titans go!"

Cinderblock, with his arms still raised up from holding the car, was engulfed by a mixture of starbolts, sonic waves and explosive birarangs.

Raven added to the fusillade by dropping the car back onto Cinderblock. With a CRASH! Then a BOOM! And it exploded sending fire and smoke up into the air.

There was a moments silence as everyone waited for the smoke to clear and see if Cinderblock was still up.

…

Naturally he was.

He roared and stomped his way over to the group, fist swinging. We scattered. He punched at Robin first who just jumped over the granite monster and extended his staff.

Beast Boy morphed into a snake and slithered up the creature's body. When he got to its head he transformed into a rhino, hoping to overbalance the rock golem. Cinderblock sagged but still had the strength to reach up and toss the changeling into a wall.

Robin attacked from behind, a great swipe from his rod, but Cinderblock barely noticed. He swung a great fist around and the Boy Wonder had to retreat. A double attack from Starfire and Cyborg sent the monster reeling.

He grabbed a lamppost, tore it out of the ground and knocked the two strongest titans flying. A piece of sidewalk debris flew towards him, encased in black telekinesis.

He hefted his lamppost like a baseball player and hit the piece of pavement. He then flung his 'bat' at Raven.

--This is where I took part. Pay attention and see if you can spot my mistake.

My suit gives me powers: flight and the ability to open sort of black holes. Plus a slight increase of strength, nothing like Starfire or Cyborg, but a little boost nevertheless. It doesn't, however, give me much protection from impact.

Now watch carefully--

Like a good team member I flung an arm in the direction of the projectile and opened a hole in the path of the flying lamppost. Next, Robin distracted the monster with a couple of explosives to the side of the face. As the creature turned I swooped in with the sole of my boot and kicked him. Robin got into a position that he could trip the beast and finally, foolishly, I swung my mildly-stronger-than-human, no-protection fist into the face of the rock skinned Cinderblock.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

And painful.

Cinderblock went down, thanks to Robin's trip.

I froze in mid-air, my fist still in the position of punching Cinderblock.

I bit my lip as my team mates finished off Cinderblock. Still frozen in the air.

Raven wrapped up Cinderblock with the road, just in case he should wake before the authorities arrived. Beast Boy and Starfire cheered. I was still frozen in the same position. Trying desperately not to cry.

Cyborg was the first to notice. "What's up Void?"

I may have whimpered.

Starfire was next. "Friend, why are you not commencing in the merriment due to the capture of a villain?"

I couldn't take it much longer. Slowly I moved from my frozen position and without a word offered my injured hand forward.

"You punched Cinderblock… clever." Despite Ravens sarcasm, my hand was encased in darkness as she 'fixed' it. "Baby." She walked away, back to the T-car.

"You are injured!" exclaimed Starfire as she sped towards me. She hugged me, and without realising, possibly caused more damage. "Do you wish me to nurse you back to health?"

"He's fine Star. Aren't you Void?"

I nodded emphatically. She smiled and let go. "Glorious! I shall sing the Tamranian song of good recovery, all one-hundred-and-nineteen verses!" She took a deep breath.

"I don't think that's necessary, I wasn't injured much anyway!" I said quickly.

"Nevertheless, I shall sing!" She took another breath. "Please, why is everyone covering their ears?"

: T : T : T : T :

When we returned to the Tower Beast Boy came up to me. "Dude! You have to come and play this awesome new game we got!" It turned out to be some sort of fighting game. Now, I love computer games… I'm just not all that good at them. Beast Boy on the other hand seems to spend his entire life playing against Cyborg. Cyborg wins the vast majority of these games. I think he was just looking to trounce the noobie. Little did he know just how bad I was at this sort of thing.

After the third consecutive defeat without B.B. losing any health I decided to call it a day. The changeling snickered as I turned my back on him. I walked over to the kitchen, where Cyborg was making waffles.

"Hey Cy! I got me a winning streak! Wanna see f you can beat me?" Beast Boy called from the gamestation.

Cyborg turned to me. "Tell me you didn't let Beast Boy beat you."

I looked to the floor in shame.

"I'm gonna have to teach you to play properly man. Can't have B.B. thinking he's any good! Tomorrow dawg, me, you and 4 hours of Mega-smash-ninjas 3!" He let out the customary "Boo-Yah!" before going over to trounce the changeling on said game.

Starfire drifted over. "Why is Cyborg in the 'high spirits'?" I told her about the 4 hours of … fun … we were going to have tomorrow. "That reminds me friend Void, tomorrow I wish to go out and do the 'ing of the shop'." I'm not entirely sure how that reminded her of shopping, but she went on. " Raven does not wish to go, Robin is too busy and Cyborg and Beast Boy never seem to go in the shops of my choice. So, will you go with me?" She smiled and held her hands behind her back. I couldn't say no to that, could I? "Glorious!" She floated off to watch Cyborg beat Beast Boy.

"Void." An expressionless voice from behind me. I turned to see Raven sitting at the table in the corner of the room. "As the… 'newbie'… you have to a few chores." She handed me a long list of things to do. "I'd get up early tomorrow, if I were you." Was that a hint of a smile on her lips? She went back to her book and I shrugged.

I turned to see Robin suddenly standing behind me. I jumped about out of my skin before recovering my composure. He didn't seem to notice. "You made a rookie's mistake in today's mission, Void. We Titans are expected to be above such blunders. I expect you to do some extra training with me tomorrow. Meet me in the gym bright and early." He walked back to the computer where he was filling in a report of the fight against Cinderblock.

For a second I stood still blinking from the four Titans, who, in quick succession, had filled my next day up.

Tomorrow was gonna be a looooong day.