Leaning back in my desk chair while the credits of the latest episode scrolled up my computer screen, I took a deep breath.

Okay. I think I can do this. Maybe. I thought. Even if I screw up immensely, everything will get solved by the end of the two-parter... most likely...

I turned off my computer and stood up to stretch my legs.

Slade is a very experienced fighter. One swift kick and I'm out. I think I have a good chance of being safe. Robin's the one he wants; I doubt Slade even knows I exist.

I glanced at the clock as it changed to 9:59. I turned off the lights and crawled into bed.


I woke up in my bedroom inside Titans' Tower. I looked out the window. A thin strip of yellow surfaced at the horizon, marking the beginning of sunrise. I left my room and headed to the Main Ops. The door opened, and I saw the Titans gathered around the computer. The window was filled with an image of Slade's face.

"Good morning, Titans." he said. "I hope you had pleasant dreams."

Beast Boy yawned. "What crazy person calls someone at 5:00 in the morning?!" he said. Raven elbowed him hard in the side.

"What do you want?" Robin said.

"That's what you've been going crazy over trying to figure out, isn't it? But no matter how hard you've tried, you're still left in the dark. I'm disappointed, Robin. I was expecting more from you." Slade said. "I suppose I'll just have to reveal my plans to you myself."

The image panned to a couple of Slade's robot commandos standing next to an object covered in a tan cloth. They lifted the cloth, revealing a large Chronoton Detonator.

"I'm sure you're all familiar with the concept of a Chronoton Detonator."

"Uh... Not really." Beast Boy said. He leaned closer to Raven. "What's it do?"

"It stops time. Permanently." Raven said.

"Tell me where it is!" Robin said.

"You're a clever boy, Robin. I'm sure you'll figure it out." Slade said. He waved a remote in his hand. "I suggest you hurry though. Time is not on your side."

In the last second before the video cut out, Slade's eyes lifted above the Titans and at me. A shiver rushed down my spine when the video filled with static and disappeared. Robin growled and slammed his fist against the computer.

"Fan out. Find it. Shut it down!" Robin said, his cape whipping behind him as he marched towards the door. Beast Boy and Cyborg stepped in his way.

"Maybe you should... stay here..." Beast Boy said.

"What?!"

"You have some serious issues when it comes to Slade. It might be better for us if you sit this one out." Cyborg said.

"I won't do that! There's too much at stake!"

"We have not forgotten the last time you faced Slade." Starfire said.

"I made a mistake, Starfire. It won't happen again. I can handle Slade. I promise."

"Then you'd better find out where it is." Raven said. She booted up an image of the Chronoton Detonator. The Titans gathered around the computer again. I walked down and stood in the back. Raven zoomed in on a part of the detonator which showed two blob-like shapes. She deciphered the squiggly lines, revealing the words 'PIER 41'. "Slade gave us more information than he realized."

"Let's go." Robin said.

The Titans ran to the door and left the room. Robin turned around and paused when he saw me.

"Ciela, I want you to stay out of this." he said.

"What? Why?" I said.

"Because... it's too dangerous for you."

"You think I can't handle something like this? What about when you got your bodies possessed by the Puppet King? What about when you guys almost got brainwashed by Mad Mod? What about when you guys almost got crushed by the H.I.V.E.?"

"You have to trust me on this one."

"And you have to trust me. At least, my knowledge."

Robin threw his hands in the air and sighed. "All right, you can come with us for this. But you need to promise me that if I tell you to stay away, you'll do it."

"Fine, I promise." I said.


We arrived at the docks and went to Pier 41. Cyborg used his cannon to blast down the doors of an old warehouse. We entered the warehouse, but there was no sign of the Chronoton Detonator.

"There must be something in here." Robin said.

Slade's robotic commandos appeared around us like shadows, both on the ground and in the wooden beams looming above us. I glanced behind me, and a couple more blocked the door.

"Titans, go!"

The Titans attacked. Well, mostly Robin. I watched him fly across the warehouse, knocking down every commando in sight before anyone else could. The other Titans and I watched in shock as Robin defeated them one-by-one.

I hope I learn that during training.

Two pairs of hands grabbed my arms. I gasped when I saw the black and orange masks of the robot commandos. "Let go!" I cried, struggling to free myself from their grips.

They didn't attack me, however. They started to drag me away. I took a deep breath and launched my elbow into the torso of one of the robots. Freeing that arm, I grabbed my pistol and shot the other in the forehead. Half of its mask cracked off, revealing the circuitry underneath, and it crumbled to the ground. I watched the wires spark and die, panting quietly.

That was... unusual. Why did they do that?

"Uh... Robin? I think you got it." Cyborg said. I turned back to the Titans. Robin was busy repeatedly smashing his bo-staff into the face of a robot.

"You may stop now. We are victorious!" Starfire said, grabbing Robin's arm.

"Slade's got his finger on the button, and we've got nothing. Does that sound like a victory to you?!" Robin said, angrily marching past me and out the door.

The Titans and I glanced at each other and left the warehouse, too. Cyborg activated the radar on his arm.

"The detonator was definitely here. Now we just have to figure out where it went."

"We might find it faster if we split up and search for it." Beast Boy said.

"Or waste hours and come up empty-handed." Raven said.

"Raven's right." I said. "In fact, there is no-"

"Freeze!" Robin yelled at a warehouse worker who just turned the corner and came into our view. He sprinted after him.

"Robin!"

We chased after him and down the alley. He already cornered the man and had him up against the wall.

"Tell me everything you know about this!" Robin sad, shoving a disc with Slade's symbol into the man's face.

"I... I..." he said.

"Answer me! Now!"

"I've never seen it before! I don't know anything! Honest!"

Raven encased Robin in her magic and forced Robin into the wall. The warehouse worker scurried away.

"You said you could handle this." Raven said.

Robin stood up straight and walked away. "Come on, we're wasting time!"

"We may be trying to capture Slade, but that doesn't mean you have to start acting like him!" Beast Boy said. I tensed.

Robin stopped and turned back to us. "Don't ever compare me to him." he said with gritted his teeth.

Beside me, Starfire started to sniffle. I took a step back right as she sneezed, shooting a giant starbolt at the other Titans.

"Bless you." Raven mumbled as she and the others billowed with smoke.

"Forgive me. I'm allergic to metallic chromium. There must be a source near..." Starfire reeled back, and the Titans and I quickly ducked away as she sneezed again, creating an explosion and a mushroom cloud full of smoke. "Sorry..."

"Wait a moment." Cyborg said, checking the scanners on his arm. "The key component of a Chronoton Detonator is a metallic chromium core."

"That means Starfire can track it." Beast Boy said with a grin.


Our unique tracking system led us to the sewers. The sour fumes filled my nose, and I had to cover it to avoid losing my sense of smell. Every time Starfire geared up to sneeze, we stepped back and braced ourselves.

"Guys, I'm really sorry about earlier." Robin said.

"Apologies will have to wait." Raven said, pointing down the path. A red boat floated on top of the sewer water. One of Slade's robot commandos inspected on the Chronoton Detonator.

"Titans, go!"

We ran towards the boat. The commando saw us and turned the boat on. It rode away, kicking up the water behind it.

"Quick! Don't let them get away!" While Robin ran after the boat, a hand punched through the wall and grabbed his arm. It pulled him into the giant hole it created.

"Robin!" Starfire cried. We glanced into the hole and saw Robin fighting against Cinderblock.

"Get the detonator! GO!" Robin cried.

"Go. I'll help him." I said to the other Titans. "Be careful."

I chased after Robin and Cinderblock. In a large room filled with pillars, Robin jumped from each while Cinderblock plowed through them with his fists and body.

"Robin!" I called. I pulled out my pistols and linked them together. Clicking them into place, they transformed into my sniper rifle. I climbed onto an already crumbled pile of rubble, took a knee, placed the rifle against my shoulder, and quickly focused my sight into the eye scope. I pulled the trigger and launched a thick laser into Cinderblock's back. The laser made contact and exploded, sending Cinderblock into the wall. I shifted my rifle into my arms, jumped down, and jogged over to Robin. "Are you okay?"

"Why aren't you with the others?" Robin said.

"Because of this." I walked over to Cinderblock and plucked a GPS from his hand. It beeped with an arrow that pointed to Slade's lair, his symbol signifying the place. I handed the GPS to Robin.

"I can't let you come with me."

"Why not?! I know more about Slade and his plans more than you do. I can help you stop him! Why don't you trust me?"

"It's Slade that I don't trust! What if he changed something? What if he's a lot smarter than you think?!"

"This episode has been playing out the same twenty times that I've seen it. Nothing has changed." I said. "I'll be all right, Robin. Right now, I'm worried about you."

Robin grumbled and rubbed his face in his hands. "Fine. You can come. But do not let Slade see you."

"Okay..." I separated my rifle back into the two energy pistols and placed them back into their holsters.

Using the GPS, we made our way to Slade's lair. At this moment, my own well-being was the furthest thing from my mind. I was more concerned about all the other Titans. The thought of what the others were about to get into sent chills down my spine.

What I said to Robin was true about my assurances for what's to come. I knew I wasn't in any danger to Slade. After all, I was the newest member of the Teen Titans. I didn't possess any supernatural powers or skills. I could shoot these energy pistols, but barely. What interest would Slade have in someone like me? I doubt he even knew about me. Like I stated before, everything in this episode was going the way it was supposed to.

Well, that is... except for that video chat with Slade. He did glance up at me before the video cut out. And a little bit earlier this evening, when those robot commandos tried to take me away.

I didn't have anything to worry about... right?

"Here is it." Robin said, placing his hand against a metal door. He placed a disc against the door. We stepped back, and a few seconds later, the disc and the door exploded. "Stay back. Please."

Why was Robin so worried about Slade seeing me?

"Welcome, Robin. I've been expecting you for some time." Slade said.

Cautiously, I leaned forward and snuck a peek at Slade. Seeing the devious tactician in person prickled my arms with goosebumps. He stood in front of a large screen, his hands clasped behind his back, while he watched three different angles of the high-speed chase the other Titans were caught in. He began to turn around, and I quickly ducked back and pressed my back against the wall. My heart was pounding.

"I was worried that Cinderblock posed too much of a challenge. I believe you came here for this? Well, here it is." Slade pulled out the remote to the fake Chronoton Detonator and laid it on the ground between him and Robin. "If want it, come and take it."

It was silent for many moments before I heard Robin's footsteps sprinting towards the remote. I heard fighting grunts as Slade protected the remote. I dared another glance. I caught Robin lunging for the remote, but Slade side-kicked him in the chest.

"Come, now, Robin. You'll have to do better than that. I haven't even broken a sweat." Slade said, charging for the young boy again. They both disappeared into the jungle of giant, cranking gears and pumping pipes.

I can't just sit here and let Robin get beaten up like this. I thought. I leaned my head against the wall, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath as I psyched myself up.

I pulled out my energy pistols, crawled into a crouch, and checked the room to make sure the fighting was still in another section of the room. Seeing no one there, I sprinted into the room and behind a large machine with a pumping pulley. I leaned against the cold metal, my pistols held close to my chest, and panted. A sweat trickled down my forehead; was it from exhaustion or nerves?

I peeked past the machine. Robin lunged at Slade with a punch, but Slade caught it and twisted his arm. He grabbed him by the cape, lifted him into the air, and threw him into the wall. Robin landed on his hands and knees.

"You'll have to be better than that." Slade said.

Robin climbed to his feet, clenched his fists, and lunged at Slade again. Slade pulled back his fist and thrust it out, hitting Robin square in the stomach. My stomach churned. Robin wheezed and collapsed to the ground.

Fine, you want to fight dirty? I assembled my bazooka rifle, jumped away from the machine, and focused my eye scope on Slade. I pulled the trigger, and the large laser zoomed towards Slade.

At the last second, Slade turned around and rolled out of the way. The laser sailed over Robin and hit the wall, destroying it in with an explosion.

"What...?" I gasped, lowering my weapon.

"Well, well... If it isn't the newest member of the Teen Titans." Slade said, climbing to his feet and facing me. "It was only a matter of time before I met the mastermind behind everything."

"Mastermind? I-I don't know what you're talking about... but you better stop hurting my friend or I'll-"

"You'll what? Warn the Titans that the Chronoton Detonator is a trap? That they'll get infected with my Nanoscopic Probes if they do? Or will you tell Cyborg how to remove them? Because you already know all those things, don't you?"

My grip slipped on my rifle, and I almost dropped it. "W-What are you-"

"I know all about you, Ciela." Slade said, my name on his venom-filled lips sent a shiver down my spine. "You see, when those graduating students from H.I.V.E. sought to work for me, I challenged them with a simple task: destroy the Teen Titans. What I didn't expect was, after they came back to admit their utter defeat, they told me about a strange girl that was hanging around the Teen Titans. The H.I.V.E. students claimed to have spent many hours, even many days, crafting every single detail of their plan, none of it reaching any ears besides their own. Imagine their surprise when their plans were ruined by the hands, or should I say mind, of that same, mysterious girl."

"You don't know what you're talking about." I said. My heart was pounding again.

"Oh, but I do."

Slade pulled out a remote and pressed a button. A light ignited in my right peripheral. I turned, and my legs wobbled underneath me. I stumbled back at the multiple video images playing before my eyes. All of them were of me. Each was an instance of time when I summarized episodes to the Titans and helped them with my knowledge of the show.

"I've been watching you, Ciela, ever since I found out about you." Slade said. "A world where this place is nothing but a television show... How peculiar."

"Okay, maybe I am from a different world. So what?" I said.

"You hold extensive knowledge about these 'episodes'. You know every detail of what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, and how to warn others so it doesn't happen. Omniscience like that... is something I find very interesting." Slade started walking towards me. "I had my sights set on Robin at first. He and I are very similar... but you already knew that. Now that you're here, I have no further interest in him. I don't want Robin; I want you."

I stumbled back, gripping my rifle until my knuckles turned white.

"G-Get away from me!" I cried, pointing the barrel at Slade.

Slade stopped and chuckled. "Go ahead, Ciela. Take your best shot." he said, spreading his arms out, creating an open target for his chest. "I'd like to see you try."

My body trembled, shaking up my gun and my mind.

I focused my eye scope on Slade's chest, right above his heart. My finger rested on the trigger. I can end this now... I can stop Slade's tyranny... I can save everyone...

I hesitated. Tears filled my eyes. But that would involve murder! There's no way I could do something as terrible as that!

Since when are you one to question authority? You were always one to submit to it. You're a jester- entertainment for those better than you. And let's face it, everyone is better than you. You're nothing but a useless, stupid, little Fattela, and you'll always be one!

"SHUT UP!" I screamed. I lifted the barrel towards the ceiling and shot the laser into it. It exploded, sending large pieces of stone falling down and landing in front of Slade. He jumped back to avoid being crushed. The broken pieces of ceiling created a large wall, separating myself from Slade.

"Ciela, get out of here!" Robin called from the other side of the rubble wall. "GO! NOW!"

I turned around and sprinted towards the door. My frantic sobs bounced around the hallways. I passed by Cinderblock, still unconscious. I stuffed my pistols back into the holsters and ran faster. I burst through the open hole Cinderblock created earlier, lost my footing, and tumbled into the sewer water. Half of my hair broke free from my braid and spilled over my shoulder. Spitting out the garbage water, I scrambled to my feet and ran down the path.

"Ciela?" A pair of arms encircled me as I crashed into a body. The sweet, friendly voice was Starfire's. "What has happened?"

"Get me out of here! Please!" I sobbed desperately.

Starfire scooped me into her arms and flew us both towards the exit. We flew into the night air, and it chilled my soaked body and face.

"Where is Robin...?" Starfire said.

I covered my ears and quickly shook my head while the same scene played repeatedly in my head.

No wonder Robin wanted me to stay away from Slade. He knew his true intentions. I thought. I remembered the end of "Masks", when Robin was trying to tell me something. He tried to warn me about Slade, but I brushed it off. I let my arrogance overrule me. How could I let this happen?