So this chapter, we finally get some answers. And the characters themselves come to learn a few things.

Also, we have not only passed the 30,000 view mark, but we're in 31,000 now! Just 17 reviews away from 300. Five more follows to 150. Let's break some records this chapter people!

Enjoy!


Mailbox Time!

LIONESS STEPHANIE: Yep. He called her that. Enjoy the chapter!

Golem XIV: Here's a little of what's up my sleeve. Enjoy!

Scarease: I like the way you say that. It's kind of humorous. Enjoy!

mochafraptor: Oh yeah, you did write that stuff too. I only looked at Beast Boy's time with the infamous Register... yeah, I almost threw up at what I found. Enjoy the chapter!

Daniel Keyes008: I'm amazed you binge read this whole thing. Though I can tell you now it isn't him since I don't know who the hell that is. I'll have to search him up. But keep guessing. :) Enjoy the chapter! And your welcome.

shugokage: Thanks! Enjoy!

swemanD47: You guessed it! As to the leg thing, we will see. Enjoy the chapter!

HornedGoddess: I'm glad to hear that! And I hopefully won't delve that deep into dark again. We'll see. For now, enjoy the chapter!

Captain Ea Rayos: Glad to know! Enjoy!

Foamsatmouth: Again Foamy, thanks for supplying inspiration for something just with your words. Sexual Healing was just what I needed for that scene in my other story! Enjoy the chapter!

RPGPersona: Dr. Register would have been an interesting villain to see. Coincidence? The favor Beast Boy now owes her. As to your insinuations, I've said it before, Trigon is not behind this. Think of another powerful character who thrives on these and other emotions. And think of a child's reaction to not getting what they want. I think Terra has been showcasing it pretty well. Enjoy the chapter!

senpen banka: Here's the more. Enjoy it!

Dark Azarathian: Hope I updated soon enough! Enjoy the chapter!

Bluedog197: Ahhh, again, the smile comes as I read your review. I gladly accept the tub of popcorn, and give you this chapter in return. Read it well, my friend, for some things are revealed. And the time comes close at hand when the great judgement shall be passed upon them. Enjoy!

alfred19: I think I told you before. Just in case I didn't, HELL NO! THAT SLIMY DRAGON WILL NOT BE COMING IN ON MY STORY! Now that I have that out of my system *bows* enjoy.

Azarath Cat: You don't really sound all that excited to me. Is something going on? Also, enjoy the chapter.

jweaks2016: I see what you did there. Oh, just how right you are. You could say Zatanna is a villain. But in my words, she isn't the 'ultimate' villain. Enjoy the chapter dude! Or dudette?


Since Last Time: 2 more favorites, 6 more follows (Total: 114 favorites, 145 follows)


Updated: December 2, 2016 10:10 P.M.


Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own it... so... enjoy the stuff I don't own I guess?


Chapter Twenty-Four: Realizations


'Oh… oh yeah…'

...

'You like that little Beastie?'

'Oh yes mama… keep on doing that…'

'I think I can do better.'

'Oh my… ****!'

Smirks. 'Hmmm, so you do like that now.'

'Yes babe! Yes!'

'Mmmm… oh Gar… OH GAR!'

'Oh Raven! I'm going to… to…'

'Do it Beastie! Oh Azar, I'm… I'm… I'M-'

Creakkkkkkk!

At the sound of the old door opening, Beast Boy suddenly woke up. His body was covered in sweat, and his uniform clung to his skin. He was also feeling very, very hot at the moment… on the bright side, his mind wasn't on that mental image from before.

His mind was too far away to think on who was coming in. No, it was far, far somewhere else in right field.

'Did I just… oh lord, I had a wet dream about Raven! AUGH! I can't believe it! I don't even like to think of Raven like that at all! And I can't believe I was… wait, what is that?'

He moved his hand down to the center of his suit. And he felt something wet that wasn't sweat… his face colored a little more as he tried to wipe it away discretely under the blanket.

'Did I really… but it was all only a dream… it had to have been because of the Beast… right?'

He finally heard the footsteps approaching his cell. And seemed to realize that he was still all hot and bothered. He tore the blanket off his frame.

'You know what, I'll think about all this later… or never. Just calm down Beast Boy. Just calm down. You don't want Raven, or anyone else to find you like this. For now, let's just get through this hell I live in… breathe in… breathe out… don't think… don't dream… breathe in...'

Somehow, Beast Boy was able to calm himself down. The mental image that had been plastered to his mind long before was deep in the back of his mind. He took a deep breathe in...

Then out...

The steps stopped just outside his cell. And Beast Boy, whom was at ease now, opened his eyes and looked up from his position on his bed to see the figure. Who had stopped just a couple feet outside the cell.

It was Superboy.

Just like that, his calm was replaced with slight anger. 'Well, there goes that attempt.'

Superboy's nose was fully healed, thanks in part to his healing factor. He was still as big and imposing as ever in his normal uniform. He looked just about the exact same as he had about every other time Beast Boy saw him.

Yet he didn't have a scowl on his face. Instead, he had a small frown. That was certainly new. Beast Boy thought all he knew how to do was scowl and sneer.

'What's he doing here?'

'I'm not sure master.'

Superboy glanced up at the camera in the corner of the room, outside of Beast Boy's vision, and gave it a small nod. The red light on the side that indicated it was on turned off. Along with every other camera in the mansion.

His fifteen minutes Blue Beetle had promised him had started.

He held the remote for the shock collar out in the palm of his hand. In plain sight for the changeling who glared at it.

Smash!

And then he smashed it into the ground. Thus capturing Beast Boy's and the Beast's full undivided attention. 'Okay, now this just got interesting.'

Superboy looked up from what he had done, his face still frowning. He took in a deep breath, before he spoke.

"Alright, I'm not going to be like what Diana was yesterday. I'm not going to shock you over and over again. I'm not going to be as irrational as she was. Instead, I want to take a different approach." Superboy said in a calm tone.

Beast Boy blinked in response. Not knowing what was going to happen. Superboy came up to the edge of the containment field.

"I actually want to ask you questions, not as an enemy, not as a teammate, not as a friend, but as a curious bystander. I don't want to make you suffer, even though a part of me still thinks you deserve it." Superboy said.

Beast Boy chuckled at that. "Sure. How big is that part of you." He said sarcastically.

Superboy narrowed his eyes at him. But continued in a calm tone. "I expect you to answer the questions honestly. Because I'm certain if they confirm my suspicions, then it might help to convince me."

"Convince you of what? That tofu is a better substitute for meat after all." Beast Boy again said sarcastically.

Slam!

Beast Boy jumped back at the loud noise of Superboy slamming his fist into the wall next to the cell. There was definitely some tension in his posture now as he glared at him with hate, but after a second, he took a deep breath and brought his fist out of the small crater he made in the concrete wall. His face also returned to its frowning state.

"I'm being serious here Beast Boy. I don't want to fight you for the moment. I just want to have some answers. To convince me of something. And you don't have long to give me them. I'd say at the most you have fourteen minutes now." He said in as calm as a tone that he could muster.

His ear piece came online after he said those words. 'Hey Connor, scarab is trying his best, but he can't stay in front of Red Tornado's probe forever. So will you hurry it up already!'

Beast Boy narrowed his eyes at him. Even though the hero hadn't called him changeling like before. "If you want to ask me where I think Raven is. Then you're **** out of luck. I don't know."

"No, I don't want to ask about that. You made it very clear yesterday you didn't know. If only the girls weren't so freaking stubborn to not realize it…" Superboy said in a strained voice.

"Alright then, what did you want to talk to me about then? And it better have nothing to do with where I've been hiding either." Beast Boy said in a flat tone.

"No, my questions… are more on a certain individual. Not you, and not the half-demoness."

Superboy paused, before he continued.

"Terra."

Beast Boy growled at the mention of her name. "And just why does that blonde bitch matter now?"

Superboy sighed, and then he answered.

"I think, after all the research I did in the middle of the night, that that isn't the real Terra out there."

Beast Boy was silent. 'Not the real Terra?... was that what Beast meant before?..

'

'Yes master. Wasn't it obvious that blonde tramp out there wasn't her?'

...

It was silent. Then...

'Twelve minutes Connor.'

At the sound of Blue Beetle's voice in his ear, Superboy immediately moved to question him. "Does the Terra you saw earlier act in any way, shape, or form like the one you knew before?"

Beast Boy remained silent for a few seconds. Having to think on it. "I'm not sure… I mean she did save me and my friends lives in the end back then, but before that… she had tried to kill me and the others."

"Was it because she had wanted to kill you all? Or was it because she was being forced to do it?" Superboy continued.

"She wasn't being forced at first… she tried multiple times to kill all of us after betraying us for Slade back then... But then she had been forced to do it when she wanted to stop. She almost did kill me, but then she managed to free herself from his control, defeat Slade, and sacrifice herself to save our city from a volcano. She was a true friend when she died. She had been the best friend I never had." Beast Boy said in a small voice.

Superboy took a moment to ponder. "She sounds like an indecisive person… yet this one I've had to work with doesn't seem so, indecisive." Superboy said.

"Yes, this Terra I saw, she was… manipulative. Ruthless. Cold hearted. When she brought me food yesterday, she mocked me about a lot of things. And she took pleasure in what she was doing to me. Even with digging up some of my older memories... The old Terra I knew did try to kill me, but she didn't exactly hate me and mock me. The only person she did that too was Raven. And it wasn't really such a core part of her character when she did it." 'And she somehow appeared to torture me in my dreams.' He thought at the end.

Superboy nodded his head. Definitely some different personality traits to deal with here. "She sacrificed herself for your city, how long ago was that?"

Beast Boy had to think on it. "About… I think it was probably a little over a year ago… I don't really tend to think on it... it's been months since I last visited her grave, every time it did it brought up… bad memories... why does it matter?"

'So it is possible. The process only takes a few months. And I have no doubt that this Slade character would have sent her DNA to them for their personal use.' Superboy thought to himself.

"Why it matters, I'll tell you at the end. As for now, next question. What connections does Terra have within the Titans organization?" Superboy proceeded.

"Um… as far as I know, she only met us in Titans West. She met a few of the others possibly when this villain made all the males then all the females face off against each other. Other than that, I don't know if she could have met up with others before us." Beast Boy responded.

'Yet she knew the names of almost all the other Titans and the Young Justice. Almost as if she was taught about them all… the picture starts to become clearer.' Superboy again thought to himself.

'Ten minutes.' Blue Beetle's voice sounded.

Superboy nodded his head. "What about physically. Does the Terra we see now look a little older since the time you saw her?"

'The shirt… the shorts… the boots… the gloves… the hair…(the flat chest, had to put that in there)'

'They're all the same as the time when she was a Titan.'

'You're right. Everything down to the littlest detail was the same… except her eyes.'

"No. She looks the exact same as when I saw her before she betrayed us." Beast Boy simply said.

Superboy turned away. His mind was a raging storm inside his head. 'Then it is true. We have all been set up… but what do I do now? No one will likely believe it. And if she finds out I know, then I could be targeted, or worse… Me'gann could be targeted…'

'Eight minutes Connor. Do we have all the Intel we need now? If Red Tornado catches scarab on the interwebs, then-'

"Hold that thought Jaimes." Superboy mumbled. He turned around to face Beast Boy again, who was looking at him with a blank expression.

There was one last thing he had to check. A question that he hoped would go right into the heart of the crisis he was trying to unravel. And if answered correctly...

"Alright, I have one last question. But it isn't on Terra this time."

"If Terra betrayed you and your friends before, then why did you also betray your friends?" Superboy asked.

Beast Boy continued blankly at him. Almost as if he had been expecting a question like that the whole time.

"I never betrayed my friends." Beast Boy answered.

"That isn't what they told me." Superboy said as she crossed his arms in front of him.

Beast Boy turned away. "Of course. You would take their word over mine now."

Superboy suppressed the retort that came to mind. "It's just a simple question Beast Boy. Why did you do it?"

"You wouldn't believe me no matter how I explained it." Beast Boy retorted a little heatedly.

'Um… Connor?'

"Just answer the question and then we'll see." Superboy said calmly.

Beast Boy just ignored him.

"Fine. If you won't answer that, then how about this. Why did you beat up your old friends? Speedy? Kid Flash? Hot Spot? Just to name a few." Superboy asked.

"They attacked me." Beast Boy simply said.

"You put them on the brink of death Beast Boy! Everyone who has attacked you so far had to be put in the medical wing! So tell me, how is what you did different from what Terra did?!" Superboy said enraged.

Beast Boy turned around. His nostrils flaring. "Those people attacked me first! And if they didn't, they were going to! And everything I did to them, they had been going to do to me and Rae! But at least everything I had done out there has been in self defense and reason! What 'Terra' did was merely out of the cruelty of her cold bitch heart!" Beast Boy shouted angrily.

'Seven minutes Supes. I hope you know what you're doing.'

"You know what?! What about I ask this then! Why did you run away from what you did?! Why didn't you stay and take what was coming like a hero?! Why are you even helping out the demoness who started this whole mess in the first place!?" Superboy got his face up close to the containment field as he shouted.

'Whoa! Connor! What the hell are you doing!? Trying to piss him off!'

Beast Boy finally cracked. His green eyes burned with rage, his face expressing nothing but fury. His claws poked at the edges of his gloves.

'Because if that was your goal, it worked man. It worked.'

"Because we did nothing, absolutely, positively nothing." Beast Boy said in a rather small biting tone.

Superboy blinked at that. "What?"

"Me and Rae did nothing wrong. Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Do I have to repeat it! Nothing! NOTHING! N-O-T-H-I-N-G! NOTHING!"

Superboy waited.

"This whole mess started with me, helping to distract the biggest, most evil demonic overlord to ever walk the Earth! He who was responsible for sending a big freaking demon army across the universe! And with Robin, going with the Titan's number one nemesis to find Raven, who had been down in the deepest pits of hell! Without her powers! And unable to do anything to stop a prophecy that had been doomed to come to pass since long before she was even born! That was how this whole mess started! Not out there with the destruction of many worlds, not on the Tower with Batman dropping all the blame on her, but here on Earth, with Trigon having completely free rein on it! As he directed his armies to conquer the freaking universe!" Beast Boy had to pause to breathe in. Before he continued.

"If it wasn't for Robin even going down with Slade to save her in the first place, we wouldn't be here! You'd likely be dying on some alien world! Along with everyone else in the Justice League! Since Raven was the one who banished Trigon from this realm! But I guess that doesn't matter now, since they're still out there somewhere! With Rae being unable to control them since she's only half demon!"

Beast Boy got up close to the edge of the barrier as he glared into Superboy's blue eyes. He yelled with venom. "None of this has ever been mine and Rae's fault! None, of, it!"

"According to Robin-" Superboy started to say.

"No! I don't care what he said! You say that we turned on them! Well newsflash, he helped to rescue Raven from hell! He and the others turned on us! And not willingly for that fact! But I doubt you would believe me on that point either since all of you are too thickskulled to realize that you're being played!" Beast Boy interrupted.

Superboy didn't even flinch. He had already come to that thought.

'Connor, you have about five minutes. Will you please hurry it up. Robin and the others in here are starting to get suspicious. And me whispering to myself isn't exactly helping since I do that a lot already.'

"Hell, I don't even know why the hell I'm being targeted in the first place! And the little I've managed to hear in the League's excuses for bringing me and Rae in are either baseless, complete lies, or as stupid as the villains I used to face! Do you know why I'm really being targeted!? Do you know why I'm being hunted like Rae!?" Beast Boy was shouting deliriously at the end.

Superboy turned away. "Just as I thought. This confirms it." He mumbled to himself.

"Raven had no control over what her father did when she banished him back to hell! And all I did was try to protect her from being taken in for something she would never do! That's all I've done this whole time! That's my purpose now is protecting her from the likes of you! You say I'm the villain! But I'm going to say this now, since I'll likely not be able to say it again! I'm not the villain in all this!... YOU ARE!" Beast Boy finished his tirade. Breathing in and out heavily at the end from his anger.

Superboy continued to face the other direction. Not saying anything. 'Damn… that was one hell of a speech.' Blue Beetle muttered in the earpiece.

It was silent for a moment.

"Would Raven truly do what the Justice League has accused her of?" Superboy asked calmly.

Beast Boy weakly dropped his head at that. The fight leaving him as he heard her name from someone else. "Never. I have always looked up to her for how she always acted so good, so heroish. Even now, knowing her heritage, it makes me admire her more. She was born from an act of evil. But she isn't evil. She never has been… and I hope she never will be..." He mumbled.

Even though Superboy was still looking away, he was smiling now. Along with another person who had been in the corner of the room. Who finally decided to reveal herself.

"You know Gar, I don't think heroish is a word used in the dictionary."

Beast Boy suddenly straightened. His eyes moved from Superboy's position over to the darkness where the voice had came from. Superboy calmly moved over to the side to do something.

'No way, that couldn't be…'

"What do you mean?" Beast Boy said out loud, his voice almost weak.

...

And then Raven stepped out of the darkness. "I would actually use 'like a hero', or 'a true heroine.' Anything but heroish really. And here, I thought you were finally learning how to use some of your words." She said in a teasing sarcastic monotone. A smirk playing on her pale lips.

Beast Boy stopped breathing. His green eyes widened as he stared in shock at the floating empath. Donned in her midnight blue cloak and signature black leotard with the jeweled belt. Even though she was smirking, it was a beautiful sight to behold.

"Well Gar. Are you just going to stand there?" Raven asked.

Beast Boy wasn't even aware that the containment field had shut off. Or that the collar around his neck had fallen around his feet. He did feel the kick of his senses coming back online though. Allowing him to clearly smell that intoxicating scent of lavender and jasmine, with the faint outline of herbal tea. And for him to see just how deep and magnificent those violet eyes of hers was…

He stood in shock… it was Raven.

'Well master! What the hell are you waiting for! Our mate is waiting!' The Beast howled excitedly inside his mind.

Within one second, he had his lean green arms wrapped around her tightly. And he was spinning and spinning her around and around in a big tight hug. Complete bliss was expressed in his features.

"Raven! You're okay! You're okay!" He shouted happily as happy tears fell from his eyes.

Raven had given a small oof when the changeling made impact with her. But within seconds of it, she had surprised him by wrapping her arms around him and tightening her grip as well.

"Yes Gar. I'm still okay." She whispered almost flatly. With a tint of her own happiness in it.

Beast Boy felt so happy. He stopped the spinning just to pull Raven close. He couldn't believe it. Raven was really there. He could feel her pressed up against him. How soft, yet strong she was… and… wait, she was close to him… pressed up against him…

'Oh no, what do I do?! What do I do?! I need to find a way to separate us without it seeming rude! Crap why does my brain have to be so-'

She tightened her grip a little more, and Beast Boy suddenly gasped in pain.

'Oh yeah, I forgot I'm still injured in some places.' He thought as parts of his body groaned in protest. Though it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Raven noticed immediately, and let him go. "Lie down Gar." She said in a monotone voice.

He stood still for a second, staring at her. "Now!" She commanded.

He complied faster than Kid Flash could eat through a pizza restaurant. And within seconds, Raven was on her knees over his laid out form, using her blue healing magic to find and heal whatever injuries he still had left. The bruises on his fingers, a few scrapes and splinters in his back, among other things.

Beast Boy looked up past her blue healing aura to see Superboy standing near the two of them. The controls for the cell and collar were smoking and sparking behind him.

"Wait… I'm confused. I thought you were still the enemy. Why aren't you attacking us?" Beast Boy said.

Superboy nodded his head. "After this, I will still be your enemy in technical terms. But I hope I won't be one of the heroes actively hunting you down if I can help it."

Beast Boy brought his now healed hand up to scratch the top of his head. "What?"

Superboy sighed, and he started to pace. "Let's just say before Terra, and before I questioned you, and before Raven told me her part-"

"Wait dude! You already talked to Raven!? What the hell did I miss out on-" A black band of magic appeared over his mouth.

"We don't have time to argue about it now Gar. I'll explain later." Raven said in a dry monotone to him. He rolled his eyes, but when the magic band came off, he remained silent.

"As I was going to say, I'd been noticing in the past few weeks how certain people on the team have been… off. Artemis was one, while Wonder Woman was another. Both of them were angry, impatient, and bloodthirsty for you two. Very much unlike themselves..." Superboy said.

'Wait, that time with Artemis…'


Flashback:

Before Wally could retort, Artemis shoved the pointed arrow closer to Beast Boy's face. "Tell us now!" Artemis said, as she pulled the string back more threateningly. "Tell us where the demoness is! Or so help me!" Her arm was shaking as she held the arrow there. Beast Boy looked up into her eyes, and although he saw bloodlust there, he also saw a kind of fog over them. Like it wasn't really her in control.

Suddenly, Wally had a grip on her arm. And Artemis looked up into his face with a look of defiance. Beast Boy became confused. Why were these two suddenly focused on each other?

"Artemis, you have to calm down." He said to her in a calm voice. Yet her posture didn't relax.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do! I'll be as calm as I want to be, after we bring in that ****ing demoness!" She yelled in his face. Before she pulled the arrow back to its farthest point on the string.

But then Wally did something that really surprised Beast Boy, and probably Artemis too. He slapped Artemis in the face. Causing her to look at him in shock.

"Artemis! We are supposed to be heroes here! Sure, we can deal it out as much as we want, we can intimidate them to get our information, but we can't just threaten people's lives! No matter if they are a former hero, or a villain! That isn't what a hero does! That is what a villain does! Are you really a villain Artemis!? Like the rest of your family!?"

Suddenly, just like that, the fog disappeared. Artemis's eyes widened as she let out a gasp. She took a step back, putting her bow to the side as she did so. Beast Boy breathed a sigh of relief. But had to wonder what Wally had meant with the last statement. "Wally-" She started to say.

End Flashback:


'So wait… if it was as if she wasn't acting like herself…'

Superboy continued. "Batman and Robin themselves have also been very different. Batman is more unstable than I have ever seen him been before, and Robin is… far more different than I remember him to be. I don't know about the rest of your friends, but some things just don't add up for me…"

Beast Boy looked to Raven. Then back to Superboy. "Would you believe me now if I said it was because Zatanna put those four under her own personal control?"

Superboy stopped his pacing. 'Whoa! Zatanna was the one who did it to them.' Blue Beetle exclaimed quietly.

"How would you know that?"

"Robin warned me just before me and Rae made our getaway at the Tower. He said that Zatanna would likely be after Raven. And told me to flee with her as far away as we possibly could." Beast Boy said.

Superboy thought on it. "So that bitch is behind some of this after all… but four people… she would never have the magical capabilities to do that alone…" He mumbled to himself.

"What did you say?" Raven asked.

'Three minutes.'

"Nothing. I was just talking to myself." Superboy said.

"What is she doing? Assuming this is all about her." Beast Boy asked.

"I don't know." Superboy replied. "But I can assume she is after Raven." He paused.

"Beast Boy, with this Terra figure coming from out of nowhere. With her almost killing you. After what I found about her from you two. I need to tell you why."

Beast Boy was silent for a moment. His brain processing all that he had learned. Raven finished healing him in this time, and gave him a hand to help him up.

"Why?" He finally asked.

Superboy looked past him at the darkness. "I wasn't sure before, but after talking to you, I am now. A heroine who doesn't look like she's aged a day. A heroine who knows about all the other heroes, without having ever met them. A heroine, who despite her similarities to her former self, acts radically different. And a heroine, who was found outside the exact same place I was rescued from… Cadmus."

Raven looked confused, but Beast Boy blanched. "W-Wait… so you're s-saying…" Beast Boy was stuttering.

"This Terra we see now is not the real Terra. But rather, she is a... clone. If it is purely her DNA, or a mixed sort like mine, I don't know. What I can tell you is that this Terra likely has programming inside her mind to specifically kill you Beast Boy, and to capture Raven. Because what you said earlier is right. Why would you be hunted down with Raven? It makes no sense."

Raven looked to Beast Boy. "Remember what Batman had been studying when he watched the video of us?"

Beast Boy nodded. Then he looked to Superboy.

'Do it Beast.' Beast Boy thought as he gave up control.

Within one second, he was in the form of the Beast. Superboy instinctively took a step back in self defense at the massive hulking creature.

The Beast looked around with its wide white eyes, seeing the old two leg room it was in. There was a two leg standing in front of him in a defensive stance. But he didn't seem to be dangerous at the moment. His mate was beside him, as calm as ever. She made no move to attack the two leg in front of them.

She was in no danger.

The Beast felt his master push against his consciousness, and took the time to take in a large whiff of that intoxicating scent next to him, before he allowed his master to take control. His form shrunk back down into Beast Boy within one second.

"That would be why. I'm not sure of the exact reason. But this Beast is the reason why I'm being hunted alongside Raven." Beast Boy said.

Superboy scrunched his face in thought… a few more things were making sense now. He relaxed his posture. "I wonder why."

'Sixty seconds man. Either get out of there. Or get caught.'

He nodded his head. "Alright. I guess I have more reason than ever to stay with my team now." Superboy looked up to the two heroes. "Either Zatanna is a traitor, or someone is manipulating the Justice League. Either way, I can't leave without figuring out what's going on. I have friends here who'll need me when everything goes down."

"So wait, you're just letting us go?" Raven asked.

"Yes. I think whether it's Zatanna, or someone else, you're the main target Raven. You can't be captured here, not when I have nothing but my word and Jaimes to foil this plot. I need more solid evidence. Then maybe you might stand a chance." Superboy said.

"How are we going to get out though without people realizing you helped us?" Beast Boy asked.

'Forty seconds amigo.'

He smirked. "Why, by being taken down by you guys."

"What?" Beast Boy and Raven said at once.

"Just overpower me and escape when the camera is on. Easy." He said simply.

Beast Boy cringed. "Are you sure…"

'Thirty seconds.'

"Yes, just make sure to make it memorable. The bigger, the better..."

'Twenty-five.'

Raven stepped forward and shrugged. "You asked for it."

"Oh, and just so you know, don't cross out of the continent." Superboy said.

"Why?" Beast Boy asked.

'Fifteen.'

"Have Raven examine the water along the land for mystic energy. And you'll see."

"But-"

'Ten.'

"No more time. Do it. Now!"

Raven smiled evilly before her soul self expanded out, right as the red light on the side of the camera turned back on.


Outside the city

A big black semi trailer parked itself on a snowy hillside, facing the city. The side door opened, and a man in a black suit with small light bulbs all over his belt and a large light bulb emblem over his chest stepped out. He took a deep breathe in, and then started to laugh.

"Now citizens of Midway City! It is time for I, the infamous Arthur Light, to shed my weak persona of Doctor Light! And to go back to my former haunt of Midway City as the one and only… Luminus!"

A cricket was heard in the distance.

"Now that I know that the Doom Patrol has been incapacitated. I will be able to rule this city with an iron fist. The police will finally fear me. The Justice League will get to pay for trying to steal my memories. And best of all, there is no one who will be able to stop me!" Luminus shouted in a delirious voice. He laughed a little bit more, before he looked down at the city again. More specifically, at the gleaming manor that was on the side of the city he was facing.

"Now, all I need is a new haunt to improve my light in, and then-"

A large, black, four red eyed, and did I mention gigantic raven suddenly burst out of the roof on the east side of Dayton's Estate. In a second, it's towering form had blocked out the sun in the sky. It was a thousand feet tall, if not more. Doctor Light stopped talking, as did every other citizen in the city itself. Everyone was shocked at the phenomenal sight.

It was holding a screaming Superboy in what would have been one of its taloned feet. It's wings spread wide like a dark cloud over the city below it. It cawed loudly, making everyone shiver at the harsh sound.

Then it's taloned foot came smashing down, putting Superboy down into the west part of the manor. Completely destroying the room he was smashed into.

People who had been walking the sidewalks around the manor screamed in fear as they fled from the scene. The large raven looked down on them from above, before it shrunk back down into the building. The sun came out, but the city was left in chaos. Just by the appearance of a large, imposing raven.

Luminous turned around. A clear wet spot in the middle of his suit.

"You know what, maybe I should try the Arctic Circle instead. The lights are better this time of year. And hopefully that… thing will not be there…" He said in a small voice.

He shakily got back into his semi. And drove off away from the city as fast as he could possibly go.


Monitor Room, before the **** hit the fan

"C'mon Red! What the hell is taking so long!" Robin exclaimed at the red robot in the chair.

"As I have explained a thousand times before Robin. This hacker is somehow managing to keep the camera feed ahead of my probe. This is… phenomenal in my opinion. It keeps on moving from computer to computer around the world in mere nanoseconds." Red Tornado said in what could have passed as a fascinated tone.

"Yeah well get it done already! This is a large house to cover! And who knows just what could happen while we're essentially blind!" Robin again said in an angry tone.

Red Tornado merely shrugged. He had been at this for fourteen minutes. In his mind's eye, it would likely take another minute for his systems to find the pattern the hacker was using to move the camera feed around complexly. And then he would grab it at a chosen spot, not only getting it back, but also getting the identity of the hacker.

Robin glanced up from the empty static screens to the others in the room. Wonder Woman was scowling beside his fiance. Having just checked the western side of the manor for trouble. Blue Beetle was in the corner, muttering to himself again. Terra was by the door, looking bored. Zatanna wasn't there yet. She had just Zetaed to Metropolis. And would be there in two hours.

'Superboy must still be checking the east side of the manor. Or maybe he's having a good laugh at my old friend. I wouldn't blame him. I want to have a good laugh at him for pairing up with such a horrid demon.'

"Okay, I think I might just about to have it-" Red Tornado started to say.

The screens were back on.

"About time-" Robin started to say.

"That's odd. The hacker just gave me back the feed. And the last fifteen minutes has been deleted." Red Tornado said in a confused android tone.

"What do you mean by-"

KCKCKCCKCK!

The building's foundation suddenly shook. As if a great amount of power was being used. The screens started to fizzle out one by one, while others were covered in a familiar ethereal blackness. The lights above flickered on and off.

"Status!" Robin yelled.

KABOOM!

A loud sound came from somewhere in the building. And Red Tornado saw on screen as Superboy came crashing down into a guest bedroom. The roof collapsed above him, and a piece of debris hit the camera, making it face up through the ceiling to reveal…

"I believe that the containment sector has been breached." Red Tornado said as he pointed at the screen. The camera for Beast Boy's room was barely working, and through the static, you could see two forms run through the door. And then the screen fizzled out completely. Robin growled at the sight.

"Diana, Terra, go deal with them! Starfire, go out and calm the city! Blue Beetle, you and I are getting Superboy! And Red Tornado, you stay here and try to contact the League!" Robin got to ordering everyone immediately.

"Already working on it." Red Tornado said, as everyone went to do as they were ordered.


Author's Notes:

And so it begins…

Might not update this next week. I'm going to be working solely on a one-shot to celebrate the day I first started on this site. Can you all believe it's been a year already? How the time flies… Let's see what I have in store now.

Till Next Time

Allen