Titans Beyond

Episode 11: Welcome Back

Author: Brruundin

Warning, I do not own the Titans or any other DC characters I may use.

"What to do, what to do?" Cyborg wonders while sitting on the couch, looking at the old photograph he keeps in his wallet. Raven, who has been a bit more cheerful and friendly since her visit with mother, notices Cyborg's inner confliction and decides to see what she can do to help.

"Hey Cyborg what seems to be bothering you?" Raven asks, as she heads over to the couch and sits down next to him.

"Oh Rae hey, well I'm just sort of conflicted about someone right now, you probably wouldn't understand." Cyborg says, trying to not burden Raven with his problems. Raven seems to take this the wrong way and gives Cyborg a look right before she decides what to say to him.

"You know, I'm not a cold-hearted monster, I have feelings and emotions too, I can understand and probably relate to whatever you're going through. So please don't jump to conclusions about me." Raven says, in a rude manner.

"Woah calm down Raven, I didn't mean it like that, I'm serious. If you really want to know I'll tell you, sorry I said that." Cyborg says, apologizing to Raven.

"It's fine, and I'd like to hear what you have to say Cyborg," Raven says, while letting out a half smile.

"Alright cool Rae, cool. Well basically I have a sorta small crush on someone and I don't really know what to do or how to say what I'm feeling. I feel helpless and it's not fun." Cyborg says while staring down at his shiny metal feet.

"Oh, well maybe you should tell her how you feel Cyborg. Expressing your emotions out loud is the best way to get them to come across." Raven says while watching Cyborg, trying to figure out the emotions that were inside him.

"Yeah well it's not that easy Raven, I can't be too direct with her; it would probably scare her off. I have to play it cool." Cyborg says, while adding a clever smile to the mix of things. Raven just stares back at him blankly; she rolls her eyes at the comment before thinking of something else to say.

"Exactly, you're a real Mr. Smooth Cyborg, I mean that's why you're in this predicament in the first place, correct?" Raven finally says, thinking of a witty comeback to get a kick out of her friend.

"Hey now, I don't need that coming from you, I try to open up, and this is how you repay me?" Cyborg replies, he somewhat upset over Raven's sarcastic comments.

"Relax, I was just trying to lighten the mood, but… it seems you know what you have to do, so just tell her. Trust me, it will be okay." Raven says calmly, while trying to make her companion not feel so heated about the situation.

"Yeah I know Rae, it's just hard sometimes though, like I know I'm supposed to be a super hero sometime, but girls just make me feel so helpless". Cyborg sighs, but realizes what he must do now.

"Well, um anyway thanks Rae, I'm gonna go pack and do what I gotta do, I appreciate all the help you have been". He smiles at Raven, and she looks back at him with a blank stare, but then that stare turns into a sort of smirk.

"Anytime big fella," She says nonchalantly, before heading back to her room for more tea. She was feeling quite happy for once, and couldn't yet contain it. She needed to relax before bad things happen, for she knew anytime emotions got loose a demon inside her would get the best of her.

Meanwhile, Cyborg was gathering some things he needed for this trip, supplies for his suit, food, stuff to make camp at. He was going to do this journey on foot, for he knew it would be better that way. One, so Robin couldn't track him, and two it would make him stronger and more confident inside. He knew Robin wasn't going to be happy he was making this trip, because Robin wanted them focused on stopping Slade and protecting the city, and not going off and chasing some silly love games as he would put it. But Cyborg wasn't going to deal with that. He could care less for what Robin wanted at that point anyway. So he gathered what he needed and did one final thing, wrote a note telling them he was leaving. He left it on the front of his door, and headed out to begin his adventure.

As Cyborg walks, he starts to think. He thinks about what he's going to say when he gets there, every little detail and every little word, and what he is going to say to Robin when he sees him. He also wonders if Robin will try to take away his Titan membership, but he doesn't think too long about that because he don't think the other members will agree with that decision. He shakes his head at that thought, Robin is always too hard headed for his own good, it's what made him such an effective leader at times, and other times it makes the group want to kill him. But in the end they all loved him, and they all loved each other, because after all they had grown together and become a family, even the new guys. He smiles, as he realizes it is starting to get dark. He has probably traveled about 30 miles east into the woods now, and decided this would be a good place to rest. He was about a quarter of the way there, and some rest would be in order so he could continue the journey tomorrow. He locates some logs to help start a fire. Once he finds them he sets up his tent, and builds a camp fire. He sees a large log that he could use to sit on and watch the fire. Once he gets the fire going he begins to cook his dinner on a small grill he brought will him. He turns one of his hands into a shovel and scoops up some coals into the grill. Then he throws the now thawing steaks onto the fire. He breathes out deeply, he was at peace for once, the woods were peaceful and he could calm his mind. After dinner he sat and thought some more on what was, and what could be. However, he hears a noise that doesn't sound too friendly. He is startled by this and calls out for it, it sounds like a wild animal.

"Hey yo, I am not afraid and I'm armed so show yourself or be prepared to get a major butt kicking!" The noise gets louder and a wolf jumps out and lunges towards Cyborg, he easily blocks its attack and blasts it in defense. It screams and scurries back off into the woods frightened and probably hurt.

"Geez, I need to be more careful or I could kill one next time." Cyborg was a true hero he believed, and never wanted to hurt any living creature unless it was required and always, always, always, tried not to kill. Sometimes injury was required but never death. He wasn't a murderer. He sighed, blew out the fire and tried to get some sleep.

Meanwhile, back at the Tower, Robin had learned about what Cyborg had done and wasn't too happy about it. He calls a meeting to the other Titans to try to figure out why he had left without telling him directly.

"So Titans, do you guys know why Cyborg just went off and left without telling me?" Robin asks looking around at the others who were present.

"Chill dude, he's probably got a lot going on his mind he needs to deal with, there are plently of us here to protect the city, don't worry about it. He's our friend and we should let him do what he's gotta do". Beast Boy responds always looking out for what he felt was best with the other Titans individually rather than as a whole.

"I understand that, but it's not like him to not say anything, did he tell any of you about his plans?" Robins asks, very concerned with getting to the bottom of this situation.

"He told me, it was important, and I'd rather not get into details. So just drop it Robin. Cyborg is gone for now, and we have to let him come back on his own." Raven adds in, stating what she felt was best for the group as well.

"Yes our friends are very much right Robin, we mustn't let our selfishness get in the way of our friend's dream." Starfire adds in, trying to be supportive to her fellow teammates.

Robin realizes this, and nods. "I guess you guys are right, but it better not interfere with our plans to stop Slade, I know he still has something big coming and I'm afraid it's going to hurt us all." Robin says, then heads towards the window at looks out at the city. He sighs.

"Oh friend Robin do not worry, it shall all become better." Starfire says, trying to comfort Robin.

"Yeah I know Starfire, it's just frustrating sometimes." He replies to her. "I'm gonna head to bed, but first thing early in the morning we're going to take extra shifts on city watch. I can't have anything bad happen. Understand Titans?" Robin says while looking at the others. They nod.

"Everyone get some sleep now; tomorrow will be a big day". Robin says while heading to his room.

The next morning Cyborg awoke not too long before the sun rose. He puts out the smoke from the fire and cleans the camp. Not a trace of him could be left. As he makes his way that day, he continues to think about what he is going to do when he gets to Titans East. He was still pretty nervous, but he figured when he got there, it would be fine. He continued his way along the path, he knew he was getting close because he could see buildings off in the distant, however the closer he got, the more he could smell smoke. He knew something was wrong. He then begin to hustle towards where he smelled the smoke. He was shocked as soon he as realized where it was coming from, the other "T" tower. He thought about radioing the others back home, but it would be no point by the time they got here. So he decides to take matters into his own hand and starts to burst into the tower himself. A couple thugs are around and they launch themselves towards Cyborg; however they are no match as Cyborg blasts them away easily. After that quick battle it seems pretty empty, the place is trashed and Cyborg is worried.

"Hey is anyone here?" Cyborg calls out with a panicked tone in his voice. Silence echoes for a few seconds, and then a familiar sinister voice responds.

"Well well, about time you arrived, I was getting worried you wouldn't show up". The voice calls out, and Cyborg instinctively knows who it is.

"Slade, what did you do? I swear I'm gonna open up a can on you if you don't start spitting out answers!" Cyborg responds, his tone has turned into anger, with his canon ready to fight.

"Haha, very well then, but allow me to get a closer look at you first". Slade says while the big screen in Titan's East Tower displays a large picture of a shadowy Slade. "Much Better," He says while watching Cyborg's expression change into awe.

"Where are the other Titans Slade!" Cyborg yells, very concerned for his friends.

"Oh now, if I told you it wouldn't be much for fun me now would it?" Slade laughs as soon as he finishes his statement.

"I'm not going to play with you Slade tell me or…"

"Or what, You don't even know where I am, let alone where your friends are, now listen to me, if you ever want to see them alive again, I'm going to need your complete assistance". Slade interrupts, while his tone turns into something more serious. Cyborg is in shock, he really doesn't know what to do now.

"Oh Cyborg, I understand, I know how it feels to be scared, worried, especially about a certain someone you care very much for, well, if you want to see her again I'm going to need your help, understand? Then I promise she and the others will be very much okay and free to go." Slade says, trying to persuade Cyborg to obey his plans.

"Umm, okay I guess I can hear you out." Cyborg says, feeling this is his best option at the moment.

"Excellent choice Cyborg" Slade clears his throat and then continues, "I am going to need you to help me get Robin alone so I can defeat him, that way I won't have to worry about him messing up my future plans". Slade says, then waits for a response from Cyborg.

"But Rob is my friend, I would never hurt him!" Cyborg clinches his fist in anger; he knew this plan was no good.

"Oh Cyborg are you so certain about that? You know you could be a leader of the Titans but Robin is always in the way, Robin always thinks he knows best, he never lets you go out and figure out what's best for you, it's almost like he's holding you back on purpose". Slade says, convincing Cyborg to side with him ever so slightly with each word he says.

Cyborg is now in a state of confusion, he is starting to believe what Slade is saying, Robin was always trying to get in the way, a burning rage started to fuel his emotion, at that point Cyborg felt it was better to side with Slade for once, for his best interest, and for what he felt was the best interest for the Titans.

"Alright Slade, you make a good point, but how do I know that I can trust you?" Cyborg asks, still not fully convinced that what Slade is saying is true.

"My friend, I wouldn't ever double cross you on a promise, I helped you all before with Trigon, and even though I may seem like a bad guy, I would never go back on my word. So to let you know I'm honest I'll let you have Aqualad here to help you with the task". As soon as he finishes speaking, Aqualad appears from the other side of the Tower.

"Aqualad has already decided he would graciously accept my task, and will now help you complete yours." Aqualad and Cyborg nod at each other and then look back at Slade.

"Alright Slade I'll do it. But you better not hurt her, or I swear I will find you and I will make you pay!" Cyborg exclaims, fist clinching with a burning fire.

"Oh don't worry, I promise everything will go the way it is supposed to my friend" Slade says and then the screen goes black.

A/N Chapter 11 is done! TB is back! Sorry I took so long, I got busy with school and totally forgot about this. But now I have more time and a whole slate of ideas for episodes coming up! But isn't this a twist! Trust me, it's going to be a great finish to the season in the next couple of episodes and then I'll probably start up another season of this. As always, questions and comments are awesome!