Raven tried to repeatedly locate Deathstroke, but her powers couldn't pick it up.
"What had he done?" She asked to herself. He couldn't just have come back to tell her he was back, knock her out, and then leave. He must've done something.
Raven sighed and blew out the candles. She put them in their rightful places and then fell into the comfort of her bed. She shuddered all of the sudden. She felt watched and exposed. She started to rub her arms, which were starting to show goose bumps. That's when she felt it.
"Ow! Shit." She looked at her right arm, where the pain had erupted from, "What the hell."
She pulled off the uniform she had just put on and looked at her arm. She started to poke in random places. "Ow!" She felt it again.
What the hell did he do to me?
She started to try to remember what had happened. But all she saw was him appearing in front of her saying, 'I'm back, Raven. Deathstroke's back in business', and then blackness consumed it all.
Azar, what I would do to have an X-ray or X-ray vision. Something to see whatever the hell is in me.
Then she thought. Cyborg.
He must have an X-ray. He could check to see what was in her body. I'll do it tomorrow. Today's been too much. Then she landed down on her bed and slept soundly.
It was nighttime, but Beast Boy couldn't sleep. It wasn't unusual, but still, this was the longest he's been up. It was past midnight. His tail would absentmindly curl and uncurl.
The Tower was quiet; Robin and Starfire were sleeping in their rooms, while Cyborg recharged himself.
I wonder what Raven's doing.
Ugh, why couldn't he get her out his head! He felt as if something was bothering her. He didn't know why, but he did.
Maybe a good night's sleep will help. Yeah, cat form, here I come.
Beast Boy stopped looking out the window and went to his room. He turned into a cat and stretched lazily, then he curled up and soon drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, underground, Deathstroke called to his two prized apprentices.
"Yes, Daddy?" Rose Wilson asked as she and Terra came to their master.
"Rose, Terra, I have an objective for you two."
Terra perked up, "Like what?" She hasn't been in a fight since Raven escaped. She and Raven had fought. She had come so close to knocking her off her feet when that witch used her magic against her.
"You two remember Raven, right?"
"Of course. Who wouldn't remember the girl with a prophecy like that?" Rose said.
"Well, we have found her again." Deathstroke continued.
"Really? Where is she? She owes me!" Terra scowled.
"We cannot hurt Raven. We have to be careful. She has made contact with the Titans. Including my son. Your brother, Rose."
"Joey? He betrayed you. I say we take him down like any other hero." Ravager said, shrugging her shoulders without a care.
"Very well, but remember who Raven is. Remember her weakness."
"Family and friends. Right, we can remember that. Want us time recruit her or take her down?" Terra said.
"Bring her to me." Deathstroke chuckled darkly.
"Okay, that's creepy, Dad." Rose said and then she left alongside Terra who was ecstatic to have another chance to bring Raven down.
"Oh, when do we leave?" Terra asked doubling back.
"Right now. She's trying to find me. I can feel it. Find her and try to bring her back. Death is acceptable ifand only if she puts up a big fight." Deathstroke answered.
"Very well, master." Terra said and told Ravager the news.
"Okay, well we have a witch to catch." Ravager smiled.
"Or kill." Terra said smiling evilly. Even if the little witch doesn't put up a fight, I'm going to kill her.
Raven woke up early in the morning. She took a shower and pulled on a new uniform. Then she brushed her teeth and raked a comb through her hair.
She was applying her lotion when she felt it again. "Ow."
She looked at that spot and then remembered she was going to pay a visit to the Titans. She needed Cyborg to check what was in her skin.
After my herbal tea, Raven dismissed the thought of going now. She also had to try to locate Deathstroke again, and meditate to keep her powers in check.
She went to the kitchen and fill the teapot with water and waited for it to boil. When it whistled, she poured the steaming hot water into a cup and then dipped the chamomile tea bags in. When that was finished, she brought the cup to her lips and blew across the surface.
But before she even had the chance to sip her refreshing tea, something hit it hard, causing the glass to break and the contents to fall.
"Ow!" Raven screamed as the hot tea and glass stung her hands.
"What's the matter? Can't function right without your tea?" A familiar voice taunted her.
Raven knew who it was. She hated her more than anyone. Even a little more than her father and Deathstroke.
Terra.
"What are you doing here?" Raven scowled.
"You mean, we." Ravager said appearing behind Terra. She was floating on a rock as well, presumably one that Terra had control of as well. Ravager had no powers, but knew how to fight, just like her father.
"Answer my question!" Raven screamed.
"We've come to take you to Daddy."
"Or kill you if you put up a fight." Terra smirked.
Raven knew exactly why Terra wanted to kill her. She had fought Terra when she was escaping. She could imagine Deathstroke punishing her after that.
"Then I guess you'll have to try to kill me. There's no way I'm going to him." Raven said. She'd rather die than go back with Deathstroke.
"Very well, a fight it is." Ravager said as she and Terra both advanced towards her.
Ravager took out her swords and was ready to slash the girl, but Terra was already sending a rock towards Raven. Raven put up a back shield and then grabbed control of the rock as well and pushed it back a Terra. Terra deflected it and then threw smaller rocks at Raven. Ravager snuck up behind Raven and was ready to strike when Raven pushed her back away from her. Ravager hit a wall and slowly stood up. Now she was beyond pissed.
Terra let out a battle cry and summoned a huge rock to her command she threw it at Raven. Raven knew she wouldn't be able to stop it in time so she phased through the floor and reappeared behind Ravager. Ravager slashed behind her, but Raven avoided it and sweep-kicked Ravager to the floor. Terra quickly got her partner out of the way of being hit by Raven. Ravager nodded at Terra and then turned to look at Raven.
"There's no way out, Raven." Ravager said.
"So far it seems I'm winning." Raven shot back. That's when Terra hit her with a rock. Raven lost her balance and fell. Ravager kicked Raven's face, busting her lip. She then punched her many times before kicking her side, causing Raven to fly across the room. She landed on the floor with a thud and groaned.
Terra approached her with a sharp rock pointing at Raven. "Any last words, Raven?"
Raven was cut and bruised. The side of her head was bleeding from being hit with that rock. She was actually beginning to welcome death.
"They're not her last words." A voice said from the hole Terra had made when she brought that massive rock in here.
There stood Robin with his defiant look. Starfire with her green-glowing eyes flying behind them. Cyborg setting up his cannon. And Beast Boy crouched down with an angry scowl on his face.
"Oh, great. You made friends, Raven!" Ravager chuckled.
Terra snickered, "Do they know what you are?"
"No, but they're about to." Raven said in a voice that was way deeper than usual.
Terra looked back and saw Raven's eyes had been split into four and were glowing red. Her teeth had sharpened and Terra, not even being an empath, could actually feel the evil in her.
Raven used her powers to push Terra into Ravager, sending them into a wall where they cowered away from Raven. Terra and Ravager each looked at Raven, their eyes filled with fear.
"Look, um, not hard feelings. We'll be on our way." Ravager said. She knew her father was going to be beyond pissed when he found out she had cowered out.
Raven waited until they were gone when she turned back. She stumbled back, only to have someone catch her.
"Are you the okay, friend?" Starfire asked.
"Why'd you stay? Aren't you scared?" She asked them all. They all had stayed even though she had showed herself to them.
"Because you're the good guy. But if you don't mind me asking, what are you?" Robin asked.
"I'm half demon." Raven said without any emotion to her voice.
"Huh. I knew it was along those lines." Beast Boy joked.
Raven gave him an incredulous look, "Right. Listen, I was going to call you all. Deathstroke put something in me. He wouldn't just leave me there without doing something. He implanted something into me, and I want to see what it is. Think you could help?"
Cyborg instantly walked towards her, "Where?"
Raven pointed at her upper arm. Accidently pressing against the tender spot, she hid her grimace and then looked up at Cyborg. "Can you help?"
"Sure, but you'll have to come to the Tower with us. And it looks like you'll need a place to crash. They totally trashed this place." Cyborg said.
"Yeah. Terra did this. She complete hates me. If you fail Deathstroke, he'll punish you in unimaginable ways."
"When did she fail him?" Robin asked.
"Well, before I got to help you the first time, Sla—Deathstroke sent Terra out to either stop or kill me. She and I fought, and I took her down. Deathstroke doesn't take lightly to failures. I should know." Raven said without skipping a beat.
"Have you done anything illegal for him?"
"Nope, I pretended to. I'll go out, then return empty-handed. That said, that's how I know what he does to people who fail him." Raven said involuntarily shivering, remembering the day she was beaten up repeatedly. She still had the scar that ran from her hip to her upper stomach.
"You're safe now." Beast Boy smiled.
"I'll never be safe until Deathstroke is taken down." Raven said with a sad smile. She quickly wiped it off her face and then turned to Cyborg.
"Right, C'mon." He said.
Once they all arrived at the Tower, Cyborg led Raven to the medical bay.
"Okay, just sit down and I'll get everything prepped." Cyborg told her.
Raven nodded and sat down in a chair. She took out a switchblade and started twirling it around her fingers.
"Have you ever had to kill someone?" Robin asked out of nowhere.
Raven jumped and faced him and the remaining team. She hadn't realized that they had followed them into here. She shook her head, "No, I'm against killing. Even Deathstroke. As much as I would want to, I don't want to be like my father."
"Right. So why carry the switchblade?"
Raven turned her attention to the ground, "To scare them away. Although, once I show them the demon side, they'll be scared enough." She glanced at them then, "Well, most of them."
"Well, we know that you are the good guy. That is enough not to scare us away, friend." Starfire said gleefully.
"Just don't go telling that to everyone, it'll ruin my reputation." Raven said.
"How old were you when the Joker kidnapped you?" Robin asked.
Raven looked at him, "Well, aren't you just full of questions. But if you must know, I was eleven. I've been their captive for five years."
"How did I not see you? I was in Gotham, and I've been in Joker's liar. I've never seen you."
"He kept me in a special place, where I couldn't use my powers. It wasn't in his liar, but it was close."
"Okay, stretch out your arm." Cyborg commanded.
Raven stretched out her arm and watched as Cyborg put a machine to hover above her arm. "There's definitely something there. It's small, like a chip."
"What shape?" Raven asked immediately, fear laced her voice.
"Triangle."
Raven stood up quickly. "Turn away."
"What?" Beast Boy asked. He noticed her frantic look.
"Turn away, please." Raven pleaded in a softer voice.
They all hesitantly turned away from Raven. "What's going on, Raven?"
"It's a chip. A mind control chip. If I don't take it out in twelve hours., he'll have complete control over my body and mind. He'll make me attack you all. It's already been eleven hours. I only have a few minutes." Raven said as she unzipped her leotard and peeled off the sleeve that was covering the place where he had entered the chip in her arm.
"We can take it out of you." Cyborg said.
"Yeah, you don't have to do this alone, Raven. You're not." Beast Boy contributed.
Raven ignored them and then dug her nail into her skin. She tried not to wince or cry, but she let out a groan. She made her nail grow longer, and then she started to feel around for that damned chip.
"Friend, perhaps I can be of assistance." Starfire said with concern. She was uncomfortable with hearing Raven groan as if in pain.
"Only you," Raven said.
"Friend, what are you doing? Are you attempting self suicide?" Starfire screeched as she rushed over to Raven.
"What are you doing? Why is Starfire like that?" Robin asked.
"I'm taking that thing out. I need it out. You fail to realize how dangerous I am in the wrong hands." Raven said still digging into her skin. Where is it?
"Raven, let us help you. I can take it out." Cyborg said.
"Yeah, Raven, let Cy take it out." Beast Boy practically cried.
"Not necessary." Raven said as she took out the green, triangular shaped chip. She put it down and then worked on healing her arm. Then she pulled on her sleeve and asked Starfire to zip it.
"You were undressed?" Beast Boy asked.
"Little bit. You can turn around now." Raven said as she clasped her cloak around her again.
"Raven, let me see the chip." Cyborg said holding his hand out.
"Don't let this come to the wrong hands. Trust me, this is dangerous to mess with. Sla—Deathstroke is nothing to mess with."
"Why do you do that? Start to say Slade, but then go to Deathstroke?"
"I don't know. I-I don't want to remember him like that. He's Deathstroke, not Slade."
"They are the same person, are they not?" Starfire said.
"Yeah, but Slade was when he was just a person. He became Deathstroke when those scientists injected him with that serum that made him stronger, faster, and he's capable of healing faster. His own wife became scared of him. Rose became his second hand and Joey left."
"Right. Anyway, we should find you a place to sleep. Because Terra and the Ravager ruined your place." Beast Boy said.
Raven looked at him, grateful for him changing the subject, "Right. Thanks, I guess. I haven't encountered anyone as nice as you all. I was starting to think Earth was a pretty rotten place, but you all changed my perspective."
"Anytime, Raven." Robin said patting her back.
