Danny rolled to the side, simultaneously avoiding a crushing blow from Vlad and being squished by the giant metal doors the Titans had just blown open. Danny had to change his mindset. He wasn't used to working with a team, and if he didn't adapt quickly, he was going to get in the way and ultimately screw up the whole operation.
If he did that, he would definitely have to deal with a really really pissed Robin, and he might not enjoy it as much as he thought he would. So, a plan was in need of brainstorming.
Danny, though, found it extremely hard to think while he was dodging stray ectoblasts.
He eventually gave up on the plan when he wasn't paying attention and a ball of energy hit him in the thigh.
Alright then.
Starfire was engaged with Vlad, while Beast Boy dove in like a bullet to scratch Vlad with his vicious looking talons, a benefit of being a condor. Starfire caught Vlad's cape and swung him around. He used the momentum to boomerang and deliver a nasty kick to her face. Starfire retreated as Raven took her place, exercising her wrath upon the recovering Vlad.
Raven caught Vlad in a circular shield prison, and began compressing it. Vlad formed a supernova blast and released it. They were back at each other, punching and kicking. Raven delivered a hooking right to Vlad's temple, but Vlad had brought his knee up into her stomach and slammed his fist into her exposed face.
Oh, ouch. Another out of the battle. And another took their downed teammate's place. Cyborg, all cannons and gadgets, didn't last for too long before Vlad just turned his armed intangible and yanked at some key wires. Robin hopped in and was immediately blasted back into the wall by an irate Plasmius. "Enough!" the older half ghost fruit loop boomed, rising a little in the air. He began focusing on his hands.
Vlad had formed a pink ectoshield around himself before long and was about to expand it quickly. That would render any Titans without the ability to create their own shields out of the game for at least a few minutes, which would not be ideal, considering the situation.
The edges of the shield were pulsing with energy, and the Titans (besides the short circuited Cyborg; he wasn't coming back for awhile, what with the sparkling wires jutting out of his arm and chest) were beating at it with all they had. The attacks were being absorbed, and soon would be used against them. Danny had to erect his hasty defense with perfect timing. Too early, and the Titans may freak out and slip away before the shield closed completely, not to mention he may lose a substantial amount of energy. Too late, and they were toast.
MY LIFE IS ACTUALLY QUITE BORING!! (LINE BREAK)
Vlad was flexing his fingers, drawing the energy needed. He wanted it to be supercharged, enough to take young Daniel out so he could deal with the Titans easily and leave with his prize. He not only wanted it to drain Daniel of his energy, but if the ploy worked on the Titans as well, he would be golden.
Vlad dipped his hand into the well of enormous energy within him, and released.
The shield shot off in all directions, impacting on the walls and the thin defensive shields Daniel had formed to take the edge off of the massive blow. It wasn't enough.
Vlad smirked as he let his eyes roam over the room strewn with the powerful Titans and young Daniel.
Check and Mate.
Needless to say, Vlad wasn't very concerned when the ragtag group began to stir and prop themselves up. Daniel had even managed a comeback, his energy was drained and not ready at all for action.
Oh well, Vlad thought, clapping his hands together. I'll just have to teach these children a lesson.
He strode quickly over to Daniel, who could barely stand. Vlad grabbed his shoulders and spun him around, applying pressure, forcing him down onto his knees. "Alright, Daniel," Vlad uttered quietly, "I can't have you interfering with anything, can I?" His tone of voice was nonchalant and quite infuriating for Danny. He put up little protest as Vlad dug through some invisible pocket he had concealed in his costume. He pulled a pair of ghost-handcuffs out with an "Ah-ha!".
Vlad dragged the totally exhausted Danny over to the kitchen and hand cuffed him to one of the long-legged chairs that was bolted to the floor.
As Vlad looped the chain around the chair leg and cuffed Danny's other hand, the younger halfa let out a gasp of pain and shuddered. Vlad smirked and swept his powerful gaze over the badly beaten Danny. "You've changed Daniel," he said softly, running his finger down from the top of Danny's forehead to the tip of his nose, "But one has to wonder…has that change also reached inside?"
Danny turned his head away roughly, extremely creeped out by the fatherly way Vlad had voiced his opinion. Vlad just blinked and turned back to the Titans.
All of the Titans were still lying on the ground, some moaning and attempting to get up, or even roll over.
Except for Raven.
In fact, Raven was poised with a huge amount of black energy writhing between her raised hands.
Danny just wished he could see the look on Vlad's face.
Raven smashed the swirling mass down on Vlad, and the desired effect was accomplished. Well, partially.
Vlad did collapse to the floor. He did look defeated. But just as Raven and Danny shared a small smile of success with each other, Vlad popped up like one of those portable camping tents that nearly smack you in the face when you open them. He had and opaque syringe clutched in his hand. He set his jaw and plunged the needle deep into the fleshy part of Raven's upper thigh.
Well, celebration time: OVER with a capital everything.
Vlad checked very carefully that the other Titans wouldn't be making miraculous comebacks before grinning mirthlessly at Raven who was crumpled on the floor, completely motionless. Not even an occasional twitch to let everyone know she was alive.
Well, time for situation overview and reflection on Danny's part.
From bad, to worse, to even worse, to celebration, to Danny's own personal hell.
Vlad walked over to Danny, looking tired and weary. Danny lashed out desperately with his foot. Vlad easily sidestepped. "Please, Daniel," he muttered under his breath, holding up a precautionary hand.
Vlad took Danny's chin in his hand after assuming a crouching position. For a moment Vlad kept that fatherly position, before cocking his head slightly at the sound of the stirring Titans. He pulled a thin collar from a hidden pocket in his cape, now torn and tattered. He fastened it securely around the silent Danny's neck. "Daniel, don't hurt yourself. I'll need you soon." With that, he turned, nudged that fallen body of Raven, then swiftly picked her up and flew out of the building at a blistering speed.
Danny craned his neck to watch Vlad and the Raven he was towing with him disappear into a fading dot on the horizon before he strained to see how the Titans were faring.
Robin was searching for a handhold on the wall to help him stand, but a solemn Starfire was there quickly to help him. Beast Boy was sadly surveying the damage done to Cyborg, who was currently rebooting.
Well, not too bad, Danny thought optimistically. It wasn't long before Robin was back to his normal self, which meant he had strode across the room and nearly ripped Danny's face off. "You knew him, didn't you? You seemed perfectly friendly, actually. You led him her and he beat us to a pulp! I knew were scheming something this whole time, and it serves us right for not detaining you earlier!" A vein throbbed on Robin's forehead.
Danny cleared his throat and was about to defend himself right before an indignant Starfire stepped in on his behalf. "Robin, you look and yet you do not see!" She pointed forcefully at the restrained Danny, who was laying in a totally awkward position to sufficiently view the heated conversation. "Is he not ensnared to the chair of sitting?"
Robin frowned for a short time before his features smoothed out. "It's to direct us away from the clues lying right in front of us! Star, don't you see? He's been plotting this whole time!"
The sort of sadness that had overwhelmed Danny uncharacteristically while he was eavesdropping on Raven and Starfire at the beach had turned to into a kind of righteous anger which had hardened into a stone cold fury.
Robin gave a contemptuous look to Danny. "I don't know why you expect such a high set of morals from an evil piece of dirt like him."
Danny's eyes widened a fraction. "What did you just say?" Danny asked in sort of calm voice. Like a lull before a huge hulking thunderstorm.
Robin didn't even acknowledge him with a glare. "Beast Boy, take him to his room, and make sure he stays there. At least, until I say otherwise."
Um…please don't kill me. I value my life…
Well, I don't have a very good excuse for the first week I didn't update, but I do for everything else! My sister broke her nose and needed surgery. So, I was a little preoccupied. Forgive me! Please??
(And review if you have a kind, giving heart)…