Chapter 4 – Gold At Last!

A few minutes after the crew had entered the water, Landon broke the surface. He looked at Marsha and back at Bumblebee. Bumblebee grabbed Marsha and laid her down in the boat to check on her. Marsha moans and starts to wake up, holding her ribs.

Bumblebee asks, "How are you feeling?"

Marsha replies, "I am alright, a little sore from being crushed a bit, but healing."

Bumblebee nods and looks at Landon. He nods and asks Cyborg and Bumblebee to get Marsha to the opposite shore. Marsha starts to complain, but Landon cuts her off with a look.

Cyborg starts to ask about the others, when Starfire bolts up out of the water, carrying Robin.

Cyborg scans Robin and screams, "He's not breathin', Bee!"

Bumblebee starts to move to Robin, but stops short when Starfire whispers, "His heart is no longer beating. He is dead! My Robin is dead! I have failed him!"

Starfire then rockets up, tears streaming down her face, screaming for vengeance.

Cyborg scans Robin again and shouts to the quickly retreating Starfire, "Star, wait! Robin is not dead! His heartbeat is faint, but its still there!"

Starfire was beyond hearing.

He then turns to Bumblebee and said, "Help him! He's still not breathin'!"

As Bumblebee shifted to Robin and started CPR, Cyborg asked about the others still below.

Landon replies, "I'm going back to help them! Please, get yourselves to the opposite shore as quickly as possible!"

As Cyborg states, "These oars aren't fast enough, what can I do?" Marsha moves to Robin, using her new powers to heal him as best she could.

"It appears he has some broken ribs and his leg bone is cracked." Marsha says, running her hands over Robin, healing the worst of his injuries.

Cyborg gets an idea to use his sonic cannon propulsion for the boat. Sitting in the back, he puts the tip of the cannon's barrel in the water. Using an oar in the other hand to steer, he raises the intensity of the beam until the boat is moving at a fast, steady pace through the water. He felt proud of himself for figuring out this puzzle, until he heard a faint banshee wail getting louder.

Starfire had stopped her rapid ascent and arced down, speeding towards the creature below the surface of the lake. Diving from a quarter mile up, she intends to ram the gem to destroy it.

As she gets closer, building up speed, she screams, "You have taken him from me! I didn't get to tell him…aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Just before she could reach the lake, a steel tentacle broke the surface.

Beast Boy sees that Raven is caught.

In a panic, he swims as fast as he can towards one of the offending tentacles, mouth open. "If I can chew my way through one of those coils, Rae will be able to get away." he thought.

Before he can reach it, he's grabbed by another tentacle. He changes to a minnow to escape, but the action slows him down. He feels his heart rising up into his throat as he sees the bubble crack!

He starts toward a tentacle again, changing back into a great white shark as he goes.

Landon appears, seemingly from nowhere, hacking at one of the tentacles. The undamaged one uncoils from Raven's bubble and slaps Landon back. Landon drops his axe and starts to sink deeper into the murky water, trailing air bubbles.

Meanwhile, Cyborg and Bumblebee have just made it to the opposite shore and are unloading their charges.

Cyborg screamed, "Bee, what's happenin'? What's makin' that noise?"

Bee looked up and said, "Its Star." then, "Star, watch out!" as a metallic tentacle erupted from the surface.

Cyborg turns at Bumblebee's scream, just in time to see a screeching Starfire slapped by a tentacle and speeding, unconscious, toward their position.

"Star!" he screams. Thinking, "She's not gonna survive the impact at that speed", he raises his sonic cannon and points it at Starfire. "God, please let this work," he says, and fires.

Marsha has recovered enough to drag Robin further inland, closer to the next door. Robin is still out of it, his breathing shallow, but his heartbeat is stronger.

Cyborg hits Starfire with a series of low power sonic cannon pulses to slow her down enough for Bee to catch her and lower her to the ground near Marsha and Robin. Marsha stares at the many small cuts on her extremities and the large, angry bruise on Starfire's torso. She starts trying to heal Starfire after noticing the small trickle of blood running from her mouth.

Marsha repairs the alien princess as much as she can, stopping when she sees Starfire start to come around. Marsha wanted to let her know that Robin was just sleeping, but she had taxed herself too much and passed out from the strain.

Starfire sits up, blinking, trying to assess the situation. Her searching eyes land on Robin.

Beast Boy changes to a dolphin and shoves Raven up thru the remaining coil, taking her place.

The coil constricts and catches Beast Boy. Raven starts to move toward the struggling green dolphin to help. Beast Boy shifts to human form and with his free arm, jabs his finger toward the surface. Waiting until Raven starts to move away, he changes to a barracuda to escape the constricting coil and races toward Landon.

Bee sees a Raven's head bob to the surface and flies out to get her. Raven waves her back and forms her Ravenshadow to transport herself to the shore with the others.

Cyborg points to Robin and a dazed Starfire, saying, "Marsha did her best, but she couldn't go the distance. And…and Star thinks Rob is dead. Please work on him first."

Raven nods and moves toward the couple.

As Raven starts to heal Robin, Starfire looks up, eyes emitting a very bright green light. She clenched her fists and growled, "It is too late. Did you not hear me? It is too…"

Her voice trailed off as Robin sat up, holding his ribs and asked, "What's too late? What did I miss? Star? Have you been crying?"

Bumblebee screams and points, and all see a single green tentacle holding Landon above the water, moving at high speed toward the shore. She flies out and grabs Landon, taking the weight off Beast Boy so he could swim faster.

As soon as Landon is taken, Beast Boy transforms to a dolphin, breaks the surface and shifts to a hawk, to fly the rest of the way in. He doesn't get far before the tentacle damaged by Landon shot forward and enclosed the shape shifter in a crushing embrace.

There was a screech of pain and a sickening crack of bones breaking. The pain caused Beast Boy to pass out and shift back to human form. Instead of crushing him to death, however, the mechanical squid threw him instead, straight toward the wall.

Raven screamed, "NO!" as she tried desperately to use her telekinetic powers to stop the green teen from slamming into the wall. She couldn't stop him from hitting the wall, but was able to slow Beast Boy enough to stop the impact from being fatal.

Raven gently lowered him to the ground and immediately started to work on her unconscious teammate.

Landon made his way to Marsha, holding his ribs. Her eyes fluttered open and seeing Landon standing there; she started to smile, until she saw him holding his ribs. She immediately started healing him. When he thought the pain could be dealt with, he pushed away from Marsha, and opened a portal.

When the damaged tentacle had disappeared under the water, everyone thought it was over. As the group looked out over the lake, they saw a silvery shape rise rapidly out of the water. An inhuman screech issued from it, mixed in with a low pitched moan, as if it was in pain.

Bumblebee and Cyborg stood and charged their weapons up, ready to dish out some more pain if it kept advancing.

Starfire positioned her body in front of Robin's. She was still to weak to fight, but she was determined not to lose her Robin again.

Beast Boy was now awake and tried to rise, but Raven pushed him back down, growling in her standard monotone, "They can handle this. Right now, you belong to me. Lay down and let me heal you."

Beast Boy rolled his eyes and tried to push her off so he could rise.

He stopped trying when he heard Raven's shaking voice say, "Please?"

Beast Boy stared at her in wide eyed shock, then said, "Yes, Dear." And rolled over on his side, facing away from Raven, so she couldn't see the wide grin gracing his face. Raven didn't mind, though, because she didn't want him to see her fighting the smile slowly spreading across her face.

The monster was fully out of the water now, and slowly advancing, still flailing its one good tentacle. It looked like a cross between a giant squid and centipede, rearing back and creeping along on its many short legs.

Cyborg and Bumblebee were yelling at the thing in frustration, their barrage of sonic blasts and bio-stings having no effect.

"How are we 'posed to stop this frickin' thing?" Cyborg roared.

Starfire said, "I think breaking the red colored gem might work, friend Cyborg."

Cyborg sighed and said, "You may be right, but none of our energy weapons are workin', Star. They just bounce off."

Landon screamed, "Duck!" and threw what looked like an oversized boomerang at the remaining good tentacle. It slashed through, causing the now useless arm to drop to the ground. Landon groaned and fell over, holding his still aching ribcage. The boomerang, returning to its sender, imbedded itself in the wall behind Landon and Marsha.

The creature, screaming in pain, kept up its advance.

Robin then said, "Cy, if you got the sonic, we got the boom."

As Cyborg, grinning, stood and took aim, Robin looked at Starfire and said, "Do it just like you've seen me, Star. I know you can do this. Just press the button, then throw it at the gem."

"But Robin…" Starfire began.

"No buts! I have faith in you. You…can…do this."

Starfire nodded and took the explosive disc from Robin. She nodded at Cyborg, pressed the button and threw the disc straight at the gem.

Just before it reached its target, Cyborg yelled, "Pull!" and fired his sonic cannon at full intensity. The beam caused the blast from the disc to act as a shaped charge, its full force landing right on the crystal.

The Titans' gamble paid off. The red gem fragmented, then shattered, driving most of the fragments into the body of the monster, shredding various critical circuits. With one last wail of pain, the creature fell sideways, its form disappearing in a shower of silvery particles before hitting the ground.

Raven and Beast Boy were laying on their stomachs now. Raven's hands were on Beast Boy's back, the tops of their heads touching. Their faces were turned toward the battle, both so tired that they couldn't move.

Raven murmured, "See, I told you they could handle it."

Beast Boy slurred, "Raaaeee? Why can't I move?"

Raven responded, "Because when I heal someone, I use my energy and theirs. People use energy when they heal themselves, anyway. I just use it faster."

Beast Boy said, "Oh. Soooooooo…that means you can't move either."

Raven weakly replied, "Yes."

Beast Boy said, "Ok."

The shape shifter, realizing that this may be his only chance to get the answers he was looking for, started off with, "Rae? Why don't you like me? And before you say, 'I like you, BB', remember, this is Beast Boy you're talkin' to. I know I'm not all that smart, but I know that I'm the only one who gets thrown out of windows, slammed into walls and sent screamin' to other dimensions just for sayin' hello or tellin' a joke."

Before Raven could answer, he continued, "That last dimension was pretty bad, too. All the people there were short, creepy, light blue and only had one of everything. You ever seen a nose with only one nostril? It ain't pretty, Rae! They laughed at me all the time I was there. Just pointed…and laughed."

Cyborg had turned his hearing up so he could listen in on the conversation. He had his back to the exhausted pair, so they couldn't see the smile creeping across his face at Beast Boy's mention of his last dimensional trip. He pointed his sensors at them and saw that their vital signs were ok, so, he continued his conversation with the rest of the group, giving them a blow by blow of what he was hearing.

Raven answered, "I don't single you out, Beast Boy, I…I treat the others the same way."

To which Beast Boy replied, "Yeah, sometimes… but they have to do somethin' really harsh in order to get punished. But you still do things with them, like trainin' or workin' on the T-car or goin' to the mall. But you won't even talk to me. Just sittin' next to you seems to cause you pain."

He whispered this, "When we're alone, you just get up and leave."

Beast Boy's eyes were burning, now. He blinked, thinking, "God, please, I've gone all day thinkin' about this without cryin'. I don't want her thinkin' I'm weak and an idiot!"

Raven wasn't faring much better. She couldn't stop her tears. She was still touching Beast Boy, so she got the full brunt of the wave of emotions flowing from him.

She was still trying to decide what answer to give, when Logic spoke up; "Nothing's blowing up."

Then Bravery yelled, "This is our chance! We're too weak to break anything or hurt anyone! TELL HIM NOW!"

Raven began with, "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize I hurt you that much. I really don't want to hurt you, but I thought it was the only way to keep you away from me."

She continued with, "My powers are based on my emotions. If I am in control, I can direct that power to do what I want it to do. You were causing me to lose more and more control. I didn't know of any other way to stop losing control other than avoiding you."

Beast Boy sighed and said, "So you're tellin' me that I make you lose control just by being around you?"

Raven replied, "Yes", relieved that he understood.

Beast Boy sighed again, saying, "Come on, Rae, you don't have to lie to me. Landon is the only one I've seen that causes you to blow things up just by standin' there." He spat that name out like it was the nastiest thing he had ever tasted.

His wave of jealousy slapped her like a bag of nickels. Raven stammered, "He has the same kind of elf ears that you do. I think your ears are…cute."

"Really? Landon's ears are pointed? I didn't notice that."

Raven then asked, "But if you felt that way, why did you tell me to leave after you had freed me underwater? Why did you go after him?"

Beast Boy whispered, "I wanted you to hurt. Not physical pain, 'cause I know I can't help much with that. I know you would have felt better if you had gone after him to try to save him. An'…I…I…didn't wanna see you go past me after him."

He continued, "I figured if I was the one to bring him back, you'd maybe think I was more than an idiot. I know it was a stupid thought, but I was mad and selfish and I'm sorry."

Raven was silent for a moment before whispering, "Why wouldn't you let me heal you?"

Beast Boy took a deep breath and said, "'Cause I gave up. I figured that I wouldn't keep makin' you do things you don't like to do. You always looked like you were suckin' on a lemon when you had to put your hands on me, an' I don't like you feelin' any pain, 'specially 'cause of me."

Beast Boy continued, "I decided that I would never be able to tell you how I really feel, because you never wanted to be alone with me."

"Why didn't you say anything before?" Raven asked.

Beast Boy replied, "Because it was too embarrassing to say in front of the team. And every time I embarrass you, I get hurt."

Raven asked Beast Boy, "Please tell me now. Please?"

Beast Boy hesitated a moment before saying, "I…like you, Rae. A lot. I don't know when it happened. I just started seeing you differently. I always thought you were pretty, but you're a knockout when you're using your powers. Especially when you're floating."

Raven, incredulous, said in a small voice, "You like…me? You think I'm a knockout? When did this happen?"

Beast Boy said, "I don't know…I think it was after, you know…him." He continued, "Remember when you opened your door and hugged me? You looked up at me and smiled. At me! I wanted to kiss you then, but I didn't think that would be right. I decided to try it anyway, but Cy nailed me with a stankball. Anyway, I wanted to see you smile again. I've been tryin' ever since."

"But Terra…"

"She paid attention to me. She was willin' to hang out with me. But she was the same as him. I shoulda' known it was too good to be true, her wantin' to be with…me."

He continued, "Even after I found her at that school, she pretended like she didn't know me. I heard her friends talkin' to her about her 'creepy green stalker'. They knew who and what I am, but they still talked bad about me. And she didn't defend me, either."

"I do like you. As a team mate and a friend. Anything more would be dangerous because I don't have enough control. You make me feel. So I run away. I try not to hurt you, though. I only throw you through windows because I know you can fly. The windows are always open, though. I push you into walls, but not hard enough to really hurt you. And the dimensions I send you to are not dangerous."

She continued, "I thought that hurting your feelings would be enough to keep you away. But you always came back. Always. I was a little angry that you fell in so quickly with Terra. How happy you were with her. Because time spent with her was time not spent with me. I didn't think I would miss your attempts."

Raven finished with, "But when she was gone and you came back to try again, I didn't think that you wanted anything more than an occasional smile from me, because I'm not like Terra. I'm not like Terra…at all. I'm a half-demon. I'm Trigon's daughter. I'm dark and creepy and…I don't think I deserve…"

A wide-eyed Beast Boy said, "Wait…lemme get this straight…you think you're not good enough for me because one of your parents is the third most evil dude in the universe? Well…I say you can't pick your parents. It's not your fault you were born. What you do after you're born is your fault."

"You are one of the bravest, selfless and strongest people I know. Evil people are not like that. You deserve to be happy. I…I just wish you could be happy with me."

"Lets make a deal. If you let me decide whether or not you're good enough for me, I'll let you decide if I'm good enough for you. Deal?"

A smiling Raven replied, "Deal."

"Rae?"

"Yes?"

"Can I kiss you, Rae?"

"Yes."

"I still can't move, Rae. That's why you said yeah, isn't it?"

Raven started laughing, then. The rest of the group started trying to make themselves as small a target as possible for the destruction they were sure was coming their way. But Raven didn't have enough energy left to cause any problems. Even the laughter was feeble. She laughed for a while and was suddenly silent.

"Rae?"

"Rae?"

"RA…" Beast Boy shut up when he heard Raven snoring. He chuckled and said, "Dude, you are such a wimp." And promptly passed out himself.

Cyborg, after uncurling himself from the fetal position, stuck his fist in the air and said, "Booyah."