I'LL SAVE YOU!!!!!!!!!runs with dagger in hand and runs into rock, knocking self unconscious Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. I do own Shasta, Garth, Kym, and the robed figure.

Chapter 12

Attack!

The Titans were having a quiet day. On the couch, BB and Cyborg sat teaching Garth and Shasta how to play video games. Kym and Star were reading a story book and both giggled often. (Kym had been better for a week.) Robin stood behind the couch with Terra. The geomancer was cheering the two new players on although they were sucking quite badly. Robin glanced at Raven, who was watching the screen. She smiled as Shasta hit Garth on the game.

Robin sighed. It was odd. Unlike his fellow Titans, he could not relax. He felt like something bad would happen today. The air seemed stuffy and hot within the tower, and it pressed down on him like a blanket trying to smother him.

Suddenly, the alarm rang. Kym squealed in fright, and Shasta and Garth leapt to their feet, powers ready.

BB laughed. "Calm down it's just the tower alarm."

Robin walked over to the computer, and typed in a few words. Slade's symbol came up. Robin growled.

"Just what we needed. Slade to attack." Cyborg said.

Robin sighed then turned to the Titans and the three Azerathians. "Well team we should move out. Shasta, Kym, Garth, would you like to come too?"

The three nodded. Raven wheeled up next to her leader. "I'll be here monitoring the mission. Call if you need anything."

The small group dashed out of the commons leaving Raven alone. She turned to the computer and brought up various programs, but soon she was bored watching the dots that represented her friends moving towards the Slade sign. Leaning back in her wheelchair, Raven closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

It felt like a dream that Shasta was actually alive and here. Raven had long ago given up hope that her best friend had still been living. She smiled to herself as she thought of all the trouble she and the boy had gotten into when they were younger. Raven missed those long ago times in Azerath.

Suddenly, the dark titan remembered the dream she had months ago when she had still been at the hospital with Clarisse. She remembered the strange brown robed figure, and the three creatures escaping through a portal from Azerath.

Raven scolded herself for not understanding that simple dream. She should have known right away because each Azerathian was represented by an animal. She herself was represented by a raven. Shasta was represented by a praying mantis, Garth by a wolf and Kym by an antelope. How could she have been so stupid?

A loud sound broke into Raven's thoughts. Her eyes popped open, and she whipped her head around warily. What she had heard sounded like an explosion. She listened for a few moments then turned back to the computer. The sound must have been her imagination.

Suddenly, she heard the commons door slide open, and was about to congratulate the Titans on getting back so quickly, but on her screen, the Titan's dots weren't even at the Slade mark yet. Raven reached for the alert button to call for help, but her wheelchair was jerked backward and down the stairs that lead to the computer. Raven tumbled out of the chair, skidding away from it.

Raven lifted her head and was greeted by the sight of Slade looming over her. He tilted his head sneeringly.

"Well Raven, I heard from some very reliable sources that it was you who led the Titans to me. I must say I'm impressed with you skills of tracking. However, I'm not pleased that you got me captured. So unfortunately, I must annihilate you." He said.

The man leaned down and before Raven could react, Slade had her by the throat. He lifted her off of the ground, the girl spluttering for breath. He squeezed her throat harder, the dark titan coughing and gasping.

Raven had no way to defend herself, none. Without her powers, this was the end. She was done for. Then an image of Shasta appeared behind her closed eyes, giving her hope. Just after all she had gained, she couldn't just die! But she could do nothing against the cruel man slowly strangling her. The dark titan struggled feebly trying to claw his arms, but his costume stopped her nails from even grazing his skin.

"That's right Raven, die slowly. Feel my anger." Slade said.

Raven's eyes were open again, but the out line of her attacker was growing fuzzy and dark. Raven's struggles grew weaker and weaker. She couldn't breathe at all and she gasped for breath. But every breath proved fruitless.

Raven's mind screamed for air, but it was going blank. She could barely think. An idea suddenly slipped conveniently into her mind before it disappeared. The dark titan would not give in and die. She would see her friends again!

Raven let all of her muscles relax; her head lolling to one side with eyes closed and her hands sliding limply off of Slade's to hang by her sides. She held what little breath she had left. For a moment, Slade kept her in that position. Then he said sneeringly, "So it ends. Good bye little Raven."

Then the villain threw her forcefully to the floor. Raven forced her self to stay completely still and not move a single muscle, not to breathe, fighting the urge to cry out in pain at landing heavily on her shoulder blade.

There was silence, then finally Slade's footsteps walked out of the door, and she heard him say, "Destroy everything."

Then his footsteps disappeared down the hall. Others headed up the stairs and into the elevators. Raven's eyes opened and she inhaled deeply, causing her to cough. Panting she leaned on her forearms, staring at the floor. She put a hand to her neck. It was still hard to breathe.

Then she tried to pull herself towards her wheelchair, but it proved useless. She couldn't get enough breath in to give her the strength she so dearly needed and her shoulder pained her greatly. She thought it might be fractured. Raven collapsed on the floor in defeat.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps. Terror filled her. If it was Slade, he would kill her. She whipped her head around, and gaped in disbelief. Standing in the doorway was the strange brown robed figure from her dream. The cold dead eyes, regarded the titan with interest.

The figure came down the steps and stood in front of Raven. The dark titan looked up at the creature with hope.

"Help…me back…into my…chair…" Raven said painfully and hoarsely.

The creature's eyes stayed expressionless. It asked, "So little Raven, can a person be a Titan without powers?"

Raven stared in disbelief at the robed being. It picked now to ask that? But Raven played along hoping that it would help if she answered.

"Yes." Raven replied. Her wheezing could be heard echoing around the room.

The creature nodded. "Good, you've grasped the concept."

Who did this thing think it was? The creator of the world?

"Please…help…" Raven requested again. With each word her throat grew sorer. She wouldn't be able to talk soon, she knew.

The creature tilted its head. "You want my help?"

Raven nodded, and pointed to her chair. "Can't walk…"

The creature looked at the chair, then back at Raven. Then it began to laugh. After a few moments it stopped.

"Dear Raven, why don't you just levitate instead of using a chair?" it asked.

Raven responded, "Powers….forgotten…"

The creature's eyes narrowed. "Then remember."

It turned and began to walk away. Raven croaked out loudly, "No…help…me! Please…"

The being stopped and turned back. The eyes grew dark.

"Help yourself." It said.

Raven finally snarled, with a look of anger on her face, "Who…are you?"

"I am the Keeper of Stories." The creature's eyes, though shadowed by the hood, suddenly grew bright with an insane light. The Keeper laughed then turned around and said as it walked through the doorway, "Remember your powers, then maybe I will help you."

Raven stared at the door where The Keeper had disappeared. What could she do now? She couldn't get anywhere. She was stuck in this room with a tower full of Slade-bots.

As if on cue, three Slade-bots came through the doorway. Raven's eyes widened in terror as the robots stepped towards her. No! I don't fear them! She thought. Raven closed her eyes tightly, and then opened them, a determined look on her face.

Robin's motorcycle screeched to a halt outside of the abandoned factory. He leapt off the bike, and with the other Titans on his heels, entered the building. It was empty except for dust.

"Where is Slade?" Star asked. The other Titans glanced at each other silently asking the same question. Robin flipped open his communicator.

"Come in Raven." He said. The Titans waited to hear what the leader wanted Raven to do.

There was no response. Robin tried again. "Come in Raven."

Still no response. Robin was becoming worried. The dark titan should have responded. In his mind the boy wonder began to piece things together.

He whipped around eyes wide. "Slade's attacking the Tower!! He used this place as a diversion for us so he could attack Raven! We have to get back to the tower NOW!"