Chapter Five : The Decision

Author's Note: This chapter is so long that I have decided to divide it into to individual parts.

Disclaimer 1: I do not own teen titans or the teen titan's characters – though I do wish I did.

Disclaimer 2: I do though own Max Steeler. She is a character of my original thought and design. Steal and die.

"You made your decision. Whether you made it knowingly or not, you made it just the same." At this point Terra tried to interject, but Max raised her hand in objection, "And I quote," Max continued, "'Beastboy told me that Raven has problems with controlling her anger. I think this may have something to do with her weakness. I'll be sure to let you know when I find out more'"

Max then remained silent a moment, struggling with what to say next. She turned to Terra, "I just don't get it Terra. I honestly don't. How could you do it?"

"I told you, I didn't have a choice."

"You always have a choice, and you still do. Don't wait until it's too late. Tell them the truth and do it soon.."

"Then why don't you leave?"

"What?"

"If you always have a choice, why don't you just pack up and hightail it out of here?"

"That's different!"

"I don't see the difference!"

"I've been here five years!" Max exploded, "I can't just leave whenever I want! You think Slade is just gonna let me waltz out of here? I don't have the opportunity you do Terra."

"You just don't understand," Terra mumbled.

"You're right. I don't," Max took a deep breath, released it slowly and forced a smile. Her mood was threatening. "Because you are Slade's new apprentice I am obligated to serve you as I would Slade. But from here on out that's all our relationship is, unless the situation as it is currently changes."

"Max…"

"Now if you don't mind, I have some work I need to do."

For the weeks that followed Terra and Max hardly spoke to one another. They would acknowledge one another, but then go about their business.

Max could see things nearing their end. She had taken apart a titan's communicator and many of Robin's gadgets. Through messages and surveillance footage she was able to pin point the titan's strengths and weaknesses. She knew them inside out. And so did Slade.

Max stared in disbelief at the computer screen before her. She read the email again, unable to fully grasp what it read. She read it once more, still stunned and reported its contents to Slade.

I have let down the security on titans tower as planned. And as ordered the Titans don't suspect a thing. The rest is up to you.

-Terra

Slade turned to Max, letter in hand. Silence echoed through the room.

"Bring up the tracking system," Slade commanded bitterly.

Max scurried over to a small laptop and punched a few keys. A map of the city flashed on a huge screen, small letters dotting the map. You see, by taking apart Terra's communicator Max discovered that each communicator set off a tiny signature. With the right signal Slade was now able to link to each individual signature thus knowing each titans exact location. A tracking system. Max scanned the map quickly, first looking to the tower.

That's odd, Max thought to herself, Terra and Beastboy aren't at the tower.

Slade noticed as well.

"Max, I'm going to take a trip," He pause and turned to Max. "Don't wait up," and with that he was gone.

She came in that night crying uncontrollably. As she slipped into our sleeping room I could hear her trying to muffle her sobs. I remained still, not wanting to make things worst than what they appeared to already be. I sighed and finally rolled off of my bed and went to her. "Terra," I whispered, but was answered with only stifled cries. "I tried Max, I honestly tried…" At this I was slightly confused. She tried? What was that supposed to mean? Obviously something I was supposed to know. I mentally flipped through the events of the last few days, but still came up with nothing. I worked up the nerve to ask. "Tried?" was all I could manage. "I tried to tell Beastboy about everything that I've been doing. He promised Max. He said he would be my friend no matter what, even if he knew something terrible about me, but he lied. I tried Max…" I place my arms around her and gently rocked her, hoping to comfort her, but sadly it didn't help. "But what do you care!" she screamed suddenly, "It's your fault I'm in this mess anyway. If I hadn't told, maybe things would still be okay." She shoved me away and I returned to my bed. I had no strength to resist. No will to argue. She was hurting and it was all because of me and there was nothing I could do.

Signed,

Max Steeler

"Max!"

Max looked up from her writing and saw Terra standing right in front of her. She wanted something. Max could tell. Max raised her eyebrows in question.

"Slade wanted me to give you this." She held out a large envelope. Max grabbed it from Terra and slowly began to open it.

"Designs," Terra stated blandly, "for my apprentice suit."

Max glanced at the envelope and then back at Terra.

"You have three days…" she stated simply and then walked away.

Upon Terra's exit, max quickly tore open the envelope. She scanned the contents, both visual diagrams and descriptive texts.

"Control of nervous systems?" she questioned aloud, "Control of mental and emotional thoughts? Fighting as one…" suddenly it hit her. She looked up at where Terra had exited and then back at the papers. She shook her head solemnly. Burrying her head in her hands she began to sob.

During the next three days Max worked on the horrid suit, unable to control the few tears and compulsions of anger. Finally the dreaded day came. Max wasn't finished. She had almost always finished well on time, but with all the emotional roadblocks she had come up short. But it wasn't Slade who meandered toward her, instead it was Terra. A breath of relief escaped.

"Where is it," Terra asked bitterly.

"It's not complete."

"We gave you a deadline!"

"I know you did," Max replied calmly, "but I'm not finished."

Then Terra did something unexpected. She lifted her hand and thrust a clenched fist at Max. The fist met flesh, but Max neither yelped nor screamed in pain. She simply sat staring in disbelief. Terra repeated the process only to gain the same reaction.

"We will have it by tonight!" She spat out the venomous words.

"You will," Max replied, rubbing the small trickle of blood off her cheek. She soon finished the suit, this time without hesitation.

That night terra sat on a chair in front of Max. Metal strips floated in the air, wrapping themselves around Terra's arms, legs, and waist, connecting to Terra's nervous system. Max's eyes ceased from glowing as they finished. Without word, Terra left and everything seemed fine. That is, until the night everything went horribly wrong, changing Max's life forever.

I watched in horror as Slade took full control of Terra. She moaned in pain as the electricity surged throughout body. I did nothing to stop it. I simply watched. I watched as she and Beastboy fought. Then I watched as she and Slade fought. I watched as Slade fell to his death and burned within the fiery depths of the lava. I watched Terra hug Beastboy goodbye. Then I watched as she sacrificed herself to save everyone. And I did nothing.

Tears trickle down my cheeks, but all in vain. She's dead. She's stone. And I did nothing. I watch even now, through cameras. I watch her cold stone figure, adorned with a small plaque and roses. Slade's dead. Terra's dead. What do I have left?

Signed,

Max Steeler

Chapter six soon to come. Review review review!