A/N I'd like to point out something in my last chapter. Red X's real name is Maximus in this story, not Xavier. Sorry about that!

This chapter is an ode to the classic Torn sung by Natalie Imbruglia! Enjoy!

"Raven?! Cyborg?!"

"My man!"

"Beast Boy… Is that…?"

"Slade?!"

"Teen Titans."

"At least two of them plus one!"

"Phobia!"

"Shove off, Azarathian!"

"Wait, dudes! Let me explain! It's not as bad as it looks!"

Raven dusted the dirt off her robe, then folded her arms

"Okay then, explain why are you with Slade and Phobia in a secluded spot in the dead of night?"

Beast Boy gulped at the mention of 'dead'. The changeling went on to explain himself.

"I have to!" was all he said.

"Does that mean you haven't found Terra yet?" asked Cyborg.

"We have! She's living happily with her parents in the Castle!"

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you still here?"

"Enough with this nonsense!" Phobia screeched, and Raven sneered back. "This argument is a waste of time! I'm leaving and giving more nightmares - Oof!"

Raven had blasted Phobia, sending her tumbling a feet back.

"You will do none of that," threatened Raven.

"My dear, Raven, don't be so harsh," said Slade, focusing her attention to him. "You don't want Trigon to come back through your anger."

"Don't talk to Raven like that!" warned Beast Boy. Raven was highly offended, and was ready to pick a fight with Slade.

"Terra is beside the point. It has always been," Slade continued. "It's her parents we should deal with."

"Why should we trust you?" asked Cyborg. He knew about Terra and Red X's parents, that Red X said they were obsessive mutant-making people. Due to that, he had a feeling Slade was not misdirecting them.

"That's what I - we're gonna find out," said Beast Boy.

Raven's hands stop glowing and her feet finally hit the ground. "Fine. Oh, and Beast Boy?"

"Yes…?" Beast Boy's tone was one of uncertainty. Everyone watched Raven walk toward the changeling.

She smacked him on the head.

"What was that for?" he winced.

"For being my idiot," Raven said sarcastically. With warmth, she added, "Now give me a hug."

Beast Boy opened arms and gave Raven a tight hug, which Raven returned. Cyborg burst out laughing in the background.

"In true Raven fashion," he said. Phobia had a vile look of disgust while Slade remained indifferent.

"Can we please continue with our task?" begged Phobia. "Slade, you said that they," she pointed at Raven and then Cyborg, "can't be here! It's none of their business!"

"And that stands," said Slade. "We will not budge unless you-"

"We know you're here to find Jericho, but he is not here!" shouted Cyborg.

For the first time ever since Terra's betrayal, Slade seemed very shocked.

Before anyone could blink, Cyborg found himself pinned against a giant tree by Slade.

"What do you know about my son?!" he shouted almost maniacally.

Only Beast Boy was also shocked by the news.

Raven's hands were glowing with telekinetic energy again.

"Release him!" she demanded Slade. By impulse, Phobia got up to fight too.

"Whoa! Dudes, hold it!" No one listened to Beast Boy.

"Let me explain, man!" shouted Cyborg, staying brave against Slade. "He escaped Markovia after they changed him, and he wound up seeking refuge and peace atop a tall mountain."

Slade's eyes widened behind his mask. He wore such a different expression that Cyborg almost freaked out.

"He's alive?" asked Slade, more softly.

"Alive and well."

Slade released his hold on Cyborg.

"Wait a minute," said Beast Boy, slowing piecing the details together. "Jericho is Slade's son? The dude I climbed a ginormous mountain for so that I could give him a communicator? Who I teamed up with to take down the Brotherhood of Evil? He is related to our arch nemesis?"

"Genes don't affect morals, Beast Boy," said Raven calmly. "Wait 'til you hear about Red X. In the meantime, I suggest Slade to follow Cyborg and co-operate with us so that we can help these Arbitraries."

"Hogwash!" protested Phobia. "I will not follow such juvenile interrupters!"

"No, Phobia, I cannot just let my son go," said Slade a little more composed. "Not again."

Phobia scowled.

Raven was playing the urge of smiling in her lips.

"Looks like the decision's torn."

I thought I saw a man brought to life

He was warm, he came around

Like he was dignified

He showed me what it was to cry

Well you couldn't be that man I adored

You don't seem to know, seem to care

What your heart is for

But I don't know him anymore

"They should be here soon."

Robin was softly tapping his foot while Starfire scanned Markovia from the meadow, where they were supposed to meet up with Raven, Cyborg, Red X, Jericho, and Brian.

"I spot a T-ship compartment heading toward us!" Starfire called out. "On a third thought, there are two."

It was the Markovians.

"Salutations, my friends!" greeted Starfire as they pulled over. "How has your reconnaisance been?

"Reminiscent," answered Red X, quite certain his opinion was shared by the passengers in the other ship. "Shall we go?"

"Cyborg and Raven aren't here yet," said Robin as they alighted the ships. The five of them sat on the grass in a tight circle and waited.

"So guys," began Red X. "How do you like Markovia so far?"

The joyous fire in Starfire's eyes reignited.

"Markovia is wonderful, Maximus!"

"Has Markovia always been like this?" asked Robin.

Jericho shook his head. Red X expained for him.

"It looks the same, but it doesn't feel so."

Robin's critical side activated. He commented, "Usually, if a region appears to be constrained in their development, that means the big powers either struggle or have little desire to do so. Markovia looks so… pastoral."

The hero in him resumed control over his curiosity.

"What do you think will happen if you saw Slade, Jericho?"

Jericho immediately looked anxious.

Robin placed a reassuring hand on his shaking shoulder.

"Look, I understand your worry. I've been on your father's side for awhile before. I - We I'm sure - do respect whatever decision you make. We understand."

"But Slade's not your dad," said Red X. "It's easier to say that if your father's a hero while Jericho's is a villain."

"Well, how did you manage? Since your parents are…" Robin thought better of what he almost voiced out. "Sorry."

Red X's response was significantly darker. "They're not my mutual parents."

"But you have to be realistic here at the same time. I only want to learn what you were going through."

"It is a disgrace to my dignity to consider them as people who raised me."

Robin barked, "Says the guy who likes blurring the lines!"

Red X froze.

Starfire grabbed Robin by the elbow. "Please. No fighting."

Red X stood up and walked to his ship. "I'll wait there."

He walked away, not because he was mad, but because Robin was right. All this time, his mission was to help Terra. But had he done that? At what cost, and what differentiated his acts from Slade's? And his parents'?

There's nothing where he used to lie

The conversation has run dry

That's what's going on

Nothing's fine I'm torn

I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel

I'm cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor

Illusion never changed into something real

I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn

You're a little late

I'm already torn

"Get up, Tara sweetie. Your milk is ready."

Terra opened her eyes to see her mother's loving face.

"Fast before it cools," Mrs Markov placed the glass on her daughter's bedside drawer.

"Grateful decency for your selflessness, mom, but no thanks," moaned Terra.

"Nonsense, I insist! It's the best I can do!"

Terra groaned sleepily. Her late sleep last night was starting to show its consequences.

"But I've been drinking milk every after-meal and at the ends of my day every day." Terra sat up stiffly, as if her bones refused to move from fatigue. "I've become whiter and whiter. Besides, I haven't been feeling like myself, mentally, these few days."

"You obviously need the calcium, then." Mrs Markov offered the drink again.

"Really? I don't think cal-"

"Just drink it, Terra! It's for your own good," said Mrs Markov a little more abrasively.

Somehow, Terra's mind sensed that as normal, even though her mother called her 'Terra' and not 'Tara' there. Terra took a long sip and then a huge gulp.

"See? How do you feel now?"

Terra licked the milk mustache off her lips and stared at her mother.

"Like…" she trailed off. "Like my mind is…"

"Go on," urged her mother. "Like your mind is what?"

In her mind, Terra was imagining a dungeon setting, where she noticed a line of blue-eyed blonds chained to one another. At the front of the line appears to be a set of equipment Terra would see in a stereotypical scifi film.

But that whole vision was only faded, because there was another scene in her mind. She saw Gerard holding his arms out distressingly.

She didn't really know what she had been thinking.

"Like it's torn."

"Ready for an excursion, darling?" asked Mrs Markov with a nod. "Your father's waiting."

"Where are we walking to?"

"To Serenity Pid, of course. You need a Promenade Partner."

So I guess the fortune teller's right

I should've seen just what was there

And not some holy light

But you crawl beneath my veins and now

"Where are they?"

Robin looked at Starfire. They had been waiting for an hour and Raven and Cyborg had not arrived yet.

"Shall we contact them and check out if they are the KO?"

Robin agreed, and he whipped out his communicator and called Cyborg.

"Cyborg, are you there?"

Cyborg's face appeared on the circular screen.

"What up, man?"

"Where are you guys? Don't you remember to meet at the meadow? Is Raven with you?"

"Chill down, Rob, everything's a-okay."

"I thought it was KO?" wondered Starfire.

"Hi, Star! Robin, we found Beast Boy."

"Really? Glorious!" squealed Starfire. "May we see him?"

"Hey, dudes!" Beast Boy popped into the screen. "How're y'all doin'?"

Starfire squealed even louder.

"Joy! Beast Boy, it is marvelous to see your lovely face again! I cannot wait to have you back!"

"She means we're doing great," responded Robin. "How's the mission? Did you find Terra?"

Cyborg and Beast Boy gave uneasy looks. "Well…"

They told the events to Robin, Starfire and eventually everyone else.

"Slade is with you?" Robin repeated. Jericho looked away from the screen, afraid that Slade will show up.

"We have to! He knows where to go!" said Beast Boy.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! I'll call him. Slade!" He left to fetch Slade, who was with Raven and Phobia.

"Are you stupid?"

"What? They need proof!"

"It is none of their business," retorted Slade. "Besides, we don't want a crowd here. Too obvious."

"He's right about the second part," admitted Raven.

Beast Boy returned to Cyborg and gave the news.

"Covert, as always," said Robin, almost pouting.

Beast Boy then heard footsteps.

"Someone's coming," he whispered. "Three people. Could be Terra and family. Gotta go!"

Cyborg hung up, leaving Robin to wonder alone.

"He could be trusted, you know," said Red X.

"Yes, Robin, have faith in our friends' intuition," added Starfire. Robin nodded.

"You're right. But for now, we have to do our own snooping."

Red X raised a hand. "I might be of assistance. I have a good hunch. It starts in the line between the Castle and Serenity Pid Park…"

I don't care, I have no luck

I don't miss it all that much

There's just so many things

That I can't touch I'm torn

"Shh, I hear footsteps."

Cyborg activated his hypersensitive acoustic detector, and heard three sets of light footsteps as well. His cybernetic eye then glowed until it became an infrared sensor. Sure enough, three bodies were making their way towards him and Beast Boy.

"They'll find out what we're doing," ssid Cyborg. "You have to distract them. Terra knows you're here."

"Why me?"

"I just said -"

"Oh my, did you hear that?" asked Mrs Markov.

Cyborg pushed Beast Boy out of hiding, causing the changeling to fall flat on his face in front of the Markovs.

"Oh no! An Arbitrary's escaped!" shrieked Mrs Markov, looking horrifically at the green human.

"What? Arbitrary?" asked Terra. "That's Beast Boy!"

Beast Boy looked up sheepishly. "Eh… Hi."

"You mean you know this mutant?" asked Mr Markov.

"I guess," answered Terra, helping Beast Boy up. "He's not from here. He's sort of a hero."

"Oh my… an Arbitrary… in contact with our daughter."

Beast Boy scowled. "I'm not one of your exp-"

Mr Markov clapped his hands. "This is perfect! Terra, it appears that you have found Promenade Partner!"

Terra gasped. "Daddy, not him! It's so awkward!"

Beast Boy looked confused. "Promwhat Partwhat?"

Terra sighed. "It's a ball."

Beast Boy let out a relieved laugh. "Okay, I get it. How do you play it?"

Terra shook her head. "Not ball game, balldance."

Mrs Markov curled a smile. "It is Markovian customs that a daughter and her parents go out today and invite a gentleman to the Promenade."

"So…like the Sadie Hawkins?"

"Who is Ms Hawkins?" asked Terra's father.

"Can we not pick him?" Terra didn't want to dance with Beast Boy. It would be awkward for them. "Why not go to the Marketplace?"

"Nonsense, Tara!" said her father. "It would take time to properly prepare a low class adolescent for the Promenade."

"Besides, Beast Boy here looks like a lovely fellow," her mother added. "Even if he is kind of… sickly looking."

Beast Boy pouted at the indirect insult. But he couldn't go to the prom. He had a mission.

"I'm sorry but I'm kinda busy," Beast Boy said. Mr Markov patted him on the shoulder.

"Never mind your troubles! We have regulations to postpone any important events in favor of the Promenade."

"I don't dance."

"We'll teach you."

"But you said the low -"

"You are an exception! You are our guest! We welcome you!"

Mrs Markov clapped her hands together. "Right! We should get ready!"

As castle guards appeared from behind the royal family to guide an unwilling Beast Boy, he and Terra had questions in mind.

What should I do? wondered Beast Boy.

This is not what I want, thought Terra. I want to ask Gerard.

I'm all out of faith

This is how I feel

I'm cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor

Illusion never changed into something real

I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn

You're a little late, I'm already torn

Torn

"Guys! Markov alert! The whole set of them!"

Cyborg returned to Raven, Slade and Phobia with the warning.

"Beast Boy is there now distracting them. But we have to be quick."

"There should be an entrance here," said Slade. "Phobia's been infiltrating the Markovs' dreams."

"Using unethical ways to do justice is just as wrong," said Raven.

"I don't care about morals," retorted Phobia. "The parents have minimal dreams, almost as if they've got control over it. Your ditsy friend, however-"

"She is not ditsy," Raven gritted. She might not be very close to Terra, but she detested Phobia more.

"Her dreams also seem to be controled. I've been experiencing inner conflict in Terra. It's probably not a coincidence a side of her dreams involve mutants like the Arbitraries."

"Could her parents have something to do with it?" Cyborg wondered.

"Perhaps. Somehow, they might have transferred their dreams to hers."

"Or mind," added Raven. "Dreams are come about through the mind. A mind can have no dreams. But a dream must have a mind."

Slade lead the group to the back, seemingly unvisited edge of Serenity Pid Park, where they noticed a narrow, almost hidden trail in the forest-like surroundings.

At first, they seem to be walking away from the Castle. However, as they continued on the path, they realized that they had made a huge u-turn, and found themselves between the Castle and the park.

"Now, if I were some insane person with a knack for people with powers, where would I hide my lab and lab rats?" asked Phobia.

"Watch one of us accidentally trigger the entrance," Raven deadpanned.

Slade started feeling around, saying, "My guess is that the Markovs' royal room has an entrance to an underground chamber. They don't want to be seen dragging a poor victim into the Castle, so they set another entrance here, possibly a pit."

"We should have brought Red X and the others here," said Raven. "Brian and Jerich can lead us the way if he remembers."

"Who is Brian and where is Jericho?" asked Slade, more emphasis on the latter.

"Brian is an Arbitrary like your son and Jericho is with Robin," answered Cyborg.

Slade felt almost guilty about not letting the other group theirs.

"They can handle their own. They have Maximus there."

"Aaaaaaaah!"

Everyone ran to Phobia, who had stepped on a puddle, and then stepped onto a patch of grass that actually had a trap mechanical pit underneath.

"Told you so," said Raven. "One of us should keep watch."

She and Slade looked at Cyborg.

Cyborg sighed. "Again?"

There's nothing where he used to lie

My inspiration has run dry

But that's what's going on

Nothing's right I'm torn

I'm all out faith, this is how I feel

I'm cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor

Illusion never changed into something real

I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn

"Jericho and Brian, have you the idea where the secret entrance could be located at?"

They both shook their heads. Their faces were covered in a sack that the royal guards had in their pockets when they were kidnapped.

"Shame," Starfire said.

This group was sneaking around castle grounds with the help of Red X's xenothium-powered stealth cloaking machine.

"I have three theories," said Red X. "Three rooms I've never been in."

"Well then lead us to your first guess," prompted Robin.

The first two rooms, the collections room and the study, did not lead to anything helpful.

Suddenly, they heard a conversation as they entered the royal chamber.

"You have not been in our castle, I must assume." Mr Markov's voice. Red X's heart cringed.

"No." Beast Boy's.

"Hurry, everyone, head down!" said Red X.

The royal underground chamber is where Red X's parents sit at whenever they have foreign royal visitors. It is spiral staircase trailing down to the thrones, leaving a wide circular gap that looked like an abyss at first.

"Starfire, can you check what is down there?" asked Red X.

Starfire flew into the abyss. A few seconds later, she shouted, "I have found a passage!"

Everyone eventually got down to the bottom. Robin used his equipment while Red X used his and respectively brought Jericho and Brian along.

The passage lead them deeper underground.

I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel

I'm cold and I'm ashamed, bound and broken on the floor

You're a little late

I'm already torn

The entrance to the pit had sealed. Cyborg stayed put as he saw Slade and Raven jump down.

"I wonder how they will exit," he then said. "If the Markovs wanted this to be a one-way trip for their test subjects, wouldn't they try to limit escape and tighten security?"

He then heard rustling. He knew someone was there.

"Show yourself!"

And they did. The guards surrounded them with tranquilizer guns.

"Now this is -" One of them shot him with the gun, making him unconscious.

Torn…

"What happens now?" Beast Boy asked Terra.

She sighed. "You will properly trained, dressed up, we go to the Promende tomorrow night, we dance, and dance, and dance, and kiss."

Beast Boy gulped. "K-kiss?"

Terra sighed again. "I don't fancy it either, Beast Boy. You will stay the night here and undergoa series of courses before the event starts."

"Stay? Here?" He couldn't. He had to help his friends. He would rather be with them.

And he would have to spend a night with Terra if he does not get out of it.

And he would have to kiss her.

He is Torn.