Titan's Tower was bustling with activity early in the morning, something that was rather strange, but the recent events have caused this surge to shockwave through the ranks of Titans, and it still fell on the ears of the Titans of Jump City. Robin was hard at work going through old files, as well as doing computer searches on any leads on the new graduates, not to mention finding Brother Blood. Terra was looking through the library of sorts the team kept on all known villains, trying to learn more about Blood, the H.I.V.E. Academy, and anything else she needed to know for future reference. Cyborg, who was locked up in his room to be left alone, worked away at trying to break down the tech that Decibel possessed so he may have leverage over him if they were to meet again, not to mention looking for ways to upgrade everything he possibly could in his system, no matter how minor it be. Even though she was still exploding with excitement from Robin's proposal, Starfire managed to force herself to concentrate on the matter at hand of these group of villains that were not only singling out titans, but exterminating them. Her and the green changeling known as Beast Boy, who was seriously thinking about changing his name since he had long became a man not only in his eyes, but the eyes of everyone. As per Robin's orders, they were to search out the remains, as well as the last known operation that Blood possessed in hope of finding any kind of evidence to seek him out and hopefully find anything that would point them in the right direction. Yet, as B.B. had predicted, the Academy, Blood's first of many years ago in the center of Jump City. After they managed to destroy it after Cyborg infiltrated the ranks, it was left deserted, the students dispersing, as well as Blood disappearing, and forming his new Academy beneath the ocean off the coast of Jump City. Yet again, the Titans, as well as Bumblebee, the future leader of Titan's East, recovered Cyborg's plans, and helped destroy yet another Academy, and really thought that they managed to put Blood and his psychotic ideologies to rest. They were mistaken. In that ignorance, Blood had managed to not only escape from prison and lay low, but he rebuilt his once mighty school of villainy in the shadows and secrecy of the world, as if it doesn't even exist. The only question that remains is: Where is it?
"Why did Robin send us here again?" B.B. questioned, annoyance dripping in his voice. "This place has been abandoned for what? 4 or 5 years?"
"Friend Robin knows what he speaks of," Starfire complied with her friend, "he would not have us search the premises if he did not think there was a reason to."
"What reason would that be?" He quickly added, still not liking the fact that they were sent to do the worst part of the job.
"Those dreadful students of the H.I.V.E. Academy were sighted returning here by the police of the city," she informed, getting his attention, "though they were unable to find them, this was the last place they were seen. They would not have returned here for nothing."
"I guess your right," Beast Boy managed, something that Starfire rarely did. "What are we looking for again?"
"Anything out of the ordinary, anything that would prove most useful to aid us in their capture and the seeking out of the Brother Blood," Star answered, easily lifting a fallen steel girder, looking beneath it.
"This whole place is out of the ordinary," he quickly quipped, finding it hard to concentrate, seeing that there were nearly an infinite number of things passing through his mind.
Starfire let the girder down slowly, looking back at the changeling.
"Is there something that is troubling you, friend Beast Boy" She requested. "You seem awfully the irritable."
"It's nothing, Star," he replied, hiding his true thoughts.
She approached him, placing her hands on his shoulders, looking over his shoulder.
"I am your friend," she pressed, "you can tell me anything, I will listen and understand."
Beast Boy thought for a moment, studying the floor.
"I-I don't know," B.B. attempted, "it's hard to explain."
"Make your best attempt and I will decipher it," Starfire replied, coming around from behind him to face him, which made things awkward since she was easily a head length taller than he was.
"It's…it's Terra, Star," Beast Boy began, shuffling his feet about.
"Friend Terra is the one that is troubling you?" Starfire added, perplexed. "I thought the two of you were the best of friends, why would she be troubling you?"
"It's not like that," he assured, "I mean since she has came back, things have just been…weird."
"Weird?" Starfire second-questioned. "I am not quite understanding."
"Ever…ever since Raven…passed," he began, finding it hard to form the words, "I've had the strange feeling. I feel like Raven's still out there somewhere, and she's alive. I don't have anyway of proving it, but I can feel it."
"You believe friend Raven still walks amongst the living?" Starfire asked. "I am sorry, friend Beast Boy, but I cannot see how she is still amongst the living."
"That's why it's only a feeling, Star," Beast Boy informed, slightly annoyed at her naïve nature.
"What does this have to do with friend Terra?" She calmly requested.
"Since I feel like Raven's still alive," B.B. answered, "it's becoming difficult for me to be around Terra. I love Raven, her and I share something that I don't think I can find in anyone else, but since Terra's back, she wants things to be the way before all the deception revealed itself, and I can't do that if I want to remain loyal to Raven. From what Cyborg said, I don't have much time to decide, seeing how that's what she is going to pursue and I can't use the excuse of physical difference any longer."
"It does sound like you have quite the problem," Starfire commented while remaining sincere, "have you decided upon a course of action yet?"
"I'll give it time, and there is absolutely no sign that Raven's alive, then I'll grant Terra's request. Come on, Star, I still love her, but I don't want to be lonely, you understand that, don't you?"
"That, I do understand," she consoled, "and you are going about it as professionally as you possibly could, you wish to remain loyal, but you also wish to satisfy the needs of another, so you will only wait it out to see of which will come first. I see no problems in that, friend Beast Boy, you are making the right decision."
"I'm glad someone else thinks that," he commented with a minute smirk.
Starfire grinned, turning back around to continue searching. Beast Boy did the same, overturning large pieces of debris, attempting to find anything of use to find Blood or his students. His eyes were drawn to something lay on the floor, sitting in one of the many patches of light that filtered in from above created by the holes in the rough. B.B. leaned down, picking it up, finding it had heft to it. It was metallic, angular, and had several ports recessed in it for things to plug into it. Unlike everything else, it appeared to be rather new and fresh. He continued to look it over, making sure it wasn't another piece of useless debris that surrounded the area.
"Uhh…Star, I think I found something," he announced, rather surprised with himself.
She turned around, excited, as well as curious.
"That is most wonderful," she commented, "what is it that you have found?"
Starfire drifted through the air over to her companion's position, looking at the device, just as perplexed as he was.
"I honestly don't know," Beast Boy admitted, "maybe Cyborg does. We need to get a hold of someone at the Tower."
Starfire brandished her communicator, flipping it open, ahead of B.B.'s idea.
"Starfire calling Robin," she spoke into the device, holding it as she awaited a reply.
"Robin here," he replied, his image appearing on the screen, "what's up, Star?"
"Beast Boy and I found something interesting, but neither of us can confirm what it is exactly. It is definitely rather recent compared to everything that surrounded it, and it has correlation to the students being sighted only a matter of days ago."
"Well," Robin replied, "that's very good, you and B.B. bring it back here and I'll have Cyborg take a look at it. In the meantime, I'm finishing my research on the H.I.V.E., so see you guys here."
"Ok, Robin," Starfire answered, smiling affectionately at Robin, B.B. shaking his head with a disgusted look, making sure she could not see him or course. She aptly closed her communicator, turning to Beast Boy, who had lost the look on his face just in time.
"Robin requests for us to return to the Tower and allow friend Cyborg to inspect and examine our piece of evidence." Starfire informed, even though he overheard it.
"Lead the way," motioned Beast Boy.
Starfire took the initiative that was offered her, gracefully taking flight, Beast Boy right behind her, morphing into a falcon, and exiting the remnants of the Academy through one of the many holes in the rough, finding themselves above the industrial sector of Jump City, and within sight of the Tower perched on the island in the bay. The two Titans took flight, easily gliding across the sky well above the city below, making travel rather easy. Only in a matter of minutes, they found themselves landing on the island right in front of the door. B.B. punched in his number on the keypad, unlocking the door, one of the few things he managed to remember, yet Star's mind was too feeble to remember such a thing. Needless to say, they made their way through the lower level of the Tower to the elevator, arriving to the central room. Robin was still working away at the computer, files strewn about around him, and didn't even look back. B.B. noticed Terra was walking into the room with a large book in her hands, listening to some kind of music as she flopped down on the couch.
"So," B.B. announced, finally get Robin to turn his head, "where's Cy at?"
"Still in his room trying to find out anything on the tech that one guy had." Robin answered, quickly going back to his work.
"Alright," he commented to himself, turning to face Starfire, "you go do…whatever it is that you do, ok?"
She nodded with a smile, waving, then Beast Boy noticing something.
"Hey," he stopped her, "why aren't you wearing your ring?"
"I do not wish to damage it," Starfire quickly replied, "it is a very nice ring and I wish for it to remain intact, and undamaged so it will be most presentable and precious on our holy day of matrimony."
"Ah, I see," Beast Boy realized, remembering that Starfire liked using her fists a lot, so it would make perfect sense. "Well, if you will excuse me, I need to go give this thing to Cy."
She acknowledged, drifting aimlessly through the air, and landing by Robin. B.B. walked down the hall that led to Cyborg's room, and he could already tell that he was hard at work, hearing all the random metallic clings and clanks, or he could just be frustrated and throwing things, but in any case, he needed to see what Beast Boy had found, and right now. He cautiously approached the door, raising his hand to rap on the door, the many sounds and illegible words ceasing, the door sliding open.
"Yeah, B?" He questioned, the sound of his voice easily revealing that he was frustrated.
"Me an Star found something at the old Academy," he informed, holding it up, "and we need you to take a look at it, it's some kind of techno-gizmo, that's all I know, so here you go."
He placed the angular device in Cyborg's large metallic hand, looking back up at him.
"Cool," Cyborg commented, "well, run along and see if Robin "the great one" needs you to do anything else, I swear, he's been riding my case about finding these guys. Between you and me, I think he's developing that little issue he had with Slade at first with these guys, becoming obsessive, even threatening us again. Just watch out, ok?"
"Come on, Cy," Beast Boy replied, unbelievably, "Robin got over that a long time ago, besides, I'm Beast Boy, I can handle myself."
"Whatever, man," Cyborg commented, closing his door.
Beast Boy shrugged his shoulders, walking back down the hall into the central room, leaping over the back of the couch, taking a seat on it. Terra was still flipping through the pages of the book, but it was more like a three-ring binder with many pages of information in it. She was still listening to her MP3 player, bobbing her head with the beat apparently. Beast Boy leaned over, tapping her on the shoulder.
"Hey," he stated after she removed her headphones. "Two questions, what are you looking at and what are you listening to?"
"Well," she began, setting the book aside to where he could see it, "it's your guys' encyclopedia of all your documented villains, including all known information and timeline of activity. Robin told me to study all the ones I have never seen or heard of, which includes Brother Blood. As for the music, when are you going to learn that I don't listen to anything but rock."
"Figures," Beast Boy commented with a laugh, "so, what's your take on Blood, or have you read about him yet?"
"Do I have to answer that, seriously?" Terra replied, "the man's a basket case, not to mention what he willingly done to his own body. I know fighting villains is dangerous and all, but is it really safe to be seeking this guy out, I mean, he sounds…insane, and I mean as insane as you possibly could get."
"That about hits the nail on the head," he added, "listen, he's not as bad as you think. Yeah, he's dangerous, but so are all our other enemies. Don't let it get to you, Cyborg did and he turned into Robin with his Slade fixation."
"So Cyborg was obsessed with brining down Blood?" Terra questioned, seeing that there wasn't anything about that mentioned anywhere in the book.
"You have no idea," Beast Boy answered, "it was pretty bad, but I think he's managed to get over it much like Robin got over his. Just don't bring it up around him, ok?"
"Yeah, sure," Terra reasoned, "just to let you know, Cy's gonna start the growth hormone treatments tomorrow." She added, changing the subject.
"Oh, really?" Beast Boy managed, "that's…good."
"You know I decided to do it for you, don't you?" Terra informed in a lowered voice.
"What? Why me?" He stammered, hiding the shock of Terra's information.
"I saw it in your eyes," Terra admitted, "as if you were begging I would. Besides, I don't doubt that Cy has already told you this."
Beast Boy let out a huff of a laugh, trying to hide it, even though he knew it to be the truth.
"That was your own personal choice, we did you do it for me?" He finally managed, seeing it was futile to avoid.
"I want things to go back to the way they were before, Beast Boy," she admitted, looking at the floor, "before…before the deception."
B.B.'s eyes widened with surprise, seeing that she had her heart dead-set on this.
"Look, Terra," he began, "I'm not going to lie, I do like you, I still and always have, but it's just really tough right now for me, and, well, you."
"It is only a matter of time," Terra informed, placing her hand on top of his, "before we can truly be together, Beast Boy."
"It's not that," B.B. stated, "look, I know you've heard it from the others, and probably suspected it, but Raven and I were…together, or found out that we each felt about each other, and ever since she…died, things have been difficult. Not only that, I…feel like she's alive, I don't have any proof, but I can feel it, call it an instinct, but it's there."
"So you did love Raven?" Terra deduced, slightly hurt, not that he did, but how he tried to hide it at first.
"No, I still do," Beast Boy corrected, "until I have solid proof that she is truly gone, then and only then I will be able to move on. I don't want to betray her."
"Beast Boy," Terra attempted, being sincere, "If Raven was alive, she would have already came home, it's been what? 5 months or so? Even though I've only been around for a few weeks, I can tell that she isn't coming home. I don't say that to hurt your feelings, Beast Boy, but face it, the cold truth is that Raven's gone and you're in denial.
Devastated, Beast Boy kept his composure, part of him ignited in blind fury, but the controlling half knew that Terra was right, and he was only trying to keep his feelings from being hurt anymore than they already were.
"I-I just need some time to think, ok?" Beast Boy requested, looking her in the eye. "Once I've made my decision, I'll let you know."
"That's…fine," Terra managed, feeling slightly heart-broken, as well as angry at Raven, even in her death, or thought to be death, she has managed to take away the only person she has ever loved. Yet, she knew that he would eventually come around, once he finally realized the truth.
He meekly smiled, removing himself from the couch, approaching Robin and Starfire. He was still working away, while Star had managed to find a mere pen to occupy herself with by playing with it.
"So," B.B. began, getting Robin's attention, "any luck?"
"Not much," Robin admitted, leaning back while he rubbed his eyes, even through his mask, "Since Blood escaped prison, which wasn't long after…after Raven left, he's been a ghost in the shadows, no one knows anything, and we can't find him. You did give that thing you found to Cyborg, didn't you?"
"Yeah, that was the first thing I did when me and Star got back," Beast Boy informed.
"Good, hopefully he can break this case wide open for us and stop those rampaging students before they claim another Titan. To think, that's what they were sent to do to us; kill us. The mere thought is just disturbing."
"Robin, man, you need to take a break, you've been at it all day, besides, we can't learn anything else until Cy tells us what that thing is and maybe that's the key to finding Blood." Beast Boy urged, noticing his friend was fatigued from looking at the computer, as well as reading files since the crack of dawn.
"For once," he laughed slightly, "you're right. I'll be in my room if you need me."
No sooner than he lifted himself up from his chair, 001 came through the doors at the other end of the room, carrying a large box up from the basement, full of evidence they had managed to collect on Blood.
"I presume your searching is producing results?" He queried, walking right up to Robin, setting the box down.
"Not yet," Robin informed, "you wouldn't want to do me a favor, would you?"
"Of course not," 001 replied, "I'm here to assist you and your team, how may I be of assistance?"
"Plug yourself into the computer and scan through all the evidence, well, anything that has to do with Brother Blood, you find anything interesting or out of the ordinary, anything that could be a clue as to his current whereabouts, save it, and let me know when your done, can you do that?" Robin instructed, pointing to the retractable cord that Cyborg installed for him to perform such tasks.
"Why, of course, no problem at all," the robot obeyed, "I will do as you have instructed."
Robin nodded, walking away from his station, Starfire in tow. No sooner than he did, the robot sat down, inserting the retractable cable into one of the many slots on the computer, and remained motionless, allowing his own processor to perform the functions rather than manually imputing the information.
"You know something?" Beast Boy questioned the machine, resting his hand on its cold shoulder, literally. "You actually make a decent…friend, well, for a toaster anyways."
"This…toaster," it replied, "is capable of more than you think, and if I remember correctly, who "owned" who on the Gamestation?"
"So," Beast Boy joked, "I have flesh and blood, what do you think about that one?"
"Organic tissue is obsolete," 001 coolly replied, "I cannot be cut, bruised, or bleed, you can."
"At least I don't weigh a ton," He continued, finding it amusing.
"I weigh approximately 352.7 Lbs., not 2,000," corrected 001.
"That's still a lot of we-"B.B. managed, being interrupted.
"Could you please go bother someone else, or something at least, I am diverting precious power to carry on a conversation with you from my work, so if you will excuse me," 001 politely ordered, shooing him away.
"I was getting bored anyways," Beast Boy called back as he walked away. "Stupid toaster," he added under his breath.
"I heard that," 001 replied, "being a machine, I have superb hearing, unlike yourself."
Beast Boy mocked him, then walked down the hall, finding his way to his room.
"At least I have a soul," he finally stated after closing his door, knowing that not even the machine could hear through the walls. "Yet, sometimes it seems like a burden, especially now. Things are just really out of whack right now, and I don't know what to do anymore. I refuse to believe what has happened, and I wish to accept what lays ahead of me, but I would only betray the past and the truth. I hope a solid, truthful answer comes forth, the sooner, the better."
He leapt on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind wandering as he thought about Raven, Terra, and what to do. Beast Boy leaned over, pulling the drawer to his nightstand out, removing the photograph that he had placed there about a week ago, studying it. He ran his finger down the edge of it, caressing it.
"Maybe they are right," he managed, "maybe…you really are gone. I don't want to believe it, but the truth is sitting right in front of me, yet I refuse to accept it. I really wish I had a sign that proved it, or at least showed that I have been right this entire time, and you really are alive."
His mind continued to think about Raven, and what they could have had, could have been, and should have been, but life seemed so cruel at moments like this. Before he could get truly involved with his trip down memory lane, a loud pounding came from his door.
"Meeting room, now," Cyborg's voice ordered, his footsteps continuing down the hallway to that destination.
Obeying, Beast Boy lifted himself up off of his bed, placing the picture back in its recess of a place in his nightstand, sliding it shut. He closed his door behind him as he walked down the hall, finding everyone was in the room, waiting for him. B.B. gingerly took his seat on the couch while Cyborg stood before them, the device on a table as well.
"Glad you could join us," he joked, "seriously though, I may have found that single piece of evidence that we needed to blow this thing wide open."
"I found it," Beast Boy corrected, "you merely found out what it was."
"Whatever," Cyborg replied, irritated. "In any case, this thing is known as a Oscillating Energy Matrix, or OEM for short."
"In English?" Beast Boy haggled, just trying to lighten the mood.
"The OEM," Cyborg began again, annoyed by Beast Boy, almost enough to throw something at him, "is a newly-designed device made by Wayne Research and Electronics, yes I know, the man owns way too much, but stay with me. This device was designed to make a portable solution to generating sound waves, frequencies high enough to be lethal if used at maximum efficiency."
"So this thing is like a supercharged version of the battery for your Sonic Cannon?" Robin deduced, trying to stay with him.
"In a sense, yes,' Cyborg admitted, "but instead of focusing it enough into an actual beam like mine, this thing is pure waves, more erratic, but the destructive force is amplified, thanks to this thing, of course. I have a good feeling, call it a hunch, that that guy, Decibel, or whatever his name is, uses these things. They fell back to the old Academy to regroup before they returned to Blood, and he must have lost this when he was repairing his suit or something. He probably uses these things to power those Sonic Generators on his arms, so they power his weapons basically."
"What's this supposed to tell us though, Cy?" Terra chimed in, wanting to be part of the team, "If these guys are long gone, heck, for all we know, they could be anywhere in the world right now, so how's this help?"
"There's a catch with new tech, especially from Wayne R&E," he answered, "you see, since this is a rather powerful and expensive piece of hardware, the buyer must submit a legal and viable name and address for it to be shipped to."
"You're on to something, aren't you, Cy?" Robin smirked, seeing the cybernetic was rather proud of himself so far.
"My, my, you're a bright one," he joked, "yeah, I am. See, we contact Wayne R&E, run the serial number on this thing, and find out who the buyer was. If it isn't Blood or Chang, then whoever it was will lead us to them one way or another."
"That's the best idea I have heard all day," Robin commented, "it's worth a shot, who knows, but it's all we got to run on, so let's do it."
Cyborg nodded, turning to the computer in hopes of getting a hold of something or someone other than a machine, as with most large businesses, it was the norm everywhere you went.
"This calls for a celebration," Starfire commented, "we have the first lead to go on to track these vile creatures, we must."
"Star's right, Robin," Beast Boy added, Terra agreeing with a nod.
"Fine, fine," he allowed, "what do you have in mind?"
"The barbecuing of the meats of animals in the park of trees and shrubbery," she informed, a smile bigger than no other.
"That sounds like an awesome idea," Terra added, "sure, let's hit the park, come on, Robin, don't be a stick in the sand."
"I don't know," he answered, turning to see Cyborg was finished. "Any luck?"
"I managed to get a hold of an actual person," he began, "but they told me it would be several days because of all the security clearances and personal records safety, you know, political BS."
"Ah, I see," Robin replied, "well, the others want to go to the park and have a cookout, what do you have to say?"
"Uh, what are we waiting for?" Cyborg answered, "let's go!"
"It's unanimous then," Beast Boy commented, "last one to the T-Car is a rotten egg!"
Cyborg leaped over the couch, shoving him backwards as he continued running, laughing.
"You've already got the green, smelly part down real good!" He yelled back through this laughter.
"Oh, no you didn't!" Beast Boy replied, leaping into action, only getting laughter out of their friends.
"Some things never change, do they?" Terra queried as she walked behind Robin and Star.
"I guess not," Robin replied with a minute smile. "You know something Terra?"
"What's that?" She questioned, looking at him as they entered the elevator, Cyborg and B.B. already went down and it had returned.
"It's safe to say that you are the thing that got us going again," he seriously informed, Starfire nodding in agreement. "If it wasn't for you, we would have either stayed really miserable or we would have broken apart. I hate to admit it, but Raven was sorta like the only thing keeping us bonded together as friends and teammates in a way. When part of the puzzle is lost, the rest falls apart. I just hope it never happens again."
"I agree with you totally," Terra added, "I just hate the feeling that I get overall, I wish it would just go away."
"What do you mean?" Robin pressed, confused and concerned for her well-being.
"I know you guys think it, or at least feel it, but I can almost sense that you think I'm trying to replace Raven, which is something that I will never do, nor want to. I feel guilty about it, that's all."
"Why would you think something like that?" Starfire commented, "we do not think ill of you in any way, or feel the way you have described. Friend Terra, we have missed you so, and we will never think of you that way, no matter what. It baffles me why you would feel this way about yourself and your presence."
"I don't know, it's just…there," she attempted to explain, trying to avoid it. "I'm sorry for brining it up, forget about it."
"This sounds serious," Robin added, "in some way or another, maybe it's your way of feeling grievous over Raven's passing. Since you didn't actually have to experience like we did. Even though it isn't by any means, but I think you are feeling this way because you feel responsible for it. Listen, there was nothing that we could have done, or you for that matter, it's done, it happened, no matter how much we wish it didn't, it happened. All we can do is move on and keep her in our memories."
Terra solemnly nodded, knowing that Robin was indeed right, and it was futile to argue with him over the issue.
"You're right," she answered finally, the elevator slowing to a stop as it neared the bottom of the shaft. "No wonder why we follow you."
He let out a small laugh.
"I wouldn't go that far," Robin replied, the doors opening, revealing the T-Car, Cyborg behind the wheel, B.B. finishing loading all the things they needed to have a cookout effectively in the park.
"Yo, Ion fuel ain't cheap," Cyborg ordered, blowing the horn on the car, "this thing guzzles like crazy, let's go."
"Yeah, cause Cy's a tightwad," Beast Boy added, getting his hair ruffled by the cybernetic.
"Backseat, B.B.," Robin ordered, "when are you going to learn that I am always shotgun?"
"Come on, Robin, just one time," he begged, "don't make me do "the face"."
"You seem to forget," Robin replied, rubbing his temples, "one, begging won't work, and two, I'm a guy, "the face" doesn't work on me, backseat, now."
The changeling grumbled as he hopped over the console between the two front seats, buckling his seatbelt in the center. The girls joined him on either side.
"We're all here," Robin announced, turning to Cyborg as he shifted the T-Car into drive, "so stop complaining and drive."
Cyborg merely smiled as he took off, the roar of the technologically-advanced machine he brought to life making itself heard.
Brother Blood paced about, becoming concerned that all he has worked for may come crashing to a halt. The Titans were going to reveal his Academy in only a matter of time, he knew it.
"Things are becoming rather risky," he commented, still contemplating the situation, attempting to find a solution. "not to mention that I haven't heard from my students for several days. If they have failed, it would be wise to never contact me again. The Titans are seeking me out for their actions, as well as them. To top it all off, the professor is far from completing his current project, so it is impossible to move to another location, saying that the "specimen" isn't stable enough yet. Hopefully my "client" can misdirect them for the time being, or at least until I can formulate an effective plan. Besides, I'm not ready, Professor Chang must install the last components to complete my "upgrade". If the Titans thought I was near invincible before, I have became their worst nightmare."
There was a faint knock at Blood's chamber door, causing him to wheel around in fright, finding that it was none other than Professor Chang, wheeling a cart containing many cybernetic components, as well as circuitry.
"I've come to finish the upgrade you requested, Brother Blood," he informed, feebly wheeling his cart in with him.
"Indeed," Blood replied, narrowing his eyes, "Professor, care to explain to me why you're project still isn't operational? I understand you are a busy man and all, but even a scientist of your caliber should be able to do it with ease."
"I've begun construction on the cybernetic limbs, as well as the neural connections between the flesh and machinery. Currently, I'm running the reconstruction program on the remnants of his brain so I may artificially create the missing portion. Things are moving along on schedule, Brother Blood, this is just a very tedious process and will take time."
"Time is something we are running out of, Professor, need I remind you," Blood informed maliciously as he leaned back in his throne, preparing to accept the changes. "The Titans will find us, it is only a matter of time, I assure you."
"Then you will be pleased that I have upgraded your mechanized army of Cyclones, and upgraded the weapons and armor of your H.I.V.E. soldiers. This is where I am spending my time when I'm not working on my own personal project as you've aptly dubbed it. Not to be forceful about it, but I do request a little more gratitude, considering all that I have done to you."
"Well," Blood realized, "you are to correct, in a sense. Your own personal beliefs are conflicting with my plans, and I will not allow you to jeopardize them, so you will finish your work on Slade as soon as possible."
"Of course," Chang respected, picking up one of his tools, "I will, I just needed to entrust my own personal safety through your resources, and that is exactly what I've done."
Blood merely nodded, leaning back as Chang was about to perform his work that would make him truly inhuman, only the hollowed shell of a madman would remain.
"Mortal," Trigon requested, "the time is nigh, are you ready?"
"Whenever you are," Slade obeyed, "something did occur to me though."
"What is that?" The demon beckoned, "I am ready to send you to the living plane once more, and yet you hold me up, what reason would be behind this?"
"Where exactly is Raven at on the Earth?" He reasoned, "There are millions of places to where she could be located, and there is only one of me, it may take some time."
"My daughter, seeing how she has an absence of her powers, " Trigon informed, "she is rather hard to track down. I can only narrow it down enough for you to locate her in the vicinity of the continent you mortals have dubbed Europe."
"So I'm going to have to look all over Europe for a single empath of Azarath?" Slade reasoned. "Don't get me wrong, I'm more than willing to enjoy the hunt, but it is a rather large area to search."
"There is no certain timeframe, mortal, I am forever living, as long as you complete your task, you will get your wish, and I'll get mine." Trigon stated, leaning back in his throne.
"As long as you deliver this time, then so be it," Slade warned, "I hope you've learned from the first time to not double-cross me."
"I assure you, Mortal," Trigon boldly stated, "Upon Raven's death, I will give you your life back with what I've described, no strings attached. Hopefully, you will have learned your lesson this time around."
"Old habits die hard," Slade added, an unseen devilish smile underneath his mask.