Side Effects
Chapter 2
Author's Note: Alright, this is a back-to-back update, which isn't something I do often. However, I usually carve out extra time for new stories, so don't expect these frequent updates too often. It also helps that I'm grounded from my Xbox 360 and thus I don't have anything better to do. Shout out from my first reviewer, who is actually from Mexico, so props to you. I guess fandoms unite us all xD
Beast Boy's POV
They called us all in for debriefing. From Robin's attitude, though, I'd say it's more like a prostate exam. It was pretty cool getting beamed up, but I didn't even get a chance to call someone 'Scotty.' I have a feeling Cy made sure of that…
When we got there, Batman and Martian Manhunter were waiting for us by the telepads.
"You four, follow us. We have a lot to discuss." J'onn stated with a slight sour note in his tone. I don't know if they figured out the Robin let Raven go, or if they always are in a bad mood, but everyone we passed seemed to watch us for a little longer than is normal. I felt like people were staring longer than they should, even for a group that was as multicolored as us.
They led us into a circular room with a large roundtable in the middle. Most of the JL leadership (including Superman) were already gathered, but not all of them were sitting. Some were pacing around and some were just leaning against their chairs, but they told us to sit at the end. There were still multiple seats between our chairs and the JL.
"Off the bat, I'm supposed to tell you that you are not in any trouble, despite letting her walk. We can't reasonable assume that you would turn over your teammate; or violate the 'Free Walk' clause of your contracts…" Batman stated. It seemed like he had chosen his words carefully in order to break the ice.
"We have a contract?" I mumbled.
"We do…" Robin answered, never breaking eye contact with Batman, "…or some of us do. Those of us more likely to need to go underground. Between us and the Doom Patrol it would have been to stifling to make you sign a contract."
"Oh. Cool. I wouldn't read it anyways…"
"Yea, and you are LUCKY green bean. I was gonna put stuff like "Cyborg's personal carwash assistant and meat taste-tester' in there!"
"BACK to the subject on hand, we need to know if you can help us find her. We would prefer to bring her in without any violence or resistance, but if she feels the need to run then we will pursue her." J'onn said.
"There isn't much we can do. She'll know not to ask us for help, and part of our recovery from the Brain's plot was setting up private safe houses. Each member was allotted funds to build a safehouse only they knew of, for this type of scenario…" Robin replied.
"You gave everyone money to build an untraceable safehouse to hide from us?" Superman asked. His voice boomed across the room. "Where did you get the money?"
"It was a donation from a subsidiary of Mr. Wayne, and established donor to Batman who was more than happy to help us." Robin replied smugly. We knew that the money came from Batman, but this was the first time that I heard who gave Batman the money.
"Can we get back to the task at hand? Thank you…Now, Robin, we are currently employing the help of the UN to roadblock Raven's movements, and will be diverting a large amount of resources to searching for her. Is there anything that will help us narrow down parameters?" Batman asked. Robin gave him a look that said 'you know everything I will tell you' but he replied anyways.
"No, there isn't anything that we can help you with. You're going to need to get lucky to find her. I don't even think I could convince her to surrender even if she were surrounded. She's too smart for that."
"So you're trying to tell us that there isn't anything you can help us with? We are trying to catch your rouge demon here…" Hawkgirl interjected. She definitely sounded sarcastic, but not like Raven's sarcasm. This almost seemed threatening.
I looked over to see that Robin had grown frustrated with where the conversation was going. He rose, and prepared himself for a classic 'Robin's dramatic statement before a fight' moment.
I sure hope there isn't a fight. I don't want to take Batman or Superman.
"If you're trying to find Raven, then good luck…" Robin spat out. "…because she's used to hiding. She's great at it. All it takes is half a second for her to change her appearance, and she speaks numerous languages. She'll blend in on Wall Street and in the Middle East. There isn't any way to stop her movements, and she won't leave a trail. You won't find Raven unless she wants to be found…"
Robin turned and walked away, and the rest of us Titans quickly followed. We headed to an elevator and eventually wound up in the cafeteria. No one spoke, but I could tell that everyone but Robin wanted to say something. After a few minutes, Batman came down and took the last seat at our table.
"I was serious when I said you aren't in trouble. I honestly can't speak for Raven, but running always looks guilty. For now, we want you all confined to the Middle floor. It's been renovated so it doesn't feel so much like a prison. We even added a game console after we received a handwritten crayon letter from 'Garfield Logan.'"
"Then why is the Middle floor so bad?" I asked. I mean, if they actually took my letter seriously, how bad can it be?
"It used to be maximum security, but we have a new area for that. Now it's protective custody, and is sealed off from all forms of outside magic, including the same runes from your 'safe room' for Raven at the Tower. It just usually seems like a prison to most people…"
"Hey, if it's got a console, then why am I even still sitting here? Cy, you in?"
"Absolutely grass stain!"
POV BREAK (Batman's POV) One month later
Robin was right. She was smart, and wouldn't be found unless she wanted it. I think for the last week, she's been testing us. Zatanna and Dr. Fate both confirmed that her magical presence was hidden so well, it was as if she wasn't even on earth anymore. A week ago, she popped back up in the Middle East. Robin was right again: she blended extremely well.
It was wise to choose her locations if she was indeed testing us. A place where women typically hid all but their eyes? Brilliant. Then there's always the potential for moving into Ra's al Gul's territory, which would have created difficulty for us.
Currently, we're searching her most recent hotspot: Dubai. A billionaire's playground it may be, but I'm not here as Bruce Wayne.
We finally got a firm fix on her location, and it's actually outside of Dubai. In the middle of sand, and nothing else. Like she had chosen a place near a major hub but far enough for no collateral damage. Like a trap, to be precise.
I obviously shared my suspicions, and we have a sizable reinforcement team waiting by the teleporter.
"Up ahead! Only fifty yards now!" Zatanna shouted. Dr. Fate either concurred or didn't bother correct her, because he remained silent. We continued to sludge through a sandstorm as we approached the target.
Suddenly, about 15 yards out, the sandstorm abruptly stopped. There was a perfect bubble, thirty feet wide, where there was no sand and a clear view of the sun. In the middle stood a figure in a dark blue cloak, with their head hidden from sight and the cloak hiding their body. Judging only by the height and cloak, it fit Raven's description perfectly.
"Raven, I presume?" I asked.
The person looked up, keeping the sun over their shoulder to hide their face.
"Perhaps. Who all is asking?"
"You know who we are, Raven. You could even name us…"
"Dr. Fate, Batman, and Zatanna. I can see you. I meant who all is waiting by to teleport in? Why don't they join us?"
I frowned. It's unwise to tip your hand, but it's also unwise to provoke a demon, so I instructed the reinforcements to come down. They landed in a ring around Raven, seemingly trapping her. She didn't seem trapped to me.
"Ah, some big names here. So glad to see I'm worth both Superman and a Green Lantern's time."
"You wanted us here, Raven. Why?"
"Well, you should always know your enemy…"
"Does that make us your enemy, then?" I asked.
"No. But that is up to you. Smearing my name and holding the one I love hostage is not a good way to make friends."
Suddenly, she took off her hood. As her face came into view, everyone flinched and braced themselves to attack. I gave them a signal to hold.
Raven's eyes had split into four, and were glowing red: Trigon's eyes. She brought her hand up above her, and summoned a light blue ring above her head. She brought the ring down over herself, and was gone. Before she vanished, I got a glimpse of her arm and the rest of her body underneath her cloak: it all glowed with red symbols, just like Robin described her as before her transformation into Trigon's portal.
Things did not look good for Raven.
"NO! She's…gone. There's nothing, not even a remnant of her power from the teleportation." Zatanna exclaimed.
"She's right. Whatever she just did, it isn't normal. I don't recall ever having seen this before…" Dr. Fate added.
Superman walked over to me, with something clearly on his mind.
"Did you hear that? She said the 'one' that she loved, not 'ones.'"
"I caught that too. I'll send an order for the changeling to be put into lockdown. I'll make sure they think it's for 'individual questioning.' They won't like that but shouldn't question it…"
Superman seemed somewhat surprised.
"Out of them all, why the changeling?"
"Who else is there? Robin and Starfire are officially dating, and she doesn't seem like the type to go behind someone's back. And of the remaining two, he seems much more likely…"
Superman didn't seem to fully agree, but let it slide.
"I guess that's why you are the detective. I wouldn't have pegged him…"
POV BREAK (Beast Boy's POV)
Great. I had to quit my game just as I was about to beat that stupid boss, all so I could sit in an interrogation room alone. Just great.
The technician was bragging about the quality of the room on the way in. Something about it being the most secure room aside from a holding cell, so deep within the Middle floor that nothing outside can get in without access. Not even magically.
All I can say is I've been sitting here waiting for Batman for thirty minutes and they didn't even offer me a bag of chips… I mean, if we are supposed to be happy here, why can't they at least give us decent snacks!
"HEY! Someone there?! I want some chips!"
No reply. I was about to put my head down in exasperation, but suddenly a bag of chips materialized in front of me and landed on the table with a soft thud. While I didn't wet my pants, I wouldn't exactly want my girlfriend (or Cyborg for that matter) to hear how high pitched my squeal was.
Huh. I wonder if I can actually call Raven that yet. I mean, one date isn't exactly a lot, but…
*Yes, you can, actually. *
I chill went down my spine, and my legs hit the bottom of the table as I jumped from fright!
"WHAT THE!...wait a second, I remember that feeling. Did you read my thoughts!? Not cool!"
*Please Garfield, speak with your mind like I taught you. Sorry for reading your thoughts, but I had to make sure you weren't knowingly part of a trap.*
Ugh. I hate trying to communicate with telepathy. Just because someone gives you the ability to do it doesn't mean it's easy.
^Testing testing, you got me the wrong chip brand. I prefer Cheesy Garlic Bread or Sour Cream and Onion.^
My Original chips disappeared and in their place both of my requested flavors appeared.
^Now THAT'S how you treat a guest! 'Bout time. Hey, uh, how'd you get in here anyways Raven?^
*For both our sakes, it's best if I didn't get in here. I need to know if you're willing to escape. I don't have a lot of time to explain, but if you escape without any evidence of my help, then we can meet up. Will you?*
^Uh, I guess so. Is there a plan or do I just punch Batman in the face…?^
*No, though I would love to see that. There is a plan. The door is unlocked, and the technician is taking a nap. You're going to walk back out and sit with the Titans. Exactly three minutes after that, there will be an explosion at the entrance of the Middle floor. Lead the charge and lunge at the intruder as a lion. After that, don't resist. We're going to make it look like a violent abduction…*
^We?^
*Yes. You'll see. Once we're clear, I'll explain everything. There are some things that I struggle to believe…*
^Alright. So I just get up?^
*Finish your chips. I'll need to dispose of the wrappers.*
I did so, and got up to leave as instructed. The technician was reclined in a chair with a magazine over his eyes in a classic napping position. I navigated my way back to the others (with Raven chiming in to tell me I went the wrong way three times) and sat down.
*Three minutes starts now.*
"Hey, look who survived! I heard that serum has a 5% fatality rate…" Cyborg chimed. I rolled my eyes slightly nervously and sat down. No one but Robin even noticed my demeanor because Cyborg's comment scared Starfire.
"Injections? I do not understand, are not these the good guys? Why would they kill us? We should fight back!"
Robin took it upon himself to calm down Starfire, so I stood behind Cyborg and watched him easily defeat the level after the one I was stuck on earlier.
Two minutes passed. Another thirty seconds. Another twenty.
10.
9.
8.
76543…
Still three…
Now two. My heart is not beating extremely rapidly, and I'm really not sure how I feel about what happens next.
One…
I mentally cringed, but did my best not to show it.
And it came. Right on time, without missing even half a second. Rather professional, which worries me.
The explosion was loud and created a lot of smoke without doing extra damage. A second explosion took out the second door, and suddenly we were face to face with the intruder. A tall, muscular man in armor loaded with munitions and extra rounds for multiple large caliber weapons. In one hand he held a rocket launcher slung over his shoulder, and in the other was a long metal staff that he firmly planted on the ground.
What stood out was his mask. One eye-slot and half burnt orange, half blackish-gray. We all knew who it was.
Raven hired Slade.
Before Robin had a chance to organize us, I transformed and ran straight for him as planned. I morphed into a lion and charged, but was probed with the end of Slade's staff, which electrocuted me. I slumped down, conscious but unable to move, and Slade threw a disk at Robin.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got all I need. Later, Titans…"
Slade threw down smoke bombs in front of us and behind us, and I caught I glimpse of a blue ring that encompassed us. As soon as it passed us, I looked around to find us in a completely different place: Titan's Tower.
Slade approached me and scanned me with some hand-held device, before he was satisfied with whatever it was.
"He's clean. No tracers whatsoever. All yours now, I've got my own business to deal with…"
Slade seemed to have an argument with whoever he was talking with, I assume Raven, and it seemed that she was getting under his skin. It ended with Slade affirming that he remembered 'the deal' and that they would be in touch.
"Later kiddo. You should be able to move in two minutes…" he said as another blue ring encompassed him and took him away.
Once he left, I heard Raven's voice again.
*Last thing. Go to your room and grab whatever you need, and toss it through the portal. No telling how long it may be…*
With that completed, the ring finally encompassed me, and I found myself standing face to face with Raven in the middle of an empty, white-sand beach on a sunny day, next to a crystal ocean.
"The Tropics? You? Who woulda thought?"
"Kinda the point, Garfield. Come on inside, I'm sure there are more than a few things you want to know."
She turned to walk up the wooden steps to a large hut-like building behind her, and I ran to catch up, slipping my hand into hers in the process. She flinched but didn't draw away, and we made eye contact.
"I think I'll be fine until dinner…"
Author's Note: Not as long, but I've been waiting for this and the next chapter for a while. I usually fall asleep just thinking of great BBRae scenarios, but this one just kept growing and combined with my idea from the next chapter, so I had to make a story for it. The 'blue rings' are basically Raven's portals, but the same color as the runes that surrounded Raven as she became Trigon's portal in the three "The End" episodes. There is a reason for that, too.