Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans!
Just like I promised, here's the next chapter! :) Although I do admit that I kinda rushed this chapter. So please forgive me if it isn't quite up to snuff.
Now then, on with the story!
Chapter 8
He turned around and made a gesture for them to follow him. "Please, come this way. The Elder Watchers wish to meet with you."
The four Titans glanced at each other before following the man, half reluctant to follow someone they didn't know and half relieved that he had stopped the crowd from mauling them.
As if reading their thoughts, the man said, "You'll have to forgive the others from before. It's not very often that beings from other dimensions come here. I'm sure you can understand their excitement."
"Excitement?" Beast Boy exclaimed. "Not the word I'd use, dude. I felt like I was going to be used as a test subject!"
"Yes, well believe me, that's the closest thing to excitement you'll find here." The man raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Alistor tell you about-" The man stopped mid-sentence and stood stock still. Robin saw something flash in his eyes, but it was gone before he could figure out what it was.
"But where are my manners?" The man went on, as if nothing happened. He turned to the Titans and gave them a small bow. "My name is Cassius, but you may call me Cass if you wish. I'm what you would call an Ambassador."
While Cass was doing his introduction, the Titans took their time looking him over. His outfit looked almost like Alistor's, with a yellow shirt and matching pants that had red lines going down the sides. But the similarities ended there. He had a brown cape around his shoulders and he wore brown shoes that seemed to be made out of a cloth like material. Unlike Alistor, Cass didn't wear a hat or gloves so it was much easier to see his pale blue skin and mustard colored hair. In one hand, he held a wooden staff that was topped with crystal star.
Straightening back up, Cass turned around and started walking. "Shall we be on our way then?"
They started walking again and Robin sped up so he could keep pace with next to Cass. "Okay, uh, Cass. Do you know Alistor? And how did you know we were coming?" He asked.
Cass looked at Robin with eyes completely void of emotion. "I can't say I know what you are talking about. Now please no more questions." He stopped in front of a large, elaborate crystal gate. Behind the gate there were stone steps that lead up the side of what seemed to be a small mountain, where a large palace sat. The palace was made of more of the pale blue material along with towers of crystal climbing out of the top. On top of the towers was a dome that had what looked like a large telescope sticking out of it.
"Welcome to the Observatory. Here, the Elder Watchers will explain everything."
In a large chamber, five figures sat in crystalline chairs that were lined up straight in a row. Two of them were women and three of them were men. They all shared the same characteristics. They all had long hair that went down to their backs that was white with age and their pale blue skin was wrinkled, clearly marking them as elderly. They wore dark blue robes that went all the way down to their feet and had crystal circlets sitting on their heads.
They waited patiently as the doors to their chamber opened and Cass and the four Titans entered the room.
"Elders." Cass said with a bow. "I have brought the Titans from Earth, just as you requested." He turned to the Titans. "May I introduce Robin, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy." Cass indicated each Titan as he called their name and then he turned and raised an arm to indicate the Elders. "Titans, may I introduce Elders Tonbert, Ebenezer, Cecil, Rosia, and Margaret. They are the Elder Watchers and the oldest and wisest of the Observer race."
"Thank you, Ambassador Cassius." Elder Tonbert said with an emotionless voice. "You may go now. We will call you when we are ready."
Cass bowed and, with a quick glance at Robin and the others, he left the room.
Once the doors were closed, Robin took a step forward and opened his mouth to say something. But he was stopped as Elder Cecil raised his hand to silence him. "We know why you are here. We've kept an eye on you ever since you had contact with the Banished Alistor and-"
He was cut off as Robin narrowed his eyes and said, "Banished? What do you mean banished?"
Elder Rosia raised a quizzical eyebrow and said, "Did he not tell you? I'm surprised he didn't tell you why he went back to Earth despite the fact that you worked so hard to give him his way back home."
"Of course he told us!" Beast Boy said defiantly. "He said you guys wanted to fry his brain if he didn't go back."
Elder Tonbert shook his head. "Only a half-truth. The Banished Alistor was given a choice to erase his memories of Earth in order to evade the charges against him. But he made the illogical decision and kept his memories."
"In the ensuing Trial," Elder Margaret picked up, "the Banished Alistor was found guilty of interacting with his charged planet and was banished from our dimension."
"Please." Starfire said suddenly. "What friend Alistor did was not wrong. He did not have any choice but to look for help when he-"
"Enough." Elder Cecil said, cutting her off. "We did not summon you to our chambers to debate over a past trial." He sat forward in his chair and peered at the four Titans. "You wish to know the whereabouts of the Banished."
Raven narrowed her eyes at him. She already didn't like him. "Do you know where he is?" She already knew the answer, but she couldn't risk insulting them by outright accusing them.
Elder Rosia shook her head and said, "Alas, we do not. As per protocol, we don't track the movements of the Banished. I'm sorry to say that your trip here was wasted."
And there it was. They had all expected it, but they were hoping that it wouldn't happen.
They were being lied to.
They were trying their best to mask their emotions, just like they planned. But Beast Boy had a few problems. He wanted to go Beast right there and maul the Elders until they let them take Alistor home. But Raven just put a soothing hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Beast Boy looked at her, but she shook her head and gave his shoulder a small squeeze.
"That's unfortunate." Robin said stiffly. "We were hoping you'd be able to help us find him. But if not, I guess we should be going."
Elder Ebenezer watched the entire thing take place without saying a word, but after listening to Robin, he let out a boisterous laugh, a real laugh that took the Titans by surprise.
"Don't be in such a rush." He said with a wave of his hand. "Stay here for the night. It would be rude to send you off right after you got here." He turned to look at the others. "Surely there are no objections?"
The other Observers looked at him with flat, emotionless eyes. But finally, Elder Tonbert said, "I see no problem with one night. After all, it's not often we receive guests."
Ebenezer let out another laugh and looked at the Titans encouragingly.
"I guess staying one night wouldn't hurt." Robin said.
"Splendid!" Ebenezer said. He clapped his hands together and called, "Cassius!"
Cass entered the room and bowed. "How may I be of service."
"Escort our guests to their rooms. They'll be staying with us for the night." Ebenezer told him.
Cass bowed. "Of course. Please, come this way." The Titans nodded to each other before following him.
Once the doors were closed again, Ebenezer leaned back in his chair and scowled. "We should have told them." He grumbled.
Rosia shook her head. "We all decided. Lying to them will be much easier than letting them know the truth. There will be much less complications this way."
Ebenezer's scowl deepened. "But if what we've seen of them is true, if they find out they'll put up a fight. One I'm not sure we can finish."
Bleg. I seriously feel like I rushed this chapter. :( I promise that the next one will be much better!
The Titans have arrived. But what will they do now? Next time in Chapter 9!
Read and Review Please!