"What do you want from me, Slade?"

"You will soon find out, changeling."

Beast Boy gritted his teeth, while he stared at his opponent. His chest heaved in anticipation, as he took deep breaths.

"This isn't over, Slade."

"Oh, but it is. Your friends can't help you, not even the Martians as I've set up dampening fields to prevent them from walking through walls … I'll have to remember to thank Lex Luthor for that tech … it's too bad they don't use magic to pass through solid barriers, the way your girlfriends can."

Slade looked calm and composed, the way he always did when he was feeling confident and had the upper hand, and at the moment he had confidence in Spades. Raven was still incapacitated, Rachel was reduced to being his mindless puppet, standing by the console, ready to execute the thawed but still helpless Raven.

"I know what you're thinking, Garfield, but I strongly advise against it."

Damn, he knows my name. What else does he know?

"What am I thinking, Slade?"

The masked man chuckled. "You're considering becoming that leviathan again, aren't you? And I will congratulate you, he is formidable. The last time we faced each other when you adopted his form I had an army of demons at my call. Today … I only have one … sweet Rachel … she is remarkable, isn't she? She's just like Raven in every way, except that she obeys me. Tell me, Garfield, does that bother you?"

The changeling grinned. "We can take you."

Slade laughed. "We? There is no 'we', my dear boy. And how will you save Raven from Rachel?"

Rachel snapped out of her trance like state. She turned toward Slade and grinned.

"You mean, who will save you from me?" Rachel interjected as she aimed her hand at Slade, blasting him with her dark energy. Slade was sent flying through the air, and after crashing into a wall he landed on the floor with a dull thud. He raised his head, his single eye popped open from the astonishment.

"Psyche!" Beast Boy shouted as he pointed at the fallen villain.

"How? That program was hidden; the Manhunter couldn't have found it!"

"That's because he didn't. M'Gann found it and removed it … Gar, get Raven out of the tube … I'll deal with Slade!"

Slade snapped his bo staff open.

"You insolent brat, you ingrate! I made you! You owe your very existence to me … I'm the closest thing you have to a father and this is how you repay me?"

Beast Boy was in the process of easing a still unconscious Raven out of her hibernation tube. He froze upon hearing Slade's words. Rachel glared at the man.

"You are not my father, no more than Trigon is Raven's father. She once told him that while he made her, he wasn't her father, and she was right. Maybe you made me Slade, growing me in test tube. BUT YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER AND I DON'T OWE YOU ANYTHING!"

Beast Boy was carrying a still unconscious Raven bridal style when Rachel blasted Slade a second time, sending him crashing through several tubes. After sending him flying, Rachel pulled out her communicator.

"Robin, we have her."

"Get her back to the Tower, we're done here." He replied over the audio link. "Good job, guys, well done."

Slade rose from the floor. "This isn't over!"

"I think it is. Good bye, Slade."

Rachel raised her arms and the three Titans were absorbed by a giant, obsidian bird, which flew through the wall as if was of no substance.

Slade slammed his fist on the floor, leaving a small crater in its wake.

-( scene break )-

Robin paced around the med station, looking visibly agitated.

"Why hasn't she woken up?"

Cyborg studied a computer screen, which displayed her vitals. The electro cardiograph displayed a perfectly normal heartwave.

"She's still in hibernation. Just relax, gel hair, she'll wake up soon."

"That's what you said an hour ago."

"Will you calm down? She's fine. Her vitals are just where they should be. Look, she'll wake up when she's good and ready, OK? There's nothing we can do to rush it."

Starfire was also pacing around the infirmary, her arms crossed and a worried look on her face.

"Friend Cyborg, you are certain that this is our friend and not another clone?"

The changeling and Rachel were seated in the far corner of the infirmary. She heard Starfire's remark and a sad expression crossed her face. The changeling squeezed her hand.

"You're not a clone." He whispered to her. "You're just as real as any of us."

Rachel did not reply, but she looked unconvinced of Beast Boy's statement.

"I already told you, I tested her, Star. This is Raven; Slade didn't pull a fast one on us. Not this time."

The princess took her gray friend's hand and caressed it.

"Is it possible that Slade has also done the 'programming' to our friend?"

Rachel stepped forward, approaching Raven's bed while keeping a deferential distance.

"No, real people can't be programmed. Clones can because our minds are still blank. It's also how Slade copied her memories into my brain. A clone starts with a clean slate, so we can be programmed … like a machine … a flesh and blood machine."

"Hey! You're not a machine!" Beast Boy shouted.

Rachel looked down upon the master she was copied from.

"This is so strange, seeing her in the flesh. It's one thing to know that she exists and that I was copied from her, down to the last single chromosome. The cloning process even replicates fingerprints and retinal patterns. Those are different even in identical twins, but not in my case. Slade should be proud; he made a perfect copy of her. Lucky for us he didn't understand Rage's nature and that it couldn't be copied into me, otherwise she'd still be frozen in that hibernation tube."

With a sad look on her face, Rachel gazed down upon Raven. "I suppose I should think of myself as her sister, but the question is, will she feel that way about me?"

Raven suddenly moaned. She shifted in her bed, making more sounds.

"OK, guys, I think she's about to wake up. She's gonna be very disoriented when she does. So let's give her some space at first, OK?" Cyborg remarked.

Rachel didn't need to be told twice and she immediately retreated to the far corner of the room, followed by Beast Boy. She sat down on a med station bed and pulled a privacy curtain around her, clearly with the intention of hiding herself. Meanwhile, Robin and Starfire stood next to the bed just as Raven began to speak.

"Oww, my head." She complained as she rustled in the bed. She opened her eyes and blinked several times.

"Why is everything blurry? Why can't I see? Where am I?"

Starfire took her hand. "You are at home, safe, in the Tower's infirmary. As for your vision being blurry, it is a side effect of the hibernation and will soon pass. It is also why your head hurts, dear friend Raven."

"Hibernation? Why was I in hibernation?" She groaned.

Robin sat down next to her, and moved a stray lock of her out of her face with his index finger.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

She rubbed her head and sighed. "The last thing I remember … it was getting ambushed at the shopping mall. Slade set a trap … but I don't remember anything after that."

She blinked, her vision had improved. She tried to sit up, but Cyborg's strong metal arms appeared and gently pushed her back down.

"You need to relax little lady, you were frozen in a Cryonics tube. It's gonna take a few days before you're back to 100%, so you just rest … doctor's orders, OK?"

"A cryonics tube? Why was I frozen?"

"Slade captured you at the mall. You've been gone for almost three weeks. I'm sorry it took so long to rescue you." Robin apologized.

Raven frowned. "Why would Slade want to keep me in hibernation? Did he do something to me?"

Cyborg shook his head. "Not to you, it was something he did with you, though."

"I don't understand, he did something with me? … Wait … where is Beast Boy? Did something happen to him? Is he OK? Why isn't he here? Did Slade hurt him?"

"I'm here, Raven." He called out in a small voice from the far side of the infirmary.

"I can't see you, Gar. Why are you hiding? Did Slade do something to you that you don't want me to see?"

"No, nothing like that. I'm fine."

"Then why are you hiding?"

"I'll come out, Raven, but you have to promise me you won't freak out."

Raven frowned. "I thought you said you were unharmed."

"And I am, really, I'm still the happy, jolly green elf I've always been. But I have something to show you, and, it's a really big deal and it might make you freak out, so … you know … be ready."

"For Azar's sake! Will you please come out from behind that curtain! Or do I have come over there?"

The changeling moved the curtain, revealing himself. "See, I'm A-OK. In perfect health, nothing's broken or cut or burned or bruised."

She studied him intensely. She visually verified that he was telling her the truth. "OK, so what is this thing that's gonna freak me out? Don't tell me that Terra came back while I was gone and you asked her to be your girlfriend … because if you did … I'm gonna kill you."

He smiled nervously at his friend. "Nope, not Terra."

Raven heaved an exasperated sigh. "Well then, what in Trigon's name could possibly freak me out?"

She saw him swallow hard and began to feel an acute sense of anxiety emanating from him. Her empathic senses were becoming sharper and she could literally taste his fear. But she sensed something else. It felt familiar, yet at the same time it was new. Beast Boy turned to look behind the curtain and nodded.

That was when she saw it. A gray hand reached from behind the curtain and pulled it away.

"I'm honored to meet you, Raven."

The demoness went slack jawed. "Sweet Azar!"

The two women locked eyes with each other.

"Who are you?" Raven asked, her voice trembling.

Beast Boy squeezed the mystery woman's hand and pecked her on the cheek.

"Go ahead, tell her, it's gonna be alright, I promise."

Raven continued to stare incredulously at the woman who not only had her voice, face and body, she also had her man.

"My name is Rachel Roth, and as to whom I am, I'm your clone."

Raven stared dumbfounded at her twin.

"My clone? But how?"

"It was Slade. I was meant to be a weapon to use against the Titans. Slade gave me your memories. The deception was so perfect that even I thought I was you, until I discovered the truth. The Martian Manhunter and his niece freed me from Slade's influence, they liberated me."

Raven turned to the others.

"I want to talk with her … alone."

Beast Boy cleared his throat. "Uh Rave, do you think that's a good idea?"

"Yes, Gar, it is. Now please leave us. Don't worry, I won't do anything rash, I couldn't if I tried, not the way I'm feeling now."

The others reluctantly agreed and slowly filed out of the room. Starfire stopped at the door.

"Raven, would it be the OK if I stayed?"

"No, Starfire, we need some privacy, we have some delicate issues to discuss. Please don't worry, everything will be civil. Besides, I'd be crazy to pick a fight with her in my condition … she'd clean my clock."

Starfire nodded. "I will give you the privacy … I hope that you will become good friends."

Raven smiled at the Tamaranian, who half heartedly left the room. As soon as the door slid shut Raven glared at her clone.

"OK, 'Rachel', by the way, nice choice of name, but being that you're my clone I suppose I should be flattered."

Rachel dropped her head. "Forgive me, Raven, I don't want to offend you or cause you distress."

"Oh really!" Raven growled as she sat up in her bed with a vigor that surprised Rachel. "Then would you mind telling me what the Trigon you're doing with my man?"

Rachel gulped before replying. "Raven, you told him, in front of Robin and Starfire, that there would never be a romantic relationship between you and Gar. I remember it well, I have your memories."

"Then you should also remember that I was buying time, because I wasn't ready yet."

Rachel frowned. "And you're ready now?"

"That's irrelevant. He's mine, end of story."

"Will you ever be ready? I don't think so."

Raven laughed with a heavy note of derision. "Oh, aren't you the confident one. What? You think that just because you don't have Rage in you that you're better suited for him?"

"The thought crossed my mind, and his."

Raven crossed her arms. "Fat chance, now you listen to me. You will stay away from him. He's mine. Have I made myself clear?"

Rachel glared at Raven. "No"

"No? What do you mean by 'no'?"

"I'm his girlfriend."

"Big whoop, so was Terra." She sneered at the clone. "She didn't last and neither will you."

"It's more than that, we're … already talking about the long term together … and … I can't think of any other way of saying this … we're sleeping together."

Raven's jaw dropped. "What did you say? I hope I misheard what you said, you boyfriend stealing bitch."

Rachel defiantly stood her ground.

"You heard me well, I have intercourse with him. And he likes it … a lot. He screams my name, and not yours, when we do it. Face it Raven, he was never yours … he's mine."

Raven's eyes split into 4 crimson red slits. "You whore! You sneaky, cheap, grown in a test tube, slut!"

The four eyes intimidated Rachel, but once again she stood her ground.

"Don't kid yourself, Raven. You would have slept with him a long time ago if you could. I have your memories. I know how much you lust for him. But we both know that it will never happen, it can't, Rage will never allow you to do it. You'd lose control, maybe even become like your father."

"Get out of here."

"Raven, please don't take it personally … it just seemed right. I … I love him. I really do, and he loves me."

Raven's fists began to crackle with dark energy.

"Get out or I'll throw you out myself!"

Rachel heaved a frustrated sigh and turned to leave.

"Raven, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to …"

"Apology not accepted, now get the hell out of here before I return you to the Petri dish you crawled out of."

Rachel left without saying a word. Raven removed the I.V. in her arm and hopped out of her bed.

"Garfield Logan, you are in BIG trouble." She growled to herself as she looked for a change of clothes, and found none. She also noticed that her butt was hanging out the back of her hospital gown and heaved an exasperated sigh. She raised her arms, in an attempt to teleport herself to her room, but she was still too weak and nothing happened.

She dropped an F bomb and charged out of the infirmary, with her gray keister exposed as the hospital gown flapped behind her.

-( scene break )-

It looks like isn't thrilled at meeting her "sister". Can you blame her? Maybe Rachel should have kept her mouth shut. And in the next chapter, Raven's gonna confront BB (after getting properly dressed).

And now, the mail bag. 16 reviews! Thanks! It is appreciated.

Guest

Love the story read all in a day so far

Wow! I'm touched!

punkrocka23

It's been too long since I've reviewed or even done anything. Very good story, brilliant as usual. Looking forward to the next update! Now if I could get around to my own stories...lol

Thanks, and I delivered before my promised deadline. Hopefully the next one will be ready by Sunday

GreennaveyblueRaven

Now what it feels like slade is a bbrae shipper lol keep up the good work.

LOL! Like he told he demon guarding the door where flesh and blood were kept: he isn't that nice of a guy.

The Cretin

Aaaaaaaaaaand I'm here :) WHAT A RIDE! Gotta love Slade. The guy's one of the most classic of comic book villains. Would you say "changeling" is better for Gar as a "racial" description or would you consider it a better codename? Anyways, love how pulled this one off. The fight was excellent. Now it looks as if Slade has Gar and even more, both Raven and Rachel. Hope BB gets Raven out. Hope he manages to save Rachel as well but I hope he finds that he's in love with Raven. You know what they say, "nothing beats the original". Can't wait to read more. Keep rockin.

I think that Slade is baddest DC villain most people have never heard of.

titanfan45

You just HAD to do that didn't you? Thankfully the weekend isn't too far off. Having J'onn and his niece shapeshift into whales was well done.

I was inspired and got it done!

The Reviewer

It would be awesome if Slade made the beast as his own person lol The beast is the only thing-err person-animal ?That likes Ravens Crazy side...

Though the show's producers denied that they would ever ship BB and Raven, they did too many things that suggest otherwise. I believe that the Beast was created in the show, and he lives for Raven.

Curse you Perry the Platypus

PICKLE!

Gherkin!

gabylokita41

That was awesome a great way to leave us hanging :) i was right when i said this story was ganna be as great as the others im enjoying it alot :D

Thanks, and we're getting to the juicy part.

Teslar

You know how to keep us hanging

I live for cliffhangers!

Densharr

Huh. Five bucks says he clones an appropriate B for the 'real' Raven.

That would have been fun. But I think I did that in "Beast Boy's Gambit". OK, there were transdimensional twins, but yeah, there was more than one BB in that story. And one of them wasn't even green nor had powers.

discb

Oh snap

It's gonna get juicy.

Dezarulordoftwilight

I knew ot was to good to be true. By the way I really liked how you added the beast into this story, hes always been a favorite character of mine great chapter.

The Beast is also one of my favorites too.

Katwizzle

I cant wait for find out what Slade wants with Beastboy!

Unfortunately, we might never find out. Heck, even I don't know!

Speedy

Slade arrived in the island in ten minutes? And why didnt J'onn turn intangible and came rapidly to help BB and Rachel?

Slade had never left. As for the Martians, Slade was ready for them. The truth is he was using Raven as bait to catch BB.

WhovianTitanPotter

It just seem too perfect; that Rachel was her "own person"... -shakes fist- SLADE!Excellent chapter though!

But she is her own person, as Slade found out. Unfortunately, Raven isn't too thrilled about that.

Dragonkyng

I knew it, he'll have to choose which one to save won't he?

I gotcha! All of you! LOL! But, he might still have to choose.