Hello I wanted to give a special shout out to my good friend Hakuryuken and Leaf Ranger for giving me the boost to continue updating. I won't bore you with too many details. Just a friendly reminder if there are spelling errors, or you are confused about the storyline please send me a message. I want this to be a good story and I would love it if people can back to read it. Here is ch 6 and tell me what did you think of the cliff-hanger? Thanks again!

Chapter 6: Decisions

Blackfire was disoriented. She had no idea where she was. Her vision was gray and blurry. It felt like someone had stuffed cotton in her ears. She groaned straining to sit up. A hard rough cough echoes out of her lungs and then she gave a hoarse scream. Once again she was in shackles and the outfit of a slave. A mechanical door slides open; a shadow falls across her face and it says,

"Welcome back traitor."

The Tamaran guard kicked Blackfire in her bruised stomach making her give another rough cough. Using a slime green tentacle he dragged her towards the door. The electricity to the transport ship had been cut off during their landing on Earth. Blackfire hit her head on every step until the guard dragged her outside. The afternoon sun was high in the sky and bathed the canyon in a red-orange glow. Blackfire whimpered in pain to which the guard responded by curling her up like a yo-yo and flinging her out over the edge, causing her to roll on the side of the rocky canyon.

Another guard comes walking up behind the first. He laughed at Blackfire's pain. He felt she deserved all her pain for betraying her family, her planet, and Emperor Galthor. The ship was in no condition to fly not yet. They decided to lock Blackfire in the den of the ship next to the ships' few military weapons and ammunition. Blackfire was too weak to think about escaping she wanted the pain to end. Most of all she wanted to apologize to her sister for everything she had ever done. She also wanted to apologize to Terra for breaking her promise and leaving her. Before she passes out into sweet unconsciousness a muffled boom was heard and the guards' scream of surprise faded away.

Terra is shocked at the determination on this man's face. He would love nothing more than to see her tormented, broken, in agony every day. She thought the worst part was; he believed it was justice. Ramon raised the gun at Terra and without any warning fired. None of the Titans dare to close their eyes. Terra waits for a burn through her skin as it pierces her heart or shatters her lung. Instead all she hears is the "whoosh" of air whipping around her face. She sees Ramon fall to the ground clutching his neck as if he can't breathe.

"You are a pathetic person. You are so blinded by your own revenge that you refuse to see what is right in front of you. I'll say this in terms you can understand. Stop chasing Terra. You will never have Terra. I suggest you leave her alone. She is no threat to anyone in this city. Now nod your head if you understand." Ramon gasping for air bobs his head. "Good boy."

The current of red-white wind disappears. Ramon is left gasping for breath and a new target. He vows to get the mystery girl as well as stripping Terra of everyone she holds dear. Raven is surprised to hear car tires on the road as a black motorcycle skids to a halt in front of them. Robin notices that the girl looks like she was expecting him. Dressed in black leather and a red-black riding helmet no one can see the driver's face. Cyborg stares at the bike in awe as the driver flips a switch and the bike gets "wings". The girl hops on the back of the bike shouting over the roar of the engine, "Follow us, if you want to see your friend."

The bike speeds off down the street with the Titans scrambling to keep up. Cyborg would have jumped in his T-car but it was too late now. Starfire carries Robin as Raven makes discs for Terra and Cyborg to ride on. Terra jumps on Beast Boy's back, as he is now a Pterodactyl, and flies next to Raven. The motorcycle driver sprints down the road weaving in and around cars. Ignoring the honks and shouts of annoyance the driver heads for the large lake that surrounds Titan's Tower. Wings extended the bike soars into the sky charging for the only place Terra knew they had to go; the canyon.

The two Tamaran guards are found lying belly-up on the floor of the canyon. Half of their ship appears missing after a serious explosion. The Titans land in the canyon, expecting the worst. The worst happens when out of the shadows behind a group of tall boulders is Blackfire in the arms of the last person they wanted to see; Slade.

Robin charges at the driver and slams his metal staff into him. The girl flips over the bike lands in a "feral" crouch, with a mini tornado whirling around her and Slade. No one asks any questions. Even the crickets and other smaller creatures are silent; hiding in burrows feeling the tension rising in the air. Slade places a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. She stares at him then waves her fingers in a circle making the tornado disappear. The motorcycle driver burst into flames. It was one of Slade's robots.

"Hello Titans. It's good to see you. I found your friend being beaten by those guards. I didn't think that was appropriate so I did her a favor and stepped in. I assume you've met my new apprentice? I hope she hasn't been too much of a bother for you."

"So all this time you were gathering information on us. Why I am not surprised," Raven says her eyes clouded by suspicion something Slade knows too well. Robin glares at his arch nemesis with pure contempt and rage. Cyborg aims his left arm at Slade ready to fire. Starfire stands with her mouth open unable to move. Beast Boy stares down at the girl as she smiles at his infuriated expression.

"Is this your teacher?" Terra asks breaking the tense awkward feeling in the air. The girl gives another feral smile licking her lips. Slade steps in front of her as if he is holding her back. She doesn't relax her stance but she does stop licking her lips. Starfire recovers from her paralysis and fires a star-bolt in front of him. A gust of turquoise wind deflects the bolt. A mixture of red, and turquoise mirroring her strength and dedication she aims at Starfire.

Raven raises her black shield certain there would be a similar result given what happened last time. The multi-hued wind stops before it reaches Raven's shield. The girl throws a quick sincere apologetic smile before setting back into a cold indifferent look. Slade takes advantage of the situation by clearing his throat.

"I'm sure you're all more than ready to do battle and fight out your differences. I suppose all teens fight to express their emotions; this helps to clear their heads, to keep from doing anything rash. I would like to end any fighting before it starts by saying this. I will give Blackfire back to you, if you will do me a favor."

Beast Boy, Robin, and Cyborg open their mouths to tell Slade off when Terra steps forward. Raven and Starfire lean forward as if to yank her away from their enemy. Slade smiles again but it is wasted on his armored face. Terra stops when she is right in the middle of the two teams, takes a deep breath, and says "What do you want Slade?"

"I'll give you your friend in exchange for one of you. One of you has to come with me."

The Titans knew that Slade never did anything without thinking it through. They knew this had to be a trick. Why would he want another apprentice, he had crazy wind girl! Cyborg grabs Beast Boy's shoulder trying to keep him from lunging on Slade. Starfire is also hugging Robin hoping she can distract him.

"How long do we have to decide?"

"That depends on one thing Terra. How long do you want your friend to suffer? I am willing to be reasonable considering this has never happened before."

"There is no way we're letting you… I can't believe you would… Do you have any idea what you're talking about?" Robin heard Cyborg stutter but he kept his gaze locked on Slade. Slade's eye widens in a brief moment of surprise when he looks at the girl that has caused so much trouble for the Titans.

"Where are my manners? You are going to introduce yourself aren't you my dear?"

Robin, Cyborg, and Raven feel like gagging hearing that sweet tone it sounds like a conniving step-parent from a fairy tale. Beast Boy is waiting for all the acting and pretense to end so he and his friends can get to saving Blackfire and kicking Slade's butt. To everyone's astonishment Terra steps forward with a trembling hand to shake her forgotten enemy's hand. Beast Boy leaps behind Terra yanks her around his back and growls at Slade.

A sudden burst of red, off-white, turquoise, and a little pink colored wind sweeps Beast Boy off his feet trapping him in a column of air. Starfire and the rest of the Titans prepare to knock this arrogant girl out when they get a flashback to what happened the last time. If she is serious she could kill Beast Boy with two results, one: without touching him and two: they wouldn't be able to get him out beforehand unless they get real fortunate. Slade glances at her and notices the hazel in her eyes; almost in slow motion, is being replaced by a ring of scarlet. It is clear this girl is more than willing and quite overjoyed at the thought of hurting someone she has to. No one fails to see the faint glimmer or shine of silver-blue electricity as it hums to life; shocking our veggie-tofu lover in the process. Terra screams. The Titans gasp. Slade narrows his eye.

Clapping his hands once, twice, three times he pulls out his own metal staff after placing Blackfire on the ground. His presence shifts from amused to irritated. It is not long that she gets the message. What amazes the Titans in particular Raven; is that not once did Slade ever talk to her. He never whispered in her ear, or threatened her out loud. All he did was shift his stance grip a slender metal pole and she's backtracking like a car in reverse.

"What just happened?" Raven asks skeptic "written" all over her face. Slade pays no attention to her and is now glaring at his apprentice. She releases Beast Boy who falls on his back gasping for breath. Slade has his staff raised and even though no one likes her they don't want to see her get beat by Slade. He swings his staff, but just when Raven's powers could push her out of the way; she bows her head to the side exposing her vulnerable neck. Slade knocks her down yet it isn't hard enough to cause permanent damage.

"Forgive me sensei. I was not thinking. I promise never to go against your wishes again. It is not my place to question you."

"Who else are you going to apologize to, my dear?"

"Please forgive me Titans. I had no intention of killing Beast Boy. I felt threatened by him to be honest. I thought he would attack my sensei and that is a risk I am not willing to take. Please forgive my earlier comments. I didn't mean anything. I thought my message would be more effective under certain conditions."

"Oh you mean like scaring the crap out of us? And cutting off our air supply? Threatening our friends with weird cryptic whispers? Did I forget anything?" Beast Boy shouts in anger. Raven offers her hand on his shoulder hoping to calm him down. Before the others could reply Slade shocks them all by having the still unnamed girl hand Blackfire to her sister. A strange glow enters his eye like he knows something is going to happen, yet of course Slade being Slade he won't share it until he feels like it.

"I believe we have caused enough confusion for the day. We would like to leave in peace now if you don't mind Titans?"

"I won't forget this Slade. I know you will remember what happened here. We'll be waiting for your next move. Oh and just so you know, Terra… doesn't have her… powers anymore; so don't you dare go after her!" Beast Boy shouts as his friends prepare to fight to keep Blackfire and Terra safe.

"Why Robin, Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire I'm hurt. To think after everything we've been through you'd think I would stoop that low to hurt an innocent girl. Terra is more than safe from me or my little dear here. As long as she stays away from you for… about the rest of her life… and manages to keep that psycho officer Ramon off her back. I wouldn't dream of harming a hair on her pretty head. Say good-bye to your… puppets was it?"

"Yes, good-bye my puppet friends and my name… is Kiara."

"Wait I have a question!" Terra cries to catch their attention. When they turn towards her Terra continues. "Were you the man in the suit that claimed to be my uncle? Were you the one who gave Kiara her memories?"

Kiara stares at Terra her smile reveals fangs and a ring of scarlet returns. Raven is the first one to sense the change and shields her friends leaving herself exposed. Slade gives a quiet chuckle. Kiara relaxes as her fangs retreat as does the scarlet from her eyes.

"I was so hoping you wouldn't figure that out. You are a smart girl Terra. Oh I am certain Robin also caught on quick. To answer your first question yes I was there. I thought it would be a change in heart to offer my silent "get well" wishes. I left the hospital to find Kiara being chased by a gang of boys all fighting over some meager scraps of food on the same day. I saved her ready to take her in, but by the time I looked she was gone. To answer your second question, Kiara knows more about me than anyone else here. I don't know why or how it happened.

"My guess is, her overwhelming need to feel secure and have some sense of peace, coupled with the fact she was ambushed by three brusque men after meeting you; I suppose she was looking for comfort. I'm not complaining, but just to let you know Kiara and Raven have quite a lot more in common than you all think. We'll see you all soon, good-bye Titans."

His speech done he fades into the shadows with a still apologetic Kiara right next to him. Blackfire says something that makes everyone laughs,

"How does he do that?"