INNER DEMONS

by The Mighty One

Chapter 44 has been completed! Blackfire struggles to claim her prize outside The Jump City Observatory. The elemental wielders of ice and earth, are evenly matched at Titans Tower; Raven formulates a strategy with Avatar and The Squadron heroes, as the contest for Cyborg, reaches an unpleasant dilemma of its own. Meanwhile, Falcon and Elizabeth make their move.

41. Into The Fire

Disclaimer: By this means, I rightfully claim ownership to this FanFiction story and my original character within it, by my trademark signature T.M.O at the conclusion of every update. Any other characters that may appear in this work and are new, these are the rightful properties by their creators as well and cannot be reproduced, or duplicated without their individual consent. I do not own anything within the DC Universe, from Warner Brothers, or on Cartoon Network. The only original character and the name that I created for him; that I accept half ownership on is Falcon from this telling. Scififanfreak222 owns the second half of him as well, for drawing him upon a collaboration of various new designs and sketches within the year of 2010; and cannot be knowingly placed into another literary document, writing community, comic book series, and or televised broadcast without either of our written or verbal consent in front of legal consultants. TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne, Scififanfreak222, xSaffire55x, Novus Ordo Seclorum, and RavenxIsxAxBlackxRose; each of these fellow writers have helped me to press onwards with this story, every-time I have come across writers block. Without their outstanding guidance, the updates would have taken me even longer to complete.

Chapter 41 is finally posted! A fierce battle rages within the colosseum, as combatants meet their equals. Meanwhile, a dangerous threat has reached Titans Tower. What strength can be found, when everything is at stake, and nobody is safe? "Persevere no matter what." -Unknown-

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Chapter 41 - Into The Fire

The Earth felt to shake, as the intense sound of various weapons had been unleashed, within the rundown atrium of the Jump City sporting arena. A great battle was underway, and a potent fear that would paralyze a normal person, had at long last unraveled the nerves of the stoutest of heroes.

Smoke bombs hissed like serpents, rolling across the ground. They came from Robin, Avatar, Kimiko, and Press from their belts, where by unleashing plumes of a deep white fog, these tools obscured the remaining visibly against their attackers.

The green plume that had poured in from the vents, mixed with the white smoke from the heroes own weapons, blinding the area into a lime greenish tint.

Shurikens whirled and thudded into the walls from multiple combatants, missing their marks, while concussive blasts that were caused from rocket propelled launchers, and flash-bangs, ricocheted across the battlefield.

A cacophony of noise rippled outwards in all directions, and the heroes understood, that they had no chance by remaining in this deadly spot. They had to move to a more advantageous area, where the current place they sat in, allowed the gas to gather the thickest around them.

The battle cancelled out the sounds of nightly activities across the city, as the struggle waged back and forth between the two opposing forces. Everything was building to reach this clash, and now that the epic duel had begun, it had startled the heroes, but only for a moment.

The Robot Commandos had arrived. A great many of them propelled down from cables, as others ran into the atrium from numerous doors that had been boarded shut, engaging the teenagers one at a time.

A barrage of gunfire, of intense laser blasts was unloaded from shooters at nothing more than shadows, as the smoke blocked everything. The sladebots were not able to hit their targets, they could not see them clearly.

The teenagers darted to and fro, diving for cover and then regrouping. The four dangerous criminals of Gotham that had charged forwards, they slowly peeled away from their reinforcements.

They had plotted to utilize their own numbers as body shields, to lead the droids into flanking positions, as they conserved their efforts.

Poison Ivy, Victor Zsasz, Killer Croc, and Cheshire withdrew, where their far younger opponents, focused their efforts on the swarm of Robot Commandos. Something was unusual about this engagement, and deep down, the superheroes could all feel it in their bones.

In one instant, a projectile would splash towards an outstretched arm or leg of the city defenders, who would pull away just in time, where nowhere was safe.

The only option, was to fight on the move.

The youths were exposed, and they swiftly maneuvered from one crumbling pillar or a wall, which was being transformed into rubble, to an overturned stack of tables. Plasma burns and bullet holes were visible, as the resolute warriors fought on.

They went on their own counter-attack, to toss projectiles of their own. In many cases, they hit the enemies through the smoke, unfortunately, more copies of The Robot Commandos poured in, to replenish the ranks from their own barriers that encircled the lowest floor.

"This is bad!" Press bemoaned.

"Worse." Avatar's voice cracked. "We are fish in a barrel!"

Press used his grapple-gun to pull an enemy over a railing, and he smashed its helmet to a crumpled heap with the back end of his cane. It was pulverized, like a dented tin can, after crashing to the floor of a supermarket. Black goo poured out of the open gashes, pooling around its lifeless body, it was oil.

Raven keeled over, bracing herself as an intense pressure squeezed her sides. The nausea made her feel like she was about to vomit. The gas she inhaled was having an effect on her the worst, as she was the last one to put on her breathing mask.

Robin hurled his fifth explosive disk upwards at a nearby ledge, causing the attackers to be thrown clear out of their posts! Looking back, a leg, and a part of a hand that were missing some digits, was briefly observed.

Having battled and then defeating these foot soldiers so many times before, it was understood that they were imitations, and not actual people. The bodies were artificial, connected by bolts, wires, and circuit boards.

There was no real flesh, bone, or skin. That gave the superheroes an even greater confidence boost to not holding back, when fighting against these relentless droids. When their inner circuits and broken bodies were cracked apart, this revealed the machines that they were.

It made the heroes fight with even greater confidence.

The onslaught continued, and the ferocity of courage was engulfed by deeper concerns. How were The Teen Titans going to get out of this debacle? How many of the Robot Commandos were there? What had happened to Starfire?

Looking around themselves with envy, the superheroes noticed the already defeated number that lay scattered. There were many versions of the droids, some had rocket propulsory jets in their combat boots, enabling them to fly from ledge to ledge, or to hover around the battlefield.

The massive solid white machine type was also present, in their own sections. They moved with long powerful strides, causing the ground to tremble with each step taken. The sight of them was imposing enough, as they were rather difficult to take down. Being a more massive opponent however, made them much slower, and so the heroes could out maneuver and strike them from behind.

The average Robot Commando, had great reflexes and endurance. Whenever their brothers in arms would be defeated, their learning capabilities increased, and they became much harder to face, and quicker in rapid counter-movements.

It was like they were linked by a computerized network, and the puppeteer was somewhere far away. He was in fact watching this unfold, the camera in the rafters revealed this.

The enemy had closed the pincer encirclement about the heroes steadily faster, walking over their fallen brethren, continuing to blast away. Their handheld firearms and laser guns were relentless, and they pinned down the teenagers.

The fighting transitioned into hand-to-hand, which was more of The Titans preference anyway. To confront enemies with the skill of a sword, baton, or a staff, rather than using a blaster which was the honored mark, of a seasoned warrior.

They would get close, by vaulting over obstacles and scattered debris, utilizing their primary weapons to shorten the distance. By doing so, they managed to overpower the faceless drones, to punch through them, and then regroup.

Robin, Avatar, Kimiko, Press, and Raven had managed to race behind a cracked wall for cover. They were safe, for now. Anticipation was mounting, and shooters continued to use up their ammunition.

Their breathing sounded a bit raspy, with every exhale from the air filters they were wearing. They were still able to talk through these devices, to communicate effectively.

"Robin, we can't stay here!" Avatar called out, as dust cascaded around them, like a sudden downpour of hail.

The cracking of machine guns in fixed positions, brought the heartbeats of the daring teenagers, to accelerate at an alarming speed. The firepower sounded like MG-42's, overlooking the Normandy beaches during Operation Overlord.

The gunners themselves were protected behind mountains of rubble, and toppled structures. The rate at which the bullets landed, could only be described, as one being attacked by a swarm of angry hornets, buzzing closer and closer.

'Damn, whenever it's a gunfight, and my best marksman is not with us! Now we are in for a fight!'

Robin winced as the projectiles flew by. His thoughts dwelled onto his Second-In-Command.

Kimiko had just battered down two enemies that were reloading in their fortified area, then a third hurried over wielding a kunai of his own. She cartwheeled while decapitating him to reply, "We need to push for an exit!"

"That's easier said than done!" Press chided her, while partially leaning against a wall with Raven. He was gasping for breath. "Just how do you plan for us to do that?"

Five more charged forwards, to which Avatar leapt in front of them, and easily disposed of the attackers with her batons.

There was hesitation on behalf of their primary commander Robin, as he observed the numerous bodies that lay strewn around them. They were putting up a good fight, but he was increasingly worried about the stamina of his teammates, and of locating Starfire.

I cannot lose Starfire! Please God, not her!

There was also the fact, that Slade had not yet revealed himself, or what he was scheming. Robin's instincts were sharp, and this felt like an opening move on a great chess board. His opponent was taking away the pieces, yet it was not check-mate.

What is he plotting?

It felt like poison had been injected into Robin's body, his arms were heavy and he could not think clearly, due to the lack of sleep. His breathing was labored, as he was in a very aggressive level of combat, causing greater stress on him internally.

After looking to Raven, who had just levitated a few chairs through her powers, she tossed them at a row of the sladebots; where they crashed to the ground like stubborn white pins at a bowling lane.

She slumped over once more, and the fear for how she could manage, with the knowledge that others had become victims of a toxic gas, due to earlier plots in recent memory, was increasing by the second.

"We need to force them out, onto the ground of our choosing!" Robin finally ordered while pointing ahead, as the enemy encroached from multiple directions. "Lead them outside, to the field!"

"Agreed!" Avatar nodded, following another explosion that shook the cover they utilized.

Press had spun back with his cane, he had not unsheathed the fencing blade, and he hammered away at the droids. Defeating two enemies at once, as the mixture of gases rose about him. "This is bad!"

Raven's stern expression reminded Robin, of what was still eating away at all of their hearts. She turned away from the spot she was guarding to respond, "We can't leave Starfire behind."

"We won't." Robin acknowledged her. He knew she was in pain, but her own determined willpower gave him reason to carry on. "That's a promise."

Kimiko unleashed a half dozen shurikens on her belt, destroying the Robot Commandos that were trying to rush their group from another corner. Her accuracy was superb, dropping all of the targets at the exact same moment.

"What's the plan then?" The Shinobi Warrior urged, while partially glancing over her shoulder. "I mean, what is it that Slade is going after this time?"

A place of higher elevation would get them away from the gas, they could fight on more even terms, and of locating Starfire. To do so, would mean dividing their group even smaller, but it was the most suitable option that would give them the best chance at success.

The green smoke that triggered this fight, became entirely molded with the white smoke that the heroes deployed. It enveloped everything. Any sign of a walkway, or a landmark was next to impossible to distinguish, unless one was directly in front of it.

The emerald colored shroud, was still pouring into the arena from the vents and floor grates. It was hard to see through this, but for Robin and Avatar, who wore domino masks, their eyes were protected.

Press wearing the Rorschach mask was a little better off than Raven and Kimiko, who did not have anything protecting their eyes, but the thick fumes still impacted even him.

Thankfully, the emergency lights had managed to bring some illumination, yet it did not resolve the issue. It was horrifying, the sensation was similar to a person, waiting in a labyrinth of a great maze, while monsters were steadily creeping in to cause harm.

"Avatar, come with me!" Robin tapped her on the shoulder.

"Right." The Squadron Captain accepted his proposal.

The Boy Wonder pointed towards their allies saying, "Raven, Kimiko, and Press, you three will lure Ivy, Cheshire, and Zsasz out to the field. Once we get to Starfire, we will link up in the open."

"And keep the enemy away from the city." Avatar remarked with a smile.

Kimiko looked around and rasped, "By keeping them fixated on us?"

"Right." The others said in unison.

"What about Slade?" Raven interrupted. Her breathing was increasingly more labored by this point, and all members clued into this.

"We can't deal with something, we don't know anything about yet." Robin sighed, "He's more of a show-off who likes an audience, where whatever it is, we need to focus on the immediate threat now."

"Being Victor Zsasz, Poison Ivy, and Cheshire?" Avatar acknowledged with a bit of an inflection in her tone.

"Um . . . wasn't there a fourth fiend from Gotham?" Press raised a finger.

At that very instant, Killer Croc had smashed through the wall! Forcing the heroes to tumble out of the way, as he clawed and snapped at them, trying to take a bite of an outstretched arm.

"Look out!" Press cried, pushing Avatar down.

Panic swelled in their ranks.

The large reptilian criminal, who smelled of rotting fish guts that one would find utterly repulsive in a dumpster, sweltering in the hot summer heat, he let out a horrific battle-cry. His claws were like daggers, they stretched far to maul any of his prey.

"GO!" Robin ordered, after swinging his staff at Killer Croc's head, to batter away the determined interloper.

The Titan's Captain had locked himself into combat with this huge opponent, an enemy nearly six times his height, and triple his body weight. To divert the focus onto himself, the others were able to flee unharmed.

Killer Croc stepped back for a moment, to steady himself once more. He was hit with a powerful blow, from the silver staff in the face, then his chest, giving him bruises and marks that stung.

Throwing one of his few remaining flash grenades at his head to disorient the reptile, The Boy Wonder executed his battle strategy. Of the five in their group, three of their number hurried onwards, in yet another direction. Now he needed to avoid becoming a meal himself.

Avatar pounced against Croc's backside, slapping her batons against his knees, and the behemoth was hit in his face twice more!

She turned a corner with Robin, too frightened to glance back as the snarling creature collapsed. Blinded and disoriented, he clutched at his skull, irritated beyond words.

"I KNOW YOUR SCENT!" Killer Croc roared an enraged pitch in defiance. "You cannot hide from me!"

This pair of commanders fought the bulky Robot Commandos, that had blocked off their avenue of escape. Compared to the crocodile man, tag-teaming these villains together was much easier. Eventually, they began climbing the steps of an escalator.

They hurried in their ascent, having dispatched the stubborn blockers, as their surroundings became clearer. While they climbed, sladebots leapt in front, behind them, and upon the railing!

Robin spun his staff to block any thrusting kunai with ease, and Avatar was twirling her duel truncheons like drumsticks, smashing the stubborn foes down from their path. Despite the years of not having collaborated, and the lack of any training sessions over this week, this pair was easily adjusted to the fray.

Their capes were flapping behind them, and the intensity of battle kept them energized. The higher they climbed, the easier it was to see, as the thickest of the green and white smoke, was congregating about the lowest level they charged out of.

"Ha!" Avatar cheered. "Add that one to the scrapheap for me!"

Robin thrust his bo-staff into the thick armor plate of an enemy, that had swung wide missing her with an ax. A tool it picked up from a wall. The Titan's Captain used the momentum against it, ramming the back end against two more, that had just appeared running up the steps.

Avatar ducked in time, to avoid the looming swipes.

"Watch it!"

Robin pleaded, as they both watched the ax 'clang-clang' onto the floor.

"I can't watch everything at once!" she chuckled, "Who do I look like to you, Supergirl?"

Robin gave the familiar expression that he did, whenever an ally remarked to their situation with overconfidence, that he found oh so childish.

Avatar smirked beneath her domino mask, and the lines along her face covering were a giveaway.

"I cannot afford you to lose your head this early." He derided her, "At least, until we get through the semifinals."

"Ouch."

"Come on!"

"Where are we going exactly?" Avatar questioned, wheezing for air. "Are you sure this is the right way?"

"Starfire is here, and I won't abandon her!"

"Neither will I."

A rocket propelled grenade detonated into a pillar above their heads, forcing the two captains to drop down onto their bellies. As the ringing in their eardrums subsided, they got onto their feet and kept going.

"I don't like this!" Avatar brushed herself off.

"The way out is by climbing. Now move!"

Blades clashed, lasers from the army were unloaded at much higher intervals, as explosions rang out from all sides. Simply put, it was a heavy barrage of crumpled metal being destroyed, and all of this was felt around the entire Sport Stadium.

The pawns of uniformed droids were being smashed to bits, which was not uncommon to these heroes, but still the numbers continued to pour in. A monumental wall of reinforcements that only depleted the projectiles the heroes carried, and the fight was taking a toll.

Slade knew we would be coming. I need to find his base, and put a stop to him soon. But first, my concern is getting to Starfire.

"Robin, hold on a second!" Avatar pleaded, as she kicked one Robot Commando, and she slapped another with her baton's into the cranium.

The popping static hissed, revealing the inner workings of a non living soldiers as she stepped back, this calmed The Squadron Leader, who had only faced these enemies days ago. The stench in the sewer still clung to her memory, and she shivered in discomfort.

The pair had become surrounded, but with quick reflexes and years of martial arts training, the encirclement was nothing to worry either of them. Robin was going to find Starfire, and the sign on the wall was showing them the way.

The enemy continued entering from the tiers that overlooks the atrium. It was not long before Robin and Avatar were scurrying up one escalator, that they had lost sight of their teammates down below.

One of the droids had a long blade that extended from his wrist, and he cut into the calf of The Squadron Leader, as she guarded their right flank, causing her to scream in sudden pain!

"Don't say anything!" Avatar hissed, after she slapped the ends of her metal weapons against its head, pulverizing the foe, and sending him tumbling down the side.

The wound she was given, it was deep and unpleasant. A river of blood trickled down her right ankle. She started to limp, while a stinging sensation caused her to look down and examine the injury.

"Are you-"

"It's nothing, just a scratch!" Avatar gritted her teeth, after the searing shock set in. "She needs us!"

As the commanders battled their way up to a third escalator, racing for The Tamaranean Princess, Robin leapt forwards to deflect a ninja star that was intended for her!

"Keep your eyes open!" Robin scolded her.

Avatar nodded. "Over there! The press box is just above us. I can see it from here!"

Starfire, just hold on! We're almost there!

While they ran up to the final flight of steps, turning past a corner, their pace quickened. Racing towards another bend, the red haired plant conjurer appeared directly in front of them, blocking their path!

"Leaving so soon?" Poison Ivy chastised, while stepping off of the long curling vine with grace. She looked to her fingernails, not concerned with the chaos.

The footsteps of metal boots clanking, came from just below them! Robot Commandos were closing the distance, where the two Captains formed a defensive stance, back to back.

"Robin . . ." Avatar whispered, while moving her weapons across her chest, in the shape of the letter 'X'.

"Wait. She wants us to lunge in." Robin resumed his focus onto the very attractive eco-terrorist, and in a whisper of his own, he said, "She is more dangerous than you give her credit for."

Avatar motioned along their current path with a nod, that they were only one floor away.

"Yes." Poison Ivy cooed. "Think of all the possibilities for what you could have done. By all means, chat amongst yourselves. Rest assured, from your transgressions that you carried out against my babies in Gotham, know that the pain you caused me, it is going to be insignificant, compared to the suffering I have been longing to unleash onto the both of you!"

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(~)

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While the two captains hurried away from Killer Croc, a playful-like grin formed beneath the crimson veil that covered Kimiko's nose and mouth. She was just behind Raven and Press, who continued running, into the viridescent mist.

She had watched with satisfaction, as Avatar slammed her weapons against the great brute's head, forcing him down to one knee.

The Robot Commandos landed around Kimiko now, as she was the last to leave their resting spot. For every enemy that was destroyed, for each that was cut down from her sharp Japanese steel, two new enemies took its place.

Where do they keep coming from? There are so many!

Poison Ivy was spotted, sitting upon a large exotic flower in the background, utilizing it as a throne where the large petals acted as barriers from incoming projectiles. The twisting vine with deadly thorns, wrapped itself around the edges of an escalator, like a weed from a garden.

She was in pursuit of Robin and Avatar. This caused the Shinobi Warrior to tense up.

Kimiko realized that they were being targeted, by villains with equal skill. Robin had clashed with Killer Croc to enable the others a chance, and both he and her leader Avatar, were about to battle yet another old adversary.

There was a vendetta that had been brewing between Poison Ivy and Avatar, where her leader never went into too great of detail about the ordeal. It had something to do with a fire at the botanical gardens, and how exotic and rare plants had perished during that entanglement.

A grudge had been festering all these years, and this was the opportunity to even the score.

What were they promised? The Kunoichi Warrior thought, while a chill ran up her back. The respite had ceased, after a sudden blast narrowly missed her, and she hurried to catch up with both Press and Raven.

It was just the three of them now.

"Hey, are you okay?" Press asked while they weaved, dodging the incoming blasts. "Don't tell me that you aren't enjoying this!"

"Right, we are running into a new problem." Kimiko deadpanned, while clutching one of her iconic blades. The second was still on her back, sheathed, sharpened, and ready.

"What?!" Press gasped, he knew her very well, and her response was concerning.

"Don't you get it, we are being hunted! LOOK!"

Raven and Press exchanged glances to each other as they ran, they had a sold plan, now nobody was entirely sure if they could even make it to the exit.

Why doesn't anybody just stick to the plan? Raven rasped to herself.

The green cloud was very heavy now, even as the teenagers noticed The bald headed figure running with his knife to their immediate right, as Cheshire was along their left side, keeping them penned in.

Killer Croc had been left far behind, but the attacks against him had not taken him out completely. A menacing growl, unlike anything they had heard before, came from behind. It was all the evidence they needed, to not delay.

"Don't stop on my account." Kimiko took over as commander, "Keep moving!"

The trio observed a sign along a wall, with a bold arrow directing them to the one place that they felt would enable them, to stage a successful counter attack. The field was just ahead, but first they would need to race through the long dark of a tunnel.

They bolted with renewed speed for the entrance, while the nefarious smoke matched the green Yukata colored garb of Cheshire, who had slithered out of the peripheral vision for Kimiko, who was also donning a green colored jacket.

She sensed that she was being watched very closely, and as Avatar was confronted with a challenger of her equal, a knot began to form in her own gut.

I know you are waiting for me. Kimiko deadpanned in her head, while peering around her shoulder. Good, we shall see, just what sort of a fighter you are.

The trio had made steady progress, evading the incoming fire, and hacking down sladebots that leapt in front of them. It was when they reached the long corridor, the very path that Kimiko had arrived from, where she knew that they were right where they had to be, that now they suddenly stopped.

The Kunoichi Squadron Member, squeezed her grip along the hilt. Kimiko deduced which of the villains was going to battle her, and the anticipation of a lunging attack from the smoke was all that she could think over.

"NO!" Kimiko cried, while raising her blade and blocking a thrust that came out from the mist. It was targeting Press!

It happened in an instant, yet the clean edge swiping forwards shimmered through the fog. Her training and dedication in the ways of ninjutsu greatly helped.

Victor Zsasz had leapt forwards to strike at Press, yet Kimiko had intervened, shielding her teammate. The knife obsessed serial killer, gradually sat upright after he was kicked in the gut. The black tallies were more noticeable, all over his flesh, as sweat formed on his body.

Some were tattoos, the rest were deep carvings forged from his own hand. His skin and bald head revealed a gruesome truth, they were marks of trophies. It was a form of self-mutilation, to show that every single one, had been a poor victim.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Zsasz goaded, as he straightened his posture. "Slithery like a fish, but no matter. The defiant ones always give me greater enjoyment in the hunt!"

Raven stepped over, her vision was increasingly blurred, and the pounding of her heart thudded against her ribcage. Her blue cloak swiveling around her, as the elemental energy she possessed radiated off of her body.

She was disgusted hearing this, yet she was not afraid.

"Three on one, I like those odds!" Press spoke with a chuckle, while he tapped his cane alongside his neck.

"Confident in your scheme?" The Arkham Asylum inmate tilted his head. "We shall see, oh, we shall see."

Fifty Robot Commandos had now formed in front of Zsasz, while a low growl of the foul beast of the sewer, reverberated through the smoke that continued to expand around them. Killer Croc was approaching once more, and they were conflicted with who of their group could take him on.

Press shot glances towards his female comrades, looking for any rebuttal. To his dismay, they did not whisper anything back. Raven was already weakened, and the effects of the gas while subtle, were still noticeable. Where Raven was going to be unable to keep up in the battle, Kimiko had the qualities of a noble warrior. The acceptance of death however, was not something he needed of her, as it could be avoided.

Great. Either I battle this guy, along with going up against the great and stinky crocodile man, and that leaves that other girl for Kimiko and Raven. This is a problem.

They stood in front of the wide tunnel that the football players would charge out of, at the start of home games. There where no enemies blocking the exit, everything was closing around them however, the percolating light of the outside world was partially breaking through this hole, and a cool breeze hit their skin.

It was a sensation of relief, in knowing that they did have a way out of this trap. It was an opportunity that would require another difficult decision, somebody would have to stay behind. Press was willing to make that bold move, and he stepped forwards to confront the enemy army, with Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc alone.

The reptile unleashed a terrifying blood-curdling howl again, with more menace and ferocity than before. He was upset that his prey had evaded him to this point, where a chase only made him hungrier.

Press grumbled after hearing what they all did. This is up to me, I can do this.

He was ready to do his part, but he was increasingly fearful, over what his chances of survival were going to be.

The three superheroes raised their arms in defensive postures, and while Raven and Kimiko took a step closer to the tunnel, Press did not budge. The Kunoichi Warrior knew that Press was going to make a final stand, but she realized something more imperative that would fuel his fighting spirit.

Kimiko partially glanced over her shoulder, to then look back at him and in the most calm manner she could, she said, "Press, the strength of a fighter lies beyond the pull of the ocean."

"Huh?"

"I made a promise . . . and I aim to see it fulfilled."

"Kimmy, what are you-"

"Raven." Kimiko looked to The Grey Empath, "Keep an eye on him."

All Raven could do, was partially nod in silence.

Press glanced to both girls. This was not how he wanted things to go.

The muscular bipedal beast, whose eyes that burned hot with rage, he now appeared. Standing alongside Victor Zsasz, the discolored bruises against his face, from Robin and Avatar were still heavily irritating.

Killer Croc was menacing, his dragon-like scales were comparable to armor plates that wrapped about his entire body.

The broken manacles dangled off his arms and feet, 'clanking' as he walked, revealing that the process of even capturing him, was not easily undertaken. His towering stature caused any person that saw him to lock up in dread, to pull away in horror where the sharp rows of teeth, revealed he was not to be trifled with.

The lunatic with a knife fixation, Victor Zsasz, cracked the joints in his neck now. He stood alongside his much larger companion. There was still another of their bunch, that had not appeared, and Kimiko scanned the battlefield, trying to find where the coming attack would hit.

Four shurkines spun outwards from a nook alongside the gathering, to which Kimiko swung her katana before Press and Raven, and she deflected all of these projectiles! She now stood in the middle of the room.

Cheshire had found her adversary in this fight, while Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc, stood just behind her. Countless more Robot Commandos encircled the area, increasing their number to well over one hundred, and a new challenge of champions, was being observed from the opposing factions.

Kimiko had reached her own conclusion, and whether Raven or Press understood this gesture from their side, both of these black haired femme fatales, had already accepted a duel. The two masked fighters, were calculating the possibilities, and they were eager to begin.

"Hey!" Press blurted out, pointing to the feline-helmeted villainess. "Where did SHE come from?"

Cheshire slightly bowed her head in response. She did not say a single word.

"Raven," Kimiko spoke, while keeping her eyes focused entirely on Cheshire. "Get yourself and Press down that corridor. It will take you both, directly outside to the main field."

"Wait a second." Press pleaded, while all around them the enemies were ready to pounce. "Kimiko, you don't - I mean, this was supposed to be my call here!"

"Remember what Robin said." Kimiko partially bowed to him, trying to brace him for what was going to happen. "Remember your oath. Focus."

Press gulped as Raven frowned, the same gut-wrenching pain at knowing how this was going to play out, and the convictions in Cheshire's bold stance; this explained that a brief parlay during the combat was agreed upon.

"This is the only way!" Kimiko snapped, as she pointed them towards the pathway still available. "Trust me."

It was an offering to allow The Empath and Press to escape.

The heroes were stronger when they worked together, and staying here to battle was an option as a unified front. However, there was something much larger happening; and Raven's instincts agreed with the Kunoichi Warrior.

The dreadful attack upon the Titans East in Steel City, the return of Terra to their ranks in the manner that it happened, the distrust that was splitting the command structure apart between Robin and Cyborg, the loss of their recent sixth addition being Falcon; and now, with the looming army of Robot Commandos having joined forces with Gotham City's nefarious criminals, these facts only proved what she had long expected.

Slade maneuvered everything to this point, there was no denying this. If they stayed and fought as their own instincts were screaming for them to do, they might prevail in this bout, however they would be ignoring the larger target, being Jump City itself.

The heroes were not going to be faithful to their oath, if they remained locked in this skirmish. This was a distraction, and it suddenly dawned on both girls as the anxiety increased.

"A sacrifice." Raven whispered.

"What are you doing?" Press pleaded. "Kimiko!?"

The Kunoichi Warrior flicked her elegant blade, a signal that both she and Raven had acknowledged. No words were spoken between them, yet the choice had been made.

"NOW!" Zsasz ordered, while pointing angrily at her with his knife.

Raven reached for Press's collar as he stood reaching for his teammate, and she encased themselves in a great shadow bird from her sorcery, bound to teleport the pair outside. She could see where to take them, while the numerous opponents leapt in one singular moment.

This would take up most of her elemental powers, as the effects from before had worsened to a more delirious state. This was the only way, and they had no time left.

Kimiko did not leap with them, as the adrenaline coursed through her body. After witnessing Robin take his own stance against Killer Croc, she was emboldened by this.

The teenage Kunoichi used her free hand to unleash multiple flash grenades from her belt, while spinning in place with her sharp sword extended.

Kimiko landed one direct hit after another, the sladebots could be heard collapsing as they rushed forwards, as she sliced through the knee joints, and torsos of opponents who got too close. Black oil sprayed outwards, in great geysers as the fluid covered her clothing.

The number dwindled down from one hundred, to eighty . . . and then fifty . . . until there only remained twenty Robot Commandos.

They collapsed like felled wheat, while the grenades blinded the rest. She kept her eyes closed to avoid the stinging blast, while her ears picked up where each attacker charged from. Eventually the initial shock subsided, Robot Commandos lay strewn across the floor.

Their bodies were sliced clean through, while a lone figure was kneeling in the middle of the carnage, exhaling slowly to recenter her chakra. It was a form of meditation, and there was nowhere that was more critical, than this very place.

The crimson veil Kunoichi Warrior, had unsheathed her second elegant blade. She was holding one in her right hand high above, almost in the form of a salute. The other was visible in her left, pointed in the opposing direction, low and away.

---

(~)

---

The blurred haze slowly dissipated for the attractive teenager, yet she could still not see anything. A burlap sack was draped over her head, while something was placed across in her mouth, to keep her quiet.

The view of her surroundings was only shadows, where she believed that she had not yet been moved out, from The Old Stadium. A lump on her noggin, and an unusual numbness of her right shoulder, these were reminders of how she became unconscious.

The rough texture of cold metal against her wrists and ankles, revealed that both her hands and feet were placed in heavy manacles.

She was a prisoner!

She was sitting upright, where an unpleasant strain in her muscles and neck, was what finally awoke her from her slumber. The impressive weight and cold metal clinking ever so slightly, revealed she was bound in a chair, and her captors were not taking chances.

I must break free, but . . . can I move?

Unclear voices were muffled, as they echoed in multiple directions, while footsteps were heard close by, to then pause along a corner. Then it picked up again in front of her. A person was pacing back and forth, yet she still could not extrapolate who it was.

This is most unfortunate. What has become of me? I am a captive, held against my will! Where are my friends?

Anticipation raced through her core, as a steady thump, thump, thumping pattern rippled across the floorboards, caused from shoes skidding over the rough surface. The quivering in breathing of the walker, it was fear.

An explosion rattled the windows, causing the silhouettes of people to jump. A fierce battle raged down below, the shouting and clash of opposing forces had also helped awaken Starfire from the void, as a bit of dust cascaded around her.

Something was happening, and while she did not have all of the information, she felt confidence steadily rise within her. Hope was rekindled, the battle was not finished yet.

I must break free. My friends . . . they are in grave danger!

Starfire had elected to explore the upper levels, while her friends converged in the main hall of The Old Stadium. The last thing she remembered, was entering the press box, to notice a girl in a silk blue dress, sitting at the table drinking tea.

This faded quickly, after putting these pieces together, as she was ambushed from behind while approaching the strange girl. A trap had been sprung, and she was unable to alert the others, after being caught off-guard.

While Starfire was dazed, having been hit with an object that forced her to the ground, yet as she was about to rise, a sudden pain throbbed against the backside of her skull! This reminded her, as to the cause of her black-out, as another blunt force crashed down three more times, intended to keep her down.

Typically, that would not be enough to take her, or any Tamaranean out. She did possess super-human strength, however, the sensation of a prickling, tingling numbness against her right shoulder, revealed that she had been injected with something.

It happened quickly, where many strange figures emerged, but the needle did its work well, and all became consumed in a cold shroud of utter blackness. The grogginess and muffled sounds were the after effects of the drug, having been injected into her body. It immobilized her, numbed her arms and legs, but she could now wiggle her toes and fingers.

She was starting to awaken. The effects of the drug for whatever reason were losing against her willpower, she stirred and gradually lifted her head.

The hiss of steam escaped a pot that sat upon a stove, almost causing her to jolt from this screeching noise. Another rumble shook the walls, as the distinctive 'rat-tat-tat' of gunfire, echoed just outside.

My friends are in the engagement of battle, a fight has commenced. Now then, I must find a way to reach them.

Again, the creaking of footsteps were heard across the floor. It was an entirely tense situation for the heroine, but she decided that it was best to not alert her captors. At least until she was fully ready, otherwise this could turn out badly.

I must orchestrate the means for my escape. Hmmmm. There are others around me, but how many?

"Oh dear me . . . what in the dance of a Jabberwocky is going on down there?" A high-strung male voice asked. "They are going to ruin my party!"

"Tetch, be still!" A second male voice cackled, in a thick British dialect of his own. "Pacing back and forth that you do, would you rather be down there, in that mess? Eh?"

There were three silhouetted figures in the room, from what could be seen behind the burlap covering. One was sensed to be far off by a back wall, looking out a window at the sport field seated in a chair.

A second shadow, he was small in stature like the first, while he also wore a large and elegant hat, as a third person was sitting at the table, just across from her. There was a clinking of a cup on a plate, while the aroma of a soothing beverage sifted upwards from the corner of the room, tickling her nose.

"Blast!" The other voice sputtered. "Bird-Boy and his newfound friend, the girl from Bludhaven that has caused me and my operations, insurmountable damages . . . so many defeated plans of grander, and now both managed to evade the gas! Impossible!"

"They always have to ruin everything! Ooooh, those brutes! Those mindless bumbling fiends!" Jervis Tetch sputtered in his child-like mannerisms. "What-ever shall become of our plans now?"

"Fools! If Scarecrow's Fear Toxin doesn't take them out - then what good will the others be?"

Fear Toxin? Scarecrow? Others? Starfire became intrigued.

The Teen Titan still could not see anything more than obscure objects, in the darkness of the sack, but her senses observed something protruding out of his mouth. The tobacco aroma was unmistakable, that he was a smoker.

"Perhaps-" responded the man called Tetch.

"Perhaps nothing you babbling idiot! The plan was foolproof, yet here we sit, waiting for instruction as everything gets tossed topsy turvy! The lackeys dispensed for us now, are proving nothing but a minor inconvenience to them. Nothing but a waste if you ask me."

"O-o-o-h, this is such a conniption of the upmost of concerns! Dare I say Mr. Cobblepot, that our objectives are going to leave us in a far worse bind?"

"You assume things, but there is merit in that opinion." Cobblepot lectured. "Besides, we have already been paid a portion of what was owed. The game shall continue, where our talents are best suited from a distance, wouldn't you agree?"

"This his has the potential for so many little problems. Now the rumblings of a most disturbing plight, which have reached our ears. Oh Alice . . . what ever shall we do?"

Cobblepot . . . Tetch . . . Alice? A plan having been thwarted, along with an army being sent in is all part of something. Starfire let the names sink deeply into her memory. These are Gotham City criminals . . . here, in Jump City!

"Those pitiful sods!" Cobblepot's voice squawked, his temper was high. "They should have waited till we got back to The Observatory, with our latest prize! Then we would have the upper hand! But no, Ivy wanted to go charging in, that maiden is a terror onto herself!"

"Oh, but a game of this kind, is one that leaves much to be desired." Jarvis took a slurping sip of his beverage. "And how I do enjoy playing them."

The Observatory? Starfire remembered that place, of Red X and his helping The Titans to defeat Professor Chang. Where the more she allowed her captors to talk, the more information she obtained.

"Oh, and Steel City was a nice little detour." Tetch's voice picked up again after placing his drink down. "Leaving our dear friends, Mr. Marionette, the feline in black, and our skull faced compatriot, to reap the rewards with Mr. Bane, plotting something of their own devices, on behest of our one-eyed benefactor, it all reveals something of a grander scheme!"

A puppet, a cat burglar, Bane, and a one-eyed benefactor? All converging onto Steel City? Oh no . . . Cyborg and Delphi!

"But surely there is reassurance, in the trophy of our current objective?" Cobblepot spoke with a snicker. "The reasons we came here were simple enough, but perhaps now, as the battle rages, and our avenues shrink, we have overstayed our welcome?"

Starfire tensed up, as she sensed they were looking directly at her. She was perplexed with what they were plotting, and all of the foul things they could do.

"Ambition is a swindler's game, my dear Hatter." Cobblepot puffed on his long cigarette before continuing his monologue. "It is dangerous to have ambition, because you either achieve it and your life ends early, or you don't, and you live a life filled with constant disappointment."

"But he promised a greater reward, if we continued with the plan." Tetch's responses were like a small child, squealing with discomfort.

He? Starfire gulped. That must mean . . . they are here because they are working for . . .

"Fine, fine." The plump figure who was smoking, squawked like a bird. "Perhaps it is time we make a move of our own?"

If Starfire played the part that the people in the room saw her as, then that could afford her the opportunity she was hoping. Possibly offer more valuable intelligence, that Robin and her friends could use, to aid in their desperate search for Slade's hidden base.

Everything was interconnected, and all of the pieces that were at one point so well hidden, were exposed. The Observatory by the water, many of Gotham City Criminals having attacked Steel City, and then entrapping The Titans and Squadron members here in The Old Stadium, Slade was behind all of this.

She could feel her fingers bend, and the sensation of her toes wiggling. The drug was wearing off, and she could try to break free. The handcuffs were imposing, yet not impossible to destroy.

With a hopeful pride, and a reinvigorated courage to look for clues, the teenagers were unsure of what they would uncover prior to arrival. Now that Starfire was held captive, she overheard how all of this was part of something much greater, and if she could break out, then that could be the momentum shift, to help turn the tide.

"There are two we work for, remember?" Tetch's voice spoke up. "It is all so amusing to me, in ways beyond compare."

"That girl is not our employer." Cobblepot spat back. "She was merely a messenger, and her motives that drove her to gather us, have me curious as to what she is after?"

Girl? Starfire thought.

"Curiouser and curiouser things unravel for us now."

"Oh dear me." came a feminine voice from the table, interrupting the two men. "It would seem, that the tea is all gone."

"Ah, it indeed is Alice. Indeed it is." Tetch walked over. "Where the happenings below us, are beginning to make things more worrisome for our gathering. Shall we depart now Mr. Cobblepot?"

"Awk." Cobblepot hissed. "It would seem, that Bird Boy and one of his companions, are still racing up to meet us!"

Robin! Starfire said to herself, with a glowing jubilation rising in her heart.

"Fair enough." Tetch agreed. "Let us be on our way."

Having heard enough, in understanding that the banter was ending, and her captors were preparing to flee, Starfire was going to make her move. It had to be now.

While they were distracted near the window, this was the chance she had longed for.

She could feel her limbs increase in small movements, her shoulders and her knees were ready. If she could utilize her powers, there was an even better fighting chance, compared to brawling with her hands and feet tied down. There were many training sessions in which Starfire was forced to overcome alone, and the lessons she and her teammates had gained over the years, were very humbling.

Focusing inwardly on what gave her the amazing abilities she had, the emotion of pure rage was how she unleashed her starbolts. Concentration on this was key, with the element of surprise still on her side, and being aware of her captors, she had a place to direct her firepower.

The burning desire for wanting to protect her friends, of the urge to partake in battle alongside them, these things had expanded deeply within her. She had been targeted, wounded, and incompassitated so far; and every time she came back, she was more angry and determined to fight.

It had risen from her core, and energizing her.

Starfire's superpowers were an incredible gift, as she breathed deeply into her nose, to fully charge her energy levels. It took time, and with every lingering second that ticked by, the stamina and focus increased to even greater levels.

The shackles that bound her were not going to withstand the intensity of her incredible superhuman strength, she could shatter these. Happiness was the emotion she used when she wanted to levitate or fly, yet all she felt now, was a deep and monumental rage that caused her hands to emit their emerald glow.

"What the heck!" Cobblepot sputtered.

The pulsing orbs began to glow brighter, like the energy of the sun. The sound of metal bracers being torn apart was heard next, and The captive Titan had pulled away her hood!

"She. Is. Awake!?" Tetch gasped. "Impossible!"

The intensity of the star bolts the Teen Titan generated were hot, warping the bands that dangled from her wrists and ankles, causing them to collapse. Her arms flexed behind her, as the metal crumbled to pieces!

Now standing before her captors, Starfire grinned. Her strength had returned!

The Tamaranean's eyes revealed the same captivating emerald glow, as the aura from her hands. The starbolts were fully charged, where the cocky captors were caught by total surprise.

---

(~)

---

From the instant Catwoman's playful banter was heard, it was already over. The entire ledge that Cyborg had been standing, was totally obliterated.

It was caused from the very same rockets, that had destroyed the walls and infrastructure of The Titans East Tower, into a smoldering pile of ruin. The very rockets which had downed The Titan Squadron's aircraft, that was camouflaged and hidden, high above in the clouds.

A weapon system this highly sophisticated, and devastating, was a game changer on any battlefield. It had been gifted to The Gotham City criminals, by their one-eyed benefactor. He had been preparing and scheming for years, which allowed him ample enough resources to fulfill his ultimate goal, which was slowly unraveling.

Roots of trees, of scattered branches, tiny fragments of smoldering fires, and smashed rocks were exposed along the gorge. The intensity of the barrage had left a deep scar on the land.

The splashing of pebbles trickled down, while a white powdery ash sprinkled across the open landscape. The stench of sulfur, from the gunpowder hung in the air.

Impact craters had pounded the dirt into an almost unrecognizable and barren waste, where the surface appeared identical to the face of the moon. A great many pockets were scattered, some of the ammunition having overshot the intended target, others having landed further back.

Like the insect that had no idea it was being monitored, blindly traveling across the area and setting off tiny hair-like sensors, Cyborg unknowingly did the exact same thing, back at The Air Traffic Control Tower.

He meandered and then waited, looking upwards at what was left of the Squadron's primary ship and its pilot, plummeting into the gorge. The first part of this game was to lure him into the open, the bait itself with The Titans East. Next came the more difficult part.

The place for an ambush had been set perfectly. The villains had struck from his rear, catching him by surprise while he overlooked the ledge, out of breath having sprinted across the airfield, and filled with total disbelief at what had occurred.

Scarface and Black Mask leapt out, shooting at him, and forcing The Teen Titan into a gunfight. This caused him to focus onto them.

They controlled the fight, it was on their terms, they were given a rundown of the possible actions and counter measures he would pursue. A great strategist learns of his enemies versatility, and strengths, and he attacks the blindspots, not allowing a moment to remain balanced or thinking clearly.

While Scarface and Black Mask distracted The Titan's Co-Captain, as Bane had suggested, Catwoman engaged the third phase of this plot, totally unimpeded and she fired everything of her arsenal, blasting the ledge he hunkered behind into dust.

It had happened so suddenly, everything transitioned across the battlefield in a matter of seconds. The shouting of jeers, the banter of foes back and forth, of witty retorts, the exchanging of gunfire was all to keep his focus away from the larger threat.

The creaking moan of the ancient timbers, like the horrific sound of an old wooden ship being capsized by a hurricane, crashed around the two men, who were coated in ash.

Black Mask and The Ventriloquist Arnold Wesker, got back to their own feet.

The dust was thick, and their nicely pressed suits would need to be washed.

"You cut that a bit too close!" Scarface angrily bickered in his thick dialect, while his arms flapped. "We was in da middle of our thing, and then youse had to spoil da fun!"

The evidence was apparent, that she had executed the last phase too quickly, and it angered her companions on the opposing ledge.

Catwoman placed a hand onto her hip while dropping the controller into the pit, before replying, "My, my, is that any way to treat your savior?"

"Excuse me?!"

Black Mask held up his right hand, cutting between the two, as he rested his machine gun against the crink in his neck with his left hand. "Quiet, the both of you!"

"Awe, come on!" Catwoman purred with eager anticipation, while pumping her right fist over her head. She had hurried over to their side of the gorge, and was standing with them. "The night is full of thrill and excitement, and I am one eager kitten, ready to claim my share of the prize."

"Ha!" Scarface sputtered back, "There wouldn't be any prize, if we was caught in that blast ourselves, kitty cat!"

Catwoman flexed her fingers to look at her nails. "Who said I wanted to share anything with you? The more of us there are, the less there will be of the reward."

"Oh, this is bad, very, very bad. Why would you deliberately say that?" Wesker cowered a little, clearly disturbed after hearing this.

"Come again?" Scarface spun his head back, to confront the tiny old man that held him. "Oy, dummy, you know whats they say . . . there ain't no honor amongst thieves."

The ventriloquist gulped.

Black Mask stepped forwards, and he raised a hand out to offer a new understanding between their forces. Bickering as they were, on the verge of their victory and yet something still did not seem all too assuring.

He remarked, "That was a dirty trick. Bold, but downright unprofessional if you were to ask me. That's what I call ambitious, and boy, do I respect that kind of eagerness to get what you are after."

"Hey!" Scarface hissed. "Just whose side are yous on anyway? She almost killed us, and she is boasting just how fine she was with it, because she would get our shares!"

Black Mask took a few more steps towards the ledge, and he looked down. His confidence and methods were played out to the best he could manage, where he respected the cat-burglar, in her brutally cut-throat approach, at getting what she felt was owed.

Even if it meant backstabbing her own allies, which revealed a dark truth within the band of their alliance. If achieving victory meant allowing members in their own group to be destroyed in the process, the hierarchy of their more prominent members, would naturally devise ways to outmaneuver one another, to take more for themselves.

Slade really has us all fooled here. We think we will be getting rich, but I get the feeling, that he only let a few of our number in on the larger details. Black Mask thought.

"Is it so wrong, for her to say what all of us are feeling though?" Black Mask gradually raised his head to stare at her. "Not one of us would pass up the opportunity, to cash in on the other's chips, should a misfortune transpire."

A thick and noxious smoke continued to rise upwards, from along the ravine. It mixed with the rubble from the collapsed cliffside, and the burning wreck, that was once the Squadron's airship.

"Do you think-" Arnold Wesker asked.

"There is only one way to find out." Black Mask interrupted.

Catwoman raised a hand, "So then, what's next on the agenda?"

"It only makes sense if one of us head down there, and search out the wreck for his remains." Black Mask chimed back in.

Silence lingered, as the smoke billowed and moved around them. The cloud took form of its own, slithering and spreading like a wounded beast, engulfing the surroundings into a blinding fog.

"Aye, that was MY prize!" Scarface snapped. "I had em dead in my sights, what gives?"

"There was a lot to consider, where if you call that 'little scrap' a good show, no wonder that The Bat and his friends, managed to defeat you so easily." Catwoman jeered back, with her left hand on her hip, inching closer to the black whip.

The puppet and his handler were dumbfounded, mumbling something inaudible to themselves, while passing a menacing glare at their compatriots.

The distant 'whooshing' of a helicopter's propellers, continued to increase in volume. It was likely a news chopper, while even more wailings from the sirens of emergency personnel were ringing out, all across the city.

The timing of this could not have been worse, secrecy was their greatest tool. If they were discovered out in the open, it would bring about any number of unaccounted variables, problems that their leader had wanted them to avoid.

Their victory was all but secured, they would need a trophy to bring back with them, to prove they succeeded. The three criminals were standing on the battlefield, partially coated in ash and oil.

A chilling breeze swirled about them, bringing a few snowflakes to cascade down.

"Well Scarface, head into the pit and bring out something." Black Mask ordered while looking down. "An arm, or even a leg should be good enough."

"Agreed." Catwoman said next. "I'm heading to the rendezvous. I'll leave the rest to you boys."

While the cat-burglar walked away, a massive splintered log, which had at one point been a part of the rows of trees along the ledge, a long section was encased in a black glow. It levitated higher and higher, captivating everybody, and the shadow moving towards her, this caused her instincts to alarm her, where it crashed directly at her feet.

"Whoa!" Catwoman gasped, leaping out of the way from being crushed. Her route was cut-off! "What in the-"

"Leaving so soon?" A female voice filled with anger, had reached Catwoman's ears.

A strange white robed figure had now appeared from a distant area, beyond a row of hills. Her long silver hair whipped behind her. Her hands were outstretched along her sides, and she walked forwards with great strides.

"WHO in the blazes is that!?" Scarface called out, looking back at Wesker. "Dummy, I said who IS that?"

"I . . . I don't know."

Black Mask squinted his eyes, he was caught unawares that a third challenger would have outmaneuvered their own game! But then little by little, it came to him.

The girl that approached Catwoman, was spotted wearing a golden wrist bracelet. It was a device that controlled the airship. He knew, even if she was not in it, it allowed her to steer and operate the great craft.

Her actions of lifting the log had drawn everybody to reveal themselves, and she did not have any file which their one-eyed handler had given to them. This was a fight that constantly shifted, things were getting interesting.

"I see." Black Mask replied, while he finally understood. "She played her part well, knowing we would strike the second she came into range. Clever girl."

"Huh?" Arnold Wesker was puzzled. "Who is she?"

"She wanted us to find her, hitting their ship was intended to lure us out which means . . . "

"Which means she can now be taken down!" Catwoman smirked.

Scarface cried while he raised his machine-gun, aiming to fire across the great ravine at the white robed challenger who approached Catwoman.

"Oh, I don't think so!" A booming and deep male voice cried out.

In a flash of brilliant light, a blue humming wave from a crumpled mess of trees slammed into Scarface and Wesker, knocking the ventriloquist and his puppet out. They tumbled by the ledge, and onto their stomachs!

He was down, causing Black Mask to turn and observe this threat!

There, standing upon a tree stump, smoke was noticed rising off his shoulders. Fresh battle scars adorned his dented chest plate, and armor. It was Cyborg, he had rolled out of the way from the blast, diving down and he had concealed himself in toppled debris, that everybody thought he was gone!

"Damn!" Catwoman shouted while watching this. "Well shoot, I guess this fight is going to unravel more things than what I thought it could."

"Well played." Black Mask jeered at Cyborg.

"Hey." The silver haired practitioner of magic dressed in white flowing robes, called out to Catwoman. "Regardless of what your intention was, you decided to engage in this contest."

Catwoman backed up a few steps prior to saying, "What does it matter to you anyways?"

"You seriously thought, that we would go down that easily?" The interloper insulted the criminals. "You may have destroyed my ship, attacked The Titans East, and schemed a great many plans, but you did not destroy me. Nor did you stop him!"

Catwoman hissed in disdain, as she reached for her black whip. "So then, you must be that brat I saw on news reports, from The Titan Squadron along to keep an eye on your friend over there, mmmmm?"

"My name is Delphi." The Azrael Knight rasped. "Where now that we know your motives, this makes my job much easier."

Catwoman smirked. "That's more like it."

"Damn!" Black Mask retorted while taking notice to Cyborg, standing up fully as he raised a fist in triumph.

The Azrael Knight that was approaching Catwoman, she had a mysterious aura radiating off of her, a black shadow that was created from an energy within herself. It appeared like she was harnessing dark magic, as Raven could.

"You thought you could just walk out of here, after what you did?" Delphi scolded her opponent, stretching her fingers and preparing to unleash her mystical powers.

Cyborg and Black Mask stared down at one another, while Catwoman and Delphi were locked into their own looming battle, on the other side. Scarface and Wesker were still not moving.

The news helicopter were getting closer, where this confrontation was about to be broadcast to the entire world.

"If you honestly thought that blast was going to be the end of me, you have no idea, of just who you are messing with!" Cyborg said with a seething ire, while standing up fully.

His stamina was low, his body was sore and bruised. His main power supply was in grave danger of shutting down, somehow hovering at eighteen percent, yet he focused on the reason why he came to Steel City in the first place, and how he could not abandon his friends.

From evading the rockets, Cyborg and Delphi had re-emerged and were ready to exact a just revenge, to confront their ambushers. With Scarface and his handler Wesker down, not getting back up, the fight was evenly balanced.

There was an unsettling tightness in Delphi's chest however, where something sinister, something horrible felt to be near. It was of some unknown thing, lurking just out of range. She raised a fist, closing her eyes to recenter on this battle.

"Out from the shadows, and with nothing left to conceal yourselves, here is where this contest shall be decided." Delphi stated.

"NOW!" Cyborg shouted.

---

( ~ )

---

Beast Boy and Terra continued to observe the happenings across the jumbo-screen, within The Common Room. They had been taken out of the line of duty, yet that did not stop the heroic green hero, or the ex-Titan from coming up with a bold strategy of their own.

The many training bots, and floating practicing orbs had poured out from the main holding cells within the obstacle course. All were flying towards The Old Stadium.

"Do you really believe, that this is going to work?" Terra asked, still unsure if leaving themselves even more unguarded, was a wise decision.

Beast Boy smirked. "Our friends need us, and even if I can't be out there with them . . ." he frowned. "I know what this means, where this is going to help alleviate the pressure off of our teammates."

"A gamble then?"

"There is not much else I can do . . . but I understand your point."

Terra looked outside, from the long windows across the Common Room. The impressive view overlooked the wide bay area, and the entire city was lit up through the pitch darkness. While comforted by his words, her heart had been overflowing with an increased looming of dread.

What will we do, if we are attacked? You cannot possibly fight, not in your condition. And as for me . . . no.

While The blonde thought this, she looked up at the twinkling lights from the numerous buildings with mixed feelings. A sprinkle of rain began to fall, as the rumble of thunder echoed. The churning of large waves along the shore, revealed that a storm was moving in.

Sending out the training droids was a small gesture, they did not have even a fraction of the Robot Commandos, that Slade could put into the field. His was an army that seemingly came out of nowhere, backed with weapons and resources never before fathomed.

The sladebots were but a part of the greater strategy, that had yet to be unleashed. Where the capabilities their own drones were limited, yet this was something that could buy the heroes time.

Beast Boy grinned as he continued to type on the keyboard. "Come-on, we can look for why our signal is being blocked. Don't worry, they run on autopilot, they were given specific commands, and they are going to attack the threats that are after our friends."

"Well." Terra sighed. "It isn't the worst plan we can utilize."

Beast Boy's lower fang protruded upwards out from his lips. "Ahhh. This is just the opening moves, and a way to gauge the battlefield."

In hearing him say this, a newfound elation of relief rolled through her, yet deep down she knew something else was going to unravel the tranquility. There was something that he was not fully explaining, and it caused her hands to tremble.

They had to locate Slade's hidden fortress. They had to find the ever illusive master deceiver, before another devastating attack would be unleashed. The problem was, even their best and brightest, the commander himself and all of their gadgets and toys, and the entire Teen Titan and militarized police networks, all were unable to solve that riddle.

Slade had fully stacked his deck, keeping his cards close to himself, and only revealing things one move at a time.

Where Terra's frown revealed unease, the changeling was calm and not expressing any worry. If he were afraid, he hid it behind his mannerisms and joking sense of humor.

"Beat Boy." Terra whispered, her voice sounded defeated. "Forgive me -"

"There is no reason to apologize Terra. Things are going to be okay."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do."

The blonde released another slow exhale from her lungs, keeping her back turned. She carried the potent sorrow of an already broken warrior, of a humiliated teenager with nowhere left to turn. Even if she could run away, there was not a single place in the entire city, not a place in the world that was as heavily fortified or secure, as Titan's Tower.

Even with the training droids gone, there were still many layers of protection.

She was overwhelmed by being back in this room, as so many struggles were layered over her. Again, she felt the worst parts of her past, and being within Titans Tower, this only made the walls that protected them, seem like they were shrinking. It was as though she was locked in a prison cell. The boy she had deep feelings with, their relationship was . . . complicated.

Is it possible? Can he . . . can I . . .

"I wish I had your sentiments." Terra clutched at her right wrist, to distract herself from her own thoughts. "You see so much that is good, hope even. In these very difficult times."

"A hero never quits. Not on his friends, and not on himself."

Terra smirked. That did rekindle the courage she struggled to grasp. Her rescue from being Slade's apprentice those many years back, it was an ugly affair, and she fought to conceal the pain.

Whether he noticed this, she did not know.

"We cannot make contact with them through the communicators, meaning that something is without-a-doubt, interfering in this." Beast Boy rasped, bringing her back to the focal issue. "We are blind, knowing that every move we make is being monitored and watched, that every step has been plotted by him, we are already at a critical disadvantage."

"He is dividing up our forces." Terra walked towards him, while pointing at the large flatscreen. The television revealed specific colored dots for each of their allies, that were going off in various directions. The map of The Old Stadium was outlined.

"Yeah."

"Some appear to have stuck it out together . . . in pairs. Robin is with Avatar making their way to the upper levels of The Old Stadium, while Raven and Press have branched off from Kimiko . . . heading for the main field. It looks like Starfire's marker indicates, she has been alone, in the same room for a long time already."

Beast Boy leaned back a little. "So then, they are trying to get to a more advantageous place. Even though we may have lost the ability to communicate, we are heroes, and the hardships only cause us to adapt. To become stronger."

"Spoken like a true leader."

He smiled.

"So, if there is something jamming the communicators, what can we do to unblock that?" Terra asked, while interlocking her arms.

Beast Boy tapped his chin, and he leaned back in the wheelchair prior to responding. "The antenna atop Titan's Tower is one of the most powerful and sophisticated machines ever constructed. The tin man himself installed it, top of the line!"

"Right. So then, how can a signal be blocked from afar? Especially if this is something that Cyborg designed, for just such an emergency?"

The changeling continued typing away on the main keyboard, and the holographic image of their base appeared on screen. It was three dimensional, and they studied the computer generated structure. It rotated slowly, and they looked very closely at it while it spun.

"I don't get it." Terra scratched her head. "I mean, wouldn't there have to be something that would overlap the signal? To overpower the frequency here at The Tower, that has got to be impossible, right?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Unless . . . "

"Beast Boy?"

"There is something. An anomaly one of the buoy's is picking up."

"Really?" Terra hurried over to the large window, peering out across the sandbars and rocks that dotted the island. "I can't see anything from here."

The rain started to come down a bit harder, pitter-pattering against the glass.

"That's because it's concealed, right under our noses." Beast Boy rasped, as his fingers typed feverishly to keep up with his research.

He was like a bloodhound, hot on the scent, and the data that came into the central computer backed up this claim.

Terra pointed towards the location, while a little red dot blinked on and off from the main screen. "Under the water?"

"There is only one way to find out."

She was excited to be uncovering what it could be, yet fear rippled through her. She gradually pulled back from the window, and her blue eyes became wide with concern before speaking.

"Wait, you don't mean . . . what are you saying? Beast Boy?"

Beast Boy's expression had changed drastically, causing her to become silent. The outer layers of defense to their base that would offer them some protection, had been sent into the heart of Jump City. Their friends were in trouble, and the stakes continued to be raised.

This was not good.

Beast Boy turned and looked directly at her.

"Terra. I know this is not your fight. That you have already been through more than what anybody could ask. There is no reason for why you should be stuck here, and I hate what I am about to ask, but . . ."

"I don't see any way around this." The ex-Titan took a deep inhaling breath, trying to calm herself. "The others are all running blind, without the ability to communicate, we are sunk."

The main doors 'hissed' open, where Sibs, the German Shepherd came trotting into the room. It caught both of their attention, as the large canine wagged his tail.

"Terra-"

Sibs barked once, and the blonde knelt down to stroke him behind the ears.

"You don't have to say anything." She raised her head to smile, while patting the dog's shiny coat. "To be honest, I think I need to stretch my legs anyway, and I don't even know what I can do . . . but still . . . I don't see any other choice we have."

Beast Boy was stunned. She knew what he was going to ask, and before he could try to articulate it, she had elected to take the plunge.

"Besides, you can't really do much out there to begin with, not in your state anyway. The others are all counting on us. Right?"

Sibs barked again, and Beast Boy glanced back to the main screen. He was trying to gather whatever he could about the unknown object that resided, just off the shoreline to their home.

"Right." Beast Boy rasped, while his heart-beat thudded much faster all of a sudden.

---

(~)

---

The great shadow bird which had taken both Raven and Press directly onto the field, out from the long dark of the tunnel, it dissipated into nothingness. The two had removed their breathing kits, and they could breathe clean air once more.

"Dang it!" Press was furious. "Why did you do that!?"

"You don't understand." Raven's legs wobbled, and she collapsed, her rasping pitch brought him to become still. "There is so much more going on than any of us. It had to be her."

"What in the blazes are you talking about? My teammate is in there, and so are the others! We need to be with them! That's all that maters!"

"All that matters?"

Raven winced after speaking, the fatigue was wearing her down at a much faster rate. Having utilized this particular ability, it allowed them to escape, however, she felt her manna was almost completely depleted. The source of her abilities, of her powers was harnessed from the chakra of her own spirit.

That mystical and ancient practice from Taoism, of meditation used to funnel and cleanse the passageways within her body, of the very spiritual energy had been withered down from the skirmish. Having breathed in some of the poison, her entire body was sluggish, and her vision was disoriented. She was leaning on her right hand, while her left clasped her forehead, and she ran her fingers through her hair.

"I am sorry. Press, this was her decision." Raven pleaded after pulling her hood back. "I know that this is not what you wanted, that this isn't how any of us thought things would turn out, but we cannot afford to fight each other. Not now."

"Do you know, what you have done?"

The Empath frowned. She knew how much that critical moment meant to him, and by interfering she had only cast doubts onto his honor.

She exhaled, and after looking back up she replied, "I am sorry."

"It was supposed to be me in there." he bowed his head, clutching at his cane while the anger seethed within his heart. "I made the call, you both know I did!"

"Just as Kimiko made her own call." Raven paused, "She . . . she wanted is to get out. She is going to be okay. You saw how they held back, they were afraid."

These words held significance, deep down he knew it to be true.

"So." Press spoke while looking around at the empty seats, studying their surroundings in the dark. Rain clouds expanded overhead, shrouding the moon and stars behind a veil of black. Droplets of rain began falling, as a streak of lightning flashed. "What are we going to do now?"

The cool wet sensation landed on their skin, while a gust of wind swept across the area, billowing out their clothing.

The Empath took out her communicator, and she looked at it for a long, solemn moment. She then pushed herself up off the ground giving out a sigh.

"Raven?" Press called, while he ran over to her, letting her lean into him. "You uh . . . you don't look so good."

"Getting us here, took a great deal of my power, where I fear the gas . . . has also had an effect on my abilities. I was lucky to last as long as I did."

"We need to contact the others. Let's rest a moment, and at least contact Titans Tower so we-"

Raven shook her head. "You forgot already." He is so like him.

He reached onto his belt and retrieved his own communicator, where Raven used her other hand to lower it.

"We can't."

"What!? Why?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"Something is jamming the signal . . . and until we find out where that device is, then we are going to be in serious trouble."

Press let out a deep groan of annoyance, and he put it back into its compartment.

Raven smirked while thinking, even his mannerisms.

The Squadron member clenched his fingers tightly. "This is not good."

"Agreed." Raven deadpanned. "I don't have any ideas on where it could be, or what the odds of even being able to find it are? Our forces have been divided, we are without our leaders, and both Co-Captains are in Steel City, and they cannot help us. A great many enemies have been hounding us, we are already down one of our own number, not to mention the missing members of The Titans East. Then we still have the obvious dilemma, that Slade has yet to hit us."

"You didn't have to recap the score, I know it's bad." Press gulped. "So then, we need to do something and quick. We can't stay here."

"No. No we cannot."

"We don't have any leads on where that mastermind's base is! But, we are confident that he is about to unleash his next attack. Right?"

"Beast Boy and Terra must be well aware that they cannot communicate with us, just as we are cut-off from them." her expression revealed her typical blank stare. "The worst part about this is, that there is nothing that will get in Slade's way, allowing him to continue with his plans. The question that must be resolved . . . where will he strike?"

Press interlocked his arms, "Man, this is serious. Perhaps we should try and-"

Raven pushed away from him, cutting him off in mid-sentence. She was standing on her own. "There is little more I can do out here, but I'm not done yet. I must fight, but I don't have much strength left. What I can piece together, is that we should regroup, with what numbers we do have. If I were plotting to do something, now would be the perfect opportunity, and Slade understands this."

Press looked back at the tunnel they had escaped from. Despite the mask that covered his face, it was not hard to read his body language. He was torn on wanting to rush back in . . . but Raven had a solid argument as well. Kimiko's sacrifice would have been for nothing, if they went back into that mess.

"She meant for us to get out." Raven deadpanned. "This is a truth we must learn to embrace, where to be on the warrior's path-"

"Is to embrace death." Press whispered the ending of that old quote.

Just then, a low rumbling explosion, rippled outwards from across the harbor. This caused both heroes to become worried as they looked to the opposite direction. Their hearts raced, and the concerns over their friends worsened.

"Oh no!" Press gasped in horror. "That came from-"

"Titans Tower!"

---

{{End Of Scene}}

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Reviews From The Previous Chapter:

Eris: "Great chapter. Very fascinating and exciting. Couldn't Beast Boy heal his wounds faster by turning into animals that can heal fast? Hope you update soon again."

~~ Thank you for the continued support! I am very touched that you find my story to be enjoyable to read. While I am busy, understand that even the smallest acts we as individuals can offer, these moments ripples outwards, and they do leave a mighty impact. In motivating me to keep going as you have done, hopefully more of the readers will be encouraged to do the same. To answer your question, things may yet come into play in the chapters ahead. I do not wish to spoil all of the surprises just yet. ;-) ~~

~~T.M.O~~