The End For Us [An Evil Sapphire Saga]

[Deleted]

Sapphire sighed and looked at Beast Boy. he wasn't gonna give up on her?! that was a feeling she hadn't felt before and she was surprised. this was insane.
"you'd really help me, after everything I've done to you?" she was a bit shaky after Beast Boy had exploded in a well deserved rage directed at her. she had failed and betrayed her friends. no, they were her surrogate family.

Slade on the other hand loved no one (except maybe Robin.) however even if Slade liked someone, he obviously wanted complete control and would knock them down. so what if Robin thought Sapphire would be freed. he could fake it long enough to keep them both. "destroy the computer dear boy. see what happens..." Slade chuckled.

(short.....)

[Deleted]

I uttered a startled gasp and staggered over backwards as I was quickly overcome with Robin’s thoughts and emotions. Such shocking images began to swim around my mind as they were doing to Robin. I shivered and I hugged myself to keep from trembling. My face started to sweat. ‘Okay, bad idea. I get it now. I won’t zap Slade’s computer. But, I want to help. Tell me how and I’ll do it! I want to stop Slade as much as you do. I have no desire to see Jump fall. So please, tell me what I should do besides the obvious of course. And you shouldn’t be so apprehensive about speaking to me this way. It’s better than letting Slade hear us,’ I informed Robin telepathically.

At Slade’s words I glared at him. He sounded most amused by my… Wait, did he just read my mind? Oh, so that means… Oh, that’s just great! Just great! He’s probably been hearing me this whole time. Now what? Okay, I’ll just put up a front! He wants to play games then fine, I’ll let him play games. After all, he’s not the only one who enjoys playing mind games. I forced myself to remain calm and my breathing slowed back to normal. I crossed my arms firmly across my chest and I frowned at him. I was trying to figure this guy out, but I couldn’t. The guy was throwing a mental block on me. So this guy can read my mind, but I can’t read his? So unfair! “Wait, you mean you want me to destroy your precious computer? Or are you trying to pull a reverse psychology move on me in which you don’t want me to destroy it? Or better yet you guessed I would have figured it out and so you actually do want me to destroy it?” I asked him in an attempt to keep him distracted. I knew he wouldn’t be confused by it, but I hoped it would keep him distracted long enough for the Boy Wonder to come up with a plan. You know I may not be very good at some things, but I had a real knack for keeping people talking for hours. I know this thru experience. ‘Any ideas?’ I asked Robin telepathically.

I put on a blank expression. “You know you’re actually pretty clever. Now I know I am hardly worthy of your time, but could you care to humor me on the lovely plans you have for Sapphire and Robin? I am…curious. I’m always interested in learning about intellectuals such as yourself,” I went on, hoping this would persuade Slade to brag about his plans in similar fashion to my creator. Even though I suspected he could somehow read my mind I kept on a string of hope that he could not and was instead just extremely observant. I glanced around the room once more without moving an inch. As much as I tried I couldn’t really read Raven’s mind. I moved on to Batgirl’s and I saw she had the credentials of a great hacker. ‘Batgirl, do you think you can stop Slade from controlling Sapphire by hacking into his computer?’ I telepathically asked.

[Deleted]

Beast Boy, still crouched like a frog before Sapphire, fidgeted a bit at the fire wielder's disbelief and her ensuing question. Now that he had managed to calm down a bit from his Incredible Hulk-ish fit of rage, he wasn't quite sure what to think anymore. A part of him still cared for Sapphire's well-being, while the paranoia from his experience in these matters were sending up red flags everywhere. This could all still be some complex trap and he was falling right for it.

But no. If there was still a chance of saving Sapphire he would take it, trap or not. The barriers he had set up around his mind were already beginning to crumble under her persuasion. Sometimes the changeling's trust in others wasn't a strength, but rather a weakness.

"Of course we'll still help you. You're our friend Sapphire, no matter what you've done," he replied after a pause, daring to meet the girl's brown eyes with his green ones. Taking a breath, he added, "So is there anything you think I can do to help you?"

Beast Boy glanced at her armor; it looked similar to Terra's. The thought of Slade controlling Sapphire like he had Terra made his blood boil. It was a twisted, perverted thing to do, and he had to turn his head away so Sapphire couldn't see his eyes narrow.

[Deleted]

Sapphire was, an indescribable feeling. Beast Boy was still willing to help her... She smiled a smile that was far more baffled than happy. Then she took the conversation in a different direction. "So why were you the only on to come after me? Shouldn't you have followed your own team instead of coming after me?" She was definitely lucky that her master was distracted from listening to her and Beast Boy. If he knew, he could put far more armor on her and have more control than he already did. He'd been working on a suit that could kill the wearer at Slade's commands. "Oh and for the record, if you have any questions about anything else here, I'm the one to ask."

In Slade's lair, Slade was finding himself throughly amused with the Titans who'd shown up and decided to consider Sapphire's attempt at breaking free a blessing in disguise. He finally had Robin, the Titans were now his for the taking. Except where was the green one. Slade had no time to process thoughts of that for the yellow-eyed man was trying to keep him occupied with questions. "Like I said, dear boy, have fun destroying the computer. As for my plans, do you really think I'd reveal them to you? You must be dumber than you look. And that's very dumb, indeed." Luckily the talking kept Slade distracted but he still had the upperhand.

He then turned to Raven and chuckled. "I see you're alright after Daddy came home." He was resorting to playing with their emotions. Anything to keep Robin from focusing on the contract. Anything to keep from relinquishing an apprentice.

[Bry]

Raven cringed as her father was brought into the conversation and her dark eyes narrowed under her hood as she stared daggers at the man across the room. Daggers? No. Machetes? Mmn.

"Leave my father out of this," Raven snapped. A million more sharp retorts bit into her lips from the inside, but she kept her teeth firmly clamped together, kept the rest of them hushed and silent. It would do no good to play into Slade's hands, she knew, because surely that's what he was after.... Her emotions were a riot when unleashed, and here and now, in this little control room with half her team surrounding her, it was not the time, nor the place to get indignant.

So, though seething, Raven kept quiet, hardly moving a muscle save for her hand cramping tightly into a fist. Rather than throw something essential at Slade, after which she'd end up lucky if she got but a lecture, Raven turned her eyes to Robin, waiting for permission to take the villain apart. He'd asked her to trust him, and so trust him she did....

[Deleted]

At Slade I just raised a brow and straightened up. Though my plan to keep him distracted long enough for the Boy Wonder to do something was working I did not like being underestimated. The fool masked villain had dared to call me dumb and for that he will sorely pay. “Yeah, I’m going to destroy it, but in a sec, so don’t you worry none about that,” I informed him. It was a lie of course for the Titans succeeded in persuading me not to, so I hope they could play along with me here.

Then I thought just because I couldn’t invade his mind didn’t mean I couldn’t pretend. I smirked at him. “Oh, I don’t need you to drone on about your stupid little plans. I already know all about them. I just took you for the kind of guy who liked to show off. I also know that you go by another name and that you served under a dark master once only to completely fail… Shall I go on? Should I inform the Titans here of your second name? I am sure they would love to know all about it,” I goaded. How did I know these things? Well, let us say a certain Boy Wonder’s mind helped me to see a few things about this lovely masked man who stood so confidently before me and soon if I succeed in making him think that I had invaded his mind he will no doubt snap in two. Then who will the dumb one be? Certainly not I. And as for his second name. I truly did not know it, but I assumed that everyone here including him had an alias of some sort.

I then overheard him goading Raven. No doubt the twisted villain wanted to see the blue cloaked girl attack him due to some sort of crazy, ill conceived notion that Robin was now on his side and therefore would stop anyone from outright attacking him. And he calls me dumb. I studied the girl’s reaction to Slade’s words. Apparently, she has…father issues and no wonder. After the things I saw about this girl’s father inside of Robin’s mind… Yeah, her father looked like some sort of giant, red monster with horns and four red eyes. Pretty creepy. And Slade had to work for him. I smirked back at him at this thought. I then frowned at Raven. I felt bad for her. What a horrid father she had and Slade was being a total jerk about it. Unfortunately, my growing frustration and anger was causing the lights to flicker on and off. Though, I wasn't sure if it would be an entirely bad thing if it did or not. That is if we could use the blackout to our advantage.

[Deleted]

Beast Boy hesitated, at first unwilling to give up the location of his team. But Sapphire had broken down the walls of his defense now, and he found himself answering her question anyways.

"The rest of the Titans are following the coordinates you gave them. They're confronting Slade as we speak," he said, finally straightening up and offering a hand for Sapphire to get up as well.

He was silent for a moment, mind racing to think of a question to ask the fire wielder. His brain still felt a bit jumbled from all that had occurred, and it was proving difficult to stay focused on the task at hand. Finally, he came up with, "Are there any weaknesses Slade has that we can exploit? Should we go and help the Titans take him down, or would your armor..."

Beast Boy's voice trailed off, not wanting to think of what would happen if Sapphire was forced to attack her old teammates like Terra once had. Not for the first time that day, he wished his communicator wasn't a worthless piece of broken equipment. Why hadn't he taken the time to grab a spare before leaving the hideout?

/Because you're a hopeless hero, that's why./

[Silv]

This had been one of those situations where he was making up the plan as he went. On principle a Grayson didn't work with a net. He hadn't had a plan when he'd come charging in here to take out Slade and had merely rolled with the punches and come up with a plan as he went. Now, Reflecto, the man who had been ignoring him and what mess of a “plan” he had come up with spur of the moment was demanding that he come up with one. The Boy kept a firm lid on the dam of his mind as his brain quickly tried to think of what to do.

What he needed most was for Slade to free Sapphire so the man couldn't use her against him. The man seemed intent on stalling, however. The Boy Wonder glanced back at the man with the two colored mask. “Slade,” Robin didn't like that his request was being ignored and instead Slade was trying to goad Raven into unleashing her emotions. His masked gaze turned back to the monitor screens and he moved his head to show this was where he was looking. “Free Sapphire.”

Okay, so he was giving the man an order. It wasn't like their contract had been filled. And anyway, Robin had no intention of even fulfilling the “contract' because as soon as Sapphire was free and Robin was sure about it he was going to rally the team and take the man down.

[Aly]

Batgirl gave a visible start as Reflecto entered her mind. She had been looking at the man, so the disembodied voice had startled her. Reflecto's lips did not move, but as he looked at her, she could hear his words perfectly. He wanted her to hack into Slade's computer to free Sapphire.

Slade was otherwise occupied with the others, so she decided to take a chance on it. Giving a barely perceptible nod to Reflecto, she slunk over to the computer, shooting Robin a look when she got there because he had turned his head her way. 'Don't direct Slade's attention over here, you moron.' She wished she could say without Slade overhearing, but was limited to her thoughts instead. She wanted Robin to hear her words, but didn't want him to enter her mind like Reflecto had. There were way too many private feelings for him that she didn't want him to be aware of at the moment. Suddenly remembering Reflecto could hear every thought, she quickly put up a mental wall in front of her memories and emotions that he would not be able to penetrate. They had been taught by Batman to do this, but at the time, Batgirl had no idea why. She was just glad now that it came in handy.

[Deleted]

Sapphire's eyebrow raised slightly. "I'm aware that the Titans are confronting Master." She shot off the word 'Master' bitterly. She didn't want to call him that, but she didn't really have a choice in the matter. "What I want to know is why you came alone. Didn't the rest of the Titans see me as a threat?"

She waited for him to ask her anything about Slade. Anything to distract her from her feeling. Weaknesses? He had none that she was aware of. And her armor...? "My armor... has full control of my body, even if there is only two pieces. As long as the Titans are distracting him, he's unable to use it against me. I would like to keep it that way...."

She drew a breath sharply as she continued to explain the plan, or at least what she had learned on her own. "Master-" God she hated calling him that. "has created a supercomputer directly connected to my armor. Instead of merely being able to control me like Terra or being a threat to my life, like Robin, he has combined his ideas and is now able to destroy me when the computer is destroyed or when he pleases. And if someone hacks in and gets the password wrong... well..." Sapphire shook her head and tried to keep her emotions out of this. "I would prefer to die by the Titans hands rather than by Slade's." So she was done with the formalities.


Slade stared at each Titan, ready to destroy them all himself. Robin was not obeying as he had envisioned, the changeling was nowhere to be found and there was a new girl and crazy lad here that he had no idea what to do with. He was backed into a corner, and he couldn't have that. He would destroy them before he would give up.

No- the masked man would not fall into a rage. He would calmly calculate each movement and this day would be victorious. Slade could no longer get close to his computer to take more control of his dear apprentice's movements. Either she obeyed or he destroyed, he was personally fine with either outcome.

"Robin, dear boy, you have yet to serve me. I have no promises to keep until you attack your pathetic friends." He was cunning.

[Silv]

Robin had the feeling that for every step forward he managed to get he was pushed back yet two more by outside forces. Had the others stayed away this confrontation would have been a lot easier and he could have gotten away with being far more ruthless and dishonorable than he could with his friends watching. The Boy Wonder believed in winning, and his drive to succeed was overpowering. He also knew, however, that this less than...savory tendency of his could scare the others. While a good amount of fear was healthy to have for a leader, Robin knew from experience, that when he was in Slade-mode he became obsessive and dangerous to an unpredictable degree. He didn't enjoy putting his team through it and so he tried to stop himself. It just...didn't seem to always work.

When the masked man he was currently guarding called his bluff rage sizzled hot and angry through Robin's veins. The boy tensed before turning to regard the man's singular steely eye. “Fine.” he sounded more like a petulant child than the well known Boy Wonder and the next second he had moved past Slade and, grabbing up his bostaff, moved towards Batgirl. Getting her away from that computer was his top priority because if Slade wanted them to mess with it then it couldn't be a good thing. He didn't move with quite his usual acrobatic grace at first, sweeping his weapon at her feet before launching his body forward to knock into her with his arms.

It was clear he wasn't trying to hurt her, and as soon as he was close enough he managed to relay to her in a quiet voice. “Don't touch the computer.” his tone was urgent and he had barely enough time to get the words out before he was on the move again, skidding across the floor on his feet before heading forward again. He didn't want to fight his team but if it was the best way to get Slade to release Sapphire without her being hurt then he'd do it. Besides, he really wanted to punch Reflecto in the face.

With the man as his target he raced past Slade again and aimed a low blow at Reflecto. It wasn't meant to connect, however, as at the last second he flipped forward, landing on the other side and instead moved to battle Raven. He knew she would be able to easily block him with her shields of energy and so was not as careful in his attack. “I need you to get this idiot out of here,” he said softly in between feigning an uppercut and then moving lower. “Don't go too far though, and keep an eye out for Sapphire and the rest of the team.”

His message delivered the Boy Wonder flipped backwards in a handspring, landing on his hands before vaulting back to his feet. He settled back on the ground in a fighting stance before launching himself once more at Reflecto. Robin feigned an uppercut before going through with a lower punch to the gut. “Listen to Raven,” his voice was deadly serious even if it was spoken only low enough that Reflecto would hopefully be able to hear. With that said he moved far enough out of the way that his team could do what they needed.

[Deleted]

Beast Boy didn't hesitate--hell, he didn't even think. As soon as Sapphire finished speaking he was in the air, flying as fast as the wings of a peregrine falcon would carry him. All traces of exhaustion from the past couple of days were gone as adrenaline pumped through his body, fueling his flight towards Slade's lair.

The only thought that dominated the changeling's mind was Sapphire's well-being. If the Titans came across that computer, they were going to destroy it or at least damage it in some way. It was what always happened upon discovering an evil villain's hideout--computers for the Titans were like the bonus targets in a shooting game. But they must have not touched it yet, since Sapphire was still alright--unless it was destroyed after he had left her, in which case he should--

/No,/ he told himself, his falcon head shaking in resolve. Sapphire was fine, and as long as he got to that computer before anything happened to it, she was going to stay fine.

Remembering the coordinates the fire wielder had sent to Raven, it took Beast Boy a matter of minutes to fly across the city and enter Slade's hideout. Shifting into a cheetah, he dropped to the ground and raced through corridor after corridor, using his nose and the various unconscious bodies and birdarangs to guide his way. Deciding to use the more impressive and burly form of a tiger for his entrance, Beast Boy hurtled into the cramped control room. He bouldered past the unfortunate Reflecto, who happened to be in his way, and crouched protectively in front of the computer, sides heaving, teeth bared at the encroaching Titans.

After taking a moment to catch his breath, the changeling calmed down enough to revert to his human form. A small part of him wondered why Robin was facing his team and not Slade, but there were more important things to worry about than the direction the Boy Wonder was facing.

"Do not touch the computer! If we destroy it or hack it incorrectly Sapphire will die," Beast Boy blurted out. It probably wasn't the most tactful of all things to do, blurting out what he knew in front of the enemy, but he wasn't exactly thinking at the moment.

[Deleted]

I watched silently as Batgirl neared the computer, apparently receiving my mental message. Now all I had to do was keep both Slade and Robin distracted long enough for her to hack. No problem. I gave her a silent nod as I heard her thoughts. I knew she had wished Robin could hear them instead of me. But, there really was nothing I could do about that except transfer her little message over to the Boy Wonder. Even with his mental wall up I could still speak to him telepathically. ‘Hey, Batgirl doesn’t want you directing Slade’s attention over to her or the computer,’ I warned him telepathically.

Then Slade spoke again to Robin, ordering him to attack us. I didn’t think the kid would and even if he did it would likely be all an act to earn Slade’s trust. The man, however, had the gall to ignore me completely. How very…annoying. I wished I could hack into his stupid, psychotic mind, but I couldn’t. All I could really do was watch him, keep him in my sights. So long as he sees me and paid attention to me he hopefully wouldn’t notice Batgirl. I opened my big mouth to say something else, but didn’t. At this point it was pretty obvious the masked man was just going to ignore me again. He didn’t see me as a threat. He saw me as a nuisance! I didn’t even need to read his mind to know this. It was written all over his stupid mask. Honestly, how was I supposed to know if he is making faces at me under that thing? So irritating!

My eyes then widened as Robin rushed over to Batgirl, bostaff in hand. As I watched the two ‘duel’ I could tell straight away that it was all just a rouse to earn Slade’s trust. I couldn’t help frowning. I feared that if I could pick up on this fight being fake that this apparently strong minded psychopath certainly could as well. I didn’t catch what the Boy Wonder told her, however, as I stood too far away. Still, it was pretty apparent he did not want her messing with the computer.

But what Robin did next sort of surprised me. He came at me, but with my catlike reflexes I was too quick and managed to dodge the intended blow. Looking at him I frowned. If this fight was also supposed to be fake than why was this kid trying so hard to hit me? Okay, so maybe I did get on his nerves a bit, but it was no big deal. After all, I was only trying to help. What did he want me to do? Be Slade’s henchman? Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I even bother trying to be the hero and do the right thing when all I get in return for my efforts is back talk and the cold shoulder. Happens to me all the time it seems; which explains why I keep moving and fail to remain on any superhero team for too long. Either I get kicked out or I end up quitting. I then watched as he flipped over me and landed in front of Raven.

After the two went back and forth some he returned to me. Keeping a close eye on this…boy I blocked the punch intended for my stomach. Since this was supposed to be a fake fight I didn’t act offensively. I only dodged and blocked and I was a lot faster than I looked. So, it was pretty obvious that if I wanted to I could have hit him or at least attempted to. It was then my turn to receive a quick chat with him. ‘Listen to Raven,’ he had ordered. Somehow I saw this order coming simply because we’ve been properly introduced to one another. ‘Fine,’ I told him telepathically not wanting a soul to hear but him. ‘But really, I am only trying to help here. You know that, right? I’m not the enemy,’ I added telepathically before Robin left my sight.

As I stood there my sensitive hearing overheard something rather large coming this way. What in the world? I thought as I whirled around just in time to see a green tiger barge its way in. I jump rolled out of its way. Beast Boy, I thought as I stood back to my feet. For a few moments it growled before it assumed Beast Boy’s humanoid form. Even though I rather suspected the green tiger was indeed the green changeling I still was relieved once he reassumed his human form. And then he blurted out something that I believed we all already knew to an extent. I just looked at him quizzedly because I had thought he was with Sapphire. Concerned, I looked at him imploringly. ‘Your friend, the fire starter, is she okay?’ I asked him telepathically.

[Bry]

Robin playing triple agent wasn't something foreign to Raven; having been through the experience once or twice before, she fully expected Robin's attack, and she was not disappointed when he held nothing back coming at her. Each of his blows though was met with a crackle as she threw up shield after shield in order to keep herself unharmed. It was tiring, but not so much that she missed the few words that were also thrown her way along with the hits.

Get Reflecto out of here? Fantastic, once again Raven was in charge of the Retreat Plan. Cause she obviously just loved running away. She scowled after Robin as he flipped around back to Reflecto, a gesture that she figured would be easily misinterpreted on her face as disgust that he'd 'turned against them.'

Growling in said disgust, Raven reached for Reflecto just as Beast Boy went tearing through the doorway, ripping her away from her target and sliding himself into place protectively in front of the computer. A moment of confusion hit her, as she wondered where Sapphire must be that he was here instead, but she let it go. Instead, she used the large green tiger's entrance as a perfect distraction, diving after her target again, latching onto Reflecto's arm just as Beast Boy made his Don't Tough the Gadgets speech, and then she pulled herself and Reflecto out of the dimension without but a warning. She hated doing that to people, but her gut told her Reflecto would resist, and there wasn't time to talk things through in the middle of Slade's lair.

They reappeared after but a moment in the darkness, a few halls down, completely alone save for the two unconscious men slumped against the off-white wall. Raven rounded on Reflecto as soon as they touched down in reality.

"You," she seethed as an opening, but she didn't continue. There was a time for ranting, there was a time for lectures, and there was a time to suck it up and follow orders. Plus, with Robin back in the picture, she was relieved of her impromptu leadership duties, thus her 'lecturing' duties.... Or was she, as Robin was currently playing nice with Slade?

To heck with it; she didn't try to think too hard about it.

"We're on the lookout for the rest of the team," she informed Reflecto, her tone leaving little room for question, though she suspected he would anyway. "And for Sapphire. Stay close to me, and please please don't go jumping into the middle of any more conflict without at least warning me first?"

That being said, she took off down the hall, careful to keep her footsteps muffled in case there were anymore enemies lurking around this buidling that had missed out on the initial party, and hoping Reflecto would heed her and follow her lead.

[Aly]

Batgirl was annoyed that Robin started to attack her first, probably bringing along with him Slade's attention. If she could just get a few feet to her right... but Robin's attack came with a message not to touch the computer. The sudden thought that Slade must have a backup system to hurt Sapphire if the computer was messed with entered her mind as she easily deflected Robin's faux blows. Did he really think she was that weak as to not defend herself against a normal attack? Back with Batman, they had sparred endlessly and he hadn't been holding back then. Then again, they had both always come out with several bruises and cuts.

Robin leaped away from her and she watched as he went on to attack Reflecto and then Raven in turn. They did not miss a beat as Beast Boy rushed in as a large tiger. Her suspicions were confirmed as the grean bean yelled not to touch the computer, just as Robin had told her moments before. Of course, he had said 'hack it incorrectly'. Did he not know of her skills? She rolled her eyes but relented. She would not hack the computer, as of yet. Maybe later on, but she was confident in her hacking abilities. She would not hack it incorrectly, but she would go along with their charade for now. She would let Robin go on with his plan, and if that failed, she would hack the computer.