I can't believe I'm doing this Raven thought for the umpteenth time as she shuffled in the wake of her friends. She could think of at least five different tortures she'd rather experience instead of going to a sold-out movie premier.

"Hurry up Raven! I wanna get in line—or we'll never get good seats!"

Too late for that Beast Boy; the line started two days ago.

She had been trying to put some distance between herself and the others, especially Beast Boy and Starfire, who were decked out as characters for the latest summer-blockbuster-that-lasts-a-week-before-being-replaced-by–the-next-one, Bloodhunter III: Vengeance of the Divine.

Starfire could pull off the Warrior/Princess/Girlfriend without a problem. Her usually free red tresses were gathered in a long ponytail that sailed behind her; the dark leather bodice and matching loincloth gave the Tamaranian a dangerous quality that was normally reserved for the most hostile of criminals. She was at the moment anything but dangerous as she turned to talk in excited tones to her partner-in-costume.

Beast Boy's underdeveloped body lacked the physique for the sword-swinging-barbarian look he was attempting. Not even bodypaint and chainmail was enough to scrub "Wannabe" from his forehead. The fact that he was unwilling to wear fur or leather didn't help either; he was down to his purple-and-black shorts, street shoes and gloves—hardly "garb" for a medieval fantasy setting.

Fortunately for Raven, Cyborg and Robin were Mundanes—or at least, as "mundane" as teen-aged heroes got. Beast Boy had begged Raven to go in costume: "Just wear a red cloak: You'd make an awesome Red Wizard!"

She refused: that wasn't part of the bet.

What possessed me take that bet? Beast Boy had bugged her for hours to a Gamestation match. "If I lose, I'll do your chores for a month," he purred. "If you lose, you go out with everybody to the Midnight First Showing at the PolyPlex."

"No."

"Aw, come on! RoboChess 9000 is just like regular chess, just with animated pieces and stuff."

"No."

"Cyborg can help you with the controls if you need it—"

"No."

"My mighty intellect too intimidating?"

"Hardly."

"Please? Just this once and I'll leave you alone. I promise."

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

It was the promise that got me.

Three straight losses later and she was bringing up the rear on a trip to the Polyplex.

This is pointless. Why bother putting up with so many people in a cramped theatre for a movie that will be on disk in no time? The food's expensive too, and we have a better sound system in the Tower.

But as they crossed through the park, she did have to admit it was a nice night for a walk.

Her hood was down, as she often wore it while "off duty"; a soft breeze touched the back of her neck. She savored its coolness, then increased her pace.

It'll be over soon. What I don't understand is how I lost so badly to Beast Boy.

Not that he was stupid, but he'd never shown all that good a grasp of strategy before.

Practice maybe? It was no secret the amount of time the he and Cyborg spent on the machine, but most of the games they played usually were high speed. No, she decided. Beast Boy was addicted to pure reaction, not thinking. Cyborg could think, but he also preferred reaction games for recreation. Robin, on the other hand…

Robin played both strategy and reaction games. Given the less frantic pace of chess, and as competitive as he was… I probably couldn't make him break a sweat. I'll have to ask him where my strategy broke down. Otherwise—if Beast Boy can beat me…She shuddered at the thought of future "bets".

Robin will know. He watched us play. He'd been working on some new "disk technology" or other at the table, and had kept to himself. Starfire had an uncontrollable giggling fit, and excused herself after the first five minutes, but Robin was there the entire time.

The entire time…

…Wait a minute. The controllers are wireless.

The others were at the top of a slope in the path, waiting for her to catch up.

"Hurry UP!" Beast Boy was dancing with impatience.

"And don't think you can sneak out early—you lost the bet!"

Raven ground her teeth in frustration. She left the ground and flew toward the others.

I lost the "bet" huh? This reeks of a set-up!

She was halfway to her friends when her world exploded in white light.