(*slides in, and past* Happy Thanksgiving bitches!)

Johnny was sitting beside Blackfire in the infirmary. The alien had drifted off to sleep. "So… what exactly is wrong?" He asked Raven.

Raven cleared the hair from her eyes and sighed. "Apparently, Plague infected her with a virus thought to be long extinct. It wouldn't take effect though until she… was under heavy stress… good or bad. The intention probably was for it to affect her during battle." Johnny let it sink in. "Plague didn't count on her having a bit of 'fun' in the meantime." He said.

The dark titan nodded and slightly flushed. Johnny noticed this and snickered. "Let me guess, you're empathic?" He teased. "Johnny Rancid, unless you want me to send you into another dimension, you won't say another word." Raven threatened icily.

Johnny held up his hands. "Got it. I liked this dimension." He said. Glancing over at the sleeping Blackfire, his normal expression seemed to sadden. "Will… she be okay?" He asked. Raven set a hand on the biker's shoulder. "If she had been on the battlefield, most likely no. But since she was in the tower, not too far away from the infirmary, she'll be fine." She said.

Johnny seemed to relax. "Gotcha." Raven seemed suddenly amused as she removed her hand. "What?" Johnny asked. "You know… for someone who brags on being heartless… you show a lot of compassion for her." Raven noted as she began to walk from the infirmary. "If you say another word about that…" Johnny threatened. "My lips are sealed… as long as you two can keep your hands off each other once Blackfire is better." Raven made that position clear- no boinking in the tower as long as she was around.

Grumbling, Johnny continued his watch over Blackfire.

"Johnny won't move from Blackfire's side until she's better." Raven said as she walked in. "I never knew love could turn someone like Johnny into a fool." Punk grumbled. A whack over the head by Angel knocked him off the couch. "Love, did you have to do that?" He groaned. "Yes." Angel replied.

Robin sighed. "Great, by tomorrow we'll probably find another victim… can this day get any-" "Don't say it!" The entire HIVE yelled, causing Robin to jump out of his skin. "Whenever someone says that, it gets worse." Mammoth explained. 'Trust me, we've had experience.' Kyd Wykkyd signed, nodding.

The Boy Wonder sighed. "I'll… take your word for it." "Yo, Rob, phone." Cyborg said, tossing the phone to him. Robin held up a finger and left the room.

Again, Angel tried calling XL Terrestrial on her communicator… this time there wasn't even a ring, it just said 'no signal'. Swallowing nervously, she motioned for See-More and Kyd, and pointed it out. "Keep quiet, Angel… it doesn't mean anything, XL probably dropped it in paint again." See-More said in a hushed tone. "I hope so." Angel whimpered.

Robin came back, looking at the end of his rope. "That was the hospital. Lydia tried hanging herself an hour ago. Apparently… she remembered." He said, wincing. "That don't sound very nice thing to remember." Punk shuddered. "It isn't." Robin turned around and left the room.

After he left, Cyborg groaned. "He's going into the evidence room." "The what room?" Billy asked. "Evidence room… he'll be in there all night." Raven said. "Robin… has a habit of getting obsessed with certain cases." Starfire rubbed one of her arms self-consciously. "Ah… Kinda like Jinx whenever she wanted to raid a place…" See-More said, nodding.

Raven shook her head. "He hasn't gotten like this… since we first dealt with Slade."

The effect of the name on the villains was instantaneous. Each one seemed to be spooked, looking over their shoulder and shuddering. "Sorry about that, it's natural." See-More said awkwardly. "Most kids tell scary stories about monsters and stuff like that… when we were younger we'd hear stories about Slade." Angel said.

Raven nodded. "He's your monster under the bed pretty much." "Worse than that- monsters under beds ain't real." Billy shuddered.

Beast Boy decided to take control. "Let's just go to bed. It's nearly ten anyway; hopefully tomorrow Johnny will be able to help." He suggested. "Good plan- Kyd, take us to Johnny's apartment." See-More ordered. Kyd nodded and opened a portal. The villains left.

Cyborg sighed. "Nice idea, BB. Let's follow our advice, come on guys."

Each titan began heading out, each to their rooms… except for Raven.

She went into Beast Boy's room.

Beast Boy was just listening to his iPod when she walked in. "Bwa! Raven!" He nearly fell off the top bunk. Raven sighed. "I need to ask you something, Beast Boy."

Swallowing nervously, Beast Boy turned off his music and hopped off of his bed. "Sure, what is it?" He asked. "Why are you connecting with the villains?" Raven wasn't one to waste time. Beast Boy blanched but managed to say, "They… they're pretty friendly when they're not trying to fight us…"

Raven shook her head no. "Not that. You seem to actually be connecting with them on a different level, more than just being normally friendly… it's as if you sympathize with them." Beast Boy seemed largely uncomfortable. "Well… maybe uh…"

His ears drooped. "Yeah. I do." "Why?" Raven asked. Beast Boy swallowed again. "I understand them… Rae… can you not ask any more questions?" He said, looking at his feet.

Raven narrowed her eyes, then widened them as she realized what that possibly could mean. "All right. Beast Boy… when you want to talk about it, remember… I was born to destroy the world. Whatever you have in your past won't bother me as much."

Smiling, Beast Boy looked at Raven. "Thanks Rae." "But if you keep calling me Rae…" Raven also smiled to show she was joking and she left.

Beast Boy flopped down on his bottom bunk and sighed. Hmm… maybe when this all was said and done, he could finally ask her out for pizza…

Raven walked into her room and into her bed. She was just about asleep when she felt something at the edge of her senses. She couldn't quite tune it out so she listened a bit more, and then groaned. 'Dammit it Jinx, you know better…'

TIME: 1:37.

Starfire flew down the halls, pausing by the infirmary to peer inside. Johnny had fallen asleep and his head lolled over. His hand was intertwined with one of Blackfire's and both seemed pretty content in their sleep.

Holding back a giggle, she kept flying by. She may not have approved… but they certainly were a match. Starfire flew by Robin's room and knocked. No response. Sighing, she knew where he was.

The alien princess flew into the evidence room.

Robin had contacted the police station and they had given him a copy of everything they could find on the cannibals, backgrounds, things found at the crime scenes… and he was searching for an advantage that can be had by them. Anything to give them more of an upper hand…

A hand rested on his shoulder. "Robin. Go to bed." Starfire's voice was firm. "Give me ten more minutes, I know I'm looking right past something." Robin said. "No." Actually using her strength, Starfire picked him off his chair and set him away from the desk.

Robin stared at Starfire in surprise. "I am NOT losing you to a case again." Starfire said firmly. "Star… it'll be okay… I just need to stop more people from being hurt…" Robin said. Starfire pointed at the clock. "It is after midnight, you need rest so we can find them tomorrow!"

The Boy Wonder's shoulders sagged. "You know, if any other person had said that I'd accuse them of insubordination…" He mumbled. "True, but I am your 'girlfriend'… not another person." Starfire said, smiling. Robin smiled weakly back. "Fine… I'll go to bed."

TIME: 2:24

Someone stumbled onto the island. He got three steps before he fell over again, gasping in pain. 'No, I must keep my head clear…' He thought, shaking his head dizzily and forcing himself up to keep walking.

With his red eyes, he saw a laser. Perfect, trip that… then… sleep…

No more strength. He was completely out. He fell onto the ground, inches from the laser. He stretched his functioning arm and barely skimmed the laser… but that was enough.

Alarms started blaring and he smiled… now… he could sleep.

Robin peered out of his room. "Trouble!" He yelled.

The rest of the titans hurried down. Johnny poked his head out of the infirmary. "What's going on?" He questioned. "Stay here with Blackfire, we'll find out." Robin ordered. Johnny growled but remained there.

Starfire flew about and landed where a boat was pulled up. "Someone is here… but what is this?" She wiped something off the seat of the boat. It was neon blue liquid, but certainly not water. Examining it closer, Starfire gasped. "Blood." She said. "Over here!" Cyborg yelled, going by where the alarm was tripped.

It was XL Terrestrial… or what was left of him.

He was slashed up pretty bad; some places on him were stitched up crudely. His uniform was nearly shredded, the top was completely gone and his pants were torn and covered in his blood and red blood. His head clearly had been bit and possibly gnawed on; his right antenna was torn clear off, same with the right ear. One eyelid was shut impossibly tight and surrounded also by the blue blood- the eye was gouged out. His worst injury was the fact he was missing his left arm. It had been cut halfway before someone decided to just rip it off, judging by the clean tear halfway and the rest looking ragged.

Robin ran up to him and kneeled down. "… He somehow got away from the cannibals." He said sadly. "Only to die here." Starfire whimpered, landing by the alien. Raven also landed and examined closer… then gasped. "Robin, he's still alive! I can still feel his mind… but he's fading fast. Come on, if we hurry we can save him!"

Making a canopy of dark energy, Raven began to levitate XL to the infirmary. He slightly groaned as he was lifted, revealing that he was miraculously alive.

When they got to the infirmary Raven set XL on the spare bed. Johnny's eyes widened. "Is that…" Robin nodded. "Yes." Blackfire, also awake, struggled and managed to sit up. "How is he still alive?" She questioned in shock.

Robin shrugged. "Because he's a stubborn son of a bitch." Johnny said, slightly smirking. Robin rolled his eyes. "I don't doubt it, but we still need to stop the bleeding. Cyborg, Raven?" He questioned. "Don't need to say it twice." Raven said, eyes glowing. She began healing the worse wounds, and discovered that originally he had three kidneys and two hearts… he was now missing two kidneys and one of those hearts. Blackfire supplied that he could live without them but before she could give the full explanation she fell back to sleep herself.

It took several hours but they got him out of danger.

It was now six AM.

Starfire and Robin had fallen asleep outside. Beast Boy, as a dog, was curled up next to Raven's feet. Raven was now sitting in a chair, too tired to move. "Let's hope he wakes up." Cyborg said, wiping the sweat off the human side of his face.

Raven nodded. "Let's hope." She breathed out exhaustedly. "You. Bed. Now." Cyborg ordered. Raven smiled weakly. "Sounds good… don't know how I'll get there." She joked. At that point, Beast Boy crawled away and shifted into a horse. Neighing, he looked at Raven expectantly. "Very funny." Raven said, but still took the ride gratefully.

Cyborg took the chair. Johnny was also awake, he had watched with a rather morbid interest. "You should go to bed too." Cyborg pointed out. "I'm good. Chair's comfy." Johnny said. "If you say so, man." Cyborg hurried to his room to get charged.

At ten AM the HIVE arrived.

Robin broke the news to them about XL. Angel seemed very relieved. "At least he's alive." She said. "Of course he's alive! The crud muncher wouldn't let himself die!" Gizmo sneered.

See-More seemed relaxed. "Can we see him?" He asked. "Raven said it would better to wait till he wakes up." Robin said. "Aw, I wanna see him!" Billy complained. "… He was seriously scarred up by the attack." Robin chose his words delicately.

Kyd shrugged. 'He's still our friend, and we've probably seen him worse.' He signed. Robin just went out and said it after telling Angel to clamp her hands over Gizmo's ears: "His left arm was amputated. His right antenna and ear have been torn off. The left eye was gouged out. There's also a bunch of other injuries, but those are the most evident ones."

See-More shrugged. "We've seen him worse." He said. Robin raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"See-More means that I regenerate."

It was XL Terrestrial. His uniform was still torn up, and he still looked like hell, but he wasn't bloody, and he was standing under his own power.

A flying tackle by Angel nearly undid that. "Ah! Unleash me!" XL yelped, struggling. "But… but I thought you were dead…" She said, holding him up and sobbing. XL rolled his remaining eye. "Well. I'm not. So quit acting like a pathetic human and release me."

Robin narrowed his eyes. "For one you shouldn't be out of bed. And for two, she was worried. You could at least be somewhat sympathetic." XL snorted, then winced in pain. "Remind me NOT to do that…" "It's all right Robin, he's normally a dick." Angel said, letting go of the alien and rubbing away her tears.

XL nodded. "You mean I am practical. There is a difference." He said. Angel helped him onto the couch and he told his story. "I have been under the cannibal's captivity for I believe about four days. You can obviously see the damage. But however, I have learned valuable information during that time. I convinced them to keep me alive as an 'everlasting' food source, but since I regenerate rather slowly, it'll take me at least two months to become fully myself again. They intended on finishing me off last night but I got away when they were attempting to remove my arm, which is why the wound is ragged."

Starfire gasped. "How did you do it?" XL turned and winked his remaining eye at Starfire. "Let's just say I got trained well, Princess." He said. The look on Robin's face- priceless.

See-More cleared his throat after holding back more laughter. "K… Kyd, take Angel with you and get XL's spare uniform at the base. XL, what have you learned about our little cannibal friends?"

After Kyd vanished along with Angel, XL began delivering his report. "Thirteen in all, most are young females, only four are meta human, Ariel, with the ability of panic, Plague, who can heal and cause disease, Cleo, with super strength, and Lucinda, the leader, an alien. They are extremely saddened by the loss of Marissa and have burned her body, spread her ashes. However, here's the important part…"

XL grinned. "Not all of them are under mind control or drugs. Marissa was one of the ones who joined on her own free will." See-More sighed with relief. "That. Makes me feel so much better." He muttered. "Which ones are controlled?" Robin questioned.

At this point, Angel and Kyd reappeared, with a new uniform for XL. "May I at least change first?" He questioned. "You may." Robin said. XL nodded and quickly left the room.

When Robin got upstairs, XL had fallen back asleep, but he had written down everything on a piece of paper that he thought could be useful-

1. Marissa Wells- 18. White. Orange hair. Black eyes. Freckles. Missing right eye tooth.

2. Samatha Black- 17. White. Black curls. Amber eyes. Mole under lip. Controlled.

3. Eve London- 27. Hispanic. Brown hair, blonde tips. Mottled green eyes. Scar below right eye.

4. Coraline Davis- 24. Black. Black hair is in dreads. Black eyes. Lip ring/eyebrow/tongue ring. Controlled.

5. Gloria Faust- 15. Asian. Head is shaved. Green eyes. Also several piercings. Controlled.

6. Ariel Poppins- 22. White. Green hair. Orange eyes. Black snake tattoos going from shoulder blades to hands.

7. Willow Ashton- 16. Hispanic. Black hair. Light blue eyes. Controlled.

8. Lydia Hadley- 16. White. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Scars stretching from her mouth outwards, like a smile. Controlled.

9. Aria Dawson- 25. Black. Black hair. Black eyes. Several scars on arms from self-harm.

10. Katrina 'Plague' Dunn- 22. Asian. Bleached white hair. Gray eyes that look swollen and infected. Pus/blood comes from them at times.

11. Amethyst Hunter- 19. White. Red long hair, to her hips. Mint green eyes. Skin is tanned. Tattoo of a cat between shoulder blades.

12. Cleo Berry- 20. Indian. Black bob cut. Red eyes. Extremely muscled.

13. Lucinda? - 25. Blue, smooth skin. Thin black hair. Black out eyes. Fangs, claws. Leader.

One more thing was written on the bottom- 'Tomorrow, strike.'

Robin resolved to do so.

(The first battle is next update!

Bye byes, remember to review!)