The Chapter 22: Breaking Apart
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"See, your problem is that you don't factor in the buyer's personal opinion. Although they aren't supposed to make decisions based on personal reasons, they do it anyway. You have to prepare for those kinds of things."

"Ah ok. Thanks, Rachel."

"Have a good day, Tom." People were warming up to Raven. She had been working there for almost a month now and the trip was on Friday. In two days they'd be out of the public eye and she could finally go back to her normal life. But she couldn't just do that.

A lot can happen in a month. Starfire was very close to her, Vic was like her big brother, and Gar had become virtually her best friend. She couldn't deny it, she cared for them, and that was a massive issue.

There was something else bothering her too. Dick called her to his office. He hadn't called her to her office in quite a long time. Nobody has seen him much either. Not even Starfire. She's told people that he's either been out at night or been here working overtime. She had a feeling that he was up to something. Something having to do with Nightengale. Which worried her.

She waved bye to Tom and headed to the door with the platinum plaque.

She knocked on the door.

"Dick? You asked for me?" She called through the door.

"Come in, Rachel." He said back through the door calmly. She scanned her hand and she went in. Immediately she sensed Dick's strong emotions. He felt triumphant, accomplished, smart, and clever about whatever he just finished. It almost felt like a stain on the room that couldn't be washed away. It needed to wear away on its own, and that surely wasn't going to happen.

Even his face showed it. He was in a good mood. He looked tired though. Like he hadn't slept for days.

"Dick? You look happy."

"I am."

"But you look tired. When was the last time you slept?" She asked putting her stuff down. She blatantly made her suspicion of him known. He either didn't notice or decided to ignore it.

"That doesn't matter. I'll sleep well for the next two days. This vacation is going to be well worth the wait."

"What did you do?" She asked bluntly.

"I figured you would ask."

"Well nobody has seen you for a while, Dick. I figured you were doing something important." She crossed her arms. "Something important related to Nightengale?" Robin smirked and Raven remained indifferent.

"This is why I hired you. Come over here." He got up and walked over to a small table in the back of the office sitting up against the window. She walked over and she felt a strange wave of energy fall over her. She suddenly felt extremely weak. Like all her power just got stripped away from her.

On the table was a small computer chip on a stainless steel pan.

"A chip." She stated.

"Not just any chip. This little thing is going to protect us from Nightengale." Raven took a deep breath. That must be what's making her feel so weak.

"How's it work?" She managed to keep her voice the same.

"I was analyzing the data we got from Nightengale's failed break-in," Failed... "and I found out that that suit of hers emits a certain energy. It's like radiation...kind of. It's made up of a lot of things, some of which I'm pretty sure aren't from Earth." She pretended to look surprised.

"Nightengale isn't from Earth?"

"Exactly. This chip was made to detect that radiation and once it does it activates. It's meant to go in our phones. So once it activates, we'll get a notification on our phones that Nightengale is near."

"Is that all it is? A detection system?"

"Nope." He smiled. "It cancels out that radiation from her suit." Raven looked at him skeptically.

"How exactly is that supposed to help us?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I have a hunch that that suit has a great hand in those powers she likes to show off."

You have no idea.

"So this chip can diminish that power depending on how close she is. Of course, that won't affect her hand-to-hand combat skills, but I think with those powers disabled we'll have a literal fighting chance."

"This is a pretty amazing thing you've made, Dick." She couldn't deny it, she was actually impressed. She didn't think Dick could develop such a contraption. Especially on his own.

"Why thank you, Rachel." He took a bow and she rolled her eyes.

"Why are you so corny?"

"I've been told I get like my wife when I'm in a good mood."

"That explains it."

"I'm going to have Cyborg put these in all of our phones. The five of us. So that way when we're in Hawaii we're completely safe."

This just threw an even bigger wrench in her plan than she thought.

Being this close to it Raven felt completely powerless. On top of that she had about 50% of her normal energy level, and if she were to attack Robin right now, a punch would feel like a baby tried to slap him. Well, not that weak but it would still be weaker than the normal ones she's throwing.

Then she sharply inhaled and then held her head.

"Damn..."

"Rachel? Are you alright?"

"I need to go to the bathroom." She quickly walked to the bathroom and locked the door. "Agh..." she leaned up against the door and slid down it slowly.

What am I going to do? I didn't even have my suit on and I felt that chip's effect. I'm obviously not putting that thing in my phone. And I'm not letting Vic take my phone either. I'll just have to say that I installed it myself or something. It would be suicide to bring that thing home with me.

That radiation from my suit... Is that from all the mods Matt installed or is that just from my powers? Mom always did say I had a strong aura.

She buried her head in her hands and slid them down her face.

Pull it together Raven. Nobody said that this would be easy. You should have expected this. We just have to tweak the plan. That's all. That's all we have to do... Tweak the plan... yeah...

"Hey, Rach you good?" Dick knocked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Give me a second." She walked over to the sink and washed her face. "Ok."

She opened the door and came face to face with a worried Dick.

"Rachel, are you ok?"

"Don't ask me that." She replied to him curtly. He furrowed his brow, displeased at the way she spoke to him.

"Look, Rachel—" she put her hand up to stop him.

"No, you listen. You've made a remarkable thing, Dick. Don't waste it. Your plan was to install them into our phones right? I'll install mine myself. My phone is a special model I made. I'll come back to pick up my chip so I can install it."

"You know how?"

"Yes. I haven't shown you all my tricks, Dick." Nor will I ever. "I'm going downstairs to talk to Gar. See you later." She promptly grabbed her stuff and left the door to close on its own. The farther she got from that office the stronger she felt. And the more she wanted to kill him first.

"Woah he what??" Gar asked enthusiastically. Raven wasn't having any of it.

"He basically built a tracker that cripples Nightengale."

"Man, for once Dick did something useful. So that's what he's been doing this whole time."

"Yeah. I was impressed. He wants us all to install it in our phones today. I made my phone so I'm going to do it myself."

"You made your phone?" Haha. No.

"Mhm."

"A girl with many talents." Gar folded his arms and grinned at her. She just frowned and looked at the clock. "I know. I want to get out of here too. Hawaii is only a few days away though, so you won't have to wait too much longer."

"Huh? Oh. Right. The trip. I was just thinking about something else."

"What is it? You know you can talk to me, Rach."

"Yeah, I know. But—" She stopped.

"Rachel?"

"I...messed up something. Badly. And now everything is backfiring on me. I failed and now things are worse because of it."

"Is that why you've been acting so odd?"

"I guess...I can't really talk specifics though. Telling you is pointless anyways."

"It's not pointless. You said something at least. That's better than keeping it bottled up inside." He sat down next to her and leaned back in the chair.

"Easy for you to say. I'm always keeping things inside. If I uncork the bottle bad things have and will happen."

"I always figured you held back. You always seem so reserved. Why?" She stared blankly at him.

"Do I look like someone who would be outgoing and friendly, Gar?" Her dark eyes sliced through him like a hot knife through butter. He got her point loud and clear.

"Not really."

"Good."

"You like being like that?"

"I'm satisfied with it, yes." She replied, clearly dodging the question.

"Don't avoid the question. I know you know what I mean." He said strongly. She stares at Gar for a second. And then she laughed lightly.

"You remind me of a friend. He says stuff like that all the time." Wait did I just call Matt my friend? "Uh, nevermind." He put his hand on her's.

Hmm, I wonder why. Gar thought. The thought made him smile. Raven didn't seem to mind him much at all

"But...if I'm being honest though, I don't really like it. But I have to. I don't have a choice. This is why I messed up, I let my emotions control me for a second and I ruined everything..." she accidentally let a tear escape from her eye and as soon as she realized she swiped it away, breaking contact with Gar's hand. She managed to pull literally any emotion she had in her face out. She looked like an expressionless doll. A creepy one. "I have to go." She stood up and immediately headed for the door without a second thought.

"Wait," He grabbed her arm as she got up. "Where are you going?"

"Downstairs." She pulled her hand out of his and left.

What is with her? I know that chip is a problem but all this seems to have...broken her...

He went into the closet and pulled out Matt's phone. He dialed Raven and she picked up almost instantly.

"Hey, Rave." Wow, she picked up fast. "I had some time so I figured that I'd call."

"Matt, something just happened."

"What happened?" he tried to sound genuinely clueless about it.

"It's Dick. He made a chip that stops my powers." She whispered into the phone. "And it detects when I'm near. He specifically made it for the trip, Matt."

"Oh god. Tell me you've got a contingency plan?" He asked.

"I just thought of one. I know a guy who can help get what I need. I was going to call him as soon as I get where I'm going."

"Raven, where exactly are you going?"

"I'm...you don't need to know."

"Fine. Just please don't do anything stupid." He warned.

"Honestly, this is a really stupid idea."

"Then why are you doing it?" He sounded worried.

"Because I have no other choice, Matt." She hung up the phone with that.

He was right. Raven was really breaking up about this mission. Hopefully, he didn't make her fall apart completely.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY this took so long to update. Life has just been hard. The book is almost over. I will try to get the next chapter up ASAP! ;3