This chapter begins on a high note, or rather, a high scorpion. As it appears that a rather large insect was chasing a tiny, blonde girl in a rocky landscape; her most notable features would be her brown leather gloves, and a butterfly shaped hair clip.

As the young lady charges ahead, the giant tail is lifted for a strike; it comes down inches from her and throws her off balance. She skids across the ground and rubs her head, finding that her hair clip has been knocked loose to fall nearby. As she reaches for it, that enormous stinger punches into the dirt and again just misses her; she is off and running in an instant, with the creature giving chase.

Now she swerves to avoid an outcropping, which is destroyed by a sweep of the scorpion's claws, and vaults over a lower formation to keep ahead. She runs flat out, stopping at a wall of rock and turns to find the beast's shadow falling over her. She cowers against the sheer face as the scorpion prepares to lunge. But before the creature can move, though, a tremor shakes the ground. The girl's eyes are now glowing yellow and whose mouth has assumed a cruel smile; her hair blows all around her.

The rocks begins to crack and shift, and one end of a natural bridge across the canyon breaks loose and is lifted into the air, pulling free; she raises her hands and groans with the effort as the slab goes higher and higher. Her hands are glowing as well as she brings them down, and the rock drops squarely on top of the scorpion to crush it flat. One final tail spasm and scream of pain, and the thing falls silent.

And from atop this canyon, our five heroes had been observing this fight, thinking they had to intervene. Specifically, Devan had taken the form of a robotic armadillo, with pistons on his elbows.

Devan: Huh, that was unexpected.

Starfire: She was not in trouble...

Cyborg: She was leading it into a trap!

Raven: Question is...

Beast Boy: (Awestruck) ...Who is she...?

Oh, but if only they knew who else was watching...

(...)

A quick gesture, and the patch of rock she stands on has broken loose and begun to carry her up to the ledge. She does a triumphant little spin before reaching the Titans, then jumps over to them. The rock falls away.

???: (Cockily) What? Haven't you guys ever seen a superhero before?

For a few seconds, all five are at a loss for words. Finally the leader steps forward.

Devan: Heh, guess you can say we're heroes, too. (He holds out his hand to shake.) They call me Omni-Boy. We're the--

Terra: (She taps her fists against it.) --Teen Titans, rock on! It's cool to meet you guys. I'm Terra, and you're...Cyborg, Raven, Starfire...and...

Beast Boy: Boy Beast! ...uh, I-I mean, Bass Boot! Boo's Beat!

Terra: Beast Boy?

He screams in embarrassment and turns into a turtle, tucking head and legs into the shell and spinning in midair.

Terra: ...Hahaha! Dude! He's hilarious!

He abruptly stops spinning.

Beast Boy: Hilarious? Me?? Really???

She tips him a wink. In no time flat, he is back in human form and absolutely thunderstruck.

Hearts float up from him as he staggers giddily about with more of the same in his eyes and passes out; Starfire flies over to her.

Starfire: Curiosity abounds! Please tell me... (She leans into her face.) Where do you come from; how did you get here; what is your favorite color; do you wish to be my friend???

Terra: Um...Earth, walked, red, and...sure?

Starfire: Hello, new friend!!

Bones can be heard grind against one another as the Tameraneon swoops Terra into a bear hug.

Terra: H-How's it going...?

Starfire releases her crushing grip, and the new arrival drops back to the ledge, but her arms are a bit out of joint now. As she straightens them, Beast Boy pokes his head out finally, he pops up next to her.

Beast Boy: (Blushing) So, what brings such a cool little chickie to our big, groovy city, huh?

Terra: I go where the wind takes me, you know? I get to see new places, meet new people, stomp a few bad guys here and there...

Beast Boy: Cool!

Starfire: Fascinating!

Cyborg: Well, all right!

Devan: Wait a sec! So you don't have a home or anything to go back to? Man...

Terra: The Earth is my home. I've been crashing in a cave on the other side of the hill.

Starfire: Unacceptable! I cannot permit my new friend to slumber in a lonely cave of darkness!

Terra: I have a flashlight.

Starfire grabs her arm and hauls her past the others.

Starfire: You will stay with us!

Terra: Really, I-I'm...

Cyborg: Come on, we got plenty of room.

Beast Boy: Yeah! And, I can make you laugh some more. (God decided to have Groucho Marx joke glasses appear on his face.) I'm hilarious, remember?

Terra: Hehehe, well, I guess I could stay one night...

Starfire: Oh, glorious!

Beast Boy: Yes!

Cyborg: Let's get to it then!

Raven looks after the departing foursome, while the mechanical alien kneels for a closer look at the battle site; she turns to him.

Raven: Everything okay?

Facing the ground, he picks up a decent clump of dry dirt and lets it fall back in a steady flow, inspecting a grain or two in between his fingers as he continues.

Devan: Hm, I'm not sure. (Reverts to normal.) Something just doesn't feel right...

His Omnitrix lit up, and his hoverboard was projected from the core; flashing into a solid object and falling into Morgan's hands. With this, the two fly off towards their comrades, completely unaware of a particular, prying eye.

???: ...I hope you don't get too attached, I saw her first...

(...)

--Titans Tower--

Terra looks around the operations center, clearly impressed by what she sees, while the others are elsewhere in the place.

Terra: Whoa! Nice digs! And check out the view!

She flops onto the couch and puts her feet up on the coffee table.

Terra: I can't believe you guys actually live here!

Beast Boy pokes his head up and vaults onto the couch.

Beast Boy: Su casa es mi casa! So do you want the grand tour, or...

Terra: Got any food??

They did, or rather, they did until she asked. Because not too long after, most of our Titans watched from a distance as Terra shoveled plate upon plate of food into her face. Even when dishes were stacked up higher than the girl herself, she continued eating as if she would immediately die if she wasn't, but judging by her rail-thin body, she most likely hasn't had a decent meal in a good long while.

Cyborg: Man, talk about All-you-can-Eat...

Devan: Yeah, and here I thought Grub-Bub put away more.

Terra wolfs down some more food from the bowl in front of her, then tips the rest of the contents into her mouth. She throws the empty container aside and proceeds to gulp down an entire meatloaf in one instant. After a monstrous belch, Starfire descends into view next to her, carrying a plate of what could be some alien Jell-O mold.

Starfire: Might you now wish to partake of my homemade Glorg?

She holds up the food on the end of this line; embedded in the gelatinous mass are several gray, wriggling, worm-like things.

Titans: NO!!

But it is too late, as Terra consumes whatever a Glorg is with great enthusiasm.

Terra: Hm, tastes like sushi, mixed up with ice cream. Got any more?

Starfire: I shall go cultivate the fungus!

She flies off, plate in hand, and Terra turns her attention to the other Titans.

Terra: So, where's the tub?

(...)

Cyborg: Whoa...

Cyborg and Beast Boy peek in around the frame and are absolutely floored by whatever is inside. If we shift to their perspective, looking into the bathroom, the shower curtain, bathtub, walls, floor, towels; all are liberally splattered with dirt and marked with the prints of grubby hands and feet.

Cyborg: Mud bath...

Terra has now finished her bath and changed into a white robe and slippers. A towel is wrapped around her hair.

Terra: Sorry. Guess I was due for a rinse!

Dev and Raven are in the hall as Terra passed by; their faces comically distorted by disgust for both the filthy bathroom and her bad joke.

Terra: Mind if I use your sink?

(...)

Terra has now unwrapped her hair and put on headphones for a Walkman that is going full tilt. The kitchen sink is filled with soapy water; she pulls out her crop top, freshly hand-washed, and hangs it on a nearby clothesline. The rest of her outfit is already drip-drying. When she steps aside to pin the garment up, the Titans can be seen looking in from the doorway.

Raven: Well, she seems comfortable.

Beast Boy: Wonder how long it's been since she had a decent place to crash for the night?

She goes over to the couch and eases out of her slippers. Setting the Walkman on the cushions, she stretches expansively, yawns, and curls up. A moment later, she is snoring loudly and sprawled out to her full length, with one foot hanging over the edge. The Titans watch her with concern from across the room, Devan above all else.

Devan: If you ask me, she needs more than a place to crash.

Starfire: She needs a home.

Beast Boy: Why not our home? She could stay here with us.

Starfire: Yes!

Raven: I don't know.

Cyborg: She would make a good addition to the team.

Devan: Maybe...oh hey! We're having a training session tomorrow morning, we could test her with that!

One eye pops open suddenly, and the blonde girl listens carefully at the next few words.

Devan: It would be really bad if she couldn't at least prove herself to us...

(...)

A stone flies into view and skips along; close-up of the shore, where several others are lying near a backpack. Our now dejected house guest is sitting here; the backpack is hers. She has changed back into her usual outfit. A flash of her eyes sends the stone bouncing over the water. As she levitates another one, Beast Boy's voice interrupts, taking a seat next to her.

Beast Boy: So, I'm guessing the couch was too lumpy?

Terra: ...

She skips the stone without paying him too much attention. Surprised at what she has been able to do, he grabs one of his own and lets fly. It merely splashes in; she laughs at this attempt and causes another to drop into his hand. This time, he gets it right, and he laughs and flexes his muscles jokingly. She blows out a relieved little breath visibly; he responds with a loud raspberry. Now, she sticks out her tongue and pulls down on her face to distort it out of shape; he changes his head into that of a gorilla and snarls loudly. She promptly stretches her face as if it were a rubber mask; startling Beast Boy back into human form, and both laugh heartily for a moment. They cut themselves off sharply and stare into each other's eyes for a second before turning away nervously and blushing.

Terra: I can't stay...

Beast Boy: Huh? Why not?

Terra: Y'know, places to go, people to see...

Beast Boy: Come on. You know you want to stay, we've got free cable, indoor plumbing, and all the tofu you can eat!

Terra: Tofu? Heh. You sure know how to charm a girl, I-I guess I could hang out for one more day.

Beast Boy: Awesome! We're gonna have so much fun! And I can't wait to see what your powers do when you really cut 'em loose!

His last words ignite that same worry she has stepped outside to avoid in the first place. Suddenly her eyes blaze and her hair is blown straight up as light shines over her. Beast Boy is lifted into the air on the rock he was using for a seat, then gets dumped back to the shore when it pulls itself out from under him. It hits the water with a huge splash, leaving him soaked and spitting out mouthfuls of water.

Beast Boy: Oh wow...

Terra: S-Sorry! I'm sorry, I'm so stupid! Don't tell! Please don't tell!

Beast Boy: Terra, it's okay. You can't totally control your powers. So what?

Terra: Promise you won't tell anybody, ever!

Beast Boy: Sure.

Terra: Swear it!!

Beast Boy: Okay! Okay! I promise. But really, it's no big deal. If my friends knew, they'd still like you.

She turns away from him on the end of this, much to Logan's confusion.

Terra: You just don't understand...

(The next day...)

Devan taps away at a control panel; an assortment of steel pillars shoot up from the dirt. Along this pathway of paroles, Cyborg rushes through as fast as possible. In response, several laser cannons lock on target and begin to fire. Cyborg dashes, swerves, and jumps to avoid being hit; and three large gates open up before him.

Cyborg gets under the first two gates, but has to stop and catch the third before it can crush him. Straining mightily, he pushes it up on its track and is able to get clear before it crashes back down. Launchers rise from the tops of two rocks and fire a stream of disc-shaped projectiles; Cyborg brings out his sonic cannon ready and shoots down several while dodging the rest.

From here, Dev and Raven are behind the controls while Beast Boy, Starfire, and Terra cheer Cyborg on; Terra in particular has a pair of goggles hanging around her neck. He runs up, stops, and looks at the panel on his forearm; it shows a time of 2:17.

Cyborg: Boo-yah! New course record!

Raven: Well, yeah. You're the first one to do the course.

Cyborg steams a bit at her remark.

Devan: Hehe.. Okay, Terra! Ready to show us what you can do?

Terra: I just hope you're ready to see it.

Beast Boy walks over.

Beast Boy: You can do it. 'Sides, it's jut practice; it doesn't matter if you mess up. Not that you're gonna mess up, but I'm just saying that even if you really blow it, you...

On the end of this, she moves slightly away, giving him the back of her head, and puts on the goggles. A quizzical look out of the corner of her eye brings him up short.

Beast Boy: Shutting up now!

The timer on the front of the control panel starts to count down from 11.

Devan: Alright, you can go ahead as soon as you hear the buzz!

She takes a few steps away and adjusts her gloves.

Beast Boy: Come on, Terra!

Cyborg: You go, girl!

Starfire: Onward to victory!

Terra: Don't lose control. Don't lose control. Don't...

(BUZZ!)

The timer reaches zero. She clenches her fists, which glow yellow, and braces for action. Laser cannons spring out of the rocks and open up on her; she raises the spot she is standing on as a large column of stone, and the blasts strike it repeatedly. It is finally blasted apart, but she rides down on a large fragment. An even bigger one crashes down on the cannons and breaks them to scrap while throwing up a wall of dust. She rides into this; coughs a bit and then panics, yelling and waving her arms frantically, the steel fists punching up from the ground directly in her path.

A glancing blow almost knocks her from her flying perch, but she digs in her fingers and keeps aloft. Another cry of terror as she flips onto one side to avoid the next fist, but it is no use; this one smashes the rock into gravel and sends her tumbling. Thinking quickly, she levitates several boulders and grabs hold of one big enough to carry her. A relieved little sigh gives way to more panic as she realizes she is heading for a crash landing; only a mighty effort to pull up the leading edge keeps her in the air. However, she grazes a rock formation in the process.

Devan: Not too bad, eh?

He pressed a few buttons while the Titans cheer on.

Cyborg: Whoo-hoo!

Starfire: Glorious!

Beast Boy: Yeah! You da man, Terra!...um, I mean, you're the...way to go!

"Da man" in question is spinning along, barely in control of that boulder, and headed straight for the guillotine-like gates. At the last possible second, she brings up a snake of stone and causes it to punch through the upper panel of each gate. She jumps on to ride it across; it smashes the boulder to splinters.

Raven: Ooh, we're gonna need a new obstacle course...

Terra, flung free from the stone snake, drops screaming toward a large pit that is opening in the earth. She brings one rock toward herself, cannot get hold of it, and has better luck with a second, but only temporarily. Sliding to the edge, she scrabbles for a fingerhold and is unable to get one before gravity drags her off. A couple of fist-sized stones fall after her; she and they drop, after which she rises back into view, holding one in each hand. She drops them after clearing the pit and jumps onto a larger rock to sail onward.

Morgan works the controls and Raven watches, the other Titans cheer and several disc launchers pop out from the rocks. Terra, caught by surprise, pulls up the leading edge of her stone to shield herself. A quick sweep of her hand sends rock fragments of all sizes hurtling toward the projectiles and launchers; all are quickly put out of commission, and she comes in for a landing. The stone breaks when it hits the ground, throwing her ahead to skid to a very unsteady stop on her feet. As the dust clears, we see Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire staring wide-eyed at her, and she straightens up into the sort of pose every gymnast tries to nail while landing after a routine.

The three Titans break into wild cheering as Terra lowers her goggles; Beast Boy and Starfire zip over to her in time with their next few lines.

Beast Boy: You rock!

Starfire: Magnificent success!

Devan: Overall time is...one minute and fifty six seconds, faster than Cy! Not bad, T!

Cyborg: Wh-What?! Hmph, must of loosened it up for her, that's all...!

Beast Boy: (To Terra.) You were incredible!

Laughing, she sweeps him into a monster hug.

Terra: I did it! You said I could do it, and you were right!!

Hearts spew forth from the little green joker. After she lets go, he staggers woozily backward before toppling to the ground.

Devan: Had it a little rough in the middle, but what you got is some real talent!

Terra: You really think so?

Devan: Sure! Just keep training with it and you'll be -

Maverick: Maximum Alert! Repeat: Maximum Alert! Threat level is at Red!

The Omegamatrix began flashing and beeping, as did Starfire's gems, Raven's Brooch, and the other two communicators from the Titans.

Terra: Uh...ok. What's with all the beeping?

Devan: It's him...

Cyborg: Slade's back...

Terra: Who's Slade?

Beast Boy: Dude's bad news, REAL bad news!

Devan: And he's up to no good in a mine of all places. Looks like it's Hero Time again, Titans!

As Terra watches, hopelessly puzzled, they vacate the premises, but Beast Boy stops short.

Beast Boy: Hey! You coming or what?

(...)

"Protect the diamonds!"

The helpless miners were blown several feet in all directions by small explosions, the sources being small, white blaster weapons utilized by the mechanical minions of Deathstroke, who shot at the poor workers without thought or consideration.

"Forget the damn stones! We gotta get the hell outta here!", a gruff voice exclaimed, as he made a break for the exit, only to receive a falling rock to the head; his helmet taking the worst of the blow but it sent him to the ground. And when he turns over, he found one of the commandos pointing a gun at him, just standing there; still as a statue.

"D-Don't..."

(...Ping... Flash!)

Before the android could put the man down, it was set upon by a giant, orange dog of an alien, whatever it was, the miner didn't care and simply hauled his tail off to safety.

Firehound: Grr...!

The Vulpimancer bit the robot's head clean off its shoulders and tossed it to the side, just as the other Titans entered the mine. Terra comes up behind them, puts on her goggles, and takes to the air on a boulder.

Terra: You boys ready to rock?

Two robots jump on and grapple with her. At ground level, Morgan engages one, smacking it away with a massive paw to the body before jumping up toward the midair melee. The attackers are swiped to the ground, one at a time, claw marks on their bodies, and he jumps down after them. However, the sound of a weapon being primed stops him short, and the beast himself facing an entire squadron of reinforcements. As they charge, he knocks them away one after another until they simply  dogpile onto him, no pun intended; one mighty effort throws all the robots clear and leaves him standing alone, roaring triumphantly.

One robot has gained a high vantage point and is taking careful aim at Devan; Starfire flies past a load of steel girders held aloft by a crane; the shooter is perched among these. A second robot moves up to stop her, but she blows it away with a starbolt. The resulting explosion obscures the view but does not stop the shooter from pulling the trigger. The raging Firehound continues his fight with several others, and is suddenly thrown clear when the shot hits them; a yelp can be heard.

Starfire: Devan!

She doubles back toward the load of steel girders, where two other robots have joined the shooter, and slugs a trio of starbolts that send all three tumbling. They grab hold of her in midair and bear her struggling to the ground. Two more move in to lend a hand, but Cyborg seizes them and knocks their heads together. Breaking out his cannon, he runs into the fray.

Cyborg: Hang on, Star!

Now two other robots drop to ground level and charge in. A large drilling vehicle sits nearby; in short order, another has climbed into the driver's seat and fired it up; it starts toward Cyborg, who gets his cannon going at full throttle; he dispatches several aggressors, including enough of the ones holding Starfire to allow her to free herself and fly up. A laser blast strikes the cannon and forces Cyborg to cease fire. As other shots flash past, he looks over at the shooters, then up at the overhead load of girders. A well-placed shot breaks the platform holding them up and dumps a few tons of steel on the opposition. This situation is made all the better, as Vic spots the drilling machine reaching uncomfortably close to his head.

Raven: Azarath Metrion Zinthos!

She levitates a cart and sends it flying toward the robotic operator, which catches it upside the head.

Beast Boy: Raven, look out!

Several robots have gathered around her. One fires, but she shields herself from the shot and lifts off as several other blasts lance toward her. She dodges the fusillade, after which Beast Boy leaps into the free-fire zone, a transformation already in progress. The androids suddenly find themselves in a large growing shadow, and without warning Beast Boy, as a stegosaurus, lands among them to send the lot scattering. They concentrate their fire and begin to drive him back toward the entrance of a mine tunnel, where Terra is dropping a piece of the ceiling on a robot. She stops several falling rocks in midair and launches them at the robots to end their laser fire. However, the effort is visibly a genuine strain on her, judging from her groans and the flash of her eyes behind the goggles before she squeezes them shut; the light has flared up around her, but now it is blinding white.

Terra: C-Can't...control it!

The goggles' lenses shatter and there is a great flash. When the view clears, more of the ceiling begins to fall in. Beast Boy whips his tail around to repel the opposition, then returns to human form. Rocks crash down all around him due to Terra's overload. He looks up, his face goes slack, and he lets off a scared little whimper as the shadow of a descending slab grows over him.

Beast Boy: Uh oh-

(CRASH!!)

Terra: BEAST BOY!!

From afar, Devan snaps his head to attention, as does Raven, Cyborg, and Starfire; the last gasps in sheer terror. Along with the large pile of stones, several of Deathstroke's robots were crushed, hopefully not along with poor Logan. One of them starts to crawl out, its bottom half entirely gone, and others get to their feet and advance as well. Her ruined goggles now hanging around her neck, she gathers herself for a mighty effort; once again her eyes and fists glow yellow, white light surrounds her, and columns of stone descend from the ceiling to crush every robot. The last spasm of movement is from a sparking hand. When it stops, she runs off into the tunnel.

Not sensing his friend's movement anymore, the Vulpimancer whimpers as he uses his front legs to move the debris aside; Starfire joins in the effort as Cyborg fires his cannon across the area to ward off the enemy. Raven arrives a moment before the pile rumbles and the largest slab is lifted away by Beast Boy himself, now in the form of a colossal Sasquatch. He throws it aside and rubs his head.

Beast Boy: Ugh... H-Hey, where's Terra!?

(...)

Winded and exhausted, the blonde girl stumbles over to a wall and leans against it for support. After a moment to catch her breath, she slides down to the ground and looks at her hands.

Terra: Why...why can't I do this?! ...Huh?

Echoing, running footsteps from the distance draw her attention. She peers over to a junction with another tunnel, where a figure dashes past, and judging by his outfit, she knew exactly who this man was.

Terra: Slade...!

She goes after him as fast as her legs will carry her. After a few hundred yards, she skids to a stop and raises one hand to cave in the ceiling just ahead of him. Now she walks up, both hands glowing.

Terra: Looks like I've got you...

A huge leap gets him airborne and deposits him just behind her, and with a swift low kick he dumps her to the ground. Straightening up, he produces a sphere with his insignia on it.

Slade: Actually, Terra...

He throws it upward; it sticks to the ceiling and starts to beep as a red light flashes; she gets to her feet.

Slade: ...I've got you.

The device explodes in a mighty blast. When it clears, more rocks are falling from the ceiling behind him and Terra has been floored again by the shock wave.
Slade walking implacably away from this second cave-in. Emergency lights switch on at the bases of the tunnel walls, bathing the enclosed space in eerie yellow-green light. His approaching silhouette puts fresh fear into Terra, who scuttles backward a little bit and finds herself staring directly into that unmoving masked face.

Slade: You've fallen into my trap, Terra. Another mistake...

Slade: You of all people should know better. (He blocks her in with the staff.) But at least you and I are finally getting a chance to talk.

He tries a jab, but she dodges easily and counters by launching a stone at him from the wall. It zips past him, a near miss.

Slade: Hmm. I see we have MUCH to talk about.

Terra: Mind if I talk with my hands instead?

Fragments fly as she causes two large stone snakes to emerge, one from each wall. They hurtle toward Slade's position, but he dives to avoid being crushed between them. He ends up in a kneeling crouch at her feet.

Slade: Good, Terra, but not good enough...

He swings the staff and follows up with a jab; she sidesteps both attacks and somersaults away. An overhead swing also misses its mark when she rolls out of range. Before she can move again, he brings the staff down to cut off her anticipated movement. Hands to head, she huddles on the ground under his next descending blow, and a chunk of rock surges up from the ground to send him staggering backward across the tunnel.

Terra, still behind this makeshift shield, peers cautiously around the edge and sees Slade approaching. She steps out and heaves the mass toward him; planting the end of his staff in the ground, he swings himself up along its length. The rock hits the staff and breaks it, but leaves him untouched. As it crashes into the wall, he regains his footing.

Slade: Impressive strike, unless of course, you were trying to hit me.

He now walks towards the girl.

Terra: Back off! I'm with the Titans! They'll be coming to--

Slade: You don't belong with the Titans.

Terra: You don't even know anything about me!

As if on cue, he produces her missing hair clip in that hand-evidently, he palmed it after the prologue, and her face goes slack when she sees it.

Slade: On the contrary, Terra. I know everything about you, I've been watching you for some time, I know why you're always running away.

Terra: W-What?

Slade: I know your secret, little girl.

Terra: You're lying!

She rushes at him, but he seizes her wrist and forces her back to the wall.

Slade: Earthquakes. Avalanches. Mudslides. Everywhere you go, you try to do good. (Suddenly he releases his hold.) And yet every time, you fail. So everyone turns against you.

She has turned her face away, and without the clip, her hair has once again fallen forward to obscure its right half.

Slade: You lack control, Terra. And when you lose control, you are more dangerous than anything I've ever seen from this world.

She looks up at him wonderingly; he turns away. As he speaks, she notices the old hair clip was now back in its proper place.

Slade: But it doesn't have to be this way. I can help you, child.

Terra: Y-You can?

He bends over to grasp a small stone.

Slade: Right now, you are...rough around the edges.

He holds the stone into view.

Slade: You need more than obstacle courses to overcome your problem.

He now squeezes the stone viciously, and it starts to crumble.

Slade: You need a teacher. A mentor. (She looks on.) Come with me, Terra, and I can teach you how to...shine.

And upon opening his hand, the common stone was transformed into a glittering diamond.

She looks on, completely befuddled, then up at him, and finally backs away.

Terra: But...my friends told me you're...

Slade: You don't really believe they're your friends, do you, Terra?

Terra: They took me in. Gave me a home...

Slade: And when they find out what's wrong with you, they'll reject you, like everyone else.

Terra: Beast Boy--

Slade: --Can't keep his mouth shut forever. He'll tell them.

This hits a nerve; she balls her fists angrily and warms them up.

Terra: He promised!

As they continue, the tunnel starts to shake.

Slade: And he lied.

Torrents of dirt and stones go flying as she vents her rage.

Terra: Shut up! Just shut up and leave me alone!

Her eyes are tightly closed at this point; when she opens them, we see that they are glowing at full intensity. She gasps in shock and drops to her knees, hands on head.

Terra: Don't lose control...don't lose control!!

Slade: Now, Terra...how can you lose something you never had?

The debris is flying in circles around her as she voices a tormented scream.

(...)

Elsewhere in the tunnel, pieces of rock are shaken loose by the force of her outburst; in the main excavation, one last robot is knocked backward to smash against the side of a crane, accompanied by a yell from the reverting Devan. He looks up in shock and alarm as the place trembles and stones fall from above. Raven flies over, saving him from a boulder via a well-timed shield.

Raven: We need to get out of here!

Cyborg: Slade's trying to bring down the whole mine!

Omni-Boy: Yeah, but where are the others??

Starfire: I cannot locate Terra or Beast Boy!

Omni-Boy: They must be trapped somewhere, but...what the heck is he doing to shake a mine apart?!

(...)

Slade: No one else understands you, Terra. No one else can help you...I'll be waiting.

He leaves, and moments later Beast Boy, as a gopher, pops up from the ground at a distance and catches sight of the maelstrom. Diving back underground, he burrows toward it and under the edge of the funnel cloud. Inside, he emerges and returns to human form.

Beast Boy: Terra! Terra!!

He jumps toward her and is nearly swept away by the Force Ten gales. Only a one-handed grip on Terra's shoulder keeps him from saying a permanent hello to the ceiling at two hundred miles an hour. The grab shakes her out of the fit, and she fully realizes how much danger he is in. His free hand and one of hers inch slowly toward each other and take hold for dear life.

Beast Boy: It's okay, Terra. I'm here!

She falls sobbing into his arms.

Beast Boy: I'm here...

The whirlwind dissipates, leaving them to descend slowly to the ground.

Terra: You won't--

Beast Boy: I'm not gonna tell anybody. I promise.

She raised her weary, tear-streaked face as he reaches tenderly over to cradle her head. Everything was...calm, like after a bad storm. However, that only meant another was inevitable...

(...)

--Titans Tower--

Terra was inside, at the door of the operations center. She is slinging up her backpack.

Terra: Well, guys, uh...it's been real. Seriously, thanks for everything, but I should--

She turns to leave on the end of this, but the door opens to reveal Cyborg blocking her exit.

Cyborg: (Smiling) Don't even think about it.

Terra: Uh... Okay. What's going on?

Raven: Well...

Cyborg: ...We talked it over, and...

Starfire: ...We wish for you to stay here, with us!

Devan: You'd make a great addition to the crew if you're asking me.

He approached the dumbfounded Terra, holding in his hand a communicator.

Terra: Me? ...R-Really?

Devan: Sure, it would mean a whole lot, not just for the team or anything. It just feels like the right thing to do, for you...

Terra: I-I don't know...we had a rough time back in the mine.

Devan: Hey, so Slade tried to blow us up! It's not like you could've known about it, right?

Terra's eyes were wide for a moment, frightened by how close he was from discovering what really happened back there. Perhaps Beast Boy kept his promise after all?

Beast Boy: So...you wanna be a Titan?

Terra: ...

(...)

(To be continued...)