Hikaru and Raven moved back-to-back, their teamwork instinctive from hours of training together. Raven's soul-self swept through attackers while Hikaru's blade cut through the air in precise arcs, each strike disabling without maiming. For a second Hikaru wondered if he should just unleash his flames but dismissed the thought just as quickly, he could use his flames against someone as resilient as Deathstroke but unleashing them on Brother Blood and he just might kill him instantly.
But there were too many, and Brother Blood kept pouring more energy into them, making them faster, stronger, more coordinated.
"Raven!" Robin's voice burst through the comm. "We're pinned down on the north side—he's throwing everything at us!"
"Same here," Cyborg reported. "This guy's got serious range!"
Brother Blood smiled from his platform. "You see? This is the power of true faith. These people serve willingly, offering their minds to a greater purpose. Can your pathetic teamwork compare to absolute devotion?"
"Actually," Hikaru said, disabling two more cultists, "yeah. Yeah it can."
He reached out through his comm. "Robin—Pattern Lambda. Now!"
There was a pause—just a heartbeat. Then Robin's voice came back, sharp and certain. "Lambda confirmed. All teams execute!"
The Titans had drilled dozens of coordinated maneuvers, practicing until they could execute them perfectly even under pressure. Pattern Lambda was designed specifically for scenarios where they were separated but needed synchronized action.
Hikaru counted down in his head. Three... two... one...
Throughout the building, the Titans acted simultaneously. Cyborg's sonic cannon fired at maximum power. Starfire unleashed a sustained starbolt beam. Donna struck structural supports. Beast Boy became a massive elephant, charging. Kid Flash generated a vortex. Terra raised the ground beneath them.
The combined assault created a shockwave that rippled through the entire building. The vibrations disrupted Brother Blood's concentration for just a moment—his control flickering.
That moment was all Raven needed.
Her soul-self exploded outward in a massive wave, absorbing the psychic energy binding the cultists. The red glow in their eyes flickered and died. Throughout the chamber, throughout the building, people collapsed as their minds were suddenly their own again.
Brother Blood staggered, his connection severed. "Impossible—"
Hikaru was already moving. His light-form carried him across the chamber in a fraction of a second, materializing directly in front of the platform with his sword raised.
Brother Blood's hands came up, red energy forming a barrier that caught Hikaru's blade inches from his face. "Impressive speed, angel-spawn. But you'll need more than—"
Raven's dark energy slammed into him from behind, breaking his shield. Hikaru's pommel strike caught him in the temple, and Brother Blood dropped like a stone.
For a moment, the chamber was silent except for heavy breathing.
"Status?" Robin's voice came through the comm.
"Target secured," Hikaru reported, checking Brother Blood's pulse to confirm he was just unconscious. "Building clear?"
"Affirmative," Cyborg said. "All cultists are down and waking up confused as hell. I'm reading maybe a dozen who seem to have been actual believers, but the rest are civilians who got brainwashed."
"Police are here," Donna added. "Fire department too. This is about to become a circus."
Hikaru looked at Raven. She was pale, her hands trembling slightly from the massive expenditure of power, but her eyes were clear.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I will be." She stared down at Brother Blood's unconscious form. "He wanted to use me to summon my father. To give Trigon a doorway into this world."
"But he didn't," Hikaru said firmly. "We stopped him."
Raven nodded, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "Together."
Robin descended the stairs with Cyborg, both surveying the chamber with professional assessment. "Impressive work. Clean takedown, minimal casualties, and you kept him alive for questioning."
"What'll happen to him?" Hikaru asked, already guessing the answer.
"Belle Reve, most likely." Robin secured zip ties around Brother Blood's wrists. "Maximum security, psychic dampeners. He won't be bothering anyone for a very long time."
Upstairs, they could hear confused voices as the freed cultists realized where they were and what had happened. Sirens wailed outside as more emergency vehicles arrived.
The Titans regrouped in the main chamber as the authorities began processing the scene. Many of the cultists were clearly victims—ordinary people who'd been seeking community or purpose and found a mind-controlling cult instead. Some wept, some raged, but all shared the haunted look of violated autonomy.
"The Church of Blood is done in Jump City," Robin said with satisfaction. "Once this hits the news, their recruitment will dry up. People will know what they really are."
"Good," Raven said quietly. "Let them be exposed."
Starfire moved to Hikaru's side, her hand finding his. "You were fantastic."
"Thanks, Kory." He smiled at her concern. "You were too. That sustained starbolt beam looked intense."
"Yes I was. Though I admit I will sleep soundly tonight." She glanced at Raven. "Friend Raven, are you requiring support?"
Raven shook her head. "I'm... actually alright. Tired, but alright."
Terra approached, her expression somewhere between impressed and concerned. "That was insane. You guys just took down an entire cult."
"You mean, we took down an enitre cult." Hikaru corrected her with a grin.
Terra nodded returning his smile with her own.
"Team effort," Beast Boy said, matching also smiling despite his exhaustion. "That's how we roll."
As the authorities secured Brother Blood and began evacuating the freed cultists, the Titans made their way outside. Jump City's skyline glittered in the distance, peaceful and unaware of how close it had come to something terrible.
"We should get back to the Tower," Robin said. "Debrief, medical checks, and then rest. It's been a long day."
The team moved toward their various modes of transport—Cyborg's T-Car, Robin's R-Cycle, and the fliers preparing to take to the air.
Hikaru felt Raven's presence beside him. "Thank you," she said quietly. "For today."
"Anytime," he said simply. "I'd never let them hurt you."
She studied him for a moment, her violet eyes unreadable. Then, almost reluctantly, she smiled—small and brief, but no doubt a smile. "Yeah. Neither would I."
As they returned to Titans Tower, Hikaru reflected on how far they'd come. Just months ago, he'd been a solo vigilante, keeping everyone at arm's length. Now he was part of a team that functioned like a well-oiled machine, protecting each other and the city.
And Brother Blood, wherever they locked him up, would have plenty of time to contemplate his failure.