Chapter 2: A Star Has Fallen

Nightwing got closer to Titan's Tower. The air was heavy with smoke; the Tower was on fire. He landed on the island and ran inside calling Oracle as he made his way into the blazing tower. "Get everyone here, JLA, Outsiders, JSA…everyone, It's a Code Red." He could barely see through the thick, black smoke.

"What is it, Dick? What's happened to the Titans?"

"The Tower is on fire. It looks like the entire city is without power and-AHH!!" He could feel the cold steel cut through his costume, the blood spilling down his chest.

"Dick, come in! Hello?" She got no response. Dick fell down. He took out a Wing-Ding and looked around, he saw nothing at first….and then…something. Black, grey, orange…Deathstroke. Nightwing kicked him in the stomach. Sending him crashing to the ground. He tossed the Ding, knocking Deathstroke's sword away from him, and jumped on him, punching him in the face a few times.

"WHY SLADE??? WHY??" He punched him again.

"The money."

"FUCK THE MONEY!! YOU HAVE MONEY!!" He punched him again. "This is beyond that now isn't it?"

"Yes, yes it is." He said calmly, it enraged Dick and he punched him again.

"Your under arrest." Nightwing handcuffed him to a rail.

"You think this is going to hold me? Don't make me laugh." Nightwing took his head and pushed it into the rail, knocking him out.

"No, but that should." Nightwing ran into the tower. "I'm fine Babs, I think. I'm bleeding but I'll live, I knocked out and hand cuffed Deathstroke. You get on those calls?" Nightwing looked around but didnt see anything, he called out "Is anyone here? Robin, Wonder girl?"

"The JSA is on a mission as are the Outsiders and the JLA wont respond."

"Damn, ok, Nightwing out." He searched the first floor and found nothing, he ran upstairs, still nothing, as entered the third floor he heard something. "Hello!" He yelled.

"In here." Said a voice weakly from the other room. It was a training area, but now it was just a bunch of broken machines. He saw Tim, in full Robin attire on the ground, he was bruised up and his nose was bleeding. Nightwing knelt down. "Hey Dick, did you find him?"

Nightwing nodded. "Yeah, now I'm going to get you outta here."

"No, I think I can walk, go help Vic, he's on the tenth floor, go." Robin stood up. "See, I'll be fine go."

"Get outta here, go to the bat-plane."

"He let you take the plane? Wow." He sounded weak. Tim headed for the stairs, limping the entire way. Dick ran up flight after flight of stairs until he reached the tenth floor, he looked around and saw Cyborg.

"Vic, you ok?" He knew the answer; Cyborg was missing an arm and half his head. "Vic? Hello? DAMN!!!" He started to cry. "Damn it." There was a strong gust of wind as the smoke was forced away. Dick could see Kyle, the Green Lantern. Kyle flew in and saw Dick crying. Dick looked up at him and nodded. Kyle used his ring to pick Cyborg up.

"Check the rest of the tower, I'll take him to STARS, I'll be right back." He flew off and Dick stood. He wiped the tears away and ran up more stairs, without the smoke it was easier to look around, 3 floors with nothing and then he saw her. He ran over to her, her orange skin covered with dirt, dust, and blood.

"Kory, are you ok?" She looked at him with a smile but didn't say a word. Dick nodded and held her in his arms. He could feel it, she was dieing. "I want to tell you something Kory. I never stopped loving you." He broke down and cried "I love you. I love you." She looked at him, her smile weakening.

"I love you too." She said as she left this plane. Dick could no longer control himself, he broke completely down. He cried, he couldn't stop. Kyle came back and saw them. He was shocked. He looked at Dick, who stood up and ran, jumping out the window. He fell at top speed before using his zip line and sliding towards where he left Deathstoke. He landed and walked over to him. Deathstroke smiled. Dick kicked him in the face knocking out a tooth.

"You found her." He said, wiping the blood from his lip. Nightwing walked over and picked up his sword and put the blade to Deathstroke's neck. "Do it. I dare you. You couldn't live with Blockbuster's death, do you think you can live with mine?"

"I won't kill you, it's just not me, but I'm all for excessive force." Nightwing swung the sword and cut off three of Deathstoke's fingers.

"AHHAAAAHHHHHHH!!! You're dead, you hear me? YOU'RE DEAD!!!" He swung it again, this time cutting off his other hand.

"Try killing, without a hand."

Kyle flew down. "There's no one else in there, Vic says Slade took them. Is that him? My god! What did you do to him?"

"Take him away and find out where the Titans are. I'll be back." Dick ran back into the tower. He ran down the stairs and hopped on a motorcycle. He entered the tunnel to town and the motor could be heard, echoing through the tunnel. He was injured, his head and his chest, but he knew he needed to press on. As he drove, he kept thinking of Kory. Almost 15 hours later he entered Central City, home of the Flash. Still, he continued. He would have taken the plane but he needed time to think. He didn't care if Bruce got angry. Nightwing didn't have a cave to hide in. It's all my fault. It was already dark as he entered the ruins of Bludhaven. If only I had stopped them first. He entered Gotham, stopping in front of a building. This was the place…the place where the Big Top once stood. The place where his parents died. If only I'd told them what I had seen. He continued east to New York. He got to his apartment and bandaged his head up, then his chest. He was just sitting back to relax when the phone rang. He picked it up. "Hello?"

"I heard, I'm so sorry." Dick was silent. "I understand, but I thought you might want to know where the Titans are. An Island off the coast of New Jersey, I'll send you the GPS location. I'm sorry Dick."

Dick hung the phone up and got dressed. He didn't have an extra suit so he put on the one with the hole in the front. The blood was already seeping through the bandage.

He had purchased a boat a few years back but had never used it before. He jumped down onto the dock, started the boat and headed for the island.