Chapter two contains the first action scene. It's not a major battle, but action is my weakest point, so I really need you to review and tell me how to improve.

Without further ado, the second chapter:

We Hope You Survive The Experience!

When Bumblebee and Jericho reached the computer, the other four boys were already huddled around it.

"It's Slade," Aqualad called as they approached. "His 'bots are holding up the Steel City Bank."

Jericho froze, his eyes wide with horror.

Bumblebee ran up to the screen, missing her newest teammate's reaction completely. "Robbing a bank? That doesn't sound like Slade. He hasn't been seen since Raven's birthday, and now he decides to rob a bank?!"

Speedy glanced at her. "You think he's up to something?"

"It's Slade," the team leader replied, "when is he not up to something? Not that it matters: We can't let him rob the bank."

The archer looked up. "Wait, should we tell the Titans West? They have some issues of their own with Slade."

"We don't have time now." Bumblebee decided, "We'll tell them afterward. TITANS GO!"

Inside the bank, the scene was one of terror and confusion.

The army of robots had been holding customers and tellers alike hostage for nearly ten minutes, but they had yet to make any demands. A tense, still silence had spread; every one of the civilians was too terrified to move.

Suddenly, unnoticed by even the robots, a thin, athletic man who had been staring out the window gave a start and began to carefully scan the room.

For several seconds, there was complete silence in the bank. Then, a barely audible whimper was heard from the corner and was silenced almost immediately as the robots swung around towards the sound.

With a click and a wrr the closest Slade-bot raised an arm and cocked the gun that was now pointed directly at the petrified civilian—

And was blown off its feet by the streak of yellow that zoomed in through the suddenly open door.

Two other robots collapsed with red-feathered arrows sprouting from their chests.

Several pipes in the ceiling burst as the water flowed out of them and engulfed a robot, causing it to short out, before leaping to the next.

A miniscule dot flew from machine to machine as beams of energy flew from it into the robots and sent them crashing to the ground.

On the floor, the man who had moved earlier shuddered slightly as a blond boy seemed to grow out of his back. The newest combatant immediately leapt into the fray and took down several of the machines with quick, powerful movements.

In minutes, it was over.

The floor was littered with twitching Slade-bots—some sparking, some with cracked heads or limbs, all thoroughly defeated.

The civilians slowly stood and began to gather their wits as the six Titans stood together in the center of the room. A low buzz of conversation filled as the captives began to recover from their ordeal.

Then one Slade- bot suddenly jerked several times and the sound of applause came from its chest.

Silence fell once more; the only sounds that could be heard were the slow claps and the clang as the metal plate on the robot's chest fell off to reveal a screen showing the mask of Slade.

"Congratulations, Titans."

"What do you want, Slade?" Bumblebee demanded. "Why did your robots hold up this bank?"

"Nothing malicious," Slade replied, "merely a test. I heard that you had a new member, and I wanted to see what he was capable of. Jericho, was it? Quite impressive."

"Back off, Slade," Speedy snarled, "leave Jericho alone!"

"Oh, I had no intention of harming Jericho," Slade said smoothly, "I simply wished to observe his capabilities. I have a vested interest in the well-being of your team."

Speedy snorted. "You 'mean no harm?' You actually care about someone other than yourself? Do you seriously expect us to believe that?"

From the tone of his voice, Slade seemed to be smirking. "Quite frankly, I don't care one way or another whether or not you believe me. That comment was not directed at you. Farewell, Titans; I'll be watching you." With that, the robot dissolved in a puddle of acid.

Aqualad blinked. "Where did the acid come from?"

Bumblebee shrunk and flew up to get a closer look at the remains. "Some sort of self-destruct mechanism, I think. It looks like the acid was released when Slade signed off." She returned to her normal size and looked anxiously at her teammates. "We have to contact the Jump City Titans. If Slade is after Jericho…" She shook her head. "Bad things have happened to the people Slade has chosen as apprentices."

Speedy snorted again. "That's an understatement. Seriously, 'no intention of harming Jericho'? Who does he think he's kidding?"

For no one had noticed the look of relief that had crossed the body-jumper's face when Slade had said those words.

"Hey, Bee. What's up?" The Titans East were gathered around the computer to speak via video call with Cyborg.

"Hi, Cyborg," Bumblebee said quickly. "Is Robin there?"

"He's meeting with a representative of T.U.R.F., (1)" Cyborg replied. "Is everything alright? I don't think you've ever actually called me Cyborg before."

Bumblebee took a deep breath. "Slade is in Steel City."

"Are you sure?"

"Well, we don't know where he is, but his robots held up a bank, and he left a message for us."

Cyborg frowned. "They held up a bank? What did they want?"

Bumblebee shrugged. "Seemingly just to fight us. They didn't make any demands. But," she confessed, "something about the battle seemed a bit too easy. And then he singled out Jericho…"

Cyborg swore. "Well, there goes the theory that this was just something Slade left behind before he disappeared. I guess he really is back. But listen: If he's interested in Jericho, then Jericho could be in serious danger. For that matter, so could your entire team. Don't underestimate Slade."

Jericho tapped Speedy hesitantly. "Everyone keeps talking about how evil Slade is, but what has he done?"

"Um," Speedy turned back to the screen. "He said—"

"My data banks have sign language in them. I know what he said. You guys better explain everything to him. He needs to understand what he's up against. I need to talk this over with my team. We'll call you if something comes up. Cyborg—"

"Sparky, wait. Slade said something about having a 'vested interest' in our well-being. What could that mean?"

Cyborg's face darkened. "Don't trust that man. He always has an agenda, and it rarely helps anyone except for him. Whatever you do, be careful. Cyborg out."

Bumblebee turned to her newest teammate. "You may want to sit down, Jericho. There's a lot to tell."

1: The Titans Urban Reconstruction Fund raises money to repair damage done during the Titans' battles. It's been mentioned in the comics multiple times.

Next: The story switches to Jericho's POV as he attempts to reconcile the monster that the Titans have encountered with his memories of his father.

Please review. Remember, I can't improve unless you tell me what I'm doing right or wrong!