Chapter 2: Dreams of a Distant Future
"Well done my apprentice... You've led me right to them..."
The voice echoed faintly in Robin's ears. Groaning, he tried to pull himself together. He wasn't sure how long he'd been out, but he had a splitting headache.
"It was far too easy..."
Robin suddenly recognised the voice, and jumped to his feet instantly. Taking a quick look around to get his bearings, he found himself inside the lounge area of the Titans Tower, and had been lying on the couch in front of the large screen. He jerked his head round in every direction to find the source of Slade's voice.
"Where are you?!" demanded Robin.
"Oh... I'm near apprentice..." Came the reply.
Robin stumbled to his feet, weakly holding his body up. He scanned the darkness with his trained eyes and slowly staggered towards the main door. Upon reaching it he tried to punch the lock-code into the pad to the side, but "Access Denied" was all he could get out of it.
Robin cursed, and turned around shouting into the darkness.
"Why are you calling me your apprentice? I'm not your apprentice anymore! Your apprentice was Terra!"
A cold chuckle was his reply. Robin tried to hone in on its direction, but he was having difficulty. Slade's chuckle finally died down, and he began to talk.
"Yes... She was an, interesting, apprentice. She was strong, I'll admit, but only because of her powers. But she was never truly like me. She still cared for you pathetic titans, and only wanted acceptance. I accepted her when you turned her away... I trained her to use her skills effectively. However, even when she didn't hold back, you were able to all defeat her so easily."
The screen turned on, and Slade's mask filled the entire wall. Robin stared the mask now etched into every corner of his memory. Everything behind Slade was pitch-black; no way of finding out where he was.
"You on the other hand Robin, you have no powers, yet you are able to perform such magnificent manoeuvres. You have agility and strength far beyond these mere worthless titans. You've been able to defeat them all, even when holding back your full potential. You know all of your weakness, a valuable asset.
Slade's head tilted forward on the screen, as if he were peering over a pair of glasses and directly into Robin's eyes.
"But best of all, Robin, you're exactly like me..."
These words infuriated Robin, and Slade knew it. It was one of the few things that could him over the edge. Robin clenched his hands tightly.
"NO!" Robin Screamed. "I AM NOTHING LIKE YOU!"
"On the contrary", came a satisfied voice, "have you ever TRIED to compare the both of us?"
Static now consumed the television screen, sending Robin into a heightened state of alert. He continued to survey his surroundings cautiously. From the shadows, Slade's voice emerged once again.
"Robin, I'll let you in on a little secret."
"What's that? You like puppy dogs?"
"Hahaha. Not quite. I can tell you why we're the same."
"Enlighten me. I enjoy disproving myths."
"Indeed. However I know that you became a hero for revenge."
Robin froze. How did Slade know that? Robin was suddenly rooted to the spot in fear. There was no one other than… No, it couldn't be him. Robin knew his fighting style. But no one else knew of Robin's vengeful vendetta.
"I too, started out for revenge. As the years went on, I became more and more angry with my enemies. I wanted to teach each of them a lesson, to punish them. When I had a target, I would stop at nothing to get to them. Not even if it would kill me. Sound like someone you know, Robin?"
Behind his mask, Robin's eyes displayed fear and anxiety. Slade spoke the truth; Robin was all of those. Were he and Slade really the same?
"And now Robin, allow me to enhance your hatred and lust for vengeance."
Slade emerged out of the shadows, dragging two objects beside himself. At first Robin couldn't make out what they were, but it soon turned out to be not what, but who.
In his right hand, Slade had his fingers clutching to the remains of Cyborg's head. Any flesh left of him dripped blood, whilst any mechanical parts dragged behind him. The left contained Beast Boy; his lifeless grey body fitting his stare. He simply dropped them both to the ground as if they were nothing but bags of rubbish to him. Robin tightened his fists, ready to pounce.
"Ah, ah, ah, Robin, we don't want to be impolite and not allow the LADIES their introduction now do we?"
Robin's eyes widened. Slade wouldn't be so cruel as to do anything to them, would he?
"You better not have touched them." Robin threatened menacingly.
A click of Slade's fingers gave the answer to Robin. Starfire's body fell from the ceiling, burned, and still bleeding. As it landed at Robin's feet, it made a sickening crunching sound. For a few moments, Robin could only stare at Starfire's body. She was so innocent, and kind; she would never hurt anyone. Slade didn't seem to think along the same wavelength though. His twisted mind had no idea of innocence, remorse or pity. Robin knelt down, and caressed Starfire's hand, holding it tightly.
"Star..." He croaked. Suddenly, he remembered that there was one titan left. Robin dropped Starfire's hand and moved into a threatening stance at Slade.
"Where's Raven?" He demanded.
"Oh, her? She's not dead... yet..."
Raven fell from the ceiling to the floor in front of Slade. However, she was not scarred, burned or hurt. She looked up at Robin, who saw pure terror in her sapphire eyes. The tower began shaking violently, and the windows rattled loudly as Raven's emotions began to rocket.
"Robin…" Her voice was cracking from the fear.
Slade grabbed her by the hood of the cloak she always wore and yanked her upwards with his left hand. Robin started to make a move towards them, but it was too late. Slade took his right hand and placed it across Raven's face. In a second, he had ripped her face off, her horrific face matching the piercing cries that escaped her lungs. The windows shattered, raining glass over everything. Slade was ignorant of it and proceeded to lazily snap her neck.
"NO!" Robin screamed.
There was nothing he could do. As Raven's body slumped to the ground, Robin fell to his knees weak with pain, emotionally and physically. Everyone was dead. It was his fault. He was weak, and wasn't able to stop Slade.
"How does it feel Robin, to have no friends?" Boomed Slade's voice.
Slade's voice was becoming faint, and fading out the more he talked. Robin heard no more, as he was consumed by his grief and despair at losing all of the titans to the one person he had grown to loathe.
A single voice echoed in the distance.
"Robin? Are you ok? Robin... Robin?"
"Robin? You ok?"
"GAAAHHH!"
Robin's eyes shot open, sweat and tears trickling out from under the mask. His conscious mind stopped his body's screaming. It was dark, but he still noticed a hand and arm over him. Instinctively, he grabbed it and pushed it off his body, following it off the bed, before finally landing on the top of the owner. Looking down his heavy gasps for air suddenly lightened, but he showed no signs of letting go of his "assailant".
He was in his room. It was night. The curtains had been opened, and outside, dirty clouds covered the beautiful, shining moon. However, the clouds that had once been obstructing the moonlight outside began to move away, allowing the bright moonlight to flood the room. Robin could finally see the owner of the arm.
He hesitated...
