The Titans slowly came to as the effects of the probes wore off. They stopped glowing and the pain faded away.

"Huh?" Starfire asked as she pushed herself into a sitting position. They stood slowly and gathered together in front of the 'A'.

"Okay, weirdness. What just -?" Beastboy started. He was cut off by a wordless yell from Robin as he dived towards them in a vicious attack, firing his Thermal Blaster. He landed in the middle of the group and flung Beastboy into Raven's face and shoulders. A low kick followed and Cyborg was knocked backwards. Starfire let loose with a couple of Starbolts which Robin expertly dodged. He leaped up and went flying across the roof in a somersault as he trained his blaster on her face. She saw that his aim was true and gasped. There was no way she could get out of the way in time. At the last possible second he shifted his aim slightly to avoid her. Instead the blast shot harmlessly past her, hitting the base of the 'Y'. Robin landed in a fighting crouch and was immediately up again and firing upon Beastboy and Raven. BB scampered away as a monkey and Raven blocked with a hastily rendered shield. The little green primate darted in whilst Robin was distracted by Raven and climbed all over Robin. He was more of a hindrance than a real threat but it took Robin a precious moment to remove the hairy little creature. As he was preoccupied, Raven used her powers to dismantle the weapon on his wrist. To reward her, Robin sent her careening across the roof with a hard shove to her chest. Cyborg suddenly grabbed him from behind. The Boy Wonder ducked away, turned, and saw that the others have regrouped to fight him. Beastboy; a massive, ferocious, bear, Cyborg; locked and loaded and both the girls were prepared to use their respective powers. Robin, desperate, looked behind him as his footing faltered. He was right at the edge of the roof. His face hardened as he threw a handful of discs which he pulled from his utility belt. The Titans tried to dodge but they didn't stand a chance. Somehow the projectiles miss them anyway. They fly over their heads and explode on contact with their real target, the base of the 'A'. It started to fall.

"Titans move!" Cyborg yelled. They did so, just in time as both the 'A' and the 'Y' topple over.

Cyborg didn't move quickly enough.

Luckily, he was standing where the hole of the 'A' landed. An inch either way and he would have been squashed.

"He's gone." Raven said as the smoke cleared.

On the other roof Batman and his friends were still watching. They had seen Robin swing away and abseil down a neighbouring building. Batman had thrown a small device after him.

"Everyone okay?" Cyborg asked as Batman swung across to join them. They nod in return.

"Uh, I know where Robin picked up the heat ray, but where did he learn that little glowy, hurty trick?" Beastboy asked rubbing his head.

"I do not think that was Robin. Perhaps it is Slade who has learned a new trick." Starfire said thoughtfully. Raven turned to Batman.

"Where were you during the fight?" She said.

"Yeah," Beastboy added. "You're supposed to be this big hero, and you hide on another roof. What's up with that?"

"He would have acted differently if he knew I was here. Besides you guy's can handle yourselves. If you needed help I would have helped. This way, I managed to get a Bat-Tracer on him. We can find him." Batman replied.

"I think Star is right. Let's go home and figure out what's going on." Cyborg told them.

Just the hint of hope that Robin hadn't really betrayed them had buoyed the Titans' spirits. Batman had to smile a little at their resilience and refusal to believe Robin was evil without exhausting all possibilities. But his smile soon turned sad. They were so damn young.


Slade was watching the footage of the fight. He watched Robin fire upon his friends. He rewound and watched it again. And again.

"Thrilling." He smiled coldly as he rewound it yet again. "My apprentice is progressing even faster than I'd hoped. All he needed was a little…motivation." Robin shivered at the coldness in Slade's voice and wondered what other motivation Slade had planned for him. He was afraid, and that always made him angry. His hand shot down without conscious thought and grabbed Slade's wrist.

"Motivate THIS!"

He threw a vicious punch but Slade was quick to catch it without even flinching. He wrenched Robin's arm to the side and sent him flying to crash into some overhead gears across the room. He landed in an awkward crouch, breathing heavily, and then stood up as Slade rose, flexing his hands.

"Robin." Slade crossed the floor to stand in front of his defiant apprentice. "That was vicious, deceitful and ruthless. Excellent work. You're becoming more like me every second." Robin wiped his bloody mouth, eyes downcast. He wasn't like Slade. He wasn't.

Slade turned as if to leave, and then whirled to face his apprentice. He showered him with a volley of sudden blows. Robin dodged but many hits still connected. His counter-attacks make no difference; they don't stop the harsh rain of strikes. Slade grabbed him into a chokehold, pulling him backwards and up, so that the Boy-Wonder's feet dangled in the air. He couldn't breathe. In desperation, Robin kicked his legs up over his head, connecting with Slade's mask, making him release his hold. They were both forced to retreat a few steps to catch their breath and clear their heads.


Meanwhile, back at Titan Tower…

"I don't get it Bruce. We need to go after him now!" Oracle said in a hushed voice.

"If we go now, then we may do our boy more harm than good. We have to know what's happening and we must have a plan." Batman replied. "I know how you feel, but we have to think this through."

"You're right. I know you're right and yet…"

"I know." He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Think I found something!" Cyborg called. Bruce, Barbara and Alfred join the Titans who are gathered around the computer which has Beastboy wired up to it. On the screen is a read-out showing Beastboy's vital signs. "The enhanced sensors are picking up interference on the nano-scopic scale." Cy explained. He typed and the screen changes to show Slade's probes, attached to Beastboy's red blood cells.

"Those things are inside me? EEEWWWW!" BB shouted.

"They're inside all of us. Billions of 'em!" Cyborg replied.

"With such technology at his command, Slade could easily destroy us whenever he wants!" Star realised, sounding far too happy about that prospect.

"Unless Robin does exactly as he says." Raven added.

"And you guys thought my zombie idea was crazy!" Beastboy folded his arms with a sigh. In doing so he managed to tangle the wires still attached to him and fell off his chair trying to get free.

"We have to go in." Cyborg said simply.

They turned to leave. Robin was depending on them, and he'd been gone too long already.

"Wait!" Batman called. He whipped a device labelled 'Bat-a-rang tracker' from his utility belt. "Wouldn't you like to know where he is?"

The Titans returned, sheepishly, their exit ruined.

"We'll follow in the Bat-copter. We'll wait outside as backup. If you need us yell."