The teams of Titans then split off into their own separate directions with great speed. Wonderboy, Starfire, and the Marauder all flying in unison. The Marauder turned and looked back to the rest of the Titans disappearing as they made their distance and sighed.
(Marauder) I don't think we should have split up.
Wonderboy turned to the the Marauder.
(Wonderboy) don't worry, we handle things like this all the time.
(Starfire) Yes we are very experienced, and I am sure Robin knows what hes doing.
(Marauder) I hope your right.
The three Titans flew silently for a moment until Starfire spoke.
(Starfire) Wonderboy, do you think Doctor Light may have anything to do with this?
(Wonderboy) I have no idea, but were gonna find out.
Starfire then looked forward as the three continued to fly through the wrecked city until they were straight into the middle of the entire city. It was quiet, the only sounds that could be heard was the soft wind that would occasionally sail through the dark city. Wonderboy then proceeded to land followed by Starfire and the Marauder, who retracted his wings upon landing.
(Starfire) What do we do now Wonderboy?
(Wonderboy) We start by checking the major buildings in this area.
The Marauder then abruptly stopped Wonderboy.
(Marauder) Wait, there's someone up there.
The Marauder pointed up at a window at the top of a tall red building.
(Marauder) He was staring straight at us for a moment.
(Starfire) Maybe its someone who needs our help?
(Marauder) He didn't look like he needed our help very much in his full face mask.
(Wonderboy) What did the mask look like?
(Marauder) Grey, pretty plain, that's it.
(Wonderboy) Doesn't sound like anyone we know. We should head inside and check it out, there may be people in there.
The three Titans then made their way to the entrance of the building. The Marauder gazed up and down the building with his deep scarlet eyes before reaching the glass door at the entrance. Wonderboy held out his hand and pushed the door open and walked inside followed closely behind by Starfire and the Marauder. Inside the building appeared to be some sort of office that had been torn apart, but it was hard to tell due to most of the lights being completely smashed, and the ones remaining were consistently flashing. Starfire slowly looked around the room.
(Starfire) I get a bad feeling about being here...
(Wonderboy) Don't worry about a thing Starfire, everything is under control.
As Wonderboy spoke a ceiling panel crashed down in front of him, exposing several wired being threaded through the ceiling. Starfire jumped back slightly.
(Wonderboy) C'mon we need to keep going.
(Marauder) If we want to find whoever was watching us earlier we had better move quick, he didn't seem like he wanted to be seen.
Wonderboy looked around the room until he saw a sign above the doorway that said the word "Stairs" in glowing green letters.
(Wonderboy) Well, looks like we have to start there
The Titans carefully made their way through the wreckage, stepping over upturned chairs and broken wood until the got to the doorway which led to a long hallway with two metal doors at the end. Wonderboy walked up to the metal doors and tried to push one open, but the door opened slightly then stopped with a with a clanking metal sound.
(Starfire) It's locked?
Wonderboy then looked back to the doors and began to push on the once again. Both doors then suddenly shot open and smashed into the walls behind them with a crash.
(Wonderboy) Good thing I have a key.
The Titans then peered into the room seeing a eerie spiral of dark stairway leading to the top of the building, then approached the beginning of the stairs. The pupil in the Marauder's eyes constantly fluctuated as he as he cautiously examined the building.
(Wonderboy) I wonder how many floors this building has?
The Marauder's gaze then suddenly shot up to the top floor.
(Marauder) He's up there! At the top!
The man with the gray mask stood at the top floor leaning over the guard rail looking down at the Titans. The Marauder's sword then suddenly materialized in his hand with a crash and a plume of black smoke the Marauder disappeared.
(Wonderboy) C'mon he went upstairs!
Wonderboy and Starfire then arose from the ground and quickly flew upward toward the top floor. Each level of the building flashed passed straight by them as they made their way to the top. Wonderboy and Starfire then stopped at the top floor and landed before the beginning of the stairway that led back down. Starfire looked around the floor and saw four long hallways, all being lit with what seemed like the same broken florescent bulb, with several dingy looking doors leading down to a single dark green door at the end of each one.
(Starfire) I don't see anyone anywhere up here.
(Wonderboy) I know, now we have another problem. Now were looking for two people.
Suddenly with a crash and cloud of dark smoke the Marauder appeared in front of the two Titans.
(Marauder) I don't know how he did it, but he escaped my sight.
(Wonderboy) Lets track him down.
(Starfire) You guys wait. Do you hear that?
The three Titans stopped for a moment and listened for the sound Starfire claimed to hear.
(Wonderboy) What are we listening for Starfire?
(Starfire) I thought I heard someone a moment ago.
The three titans once again listened for the noise, but there was nothing but silence. Then suddenly the cry of a young boy could slightly be heard speaking out the word "help".
(Starfire) There it is!
(Marauder) I heard it too.
(Wonderboy) It was down that hallway.
Wonderboy held out his arm and pointed down one of the ominous hallways.
(Starfire) It sounds like someone needs out help, lets go.
The Titans then bolted down the hallway, passing each door listening for the boy.
(Wonderboy) Do you guys hear him?
As Wonderboy spoke the cry for help could be heard again, this time more vivid.
(Marauder) Were getting closer.
(Wonderboy) He must be at the end of the hall.
The Titans continued to make their way to the end of the hall until the dark green door was right in front of them. The cry from the boy could now be heard much louder. Wonderboy then reached out and grabbed the brass doorknob then pushed the door open. The three Titans peered into the room to see that that it was filled with total darkness.
(Starfire) Little boy?
Suddenly the walls surrounding the doorway behind the Titans slammed shut, pushing the Titans into the Dark Room.
(Wonderboy) What was that? I cant see a thing!
(Marauder) The walls closed in behind us!
(Wonderboy) Like that can stop us, I can smash through the walls of this building like their nothing.
(Starfire) Wonderboy wait! What about the little boy we heard? It sounded as if he was in this room.
(Marauder) No, there's nothing in here, all I can see is some sort of door on the opposite side of us, and there's something on the wall to our right. It looked similar to the thing you guys had at the Tower.
(Wonderboy) You can see through the dark too?
Suddenly the large screen the Marauder was talking about lit up with a white color lighting up the whole room. All three Titans could now see the the room, which was very large, and made completely out of what looked like cement. A man then began to fade in on the screen.
(Wonderboy) there's someone on the screen.
The man on the screen then became more and more visible until he was completely seen. He wore a half black and half orange mask with one eye opening on the orange side.
(Wonderboy) Deathstroke!
(Deathstroke) Hello Titans. Good work stumbling right into where I wanted you.
(Wonderboy) You have something to do with this Draken mess don't you!
(Deathstroke) More than you could know Wonderboy.
(Wonderboy) Come on out Deathstroke and I will teach you not to mess with the Titans!
(Deathstroke) Sorry, but you wont be meeting with me today, but I can say that there is someone who has been dieing to meet you. I admit I didn't expect it would be you three and not Robin that would be here right now, so I had to give your new friend a little more stimulant than he was running on before.
A large crash then filled the room coming from the door on the opposite side of the Titans.
(Wonderboy) Stimulant? What are you talking about?
(Deathstroke) The Draco Stimulant.
The Marauders eyes widened at what Deathstroke had said he knew exactly what the Draco Stimulant was.
Its the entire reason I had to cut off all the communication in the city, so I could have the time manufacture it without you Titans messing anything up by finding out about the havoc that has become of the city and coming to stop me or whatever valiant plan you would have cooked up. Now, its been made apparent that by now you have encountered the Draken terrorizing the city. A truly remarkable race.
The crash then once again was heard as the room shook, but this time much louder.
(Deathstroke) It has came to my attention that when the blood of a Draken is properly synthesized, it creates a chemical that acts as a extremely powerful steroidal compound on living tissue.
Once again the the crash could be heard along with the sound of wood cracking from the door.
(Deathstroke) The effect is only temporary. One dose is enough to make one the perfect warrior. One capable of even handling the likes of the Dark Knight himself. But, along with any great gift, there must always be repercussions. If one continues on extensive use, or takes more than the proper dosage of the Draco Stimulant there is a high risk of... Well, insanity. So it couldn't be tested it on anyone of importance. But don't think we were short on test subjects just yet.
A final crash and the sound of wood shattering signified that the door on the opposite side of the Titans had been broken straight through. The Titans all looked to the now open doorway to see that the room beside them was also completely dark, and there was no way for anyone other than the Marauder.
(Wonderboy) What's in there?
(Marauder) So far, I can see only one man.
(Deathstroke) You see, when it became known that it was you coming, My associate you saw before gave this subject ten doses of the stimulant. I'm letting you know that all of the events that will happen in this room will be recorded for the sake of research, and don't bother trying to radio for other titans, you're in a dead zone. I thank you for your cooperation Teen Titans, and farewell.
The screen with Deathstroke on it then when went completely white, which provided some light for the room. For a moment it was completely quiet, with the Titans all having their eyes locked on the door.
(Wonderboy) We need to meet back up with the rest of the Titans as soon as possible so we can tell everyone whats going on.
Suddenly a man took off out of the room and flew straight at the Marauder with blinding speed. A plume of black smoke then engulfed the Marauder and the man flew straight through the smoke causing it to dissipate with a gush revealing that the Marauder had disappeared. Starfire and Wonderboy then turned to the man who had landed a few feet behind behind them. Starfire's eyes then began to glow green once again.
(Starfire) Stop! We do not wish to fight, we can help you!
The man then continued to charge at the other two Titans completely disregarding Starfire's plea, as if it wasn't even understood. Starfire then shot a orange energy bolt straight at the man, but he dodged it with ease by rolling to the side, then jumped up above the Titans and came straight down over Starfire, who quickly flew out of the way. The man then lightly touched down on the ground and leaped at Starfire and slammed his fist into her stomach, causing her to fall and smash her back straight down onto the ground. Starfire's eyes widened as she cringed and gasped out for air. Black smoke then suddenly swirled into a cloud and a long dark blade shot out straight out the center of it at the man, who quickly stepped aside to avoid it. The smoke quickly dissipated as the Marauder emerged out of it with another swing of his sword at the man but he ducked and rolled out of the way then sprang up into the air again at Wonderboy with his fist cocked back. Wonderboy readied his fighting position as the man crashed straight into him, causing Wonderboy to slide back along with the man. Wonderboy quickly grabbed the mans arm and flipped him over his head. The man landed lightly on the ground and began his assault on the Titans again. Wonderboy charged directly back at the man with great speed. Before the two met, the Marauder flew out of a cloud of black smoke that had appeared in front of the man and swiped his sword at him again, who jumped straight over it, then landed behind the Marauder and swept his leg directly into the Marauder's footing, causing him to fall back onto the ground. Wonderboy then threw his fist directly at the man, but he twisted to the side and avoided the punch, then leaned back in with one quick movement and slammed his fist into Wonderboy's face, making him to stumble back. The man then turned back to the Marauder and threw his fist downward at him. The Marauder leaned to the side, avoiding the blow, then swiped his sword at the man, causing him jump back away from the Marauder and land between him and Wonderboy. The two Titans looked at each other and then to Starfire, who was now slowly standing up.
(Marauder) Are you all right Starfire?
Starfire then looked up to the Marauder and her eyes then began to glow again.
(Starfire) I will be just fine.
Starfire then looked back to the man as she fully stood and ignited both of her hands with orange energy. The man then quickly sprinted straight at Wonderboy and jumped straight at him staying close to the ground. The man lifted up his leg and launched a kick at Wonderboy, who ducked under it causing the man to fly straight over him. Wonderboy then jumped at the man and threw another punch, but the man once again evaded it with ease. The Marauder then appeared over the two and came straight down at the man holding his sword straight out in front of him, but the man jumped back and flipped -9out of the way.
(Wonderboy) Hes so fast! We cant even touch him!
Starfire then sent an array of orange energy bolts at the man, who then began to sprint out of the way. The energy bolts then came crashing down over the man, but he jumped and rolled out of the way of every one, then sprang up straight at Starfire and flung his fist directly into her jaw throwing her on the ground. The man then landed next to her and pulled back his leg to launch a kick directly into her head, causing her body to lash back. The Marauder's eyes widened at the sight Starfire laying motionless on the ground as it began to get harder and harder for him to catch his breath. Slowly the air became cold to him as his vision began to fade away and his limbs began to go numb.
(Marauder) Starfire!
The Marauder then hunched over with his eyes wide open, and suddenly a black ink like texture began to swirl through the Marauder's eyes until they were completely black, then the shape of what looked like an red eight sided star, similar to what his eyes resembled when they normally changed, formed in the center of each eye.
(Wonderboy) Revan are you okay?
The Marauder then looked straight up at the man and disappeared with a plume of black smoke. The man then turned his attention back to Wonderboy and began to once again charge at him. The man then suddenly stopped in his tracks as several long straight dark spikes, which pulsated erratically shot through the man almost instantly. The man screamed out in pain as blood poured out of each of his hundreds of wounds, then suddenly the spikes dissipated and the man fell to the ground and the Marauder appeared in front of Wonderboy holding his blade, still bearing the dark malicious eyes. Wonderboy took a deep breath and looked directly into the Marauder's eyes.
(Wonderboy) Stop this, it's over now.
The Marauder and Wonderboy stood silently for a moment, then the Marauder held out his sword pointed directly at Wonderboy, who quickly readied himself for battle. Then the Marauder's sword began to dissipate into the air, and the Marauder's eyes then reverted to they usual gray state as he lowered his arm. Wonderboy then relaxed himself and spoke out to the Marauder.
(Wonderboy) So... what do you think of the super hero life so far?
The Marauder sighed and slowly looked to Starfire as he contemplated an answer for Wonderboy.
(Marauder) Come on, we need to get her back to the Tower and figure out what to do, if the stimulant is produced there's no telling what could happen.
The day was now done and the Marauder and Wonderboy now had to meet up with the rest of the Titans to explain whats going on, and hopefully figure out how to possibly stop Deathstroke's plans of further using the Draco Stimulant on others. The Marauder walked to Starfire and Slowly picked her up in his arms.
(Marauder) Everything is going to be okay Starfire...