Chapter 9

And then there were None

Starfire awoke early the next morning, as she had for the past few days since Raven and Cyborg had sustained harsh amounts of damage. From that day they had not seen hide nor hair of Alec or even Slade for that matter. Robin and Starfire had been on numerous quests to find Alec and so far had failed. She woke, made herself a quick bowl of cereal, and returned to her room. She paid little attention to her breakfast and concentrated more on her now every large collection of newspaper clippings. She took a small bite of her soggy cereal and ran a finger across one of the articles. She read, and re-read each of the lines to herself; one article in particular kept catching her eye;

Two more Titans have been resting in critical condition as the eight armed mad man runs rampant throughout the city. All attempts to speak to the remaining Titans have proven unsuccessful. As it is unusual to see a threat carry on this far it is still unclear as to when or how the Titans will be able to combat this seemingly growing menace to society.

She stepped back and sighed. "I will stop him," she thought. "No! What I meant was we will stop him." She began to wonder if Robin was right about letting this thing for Octavius get out of hand. She rarely ventured out of her room these days and when she did it was for food or news on their teammates. She had moved onto another article when she heard a knock at her door. She slid it open to reveal Robin.

"Hey Star."

"Hello Robin, do you require my assistance?" He rubbed the back of his head.

"Actually Star, you've been in there for quite a long time and I thought you might want to take a break or something."

"Forgive me Robin but I cannot."

"Please Star, don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't stay locked in your room when there are those who need you." She turned to go back into her room.

"I am sorry Robin, but I do not see Octavius as any less of a threat than Slade is. Now please excuse me so I may return to my studies." Her door shut with a snap and Robin couldn't help but notice the irony of the situation. Many times she had implored that he tear himself away from Slade and take a break, or just to spend time with her. He remembered before this whole mess started he was doing exactly what she is doing now, obsessing over Slade. Whether they knew he was alive or not was irrelevant, the fact is he completely ignored her. Maybe this was her way of showing Robin how it felt? He resolved to not let her slip into the same pitfall. He opened her door just as she stood back in front of her wall.

"Starfire? Starfire," he repeated. She didn't want to face him. She was afraid he would see the bags under her eyes. She slowly turned her head and looked at him. "Let it go," he held out his hand and invited her to walk with him. She rubbed her arm and looked back at her paper-covered wall. She then took his hand and they walked out of her room.

SICKBAY…………………………

The two sat watching their fellow Titans wondering if anything would be the same. They were the only two let and they had to stop Alec or who knows what could happen. Over the pat few days Lee had been able to walk around but with difficulty. They had told him of his condition and how if it wasn't mended it would take its toll on him. It seemed to be a strange quirk of fate that Raven had gone comatose just a day before Lee could walk around.

Lee walked into the room, a cane at his side. He limped up to Robin and Starfire and sat down next to them. The three sat in silence for a moment until Lee cleared his throat. "Alec has been sighted at the Lex corp. building an hour ago." Robin and Starfire gave him a sideways glance. "Thought you'd like to know." He got up and left as was as speedy for someone in his condition. Robin and Starfire sat in silence still for a very long time. Finally Robin rose and walked over to the door.

"Let's go."

LEX CORP………………………………

Two guards ran quickly down the hall towards the research room. Than ran in and just as quickly were thrown out into the hall. Alec then moved out of the room tearing apart the doorway as he went. Over his shoulder he slung a small case that held various technical components.

"If this was any easer I just might turn myself in," muttered Alec. He burst through the front door and met a legion of police officers and cruisers. He smirked around at the large gathering of law enforcement and bowed. "I thank you all for showing up at my grand exit though I must say I was not expecting you." The officers looked around at each other. "From where I'm standing your in my way. So I guess I have no choice, but to kill you all." He shot his arms forward and two police cruisers flew backwards plowing through a few other cars. Before they could refocus on Alec he side swiped them all and smashed one against a car door. Leaving a sizable dent the officer fell to the ground. Alec saluted them all and continued on his way. As he went a bird-a-rang whizzed by and cut off the case handle. The case clattered to the ground just as the thrower landed not far from it. The eight-limbed villain turned to see Robin and Starfire behind him. Robin caught his returning bird-a-rang while Starfire floated next to him.

"Your shopping spree is over Alec! Now do us all a favor and take a trip down town." Alec gritted his teeth and covered his ears.

"GOOD LORD! Don't you even get tired of saying lines like that?" Before he could think of another snide remark Robin and Starfire were already charging straight at him. Robin let loose some exploding disks and Starfire began sending starbolts his way. Alec leapt backward avoiding the mix of explosions and green energy. He began firing his unceasing laser blasts at Robin. Robin brought out his staff and did his best to block the powerful laser bolts. He ripped off a couple of hubcaps and sent them flying at Robin. He flipped over the speeding disks and landed directly in front of Alec. He aimed a kick at Alec's chest and connected sending him stumbling backwards. Alec began to jump at Robin but was knocked off to the side by Starfire's eye beams. He got to his feet and looked at the two of them, they were doing better then he had expected. He quickly fired a laser blast up at Starfire and caught her in the shoulder.

"STAR!" Robin gave a loud battle cry and launched a freeze disk. Alec moved aside but the disk caught one of his pincers and stuck it to the ground. Alec struggled to get it free and looked up just in time to see the bottom of Robin's shoe connect with his face. His pincer broke free and Alec sailed backward. Robin jumped up and aimed another drop kick on the downed villain. Alec's tentacles caught Robin in mid air and threw him aside. Using his metallic appendages he raised himself back up and looked around for his other enemy. He saw her high in the sky as she began a hawk-like dive in his direction. He smirked up at her and readied a small launcher in one of her pincers.

"I grow tired of this, and it looks like my ticket out is right on schedule." From about two hundred feet up and descending Starfire's eyes glowed brightly. Alec saw her close in and fired a trio of darts at her. She saw tem coming and swerved to avoid them. She saw two fly past her but wondered where the third had gone. Se then felt a small prick in her thigh and looked down and saw the third. She gasped and pulled it out. Recovering from the swerve she went back to flying at Alec. As she got closer however her vision got blurry. She shook her head to try and refocus herself, to no avail. Her starbolts dimmed and finally went out as she surrendered to unconsciousness. Completely limp she fell fifty feet until she was caught in Alec's awaiting arms.

"Mmmm, you smell good," he murmured as her hair flew past his face. Putting her behind his back he turned and saw Robin coming back towards him. Robin hopped into the air and glided a kick at Alec. "Hey! Look who I got!" Alec quickly brought Starfire out from behind his back. Robin gave a startled "YIPE!" And instead of hitting Alec's chest slid under him and into a pile of crates. With a smug look Alec turned around at the skidded Robin. "Nice save," he said placidly. Robin leapt up and growled in frustration.

"PUT HER DOWN NOW!"

"Put her down now? Gahhh Robin you know good and well that in the corporate world you have to work for what you want." Robin calmed himself but stood his ground.

"What do you want?"

"You, or Slade does anyway. I'm to deliver you to him and in exchange he would give me a way to remove the arms from my back. However I've had a change of heart." Robin narrowed his eyes. "Removing the arms is the last thing I want. What really interests me is trying to beat the world record for taking over the planet. I hear Slade's record was fifty two hours, I'm hoping to break it."

"Get to the point," spat Robin.

"Well if I'm going to try and assume control over this dust ball then I don't want a lot of interference, namely you or her. So, you come back to my place around oh……six o'clock; no police, no FBI, and no recovered friends. You should probably even leave your conscience behind. You come alone and willingly prepare yourself to be handed over to Slade and I'll set your girlfriend free."

"What guarantee do I have that you keep your word," asked Robin harshly. Alec shrugged his shoulders.

"None, but are willing to risk her for the sake of contract security?" Robin didn't need to think about it all. There was no other way; he had to go to Alec's place. If he didn't then Star would suffer the consequences, and that was something he would never be able to live with. He reached down to pick up his staff, folded it back up and stowed it away. Not wanting to say another word he nodded his head and began walking away. Alec watched him walking away frowned with narrowed eyes. "Robin." Robin stopped and turned his head. A tentacle suddenly grabbed him tight and pulled him back over to Alec. Robin struggled against the arm as Alec looked him square in the face.

"I'm dead serious about coming alone. Don't disappoint me Robin, if I feel my requests have been disregarded in the slightest way"- He moved the sleeping Starfire before Robin who gazed at her longingly. Alec then moved her aside, "-Then I'll tear her beautiful body limb from limb and I'll send you what's left of her corpse in a matchbox." He clicked his pincers and licked his lips.

"You lay on finger on her"-

"You'll do what? Throw one of your little frisbees at me?" Alec let him fall to ground and Robin quickly got to his feet. "But just in case something does go wrong, how 'bout one last goodbye." He held out Starfire and Robin approached her. He reached out to touch her when Alec suddenly pulled her back. "SYKE!" He then shoved Robin away and disappeared down an alley. Filled with anger Robin picked himself up and readied for his meeting.

ALEC'S HIDEOUT……………………….

Starfire stirred and loosely turned her head to one side. She opened her eyes and her vision began to refocus. She looked around and saw that she was chained to the wall. She tried to pull the bindings out of the wall but could not. When she tried to pick the lock on her cuffs it sent a shock up and down her body. She screamed in pain and wrenched her eyes shut.

"Do watch yourself Starfire, I wouldn't go tampering with those if I were you," said Alec. He had been putting the finishing touches on what looked like a large cylinder. He closed the casing and sealed it shut.

"Why have you brought me here?" Demanded Starfire.

"I was lonely," returned Alec. He smirked up at her and loaded the cylinder onto a loading ramp.

"What are you going to do?" She asked eyeing the strange equipment. He sent it zooming off on a track out to what looked like a launch pad.

"Becoming king of the world." Starfire looked worryingly from Alec to the disappearing cylinder. Outside Robin parked his R-Cycle and surveyed the surrounding area. He carefully made his way to the roof and searched for a sneaky way in. Back inside Starfire watched him move from station to station in a mad ecstasy.

"What is that thing you are about to launch?" Alec set a touch screen and turned to her.

"A satellite, a very special one at that. It orbits the earth faster than most satellites do. Which will come in handy when I utilize its full potential." He paused and Starfire remained silent. "With it I can emit EM radiation in the atmosphere which will allow me to change precipitation levels and electronic waves to my liking." He saw she wasn't getting it. "In short it will give me control over the weather. I think Washington will be in a most agreeable mood after an F-5 tornado touches down on the White House."

"You can not do this! Altering the atmospheric conditions could dramatically change this planets climate. You might plunge the earth into the next ice age!" Starfire was sure by now that he was certifiably insane. He smiled and shook his head.

"Worrying and questioning, that never brings anyone success. I never take any risks; my satellite is a proven work of genius!" He pointed out at the launch pad that had sent the cylinder up minuets ago.

"Just as your quad appendage apparatus was a work of genius," said Starfire glaring at him. He looked surprised for a moment, then that look was replaced by anger. He tapped a button on the console and gave her a quick and painful shock. She cried out and hung limply. With nothing more to say to her he turned back to his screen. Starfire looked back up at him and saw the satellite unfolding on the screen. Up in space the cylinder broke into two halves revealing a missile shaped object with solar panels on the side, which then unfolded looking like a pair of wings. As Starfire remained stapled to the wall Robin slid down next to her on his bird-grapple. She opened her mouth in surprise but Robin put his index finger over his lips to silence her. He took out a small torch and began cutting at her chains. He broke on free and worked on another. From over at his console Alec glanced up and saw Robin in the reflection of the screen. Rolling his eyes he quietly readied one his tentacles. Robin was just about to free her other hand when he was suddenly hit by a 2X4. He fell over and Alec through the hard piece of wood to the side.

"Well its 7:00, your one hour late!" Robin got up and smirked.

"Actually its day light savings, I'm right on time!" He threw out a handful of bombs and they knocked Alec clear off his feet. Starfire shot the cuffs with her free hand. Robin led her outside.

"Can you fly?"

"I am sorry but his shackles have weakened me somewhat, I can only fire a meager amount of energy." Robin cursed to himself and handed her a bike helmet.

"Get on."

Alec burst out of the building and watched as Robin was already two miles down the road. He angrily watched the red motorcycle leave the premises when he saw a large eighteen wheeler coming down the road. He eyed it and decided he'd hitch a ride. The bearded driver sat listening to the radio when he felt a small shaking. He looked around and then shrugged. He then looked out the driver side window to see a robotic pincer. He yelled out loud as it grabbed him by the face and tossed him out of the truck. The pincer then took hold of the steering wheel while another worked the pedals. Alec himself stood on the roof of the cab. He shifted the gear and aped off after the two teens.

"Down the highway Robin and Starfire were already congratulating each other on an easy get away. Then they heard a loud truck horn far off behind them. Robin adjusted his mirror and saw Alec on top of the cab of the semi, heading right for them.

"No-Way," said Robin is disbelief. He revved the clutch and sped up. "HANG ON!" Starfire glanced behind her and saw the mammoth vehicle coming up behind them. She clung tightly around his waist and let out a loud squeal as Robin began swerving from left to right. Alec fired off laser blast after laser blast, all of which Robin was only having minor difficulty in dodging. Starfire turned in her seat and let loose some scattered starbolts. Alec saw the green balls of energy coming and moved aside two avoid them. One caught him in the leg and he fell face first on to the cab. He looked back up and growled before jumping to his feet. Alec then began shifting from left to right knocking cars off the road and sending others flying backwards. He aimed a missile and fired it at an overpass. As they raced forward Robin and Starfire saw the large concrete bridge begin to fall. Robin quickly moved off to the side and rode along the side wall. They made it to the other side and screeched to a halt. Robin and Starfire flipped up their visors.

"Its gonna take awhile to clean that up", said Robin eyeing the downed overpass. Still holding tight to Robin Starfire caught sight of something coming from the cloudy wreckage. Alec and his humongous truck came bursting through the rubble. Quick as lighting Robin swerved his motorcycle forward and they continued on. Starfire looked back and saw the truck getting closer and closer. With a loud laugh Alec suddenly turned the wheel causing the truck to make a sharp turn. The truck toppled over and skidded after the Titans. Now on the side of the truck Alec saw a wall up ahead and leapt off the truck. Robin brought the bike to a screeching halt before slamming into the wall, the truck however was going to stop until it hit something. Almost completely frozen they watched the large vehicle close in. Robin then gave Starfire a leg up over the wall and made a move to get away after she was over. The truck hit and the shock knock Starfire to the ground. A loose wire scraped against the truck's gas tank and it went up into a ball of fire.

Starfire moved out from under a piece of shrapnel and looked around for Robin. Dazed she hobbled around the wreckage as though she were about to collapse. She then saw a door stir and she quickly ran over to it. She moved it away and covered her mouth. Robin lay with numerous cuts and bruises. Half his mask was gone and one of his gloves was charred. He struggled to look up at her. She held his head while fire trucks gathered around, Starfire found a piece of cloth and covered the other side of his face. Robin forced a smile and took her hand.

"D-don't w-w-worry Star. It's just, just a scratch." She wasn't relived in the slightest. She hurriedly looked around for a paramedic. "Oh no," breathed Robin. He then closed his eyes and rest in her lap. Hoping to all that he would survive Starfire just sat there until the paramedics pried Robin away from her.

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Alright the final chapter will be along soon. Thanks for reading so far. R&R please. I apologize for not using the line to spereate the differetn scenes but it wasn't working, oh well. And try to check out my other story in progress "When it rains it Pours"