Brittle Glass

By: Pakkrat

Chapter 10: Gone to the Grave

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or Marvel. My accredited material lays in the Kagejin and in point Akaige. The rest is for the entertainment value, have fun. The point to the next two chapters is to reveal some of the "history" of Slade. I'm making it up now, but also keeping true to the fact he was a super soldier and starting his relationship with someone from the Worth family. Also introducing the biggest rival in the 'Mercenary Super Soldier Mayhem' I came up with, where Slade will meet many mercenaries who have a great deal in common to him, and one super killer later.

What did I ever do to deserve this life? Ever since I could remember I've had to fight, kill, and strive to survive. I lost my one eye for this, my first love, any true grip of reality, now I'm close to loosing the second chance of regaining a resemblance of life. I call her Raven, and she might just be the last chance I have left… damn it.

Well no reason crawling in his sorrow now. Slade had too much to prioritize at the moment over his own sadness, or the safety of tomorrow. Looking into the vanity mirror on top of his dresser within his dark, gloomy room he saw the reflection of a man slowly loosing his mind, he saw himself. Slade now left the mirror and pull off the covers of his bed. Sleep that could perhaps give him the one thing he needs. Were those important? Slade's own needs had an importance to all that came to be? Damn, stop thinking Will and just… no, you're Slade. Stop thinking you're her Will, that you know what's best for her. "Wait… I'm arguing with my damn self!"

Slade flopped hard onto his bed letting this finally sink into his skull, "I'm going to kill myself with madness if this keeps up." Slade slowly gave his hand reaching to the ceiling where the fan spins slowly in a circle spreading some motion to the otherwise derelict room. He has a faint smile as his one dead, gone eye seems to tap a memory. It trails from the eye to the mind, and the name, the one name flew in his brain as sparse images, "Jack…"

In the military research base several men in fatigues were mixing it up with talk and banter, one solitary man in his uniform sat on his bunk with a set of boots he tried shining. This man, the young man once called... "Um, are you Mr. Slade Wilson?"

"Whatever." Slade peered two chilling eyes on the young blonde haired man with slightly wavy hair. Slade also had blonde hair and a fitting beard on the tip of his chin. "You want something soldier?"

"Yes… well, not really…" The younger soldier had to be nearly soiling himself with joy in the presence of Slade. Eventually Slade returned to his boots and the soldier coughs, ignored the soldier coughs again. "You should check about that cold of yours."

"It… It's not a cold." Slade rolled his eyes before admitting "I knew that kid so what you wanted to see the star-spangled hero? I'm not some hero kid just a very good…" Slade placed his boots under his bunk "Killer." Slade sprawls on his mattress before the young man shied his eyes away. "Hey, what is your name kid?"

The young man has beamed with joy, "Jack, call me Jack sir!"

Slade had pondered on this simple little name time and time again, now though the name has some major importance. Back in the day this young name meant nothing. That was until the day Jack became… Wade.

"Cyborg…" Raven who never was known to have such an angry tone projected her rage with the breaking of a monitor. "How in the hell can you expect me to believe what you're telling me?"

"I'm just…" The sound of the door opening and Robin, Starfire, and Beast Boy gave him another set of problems, "If you're here for the results guys you have to calm her down first!"

Raven lowered her glare for the brisk moment to calm herself "I'm sorry, but how can you expect me to believe he wasn't trying to kill me?"

The titans have completely given the stunned/awe mode with Cyborg. "Hey it's true! The silencer pistol had nothing but tranquilizers, and when I shot him off you from the hallway he only had a syringe he dropped after I got him off you. That means he would have only sedated you and took you not kill you."

"Wow! I feel so much better!" Raven who forgot her injuries was quickly reminded with her shoulder quaking, buckling on her knees Raven quickly regained herself when the others tried to hurry at her side. Injury or not Raven is still a strong willed and minded person, the thing her friends often seem to forget. "Never mind that, I can't understand how you can say a man that tried to kill me was in fact trying to only kidnap me."

"It is kind of confusing but try and think about it like this. The guy was fast, strong, and definitely skilled enough to take us down. The way he slapped Beast Boy around was more than enough proof. If he wanted he could have smoked Beast Boy right off the bat."

"Thanks for the broadcast to the world Cyborg." Cyborg gives an uneasy laugh to Beast Boy who was flaring nostrils in his own stare. Robin gave them the look to knock it off so they did. He returns to Cyborg adding "When we did maintenance on Cyborg it was obvious this guy knew the perfect way to detach Cyborg in pieces. When that came to our attention even I have to admit with his sword one false move could have killed Cyborg but instead the guy chose to only shut down the mechanics enough to leave him immobile."

Raven really lost her patience with their words even if no matter what they were being honest. "Then the sword to my head?"

Starfire floats over to Raven who was looking out the large window. With the one smile worth a thousand suns her attempt to brighten her friend was pointless. Raven only looked out as rain streaked over the glass window while Starfire gave a look to the boys they knew that means time to get out. Her kind smile returned to the darker friend "If friend Will is in danger from either this Dead Man, or Slade than we shall be prepared to assist in all ways we are capable of committing."

Raven gave her little weak smile before shaking her head "Thanks Star for trying to help me but their right. Too many strange things are happening now I need to know, who is Will?"

Starfire hugs Raven tightly "Please friend, get some rest the time has come for revitalization!"

Raven pulls from the death grip and swings herself out the door "Whatever, just don't you hug me!"

Star in her bliss floated away to leave the three boys kind of confused "How can girls get so far with their emotions?"

"Don't know. When's the last time we had a conversation that lead somewhere?"

Robin thought before a sly grin, "The last time we talked about women?"

"Booyah!"

Slade could roll and toss for hours but damn, not a thing would change the fact he was restless. Slade screams with frustration before tossing his sheets off. In a loose shirt and shorts Slade stood to now move out to the dresser. His eye began looking around the dresser top where he finally noticed something of his memories…

Time passed in the base where each group could show excellent ascension over the ranks. Slade was the highest of the group, behind him was slowly following Jack Bailson but when I say slowly, I mean behind the others in the program. Slade even if he made a kinship with this man it does not act as the enhancer for young Jack's skill. With their current test under live fire each man must pass the course while covering behind anything in the current area, area is a replica of some wooden outpost where several buildings were burnt down or blown away. The entire replica was within a secret part of the base so no intrusion here, all data. Jack found himself pinned behind some half-destroyed building while his peers were following up in the program. Slade had made his way through to the finish to look back at the man still trapped, 'Damn, he's stuck again!' His eye trails to the target and now to Jack, 'I…' Slade flew out from the target area 'Can't believe this!'

When Jack realized what happened his eyes seemed ashamed, so in his mind he did what he had to do pointing a gun towards Slade making his friend stop wide eyed. Slade, noticing another cadet was coming on his tail decided to finish the program. When Slade returned Jack left his little safe-house and began firing on the drones. These drones were bullet-proof but cover fire did confuse these things. When passed Slade stood and watched his little friend move through the field. In the end, Jack passed the program as was expected worst time and most ammunition fired. Slade was the best time and least ammo wasted. Jack kind of gave a smile to Slade who with his arms crossed only gave him a look before the doors opened.

When they left their supposed to do whatever they want, in the idea they stay inside the facility. However, this time the guards block off the halls "The Commander wishes to see everyone inside the main classroom". Seated along the many spots were several rolling chairs with desks the soldiers sit in their respective seats filing around to see the empty podium ahead. Jack sat looking a little sad; Slade offers a word "You're a moron."

"Excuse me?"

"I could have saved you and still gained a high score for both of us."

"I didn't want that…" Jack gave a little look to his desk "I know, you can do that stuff but where does it leave me? I can't do a damn thing as it is…"

"Don't start this again Jack. You will learn how to get things down but you need to train more. You want me to train you?"

Jack has a slight surge of pride "You really will?"

"Consider yourself my…" Slade looks for a word; it hits him nicely as "apprentice."

The podium soon has silenced the men while one man in a long brown coat entered giving a daring charge to the ones here. This man gave his stare to almost every man but eventually he did settle to the rows with his words, "At ease ladies."

After the ice was broke, he started moving with his agenda. This man was slightly aged with wrinkles and hairs white from the winters he lived. Though he was old he still was vibrant, and he lived his life now training the men he was proud to call brothers. His points struck many highs and lows, but one thing is in his mind set for only one of the men here… that was later. "To show you all how well you've done we arranged some special leave. Today, you all get a chance to leave this little hell-away-from-humanity to go rub shoulders with the people. The town not too far from here is having a little event that we feel you all deserve the chance to be a part of. This town has never seen a party like it will tonight because soon, we have the final test and that test may be… your last." The men get a chill the Commander never had such a cryptic look on his face. "That is all go and get stink-faced."

This took no time to allow the soldiers to begin filing out to their bunks. The party sensation of the world and they had to be part of it! Slade though he gave no change in that ongoing self. Jack did have excitement in his smile but Slade did not change, "Are you not going Slade?"

"I have training and so, do you."

"What?" Jack saw Slade's face and he frowns "I see…"

"Tomorrow." Jack is baffled, "WE train tomorrow; tonight I'm getting myself a little R&R."

"Alright, yes!"

The next thing they know the Commander is in their path. "Sorry Slade but I need to talk to you. I promise that I will give you the R&R you need but tonight… something came up."

Slade still was shuffling his mind's eye with the item he twiddled in his hands. The item that spurned Slade's memories was a single cigar. The man who gave him this cigar was none other than the WWII hero spy, Nicholas Joseph Fury, or today Nick Fury.

Slade was also remembering the way it set into motion the events that lead to today and the way it influenced Slade and Jack's paths and lives. If it had not came to be it would have been because the draw of the meeting with Mr. Fury. If Slade never met Nick Fury he may have never became Deathstroke.

A plane that recently left the New York area slowly moves over the skies towards a city called Jump City. One man was huge in size, bulging from his jeans and T-shirt he gorges on some airline food. His other partners, a man in all black with a stone like glare ignored the obese man while a flight attendant tries to keep the larger man fed. The large man pulls from her hand some more food and she pulls back. The other man, his cold green eyes glare on her and she is frightened so badly she runs to the others in the plane. The large man noticed and he slaps his partner, "Gullet not like Covet scare food lady!"

"I don't care." Covet has his eyes turn to the fat man his short buzz-cut green hairs had no change of his face. "Is he sleeping yet?"

Gullet moves his bulbous head and noticed their other friend tightly wrapped in cloths, his form is hidden but the outline of a man is inside many sheets while he slumbers, "Dreamweaver is sleeping, Gullet is hungry still."

Covet has now given a look to the attendant, "Feed this idiot so I can get some relaxation."

She was frightened but the large man was sure much nicer about it, "Please feed Gullet? Gullet loves to eat!"

"Um… okay." She pulled a large cart full of food which Gullet screams before flopping on the morsels eating them with no regard. Covet pulls his face away as the woman has fainted from sheer shock.

Slade was in the office meeting with Nick Fury, or rather the back of Nick who was in the swivel chair looking through papers with his back to both Slade and the commander. "Huh, looks like you're good Slade. Not once have you failed the programs, nor did you come any lower than first. You're proving to be a real spectacle. Not a time you thought of dropping from the program even if these pricks never tell you what they have planned for your sorry butt."

Slade is confused but Nick turns his face slightly back to Slade, the strong eye of a man who had both a good mind and soul smiled to Slade. "Hey I'm just making some banter talk. Here," Nick pulls a cigar from his little cigarette holder and tosses it to Slade "have a cigar."

Slade snatched the cigar and gave it no mind before putting it in his pocket. "Thanks but I don't smoke cigars."

Nick turns in the chair and Slade is startled to see Nick Fury had only one eye, the other is behind a black eye-patch. "You're…"

"I'm impressed a guy like you doesn't smoke! Hey, keep that cigar who knows when a day will come you want a cigar."

Slade did not really think about this however Nick certainly made himself home by flopping his boots onto the desk "Listen pal, the reason I am here is because I have a mission I can't take. I hate to say this but this one will need someone more on the young side. You passed several stealth missions I can't seem to pass. Your mission is of the utmost importance." Slade now interested sat down in a chair to hear more "You ever hear of Umbrella? The company has some major ties and war wise they produced some amazing weapons. Recently one of their facilities had an accident and we want to know what before they get there. You just have to get to the facility, sneak inside however you can, find out what the place was for, and in the end get out with the information. Can you do it?" Nick has taken a drag of his cigar as Slade seemed to think it over, exhaling he asks "Well?"

Slade has never been one to back away from a challenge but he has never really had this level of mission. Some spy work perhaps, but Lone Wolf? Those suckers not only get the worst circumstances but hell what Intel does he have? "What was being worked on at this facility?"

"We believe a new type of weapon but we're not sure what it is. If you take this mission I promise you one thing you will be the highest choice for this programs elite division which previously, you were told only one member will be selected for the elite division of the program."

Slade gave some concern, "May I think this over sir?" Nick is getting a little upset "Yeah I guess I did drop some shit on you huh? I can give you some time to think it over since I'm taking you from you leave anyway." Nick stands up and walks past Slade but he stops and says, "I heard you and the guy Jack are close." Slade has lost his composure looking slightly startled with Nick. "You know he's only here by a thread right now. The only reason we accepted him with his low rating was the fact he's suffering from a terminal skin disease." Slade has completely been shocked "The program is interested in seeing how a man with a disease will take to the program. Even if that's the case his tests are really showing little to no improvement and if that keep up even that quality won't stand up. However, something like you help could always work to help him stay a little longer maybe even long enough to train him and get him up to speed."

Slade has given a full distaste to this former hero, "Blackmail?"

"I hate it kid… but you're the best I can send. The higher ups won't let me go I already tried. The mission is risky but we need someone talented but also expendable. If you fail or succeed I promise I'll give this Jack guy the utmost chance… think about it."

"I don't have to think sir… where do I go?"

With her head lightly nuzzled to the pillow Raven was wide-eyed in her questioning 'What is happening to me?'

For as long Raven can remember her life was a tough one. Youth, the ongoing training and never ending dread of her blood, adulthood would only get worse she's sure of it. With her mind wandering to one point of another she only could realize one thing. "I have poor judge of character," She rolled under her covers with slight tears forming in her eyes, "especially men."

The sound of tapping on her door and Raven pushes off her covers to remove her tears as she asked "Whose there?"

She was confused as there is no answer. Raven opens the door and standing there is the green changeling Beast Boy. He has his ears drooped and eyes shunning from her "Raven… I thought about everything. I want you to know I'm sorry I gave Will such a hard time."

Raven shook her head adding "You were probably right now."

"No, I mean… maybe…" His head shook and he gave the smile of all smiles "Hey, when everyone gave up on Terra I still believed. We all know it has to be tough you meet somebody, an older guy of all things so trusting him is a weird and hard thing. In the end you just have to keep faith, keep on seeing what is true and what's not. If you believe I'm sure…" to this point Beast Boy noticed the tears in her eyes "uh… you'll find out what you need to know."

Raven has never really expected this from Beast Boy. Well, at times he went out of the way to help her. She smiled, a real little smile, and hugged him hard to which he was blushing madly. "Beast Boy, you're a great friend. Like a big brother always knowing what I need to hear." She pulled away and in a slightly chipper mood she tilted her head "Why are you crying?"

Beast Boy has started crying a little but he smiles on saying "Aw, glad I was able to do some good is all. I guess better get to bed huh?"

She nods and closed the door with thank you. Beast Boy stood there a moment and in his tears came slight sobbing, he solemnly left through the halls with his eyes blurring "Like a… big brother?" Beast Boy stops at his room and in a moment of need he opens the door and drops straight through the frame onto the floor. "I hate being a good guy."

Slade sat silently in his room now as his mind saw one more set of events. After this he will need to get some rest. Tomorrow, he had a banquet to go to and everything. "Wait… I can take Raven and the others!" He had a smile as it hit him that it would be the perfect place to tell her everything… or maybe, almost everything… or is it now the time to tell her who he is and what got him the name…

Slade found entering the facility was easy, some team has been there already and opened the facility up. He wore a black long coat and black clothing, even a black mask was assigned but he had removed it when inside. His thought was he had to now work twice as fast so he could get out alive without the facility being locked. Making way through the halls and underground facilities Slade found many bodies strewn about but he wasn't sure what happened. He found a room with many computers and some corpse over in the corner with a bloody lab coat on. He didn't give that mind he instead moves to the computers. "Damn, lucky their still online. It also seems the thing is logged on too."

While shifting through the files Slade found himself a nice cache of files on the programs here. "What in the… T Virus?" He has a totally out of place look "This looks like some really wild stuff for a military program. More like world domination…" His ears flick and Slade turns to the scientist now standing up sluggishly "Hold it!" Slade points his gun with a silencer on the doctor who growls lowly in a haggard moan. "What's going on here? What is the T-Virus?"

The scientist seemed to only wobble in spot so Slade demands "What is this facility and its purpose?" The scientist holds out his arms slightly, and stumbling forward on uneven steps Slade screams "Hold it! I will shoot you!" The scientist keeps stepping forward and Slade fires a warning shot, unaffected the scientist moves closer so Slade fires a shot on the knee, the scientist is forced to slam on the ground but now using his arms he began crawling towards Slade. Slade is shocked, but firing into the man's torso he is really freaked as he kept coming closer and closer. Slade finally decides that when in doubt… "Blow the brain out…" Slade fires and the man is forced to stop twitching on the ground his body stopped acting. Slade falls back into the computer and he shook his head "Damn, what did I get myself into?"

A door opens and Slade turns ready to fire but the one entering the room was a black man, an elderly black man with security written on his blue jumpsuit and he points a gun on Slade, a 22mm handgun common for the security lineup "Damn, hold your fire!" Slade does not lower his gun as a woman ran in with scientific coat, flat hair prated to the sides, and a young Asian face with glasses "Hey, we're not infected!"

"Infected?" Slade thinks and asks "You mean the T-Virus is infecting people?"

She was answered by the elderly guy with a can forcing through and to the computers "Yes, you with the Umbrella clean up crew?"

"…Yes, orders are to find any data deemed useful and return with all files I could."

"That sounds like Umbrella ignore the fact this hell is going to spread just get their precious weapons out to start again."

Slade did not really care he had his orders too. "Who are you exactly?"

"None of your business." The elder doctor began working while the woman walked towards Slade, "This is doctor Alderson Flask, and I'm his assistant Cammy Worth, while this guard is Mark Tremble."

Slade did not give his name, "Whatever, we need to get the hell out of here!"

"Sadly," Mark closes the door after looking through it a while "we can't leave with the Hunters on the loose."

"Hunters?"

"Specially engineered reptile-hunters, or just plain hunters. These guys are vicious and dangerous with claws capable of ripping through a guy's body in milliseconds. Then others infected who now can't seem to stop trying to gnaw on your flesh. The doc came down here for two things, one is the cure for the virus in all our veins and the other was for a special bodyguard."

Slade didn't care about any of that, except the cure "You mean even I'm infected?"

"To some degree but without any wounds you will be safe from full infection." Typing on the computer some strange beeps are heard and a machine nearby opened up with cold air rushing out. The elderly scientist smiled as he took some syringes out, "Of course who needs to worry over that when you have the anti-virus?" He tossed one syringe to Slade "Inject this it should remove the infection."

Slade did not put himself in any hurry which the scientist rolled his eyes "Here, I'll go first. You must be Umbrella you can't trust anyone." After the cure was passed around everyone had to do something else, "So you see why we're going for the Tyrant."

"It is the only thing that can withstand fighting these Hunters one on one, very well." Slade follows the group when they show a special door leading to the lower level with a ladder in the floor. "I hope this doesn't turn sour or something."

On the ladder Slade asked the woman under him, "Your name Cammy Worth that sounds very outgoing for a woman like yourself." She looked up to Slade who was moving slowly on the ladder while she held him up with her very slow climbing. "Yes, well it is the name of a royal family actually. I'm not necessarily a princess but… it's something you wouldn't understand."

"Gee sounds so exciting." He finds her stopping, "Hey is there something wrong?"

"My sister is still there in a war torn country. I sometimes wonder what happened to her you know? I left and decided I wanted to learn about all the world had to offer and sure enough the best to do that I thought was the Umbrella Corporation." She began moving again "I think I was wrong."

"No… you think?" Slade steps off the ladder after some more steps, the group is trying to open the door to the next room, "How long till we can get out of here?"

"Not long once we initialize the Tyrant he'll get us out of this place." The scientist opens the door and everyone jumps with two strange man-like lizards with long claw like appendages forging from their back arms like wrist blades. The first to leap in screamed an unusual high squeal. Slade kicks off this attacker and with his gun he began firing into the other lizard monster. It was not really bothered but charging Slade pulls from his side a knife, plowing into the back of the skull Slade maneuvers to the monsters back wrenching it around for a shield. The first lizard had stood, its fangs bearing it chomped on Slade but he used the monsters as shields leaving them now to fight each other. The elderly scientist ran to the consoles and began trying to upstart something inside a large canister tube. Slade looked at the tube, but he turned back as one of the monsters had fallen finally to the other. The surviving monster roared and Slade began firing as it zoned in on him. With its speed and claws Slade did bob and weave from its strikes, the sound of air releasing and Slade pulled away with the large canister opening. The monster turned and hissed but a fist plowed the monster into the farthest wall where it literally was broken. The fist was paler than pale, a black fingerless glove is clenched from this hand. With its arm stretched and knelt down a figure had a long black coat with straps up the center chest, its muscles tightened with the recognition of the people in the room. Standing now from the knelt position Slade looked in slight fear of the 7' man with no hair or color of his face, strong and defined proportioning of his face but Slade was more caught by the dead nothingness of the creatures eyes which had looked over the people in the room before stepping again, Slade raised his gun and the monster reacted by reaching for Slade.

"Stop!" The scientist pulled up a device and the monster stopped part way in his grapple. Slade lowers his gun and asks "What the hell is this thing!"

"He's a Tyrant first-class. Intellect and power, the perfect soldier for Umbrella since nothing can kill him." The monster looked at the group before the man snaps "Your mission is to destroy all Hunters and other threats as we escape the facility! Go out and do that immediately!" The monster gives nothingness in its look to the doctor but soon it heads in front of the group. Slade asks "If it's so smart why does he do what you tell him like a child?"

"He's not doing it for the sake of it. This device is a powerful explosive in the base of his neck. He can't do anything as long as I have this, he knows whose boss."

The creature had looked back with its eyes slinking to the scientist's last words. It moves back to the task at hand and began opening doors with its force, a hunter appeared and with the grip of its one hand to its neck he applied enough pressure to force the monster to crinkle and fall dead.

"What do you call that thing?"

"We call the strain of mutation Tyrant. The highest of their mutated kind from the virus, but this one is actually from our greatest find called the G-Virus, we call this one…" The monster swings both hands through a door where five hunters seemed to be feasting, they charge and the monster snorts before swinging one arm that launched each hunter into each other "This one is my work of art… Nemesis."

Raven had the worst time trying to sleep. She finally gave up and floated through the ceiling to sit on the roof. She looked out over the slowly moving water. Waves splashed and churned so Raven sat on the edge of the tower with her arms crossed on her stomach. Holding herself there she seemed to wonder on many things lately. Will was a good guy, nice to talk to, a little unusual but truth is she was just about the same.

When she sat here like this she often found herself giving into her urges to simply stay here in silence. When alone Raven did not have to be consider weird, strange, creepy, or even just spooky. She found herself being whatever she wanted to be. With Will yet again she felt she was truly accepted he didn't seem to obsess over who he was or what he was doing… until now. She now realized how sad it was she wanted all the answers but she wished he never knew ones about her.

Eventually, Raven did relent to her common sense and floated to her bed again. She covered up tight, rolled into her mind, and in her smile she remembers that strange moment she was able to meet him… "Assess moving zebras."

Sometime went by as they wandered the halls. Luckily, Nemesis tore all in his path like rotten garbage. He had no slowing down grace period he merely kept going and every wound would heal after the attack almost immediately. Slade watched the monster and he only could think how it would be to not falter from injuries. How amazing it must be to endure all this in such stride. The team stops short in a large rounded off room where water was leaking from pipes. "This looks bad we need to cross to reach the elevator." The sound however of a door breaking down and Mark leaps away from the people here. "Wh-what that!"

From the opened door stood a large black man or so it seemed, in black underwear-bathing suit the man's body is ripped in muscle, his hands are clawed and stone like with unreal coverings, and his chest is bare with a large beating heart. "Thanatos! He's online!"

Thanatos looks on the people and Nemesis, seeing Nemesis it roars before charging. Nemesis is struck quick over his right eye the wound is deep and does not repair. Nemesis screams and soon retaliates with a haymaker to the face the two titans began pounding one another with immense strength rippling the waters from each stride. The scientists and Slade run for the door no reason to get involved now. Slade leads the rest of the way shooting and fighting remaining monsters, in a struggle Mark did try to intervene… it lead to his death. Not stopping to pine the three reach to corridor to the elevator. The elder scientist smiles as he walks past and points to the door "Okay, we can get out from here!" He was turning when something leaps down and gashes his face. The scientist looks up to Nemesis who had a strange lust in his two eyes, one slightly bleeding but repairing. His hand held the bloody remnant of Thanatos's claw hand the doctor pulls up his bomb and pushes the trigger, but Nemesis smiles his teeth in a wide smile and snarl as in the facility an explosion is heard. The scientist is cringing, Thanatos's hand was bloody, and so was Nemesis's neck. "Son of a…"

"Bitch…" Nemesis spoke in his haggard voice a deep unholy moan mixed groan. After that he steps on the doctor so when he bore down it crushed his chest in. Nemesis walks over him towards Cammy, but Slade leaps in and begins taking pot-shots on the monster "Take the elevator! I'm better off fighting by myself!"

She looks at Slade than Nemesis who is blocking the shots on his eyes the only thing he knew could be hurt. She ran through letting Nemesis flail around her as she soon was at the elevator door. Escaped, Slade smiles as he clicks the last bullet and drops the gun. A knife is all he has left, "Well… I guess I'm lucky I'm still armed."

"Armed!" Nemesis pulls off from his back a large rocket launcher, to which Slade twitches his right eye saying "Oh… boy…"

"I knew you were probably awake still Star." Robin walked into the living room where Starfire sat alone in the dark. She was curled in a ball on the couch, her face half in her legs and half peering into the dark. "It was necessary Star."

"It is necessary to allow those who are expecting us to protect them to suffer? To allow those who want us to protect them to die is also necessary?" Starfire seemed to give a slight sigh as Robin sat next to her "What monster could do such terrible things? Allow innocent people to die in such terrible ways?"

Robin sat down and put his arm around the poor Tameranian. "Starfire…" She lay onto his shoulder "I'm sorry but… someday I promise it will get easier."

"That is not something I want. I want to understand why he would do the things he has done."

To that Robin had an answer, "… Because he takes pleasure in the pain of others."

"Damn!" Slade leaps behind a large protruding metal something; he didn't have time to see what. The rocket blew and his latest cover was gone. He now stood and began to try and get closer as the rocket launcher loads the next projectile. In the time it takes and he had, Slade knew he had to act quick so… tossing the knife at the rocket's next projectile pre-empted the fire but blew it off of Nemesis's shoulder. Nemesis was not harmed it seems he was still healing at an alarming rate so Slade now locked in hand-to-hand.

Forearms first began to touch, each a strike of front and back of forearms an equal defense trying to open a spot to offense. Slade hoped if he maneuvered to the one eye that is gone he could get an advantage but Nemesis seemed too prepared for that. The two go at it for several more strikes, but soon Slade drops his guard and one open palm struck his ribs making him loose momentum. The strike broke a rib instantly, Slade buckles but he recovers to stop the club-arm swing from above. Pushing off the mercenary began an offense, a downward stomp on the upper leg made Nemesis buckle, soon the roundhouse kick, followed by the second kick to the chest made Nemesis topple on his back.

Slade had an advantage, but Nemesis reached at his side to swing the launcher's handle like a large club and it launched Slade over towards the side. Pushing up Nemesis swung down several times, force denting the metal grates in the facility almost breaking to the floor. Slade rolled, he jostled, and eventually he blocked the club to careen it to Nemesis's face where he pushed then kicked the club into Nemesis's jaw. Nemesis stumbles back and Slade runs up to plow punches into the larger opponent's sides. Slade ducks under a back swing, he retaliates with rising and a kick to the ribs. The next arm latches onto Slade's should and by force Nemesis swings Slade over his height and to the floor behind him, then again and again for five times Nemesis swung Slade over himself like a bag of garbage. Slade is slightly dazed in the pain of his back and his lip is bleeding. Nemesis stomps his foot but a lucky roll saves Slade from the bending in floor. Standing up Slade sees a glimmer; he leaps on it and turns around on his back as Nemesis began to stomp over to him. Slade pushes up tiredly, and in the moment he screams as he charged. Nemesis grabs him in one hand, pulling up Slade to eyelevel he growls lowly at his opponent before clasping his two hands on Slade's neck. A smirk, Slade plunges his hand into the right eye of Nemesis and a moment the monster drops him and begins screaming. The knife, Slade found it and while the monster is wounded he hears a ding the elevator returned. He ran to the elevator and swung inside as he pushed the button. The doors close, it begins to ascend, Slade leaves a sigh release and before he is out of ear shot he screams, "Freak! If you see the devil tell him Slade sent you!" Slade pulls from his side the device he installed; he had one other mission… destroy the facility.

After the explosions began riddling the building he found the doors opening. Slade ran outside to the fresh air of the mountains, trees and everything. He stood up and soon his eyes began to twitch with his forehead bleeding. "Damn…"

Many soldiers were flooding the area from jeeps and trucks so Slade ran to the woods hoping he could sneak out. He watched and listened as the men flood out from the vehicles. One man began ordering that they begin figuring out what happened another was beginning a sweep of the area. Slade gave himself a sigh of relief as he stood up on the tree he was behind. They were Umbrella and sure enough he had no business with them anymore. The next sound came from behind, Slade turns and ready to fight but it was Cammy Worth. He leaves go a smile so she asks "You have a plan Mr. Hero?"

"Hero? The hell with that, I'm too beat up to play hero." He points to his rendezvous and asks "How far you think the mountain there is?"

"A nice size walk but we'll make it." Next they hear unloading and Slade has a slight irritation as the men began unloading buggies. He pulls the girl with him and tells her his plan, the time came she sat down at a tree and pretended to sit there. A buggy stops near her and she feels uneasy as the man holds up his rifle. Lifting his communicator he is struck from behind with a powerful judo-chop. Slade ushers her over, they escape on the buggy hoping to not be caught which they weren't. The next thing is the rendezvous and escape… it was over. On the chopper Slade explains what he learned, what's happening, and offers Cammy a chance to help them learn more. The mission is a success; Slade was given his spot in the program and Jack a chance to gain his place too.

When he was home in the base Slade was brought to the main office a full report on the desk Nick read over it twice, "Well you certainly had fun."

Slade, bandage over his forehead, lip, and ribs gave a brow raise "Fun you say?"

"Hey I'm kidding! You did great either way there Slade. So, any more news?"

"Well not that I can think of yet sir."

"Okay," Nick offers another cigar but Slade brandishes the one he had earlier "I see well one day you'll find it's a good time to smoke that baby." Nick spits out his old cigar and bites into the new one "You'll see kid, you'll see."

Slade left the office and found himself wandering to the main rooms. Here he found Jack slowly rolling on his bed, "Huh?" Jack pulls out from bed and nods "Hey you're back so…" Slade steps into the light with his injuries "Holy hell! What did you get in a fight with?"

"Nothing…" Slade thinks to himself 'Except some super-soldier from hell.'

"So you had fun?"

"Yeah I guess," Slade thinks a moment, "Jack I have an idea. Since you are my apprentice I want to get things started right."

"What do you mean?"

The two head to the identity-room, designed to be an assignment of new identities and such. Slade manufactures something special, an I.D. card for Jack. "I thought about it, how about I give you a new identity? I have a half brother… a real piece of work, his name is Wade. In a way you will be like my little brother, a new brother." Jack smiles at this idea "Well, from this day forward your name is…" Slade hands over the I.D. and Jack nods "Wade Wilson…"

Slade holds the cigar, "Wade Wilson…" Slade smirks and takes the cigar into mouth, a light and bite soon Slade puffs, 'Here's too you Wade, the old you… my brother.'

In a special facility a hand pulls the trigger. A target is blown apart from the special Lugar class pistol and soon the men watching give fearful looks. The man firing was not a man, it was a special soldier. His body burnt only made him stronger. The day he broke out of the blazing facility to the startled Umbrella forces was the day he was chosen. Saved, and allowed to heal this monster's flesh became stronger than before now nearly impossible to harm. His regenerative powers only increased, and his hate for one man intensifies each day it looks out with one eye. That's right; only one dead eye sees the man that took it. The man who left the monster to die now he lives and grew stronger. Day by day he became more powerful, fiercer, and each day as it ends the training like it did today it releases the name through its lipless jaw. The fire burned its lips; left bare gums of the long fangs to the hideous one eyed visage, Nemesis only knew one name aside from its own… "S.L.A.D.E."

Note: Ooh, now things getting good or what? It was this time a friend asked who would win in a fight, Slade or Nemesis? Slade by the comic standards was super strong, regenerative, and intelligent. Nemesis was the same thing; both also are super soldiers so some wonder if these two had a mission that conflicted would they fight it out? Well, I might just answer that question later… hint-hint.