So right. About how I said I might be getting one of these up a week... I get distracted. Very easily. Don't worry, in all likely hood I won't just stop working on it all together (I say that because thats one of those things that scares me with stories I like to read) but...well sometimes it might take longer between them. . Anyway, this one is a little logner than most, but I don't think its as long as the last... Oh well. Hopefully, you'll like it.

Also, special thanks to Rena Redhead for the amazing review! Your amazing!

Ch. 12 – Target

All the while the Teen Titans had been interviewing inmates, Slade had been quietly plotting. Finally, he approached Jericho with news of his plan.

"I've come up with something to eliminate the Titans," said the masked man. Apparently now that the mute was completely healed, this was the time to strike against them. He placed the layout of his plan on the table before the blond, and began to explain.

At once, Jericho raised silent objection. He did not want to steal, regardless of their good intentions…

"Wayne Enterprises will not miss one bit of technology. This microchip will help us rid the world of the Titans. This will be one act of thievery for the greater good," Slade's words were eloquent, and with each syllable he influenced the former Titan more and more.

Jericho shook his head again. Even if it was for the 'greater good', why should this company have to suffer the loss of something that it rightfully owned? Wouldn't stealing it make them no better than common criminals?

He signed his concerns to Slade, wanting to make it clear he didn't think this was a very good idea…The masked man's fist clenched slightly in frustration.

"Jericho, you must listen to reason," the annoyance in his voice was suppressed as best it could be under the circumstances. At last, under the weight of the boy's stubbornness, Slade came to an agreement, "Fine. If it will make you feel better, I will return the microchip after we have dealt with the Titans."

This seemed to relieve Jericho; if it was going to be returned, surely for the greater good, there was no harm in borrowing it…

That very night, Slade and his new apprentice took to the streets of Gotham City, followed behind by his drones. They crept along the streets silent as the night itself, and as unassuming as shadows.

The only reason that even one creature, a stray cat in an alley they passed through, knew of their presence was the caring sensation of Jericho's hand brushing over it just for an instant; It was gone before the feline even realized what had happened.

In what seemed only an instant, the two reached the shipping docks of the Wayne Enterprises building. They used the shadows to their advantage, cloaking them the view of the guards.

"You know what to do…"Slade whispered, his only response being a nod from the boy next to him, and the blond darting off, unseen by the patrol, closer to the back entrance.

What the apprentice and master didn't know was that a Titan had in fact spotted them. Thunder had spotted the mute as he approached the security officer behind the building. He was about to call out to the other, until he saw Jericho take possession of the guard, and use him to open the building to the awaiting masked man and his robotic minions.

Before he could be noticed, Thunder disappeared off into the city skyline to contact the other Titans. Fortunately, the heroes had decided to stay in the city for the night, and their hotel wasn't far from the crime scene.

In under ten minutes, the Jump City Titans were outside the building, and Thunder was explaining to them what he had seen.

"That is when I saw the silent one enter in to the building from the darkness. He was followed by the masked one," said Thunder, gesturing to where they had come from, back to the entrance.

"We've got to hurry then. They've already got a lead on us," Robin replied, as he hurriedly lead the other four into the building, and Thunder took back to the air to watch for any sign of an escape attempt. Robin seemed more urgent than usual.

As they ran through the hallways and up staircases, it was abundantly clear which path Jericho and Slade had taken; the limp, dazed forms of the guards the mute had possessed were strewn throughout the way. They all seemed unhurt at least, which was one good sign that perhaps, Slade hadn't corrupted their friend yet.

Of course, Robin knew it wouldn't be easy-going the entire way. Sooner than he had hoped, the five of them ran directly into a trio of the masked-man's drones. Robin dispatched the first one with a birdarang, and Starfire the other two with her Starbolts, but the sounds of the mechanical henchmen being destroyed soon drew others.

The boy leader soon lost count of how many of Slade's henchmen they had eliminated just trying to get through the one hallway; they were beginning to seem almost endless…but they could see a lit room just beyond the hallway…

Meanwhile, Jericho and Slade had long since reached their destination. Jericho stood next to the containment field with a tiny, somewhat purplish microchip floating in it. So it seemed, the mute still had mixed feelings about stealing it.

"Jericho, I can't do this without you. You need to get that, or else more innocent people will be hurt by the Teen Titans…"Slade spoke slowly, and coolly, obviously trying to make it apparent that this was really the only option…Until he heard the sound of his minions being destroyed.

"You must act now, the Titans are here to stop us. If we don't take it now, all this will have been for nothing, and we will be caught," The masked man's voice suddenly had an edge of urgency, and he emphasized the last word...

Caught. Of all the things Slade had told him, Jericho remembered that one the best…He was not going to be caught again.

In an instant, he jumped as though about to possess a person on the opposite side of the field, through the security, resolidifying his right hand inside it only long enough to grab the chip and then allow it to pass through unnoticed as well.

At that same moment, the Titans finally broke through the hallway of drones, only to have shock meet their eyes…There was their friend, there was Jericho…Wearing a Slade uniform, holding the microchip that Slade had obviously set out to steal.

For a moment, the mute's knees shook just slightly at the sight of those who had hurt him. Quickly however, he mastered his fear…He was different now. He wouldn't just let them hurt him, not even with their former friendship in mind…Not after what they had done to Herald.

"Back to inflict more pain, Titans? I think you'll find my apprentice isn't as easy a target as he was during your last encounter," said Slade, still playing to the illusion that clouded his son's mind.

"Cut the act Slade!" shouted Robin angrily, "This sick game of yours isn't going to work! We know about the dust."

"Dust? Now you might have to explain that one to me, Robin…" The masked man replied casually.

The boy wonder was about to respond, when Starfire cut him off, "Jericho please, we are your friends! Slade has tricked you!"

The blond was a little taken aback at first, but shook his head quickly. He wouldn't believe these lies...Slade had told him they would do this, that they would try to turn them against each other…

"Your deception won't work here, girl. Jericho knows where his allegiances lie," with one look after that from Slade, Jericho pocketed the chip and immediately attacked. His first target was Beast Boy, who only just held the goggles up to his eyes in time.

Jericho was stunned, really, when for the first time his power had failed him. Of course, that wore off quickly. Fortunately, it was just enough of a pause for the rest of the Titans to dawn the eyewear as well.

The fact that he couldn't use his power now seemed to unnerve Jericho a bit, but thanks to his training with Slade it wasn't necessarily a problem; it just evened the playing field a little.

While the other four had their hands full just trying to keep up with Jericho, and for that matter see where he was with the goggles on, Robin had taken to grappling with the masked man.

"What's the matter Robin? You don't seem to be giving this your all…Or perhaps training with an accomplished apprentice has simply raised my expectations," said Slade, his voice alerting the boy wonder to the smirk that was surely hidden behind the black and orange mask.

"He isn't something to just toy with Slade!" spat the dark-haired boy in reply. The whole idea of how his opponent had turned the mute against them sickened him.

However, while Robin was gritting his teeth, Slade took the opportunity to gain the upper hand; he released himself from their death-grip only for an instant, grabbing onto Robin's wrists instead, then sent the boy sailing through the air into the group of his friends.

"Jericho. Let's go, we have what we came for," said the masked figure, seemingly all to content to just disappear for the moment.

The mute however, wanted to stay. Why not finish off the Titans now, punish them now for what they had done? His silent stubbornness made this opinion clear to his father.

"There is a time for everything, and this is not the time for that," said Slade, his tone alone enough to convince the boy that he was right.

Reluctantly, Jericho nodded, and in what seemed to be only an instant before the Titans could recover themselves, they were gone.