Ransom Chapter 12: The Deal, a teen titans fanfic

Chapter 12.

Robin is pacing in his cell a week later. He has no idea on what he is going to do. Every night since the murder of the H.I.V.E Slade had taken control of his body through the mysterious gas and made Robin kill someone else. And Although Slade's murder targets weren't only other villains; Robin had already eliminated Dr. Light, Control Freak and Johnny Rancid. These killings gave Robin the feeling that Slade was getting rid of the competition.

Slade hasn't contacted Robin since their conversation before the H.I.V.E attack and Robin wasn't sure if this was good or not. One thing was for sure though, he didn't want to talk to his captor. He was still trying to purge himself of the guilt of the killings his body had performed.

Robin was about to lie in bed again (that's pretty much all there is to do in the cell) when he heard Slade's voice coming from the speakers on the T.V screen. "Robin, how have you been holding up this past week? I hope everything has been to your satisfaction."

"Killing people isn't very satisfying for me Slade."

"But I would have thought you'd be pleased with the elimination of the H.I.V.E, Dr. Light, the moron on the bike, and that pitiful nerd, what was his name again?"

"Control Freak."

"Ah yes, now I remember. I didn't expect him to be able to endure that much pain Robin, but I guess you could say it was a pleasant surprise."

"SHUT UP!" barks robin at the screen. "HE MAY HAVE BEEN A CRIMINAL BUT HE DIDN"T DESERVE TO DIE! YOU BUTCHERD HIM!!"

"Now now Robin, may I remind you that I was not the one holding the knife. You were."

"How dare you accuse me killing Control Freak! I'm not the one who is systematically eliminating all of Jump City's Criminals!"

"Well Explain to me Robin, Why would I want eliminate all of our fair city's criminals? Why would I want to get rid of the competition?" asks Slade with contempt.

"Isn't that obvious Slade?" says Robin with a smug laugh, "You are killing off the competition so this city can be yours."

Slade pauses for a few seconds and says, "Really Robin? That's your theory? Whittling down the competition? How foolish of you, would it kill you to use your brain for once in your life? Now think, what would I have to gain from killing off the other villains? Nothing. The other villains are what distracts the Titans while I concoct the brilliant plans that challenge the teen heroes and give me control of the city. With no other villains all you would be doing Robin, is hunting me down."

"The why kill the H.I.V.E, Dr. Light,Rancid, and Control Freak?"

"They were weak, posed no challenge to you, and if I'm to be perfectly honest I never liked them as criminals."

"Then why use my body? Why didn't you kill them all on your own?"

"If I personally had gone out and started killing villains myself word would have gotten out. "Slade is going around killing all the crooks in Jump City." and if that had happened every thief, crook, criminal, and villain would have fled from this city like rats, and I would have no distraction. But since some "unknown hero" is killing all the bad guys most villains feel that they aren't in any real danger, so they stay. And I keep my distraction. To think I once thought you were smart enough to be my apprentice...."

"Then what do you call what your doing right now Slade?" asks Robin, "Making me go out and kill then bringing me back, sounds like an apprentice to me."

"You are not an apprentice!" snaps Slade; "You shouldn't even be dignifying yourself by saying that."

"Then what am I!?"

"You are a tool Robin! No different from a piece of machinery or a weapon. I have you to accomplish a goal, and your doing your job. No room for free thought or decision making!. Just my will and your body."

And with that the screen shuts off leaving Robin flustered and beaten.

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Red-X awoke in the interrogation room of Titans Tower. He knew they lay out of the tower well because he had been in it previously, to steal the suit he was currently wearing. He didn't know what the Titans wanted with him but he was sure it involved his special set of skills. He wasn't even sure how he was captured. One minute he was in a warehouse following his readings of a large Zinothium source. He had just turned a corner of tall boxes when something very large and very green fell on top of him. Next thing he knew he was in the home of the Teen Titans.

The four Titans entered the room and stood across from captured thief. No one talked until Red-X broke the awkward silence, "So where is my favorite little Titan? Where is Robin?"

For a second none of the Titans spoke and Red-X could tell he had touched a nerve. Then Raven took charge, "That doesn't matter X, what matters right now is that we need your expertise in the use of Zinothium."

"What do you need my help for, Robin knows just as much about Zinothium as I do."

Again the slight pause and Raven once again replies. "Starfire is currently infected with small deposits of Zinothium in her bloodstream, Cyborg could remove the Zinothium but he's afraid it might react during operation. The fact of the matter is he doesn't know enough about the element to safely operate on Starfire, and you do. So we need you to teach Cyborg more about the properties of Zinothium so he can save Starfire."

"Whew, when you kiddies get in trouble you don't play around. Just how did you get Zinothium in you Starfire?"

Starfire glares at Red-X and says one word, "Slade."

"Well you guys certainly are playing in the big leagues now. So let me lay it out for you. I'm guessing Slade probably has Robin captive right now, and once you get me to help with Starfire's condition you want me to help you fight Slade and free Robin. Is that anywhere close?"

The four nod and X takes a deep sigh, "Alright, but what do you have to offer?" Cyborg replies, "A lifetime supply of Zinothium, enough so that you will never have to steal anymore ever again."

"That's a good deal. I will help you in you heroic crusade against evil or whatever you want to call what were doing. Now can you un-cuff me?

Beast Boy reaches down and unlocks the restraints that had previously been holding Red-X to his chair.

"Thanks" says Red -X as he rubs his wrists, "Now as for the thing that fell on me…"

Beast Boy smiles and said, "What's wrong? Never had a two-ton hippo fall on you butt first before?"

"Surprisingly I can't say I have…." Mutters Red-X. He walks towards the door sincerely hoping he can have a shower as soon as possible.

So I have a soccer tournament coming up this weekend so i will be out of town for a while. The next chapter should be up about the middle of next week. Reviews and other stuff, same as usual. thanks for reading.