Teen Titans Dawn

by Newbie52

The dawn is coming. With the rise of a new threat from an old nemesis, the Teen Titans find that some threats are too big even for them. To face the dangers, both old and new, the Titans must form a new team. A team that could decide the fate of our world. This story continues the Teen Titans legacy. Rated K for cartoon action and suspense.

14. Episode VII: Titans Dawn

Throughout the day, the sun, bright as it was, once again failed to penetrate the numerous portals that littered the sky over Jump City. As the sun began to set, the once glistening city faded into darkness.

Titans Tower remained in the light longer than any other building in Jump City. But, despite that there were no buildings to block out the sun, even the home of heroes grew dark. Soon, only the water was lit.

Inside Titans Tower, the central monitor lit up.

HIGH PRIORITY NEWS ALERT

Seconds later, a single Titan entered the living room, walked up to the central monitor, and sat down, hitting a button.

Beast Boy leaned forward in anticipation. The screen illuminated his face as the video recording of the nightly news special started to play.

…

Earth in Peril: The Continuing Crisis

It's been nearly nine weeks since the portals appeared in the night sky all around the world.

These portals have been confirmed to lead to the furthest expanses of space and other dimensions, potentially exposing Earth to infinite threats.

Naturally, local and global authorities have banded together to help protect the public from the dangers.

However, the world can take some comfort in knowing, following a public statement from the Mayor of Jump City, that the Teen Titans have brought all their resources to bear in order to ensure the continued protection of the planet.

…

"C'mon kids," Jinx said, motioning for the children to leave the playground and reenter the local community center. She looked at the sky for a moment before grabbing a boy with an artificial hand who was wearing black and white shoes, grey pants, and a blue and white baseball shirt with the number 'thirty' on it as well as a blue baseball cap from the monkey-bars and placing him on the ground. "That means you too, kid."

"Do we have to go inside?" one of the kids groaned.

"Jinx is as much your teacher as I am," Sarah Simms said as she opened the door to the community center. She brushed down her orange ponytail and gave Jinx a smile. "We're lucky to have her."

The children walked into the community center as another teacher moved forward to get them ready for dinner.

"Any word from Cyborg?" Jinx asked.

Sarah shook her head and looked up into the sky as well. "No. But he's doing what he has to do, just like us."

Jinx nodded. "Well, I'm sure he's fine."

"What about your boyfriend?" Sarah asked, motioning to Jinx's lightning bolt necklace.

Jinx slowly pointed to the barely visible moon.

"You're kidding," Sarah said.

Jinx shook her head. "He's working overtime," she explained. "I guess there was an attack on the moon by some of Slade's commandos."

"And?" Sarah pressed.

"And nobody's hurt too bad," Jinx promised. "But the base needs repairs and… a lot of the fast-movers, techs, and heavy-lifters went up there this morning."

"How bad was the damage?" Sarah asked.

"Half the base."

"Sooo… almost half the moon."

"Almost," Jinx confirmed.

Sarah nodded sadly. "I'm afraid Cyborg is up there," she said, pointing to a portal that was surrounded by various ships and vehicles. "With the Gordanians—"

"If the Gordanians think that they can mess with our planet," Jinx said firmly, placing a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Cyborg, Starfire's forces from Tamaran, and the League will be there to prove them wrong."

"You're right," Sarah said. She took a deep breath. "You're right, Jinx."

Jinx's Titans Communicator chimed. The Titan looked at Sarah. "I gotta go. Tell the kids I said 'bye'."

"I'll see you next week," Sarah said.

Jinx started running down the street, once again gazing into the sky as she grasped her Titans Communicator in her hands.

…

It was very early in the evening of that fateful night when the Mayor released a statement confirming that this man, Slade, is behind the production of the machines that have allowed these portals to stay open these many weeks.

It is also believed that Slade is using an element called Xenothium to power his machines. While the two stories may be unrelated, it is possible that there is a connection between the machines and a break-in that occurred earlier this week at Romano Laboratories, a local lab here in Jump City that holds large quantities of the dangerous substance.

And though it has not yet been confirmed, it is quite possible that Slade is not working alone.

…

Red X walked into the room labeled 'Robin' and set down a large bag containing numerous vials of Xenothium. He closed the door behind him before extracting a laptop from a drawer.

Red X opened the laptop, booted it up, and sent a message to an outside address.

Everything is ready.

Ten seconds later, the reply came.

Then it is time.

Red X closed the laptop.

…

However, the heroes have not only put forth their powers in the efforts to protect Earth, but also technology. Numerous robotic entities of unknown origin have shown up all around the world to aid in both protecting the planet from the threats through the portals and providing twenty-four-seven surveillance footage to local authorities.

…

Fixit's eyes flashed as he looked through data regarding his creations and their efforts to guard and surveil the portals. Seconds later, he moved to the table where he gazed at the latest devices that he had created for the team.

…

Following a recent surveillance leak from an unknown source, the Mayor admitted that a fleet of potentially hostile ships have gathered beyond the one of the portals residing above Jump City.

The Mayor recently released another statement, assuring locals that heroes from around the world are gathering to confront the army. He also insinuated that allies may be able to assist from beyond the portal and that they are quote 'alien' in nature.

Still, it seems that Mayor is nervous about the coming days as well. He continues to urge anyone who would like to step forward in aiding the efforts of protecting our planet to do so.

…

Terra stood atop a rock platform over a large bridge on the edge of the city. She watched as numerous ships bearing supplies, heroes from outside Jump City, and even military reinforcements from around the world flew up through the portal to confront the Gordanian threat.

Terra closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before gazing at the Titans Communicator in her hands.

…

The Mayor also provided encouraging news today. He states that the Teen Titans of Jump City have recently found a way to track where the portal machines are being kept. This news has been well received according to latest polls as it indicates that this terrible crisis may soon be at an end.

…

Slade rose from his computer and walked to the roof of an abandoned skyscraper that sat directly under a portal, watching as the sun completely disappeared. He looked to Titans Tower and then to the portal littered sky.

After a few seconds, Slade turned and gazed down at the machine atop a nearby parking ramp that would soon bring about the end of the Teen Titans and every hero that had risen to confront the threat to Earth.

Slade clasped his hands behind his back. It is time for the world… to fall.

…

There's new trouble. We know who to call…

TEEN TITANS!

The old Titans, they can't stop it all…

TEEN TITANS!

With all the evil on the attack,

they won't rest until they got your back.

The world will need more heroes on patrol…

TEEN TITANS DAWN!

Now a new team must come to the light…

TEEN TITANS!

Our world will surly perish if they don't unite…

TEEN TITANS!

There's a path must be run.

A path that leads straight to the dawn.

'Cause without Titans, evil gains control…

TEEN TITANS DAWN!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

DAWN!

TEEN TITANS!

…

"There will always be evil. There will always be heroes. For a long time, the heroes were us. That time may be coming to an end. But that does not mean the end of heroes."

– Starfire. Teen Titans Dawn: Episode I "Titans Dusk."

…

"Titans Dawn"

Beast Boy turned as the Titans and Red X arrived in the living room.

"What's wrong?" Jinx asked anxiously.

Beast Boy turned and looked out the window for a moment before turning back to the group. "We've engaged the Gordanians."

"And?" Red X asked, tapping his hip which presently held no Communicator.

"And we won't know anything for a while," Beast Boy said, eyeing the thief's hip momentarily. He looked at Jinx. "What I can tell you is that it's spreading further than we'd like it too."

"The moon?" Jinx asked, stroking her lightning bolt necklace.

Beast Boy slowly nodded.

Jinx turned away.

"Well, shouldn't we be going to help?" Terra asked, placing a hand on Jinx's shoulder.

"No," Red X answered. The Titans turned to him. "We still haven't found Slade. If he sees an angle or an opening, he'll exploit it."

"Well, we've almost gotten him three times since returning from Markovia," Beast Boy said optimistically.

"Almost isn't enough," Red X retorted. "We need to get solid intel on where he is."

"You know," Terra said in an annoyed tone. "Sometimes it feels like Slade is the one with all the intel."

Beast Boy nodded slowly. He looked at Red X.

"I agree with Red X," Fixit said before Beast Boy could decide whether or not to once again voice a suspicion that's he'd been mulling over for weeks. "The amount of threats to the city and the planet have equal chances of increasing or decreasing due to the conflict with the Gordanians. Many criminals will be tempted to act on the decreased protection of the city."

Terra shook her head. "I hate standing still," she muttered.

"We all do," Beast Boy promised, looking down. "We have a lot of friends up there."

Terra grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze.

Beast Boy relaxed and Terra let go.

Jinx sighed and looked out the window as Red X folded his arms.

"Since we are, presently, unoccupied," Fixit said, breaking the silence. "I would like to show you some of the inventions that I have been preparing. And I think it is appropriate that I give you your device first, Jinx."

Jinx turned in surprise and walked forward as Fixit offered her a small round piece of plastic.

"If you would place it on the necklace you received from the speedster…" Fixit said as Jinx carefully took small device.

Jinx slowly placed it on the center of her lightning bolt necklace. As she pressed down on the plastic, it molded into the necklace.

"Woah…" Jinx said. She looked at Fixit. "Why is it vibrating like that?"

"It took some time but using DNA that I have gathered from the speedster's numerous visits to Titans Tower, mainly for food consumption I might add, I was able to get a lock onto his genetic signature," Fixit explained. "The device that is now on your necklace links directly to him. The vibration you feel is—"

"His heartbeat," Jinx whispered with a relieved smile.

"I felt it would be appropriate for you to know that he is safe," Fixit said. He pointed at the necklace. "The device is linked to your own DNA and can be touch activated. You may turn it on and off as you please."

Jinx held the necklace in her fist for a moment before turning the device off. "Thank you, Fixit," she said softly.

"You are welcome," Fixit said. He turned to Terra. "I apologize that your new goggles are not yet ready as they are still undergoing their final testing phase."

"That's fine," Terra said with a shrug. "I've gone without before."

"The other device is for you, Beast Boy," Fixit said. He pulled a utility belt identical to Beast Boy's out of his cloak. "Please keep in mind that this can only be tested by you. Therefore, the results are unpredictable and the device may need further adjustments."

Beast Boy cautiously took the belt. "It's not going to blow me up or electrocute me, is it?"

"Would you really like to know the odds of that occurring?" Fixit asked.

Beast Boy shook his head and replaced his old belt with the new one. "What does it do?"

"While examining the recordings of our training sessions," Fixit said, stepping back. "I have found that there is a fraction of a second during a morph in which you are vulnerable to attack. This device is meant to reduce the probability of an opponent exploiting this weakness."

"Soo…" Beast Boy said, still confused. "What does it do?"

"It increases your morphing speed," Fixit clarified. "In order to test this device, you will have to morph."

"Okay…" Beast Boy said. He morphed into a snake and then resumed his human form. "Tada!"

"What do you mean?" Terra asked, looking between Beast Boy and the Titans. "You haven't done anything yet."

"What?" Beast Boy asked. He looked around. "I did to! I was a snake! Didn't you see me?"

"Hmm," Fixit said, placing a hand on his chin. "Interesting."

"What?" Red X grunted.

"Apparently, the device has another advantage," Fixit answered. "It seems that with the increase in morphing speed, Beast Boy could, theoretically, transform continuously at a rapid pace to become invisible to the normal eye."

"Coool!" Beast Boy said.

…

Terra stepped back as Beast Boy disappeared for a full three seconds. She felt a gust of wind by her cheek before Beast Boy appeared by the central monitor.

"Dude!" Beast Boy said excitedly. "This is awesome!"

"Your belt's on fire," Jinx said calmly.

"I know I'm on fi— wait, what?" Beast Boy looked down as his belt burst into flame. He quickly took off the belt and threw it onto the table.

"As I said," Fixit commented, his eyes flashing in the direction of the belt. "Adjustments may be required. Perhaps I should add a coolant system."

"You think?" Red X asked as Beast Boy grabbed his original belt.

"Still," Fixit said, moving to the central monitor and inserting a plug into his head. "It would not hurt to see the results of the test."

"Huh?" Beast Boy said, clipping on his belt. He squealed. "No! Wait!"

Beast Boy ran over to the central monitor and tugged at Fixit who didn't move a muscle. Beast Boy then moved onto the cord behind the monitor, tugging at it in vain.

Fixit's eyes flashed and a video popped up on the monitor.

The image displayed Beast Boy turning from a mouse to an elephant to a giraffe to a monkey, and back to his normal form. He gave Terra a previously unseen kiss on the cheek before transforming into a couple of animals and resuming his human form.

There was an awkward silence as the screen went blank.

Fixit unplugged himself from the computer in silence.

Terra and Jinx looked at a blushing Beast Boy. Both girls folded their arms and raised an eyebrow in unison.

Fixit and Red X seemed to decide it was a good time to occupy themselves with other matters as they quickly moved to the other side of the room.

Beast Boy started stammering. "Sorry, I was just having fun! I just wanted to test out the gadget! I didn't mean it!"

Terra scoffed and unfolded her arms slightly as Jinx placed a hand over her mouth and turned away.

Beast Boy froze and squealed again. "I mean… I did mean it! I just…"

Terra shook her head, turned around, and walked to the door with Jinx.

Beast Boy followed close behind, still stammering.

Terra's eyes glowed and the dust in the ceases of the door expanded as Jinx flicked her wrist, causing both sides of the door to slam shut in Beast Boy's face.

There was a loud thump as Beast Boy walked straight into the door.

Terra and Jinx exchanged smiles and kept walking.

…

Beast Boy laid on the ground, attempting to blink the stars out of his eyes.

Red X stood over the Green Titan. "At least she doesn't know about the Tokyo Girls," the thief grunted.

"Yeah," Beast Boy groaned as he stood. "That… wait, how do you know about the Tokyo Girls?"

"I know everything."

"I do find your perceptive abilities to be quite enhanced compared to many humans that I have encountered," Fixit said to Red X, examining Beast Boy's belt.

"If I'm so perceptive, why don't I get a new gadget?" Red X asked.

"Because you regularly call yourself 'thief' and continue to insist that you are, quote, 'not a Titan'," Fixit answered. "If that is the case, is not right for a Titan to provide a thief with technology that could potentially alter a… beneficial arrangement."

"You mean blackmail," Red X grunted.

…

"Well, that was fun," Jinx said to Terra as they walked through the Tower. "You wanna try to catch a movie? We can invite Amber and Dionne. They're cool with you again, right?"

"Amber and Dionne said we were good," Terra replied. She pulled the memory device out of her pants pocket. "And they said they were jealous of where I live."

"I used to be jealous of where you lived," Jinx admitted. "You know, way back when."

"Anyway, I can't do the movie," Terra said. "There's one last memory that I have to get through."

…

Red X slipped into Robin's old room, booted up his laptop again, and sent one message.

It happens tonight.

…

A while later, Jinx walked down the hallway, feeling the rhythmic vibration of her necklace on her chest. A few seconds later, she sighed in relief and turned off the device.

After turning another corner, Jinx stopped at Terra's room and knocked as she walked in. "Hey, Terra, Beast Boy wanted me to let you know that dinner's… Terra?"

…

Beast Boy placed his tofu-eggs and waffles on a plate.

"Terra's gone!" Jinx announced as she ran into the living room.

"Again?" Red X asked lazily from the couch.

Jinx sent a glare in his direction.

"I shall activate the locator on her Communicator," Fixit said calmly, moving to the computer.

"Did she say anything?" Beast Boy asked quickly.

"Um…" Jinx looked up. "She mentioned that she had one last memory she wanted to look at."

Beast Boy thought for a moment. He took a deep breath. "I know where she is."

…

Terra, dressed in the uniform that Slade had provided before asking her to destroy the Teen Titans, found herself kneeling on the ground in pain.

Slade moved forward and grabbed Terra by her uniform's chest piece and lifted her into the air as the end drew near.

The ripped fabric of Terra's uniform and her hair rose in a flurry of wind.

Terra opened her eyes as they glowed bright yellow. "You can't control me anymore!"

An orb of yellow energy formed around Terra and Slade. Seconds later, the orb turned orange and grew pointed as it melted down the solid rock column beneath Terra and Slade, allowing long sealed lava to flow freely before an explosion blew the column apart completely.

The Titans shielded their eyes for a moment and when the smoke cleared, Slade was gone and Terra stood upon a floating rock platform.

Terra's hands ceased their glowing as she collapsed to her hands and knees.

All around them, the volcano began to crumble.

"Terra's power!" Robin shouted as lava shot up from the cracks in the ground. "It's triggered a volcano!"
"Big enough to take out the whole city!" Cyborg added, glancing at a readout on his arm. "And way too big to stop!"

Raven used her power to redirect a large flare of lava. "We have to get out of here!"

Robin motioned for the other Titans to follow as the three moved to the exit with Starfire flying close behind.

"Terra!" Beast Boy said as Terra, still kneeling on the ground, brought her platform closer to him. Beast Boy placed his hands on her shoulders. "C'mon, we gotta go!"

"I have to stay," Terra said calmly and firmly, her eyes shut.

Lava started to pool at the bottom of the volcano. Rocks fell from the ceiling and collided with the lava as the room began to shake even more.

"No…" Beast Boy said softly.

"I'm the only one who can stop it," Terra said simply, opening her eyes. Her blonde hair still covered her right eye as she looked at the crumbling walls around them.

"Please, Terra, you can't," Beast Boy begged. "It's too late."

Terra stood and turned to Beast Boy as she brushed her hair away from her eye. She smiled. "It's never too late."

Beast Boy's eyes began to tremble.

Terra wrapped herself around Beast Boy. After a second, Beast Boy slowly hugged her in return.

Terra's blue eyes began to water. "You're the best friend… I've ever had," she said, closing her eyes as she laid her head on his shoulder.

Terra released Beast Boy and touched his shoulders for a moment before letting go completely. Beast Boy took a few steps back. Neither of them broke eye contact as Terra's hands started to glow, separating the ground Beast Boy was standing on from her own and guiding him to safety.

Cyborg grabbed Beast Boy's shoulders and led him out of the volcano along with the rest of the Titans.

Terra stared straight ahead as dark yellow energy began to outline her entire body. More and more of the volcano crumbled and the lava started to rise, leaving Terra and the column of rock that she stood upon surrounded by destruction.

Terra closed her eyes as the energy around her spread like fire and her clothing and hair once again rose in a gust of wind.

Lava burst from the walls ensuring that the volcano would erupt in seconds.

The energy soared above Terra's head, sending a beam of energy to the ceiling.

Terra gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as she gathered as much power as she could. As the lava surrounded her completely, Terra spread her arms and let out a scream of determination as she dispersed the energy in a flash of white light.

Terra opened her eyes, dropping the memory device to the ground. She gazed at the bouquet of dead roses in front of her as well as the plaque that was once her legacy.

TERRA

A TEEN TITAN

A TRUE FRIEND

…

Beast Boy walked to the bottom of the volcano and found a large hut made of solid rock. Beast Boy turned into an ant and crawled through one of the small air holes to find Terra sitting on the ground in the hut's center, staring at the Titans Communicator in her hand.

Beast Boy resumed his human form and sat next to her.

"How'd you find me?" Terra asked, still looking at her Communicator.

"Because this is where I used to go when I needed to talk to someone," Beast Boy answered.

"Why didn't you…" Terra gulped and looked into Beast Boy's eyes. "Why didn't you tell me I was your best friend."

"What?" Beast Boy asked.

Terra looked away for a moment. "I just watched my last… I saw what I did in the volcano… what I did here," she clarified, looking at Beast Boy again as her voice quivered. "And I told you… that you were the best friend I've ever had… why didn't you ever tell me about that?"

Beast Boy swallowed and looked at the plaque in front of them. "I've spent a lot of time telling you who you were," he said softly, turning back to Terra. "That wasn't fair of me to do."

Terra looked at the plaque for a moment as well before looking at Beast Boy.

Beast Boy looked into her eyes and smiled sadly. "Now, as your friend, I just want to help you discover who you are."

Terra looked down, smiling sadly before leaning forward and planting a kiss on Beast Boy's lips. Beast Boy didn't hesitate in returning the kiss.

When Terra finally pulled away, she left Beast Boy with a happy, but very confused expression on his face.

Terra blushed. "We um… we never did that before, did we?"

"Uh, no…" Beast Boy said. He shook his head. "No we did not."

Terra smiled slightly and shrugged. "It just… seems like something we should've done before."

"Yeah…" Beast Boy said. He smiled.

Before either could say another word, their Communicators chimed.

Terra answered hers first. "Terra here," she said, sniffling somewhat. "Beast Boy's with me."

"You two good?" Jinx asked.

"Yup," Terra answered simply, giving Beast Boy a smile.

"Better than good," Beast Boy added, smiling back. He looked at the Communicator. "Did something happen?"

"Slade's attacking City Hall. We think he's after the Mayor."

…

Jinx, Fixit, and Red X jumped to the ground from the T-Ship as fifteen of Slade's robotic commandos walked toward the City Hall.

The large, white building had two oak front doors and was supported by several pillars on each side. Its oak doors were surrounded by an archway, held up by several smaller support pillars.

Two of the commandos leveled their weapons at the people streaming out the front doors and onto the dark streets. Their shots were intercepted by two X-shurikens thrown by an airborne Red X. Red X landed, spinning around in a kick and disabling the commandos and before activating his wrist-blades.

Jinx jumped down behind Red X as more commandos leveled their blasters above the entrance to City Hall and fired, causing the archway crack. Jinx waved her hand as pink energy flew into the supports for the archway. The supports collapsed against each other and blocked the falling debris long enough for a large group of people, including the Mayor, to get out of the building.

Fixit walked in front of Jinx as his eyes flashed, taking control of the T-Ship remotely. The T-Ship glided close to the ground, providing cover from the firing commandos and allowing the civilians and the Mayor to make into a large police vehicle that quickly drove them to safety.

"Where are the other two?" Red X shouted to Jinx as he ducked under a few shots.

Red X slid below two commandos and slashed at their feet. He quickly stood, blocked a punch from a third commando, and slashed with both blades. As the third android's head fell to the ground, Red X thrust his blades backward on either side, impaling the other two commandos as they rose to their feet.

"They said they're on their way," Jinx answered, spinning away from a punch.

"Fixit!" Red X called. "Make sure everyone gets clear of the area!"

Jinx stepped forward and waved both her hands at the ground. Three sewer pipes emerged with a burst of water, shorting out three more commandos. As Red X used his wrist-blades to block a few blaster shots coming in his direction, Jinx cartwheeled between two commandos.

Jinx ducked as one of the commandos lunged from behind, narrowly avoiding a punch that ended up impacting with the other commando's face. As the commando fell to the ground, Jinx turned, jumped, and lashed out with a kick, disabling the other commando.

Jinx and Red X turned as the remaining commandos fired their weapons at them. The concrete on the street rose up and formed into a wall, blocking the shots. Jinx and Red X looked up as a green crow swooped down and out of sight behind the wall.

Seconds later, a dinosaur roared and flashes of yellow light could be seen over the wall. Jinx and Red X stepped back as the wall broke apart and five commandos hit the ground.

Beast Boy and Terra walked over the rubble and met up with Jinx and Red X on the street as Fixit returned.

Fixit's eyes flashed and the T-Ship parked itself on the roof of City Hall.

"Bravo, Titans."

The Titans and Red X turned as Slade walked out of the shadows of a nearby alley, slowly clapping his hands as he stopped ten feet away from them.

"Or shall I only say, 'bravo'?" Slade asked, folding his arms. "After all, you aren't really 'Titans', are you?"

Beast Boy glanced at Red X.

Slade glanced at the thief as well before looking at the destroyed entrance to City Hall. "Although I must say, it is just as easy to draw you out as it was the original Titans."

"An attack on the Mayor seems pretty desperate," Jinx taunted. "How do you know it wasn't us who finally drew you out?"

"Because I am always two steps ahead of you," Slade said. He started to circle the Titans. "While you have been occupied with my… minor assault on your Mayor, my commandos have commenced a massive attack on your other Towers."

"You're lying," Beast Boy said through gritted teeth as the Titans and Red X started slowly walking as well.

"No, he's not," Terra promised quietly as Slade stopped with his back to City Hall.

"Yes, Terra," Slade said with only a hint of approval. "I'm sure you remember that a full-on assault is an effective strategy with the proper… conviction."

Terra's hands clenched into fists.

"Fixit," Beast Boy said quietly.

Jinx and Terra moved in front of Fixit to block him from Slade's view.

Fixit's looked down as his eyes flashed. The T-Ship quietly rose from the top of City Hall and turned in Slade's direction as Fixit's smaller seismic blasters emerged from the headlights of the vehicle.

"The Mayor's gone," Red X said to Slade. "You may have drawn us out, but you didn't complete your mission."

"And what was my mission?" Slade asked.

Jinx's eyes widened. "Fixit, get the T-Ship out of—"

It was too late.

Several robotic commandos appeared on the roof of City Hall and jumped onto the T-Ship. Slade grabbed a small detonator from his belt and activated it. A second later, the commandos on the ship, as well as the defeated commandos on the ground exploded.

The T-Ship blew apart in midair and crashed to the ground.

…

Slade stood still as the smoke and flame billowed past him and engulfed the Titans and Red X.

The commando slowly walked into the smoke as Jinx rose to her feet and charged. Slade lazily blocked a strike with the back of his hand right hand. Jinx spun and flicked her wrist in the at a piece of debris from the T-Ship that lay on the ground between them.

The debris burst with electricity and temporarily blinded Slade. He heard boots leap from the ground as well as a grunt. Slade brought up an arm to block the kick as he opened his eyes.

Jinx backflipped to the ground and threw punch after punch. Slade sidestepped most of the strikes and blocked her left with his right hand before throwing a left of his own. Jinx gracefully bent backwards to dodge but was unprepared when Slade kicked her legs out from under her.

Slade raised a fist to strike but the blow was blocked by Fixit. Slade followed up with a kick and a flurry of punches, all of which Fixit blocked with ease. Slade spun away from a kick and saw Red X charging forward.

Slade jumped and spun between the horizontal strikes of Red X's wrist-blades. Red X slashed again and Slade took one step back to dodge before grabbing the thief's arms and redirecting the blades to slice into Fixit's mechanical knees. Slade turned with a grunt and threw Red X back into the smoke before kicking Fixit off his feet.

Slade heard a grunt of pain and looked down as Red X's fallen Communicator rolled out of the smoke.

A green leopard pounced from Slade's left. The commando turned and rolled backwards as he grabbed the leopard's outstretched paws. Slade kicked both legs up into the leopard's ribs, completed the backward roll, and came to a rest on top of the leopard.

Slade punched the leopard in the gut and Beast Boy resumed his human form with a grunt of pain.

Slade stood again and raised a leg to stomp on the Titan's chest. Just before impact, a piece of rock appeared under Slade's boot and launched him into the air.

Slade gracefully backflipped and turned, kicking apart a large piece of stone soaring toward him. Slade completed his landing and turned again as the smoke cleared. The Titans and Red X stood before him in a horizontal line.

"Do you not understand why you continue to fail?" Slade asked. He started to pace back and forth in the middle of the street as City Hall caught fire behind him. "You still rely upon your talents as individuals."

The Titans and Red X made no reply, they simply started to walk forward.

"And though you have come far in what even I would admit is a short time," Slade said as he looked at Red X again. "You are still nothing against someone who's been studying his enemies personally for weeks."

Beast Boy and Terra both looked at Red X.

"Because you lack the efficiency of the original team," Slade continued. "You fight together but are defeated alone. As will be the case for your companions, both here on Earth and through the portals."

The Titans and Red X charged forward as Slade grabbed and extended his long, black staff which was once again tipped with a metal, orange 'S'.

Fixit reached Slade first and grabbed the staff with both hands. Slade ducked under the staff and let go for a split second before grabbing two probes from his own belt and placing them on each of Fixit's wrists.

With a series of electrical shocks, Fixit's hands shot out of their sockets and sent the staff soaring across the street. Slade blocked a kick before sending a palm to Fixit's face and throwing the Titan to the ground once again.

Slade looked up as Jinx charged with Red X close behind. The thief shot out Xenothium adhesive with one hand. Slade sidestepped the adhesive and grabbed the substance as Jinx charged forward with a punch infused with pink energy.

Slade blocked Jinx at the wrist, redirecting her punch into the adhesive. As the bad luck impacted with the Xenothium, the red substance wrapped around both the Titans, tying their legs together before Slade threw them off their feet.

Slade looked up as Terra raised herself into the air on a rock platform. The commando rolled to the left as a green bear charged toward him. As Beast Boy ran past him and turned, Slade grabbed an explosive from his belt and threw it into the rock platform Terra stood upon.

The platform exploded and Terra fell painfully to the ground as Slade turned, seeing Beast Boy glance in the girl's direction. Beast Boy charged forward, growling as he wrapped Slade up in a giant bear hug. Slade spun around in the bears grip and elbowed Beast Boy in the chest.

Beast Boy released his grip and started to turn into a gorilla.

Slade turned and kicked the Titan mid-morph before grabbing Beast Boy's arm using him as a human shield to block the large piece of concrete being thrown by Terra.

The rock hit Beast Boy at half speed.

Slade threw a dazed Beast Boy aside and charged forward, backhanding a shocked Terra off her feet.

"Emotional manipulation was always particularly easy to achieve with you two," Slade gloated.

Slade looked around him at the fallen Titans and Red X for a few seconds before turning and walking away. "You are not the team that once protected this city," he said, picking up his staff and throwing Fixit's hands aside.

Terra slowly stood and offered Beast Boy a hand, hauling him to his feet. Red X released the adhesive from his gloves and used an X-shuriken to cut himself and Jinx apart.

Fixit held out two arms and reattached his hands as they soared back to him.

"I have no need to attack your Tower here in Jump City," Slade said as he pulled a small sphere from his belt. "Because I have already shown you that nobody can stop me."

Slade threw the sphere at the ground. Smoke engulfed the area once again. When the smoke cleared, Slade was gone.

…

Beast Boy took a deep breath and glared at Red X.

Red X looked him in the eye.

…

Later in the night, Red X and the Titans rode a shaky rock platform created by Terra back to Titans Tower, dismounted on the roof, and moved to the elevator where they stood in separate corners with Red X in the center.

Red X walked out of the elevator first and into the living room, moving immediately to the central monitor. "If Slade was telling the truth, which he always does," the thief said lazily. "Then we should call for updates from the other Towers. And… big surprise. No immediate response."

"Are their signals being jammed?" Beast Boy asked, the allegation in his voice clear. "From here, maybe?"

Red X stood and moved to the center of the room before looking Beast Boy in the eye. "Was that accusation directed at me?"

"BB," Jinx said, walking forward and standing behind Red X's shoulder. "We're all…"

"We just got destroyed!" Terra interjected. She sighed, shook her head, and looked at each Titan. "Slade put us in the dirt and shoved it down our throats. After all the training…"

"All the training," Beast Boy repeated, looking at Red X again. "Training that you insisted on. That you insisted we record."

"Slade knew everything we'd do," Terra continued, moving to stand next to Beast Boy as Fixit and Jinx remained behind Red X. Terra looked at Fixit. "He knew how to hack your system. The only way he'd know that is if he'd seen either the briefings or the recordings of our trainings."

"Well, you seem to know a lot about this," Red X said calmly to Terra.

Beast Boy took small step forward.

"Wait," Jinx said, stepping between Beast Boy and Red X. "Are we really having this conversation? Slade is the enemy. None of us would work for him as we are now. Not even X."

"Red X would work with anyone who offered him a gain," Beast Boy said, not breaking eye-contact with the thief. "Am I wrong?"

"Jinx," Terra said. She sighed. "You're one of the smartest girls I know. Can you really guarantee that with his background, Red X wouldn't consider working with Slade?"

"I trust him," Jinx said firmly.

"I don't," Terra said just as firmly.

Red X scoffed. "Slade was definitely right about our team."

"Let's make this easy," Beast Boy said. He looked at Fixit who had moved to stand next to Terra. Beast Boy looked at Red X. "Just tell us that you're not working with or for Slade."

"Why?" Red X asked, stepping forward. He glanced at Fixit. "So you can use your human lie detector on me?"

"My ability to detect anomalies in body language and vocal patterns has proved to be quite effective when I have been experimenting with trust," Fixit said.

"Well, you can choose to trust me or not. I really don't care," Red X said, looking at each Titan in turn. "And I'm not playing silly games. Unless you have proof, maybe we should get back to more important matters."

"Prove you don't work for Slade," Beast Boy said calmly.

"Prove that I do," Red X retorted.

Beast Boy took a deep breath and looked at Jinx. "I'm sorry," he said to her. "I promised myself I'd give him a chance."

Jinx raised an eyebrow.

Beast Boy gulped. "Fixit," he said.

Fixit turned to Beast Boy.

Beast Boy glanced at the computer. "Bring up Red X's movements the night of the Xenothium heist."

Fixit turned to the computer and started typing.

A few seconds later, a digital timer and a GPS map containing a blue dot representing the Xenothium lab appeared. Fixit hit another few buttons and a yellow 'X' symbol representing the nanoscopic tracker on Red X's mask appeared less than a block away.

Red X didn't move.

Fixit's eyes flashed and the timer ticked forward rapidly. The 'X' symbol started to change positions, completing a circle around the lab and moving into the lab's center before exiting five minutes later.

Jinx slowly walked forward and replayed the footage before turning to Red X with a look of sadness and disappointment.

Red X looked down momentarily.

"You were behind the heist," Beast Boy said calmly to Red X.

"What were you planning on doing with all that Xenothium?" Terra asked.

"What's Slade planning?" Beast Boy added.

"How should I know?" Red X asked. He looked at Jinx. "I didn't steal it for Slade. I don't steal for anyone but me."

Jinx shook her head and turned away.

Fixit walked forward. "Due to recent revelations, I've decided to run a full scan of our Communicators. I have detected an outgoing transmission," he said, his eyes flashing. He looked at Red X's Communicator. "I have now tracked the transmission to its source."

"How long?" Terra asked Red X quietly. She narrowed her eyes. "How long have you been transmitting everything to Slade?"

Fixit waited a few seconds for Red X to answer before providing an answer himself. "The transmission, it seems, has been ongoing prior to my time with the Titans."

"You were right earlier," Beast Boy said to Terra. "Slade does have all the intel."

"All this time," Jinx said through gritted teeth as she turned back to Red X. "Slade's constant escapes, always seeming to know where we are, what we're doing… were you ever really going to challenge him?"

"Not as a hero," Red X answered.

"Robin was wrong about you," Beast Boy said quietly. He walked forward, grabbed Red X's Communicator, and threw it at the door to the living room. "You're a thief and a traitor. And now, you're going to jail."

Red X looked around at the Titans before chuckling. "Fine. I am a thief."

The Titans readied themselves.

"But let me remind you of something," Red X said quietly, folding his arms as he stood inches from Beast Boy. He looked straight at Terra. "I've never been a traitor."

Beast Boy's eyes widened and he took a step back, turned into a T-Rex, and swung around in an attempt to hit Red X with his tail. Red X leapt into the air and shot adhesive at Beast Boy's muzzle.

The other Titans moved forward to confront Red X.

Red X leapt onto the counter and kicked off edge. He soared up and over Beast Boy, completely wrapping the green Titan's muzzle and used his momentum to bring the T-Rex down to the ground.

Fixit leapt over the fallen Beast Boy and threw a punch. Red X backflipped once and threw out two X-shurikens which impacted with two probes attached to Fixit's body, causing a small explosion that blew the Titan off his feet.

Red X dove behind the couch for cover as Terra gathered the dirt in the room and sent five sharp pieces of stone in his direction. As soon as the stones were over him, Red X stood and threw two X-shurikens in Jinx's direction, causing the Titan to roll away.

Red X leapt over the couch and threw a punch at Terra, who dodged to the side. The thief ducked under Terra's counter-punch and kicked her in the chest, sending her sailing into the wall. Red X drew four more X-Shurikens and used them to pin Terra to the wall by her shirt and pants.

Red X then raised his gloves and used the adhesive to further pin her to the wall. The thief deactivated his gloves and turned in time to grab Jinx's fist and arm she charged forward.

Red X took a moment to note the shock and hurt in Jinx's eyes before throwing her into Beast Boy who'd just risen from the ground.

…

Beast Boy, Fixit, and Jinx rose to their feet as Red X removed his belt and took out a vial, throwing it sharply to the ground and engulfing the room in smoke.

When the smoke cleared, Red X was gone. His mask and Xenothium belt lay on the floor.

"C'mon!" Jinx urged, rising to her feet first. "If we hurry—"

"Don't bother," Beast Boy said as he rose to his feet as well and helped Fixit up. "If he goes for the underground tunnels connected to the training room, we'll never catch him anyway."

Jinx moved toward the door. "Then I'll—"

"Jinx!" Beast Boy said sharply.

Jinx hesitated.

Beast Boy slowly shook his head and lowered his voice. "Red X was just a pawn. We need to track down Slade."

After picking up Red X's mask and discarded belt, Fixit placed them on the counter and placed a hand on Jinx's shoulder.

Beast Boy walked toward Terra and turned into a werebeast, destroying the wall around her and ripping off the Xenothium.

"This is turning into a rocky day," Terra grunted. She shook off the rest of the Xenothium and looked around. "I think Beast Boy's right. If we don't stop Slade, Red X won't matter."

Jinx slowly nodded and looked down at Red X's fallen Titans Communicator.

…

Slade watched Red X's brief battle as seen and heard through the Communicator's hidden cameras and mics until the point that Jinx's boot destroyed the device and the screen went black.

Slade shut down his laptop, walked to the edge of the skyscraper, and gazed at the moonlit Titans Tower in the distance. It seems that our young mastermind's usefulness on the team is at its end. No matter. He will return to me in time.

…

Beast Boy looked over Fixit's and Terra's shoulder at the central monitor.

"Any word from the other Towers?" Beast Boy asked.

"None," Fixit said. He looked at Jinx who was sitting on the couch, her face unreadable. "It is… concerning."

Beast Boy looked at Terra, who nodded and moved toward Jinx.

Beast Boy looked at the monitor again. "What about word from the moon or the battle against the Gordanians?"

…

Jinx pressed on her lightning bolt necklace and held her breath until the object under her hand began to vibrate.

Jinx closed her fist around the necklace and shut her eyes.

"Jinx," Terra said.

Jinx opened her eyes as Terra sat down next to her.

"You okay?" Terra asked.

Jinx shook her head. "Raven told me that I have a good eye… now I'm not so sure," she admitted. She sighed and looked at her necklace. "I just… I wish I could talk to him right now."

Terra slowly nodded. She prodded Jinx with her elbow. "For what it's worth, you can talk to me."

"Yeah, but you didn't even like X," Jinx grumbled.

"But you did," Terra said. She shrugged. "And I like you, so…"

Jinx smiled somewhat. "Thanks, Terra."

Beast Boy walked forward and glanced at Terra.

Terra nodded and placed a hand on Jinx's leg before standing up and moving to Fixit.

Beast Boy slowly pushed aside the T.V. remote on the table and sat down across from Jinx.

Jinx looked away for a moment. "I'm sorry I was wrong."

"I'm sorry I was right," Beast Boy replied, drawing Jinx's eyes back to him. Beast Boy lowered his voice. "He lied. But… I'd be lying if I didn't, in some way, hope that I was wrong too."

"Ah," Fixit said as his eyes flashed. "The devices are ready."

Beast Boy and Jinx stood as Fixit exited the room as the central monitor lit up.

"Alright," Beast Boy said. He walked up to the monitor. "The Mayor has reached safety."

"Where?" Jinx asked.

"Fixit's robots took him to Tito's junkyard," Beast Boy answered.

"That's not going to keep Slade at bay for long," Terra cautioned.

"May I interrupt?" Fixit said as he returned to the Titans. "I have repaired and completed our new tech additions."

Beast Boy looked at the belt in Fixit's hand. "That's not going to set me on fire this time, is it?"

"I assure you, with my adjustments this device is perfectly safe," Fixit said.

Beast Boy smiled and eagerly replaced the old belt with the new and disappeared for a full five seconds as he rapidly morphed.

"You didn't do anything weird?" Terra asked. "Right?"

Beast Boy shook his head frantically.

"And for you, Terra," Fixit said. "I have these."

Terra stepped forward as Fixit held out a pair of goggles. They were tinted blue with yellow and black padding on the rims.

"The lenses are completely resistant to staining and breakage," Fixit explained as Terra weighed the goggles in her hand. "And the padding is made of compressible micro-fabric."

"What's that?" Terra asked.

"It means that it conforms to your face and won't get in the way when you're fighting," Jinx said. She looked at Fixit. "Did you…"

"Your boyfriend is quite intelligent despite the impression that he chooses to give at times," Fixit said. "I took him at his word when he said that it worked for a friend he'd met in Star City."

Terra placed the goggles around her neck.

"The lenses automatically react to the environment," Fixit continued. "They will adjust shades automatically to account for changes in light such as fire or sunlight and also contain night vision."

"Cool," Terra said. She smiled and softly touched the goggles. "Thanks, Fixit."

"I hope they come in handy," Fixit said.

"What about you?" Jinx asked.

"I have the prototype probes that are ready for testing and I have made an adjustment to my body's ability to adapt to… complications," Fixit said. He looked at his hands for a moment before looking out the window at the moonlit sky. "I believe it would be wise to find Slade. As we do not yet know what he is planning, it is best to do so with haste."

"Wherever he is," Beast Boy said as they all walked up to the central monitor. "It'll be stylish, and it'll be a trap."

"When is it not?" Jinx asked.

"I have been running scans of the city since our return from Markovia," Fixit said. "I have detected no unusual communications."

"What about electricity?" Jinx asked. "Any places that have had energy spikes or that have gone completely dark."

"None," Fixit answered.

"It's got to have something to do with the portals," Beast Boy said with certainty. "Everything has to do with the portals."

"And Slade would want to be able to see everything," Terra added. "If this is anything like when I… Slade won't leave anything to chance."

"I am narrowing search parameters to areas with close proximity to the portals within the city," Fixit said. He gazed at the readings. "The portals within these parameters have had no activity since being opened."

"Narrow the search to the industrial center," Jinx advised. "Slade wouldn't want to be somewhere easily seen by civilians."

"Skyscrapers," Terra said. Everyone turned to her. "Stylish, secluded, close to the portals."

Jinx nodded.

"That narrows the search greatly," Fixit said as he adjusted the computer once again. "Perhaps I should add in parameters regarding the skyscrapers in very close proximity to other buildings. Slade always has an exit strategy."

"Three possibilities," Jinx said once the monitor had updated. "Not bad."

"One is in sector nine," Fixit said, gazing at the monitor. "Another in sector eight, and the third in…"

Beast Boy slowly walked toward the window and gazed out across the water at the city.

The other Titans followed suit as they looked at a skyscraper visible from the Tower. There were two buildings close by that were slightly shorter. One was a parking ramp. The other was another skyscraper that was still under construction. Reportedly, construction had been stalled due to the appearance of the portals. Metal scaffolding on the roof glinted in the moonlight.

"I hate Slade," Beast Boy said as he turned to the team.

"Let's get him," Terra said.

"Let's end it," Jinx agreed.

"Let us bring our friends home," Fixit said.

"Titans together," Beast Boy said, touching his Communicator.

"Titans together," the rest of Titans chanted, touching their own Communicators.

…

First light began to creep over the horizon.

…

The Titans traveled to the moonlit skyscraper via a large rock platform.

"A little light?" Beast Boy suggested as they neared the building.

Fixit's eyes flashed and the large skyscraper as well as the lights hanging over and around the construction site the next building over turned on, illuminating the two buildings. The parking ramp remained dark.

"Where are we headed?" Terra asked as she slowed the platform.

"Top floor," Jinx advised. "Slade can see the whole city from there."

"The top floor is made up of floor to wall windows with four supports on either side," Fixit informed them.

Terra detached a small part of her platform and sent it through one of the windows to gain easy entry.

"Explosives?" Beast Boy asked.

"I detect nothing out of the ordinary," Fixit said. "However, I'm detecting a very large group of commandos. They are in low power."

"Nothing unexpected," Jinx said.

"And one life sign," Fixit added.

"Slade," Beast Boy and Terra said simultaneously.

The Titans dismounted the platform and moved into a large empty room.

The second their feet touched the floor, the electricity shorted out, leaving them in darkness. As they moved to the center of the room, five large television monitors hanging from ceiling lit up with static.

After a few seconds, the static on the monitors cleared to show Slade's head.

"Come to challenge me again?" Slade asked, his voice echoing around the Titans as they continuously turned to stare at the monitors. "Your persistence is… admirable, but futile."

"Come out here and tell us that," Jinx said under her breath.

"However, you being here has offered me an opportunity," Slade said. "I have the benefit of teaching you one last lesson."

"Careful what you wish for," Beast Boy said. He glanced at Fixit. "Can you track him?"

"I am unable to determine the source of his transmission," Fixit said. "The nearby commandos are providing enough electrical interference that they are disorienting my tracking systems."

Slade continued speaking. "I have the privilege of showing you once and for all that no matter how hard you train, how hard you fight, you will never win."

The Titans continued to turn as Slade went on.

` "As you know, my resurrection gave me the ability to employ… other means to my ultimate ends; the dismantling of the Titans and Earth's heroes, the fate of the world in my hands, and the promise of a legacy. My legacy."

The Titans looked out the windows and gazed at the portals that had littered the sky for weeks, offering every threat they'd ever faced and more.

One of the monitors changed and news footage depicting the movement of resources through the portals as well as manpower provided by the heroes of Earth.

"I did not open these portals to encourage attacks from beyond. And although there have been unexpected, and ultimately acceptable, repercussions from this act, the portals have achieved their primary purpose. They have driven all but the least capable heroes from this world."

Another monitor depicted live footage of Earth's current battle against the Gordanians. Even though the portal containing the battle was being filmed at a distance, small flashes of light and explosions could be seen through the void.

"It took much research, but I knew that the first portal I opened would, sooner or later, result in the Gordanians attacking. The Titans have had, shall I say, a 'troubled' history with the aliens."

Yet another monitor changed and flipped through multiple news stories that covered the early days of the portals and also the mass flash-freeze prison breaks.

"When I orchestrated the flash-freeze prison breakouts, I knew, unpredictable as the results would be, that the combined threats of the portals and the released criminals would draw the heroes and the Titans to action. For weeks they have been funneling their manpower, their resources, and their technology through the portals and spreading themselves thin across the world. And one less hero on Earth and in Jump City means one less threat to me and my legacy."

A fourth monitor turned on. It depicted a first-person perspective of a commando attacking the moon. A yellow and red flash came at the camera before the commando was knocked off its feet.

"My recent attack on the moon and the Gordanian's attack on Earth meant that the time had come for the final phase of my plan."

The fifth monitor changed and displayed a machine. The machine looked similar to the portal generators but there was a soft red glow to it. It was encased with orange and black metal.

"This device is not just another portal generator. It connects to every portal generator that I have placed around the world."

The other four screens changed to depict the different angles of the new portal device.

"In minutes, this device will activate, sending a shockwave out to all the portal generators, destroying them and deactivating the portals."

The Titans stiffened and looked at the portals around them again as Slade continued.

"Everyone and everything beyond the portals will be cut off from Earth. And with so little resources and heroes left to challenge me, I will have little trouble reclaiming this city and then claiming the world."

Fixit's eyes flashed as he started running through scenarios.

Terra clenched her fists.

Jinx brought her hand to her lightning bolt necklace.

Beast Boy gritted his teeth and lightly touched his Titans Communicator.

The monitors changed back to the image of Slade's head as his monologue drew to a close.

"And after the world is mine, I will continue my search for someone who is not burdened by the influence of heroes. Someone to take up my mantle. Someone who, in time, will become my legacy."

"Enough!" Beast Boy shouted. "Come out and show yourself, Slade!"

The monitors started to shut off one-by-one as Slade spoke. "As you wish," the commando said. "But I have one last thing to tell you."

The monitors shut off completely.

"Red X was never a traitor."

Jinx and Terra looked at each other in surprise, Fixit remained still, and Beast Boy's eyes narrowed. Seconds later, the device that had been depicted on the monitors lit up the nearby parking ramp with a bright red, Xenothium glow.

The device that would bring about the fall of their world drew the Titans gaze.

In the blink of an eye, Slade stepped out of the shadows in the corner of the room and aimed his weapon at Terra.

Beast Boy's eyes widened.

There was a scream of pain as the floating concrete platform that had brought the Titans to the skyscraper plummeted to the streets below.

"Terra!" Jinx shouted.

Slade quickly dropped the blaster and reached into his belt, throwing out explosives. The explosives attached themselves to magnets located on the support walls in the middle of the room as well as the walls at the back of the room.

The resulting explosion caused half the ceiling and roof to collapse, burying the Titans and leaving Slade completely unharmed.

Slade slowly nodded to himself, knowing that with Terra's incapacitation, the Titans had no chance of escaping their fate.

Slade looked over as the device on the parking ramp shot red light into the sky. The light reflected off Slade's mask and he closed his eye, thinking of all the work he had done to divide the Titans from within.

…

"I was able to gather the information I needed from the Titan mainframe," Slade said. "Robin's next recruit could be a great asset."

"I do not believe that the Titans would recruit someone that could turn traitor," the Headmistress disagreed.

"Loyalty to me is not synonymous with being an asset," Slade said firmly, still leaning against the wall. "Although, loyalty is always preferable."

…

Jinx looked through the smoke to see Slade's silhouette offer Red X's a hand.

…

Beast Boy resumed his human form as he saw Red X take the hand and rise to his feet.

Slade reached into his belt as smoke separated them from sight, secretly switching out Red X's communicator with his own.

…

Red X stepped back and nodded respectfully at Slade.

Slade nodded as well and turned, running through the smoke and out of sight.

…

Slade thought about the trade that'd he'd made with the young thief. Red X's Communicator was now in his possession. The Communicator that the young thief now held was a tool provided by Slade's previous apprentice, Terra, when she had been stealing secrets and tech from the Titans so long ago.

…

Slade grabbed a detonator from his belt and held his thumb over the button that would bury the heroes in Markovia, taking one last look at Red X. "I trust that those who are meant to survive, will survive."

Terra and Raven turned.

Red X slowly nodded at Slade.

…

Red X gazed at the top of cliff overlooking the destroyed city Markovia. He took a step forward as he saw Slade silhouetted against the sun.

Red X nodded, tapping his Titans Communicator. He looked over to see Raven staring at him.

…

Fixit walked forward. "Due to recent revelations, I've decided to run a full scan of our Communicators. I have detected an outgoing transmission," he said, his eyes flashing. He looked at Red X's communicator. "I have now tracked the transmission to its source."

…

Slade watched Red X's brief battle as seen and heard through the Titans Communicator's hidden cameras and mics until the point that Jinx's boot destroyed the device and the screen went black.

…

Slade opened his eyes and stared at the rubble that now entombed the Titans. "Small details, heroes. Small details…"

Slade turned and walked away from the rubble, his hands clasped behind his back.

Clang-clang-clang-clang.

Slade looked down and saw four X-shurikens blocking his path.

A cloaked being dropped down in front of Slade and landed on a knee, the being's ragged cape drooping over his shoulders.

Red X stood as the wind picked up and his cape fluttered in the direction of the machine located on the parking ramp.

Slade took a small step back. "Have you reconsidered my offer?" he asked calmly.

"Not a chance," Red X answered.

"Hmm," Slade said. He looked at the machine atop the parking ramp. "Well, if you are not here to join me, I can only assume you came back to stop me. I assure you, it is impossible. Nothing can be changed now. You are too late. You have nobody to help you. The world believes that you are a criminal. As did your… friends. You are alone."

"Wrong again," Red X said, stepping over the X-shurikens on the ground. Slade slowly turned to the thief. Red X looked over Slade's shoulder at the rubble. "Because I'm not alone."

The sun started to rise over the top of the skyscraper.

Slade turned as the rubble slowly began to shift. Bits of rock and dust started to rise and fall to the side before the larges pieces stone and concrete rose from the pile, revealing Jinx, Fixit, and Terra.

Terra's hair slowly fell and her eyes ceased their yellow glowing as she threw the rubble to the side.

Jinx stood with her hand on her hip.

Fixit stood tall, his arms folded.

Slade tipped his head. "No…"

Terra spun around, flicking her wrist in Slade's direction.

Slade's eyes narrowed as a small green turtle soared through the air. There was a scorch mark on the turtle's shell.

Slade hesitated as he realized that, through either technology or sheer will, Beast Boy had somehow morphed fast enough to block the shot and allowed Terra to remain conscious, ensuring the Titans survival.

Slade could only watch as in the blink of an eye, the turtle turned back into Beast Boy.

Beast Boy let out a battle cry and raised his left fist. The fist connected with Slade's mask, sending the commando sprawling past Red X to the edge of the roof.

By the time Slade looked up, Beast Boy stood next to Red X.

"I'm actually surprised you came back," Beast Boy admitted to Red X, tapping his own belt.

"Nobody messes with my playground," Red X said, keeping his gaze fixed upon Slade as the commando slowly rose to his feet.

Beast Boy slowly looked at Red X. Red X looked back and the pair exchanged a nod before Beast Boy returned to the Titans. Fixit watched silently as Terra looked between them in confusion.

"Hey, X!" Jinx called.

Red X looked over his shoulder for a moment and saw a mixture of surprise and pride on Jinx's face.

Jinx took a step forward. "What's does any good doomsday threat need."

"Effective misdirection," Red X answered.

Jinx smiled.

"How did you find us?" Terra asked.

"I found this place weeks ago," Red X answered, turning back to Slade. "I figured you guys would catch up eventually."

Slade glanced at the device atop the parking ramp. The red light was growing brighter by the second.

"Do you really think I don't know what a 'bait and switch' is?" Red X asked Slade.

Slade turned and took a step forward as Red X stood his ground.

"Nothing goes on my belt without me knowing," Red X said. He threw his broken Titans Communicator at Slade's feet. "I knew you'd switched the Communicators from the get-go."

"Yet you chose to do nothing with this information," Slade retorted. "Disappointing."

"You had your plans… I had mine. I chose to put immediate trust into the one person that would find me out the second he ran a scan," Red X said, glancing at Fixit. "He's also the one person with a permanent poker face."

Fixit's eyes flashed as one of the cracked monitors turned on. The monitor displayed the Titans Communicator that rested on Fixit's own hip.

Fixit looked at the monitor, thinking back to the moment he'd joined the Teen Titans.

Red X offered Fixit the Communicator. Fixit accepted the device with a nod, finally placing it on his hip.

"Keep that thing close," Red X said, pointing to the device. "I set it to connect only to the Titans in Jump City. Any wider and it poses a security risk."

Fixit looked at the device now residing on his own hip, his eyes flashing only slightly.

A single message was saved to the Communicator.

Beast Boy may have given you this Communicator, but he doesn't know I planted this message.

The Communicator in my possession has been bugged by Slade.

This stays between us, or Slade wins.

Eventually, I'm going to bring him down.

And you're going to help me.

Nobody else can know. Not even the rest of the Titans.

Not until the time is right.

- X

"That is… wise," Fixit said to himself.

"I knew that Fixit would find stopping you a priority," Red X said to Slade. "I knew that when I needed something the rest of the Titans wouldn't give, Fixit would give me the means to make my move."

"You gave him the location of the lab that contained X's gear and Xenothium to spare," Jinx said to Fixit, giving him a small smile.

"I did," Fixit confirmed.

"Most of my gear," Red X corrected, glancing at Fixit. "The cloaking and teleportation device would have been nice."

"That could have proved… unproductive," Fixit said.

"Well, thanks for the heads up," Jinx said in a slightly annoyed voice with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah," Terra said, looking at Red X. "I wouldn't have thrown the rocks in the Tower earlier."

"That was point," Red X said, taking a step closer to Slade who remained where he was. Red X looked at Beast Boy for a moment. "I couldn't risk letting anyone else in the loop until Slade attacked City Hall."

Beast Boy took a deep breath and glared at Red X.

Red X looked him in the eye

Terra, Fixit, and Jinx moved beyond the wreckage of the T-Ship outside City Hall where Terra started to create a rock platform to take them back to the Tower.

Red X walked straight up to Beast Boy. "Slade goes down tonight," the thief said quietly.

Beast Boy gave him a look of confusion.

After a few seconds, Red X spoke again. "I'm making my move. And if I fail, your team is the contingency. Fixit knows what is going to happen next. You'll know when it's time."

Red X walked away without another word to retrieve his fallen Titans Communicator located on the other side of the wreckage.

"You keep insinuating that we've played into your hands," Red X said to Slade. "But you're wrong. You've been playing into mine."

"Into ours," Beast Boy corrected.

Red X slowly nodded and continued. "Even after all our battles, win or lose, I knew that this would come down to you and us, Slade. Because you wouldn't have it any other way. And neither would I."

"But you have achieved nothing," Slade said through clenched teeth. He motioned the bright red beam in the sky. "In seconds the world will still be mine. Even with all your strength, you can't hope to destroy the device in time."

"But this isn't about the Titans," Red X continued, stepping forward to stand face to face with Slade. "This isn't about the city, or even the world."

Slade didn't move.

"I've been beaten before," Red X said quietly. "But I don't like it when people try to one-up me. You attempted that when you switched the Communicators."

Red X stepped back and nodded at Slade, thinking two words. "Game on."

Slade nodded as well and turned, running through the smoke and out of sight.

Red X looked at the device on the parking ramp for a moment.

Slade followed Red X's gaze.

Red X turned again and looked Slade in the eye as he spoke. "I didn't come back to stop you, Slade…"

Fixit's eyes flashed.

…

The machine on the parking ramp started to vibrate and the beam of light began spreading across the sky to the other portals where they would destroy the generators, leading to the world's downfall.

Suddenly, the ceiling on the last floor of the ramp lit up red, revealing countless X-shurikens that began to glow red and beep rapidly.

…

Everyone on the skyscraper except Red X turned in shock as the entire parking ramp exploded, destroying the structure. The red beam spreading through the sky disappeared as the device itself went up in flames.

Slade watched months of work burn to ashes before slowly turning to Red X.

"I came back to beat you," Red X completed calmly. "That's part one."

Slade lunged forward with a cry of anger, throwing a right cross. Red X ducked under the blow and lashed out with a foot, kicking Slade back. Slade back-rolled and landed on his feet, drawing his 'S'-tipped staff and lunging again.

Red X blocked the blows as his wrist-blades appeared. The thief ducked under a horizontal stroke and locked his right wrist-blade with the staff as his left wrist-blade hooked into the 'S'-tip of Slade's weapon.

Both combatants grunted as Slade spun Red X around, their weapons still locked together.

Slade slowly pushed Red X to the edge of the roof. "You will suffer for this," the commando promised angrily.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you…" Red X said, pushing them away from the edge of the roof. "That emotion can cloud precision on any job?"

Red X's left wrist-blade began to spin while still hooked into the 'S'-tip of Slade's staff. Red X retracted the right wrist-blade and let go of Slade's staff as his spinning wrist-blade picked up momentum and tore the staff from Slade's grip and sent the weapon falling over the side of the building.

Red X backflipped to dodge a punch from Slade and landed beside the Titans at the head of the 'V'. Starting from the back, Jinx and Beast Boy stood tall on the left with Fixit and Terra standing resolute on the right.

The sun dawned over the top of the building, illuminating the Teen Titans.

"Divided as you think we are," Fixit said to Slade, his eyes glowing blue as the Titans slowly walked forward. "We have one thing in common."

"You mess with our home, our planet, our friends…" Jinx said, touching her lightning bolt necklace as her hands glowed.

"You mess with us," Terra completed, her eyes glowing as she put on her goggles.

"The only one alone here," Beast Boy said as he touched his belt with one hand. "Is you, Slade."

"I've done my homework," Red X said, retracting his wrist-blade and grabbing two X-shurikens. "Five on one didn't work so well for you last time—"

"Enough!" Slade demanded.

The Titans charged.

Slade detached two explosives from his belt and threw them high into the air before jumping to the nearby skyscraper that was under construction.

Slade landed and turned to the skyscraper he'd just left as the explosives hit the roof next to the Titans, blowing out the last ten floors. When the smoke cleared the, Titans were gone.

A large shadow crossed over Slade and the incomplete skyscraper.

Slade looked up and saw that the source of the shadow was a gigantic floating platform of concrete created by Terra.

The Titans jumped down from the platform and landed on the building. Terra closed her fist and the platform began to shake, breaking it apart into tiny pieces that littered the top of the building with dust, dirt, and concrete.

"Give it up, Slade!" Beast Boy ordered. "It's over."

"It is far from over," Slade promised.

"And cue commandos," Jinx muttered under her breath.

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred commandos flew up onto the roof using their rocket-boots. While most landed on the metal scaffolding or on the roof itself, some hovered in the air. Seconds later, more commandos flew up to meet them, carrying large mechs.

The mechs had cylindrical legs, large, broad chests with a black 'X' across the middle as well as a red eye. The arms were gigantic and their hands resembled large pinchers. The commandos dropped the mechs onto the roof.

The Titans were surrounded.

Slade walked forward. "Now it is five against many."

"I've got one last thing to tell you," Red X said to Slade. He glanced at Fixit. "I didn't have time to get probes on the commandos. But I found the mechs."

Fixit's eyes flashed blue yet again and every single mech sparked with electricity and started to stagger with all but one falling from the roof.

"Isn't it amazing what one man can do when nobody thinks he's around?" Red X asked, glancing at the destroyed parking ramp and earning smiles from Beast Boy, Jinx, and Terra.

Slade looked around for a moment before retuning his gaze to the Titans, raising his hand. "This changes nothing," the commando whispered.

The commandos raised their weapons and Slade stepped back to observe the coming battle.

"Titans!" Red X called. He never broke eye contact with Slade. "Let 'em have it."

Jinx snapped her fingers and some of the dust left behind by Terra's platform rose into the air with a gust of wind. Terra raised her hands and morphed the dust into pointed stones, using them to take out numerous commandos.

Red X threw two X-shurikens into the air, shot Xenothium adhesive at them, and swung around in large arcs, using the rope and blades to take out a group of commandos before the ropes got caught in the scaffolding.

Red X released the adhesive as commandos flew above him and leveled their weapons. Red X quickly backflipped and unexpectedly landed on Beast Boy in the form of an elephant. Beast Boy looked up, nodding with his tusks before charging into a group of commandos as Red X started throwing more X-shurikens.

Terra took what X-shurikens didn't hit their mark and caught them in a large chunk of concrete. Terra then broke the concrete apart, allowing Fixit to hack into the trackers that Red X had on all his weapons to redirect the X-shurikens into more commandos himself.

As the commandos turned to Fixit, Terra slid under the other Titan's legs and threw multiple androids off the roof using large rocks. Fixit's eyes flashed again and he hacked into the remaining mech and sent it running past Terra to take on a large group of commandos.

Terra turned and found herself tackled roughly into the relative cover of the metal scaffolding by Jinx as a cluster of previously unseen flying commandos fired down at them. The blasts missed Terra by inches.

"Sorry," Jinx groaned, standing up and offering Terra a hand.

"It's fine," Terra promised, taking the hand rising to her feet. "Thanks."

The commandos landed and walk toward them.

Jinx looked up. "Get down!" she ordered.

Terra ducked as Jinx gathered as much energy as she could before grabbing the metal scaffolding. The metal began to glow pink and started to bend inward, shielding Terra and Jinx from more blaster shots.

Jinx let out a grunt of exertion and released the scaffolding. The scaffolding snapped apart and soared through the air, impaling the firing commandos as well as the mech that Fixit had hacked into.

The mech staggered a few feet from Terra and Jinx before it hunched over and began to shake and spark with electricity.

Terra quickly grabbed Jinx and they jumped off the roof as the mech exploded.

Terra's eyes glowed yellow.

They had only fallen one story before Terra was caught by Beast Boy in the form of a pteranodon as Jinx grabbed onto a flying commando that had been hacked by Fixit.

"Did you know they'd catch us?" Jinx asked Terra as they started to fly back up to the roof.

"No," Terra admitted as a large group of 'S'-shaped dropships containing more commandos appeared over the building.

The large rock Terra had summoned to catch herself and Jinx soared into the group of dropships. The rock impacted with one of the dropships and sent it into another as both vehicles went down in a ball of flame.

Jinx smiled, grabbed onto the legs of her commando, and pulled herself up onto its shoulders as it hovered just below the building. Jinx jumped again and kicked a commando to the ground, landing on the building next to Fixit.

Jinx ducked as Fixit spun around in a kick that took down a commando behind her before she blocked a punch aimed at Fixit, grabbed the commando's other arm, and turned it straight into the path of Fixit's palm.

Two more dropships flew past as the commandos fired down at the two Titans.

After they each rolled to a side, Fixit rose to his feet and threw one probe onto each dropship. Jinx sent pink rays of energy into the probes as they hacked the dropships, causing a systems failure, resulting in a massive explosion that sent the two ships down in flames.

The dropships crashed onto the roof, illuminating Beast Boy and Terra as they stood back to back, taking on a surrounding group of commandos. Beast Boy, in the form of a gorilla, grabbed a commando and swung it around, using the android as an improvised weapon.

Terra grabbed a large rock from the rubble with her powers and spun it around in a large circle, eliminating the entire group.

Beast Boy dropped the commando and exchanged a nod with Terra as yet another dropship flew overhead. Terra forged two large concrete spears from the ground for Beast Boy, who used his massive strength to throw the spears into the dropship. The dropship careened into a nearby building, showering Red X with small bits of dust and debris as he slowly started getting pushed back by his own batch of commandos.

Terra looked at Red X and then at Beast Boy. "Get me over there!" she ordered.

Beast Boy looked at Red X before turning to Terra. "Do I have to?" he asked.

Terra cocked an eyebrow.

Beast Boy sighed dramatically. He turned into a werebeast, grabbed Terra, and threw her high into the air and across the building.

Terra grabbed two firm, hand-sized stones using her powers and landed in a crouch before throwing the stones into two commandos that were closing in on Red X from either side.

Red X turned to Terra and glanced down.

Terra nodded as her hands began to glow. She grabbed a large piece of roof under them and created a platform, taking herself and Red X two stories into the air.

Red X grabbed another couple of explosives from his belt and shoved it into the rock under their feet. Terra and Red X jumped and landed on the roof simultaneously as the rock exploded, giving Terra enough projectiles to temporarily clear half the roof.

Beast Boy took a step back in surprise as the three commandos he was about to destroy came soaring past him with rocks embedded in their backs. The Titan turned and watched as the commandos soared past Fixit, who was in trouble. Beast Boy turned into a jaguar and tackled a commando that was moving up behind Fixit.

Ten more commandos moved in.

Fixit looked at Beast Boy and tossed him five probes. Beast Boy ran around the group of commandos, rapidly changing into different animals to the point of invisibility as he stealthily placed the probes on their backs. As Beast Boy slid to a stop beside Fixit, the cybernetic being's eyes flashed and the probes exploded, taking out the entire group of commandos.

Beast Boy and Fixit stepped back as Red X landed beside them. The three Titans turned to Slade.

Slade, seeming to see that the battle was not going to have the preferred outcome, turned and ran to the edge of the roof.

The Titans looked up as Terra soared overhead on a rock platform. She jumped down and landed in front of Slade, gathering what concrete debris was left on the roof and using it to create a vortex of shrapnel, blocking Slade's escape route.

The Titans glanced at Jinx who was dealing with a few stray commandos on the other side of the roof and then looked up as one last dropship swooped in overhead.

Red X looked at Fixit. "Is your prototype ready?"

Fixit smiled.

Red X grabbed two of his last three explosive X-shurikens and threw them up into the air in an arc as Fixit took a gold-colored probe from his cloak and threw it. The X-shurikens collided with one another and exploded. The probe reached the explosion and absorbed the blasts, sucking the orange, yellow, and red flames into its core.

Fixit's eyes flashed and the probes flew high into the air and hovered in front of the commandos on the dropship at eye level. A second later, the probe opened and a released the explosive energy in a cylindrical blast that blew the commandos off the dropship and to the streets below as the dropship itself slowly fell to the middle of the rooftop.

Slade leapt over Beast Boy and rolled across the dropship in an attempt to reach the safety of the next rooftop.

Fixit's eyes flashed and many of the fallen blasters on the rooftop rose and moved between Slade and escape before creating an impassible grid of laser fire. Fixit moved to stand in front of Slade.

The last of the commandos broke off into two groups. One went for Beast Boy, the other moved after Red X.

Red X turned and saw Jinx moving toward him from the other side of the roof. Red X used his adhesive to create a trampoline. Jinx propelled herself off the adhesive and flipped into the air as Red X placed his palms together and pulled them apart, creating a long, Xenothium staff before holding up his hands.

Jinx snapped her fingers again and the staff broke off Red X's gloves as the Xenothium solidified.

Red X jabbed left, then right with his staff, taking out two commandos before kneeling to the ground and thrusting his staff up horizontally to redirect the punches of two more commandos behind him.

Red X spun and swung his staff low, tripping the commandos before spinning and slashing once again, destroying the androids before they hit the ground. Red X turned and tossed the staff to Jinx, allowing the young woman to pole-vault over to Beast Boy.

Red X grabbed his last explosive and threw it past Slade. The explosive hit the edge of the roof and blew it apart, widening the gap to the next building. Slade skidded to a stop as his escape was prevented once again.

Red X flipped and landed in front of Slade, discharging the solid Xenothium from his gloves to allow further use of the adhesive.

Slade turned to the center of the roof as Beast Boy stood upon the fallen dropship in the form of a T-Rex.

The green Titan used his teeth to destroy three commandos, while simultaneously spinning with his tail. Beast Boy backed up as the remaining commandos started shooting at him.

Jinx hopped onto a rock platform provided by Terra and jumped off, landing on the T-Rex's neck and sliding down his tail before lashing out with her fists and knocking two commandos away.

Jinx quickly jumped off the dropship and spun in the air, sending pink energy into the control panel at the front of the vehicle. The entire dropship brimmed with power and rose into the air slightly.

Beast Boy turned into an ankylosaur, a large dinosaur with a back full of spikes that led down its long spiky tail. The dropship sparked again and began to spin rapidly. Beast Boy used his tail to behead the last of the robotic commandos as he spun along with the vehicle.

Beast Boy turned into a robin and flew away from dropship as Slade made a run for the last free side of the rooftop.

Jinx ran, slid under the spinning dropship, and sent a ray of energy into the engine, causing the ship to explode, engulfing the roof in smoke. When the smoke cleared, Jinx was standing between Slade and freedom.

Slade turned to the center of the roof as Beast Boy landed next to Red X and resumed his human form.

Slade slowly turned around, looking at each Titan in turn. "Don't think that this show changes anything," he said calmly, despite still searching for a way off the building. "We've been here before. You all know that you can't defeat me. Not as individuals. Not together. Not as… Titans."

Red X looked at Terra and Fixit.

Terra took her grid of shrapnel and reformed it into one large, solid piece of concrete. Fixit threw a probe into the concrete and the rock began to vibrate, allowing Terra to quickly disintegrate the rock into one large cloud of dust that she unleashed on Slade, blinding the villain.

Slade turned around as Xenothium adhesive appeared through the dust cloud, latching onto his leg and pulling him to a knee. Slade looked up as Jinx jumped through the smoke, her right leg glowing with pink energy.

Slade found himself on the ground as Jinx's blow hit its mark.

Slade stood and jumped up and over a rock thrown by Beast Boy who was in the form of a werebeast but received a blow from behind as Terra redirected the rock into the commando's back.

Slade stood yet again as the Titans regrouped and stood in a 'V' with Red X at the head.

Slade drew one of his last two explosives from his belt and threw it at the Titans.

Fixit stepped forward and shot one of his hands out of its socket to catch the explosive just as it left Slade's hand, causing it to detonate directly in front of the villain, blowing him off his feet.

Fixit smiled somewhat as a new hand materialized from the socket in his arm to replace the old.

Jinx ran forward and threw another left punch only to have her fist grabbed by Slade. Jinx smiled and gracefully ran up Slade's chest before twisting her hand out of his grasp and kicking off his arm. Jinx, while upside down in midair, sent a ray of energy in Slade's direction. The pink energy hit the last explosive on Slade's belt and blew the commando back yet again.

Slade rose to a knee and watched Terra levitate herself on a platform as Beast Boy charged at him in the form of a rhinoceros. Slade spun to the side and grabbed the rhino's horn, attempting to turn and throw the animal to the ground.

Beast Boy quickly turned into an ape and reversed the hold, now grasping Slade's hand, and threw the commando to the ground yet again.

Slade was barely on his knee when Terra soared toward him, backflipping off the platform, breaking it apart, and sending the projectiles into Slade's chest before landing on both feet. The blow sent Slade closer to the edge of the roof.

Red X jumped into the air and lashed out with a kick. Slade dodged the blow and Red X landed behind the commando, throwing a right cross. Slade ducked out of the way and received a follow-up left cross from that sent him to a knee before Red X spun and unleashed a right uppercut.

Slade hit the ground one last time, rolling to the very edge of the building, his detached mask and belt sliding to a stop a few feet away.

Slade groaned in pain and turned on his hands and knees with his back to the Titans, his dirty grey hair sticking out at one side.

The Titans slowly moved forward with Beast Boy grabbing the belt.

After a few seconds, Red X kicked the mask over to Slade.

Slade slowly grabbed the mask and put it on before turning and facing the Teen Titans while still on his knees.

Red X spun and kicked Slade off the roof. Red X then jumped off the roof after the falling commando, using his Xenothium adhesive to wrap Slade in midair before pasting the villain to the side of the building.

Red X flipped in midair and shot Xenothium onto the side of the building, lowering himself safely to the ground as the entire street lit up with red and blue lights originating from numerous police vehicles.

The uniformed and masked officers exited the vehicles, drew their weapons, and pointed them not at the incapacitated Slade, but to the young man who was, in their eyes, a known thief and traitor to the Teen Titans, Jump City, and Earth.

Red X kept his hands at his sides as Terra, Jinx, and Fixit hopped off a stone platform before Beast Boy, in the form of a raven landed in front of Red X.

The Titans stood between Red X and the authorities of Jump City.

Everyone on the street froze.

"Stand down!" a man ordered loudly.

The man who spoke stepped forward, silhouetted by the police lights flaring behind him.

The Titans didn't move.

"Officers!" the man said louder. He pointed to Slade. "The threat has abated! Slade is now in our custody, thanks to the work of our young Titans. Now. Stand. Down!"

"Yes, Mr. Mayor! All units, stand down!" a female officer said as the entire group of officers lowered their weapons and moved past the Titans to grab Slade who made no attempt to resist as he was cut out of the Xenothium. "Prep transport for the prisoner."

"I must admit," the Mayor said, looking at Red X. "When you started contacting me the night you returned from Markovia, I was a bit skeptical of your plan and your borrowing of more Xenothium the other night."

Red X locked eyes with Slade as the villain was carted into a nearby police vehicle.

"But I must commend your perceptive abilities," the Mayor continued with admiration. "And the abilities of your team."

The door on the police vehicle closed.

"As such, your actions during the Xenothium heist earlier this week shall be pardoned," the Mayor promised. "And just as Robin proposed weeks ago, the illegal actions committed in your past will also be stricken from record provided you stay out of trouble from this point forth."

"Good luck with that," Jinx muttered under her breath as she looked at Red X.

"Now," the Mayor said cheerfully, placing his hands together. "If you would be so kind, my young Titans, I would ask that you please assist our police force in escorting Slade to prison and oversee his accommodations."

An hour later, the Titans stood in a large, empty square room with dark walls. In the center of the room was a small cell. The cell contained steel walls, a bed, a toilet, a sink, a plexiglass mirror, and a steel door.

The steel door contained a keypad that required three different codes to access it as well as a laser grid that would continuously block doorway. On top of the cell was a laser-protected slot that would only open for a millisecond in order for a machine to provide food to Slade twice a day at random.

Slade was walked into the cell where his mask would finally be removed.

Once inside, Slade turned and looked at the Titans. "You may have one the battle today, Titans," he said. "But you are naïve if you think that this is over."

"That coming from the man in the cell," Jinx said, drawing Slade's gaze.

"You will never be anything more than a hero who didn't have the resolve to be a great villain," Slade admonished.

Jinx smiled slightly and nodded before turning way. "I'll send the Headmistress your regards."

Jinx walked out of the room, pressing down on her lightning bolt necklace.

"It seems that psychological warfare is no longer your greatest weapon," Fixit said to Slade.

Slade glanced at Fixit. "You say that as if psychological warfare were even possible with one who is not human."

"I am human," Fixit said. He looked at his hands before turning away as well. "And, for now, I am also machine."

"And what do you have to say about me?" Terra asked Slade.

"Your true potential is and always shall be wasted with the Titans," Slade promised.

"So, I am a Titan, now," Terra said as she nodded and stepped toward Slade. "Because according to you in Markovia, I was nothing. I guess things change."

Terra turned and grabbed Beast Boy's shoulder, moving to walk them out.

"Your previous teams have left you," Slade called out to Beast Boy. "Do you honestly think this team will remain now that I am, as your Mayor said, in custody?"

"Yes," Beast Boy answered, not even looking over his shoulder. "I do."

Beast Boy and Terra walked out without another word.

Red X looked Slade in the eye for a moment before turning away as well, his cape fluttering.

"Do you not wish to see the face of the man you believe to have beaten?" Slade asked Red X.

"It doesn't matter who you are," Red X said. He slowly turned back to Slade. "There's only one thing that matters."

"And what is that?" Slade asked.

Red X grunted and slowly walked toward Slade, folding his arms.

The two guards around Slade stepped back.

"You're going to get out of here," Red X said simply.

Slade did not avert his gaze.

"I know it," Red X said with certainty.

Slade remained silent.

"You know it," Red X continued. He looked at one of the many cameras on the walls surrounding them. "They know it."

"And?" Slade pressed.

"And you should know that I'll be waiting when you get out," Red X promised.

Slade made no reply.

Red X nodded to the two guards and turned, walking toward the door.

"And will you be awaiting my return as an adversary?" Slade asked. "Or a rival?"

Red X didn't answer and walked out the door as the guards reached out to remove Slade's mask.

Red X exited the large stone prison as the Titans stood in a circle, talking quietly.

Beast Boy walked up to Red X and offered a hand. "I was wrong about you," the green Titan said quietly. "You really are all Robin said you could be."

Red X hesitated a moment before clasping the hand.

Beast Boy shook the hand firmly before his Titans Communicator chimed and we walked off to the side.

Red X moved aside as a small group of policemen walked past, not paying any attention to Red X whatsoever.

Red X stared at the officers as they entered the prison. That's different.

Beast Boy returned to the rest of the group. "Hey! Guys!"

The Titans turned to Beast Boy.

Red X remained off to the side and folded his arms again.

"I just got word," Beast Boy said. His face broke into a broad smile. "The attacks on the other Towers failed, the Gordanians are retreating, and we've started calling everyone home!"

The Titans let out sighs of relief before starting to give each other high fives and hugs.

Beast Boy turned to Red X.

Red X gave Beast Boy a nod of respect.

"I also have good news," Fixit said as Red X moved forward. "My creations have completed their initial scans of Slade's destroyed device. I believe that, with Raven's assistance, I can recreate the machine to shut down the portals once all our allies have returned to Earth."

"Looks like your boyfriend's coming home," Terra said to Jinx with a smile.

"I guess so," Jinx said, smiling in return. She looked around. "What about you guys? Are you ready to go home and sleep or… Party?"

"I vote party!" Beast Boy said excitedly.

"Party," Terra confirmed.

"I will not require a system charge for another ten hours," Fixit said. "I would like to experience this… party."

"The sooner I get away from the prison," Red X said, glancing over his shoulder. "The happier I'll be."

It was seven in the morning by the time the Titans and Red X returned to Titans Tower and placed Slade's belt safely inside the vault. They were currently lounging on the couch with Jinx and Fixit each taking an end while Terra and Beast Boy sat in the middle.

Red X walked into the room with two boxes in his hand.

"Nice plan," Beast Boy called to Red X.

Red X didn't reply as he placed the boxes on the table.

Beast Boy leaned forward. "But how did you know that going after Terra would get me to attack you earlier?"

"I must say it was also wise to neglect having your Communicator when I was showing the Titans my new inventions," Fixit added.

"I figured that Slade didn't need to know about those," Red X said to Fixit. He looked at Beast Boy. "As for you and Terra… friends that are as close as you tend to look out for each other."

"Is that what we are to you, now?" Terra asked Red X. "Friends?"

Red X ignored the question. "And that 'fight' you had with me earlier," he said, raising his voice to get Jinx and Fixit's attention as well. "Even though I was holding back, I won way too easily. So, effective immediately, we amp up training by another hour each day."

"Duuude," Beast Boy groaned, earning a smile from Terra. "That's so not cool. We're tired enough as it is. And we just saved the world… again!"

"But for now," Red X said, ignoring Beast Boy. He flipped open the lid on the boxes to reveal two pizzas. One was full of meat. The other was half vegetarian, half anchovies. Red X quickly cut the pizzas using his Xenothium wrist-blades before stepping back. "Eat up, Titans."

The Titans all smiled and dug in.

Terra took a large bite of her anchovy pizza.

Beast Boy held up a finger. "Umm… aren't you allergic?"

Terra's eyes widened and she slowly gulped. After a few seconds, she sighed in relief. "Not anymore, I guess."

"Huh," Jinx said taking a bite of her own pizza. "Well, you didn't have powers until a few weeks ago either."

Terra looked at Fixit.

"I have no explanation myself," Fixit said.

"Fixit," Beast Boy said through a mouthful of food. "You gotta try pizzas. I recommend the vegetarian."

"I cannot consume pizza," Fixit said simply as he gave Silkie a piece of pizza as the larva slid up onto the couch. "However, I would not object to taste testing. Perhaps I should create a blueprint for artificial taste buds after recharging later."

Jinx smiled and joined Red X at the window, offering him a slice of meat pizza.

Red X took the slice.

"Sooo…." Jinx said casually. "You bought us pizza, huh? Sounds kinda like something a good leader and/or friend would do."

"I'm just playing the part," Red X promised.

"Riiiiggght."

Red X looked out the window at the city. "There will always be more Slade's. More people to take down."

Jinx shrugged. "Eh. What fun would life be without 'em?"

"And this team can handle it," Red X said, turning to Jinx. "As for me… I'm still not much of a team player."

"Are you staying?" Jinx asked.

Red X grunted. "What choice do I have?" he asked, motioning to his mask. "I still have the tracker."

Jinx smiled slightly and placed a glowing finger against Red X's mask. There was a small flash of pink and the nanoscopic tracker fell from the mask, sparking in the air before disappearing.

Red X tipped his head in confusion.

Jinx handed him a small chip to place into his belt as well as a new Titans Communicator.

"What's this?" Red X asked, looking at the chip and Communicator in his hand.

"An act of faith," Jinx answered.

Red X placed the chip in his belt, realizing that it would allow him to teleport and turn invisible.

Red X turned toward the window again. "There's no such thing as faith. We make things happen or they don't happen," he said. "Hoping is pointless. We control our own destinies."

"Yeah," Jinx said, speaking as she walked back to the couch. "We do. Don't we, X?"

On the couch, Terra placed a hand on Beast Boy's as he swallowed a large piece of pizza. "I um…" Terra hesitated, lowering her voice. "There's one memory I haven't seen yet. I started it, but…"

"What was it?" Beast Boy asked.

"You and I were going on a date at a carnival," Terra said. She looked away. "I felt guilty watching it."

"Don't," Beast Boy said firmly. "You don't have anything to feel guilty about."

Terra smiled. "I was um… I was thinking that you and I could do it sometime. For real."

Beast Boy smiled as well.

Red X tipped up his mask slightly to take a bite of pizza.

Fixit stroked Silkie's back.

Jinx touched her necklace again.

Terra and Beast Boy leaned in for a kiss.

Suddenly, alarms started blaring throughout the Tower.

The central monitor lit up, showing the Titans that there was trouble in the city.

Jinx and Fixit stood and moved toward the door.

Beast Boy looked up at the ceiling with his hands in the air, silently cursing the alarms for ruining what was about to be a moment.

Terra giggled and gave a steaming Beast Boy a kiss on the cheek before grabbing his hand. "Let's rock."

Beast Boy and Terra ran out the door together with Silkie sliding out of the room behind them.

Red X was left alone in the living room. He glanced at the Titans Communicator in his hand.

A few seconds later, he jumped out the window, turning invisible just before he teleported away.

…

In the middle of Jump City, there was a boy who stood outside a local television store watching continuous news reels about the Titans who had saved the world that very morning. The little boy smiled, recognizing each of the Titans by name.

` The boy stepped back as a man with spiky black hair, a goatee, and glasses wearing a blue t-shirt with a white stripe as well as black pants and brown shoes walked out the door with a blonde woman in a blue sweatshirt, black skirt, and shoes.

Once the couple was gone, the boy returned to the window.

Suddenly two red eyes appeared in the brick wall next to the window. Seconds later, a large white body with broad feet, legs, arms, and hands, materialized from the wall. There were two thin black lines on the side of the being near its arms and several connected lines that started at the top of its chest and reached down to its waist.

Its face was ovular with two black smudges on its forehead and chin as well as a smudge under each red eye.

The White Monster stepped forward onto the concrete and his body turned to the color of the ground.

The White Monster looked down at the small child and raised a fist.

The boy found himself yanked back and out of the way before being placed back on his feet. The boy quickly ran to the cover of a nearby car before turning and finding that his rescuer had been none other than Fixit.

The Titan stared the white behemoth down as his eyes flashed blue and two probes floated out of his robes.

There was a flash of pink hair and Jinx cartwheeled up and over the car in front of the boy to land next to Fixit.

The boy looked up as the sun was momentarily blocked out as Terra flew overhead on a rock platform and she hopped down just in front of Fixit.

The boy glanced at the roof of the television store as a green tiger jumped over the White Monster and landed just in front of Jinx.

Beast Boy resumed his human form.

The White Monster growled upon seeing the Titan and the little boy gasped, anticipating the excitement that was sure to come.

Suddenly, a caped hero dressed in black materialized out of the air, standing in front of the Titans as a dove flew out of the alley and past the hero's chest.

Red X became the point in the 'V' that the Titans created as their Titans Communicators gleamed in the sunlight.

The Teen Titans had arrived to save the day…

Teen Titans Dawn

Dedicated to C-n-C

A True Titan whose inner light and imagination burned bright beyond his age