I OWN NOTHING.
The game of finding the references is still on (I thought it'd be good literary practice for those in school). Krikanalo is in the lead with five points. The winner(s) get(s) to be mentioned in a chapter. It's just for fun. Don't get too serious with it.
The Slade drone thought he was alone in the dark, empty room. He slowly reached for the red computer chip floating in mid-air inside its broken glass case. A figure flashed by, stealing the chip before the drone could react. Bright, white lights illuminated the room, making the drone squint due to the intensity of it. "If Slade wants this, he has to come get it himself," Robin said.
Gohan held the chip in front of him with a taunting grin. The drone charged with a laser rifle in his hands, trying to land a single hit on the half-Saiyan. "Can't touch this," Gohan said, watching as more drones surrounded him. Gohan extended his arms out. "Stop! Hammer time!" Invisible shock waves boomed from Gohan's hands, blasting the baddies away.
Starfire flew into the air, firing green star bolts at the drones. One drone shot at the ceiling. Several large chunks of cement fell toward Starfire. Gohan leaped into the air, tackling her and saving her from several head injuries. The cement fell on the drones. "I guess the joke was on them?" Starfire said.
"Better," Gohan said. "You're getting better with the earthly sayings."
"Joyous at my advancement, I am!" Starfire said.
"Be glad later!" Robin said, taking down several drones with a swing of his staff. "Get up and fight!"
Several drones cornered Raven; no matter how Raven used her energy to summon shields or attacks, the rifles would dispel it. Raven took a swift kick to the gut and another to her legs, knocking her down. The drones stood over her and charged their rifles. "Beast Boy!" she exclaimed, taking a quick breath of relief as a green Tyrannosaurus Rex tail wiped the drones away.
"You owe me big time!" Beast Boy taunted.
Raven smashed two computer monitors into a drone behind Beast Boy. "Debt paid."
Two blue energy blasts destroyed two drones overhead. Cyborg smirked. "Now you guys owe me."
Gohan took a rifle blast to his hand. Gohan winced in pain, involuntarily throwing the chip into the air. "No!"
"I got it!" Beast Boy yelled, leaping into the air and changing into a hawk. A drone leaped into the air, snatching the chip and disappearing in thin air with his fellow drones.
"He's not getting away!" Gohan yelled.
Robin ran toward the exit of the room. "Teen Titans: Go!"
The six entered a dimly lit test lab with five different exits, one of them being through the irrigation port below them. "Gohan and I will take the irrigation port. The rest of you:split up!"
The Titans quickly split up. Gohan ripped open the locked hatch o the irrigation port and hopped in, seeing one drone high-tail out of the facility as fast as he could. He spun around, firing several shots at the two teens while he retreated. Gohan fired a chi ball at the drone's ankle, knocking it to the floor. "Friends!" Starfire exclaimed from down the long, wet hall. "The exit is here!"
The drone set its sights on her and charged his rifle. "Starfire!" Gohan exclaimed. "Stop!"
The drone fired, sending a highly concentrated beam into Starfire's forehead. Starfire flew back into the wall, bursting through the underground system of the computer facility and outside. Jagged rock formations under shallow water where the waste in the facility emptied were to greet her seven stories below. "I'll finish him! You save Star!" Robin said.
Gohan burst through the halls and into the air outside, using his energy to accelerate his flight downward. Gohan let Starfire fall into his arms. Gohan looked toward the evening sun as he touched her forehead, getting his fingers wet with her blood. "She's bleeding heavily. Screw the chip; I'm getting her to the tower." Gohan flew back into the irrigation tunnels and toward Robin and the drone. "I'm taking Starfire to the tower. You guys are going to have to finish-"
A rifle blast blew past his face. "Gohan!" Robin said. "How badly is she hurt?" He kicked the rifle out of the drone's hands. Gohan hefted Starfire on one shoulder and aimed his hand at the drone. Robin's eyes widened. "Wait! We need to see if he knows-"
Gohan angrily fired a volley of chi beams from his finger, impaling the drone's head, chest, and stomach countless times. The drone fell to its knees as a muffled voice started speaking behind the mask. Robin ripped it off, revealing a small screen streaming a message from Slade. "Hello, Robin."
"Who are you and why do you want this chip?" Robin barked at Slade and the screen.
"Your skills are improving, Robin," Slade said. "Compliments to the Saiyan as well; if this man was still human, you could have been tried for murder." Slade chuckled. "Yet again, Gohan could not deliver the final blow. Yet another fighter you could have saved."
"No more games," Gohan said, turning the drone to face him. "What is your goal in doing this?"
"Patience, Gohan! Patience! You're in possession of a Dragonball," Slade said. "You're still in control of this game."
"What do you want with the Dragonballs?" Gohan barked. "Tell me!"
"If you're so eager, maybe we should meet face to face," Slade said, waiting for Gohan to back down.
"I'll take up your offer in a heartbeat," Gohan growled.
"Gohan!" Robin exclaimed. "Don't let him get to you!"
Slade laughed. "See you soon."
Gohan lifted the drone by the neck and squeezed, crushing the drone's neck like a stomped on Coca-Cola can.
7:00 pm, Titan Tower
"All work and no play makes Beast Boy a dull boy," Beast Boy said. "And with the chip back in the right hands, it's time to play."
Raven, Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg sat on the couch. "What is our choice of movie tonight?" Starfire asked.
"Path of the Tiger, the timeless Huang Xiu flick, or Gokara: Osaka S.O.S," Beast Boy said. "I love both equally, so my vote won't count."
"Same here," Raven said sarcastically, flipping another page in her fantasy book. "They both sound terrific."
"Let's watch them both!" Cyborg blurted out.
"Perhaps Gohan would like to potato on the couch with us," Starfire said, rubbing the bandages on her forehead.
"Not likely," Robin said. "He's been holed up in the garage with his laptop ever since his conversation with Slade."
"I shall speak to him." Starfire stood up from the couch and walked into the elevator. She sniffed into the air as something burned on the ground floor. "Burnt steel?" She opened the elevator door and slowly approached the door to the workshop and garage where Cyborg and Robin build their machinery and gadgets. She reluctantly reached for the handle.
"Not right now, Starfire," Gohan said, sensing her presence from inside.
"Take a small break, Gohan," Starfire said. "Clear your mind and perhaps the answer will come to-"
"I need to figure out what he wants with the computer chip. That chip holds the chemical formulas to some of the most unstable, destructive compounds the world has ever seen. That combined with the Dragonball threat..." Light flashed from the small cracks along the sides of the door and where the hinges meet the wall.
She jiggled the handle. "Gohan? What are you doing?" The handle wouldn't turn. "Gohan! Let me in! Gohan-"
"No, Starfire." The sound of a power drill only increased Starfire's curiosity and desperation. "They hurt you- Slade hurt you. I'm not about to let him hurt you again."
Starfire opened her mouth in protest, but then realized it was no use. She silently turned around and headed back toward the elevator. Beast Boy hid by the door to pop out and scare Gohan. "Watch this, guys! This is gonna be-"
Starfire exited the elevator, sad and alone. "Gohan will not be joining us tonight."
The T.V screen changed right as Huang Xiu kicked the American guest star martial artist in his chest. A map of Jump City appeared on the screen with a red, blinking dot heading toward the computer facility. "They're at it again," Robin said. "Where's Gohan?"
"I found a lead on Slade on the other side of town," Gohan said, appearing in the center of the living room.
Starfire swelled with anger. "What were you doing down there-"
"Whoever is stealing the chip is just a diversion," Gohan said. "I'll take the lead, you guys prevent Slade from taking the chip."
"I thought I was the leader," Robin mumbled. "Teen Titans: Go!"
Gohan placed his index and middle finger to his forehead. Starfire stomped over to him. "You have a lot of explaining to-" Gohan disappeared. Starfire's eyes burned with anger and confusion.
"Starfire, come on!" Robin exclaimed.
Starfire and Raven flew Cyborg and Robin through the sky. "You could be using your rocket boots, you know," Raven told Cyborg.
"And waste energy I could be using to save you again?" Cyborg smirked. "You owe me big time."
Raven smirked. She flew in wide loops and barrel rolls, making Cyborg sick to his stomach.
"On second thought," Cyborg said, activating his rocket boots. "You don't need to pay me back at all."
They landed on the rooftop of the computer facility. A red blast of energy punched a hole through the ceiling and a tall, muscular man wearing a black suit and mask made of various metal alloys with a silver sword painted on his chest jumped on the roof. "Metal dude! You working for Slade?" Beast Boy asked.
The metal man turned to the Titans and held out the chip. "Silver Sabre. I work alone." Silver Sabre held out his hand, firing a gooey red substance into Cyborg's sonic arm before the Titan could even fire.
Raven and Starfire charged simultaneously, firing as many black and green energy bolts as they could. Silver Sabre repeatedly fazed out, leaving a number of afterimages behind him. Raven's aura spiked. "Azarath Metrion-" The same red, gooey substance slapped itself on Raven's mouth and hands, canceling both her spells and powers.
Silver Sabre sent a kick into Starfire's back and fazed out before she could even react. Another kick slammed into her stomach and red, gooey rope bound her hands and legs together. Starfire dropped to the ground, trying to break free. He dodged a sonic blast from Cyborg's other arm and fazed out again, reappearing behind him. He opened a small hatch on Cyborg's back, revealing switches similar to the ones in a circuit breaker. "Motor skills are offline."
Cyborg fell to the ground. "Hey! You can't do that!"
"Too bad." Silver Sabre parried several swings of a staff by Robin and countered with a powerful punch to the face.
Robin flew back from the force. "There are only two other people I've met who know how to counter my bow staff." The thought of Silver Sabre's identity crossed his mind, but he quickly dispelled it.
"You look surprised," Silver Sabre said, sending a roundhouse kick into Robin's cheek and then a heel kick on top of Robin's head. Robin's vision went blurry as he slumped to the floor. "Is it something on my face?"
Beast Boy morphed into a hulking, four-armed, four-eyed, humanoid beast. "Come get some!" he growled.
"Don't mind if I do." Silver Sabre dodged four giant fists and hopped in the air, sending a flurry of palm strikes into the shape-shifter's face.
Beast Boy fell to the ground with his head spinning. Robin climbed to his feet. "We're not down yet."
"Well, it sure has been fun," Silver Sabre said, "but it's time for me to go."
Robin grit his teeth and charged, swinging his staff with all of his might. "Don't you run away from me!" Robin's staff swung right through Silver Sabre. The afterimage of Silver Sabre disappeared.
"Who was that guy?" Beast Boy asked, flipping Cyborg's motor skills on again and closing his circuit board.
"I don't know," Cyborg said, "but when I find him, I'm gonna pound his iron face in!"
"First Slade and now this?" Robin pulled the red goo off of Starfire's arms and legs enough to where she could pull herself out.
Beast Boy ripped the goo off of Raven's mouth and hands. "Yeah, something's up with that."
"Hey! Guys!" Gohan landed on the rooftop, panting and holding his knees. "The lead was a dead end and-" Gohan's eyes widened. "What did I miss?"
"Our biggest butt-whooping ever," Beast Boy said.
"The guy knew how to take all of us down!" Cyborg said. "I bet he had a few moves for you too."
"Who did it?" Gohan asked.
"Silver Sabre," Robin said.
"You guys have faced him before, right?" Gohan said.
"No," Robin said. "We have no information on this guy whatsoever."
"Except that he can kick all of our butts at the same time," Raven said.
"I should have been there," Gohan said, preparing to kick himself for it the next morning.
"You wouldn't have made a difference, Gohan," Starfire said. "The last thing you need right now is something else to make yourself feel bad for. By the way, what were you working on?"
"Just some training equipment," Gohan said. "A couple things to help us gain the upper hand next time we fight Slade."
"Why couldn't I come in and see it?" Starfire asked.
"I was trying to focus, and I do that better when I'm alone," Gohan said.
Starfire's eyebrows furrowed as she looked him in the eyes. "I see."
"Let's get to the tower and use our tracking system on him," Robin said. "We'll intercept him wherever he is."
"No need," Cyborg said, flipping a small panel on his arm. "He's on the corner of Fifth and Main."
"Teen Titans: Go!"
They hurried through Jump City and to the corner of Fifth and Main, frantically looking for the Silver Sabre. A red blast of energy blew Gohan into the side of a moving truck, knocking the Saiyan unconscious. "Up there!" Starfire exclaimed, watching as the Silver Sabre slowly lowered himself to the ground using rocket boots.
"You guys just won't give up, will you?" Silver Sabre's hands started to glow red as thick, red, goo formed on his palms. Two sonic blasts hit his palms, destroying the gloves. "Darn it!" He threw his metal gloves into the street. "Fine. I don't need those to beat you."
Beast Boy morphed into a rhino and charged. Silver Sabre caught him by the horn and whipped him into traffic. A large semi-truck blew its horn and swerved, but Beast Boy was still in the way. Beast Boy looked up and flinched. The next moment he opened his eyes. "The other side of the road... Am I dead?" He looked up at the person holding him by the back of his shirt. "Silver Sabre?"
"Everybody gets one." Beast Boy's savior kicked Beast Boy in the chin, sending him flying into the side of an apartment building. "My business is finished here." Silver Sabre activated his rocket boots and burst into the sky, escaping the grasp of the Titans.
"What happened, Beast Boy?" Starfire asked.
"He saved me!" Beast Boy said, confused and annoyed at what had happened. "He throws me into traffic, saves me, and then kicks me in the chin! Who is that guy?"
"Next time we face him, we'll find out," Robin said. "I've developed a prediction network for villains a while back. It'll show where he is and where he'll strike next."
"Then let's get back to the tower at once," Starfire said. "He will not escape."
Back at the Tower, Robin entered the information they had on Silver Sabre and waited for green markers to appear on the holographic map of Jump City and Titan Tower. "Anything coming up?" Cyborg asked.
"No, not-" Two green markers appeared on the screen. One of them near an old, seemingly abandoned department store rapidly moved north on the map.
"Where is he?" Gohan asked.
"One of them says he's heading to the outskirts of the city," Robin said.
"You think he's from out of town?" Beast Boy asked.
"No," Robin said. "He navigated through the streets way too well."
"Where is the other marker?" Raven asked.
Robin shifted the map to center on the second marker. "No way."
"It says that Silver Sabre is planning on striking the tower," Cyborg said.
"No," Robin said. "It says that he's inside the tower."