"Swindle" by Ed Alger (SecondLevelWriter)

Author's Notes: All previous disclaimers apply. Anything further will be covered at the end of the chapter. That AU element is going to become more pronounced, starting now.

Chapter 14
Confrontation

A week passed since Jinx's slight awakening. Swindle found himself busy with stealing more materials for the final phase of the construction. Bumblebee barely had enough of a chance to talk to the rogue, even in passing. The only communications came via folded notes slipped under the cracks of their doors during the day. Through them, Swindle learned the weak points within the main reactor and when the next visit from the Titans will be happening.

Jinx hadn't been seen outside of her room in the entire week. Swindle was the only one brave enough to check up on her, and always found her curled up in bed. Maybe that was for the better, anyway. The less action she sees, the more time she'll have to think. Also, if she remains there when the Titans come back to destroy this new base, then she won't break down upon seeing Cyborg. This knowledge kept the rogue's mind at relative ease as he kept up his work.

The night before the base's scheduled completion, Swindle noticed a folded-up slip of paper under the crack of his door. It read: "I just heard back from Aqualad. They'll be coming tonight. Be ready. -B-"

It wasn't much longer after that, that a page to be went out across the complex for the top students to gather at the command module at the top of the tower. Swindle and Bumblebee were the first to arrive, followed by Mammoth and Gizmo. Brother Blood stood at the large window overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean, his back was turned to them as he watched the sea life float past.

"I'm sure you know why I brought you here."

"You want to congratulate us on finishing the project?" Swindle ventured a guess.

"Not exactly. Scanners have picked up a submersible heading straight for this facility. I'm certain that it's the Teen Titans, coming to shut us down again. As soon as I detect their arrival, I shall stage a welcoming party to attempt to drive them apart. Optimally, I'd like Cyborg to be by himself. And Bumblebee?"

"Yes?"

"You'll be the one to officially 'greet' him."

"Headmaster Blood, with all due respect, I'd like to be the one to welcome him."

Brother Blood glanced over his shoulder, "Why is that, Swindle?"

"Well... let's just say I have some unsettled business to take care of with him. Kinda personal, y'know."

"As you wish. Be ready in Training Room 8-D, and expect Cyborg to drop in."

Swindle gave him a confident smirk and said, "I'll be there with bells on."

"I'm glad to hear that.. Now then, I expect the Titans to split up and search for a means to shut off the main generator. In that case; Jinx, Mammoth, and Gizmo will engage them and pull them in a different direction." The headmaster turned to face his troops and noticed someone was missing. After a glance toward the door, he asked Mammoth and Gizmo, "Where is Jinx?"

Gizmo spoke first, "We haven't seen her come outta her room since we got here."

Mammoth added his input, "She hasn't been feelin' too well lately, sir. I don't think she's gotten over the whole Stone/Cyborg thing yet."

"That's unfortunate. However, I cannot let personal feelings get in the way of my goal. If she won't fight, the rest of us will continue without her. Understood?"

The other students spoke in unison, "Yes, Headmaster..."

"Good. Now, go and take your positions. Dismissed."

As everyone filed out of the office, Bumblebee caught up with Swindle.

"All right, what're you up to?"

"Up to? Me? Nothing! I just want to make the fight as believable as possible, that's all."

Bumblebee fixed a very skeptical glare upon the rogue, forcing him to stop for a moment. Swindle noticed that Brother Blood was still at the door to the office, watching them.

"Look, Bee, Cyborg knew exactly what he was doing back then. He shrugged off Brother Blood's domination like an old blanket!"

"So did you. What makes Sparky any different?"

Swindle raised his voice, "He played with Jinx's heart, that's what! You can't expect me to believe that he just forgot that me an' Jinx were together! He was at my farewell concert at the Retro Zone! He heard me dedicate my last song to Jinx! HE KNEW!"

"Swindle, please, calm down..."

"I ain't calmin' down! If Brother Blood wants a Cyborg smackdown, he's damn sure gonna get one! Just wait for me, all right?"

Before Bumblebee could try to talk her friend out of his adrenaline rush, he raced down the hallway, turned several corners, and disappeared from sight in only a few seconds. A sinking feeling filled her stomach. She remembered when Swindle had told her about Brother Blood being able to take over his mind when he had to defend himself against the Titans. If he ended up losing his focus while fighting Cyborg, he might not be able to break free again.

'Wait a minute. Did he wink at me just then?'

Swindle waited for what seemed like forever. He had literally carved a trench into the outer perimeter of the training room from pacing, and was about to seek Cyborg out personally when the robotic Titan fell from a chute in the ceiling. A large screen illuminated the image of Brother Blood's smirking face.

"Welcome back, Cyborg. I thought it would be appropriate to prepare a greeting party for you."

Cyborg turned in the direction Brother Blood indicated, and his circuits paled when he saw Swindle leaning against a nearby pillar.

The headmaster continued, "Swindle, show Cyborg how happy you are to see him again."

Swindle drew his daggers and leaned into his fighting stance, "Just watch me, if you can."

Cyborg took a defensive stance, "We don't have to do this, you know."

"Oh, I think we do."

"It's about her, isn't it? Look, I'm ---"

"I'll carve an apology out of your chassis, thank you!"

The rogue let out a warcry and charged his opponent, his eyes and daggers both glinting with violence. Cyborg barely dodged the initial slice, but took the follow-up on his left shoulder. The cut wasn't deep, but he knew there would be many more if he wasn't careful. A third slash and then a fourth forced Cyborg into a full retreat behind a pillar. Swindle was a half-step behind, swinging both weapons for the Titan's head but instead sinking them into the concrete behind it.

Cyborg took the opportunity to put some distance between himself and the rogue, priming his sonic cannon to aid in defending himself if needed. Swindle yanked his blades from the pillar and spun towards his enemy once more, a grim snarl still twisting his face. He was back in Cyborg's face in only a few seconds, and nowhere near the explosion created by a badly-timed blast of sonic energy.

The Titan was able to deflect and dodge Swindle's flurry of slashes, making sure to hit only the flat of the blade to avoid further injury, but it would only last for so long. Out of desperation, Cyborg tried a hard right hook to stop the assault. The rogue ducked out of the way and pivoted into a sweep kick of his own, planting his opponent on his back. Cyborg was barely able to roll away from the incoming heel kick that followed. As he scrambled to his feet, the half-robot made another attempt to parley.

"Come on, man! There's gotta be another way!"

Swindle threw a couple of knives at or near Cyborg's head, all the while screaming his reply.

"There ain't no other way! Not after what you did!"

Swindle leapt at Cyborg in a flying roundhouse kick, but misjudged his jump and found himself on the business end of a fierce haymaker. As he sailed through the air, Swindle flipped backward and threw four knives back at his enemy. Three of the projectiles stuck into the concrete while the fourth embedded itself into Cyborg's leg. The rogue landed hard on his feet, forcing him into a crouch to prepare for his next strike.

It was then that he heard Brother Blood's impatient shouts, but not from the monitor...

"Get up, Swindle! Cut him into pieces! Destroy him, NOW!"

In that instant, Swindle's eyes flared with the headmaster's bright red energy. He could feel his body being numbed and his mind becoming enveloped in a familiar haze. The thief realized he was again trapped behind his own eyes, watching himself take more precise swings with his blades and catching his opponent's vulnerable points even more often than before. It was happening all over again, just like when he fought Starfire.

Cybrog's sonic blasts continued to go wide against his dominated foe, and his desperate pleas could no longer be heeded. A vicious side kick knocked the Titan off-balance, leaving him open just long enough for an uppercut to hit its mark. As he picked himself up, Cyborg fixed a determined stare on Swindle. While the rogue's face remained expressionless, his mind was fighting with all its strength to break its bonds.

"Time to knock some sense back into you..."

The robotic Titan fired a volley of energy bursts, making sure to lead his target and try to drive him into a corner with the shots. He wouldn't need to, for the red glow in Swindle's eyes suddenly flickered and caused the rogue to stumble in mid-dodge as he fought against the mind control. The last shot caught Swindle directly in the chest and sent him to the ground, face first. There was a pregnant pause while the rogue laid there and Cyborg primed another blast. After half a minute, Swindle finally muttered a few barely comprehensible words.

"G-Get... Get out..."

"What?"

With every muscle in his body twitching in the effort, Swindle struggled to his feet and clutched at the sides of his head.

"Out... of... my head... rrrgh.."

Cyborg took a half-step forward, "Are you okay?"

"GET OUTTA MY HEAD! I'LL DO THIS MYSELF!"

Swindle bellowed wildly and threw one of his daggers at the monitor, severing the connection to Brother Blood's office and disrupting the headmaster's control. With the visegrip released from his brain, the thief slumped back to the ground and sighed with the relief of feeling his arms and legs once more. Convinced that Swindle must have been under Blood's control the whole time, Cyborg ran over to his fallen friend to help him.

A swift kangaroo kick sent him sprawling to the floor.

"Swipe! It's me, Cyborg!"

"I'm well aware of that," Swindle replied as he sheathed his other dagger. "An' I think that's about as much ass-kicking as you deserve. C'mon, get up. We're gonna to blow this joint."

The rogue held his hand out for Cyborg, causing the Titan to raise a skeptical eyebrow.

"I know ya don't trust me, but you're gonna have to. I got someone who can help tear this place down. Hopefully, she got my message. Where're the others?"

"They went to look for the reactor room. Robin insisted. I wanted to take the fight to Brother Blood because of what he did to me, but you know how our leader can get."

Cyborg accepted the helping hand, but still with a great deal of caution.

"I was thinkin' the same thing, Cy. Teach is next on my list of people whose posteriors I need to rearrange with my boot."

"Swipe, about that... I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean to hurt Jinx like that. The truth came out faster than I wanted it to, and there just wasn't enough time to explain. I don't blame you for wanting to kick my ass after what I did. I would, too, if I were in your place."

The rogue had walked over to the shattered monitor screen and retrieved his dagger while he listened.

"This is more Brother Blood's fault than it is yours, Cyborg. He's taken from both of us now; your blueprints and my girlfriend. It's time to put an end to it."

As he talked, Swindle opened the doors to leave the training room.

And was startled to find Jinx standing there, with Bumblebee right behind her.

"She insisted on coming, Swindle."

End of Chapter 14

In Chapter 15 - Swindle must now make the ultimate back-stab against the headmaster and bring the new compound down around him. Will his theory hold up? And will Jinx finally snap out of this mind-lock?